lover boy

Alexa Chung's no stranger to such fashionable lists as "It Girls" and "Best-Dressed", but it wasn't until this tomboyish Brit moved Stateside that her laid-back look got blogged by just about every street style blog and snapped by fashion magazines around the globe. Her current residency in Brooklyn (Williamsburg to be precise) seemed to be a contributing factor to her soar in style icon status, as she has since then designed a collection for Madewell and even has a Mulberry bag name after her. But her open affection for Brooklyn is what I resonate with the most - and this video is a pleasure to watch especially for those who've been there/ lived there/ thrifted there. Visit Amarcord if you haven't (and no, it's not owned by Penelope Cruz... but by two awesome Italian owners)!
And Alexa's absolutely right - Williamsburg will always be the lover.

I miss you 11211 - my lovahhh boyy!

jet. set. chow (ciao).

purple*bliss mix tape vol. 2

 

 

 click here to download

Finally got my act together and compiled purple*bliss mixed tape vol. 2. This time it's all about travel - a little bit of the "every day is a holiday" mood - taking you on a musical journey around the world from the hectic streets of Tokyo to a quiet stroll in a Parisian park and across the ocean again to the South American festivities; from lounging on the beach on the Cayman Islands to getting lost amongst an Gaudi architecture in Barcelona and finally winding up in the amazing cities of Italy with one of my favorite songs - Beirut's Postcards from Italy.


'Gelato' may seem a bit out of context as this mix tape's name... but personally it symbolizes the freedom and pleasure that traveling gives me - that vacationing on a foreign land is the one time I will truly allow myself to indulge in decadent things I normally restrain myself to ... like gelato...
It could be gelato, or it could be a Swedish massage or a bottle of Cava... whatever it is, hopefully these songs will take you to some place where you can enjoy a bit of indulgence and relaxation from the hectic days before the year's end.

Songs List:
Departure Lounge  - Karminsky Experience
Rio De Amor ~ Feat. Pamela Driggs - Paris Match
Tokio - Doktor Zoil
L'amoureuse - Carla Bruni
Like Castanets - Bishop Allen
Cayman Islands - Kings of Convenience
Barcelona - Giulia y los Tellarini
Horchata - Vampire Weekend
Postcards from Italy - Beirut

The zipper trend is never ending! As best illustrated by these glasses by Alexander Wang for Linda Farrow. A fun twist on a classic frame shape. Predictably I can't wait to include more zipper details in my outfits already, thus showing off my paperbag shorts with zipper piping during my resort trip last week (my last long vacation before I get summoned back to the real working world...). Nothing better to welcome spring than this!

*wearing top from Topshop, paperbag shorts from a market in Bangkok, DIY Marni necklace, wedges by 80%20

images via nymag.com and Opening Ceremony

oh couture

This story took place once upon a summertime, about 4.5 years ago, in Granville, France.

It was a gorgeous sunny day, and I was on a group visit to the Christian Dior Museum, situated on the serene cliff in Granville, Normandy. Prior to this trip, whenever I came across the words Christian Dior, usually only three images came into mind: 1947 New Look, Yves Saint Laurent, and John Galliano. Due to Monsieur Dior's unfortunate death in 1957, not long after the establishment of his fashion house, my knowledge of his own creations used to be limited to the nipped-in-jacket-crinolined-skirt-New-Look that he made so famous post war. That was, until I met "her" - the "Junon" dress in his 1949-50 collection.

It was one of the most beautiful dresses I've ever seen. The scalloping cutting of the gown was breathtaking. I stood there speechless, completely absorbing the dazzling sequins, the ombre hues of the iridescent blues and greens, and that perfectly corseted waist. I've seen tons of dresses in exhibits and shows and boutiques, but these images come and go all the time. The "Junon" is one of the fewer ones that has always stayed in my visual memory chamber. Photography, I think, wasn't allowed in the museum, but I liked the dress so much I had to secretly snap a picture for myself. I enjoyed the other garments that were on display too, especially all the crinolined dresses from the early 50's collections, but the "Junon" in particular won my heart. I thank her for opening the world of Christian Dior Haute Couture to me, for reminding me the kind of craftmanship that dressmaking used to involve, for teaching me to appreciate artistry skills and well-made clothes, and for embedding my love for vintage today.

Then I saw this strapless ballgown in Dior's most recent haute couture show, and the sequined petal silhouette reminded me a lot of that dress I had seen in the pink villa in Granville. Absolutely red-carpet worthy, the gown showcased the best that today's couturier could offer and what John Galliano does best - show stopping. Dior may not be one of my favorite brands, but I still admire Galliano's limitless creativity in his designs, be it RTW or haute couture, without abandoning the legacy of the fashion house.

At the end of the day, it's still the same old phrase: fashion is a cyclical industry.


Image via style.com

diet gone green

This post may come across as a little random, but I just have to share my love for miniature food - cute miniature food that is. Somehow when food comes in small sizes, it just seems more appetizing (but whether it's fills the stomach or not, that's a whole other story). Canapes, petit fours, h'dourves, finger sandwiches, high-tea set pastries... mnn... all pretty and yum.
These little "plants" here are actually mini spring rolls, but from far, they really look like leafy greens planted in tiny clay pots. Clever food presentation, isn't it? They can be found at the basement level of Bangkok's Siam Paragon shopping mall.

my son his son her son

Ah... the coldness attack in Hong Kong today made me miss the warm weather in Vietnam just a lil' bit, especially that day when we went sightseeing at My Son (pronounced like "me sorn", or something similar). It felt almost like 80 degrees under the scorching sun when I actually decided to wear leggings the one day of the trip... not a smart choice. Anyhow, My Son is a complex of ruined temples constructed between the 4th and 14th century A.D., situated about an hour away from Hoi An. It is listed as one of UNESCO's World Heritage sites today. I can't imagine it would be nearly as impressive as Angkor Wat, but it's worth a trip if you're traveling to the central region of Vietnam. Might even feel the spiritual powers of the ancient temple gods.... hmnn.....

good morning, Vietnam

I took some time off from blogging during Christmas while I went on vacation with my family to Vietnam. We covered three cities - Ho Chi Minh City, Hoi An (which really is a town), and Hanoi. Being the only one in the family who hasn't been to any part of Vietnam prior to this trip, I didn't know what to expect of this country - not that I'm completely ignorant of its culture, after all my brother-in-law is Vietnamese-American and I've probably had more pho (noodle soup) and spring rolls than say, hot dogs in my life, but to experience the country first hand is a whole different story.

The three places we visited represent three distinct regions of Vietnam. People from the south (H.C.M.C.) and central (Hoi An) are evidently friendlier than people from the north (Hanoi), and the language accents. cuisines and local souvenirs are slightly different in each place, but apart from that, my impression of Vietnam after this trip mainly consists of motorbikes, insane traffic system, air pollution, yummy street food (the most delicious meals we've had were all at dingy restaurants with no decor whatsoever), skinny Vietnamese girls, lacquerware and embroidery handicraft goods, lemongrass and fish sauce and rice paper rolls, strong coffee with condensed milk, and, here's the most important part: lots and lots of bargaining. One might be tempted to forgo the bargaining part since most things are already pretty cheap relative to Western standards, but in Vietnam (likewise in China), one must learn how to bargain because you can almost always end up paying half the marked price if you master the skill.

I wish I could document everything here, but I've always find it difficult to blog about travels, since the experience itself is so personal and there's way too much to cover with only a few pictures and paragraphs. That said, I'd still like to share some travel tips and adventures from this vacation, and maybe even an outfit post here and there (though be prepared for some not-so-exciting resort + flip flop looks) throughout the next few days. Oh, and word of advice for visiting busier cities like H.C.M.C. or Hanoi: if you have even the slightest form of nasal allergy, get a mask!

somewhere over the bridge

My she hit pause. studios Polaroid print finally arrived in the mail today! I love all the prints by photographer Matt Shwartz, but I chose this one titled "white legs + bridge" because of the Brooklyn Bridge in the background. I like how the Bridge is not the main focus of the image, kinda looks like it just happens to be there, and yet you can't mistaken it for anything else. It warms my heart a little to have a piece of Brooklyn imagery close to me. And as a little tribute to my good times in New York, I have compiled a mini list of some of my favorite things/ food/ activities in the sleepless city (also just in time to go with New York Magazine's "Reasons to Love New York" article). *Everything on the list is solely based on my personal experiences and preferences, and so it's purely for the joy of sharing. Feel free to agree or disagree.

Favorite coffee places:
* Gimme! Coffee - all drinks!
* Ninth Street Espresso - iced mocha
* Oslo - soy latte

Favorite brunch dish:
* August - German pancakes
* Locanda Verde - 8-hr tripe with fried eggs
* Ouest - omelette souffle

Favorite sweet & salty marriage:
* Mast Brothers Chocolate - dark chocolate w/ Fleur de Sel
* Kumquat Cupcakery - maple bacon cupcake
* Greene Ice Cream - salted caramel pretzel (tied with Kumquat!)
* Saltie - buckwheat olive shortbread

Favorite Bánh mì sandwich :
* Nha toi - pho bánh mì
* Saigon Bakery - classic roast pork
* Xie Xie - fish chaca la vong

Favorite high-caloric indulgence:
* Fette Sau - any meat on the menu
* Momofuku Milk - Arnold Palmer cake
* Shake Shack - 'shroom burger + flavor of the day frozen custard

Favorite cocktail:
* Dutch Kills - Pimm's fruit cup
* Mahayeul - all margaritas
* Raines Law Room - a bonus point for the decor

Favorite vintage places:
* Amarcord - okay this is a little biased, but the buyers really have a great eye
* Brooklyn Flea - thrifting and great deals
* Narnia - a cool mix of high and low end vintage

Favorite jewelry finds:
* Brooklyn Flea - vintage at reasonable prices
* Catbird - for something different
* Doyle & Doyle - antique jewelry and delicate gems

Favorite shopping streets (plus neighboring blocks):
* N. 6th Street, Williamsburg
* Lafayette (between Howard and Bond), Soho/ Nolita
* Orchard Street, LES

Favorite weekend activity:
* Brooklyn Flea - yummy local eats and vintage hunting
* Brooklyn Bowl - awesome hang out place
* Union Pool - drunk photobooth session


Image via she hit pause.studios

wish i were there

Rodarte X Colette pop-up exhibit. Wish I were there.


Images via lulamag.com

apocalypse now... from cai guo-qiang to rodarte

My last portion of the trip is dedicated to Bilbao landmark - the Guggenheim Museum designed by Frank Ghery. It was quite surreal to see this massive curved and twisted titanium architecture right in front of my eyes. Though I was actually more impressed by the interior than the exterior, as the grandiosity of the building seemed to translate better in photographs than in real life. I thought each space and every room was designed and utilized brilliantly. The entire visit was a thoroughly pleasant one, and so smooth that I almost forgot about the odd architectural shapes of the museum. But what I was most intrigued about was the current exhibition, Cai Guo-Qiang: I Want to Believe. Cai is a Chinese contemporary artist who is probably most recently known for his "Footprints" fireworks project for the 2008 Beijing Olympics Opening Ceremony. His work ranges from drawings to sculptures to large-scale installations and land-art projects. I was particularly in awe (and in love) with his signature gunpowder paintings, which I immediately linked to Rodarte's latest runway collection especially after hearing the Mulleavy sisters talk about their inspiration (click here for wwd's video).




Cai's gunpowder paintings are an aftermath of explosions, really, because they are created by spreading gunpowder on paper and literally setting it on fire to burn it. While the main drawing is carefully thought out, the burning reactions are naturally uncontrollable, allowing the paintings to have a raw, almost accidental effect, and the end result is surprisingly strong and beautiful.




Rodarte's SS10 collection, to me, evokes the same kind of apocalyptic feeling as Cai's paintings. The clothes carry a primal aesthetic, especially with the tribal arm tattoos, but they cry for a fierce, modern woman. Fabrics are torn, shredded, burned, taken apart and then constructed into these painfully beautiful garments. Dress shapes may seem familiar compared to some of past seasons, but the techniques, craftsmanship, and clear vision seen on the runway have proved Kate and Laura Mulleavy deserving of their CFDA award in every way.

Images via Cai Guo-Qiang's official website caiguoqiang.com, style.com

on the road again... Part II

Day 5: San Sebastian, Spain

San Sebastian is a lovely coastal city in the Basque country. Beautiful scenery, serene and relaxing, it's like a friendlier and less pretentious version of Cannes (plus they both hold international film festivals every year). It was fun just being the tourist and enjoying the sun-soaked seascape along with the locals who filled the beach on a Wednesday afternoon (hence once again reinforced our hypothesis that Spanish folks know best how to enjoy life).

*Wearing a vintage hat from Amarcord Vintage, Elizabeth & James sparkly T-shirt, Warehouse harem pants, Dolce Vita sandals, and vintage Trifari bracelet.

on the road again... Part I

9 days, 3 countries, 6 cities, 4 friends, and 13 hours of driving. My Euro trip last week almost feels like a less glamorous version of Mario Batali's food show "On the Road Again... Spain", especially the portion in Basque country when we basically stuffed ourselves with pintxos (Basque-style tapas) and 1.50-Euro per glass of wines. I experienced some technical difficulties with my laptop during the trip so hence the blog abandonment, but now that I'm home and back to my 17-inch and normal internet connection, I'll be documenting some highlights from my travel adventures and sharing some of the tastiest foods I've tried for the next few posts!

Day 2: Lisbon, Portugal

Here we're at the Jeronimos Monastery, a magnificent monastery with a late-Gothic style facade and a spectacular cloister inside. The walls around the cloister display a mix of European and Moorish decorative elements, turning it into a truly unique and serene place to be.

*Wearing a Built by Wendy bustier top, Staerk high-waist shorts, Staerk reversible belt, Dolce Vita sandals, and Urban Outfitters necklace.

A block away from the Monastery is the Portuguese cafe Pasteis de Belem, famous for its pastel de Belem (or pastel de nata), a local pastry which resembles some kind of egg tart. Pastel de Belem is actually believed to have been created by the monks of the Jeronimos Monastery in the 18th C, so that's why this nearby cafe is known to have the best ones in town. These little custard tarts are so delicious and tasted nothing like Chinese egg tarts or the "Portuguese egg tarts" I've had in Macau. Powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar is sprinkled on top of each perfectly browned tart. On the inside is a smooth, "curdled" custard surrounded in a crispy phyllo pastry shell. The four of us cleaned that plate up in 5 seconds. Yum!

leaving on a jet plane

Basque country here I come! I'm jetting off this afternoon for a much needed one-week vacation to the northern Spain. Actually we're going to start at Lisbon as the first stop, then roadtrip to Spain for Salamanca, San Sebastian, and Bilbao, and finally fly to London as the last destination. So expect to see pictures of me surrounded by rustic villas, Rioja vineyards, slopey hillsides, and the iconic Guggenheim Museum in the next few days - oh and of course mouthful of tapas, and, well, more tapas.
I've always wanted to do a "what's inside my bag" post, because oddly enough I do like to peek inside other people's totes and see what they carry around. So allow me to be a little self indulgent here and do a "what's inside my bag - travel edition" for my upcoming trip.



Clockwise from top left: scarf (aka long-haul-flight's best buddy), sunglasses by Retro Super Future, mini hair brush, Tales of Jazz Age by F. Scott Fitzgerald, Pretz snack, travel pouch + notebook, mints, passport!, cosmetic pouch, ziplock bag for more cosmetics essentials, leather bag by Corsia, Blackberry, socks (for my cold feet on the plane), Muji pen, "intelligent" bag in bag by V.P. (great for stuffing all your daily essentials that can be seamlessly transferred from one bag to another), wallet by Tsumori Chisato, lip stain by Lipstick Queen, pill box, coin purse by Marimekko, tissues.

shopping made easier

Came across these vintage shopping baskets at a specialty cheese shop called Fromagination in Madison, WI. I was so tempted to ask if I could purchase one - it would make a lovely picnic basket. And the best part is it's completely foldable, which is a major plus (or almost a necessity) in my Ikea/ Container Store dominated apartment.
Shopping for cheese is more fun than you'd think.

oh (haute) couture

Watching the couture shows is almost like going to an art gallery or a museum; you are appreciating a piece of art from a distance, mesmerized by the craftsmanship and thought process behind it and intimidated to touch it because it's so precious. Some couturiers focus more on the traditional techniques and workmanship, while others put more emphasis on the glam and wow factor that differentiates couture from RTW. Out of the few fashion houses who still honor this tradition today, Christian Dior's shows are always high-drama and extravagant and not usually my cup of tea, but this time John Galliano for once stole my heart away. The show brought back memories of when I visited the Christian Dior Museum and Garden in Granville, France a few years back during my study abroad program. That was my first physical encounter with vintage Dior and it completely altered my impression on the fashion house (which I often associated with reinterpretations of New Look blazers and saddle bags back then). The couture garments by Monsieur Dior himself from 1946-1956 were divine - utterly beyond words. Each gown was so intricately and beautifully made - it's got haute couture written all over. It was then that I also decided I would probably only love Dior's collections from that era, and nothing else.
And then I fell in love all over again. As style.com aptly puts it, "Galliano took this collection back to the salons on Avenue Montaigne to show almost in the way the clothes were traditionally presented to clients and the press in the 1950's." The courtyard background and the white flowers resembled the rose garden outside the Granville museum. The clothes had many 50's references - New Look silhouettes, crinolined skirts, and peplum jackets. But my favorite was the underpinnings - the garters, girdles, exposed slips, and petticoats. No lady back then (nor anyone today) would actually attend luncheon half-naked like that, but it sure would be cool if someone breaks the tradition now once and for all!



runway images: via style.com
garden images: all taken at the Rose Garden, also the Garden of Fragrances, at the Christian Dior Museum in Granville