Old Friends in New Cities

Watch: Daniel Wellington (use the code 'jesslovesfred' for 15% off), Dress: Zara, Hat: Lack of Colour, Boots: Senso
I consider Zara the stoic bookend of my wardrobe. I can always count on them to have sleek separates, reasonably priced basics, and the rare statement piece/well designed and comfortable shoe - like this crazy abstract face dress. It's now what I wear when I go to thoughtfully ponder with one hand on the chin and one hand on the lower back at art galleries.
Yes, Zara it's fast fashion. Yes, almost every other girl probably owns anything I buy from Zara, and yes it's not Phillip Lim and it's not an obscure Farfetch label - but it fits my lifestyle and my budget. Zara is one of the things that I've "carried" with me to New York - something that is like an anchor I had in Sydney as well, albeit better stock.
Seeing old friends in new cities is something else that I still haven't gotten used to completely. My old friend Oscar (see below) is someone who has accompanied throughout my wee and doomed career in retail. He knew me back when I worked at Le Coq Sportif (fun fact: Yan Yan Chan from Parfasseux and I met each other while working at Le Coq Sportif sales assistants), and he knew me as a surly and unprofessional sales assistant at a high end menswear and suiting store. To see Oscar, someone who has been with me for such a long time (relative to my tiny bonsai life so far), in a city that is unfamiliar and new to both of us (and now as an actor, no less!), was really special. There's something in the water - all the Australians are slowly picking up their feet and placing roots in NY - Ashka from XSSAT Street Fashion recently moved here. Familiar faces in an unfamiliar place creates this weird surreal dream-like state for me - I half expect to call Ashka up and meet her at a Surry Hills cafe. Until I step out into the blinding heat of the subway and hear a homeless man playing nursery rhymes on a saxophone before yelling 'Heil Hitler!' at nobody in particular. We're not in Surry Hills anymore, Toto.