Top – Courtesy of Schwing Schwing in 2009, Jeans – H&M, Bracelet – COS & Accessorize, Ring – H&M, Shoes – Zara, Bag – MarzArt

Beautiful Oliwia from The Gallow; Dress – H&M, Shoes – Gap, Necklace – DIY

Areas around Plac Konstitucji

The Warsaw I remember is gone, the bumpy rollerblade rides past the crush’s house, the jewellery stand near the park that frequently robbed me of my coins… Warsaw is now air-conditioned rides to meet new friends for coffee, and priceless facial expressions on finding out she’s 15 years old. It’s also weaving through the streets to come across apartments with bullet holes from the war, and trespassing into private property for a quick photoshoot for some internet thing called ‘blog’.

Oliwia from The Gallow blog contacted me the day I landed, insisting for us to bump into eachother for coffee. I had no idea she was 15, she didn’t look or talk like one, and she certainly didn’t dress like one. She may still be the age where ‘meeting for coffee’ means ordering green tea while I sip liquid she still finds too bitter, but her aura was all grown-up, kinda like that girl in middle school that always hung out with high school boys. I always feel thankful that this blog allows me to meet interesting people, and pretty Oliwia was no exception. Look how she’s wearing her H&M skirt inside out just because she liked the lighter pattern.

Jacket Gmarket | Lace top, necklace Mum’s | Pants Schwing Schwing | Shoes New Look | Envelope Bag Etsy

My family were invited to the annual July 4th Independence Day party held by the American Embassy in Warsaw, the one we always show up overdressed and famished, like it’s a clothes-for-food affair. Trade in an unnecesary sock for that rare American cupcake (Such cupcakes are nonexistent here). That plus one on my invitation? Meet Ms. Stomach, my secretary. Funnily it’s also the one where we squeeze through a throng of who-are-these-people in the huge embassy resident gardens without seeing a single familiar face before ending up exactly where we started. I’m in the right party, yes?

So this year we left quite early, seeing that again there was no one familar, and the sausage tent wouldn’t take my shoe telling me the food is all free. Free? I don’t know that currency, I’m overdressed and hungry, boy! They had a Starbucks tent, if you’d believe it, and into it a gigantic queue that bent around the house. It’s only been a few months since the very first Starbucks opened in Warsaw so let’s understand, it’s probably still considered holy.

Thank you to Min and Annie from for the awesome gifts. Check out Schwing Schwing, an online shop based in Singapore that sells delicious and afforable clothes & accessories. :D They ship to all international addresses and the shop is regularly updated with new pieces. Have I mentioned that they’re also incredibly kind? (Thanks Samantha for telling me about them!)