I haven't shot in SoHo, for a while. Something about these iconic streets always just doesn't go with what I'm wearing. I also haven't worn a floral maxi dress since maybe last year? But when I do, it's obviously going to be with sneakers.

If you get to know someone well enough, things start to get pretty comfortable. But what happens when you cross the line of comfort and you start to depend and assume based on previous experiences? It's human nature to grow dependent on things, no matter how independent one claims to be. All New Yorkers will tell you f*ck the MTA, but we all rely on those stupid trains to get us to where we need to be anyway.

Cities aren't like people though, the line between comfortable and dependent is, in my opinion, by association. New York feels like the universe for some, but it grows smaller and smaller for me each day. When you've been here for over 14 years, nothing really surprises you anymore and you realize everything and everyone you know is by association. And I hate it. I'm pretty selective with everything that's around me. People I know. Places I frequent.

I'll admit, it's pretty selfish but I feel like my personal bubble or space gets trespassed when someone, by association, latches onto someone I know, or some place I like.

Dress: Tularosa via Revolve
Shoes: Common Projects
Bag: Proenza Schouler PS11
Accessories: Fendi Bag Bug

 Photos by Sandra L.

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Raw

If you find yourself in a position to visit Hong Kong, I say, please do yourself a favor and go. If you’re lucky enough to be heading there soon, I suggest you take my advice seriously and pack your airiest and lightest clothing you own. Hong Kong’s humidity is just like it’s people’s attitude-- unforgiving, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

It's been a little over 2 months since my visit to this crazy city, and between New York and Tokyo, my yearning for Hong Kong grows deeper every time I feel lonely-- which overcomes me quite often these days.

Life's been moving rather quickly, which leaves little time to myself. I guess that always makes me feel alone since I find that I'm my best company. When I'm in Tokyo, I'm a tourist, a girlfriend of a pretty decent Japanese guy, which leaves me little room to f*ck up-- it's already bad enough that he has to apologize to people around on my behalf for speaking too loud when I'm already using my indoor voice. In New York, my phone doesn't stop ding-ing and there are always emails to answer and strategically compose. I go to bed telling myself I'll find some time to go through a few of my personal photos to edit, and block out a few minutes to write - but as soon as I'm relatively done with the majority of the tasks that I needed to complete for the day, I find myself feeling sick having to keep staring at a computer screen. I do really enjoy working from home though, in fact, this new gig has been so great that I haven't complained about it since I started and everyone thinks I'm really just unemployed (oh millennials problems).

For me, Hong Kong is an incredible city, for how raw it remains while thriving as one of the major cities around the world yet still so characteristically unwavering. It's a feat that not even many people can to do these days faced with the mass saturation of social media channels and the constant need to validate one's existence with a numeric profile and maybe two lines of self-proclaimed accomplishments.

I miss Hong Kong for its undiscriminating vibe. Surprisingly in a city where I know no one, knew no more than 3 facts and not a single Cantonese word, my loneliness ceased to exist. Hong Kong didn't care about who I am, where I'm from, how old I am, what's my job, or how much money I have or seem to have. Hong Kong evaporated my identity and hid it somewhere among its monstrous puff of smog. For the time I was there, Hong Kong made me feel like I belong while being lost at the same time.

Dress: RAEY via Matchesfashion
Shoes: Common Projects
Bag: Proenza Schouler PS11
Accessories: Fendi Bag Bug (similar)

Photos by Shun S.

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Thing To Wear

Fourth trip to Japan going on fifth soon, and I’ve yet gotten the chance to put on a real kimono for myself. Maybe I’m just not ready for my Japanese boyfriend to see me in one yet - but who knows. I’m the kinda person that likes to wait for significant timing to do certain things. Ironic, given the fact that I’m also someone who would book a trip to Turkey just because it was convenient.

After each time I’ve left Japan and came back, I picked up a few more words. But that’s really about it. Without evening realizing, I’ve found myself a little more assimilated to the way Japanese women conservatively dress on this particular trip.

When I was in Japan last summer, it was the souvenir bomber jackets that was trending - making hunting a real vintage one a thrill. I never got to find the particular one that I wanted, and the ones that came close to what I was searching for costs about the same as a designer piece. Worth it? Probably yes — but not enough for the hype for my personal use.

One of the great things about working in fashion is that you’re always aware of what’s to come rather than what’s currently trending. According to ELLE, robes are going to be everywhere soon - and to be honest, if Zara is displaying 5 of something on their racks, you should know by now that that’s what's going to be hot soon since it's ripped right off runways from 3 months ago.

I’m actually not a big thrift shopper, mostly because of how I treat my personal clothing pieces. I never get rid of things because each piece is attached to some sentimental memory. So for me, buying someone’s old clothes is kind of an invasion of privacy (does that make sense?).

On a whim last May in Tokyo, I stopped into a thrift store along the rows of many others in Omotesando and came across racks on racks of reworked kimonos. The prices weren't outrageous at all for once, and this orange blossom of a patterned one stuck out to me right away. Did you know that "kimono" literally translate to "thing to wear?" For such a significant cultural clothing item, I find that it's even more alluring that it's so humbly named.

I actually didn’t plan for this outfit to turn out the way it did - but I thought it worked perfectly. I was already wearing a very Japanese wrapped shirt, paired with my typical laid-back boyfriend jeans, and made a little fancier for a possible date night dinner with some obnoxious studded flats. Somehow, the kimono eased itself on me and the boyfriend and I ended up spending 15 minutes walking around Omotesando after to relocated this golden and wood architecture of a gem to shoot this look.

Kimono:  Vintage (similar here)
Top:  /Style (similar here)
Pants:  GRLFRND Denim
Shoes:  Valentino Rockstuds
Bag:  Proenza Schouler PS11
Accessories:  Fendi Bag Bug

Photos by Shun S.

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Hong Kong, China | Night

There isn’t enough words or the right words to ever describe something that has truly captivated you. When you are in awe by it, you’ll just know. It is also why ‘serendipity’ has always been a favorite word of mine. One that I don’t use often, but when I do, it means it’s really that special.

Hong Kong was definitely one of those serendipitous adventures. We had no plans of visiting until the very last minute, and although we originally thought we had at least 5 full days there, we ended up only getting 3 days and 2 nights.

72 hours in Hong Kong was an adrenaline rush. During the day, it was hot and sweltering. At night, the city truly came alive. We walked through the main streets of Mongkok where there was a variety of street performances from young talented bands to grandmas and aunties straight up doing a karaoke session.

On one night, we headed to The Peak to check out the infamous Hong Kong skyline. It was overwhelming, to say the least, but honestly so worth it as it’s been a scene I’ve seen so many times in TVB dramas. On another, we came out to explore Temple Street and got to eat spicy crab and other seafood at the night market and finished off with mango sago for dessert.

Between the food, the people, the unlimited street photography opportunities, I still haven’t fully decided what it is I like Hong Kong best for. But one thing for sure is, Hong Kong is a place that I’m definitely going to be visiting again really soon.

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No More Beach Days

In an attempt to be more like a summer baby that I actually I am, I agreed to hit the beach last weekend with a couple of my girlfriends. The goal for any beach day is relatively the same: get burnt, no? But instead of getting 2 shades darker, all I got at the end of a long day was a bathtub full of sand that resided from every inch of my body and sticky hair that I had to shampoo’ed twice. So honestly, I don’t know why some people think it’s weird that I don’t enjoy going to the beach. The day was filled with a lot of joy though, and stupid laughs that Boomerang clips purposely provide. I don’t actually think I’ll have another beach trip anytime soon, but definitely looking forward to more hot and sweaty summer adventures.

Swimsuit:Tularosa Label
Bag: Cult Gaia
Earrings: (similar here)

Photos by Christina L. Direction by Van L.

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