SHOP THIS LOOK:

Dress: Nastygal
Shoes: Common Projects
Bag: Phillip Lim Pashli
Accessories: Larsson and Jennings watch, Tatum Bradley cuff

Photos by Shun S.

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Early

There are a bunch of traits about me that I don't mind, but I wouldn’t say that I'm proud of, either. Being late is one of them. I've always hated the idea of waiting; that's why, I never really bothered to arrive on time. Okay, there are occasions where I have tried to be early, but that's only 25% out of like all the other times. And even those times, I barely make it, or get lucky.

I know the importance of being punctual, yet I've failed numerous times to actually prioritize it.

Ever since I started my full time job, I've gotten used to the routine of being on time. Time, to me, has never been more valuable-- as I literally have no personal time or space throughout my entire day and week.

I like that work has been filling up my life with this appreciative and fulfilling feelings. But I just haven't gotten the chance to find balance for it all.

More than being on time I've gotten used to the idea of being early. I enjoy getting up an hour earlier than usual, get ready, and leave an hour earlier than usual. To grab a coffee, to take a walk, to see my boyfriend before work and most importantly to arrive at work without feeling rushed.

As you might have realized from my previous post, having enough personal time and space is really important to me. It's super hard for me to focus on other tasks if there are things I wanted to check off my to do list still left to be done. I'm kinda old fashioned that way. Always making a list and writing the same thing down over and over again until I don't have to be reminded of it anymore.

You might be wondering if "morning Van" gets tired. Of course I do! But it's a really good kind of tired. Like the feeling some get from going on a run before work, or hitting the gym before starting the day. Yes I'm tired, but I also feel productive, fulfilled and accomplished and it's much better than feeling tired and useless. Hence, got this blog post shot on a Wednesday morning so that I can enjoy the weekend without worrying about not having content to post.

Trench: Aritzia
Sweater: & Other Stories
Pants: Citizens of Humanity
Shoes: Chanel Espadrilles
Bag: Givenchy Antigona
Accessories: Aritzia Scarf

Photos by Shun S.

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Sun, Sea, Sky, Sand...

...and you & I.

I would say that I’m a people’s person, but I prefer being alone. It’s complicated. The way I find my solitude is not by isolating myself, but rather, freeing myself. There’s something about being alone but still accompanied that I find quite comforting. It’s a nice feeling to feel like you’re withdrawn from whatever it is that you want to be far away from, yet, not fully detached.

It wasn’t until I started traveling abroad, that I realized that it was not being away that makes me feel less suffocated, but rather being in a place that gives me personal space. I haven’t made a trip to the beach once this whole entire summer, but it was the first place I wanted to go to, once the season was announced over. The trek to Coney Island took nearly 2 hours, but something about long train rides really make me reminisce.

I woke up at 6:30am that morning, shared a breakfast sandwich and a dollar cup of coffee with my partner at 8:30am and by 9:something, I was chasing seagulls on the sand.

Wind and hair all over my face, sand filled up in my shoes and this cashmere wrap as a cape - these are the dates that I truly treasure. The feeling of being free and comfortable was captured effortlessly.

Cashmere Wrap: Pas De Calais AW'15

Photos by Shun S.

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Cultured

Jacket: Alpha Industries
Top: Banana Republic
Pants: A Gold E Jeans
Shoes: Acne Studios
Bag: Givenchy Antigona

Photos by Shun S.

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Over The Knee, Over My Head

I went through a period of my life when sneakers, jeans and an oversized shirt or sweater would do. But this was way back in middle/high school, when my parents could barely afford rent each month. As a little girl who grew up wearing a different dress everyday before I moved to the States, this American Dream uniform didn’t really bother me since it was something different than I was used to.

The idea of wearing over the knee boots then would have been thrown completely over my head. Before these thigh high and over the knee boots were introduced, the to-go was ankle boots and knee high socks instead.

Maybe it’s because we’re all basically running out of ideas or getting lazier over the years - knee high boots seemed like they would be a more efficient replacement for the two steps process of wearing ankle boots with knee high socks. In reality though, it takes me about 20 more minutes to put on most over the knee boots as it take to do it the older, cheaper way.

Even so, being a part of this over-spoiled generation, I too, ditched the knee high socks with ankle boots thing, and acquainted myself with the update.

Jacket: Theory
Top: Aritzia
Shorts: Zara
Shoes: Aldo 'Olilassa'
Bag: Proenza Schouler PS1

Photos by Shun S.

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Sunflowers

Before sunflowers became my favorite, it used to be yellow tulips. When it comes to flowers, yellow have always been a preferred color for me. Personally, I don’t buy flowers often, so when I do, it’s usually a special occasion. Looking at yellow flowers really make me feel happy and that’s why, over the years, sunflowers have come to have a special place in my heart too.

When I first started dating my boyfriend a few years go, there was one summer where he sent me a postcard of a field of sunflowers from Japan. It really didn’t mean much then but, I thought it was cute that they made him think of me. Since that postcard, it became a tradition that he would get me sunflowers for my birthdays, monthnaversaries, anniversaries and any type of special occasion (he still buys me yellow tulips on Valentine’s day).

This summer while visiting him in Japan, it happened to be the perfect timing that the sunflower fields were fully bloomed and opened to the public. On the day of my birthday, we woke up really early to commute from Tokyo all the way to Zama, Kanazawa to see the sunflowers.

When we got there, it was scorching hot. We tried to take some photos but it was impossible with the sun. While these photos were really some of my favorite photos ever, sunflower fields are not as glamorous as they seem to be. There were bees everywhere and the dirt roads were not good for my shoes. Not to mention, it started raining on us right after we waited for the sun to go away.

Nevertheless, it was really fun to just get lost in acres and acres of sunflowers with shaved ice and takoyaki balls that were sold at the food stands on the sunflower farm.

The older I get, the less people I tend to want to spend my birthday with. This year, I found it somewhat comforting to be far away from home. It’s not that I don’t appreciate my family and friends, but it’s more of a day where I want to be alone and reflect.

It couldn’t have been more meaningful, especially with everything that has been going on for me this year, to be at a place that reminded me that I need to keep going. Because like sunflowers, that grow just looking solely at the sun - I too, just need to keep going towards the light.

Dress: Derek Lam 10 Chrosby
Shoes: Valentino Rockstud
Photos by Shun S.

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