Bridging Cultures and Finding My Style: 15 Years, 6 Relocations

Did I like it? Was it my choice? The truth is complex. Yes, I chose to marry an expat, but I didn’t know what it would truly mean. Each relocation brought a wave of excitement, but also fear. In Asia, my life was familiar—warm, easy, close to family, with a rich culture and food I loved. Career opportunities for me were right there. But with every move, I had to start over.

My husband and kids always had their clear paths, their set destinations. But I had to find mine, again and again. Each new place came with the same challenges: feeling different, misunderstood, out of place. I didn’t fit in. At first, I struggled. I felt lost, disconnected, and I couldn’t see the bigger picture. I even thought going back to a familiar place would finally make me feel at home—but I was wrong.

A friend once told me, “Once you leave home, you’ll never truly be home again.” And she was right. Over time, I realized that I had changed, how I move, how I speak, and how I think. I wasn’t the same person who left home, and I would never be. As time passed, I began to understand that I was gaining something even more valuable - a broader perspective.

Without realizing it, I had been absorbing the best parts of each culture, and it was showing up in the way I dressed, the way I carried myself. Fashion became my way of expressing this journey. Every country, every city brought new inspiration. My style evolved as I did. In Asia, I loved the flowing silhouettes that felt both graceful, comfortable and feminine. When I moved to Europe, I embraced structure, elegance, and timeless pieces. I began blending the two—sophistication with bold, dramatic flair.

I realized that while I may not fit in, I didn’t have to. I’m different, and my style tells that story. Through fashion, I’ve found a voice that speaks across cultures. I can walk into a room and let my clothes reflect my journey—the rich mix of tradition and modernity, of the emotional and the resilient. My wardrobe became my canvas, each piece a part of my story.

Every outfit I choose now reflects the woman I’ve become—strong, emotional, full of love, yet bold, daring, and unapologetically different. I’ve learned that I don’t need to fit into one culture, one box. I’ve created my own space, where all parts of me coexist.

I’m international, not just by where I’ve lived, but in how I express myself. My clothes speak for me—no words needed.