Even though I live in one of the busiest cities in the world it's always nice to get a breath of fresh air (literally and figuratively) and venture back to Yorkshire, a county full of history and until last year a place I called home. I've returned to Leeds a number of times in the past but during each visit it's rewarding to find new areas to explore or even find new perspectives around everyday places people take for granted.

[separator type="thin"]
Leeds, West Yorkshire
My love affair with Leeds started in 2012 when I was a lone graduate with no clue about the world or even blogging for that matter. With an expensive piece of paper from an international university under my belt I decided to take my chances and make the big move up north. Settling in was surprisingly easy although it does help that Yorkshire residents are a friendly bunch. The city itself is surprisingly small although where it lacks in size it more than makes up in fun and character.
[separator type="thin"]
Leeds Kirkgate Market

Leeds Kirkgate Market holds a special place in my heart as this was the place I came to every Sunday looking for fresh produce, chatting with the loud locals and grabbing a crepe with chocolates and bananas. Sometimes you just gotta treat yourself, unfortunately my 'sometimes' was becoming 'oftentimes' and I had to kick the habit no matter how much my stomach pleaded. If you do find yourself in Leeds do yourself a favour and visit this magical place, you won't regret it.
[separator type="thin"]
Bellroy Leather Goods

[columns_row width="two-thirds-and-third"]
[column]

[/column]
[column]
It wouldn't be a Style Division post without a mini lookbook thrown in 🙂 Recently I've been enjoying the leather products from a company called Bellroy who manufacture leather accessories such as wallets, passport holders and phone cases.
As someone who tends not to carry a wallet I've become fiercely attached to mine. The attention to detail and immaculate designs instantly separate them from the pack and of course there's the undeniable durability factor that makes these accessories perfect for unfavourable weather conditions.
[/column]
[/columns_row]
[separator type="thin"]
Leeds, West Yorkshire VSCOCAM

I've had a few questions from people asking me about filters that I put on my photos. The truth is that VSCOCam has saved me time and time again and their darker, grungier filters give my photos the look that I'm really proud of. Minimal, dark and understated although I would advise you to play around, you never know what your eye might like.

[separator type="thin"]
STYLEGRAM
If you enjoyed this post make sure to share it with your friends using the links below and check out my latest photography post where I explore the iconic Canary Wharf. As always stay classy and if you wish to be featured in one of my next roundups please contact anton@thestyledivision.com or tag your post with #styledivision






According to Trojan history, Padua was founded in 1183 B.C. by Antenor, who supposedly was a counselor to Priam during the Trojan War. It's also home to a university that was founded in 1222 and has the notable distinction of being one of the oldest in Europe. Because of this long history, ancient architecture and ruins are found nearly everywhere you might look.
Like other cities in Northern Italy, Padua has cobblestoned streets, open-air markets and spacious squares where you can stop and admire the scenery. In fact, Padua has one of the largest elliptical squares in Europe. I was totally overwhelmed by the architectural diversity of the city, which again reminded me of Ukraine. Specifically the town of
Padua is generally a flat city, and its historical center is not very large. This means you can easily explore your surroundings on foot; however, as we're in Italy people opt to ride bicycles. If you're not up for a walk or cycling excursion, there's also a handy tramline that stops close to many notable sites such as the botanical gardens, Santo Basilica and some of the city's museums.
Although Padua has two basilicas that are worth looking at, don't pass up the Piazza del Duomo. It's smaller than either of the basilicas, but Michelangelo had a hand in designing the building. Furthermore, you'll find statues and artwork inside, plus several frescoes that were relied on when the Piazza del Duomo was used for baptismal services.
Also, be sure to check out Padua's Arena as it's a great example of Roman ruins. They aren't as extensive as what you'll find in Rome or Venice, but still very interesting to see with about three quarters of the Arena's walls are still standing. During the summer months, the Arena is used for outdoor film-screenings.



















































Modern influence is felt throughout the city with street art dispersed between the historic buildings and clear glass shopping malls. The main shopping streets in Leeds were teaming with people and I got to see the stunning domed roof of Leeds Corn Exchange (cover photo above).
[separator type="thin"]






























