Long Walks On The Beach

Happy Friday! Unfortunately the weather outside right now doesn't make me feel that happy. I think bleak is the only appropriate description I can think of. It's not even the kind of grey stormy bleak that makes you want to cozy up with a blanket, hot tea, and a good movie. They sky is just... bland.

The weather has been like this for a while now. Wednesday was a public holiday and a popular activity is watching the Dragon Boat Races. We went again this year to Stanley Beach to cheer on the teams. It was cloudy, but bright most of the day with the occasional rain. I didn't mind the weather so much, but what really made the day less enjoyable was the state of the beach.

Maybe I have been spoiled by the beaches in California (which I don't even go to that often), but even standing ankle deep in murky brown water with mysterious black shreds and non-sea foam foam floating all around was highly unsavory. And to think I had been hoping to take a swim in that water. I spent most of the day trying to wash away the black pieces from my feet and flip flops, and wishing that I was back at the beach in Maiori, Italy. I've been to beaches in California, Sydney, Nice, but I have never seen water as clear as at the beaches along the Amalfi Coast.

We take for granted access to clean water. Back in Berkeley, I hardly ever bought bottled water. I just filled up by Brita from the faucet and refilled bottles if I needed water on the go. Located throughout campus were drinking fountains and some even had an extra filter built in. When I moved to Hong Kong, I thought that I could just continue using a Brita filter, but was told that even the filter wouldn't clean the water enough. If we do want to drink tap water here, we have to filter, boil, and cool down the water. It was a hassle compared to the ease of drinking tap water in the US, but after seeing various bodies of water in Hong Kong, I understand why tap water is undrinkable. I've read some sites that say the water is drinkable, but because most residential buildings are so old, rusty pipes contaminate the water. I wish there was a way to make tap water drinkable, but sadly only a complete plumbing renovation could resolve that.

Anyways, instead of seeing the unappealing Stanley Beach, enjoy some of my favourite photos from my Italy visit last summer.

Wearing: H&M tank blouse and denim shorts, Havaianas flip flops

All photos except the last one taken by my mom.

Mootta Special Anniversary Sale

This week is new South Korean shopping site Mootta is celebrating its one year anniversary. All designers and brands are based and manufacture in South Korea. I wasn't able to do much shopping during my recent trip to Seoul, but I'll definitely be checking out the sale. Use the exclusive code: HAPPY1YEAR to get 80% off all items in the anniversary sale section until June 30th 11:59pm GMT +9.

I'm currently working on a small collaboration with them, so stay tuned for updates. I can't wait to see how Mootta grows in its second year. Below are a two of my picks.

           ALEE Linen Pintuck Jacket                     CRES E. DIM Flower Bed Short Skirt

Seoul Food

 Pork Knuckles at Namdaemun Market

 Street Food Myeog-Dong Night Market

 Who needs a sit down dinner when you can just eat street food and window shop? There are a lot of local beauty/skincare shops at Myeong-Dong Market. I picked up a rose hand cream with 25spf to revive and protect my dry hands due to archery.

 Ice Cold Young Radish Noodles. Perfect to cool down on a hot Seoul summer day.

 

Tteokbokki with cheese. The kimbap is what this place was known for, but I love tteokbokki, so I had to try it. The cheese was disappointing, but the kimbap (no pictures) was delicious.

 Stir-fried octopus. Because octopus is always delicious.

 

7-11 find. I admit, I picked it because of the paintings. Each flavour has a different one. Unfortunately, it was too sweet, which seemed to be a theme among drinks in Seoul.

 A classic find. I can't remember the last time I had Dippin' Dots.

 

Patbingsu. Shaved ice, red bean, ice cream, rice cake, and nuts.

 

Peelable banana ice cream.

Korean BBQ at Maple Tree House. One of the nicer sit-down restaurants we tried. Lovely decor in a hip neighborhood and delicious meat, but the portions might be a bit small for the price.

Noryagin Fish Market. Get there early. We finished wandering, buying, ordering, and eating all before 10am. There are a few restaurants along the edges that will cook the fresh seafood you buy for a price. One lady spoke some Mandarin, but there was still a lot lost in translation and prices were confusing. The two big fishes we bought made a delicious soup and steamed fish.

Hollywood Studios and Star Wars Weekend

 

 

 

 

 

Getting up at 4am to stand in line outside Hollywood Studios? Probably a once in a lifetime experience for me. We did get FastPasses to meet Jeremy Bulloch aka Boba Fett! I didn't have any of my Star Wars shirts in Berkeley, so when I found this adorable R2D2 shirt, I had to get it. I couldn't walk around Star Wars Weekend without looking like a proper fan. It was an exhausting, but fun day. 

Wearing: Ashely Eckstein's Her Universe collection R2D2 shirt, H&M shorts, Magical Ribbons TARDIS bow

Keep Adventuring and Stay Not a Grown Up: Disney World Arrival

  

The beautiful Grand Floridian Resort

 

We managed to get a walk-in table at 1900 Park Fare (buffet style and super good salads). Cinderella if beautiful, but the Tremaine sisters are hilarious. 

 

Prince Charming was charming indeed.

  

The fireworks show is my favourite, but there's something very relaxing about watching it from afar. 

 

My inner-child got the better of me and I sat down at the kiddie chairs to watch some classic cartoons after dinner. Appropriately wearing my Magical Ribbons Peter Pan Bow. In the words of Spieling Peter, "Keep Adventuring and Stay Not a Grown Up!" A Disney World trip seems appropriate as I finish my college experience and enter the real world.

Wearing: H&M shirt, Sisley capris, Sperry Top-Siders, TopShop satchel

Party With Gatsby

I have to confess, I never read Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, but it has always been on my list and after seeing the movie, I am going to read it this summer. But of course, the premiere of the Baz Lurhman's Gatsby is an excellent opportunity to get your glitz on and dress like you're going to a party at the mysterious Gatsby's. See how to get the look after the photos.

Wearing: Black sequin shift dress, vintage fur coat, black Louboutin simple pumps, Chanel pearl drop earrings, Gap convertible black sparkly clutch, Anthropologie pearl and rhinestone headband. Don't be afraid to throw on more jewelry - the glitzier the better!

1920's flapper hair style for those with long hair: I used a clipless curling wand and quickly curled small to medium sections of hair. Put on your headband (pearls, rhinestones, etc). If it had an elastic on the bottom like mine does, have the band under your hair, but leave the front two loose. Take each curl and roll into a pin curl and bobby pin at the nap of your neck. There isn't really formula, just place however you wish. Set with hairspray. I like Elnett because it doesn't make your hair crunchy.

Flapper makeup: Chanel Illusion D'Ombre in Mirifique and Epetant, Le Stylo Yeux Waterproof in Noir Instense. Maybelline HyperCurl Waterproof, Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet L'Impatiente, Chanel Notorious Black eyeliner on the upper and lower water line and a basic smokey eye, but more metallic and grey. The shinier the better. Create that gaunt-ish look with dark lipstick and a dark contour.

Now brush up on that Charleston!

Les Adieux: Fashion and Student Trends Spring 2013 Runway Show

This past Sunday, the first collection I ever designed and made went down the runway at the FAST: Fashion and Student Trends Spring 2013 Runway Show. The theme of the whole show was Rubicon, referring to the saying crossing the Rubicon, a point of no return. I had always wanted to design a collection for FAST, but had never found the courage commit the time. Since this was my last semester, I decided to go for it. Committing myself to design, I crossed the Rubicon. I knew that once I started, I would have to finish no matter what.

As I was sewing frantically late Saturday night, early Sunday morning, and up until show time, there were moments in which I thought that I would not be able to send my collection down the runway, but then I reminded myself that I had to finish what I started. I made a commitment to myself and the world and I would fulfill it.

I am extremely proud to present my collection, Les Adieux, inspired by 18th century court dresses.

 

 

 Photos by Jonathan Yeung and Anthony Martinez