It’s probably much easier to look forward to Spring with a clean slate of mind, but as a personal motto of mine, everything comes full circle. Beyond just wastefully going through a phase of wardrobe cleansing for the first week of a new season, I prefer to organize instead. There’s a great sorted-out feeling of just knowing where everything is and what purpose they serve.
Contrary to what most people might find themselves doing at the beginning of Spring - putting all of their coats away - I find myself first putting all of my chunky knits away instead. I’m a sucker for contrasting layers so it’s pretty common for you to see me in a tough outerwear jacket with a crop top.
By now you’re probably so sick and tired of every single New Yorkers whose initial topic of discussion comes up to be something along the lines of “the weather’s been so crazy!”
As someone who’s been residing many years in this city, survived many winters and breezed through some torturous summers — I’ll never understand why when the weather is temperamental, we all act like deer in the headlights.
During Fashion Week, it rained, snowed and the temperature dropped to the lowest it has ever been through this year’s mild winter we’re having. On this particular day, I went out expecting the temperature to climb back up to its moderately predictable numbers, yet right after I came out of brunch, it started to snow. Instead of talking more about the weather, we should somehow shift the conversation to how awesome New Yorkers are able to adapt to such fickle environments. I know — I’m probably not the best at this, but I’ve learned to at least try. For example, one of my favorite coats has to be a trench coat. It’s a coat that I feel is the epitome of Spring, perfect to set the tone for fall, a great cover-up alternative for short shorts in the summer, and a must-have layering piece for winter.
The saying goes, the only constant is change - and it is from this that I truly believe that despite everything that goes on, and how fast life might move — fashion is a constant that’s important in anyone’s life whether you care about it or don’t. And with or without proper preparation, something that I really do admire about the fashion of New Yorkers is that while we might seem like we're panicking, we're somehow always ready too.
I don't know about the deer where you are from, but the last time I had a car accident running into a deer in New York, it didn't really stop in the headlight, it left a dent in our rear door and kept running across the highway.
Somewhere between the shades of beige and gray came together a combo that seemed like they were made for each other. I don't know about you, but I'm a sucker for good neutrals. It's either all black, all white, all gray, or all beige - but being so plain has its perks too. Once in a while, I'll mix a couple of my favorite pieces together and out comes something completely new and refreshing; like this charcoal washed pair of jeggings from American Eagle Outfitters with a camel turtleneck sweater under this fluffy coat that makes me feel like a walking sheep. *BAAAA
You can read about the rest of my styling collaboration withAEOand get to know me on their blog here!
It probably would have been better to say that my shoe decision was a lack of proper planning. I would be lying if I told you that the thought of going back home and changing out of these pink Miu Miu velvet slip-ons didn't cross my mind. Despite the regret of getting a couple splatters of left over snow slush residue on them, I guess I'm stubborn enough to say I was glad I wore them anyway. Nothing like walking through Central Park during a huge snowfall and some people are more intrigued about how crazy you are for wearing inappropriate shoes instead of marveling at the beauty that's around.
I haven't read a full book probably since freshman year of college when I was naive enough to think I really could swallow all of these "required" materials on my syllabi. Until I discovered I didn't really need to unless it was something I felt like I wanted to know more of. A friend recently suggested a book to me based on some of my past read favorites and I've been getting so into it. As someone who really dreads reading, I, for some reasons can't put down a good philosophy book. I find it extremely intimate to read about the way someone thinks and to try and see a small spectacle aspect of life through their thoughts.
I know I'm assuming that some of these people who stared at my shoes are thinking I'm crazy, but hey- what if they were just curious?
I guess I could have worn something different but I am someone who hates dwelling on decisions. If I want to wear something I'll wear it. If I want to do something I'll just do it. And if that makes me crazy then I kind of don't want to be sane.
Where you are going and where you are headed are in a way two different type of questions. The direction in which our lives move is, in a sense, unpredictable and uncontrollable. One day we’re king of the world, and the next day we back to the bottom. All we have is this hope in the idea of serendipity that we comfort ourselves with -- that everything happens for a reason, and for the better.
Sometimes in our lives, we find ourselves pushing to go some place, thinking we’re headed somewhere but, that’s the thing with life, our thoughts often don’t guarantee us where we want to be. We just have to make the best of where we are and where we find ourselves, at all times.
Of all the places to shoot in this magical and highly envied city called New York, I don’t know why I always end up in alleys, construction areas, abandoned ATM corners - and now between scaffolding brackets. I guess something about the unfinished and unclaimed places where most people’s eyes get sore, appeal most to me.
So here I am, in my princess pink shoes, climbing these wall brackets in a pair of pants that disgusts my mother and a structured coat that I button to hide these ripped holes from her before I leave the house.
I’m pretty weird this way, and it’s hilarious to think that some people think I take myself seriously.
If I had to sum up this year in a few words, I would say “It was fun while it lasted.” The view, from where I am, looking back, is quite nice.
That’s why I’m getting a little more festive this time and throwing a dress over myself to ring in the new year.
For someone who likes recycling clothes as if I’m on a mission to milk the most out of everything I own - I couldn’t just buy a dress to wear it once. This velvet slip however, had me at pockets!
In New York City, it’s always cold for New Years, and luckily turtlenecks are in this year because I love how they look under a cami silhouette. But just incase it’s a little warmer, I opted for a lace bralette under, a slouchy coat and over the knee boots for a sleek touch.
As the year comes to an end, there’s this feeling of excitement that comes over me. 2015 has been such a great year, and I think it’s the first year where I was able to fulfill some of my resolutions, which I generally forget easily a few days after all of the celebration.
2015 closed a really important chapter of my life. As I turned 22, graduating college, and finding my very first full-time job was two of the top things on my to-do list as they will pave ways into some of the things that I have in mind for 2016. I was lucky enough to travel to several places this year, Italy was definitely a highlight and I can’t wait to explore the rest of it in the near future. As I get older, the list of things that are important has definitely grown shorter, but traveling has somehow made it’s way up that condensed list of priorities.
For now, 2016 will be a year where I will have the opportunity to start fresh. First up on my list will be to kill all of my student loans, and of course, the second, is to collect more stamps in my Passport.
Were you able to keep some of your resolutions this year? And what are your resolutions for 2016?
