The Fall Ads

Setting aside ice-cream and heat talks, the Fall 14/15 campaign ads are here! I cannot even pick my favorites, so here they are, a sweeping storm of stunning images, gorgeous models and luxury pieces to die for! 

How To: Menswear in Summer

I'm not repeating how obsessive I am when it comes to menswear (wait, I just did!), but the summer heat does make the oversize blazers, dress shoes and pinstripes a bit overwhelming. Still, the call for boyfriend steals is much more appealing to me than laced dresses and sweet chiffon. The tricks for menswear in the summer? Lightweight materials and rolled-up sleeves. Switch to summer pantsuits (linen to the rescue) for a more relaxed silhouette in hot days. Oversize boyfriend shirts and jeans are only more chic when rolled up. Finally, trade those cool blucher  shoes for sneakers. Help you run errands better in the sun anyway. 

Happy dressing up!

Summer in the City

For some of us who are deprived of a long vacation in Bali this summer, being fashionable in the city heat might just be a tad cumbersome. Ideally, you want to live in your cut-off denim shorts, tank tops and shirt-dresses. But such are almost never work appropriate, and let's face it, then where is the fun? More importantly, where is the excuse to buy more clothes? Here are some of the tips that worked for me while living in Seoul and Hanoi, the two possibly most humid places on the surface of the Earth these glorious summer months. 

Mango May Lookbook

A refreshing breeze to the getting-hot-by-the-minute weather! Just in time for the coming heat, Mango's new lookbook was filled with little white dresses and lovely pale pinks. Makes me crave a cocktail so bad! Seriously though, I'm dashing to the shop for those lacy white numbers. Which are your favorites? 

American Beauty

2 things from Kirsten Dunst for Harper Bazaar's UK May issue:

1. Rosy pink is definitely here to stay.

2. How many  editorials has the delicately lacy Burberry dress been featured in already? 10? All of them?

Shoe Porn

Remember: Good shoes take you to good places!

Bare Legs

Decided to show some skin this weekend since the streets of Seoul seem already filled with skirts and thighs. Result? A bit chilly still. But very happy for the very much welcoming sunshine days. 

29CM Stylebook SS14

29CM is a new online shopping site I just discovered recently, which offers a variety of Korean brands with cool and offbeat vibes. Now, their prices range is not exactly wallet-friendly, but given the quality and  unique resembles you do not normally find on the streets of Seoul, I'd give it a go.

Their SS14 lookbook embraces the peculiar street-chic ambiance with quirky dresses, sorbet pastels and fun shoes. Take a look and shop away! 

ART POP

After a winter of minimalistic cut and modern patterns, the S/S14 catwalk brings us the boldest, most colorful prints on swirling dresses and flowing long shirts. Major houses had their own interpretations of the art pop revival: Chanel with their Patone-streaked dresses, Prada brought street mural images on the walk and Celine stood out by vivid abstract strokes. The trend then took the editorials of the season with a storm of painted prints and bold brushstrokes that are nothing shy of an all out eye-feast. Even Zara had their version of the art pop trend, so the question is truly: Are you bold enough for the art?

Boyfriend

I finally found it, I found my Holy Grail of boyfriend jeans! I have searched high and low, but persistence rewards. This pair have the perfect wash, the perfect rips, and the perfect length. An absolute wardrobe staple! 

Low Classic F/W14

Seoul Fashion Week, which is scheduled one month later than the usual fashion storm of NY-London-Paris-Milan, just ended last week. The Korean fashion industry still has a long way to go, but I really really enjoyed the recent seasons of Low Classic, a Korean brand renowned for minimalistic feel, modern silhouettes and clean lines. The F/W14 collection was no exception: all the looks had a distinctive masculine ambiance with monotone pantsuits and BW skate shoes. A very exciting to watch out for!

Fresh for Spring

I am absolutely swooned by the Stradivarius Spring/Summer 14 Lookbook. I admit I have put Stradivarius to the back of my mind for the whole FW13 season, but they have come back stronger than ever with these looks with the inherent sporty chic vibe, so fresh, so ripe for spring. The softer pieces (pastel pink jacket and floral shirts) are smartly combined with tough leather skirts and boyfriend jeans/blazers, creating a lookbook full of effortlessly chic ensembles just in time for the warmer days. I have such a hard time picking favorites, but the crisp white shirt dress and leather-collared blazer definitely stand out. On another note, it's extremely hard to ignore those lovely floral pieces especially for spring. I gotta say, let's go shopping! 

Easy

Cardigan, t-shirt, ripped jeans and loafers. Don't you just love an easy-win formula? 

Cardigan: H&M (Men)
Top: Zara

Jeans: Zara
Loafers: Charles & Keith

Old Town

Greetings from Hoi An! This little town in the middle part of Vietnam is so prettily picturesque, every corner is post-card worthy. Pictures cannot even begin to describe the magical serenity filling up the atmosphere here all the time. And when the nights come, the lanterns light up the whole river like a scene from "Tangled", only more magnificent and true. What's not to love?

Light

Zara Spring 2014 look book is sheer perfection with dainty silk dress, sheer blouse, and creme shades. When will the cold end, please? 

Hello Feburary

I felt just like yesterday when we said Happy New Year to 2014, now it's February. How fast time flies! I just recovered (not fully) from food coma of the Lunar holiday in Hanoi, and am so not ready to get back to work. So I am feeling a little grey this week, but this cute coffee shop really cheered me up. Loving the retro style :)

Vogue Girl February 2014

Well, what do you know? Spring is officially here, in the magazines' editorials at least. While us commoners are wrapped in (faux) furs and wool, in Vogue Girl February issue Tiffany and Yuri (SNSD) already graced in pastel and laces. 

This editorial is so much loved: the pastel pink-centric pieces (Burberry!) are toughened up by motor jackets, metallic skirts, beanies and black leather dress. And did you notice the sneakers?! They are already the biggest trend on the runways this year, but that should wait till another post...

Resolutions

When the clock strikes new year every year, we sit and jot down a silly list of must-dos in the coming 365 days, a set of expected behaviors for us to feel better about ourselves. Very quickly after, almost everyone (including myself of course) shatters the illusion of accomplishment, because we're too busy, too tired, or too caught up with realities to fill these expectations. There are always excuses. Knowing myself then, the only resolutions I hold the flimsy hope of keeping might as well be some style resolutions, also known as some wardrobe improvements I dream to make in 2014.

A Woman Who Road Away

Swathed in Dior Resort 2014, Fia Ljungstrom shows us how to travel in grace on the spread of Elle China's first issue of 2014. It's so refreshing to escape the cold for some absolute elegance and class in the midst of a fabulous Monaco castle. Also, you cannot go wrong with Raf.

Night Shopping in Hongdae

You've tried clubbing in Hongdae at night, but how about shopping?