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.

LOOK 1:
Coat: Zara (similar here)
Dress: & Other Stories (similar here)
Bralette: Aritzia
Shoes: Aldo Shoes
Bag: Proenza Schouler PS1

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?

LOOK 2:
Sweater: Jacquemus
Dress: & Other Stories (similar here)
Tights: Aritzia
Shoes: Acne Studios

Photos by Shun S.

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Form-Fitting

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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