Allow me to pick up where I left off for August. It’s been quite a long September but I wanted to keep myself and my mind busy by doing things that keep me mindlessly occupied, even if that means editing old photos. See, I can’t even compose a straight sentence.

This time of the year is usually a time when I’m the happiest. Fall never fails to lift my spirit as I can finally stop worrying about if my legs are spotlessly shaved for skirts and shorts. This year, in particular, I’m really drawn to rusty shades of browns and oranges. I can’t wait to wear this fall-of-a-floral skirt through the next few weeks of cooler temps or so with cropped knits and even oversized jackets (maybe corduroy or something since it seems to be trending at the moment).

Anyway, this is the first of maybe not many more full outfit posts in a while. Hope this makes you rethink fall florals, or midi skirts of some sort because I spent about 2 hours running back and forth self-timer-ing for these six photos.

Top: Free People
Floral Ruffle Skirt: Ganni via Shopbop
Shoes: Common Projects
Bag: J.W Anderson Velvet Pierce Mini
Pearl Earrings: Similar

Self-portraits

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

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Summer Stripes

Alliteration asides, I actually can't think of any other prints or patterns that are more summer than stripes. In recent seasons, ruffles have been an ongoing feature that literally adds oomph to anything; from tops to skirts, and even pants. For me, too much ruffles can be quite cheesy, so I especially gravitate towards deep and richer colors. This one specifically is blended with silk from SILKNY.

A good emerald green stripe top is sure to set any outfit apart during summer's heat. But in my case, it is also a good layering piece under a sweater tied over, on a chillier evening. Try this one out the next time you're looking to add an extra detail to your summer outfit.

Top: SILKNY C/O
Sweater: &Other Stories
Pants: GRLFRND Denim
Shoes: Valentino
Bag: JW Anderson Velvet Pierce Mini

Self-timered

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In A Tokyo Salaryman's Suit Jacket

By now, I've gotten used to openly admitting that I'm definitely not the hardest worker in any room. My work ethic is like a roller coaster, mostly since my attention span's tendencies mimic that of a squirrel.

The first time I came to Tokyo, one of the imagery that stuck out the most to me was a school of businessmen stuffing one another into packed train carts early in the morning. Of course, people go to work every day, but Tokyo's is quite unique. From the outside, Tokyo is pretty much a magical land of perfectionism and uniformness that once you witness it, it will only exceed all your expectations.

From varying shades of black and blues (and sometimes grey) the only thing that I can spot within my range of vision that differentiates these men from one another was probably how full their head of hair was.

Coming from a place like New York, such affinity sparked my interest in people's identity here and possibly everywhere else in the world...

In all realness, what I really wanted to get to was how much studies have been done on the way of life of the Japanese people here. How "hard" everyone seems to work is a point of idolization and criticizing at the same time, for the rest of us. Yet, in some way, the standard validation of how we should be living.

Some people work to have a purpose, while some people's purpose is fulfilled by the work that they do. Some also work for money, while others are privileged with working for fun. As I'm taking a step back from the reality of life these past few weeks - I'm starting to realize that maybe I just need to redefine the word 'work' completely.

In that sense, I'm trying to put myself more in other people's shoes and channeling the typical salarymen look in Japan which I obviously took way too literally with my boyfriend's suit jacket. I did consider using an oversized slashed boyfriend blazer as it's something that's been trending for the past 6 months or so - but most of them seemed quite overpriced for something that you can easily grab from your grandpa, your dad, brother, and/or boyfriend's closet.

Suit Jacket: Boyfriend's
Belt: Madewell
Shirt: Uniqlo
Denim: GRLFRND
Shoes: Nicholas Kirkwood
Bag: Staud Clothing

Photo by Van Le

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Bloomed

Probably the girliest you have seen me in months - but it's pretty hard to resist Spring blossoms in Tokyo and a dress that blends me right in (thanks Keepsake).

Excited to start something new in Tokyo and to be closer to Australia (which means the Aussie brands are so much closer to me now). Hope these images make you want to come to Tokyo for these cherry blossoms next year (because I definitely need to catch them more properly the second time around).

Dress: Keepsake The Label / FSHNBNKR (c/o)
Shoes: Acne Studios Jensen Boots (25% off on Shopbop)
Bag: J.W Anderson Velvet Pierce Mini (new season)
Earrings: Faeber Studios

Photos by Shun S.

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October in December

How fitting is this green for today but also how is it already December 24th? I have no idea where the year went since these photos felt like they were taken just yesterday back in October on Nakano-broadway after I devoured 7 layers of soft swerve on a cone.

I miss Tokyo a lot, and it sucks I won't be able to spend an extended time there again anytime soon.

Hoodie: Uniqlo
Skirt: ASTRAET JP
Shoes: Sacai (similar)
Bag: JW Anderson Pierce

Photos by Shun S.

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Keep Out

I like to talk a lot - to myself mostly, but more than talking, I really like to observe. I like to watch the way people move their hands when they talk to me or with others. How many times they touch their hair between each time they look up or down. I sometimes count how many times someone blinks when they talk to me if I doze off, just enough. I think the act of observing tenderly is intimate as long as you keep a certain distance too...

If I could have a small unfurnished apartment with a linen duvet cover over a single mattress on the floor and maybe 4 or 5 pillows, I think that’d be ideal. I’d say to forget about the internet router but in a perfect world, I’d be able to use wifi to endlessly travel through cyberspace without being discoverable and reachable by anyone else. I’ve always been an observer, and always will.

I like to be alone and despite putting all these things out there - I'm not really looking for company. I've been thinking a lot about this space and what's this blog is for. Everyone asks me all somewhat the same questions or wonders about what I want out of my blog or social media account but honestly - not much. I've never been tempted for extra attention (obviously this doesn't apply to my bf or friends) and fame. As someone who gets mentally drained from going to one social gathering every month or so - I can only imagine how hard it is to feel obligated to be a sweetheart 24/7.

For the majority of our egotistic and exhibitionist generation - being different is a way to relate - but for me, it's a form of disassociation. As someone who still prefers long talks on the phone over any other sort of written ways of communication - writing and photos are a way for me to express myself without having ever really need to expect responses from. I miss the first few days when I decided to create a blog just to have a virtual journal for myself.

I guess at one point or another - I was actually looking for some sort of feedback and got disappointed in the lack of relevant responses. It made me unmotivated to share as often and questioned this whole space and myself as well. But thank god for the lack of noise (in forms of other's opinions or thoughts) I've come to realize how silly I was being and now I'm fine with people just keeping out of my space again.

Suede Biker Jacket: H&M (similar)
Top: United Arrows (similar and here)
Pants: GRLFRND Denim
Shoes: Acne Studios
Bag: Proenza Schouler PS11

Photos by Shun S.

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In The Process of Processing

I've always been attracted to construction sites and messy alleyways like outfits that appear a little undone. I figure maybe one of the reasons why I relate so much is because that's how I've always viewed myself and everything that I am and/or known for.
I landed in Tokyo with a single suitcase with an intended stay of 1 month. Of course, you're probably thinking that that makes a lot of sense for all that 'solid wardrobe' crap I've been preaching. And yes, if I really wanted to - that suitcase alone was well curated for even a two months stay. But of course, shopping was unavoidable especially when you're in an interesting country, as Japan.

There were over 5+ different outfits that I had in mind to wear with these ATP two-tone boots that I've been ogling over - and somehow none felt right until I decided to try these boots on with a hoodie I picked up from Uniqlo to wear for 7/11 or Family Mart runs in Shimbashi (typical).

It's a little fucked up, to be honest, that pretty much every single time I start to feel like I've settled on something, my mind wanders and it makes me all unsure again. Already hard enough that my brain is constantly overflowed with a million thoughts all somehow unrelated and disconnected from one another yet simultaneously demands my attention all at once. I feel like these days, my thought processes are all unfinished even if it seems like I'm done processing them.

Before I confuse you even more with my lack of better words choices for all the jumbled thoughts that are running on as I'm writing this right now - I'll spare you a few seconds to catch up on some slightly more normal things I've been meaning to type out since I barely have the time to hold a pen anymore.

These days, this space feels more like a journal than an actual blog. I feel like I'm writing so that I can have something to look back in a few months to keep track of it all since time has been passing by at a ridiculously fast pace. The more I start to figure out what I want to do more off, the more I lose sight of the things that I've been doing. Dare I say it, but I think I'm finally reaching the point where I'm over fashion...

But let's hold that thought.

Hoodie: Uniqlo
Pants: GRLFRND Helena Denim (alternative)
Shoes: ATP Nila Boots
Bag: J.W Anderson Mini Pierce Bag (40% off)

Photos by Shun S.

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By The Sea

As someone who can’t swim and is actually terrified at the thoughts of submerging myself underwater, I’m a sheer sucker for all types of waterfronts dwellings.
Something about Venice has always been captivating to me and I’ve always thought places like Positano were as close to dreamy as possible. Maybe it’s because I grew up in a fishing village south of Vietnam and something about being able to fall asleep to the ocean’s waves grew endearing even when the floods came often.

As Japan becomes a country that I frequent more and more in the past couple of years, I’ve started to appreciate this coastal city as well. As much as I can ooh and ahh at the pretty Japanese gardens and bamboo grove, I’ve been looking for a waterfront oasis like this place for a while.

I came across an article on Ine no Funaya during last year’s trip to Kyoto (which is technically this year since it was between December/January) and wanted to see it for myself since.

It’s rare to find a place that isn’t filled with tourists and flocks of people with self-sticks that often hits the back of your head or makes a cameo in all of your photos. But hidden gem and locally authentic aside - I was just really happy to be by the sea again for once and breathing in the fresh air of Kyoto both literally and figuratively.

Coat: Mute by JL
Top: Robert Rodriguez
Pants: FRAME
Bag: JW Anderson
Shoes: Common Projects

Photos by Shun S.

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