"Oh! Let's Get Lost"

Playing: Daydreamer - Bipolar Sunshine
Reading: Tender is the Night by F. Scott Fitzgerald

After seeing so much of the Costume Institute on Hamish Bowle's Instagram, I couldn't hep but want to see it for myself. However, I never got the chance during any of my family jaunts to New York. Consequently, it was one of the first places I checked out when I started at NYU. At the time, it was their "Death Becomes Her" exhibit, which chronicled mourning clothing. Interesting but not what I expected at all. Half a dozen Met trips later, I made a point of seeing the "China:Through the Looking Glass" exhibit before heading back to SoCal. It was amazing how the Met set up labyrinthine pathways that took you from traditional homes to mirrored hallways all showcasing Chinese influence on Western design. Overall, I enjoyed the exhibit and the chance to see so many pieces from John Galliano, Tom Ford, and Jean Paul Gaultier. Even though the exhibit did include pieces from other brands like Valentino and Rodarte, I would have liked to see more from other designers other than the three previously mentioned.

"A moment you'll never remember..."

Playing: Hallelujah - Panic! at the Disco

Reading: The Buried Giant by Kazuo Ishiguro

Since I'm done with my first year at NYU and no longer have a proper excuse for neglecting the blog, I thought I'd write something up quickly. 

Have you ever found that you become ten times more productive/adventurous when you know time is running out? Well, that's what happened to me when I realized that I only had a month left before heading back to SoCal. My last month consisted of running off to finally try the famous afternoon tea at the Plaza and exploring more of Central Park (I went three times!). I also managed a visit to the David Zwirner Gallery to check out my favorite artist's, Yayoi Kusama's, "Obliteration Room" and a stop at Chanel's "No. 5 in a New Light" exhibit.

Met Gala: China Through the Looking Glass

Playing: Tongues-Joywave
Reading: Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been? by Joyce Carol Oates

When I first heard the theme for this year's Met Gala, "China: Through the Looking Glass," I cringed a bit. As an Asian-American, I was worried that fashion's biggest event would make a mockery of Chinese culture because let's face it - it's a fine line between celebrating a foreign culture and being racist. I was afraid that Chinese fashion would be shown in costume-y and cheesy ways that would make it hard for Asians to feel genuine pride in their culture.

However, to my surprise, many attendees actually came in tasteful attire that hinted to the Chinese theme without being obnoxious. My personal favorite was Anna Ewers' outfit because it was chic even outside of the Asian context of the night. I loved how her kanzashi-esque hair piece served as subtle reminder of the night's theme without coming off cheesy. Rita Ora's Tom Ford dress also impressed me in the way that its structural shoulders reminded me of a qipao yet it was still a dress that could be worn to any function.

While there were plenty of classy renditions of Chinese dresses like Zhang Ziyi's Caroline Herrera gown and Bee Shaffer's sakura print Alexander McQueen, there were still enough gowns to leave me feeling slightly offended, as if the Chinese theme of the night was taken as an opportunity to put on some sort of a costume. Model Karolina Kurkova's Tommy Hilfiger mini-dress left me feeling especially offended because of its cheesy interpretation of Chinese clothing. Don't you feel like it's too cliche to just show up in a red satin dress with some gold brocade and call it Chinese? It just felt like something you would find in a touristy Chinatown gift shop.

Arguably, Rihanna's dress is just as costume-y as Kurkova's. However, there are two big differences in my mind why Rihanna's outfit was acceptable and why Kurkova's wasn't. First of all, Rihanna is known for her avant-garde taste in fashion, so I saw her dress as more of an appreciation of a work of art rather than a costume. Second of all, Rihanna's dress is from a Chinese designer, Guo Pei. Who am I to argue over the "correct" representation of Chinese culture with another Chinese person?

With that distinction in mind, I couldn't help but wonder, why not just take the easy route for this year's Met Gala and wear a dress from an Asian designer? Isn't that the easiest (and least offensive) way to pay homage to Asian culture?  It's not like you would have to go as extreme as Guo Pei's cape or anything, since there are plenty of luxurious and chic Asian designers to choose from like: Richard Chai, Prabal Gurung, Derek Lam, Philip Lim, Anna Sui, Alexander Wang, Vera Wang, and Jason Wu. I just felt like considering how many amazing Asian designers there are, it was disappointing to see so few Asian brands represented at the gala, considering the theme.

Photo Sources- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5

Inspiration for Cold Weather Looks

Playing: Electric Love-BØRNS
Reading: Hiroshima Notes by Kenzaburō Ōe

Due to a horrible mix of food poisoning, schoolwork and long hours in class, I'm afraid I'm going to have to sit out on NYFW. It kills me looking at the photos to know that I'm not attempting to sneak into any shows, but I'm still getting excited about all the new looks nonetheless. With the freezing weather, I've been stuck in a rut of black skinny jeans, Doc Martens, and fluffy sweaters underneath my Mackage coat. My wardrobe is in definite need of something new. I'm loving the fur coats, Leandra Medine's bright red dress, and Eva Chen's effortless monochromatic look. The real question though is - am I ready to pull my skirts and dresses out for wintertime? 

PS If you're freezing, try these earmuffs? Just got them and they keep me warmer than my beanies.

All photos taken from Vogue.

Chanel SS 2015 Haute Couture

Playing: Aficionado-BB Brunes

Reading: Come Away by Stephen Policoff

Haute couture week has come and gone and it was a wonderful season. From John Galliano's triumphant return to fashion at Maison Martin Margiela to the country-inspired looks at Viktor & Rolf, this season had its fair share of whimsy and fun. No other show took away my breath the way Chanel did though. By far, Chanel's most beautiful collection in years. For most Chanel shows, it takes me awhile to warm up to them. However, the SS 2015 Haute Couture collection immediately caught my attention with its ethereal beauty and youthful LBDs (looks 33-37). I especially enjoyed the lovely flower decorations placed along the hems of skirts, sleeves, and various beanies. (How dream-worthy is the finale wedding dress with its exquisite skirt!) All in all, it was refreshing to see a little less of the tweed suit and more of the gorgeous frocks that we all want to own. By the way, is there anyway Karl Lagerfeld could send me one of those beanies to help me survive this winter? Please and thank you!

Photos: 1,3 and 5 from Chanel News/ 2 and 4 from Vogue

The Top 7 Moments of SS15

Playing: No Shows-Gerard Way
Reading: The Ramayana by R.K. Narayan
With the oncoming of midterms and numerous essays, it was hard for me to digest everything that went down during the whirlwind that we like to call fashion month. If you're having trouble getting through all of SS15, don't worry; I came up with the top seven moments of SS15 for you.

1. Although I still prefer Marc Jacobs leading Louis Vuitton, I have to admit that Nicholas Ghesquiere isn't doing a bad job at all. However, this season what caught my eye (and admittedly, stole my attention away from the clothes) was the dramatic eye makeup, half doll-like in its cartoon-ish proportions and half grunge '90s girl.

2. For those of you that prefer a more romantic approach to makeup and accessories, Valentino killed it with their delicate gold hair pieces, reminiscent of the laurels Greek goddesses wore. Whether you pair it with a floor-length gown or dress it down with a cozy sweater, be prepared to receive massive amounts of hair envy.

3. Dries Van Noten has a history of creative runways (Example? SS05's chandelier extravaganza!) and this season was no exception. Models casually relaxed and posed dreamily along a mossy runway, while displaying an offering of flowy clothes and mixed prints.

4. As much as I love the newer faces on the catwalk like Lindsey Wixson and Yumi Lambert, I have to admit that my favorite models are mostly the queens from the mid-2000s. Consequently, Gemma Ward opening for Prada plus Freja Beha Erichsen (Louis Vuitton), Jessica Stam (Jean Paul Gaultier), and Vlada Roslyakova (Ralph Lauren) all returning to the runway had to make the list for the best moments. While Freja still reins as queen of everything cool, Vlada, Jessica, and Gemma prove that the doll era is back. (Sasha Pivovarova even took a walk down the runway, but where was Lily Donaldson?)

5. Jean Paul Gaultier announced that SS15 would be his last pret-a-porter collection and that he will be focusing mostly on haute couture and costumes from now on. While I hate to see him go, I think his exit from the world of ready to wear begs a few important questions: Where is the balance between creativity and marketability? Is it too demanding to ask designers to come up with hundreds of looks a year? Will other designers follow suit?

6. Although this wasn't announced until after fashion month, it's still deserving of making the list of top 7 moments you should know. John Galliano, after leaving Dior and his namesake brand, will be taking over at Maison Martin Margiela. Will he be bringing his love for historical fashion to the brand or will he follow Margiela's sleek modernism? We'll just have to wait and see.

7. Hedi Slimane killed it once again with his collection for Saint Laurent. Somehow he manages to bring all of my favorite things together - sparkly shoes, military-inspired jackets, miniskirts, impossibly cool girls, etc.- and nail it every time. It didn't hurt that YSL also had the coolest models from Hanne Gaby Odiele to Grace Hartzel, stomping down the runway among rainbow prisms.

Photos 1, 2, 3, and 7 from Vogue.  Photo 5 from New York Times. Photo 4 from Style.com but collaged by me. Photo 6 from Telegraph.

winter appropriate

Playing: Beware the Dog-The Griswolds
Reading: The Human Comedy by William Saroyan

Preparing for my move out to New York was kind of hard mostly because I have no idea what to expect from New York winter. California winters are all pretty mild as in I can wear a tank top with a denim jacket and feel just fine. During my hunt for warmer clothing, I had to pick up a few jackets and sweaters. The quilted jacket I thought would help dress up my jean outfits and the holographic overlay on the geode sweater is what got me. Both are from Zara.

I also picked up a baggy BP sweater, an ASTR scuba skirt, and a Topshop cropped sweater all from Nordstrom. I've been relying on the cropped top and skirt combo lately, so I'm hoping that with a pair of warm tights and a good pair of boots, I can pull the look into colder weather.

While in Japan, I didn't pick up a whole lot for myself. The only other things I bought that aren't pictured is some food and stationary. I'm super psyched about the CC Cream and the perfume-shaped phone case, which is the only one I could find without the Chanel name on it. (Chanel doesn't make these, so all of the ones you see are fakes. I liked this one because it wasn't trying to be something it's not.) The Wego cropped sweater is a nice shade of Slytherin green like the BP sweater and the Topshop crop top is really easy to pair with everything. In terms of shoes, I got an odd pair of sneaker platforms and a pair of ugly yet great Bershka boots.

Back to the winter appropriate clothing. I walked into Nordstrom with the intention of getting a pair of Hunter boots, but walked out with a pair of Valentino boots. The Valentino pair had a deeper tread than the Hunter pair and let's face it, the Valentino ones are prettier too. Even though they aren't lined, I'm hoping that I can wear these when it snows too. Maybe a thick pair of socks will help with that?

other plans

Playing: Doses and Mimosas-Cherub
Reading: Turandot by G.Adami and R. Simoni

Originally, I was supposed to go to Coachella to see the Drowners. However, my Coachella plans fell through pretty quickly. Consequently, when I heard they were going to be at the Observatory, I begged my parents to cut our New York trip short so that I could meet them. Lead singer Matthew Hitt is one of my favorite male models and I brought him a copy of my favorite novel, The Catcher in the Rye, which happens to be one of his favorite novels too. (Who knew? He even quoted it.) When guitarist Jack Ridley III heard I flew back from New York to see them and that I might be moving there, he told me I could hang out with the band, which is an offer I'm hoping is semi-serious.

In other news, it's been over a hundred degrees in SoCal for the past few days. Coupled with the fact that I'll be spending a month roaming Japan, I figured I needed a few skirts to flesh out my summer wardrobe. This white skirt from bar iii is really light and I like the curved seam going across the front. Since Macy's was having a crazy 25% off everything sale, I also got this Marc by Marc Jacobs backpack for college.

Left to Right: Sarah, me, Tina and Christine

Like I said before, it's been unbearably hot lately. Therefore, after our AP Gov test, I took off to Crystal Cove with Sarah, Tina, Christine, and Sophie. The AP Gov test only took up three class periods, but the attendance office excused us for tutorial, fourth period and lunch too, so we had almost two hours to go to the beach and celebrate the near end of our AP testing. Definitely a sporadic trip, but I guess that's what made it so great too. Other than Christine, we're all moving out of SoCal for college and it's kind of sad to know that we'll no longer be able to go to the beach whenever we feel like it. Seriously though, how much more stereotypically SoCal can this trip get and how are we gonna survive without this?

change of seasons

Playing: I Wanna Get Better-Bleachers

Reading: The Transformation of Bartholomew Fortuno by Ellen Bryson (Kind of getting tedious.)

Sorry that it's been over 20 days, since I last blogged. I thought about deleting my blog for awhile and couldn't make up my mind, but I'm back with some posts for all of you. Going along with my current love for oatmeal topped with a crap load of berries, I ordered Mona's Breakfast at Haute Cakes with poached eggs rather than egg whites because obviously the yolks are the best part. Even though I think I am capable of making decent oatmeal, Haute Cakes hands down makes the best oatmeal. It's fluffy, creamy, and comes with a ton of fruit. Also, the poached eggs with spinach and salsa verde was very good (and healthy?).

If you live in Southern California, I highly recommend visiting the Flower Fields in Carlsbad, Calif. It's incredibly beautiful and all of the flowers looked like something straight out of a Tim Burton movie (he already did this in Big Fish). Oh and to play into stereotypes, this is how I imagined the Netherlands would look like in elementary school minus the palm trees.

I also did some shopping in my time away (what a surprise!). Here are my recent purchases: a Helmut Lang t-shirt, Zara sweatshirt, and an Aqua puffy coat. My style definitely wavers between being edgy casual and being completely gaudy with tons of sparkles and dangly earrings. It's kind of ridiculous how I'll show up one day in jeans and Converse with a leather jacket and then the next day I come in teetering in heels with a short skirt and glittery necklaces layered around my neck.

I also bought a pair of nude heels for my upcoming prom to go with my D&G dress. I was originally planning on a teal or maroon pair, but then realistically, I would never wear those again, so I went with a safe pair of nude heels from BP. They're actually really comfortable from all of the times I've worn them out and about so far. In my opinion, they also look more expensive than they actually are. I'm sorry for being gone for so long and will start catching up on all of you wonderful blog posts. I feel like I've been out of the loop for such a long time.

it's conceptual

Playing: Fake You Out-Twenty One Pilots
Reading: Chronicle of a Death Foretold by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

After waking up painfully early to get in line for the Jason Wu for Target collaboration, I decided that I would not go through all that work again for another designer unless they were one of my favorites. Fortunately, I lucked out with the Peter Pilotto For Target collection. A lot of the people that hoard clothes to sell on eBay end up returning the garments if they aren't sold quickly enough, so I was able to find a large chunk of the collection in the sales section. I liked how graphic each of the pieces were and how the mesh sleeves on the cardigan made it feel more sporty.

I also splurged recently on this pair of Dior boots with a misplaced heel, when I was on the hunt for prom shoes. They were on insane markdown at Nordstrom Rack and I figured this was probably my only chance to get such a wonky pair of designer heels for a decent price. Since they're black boots, I feel like these heels are discreet enough to be worn often. However, between these boots and the tops up above, I feel like my wardrobe just became a tad more bold and conceptual (read as harder to wear) than before.

Talking about prom, I realized recently that I never shared photos of my prom from last June. Here's a photo of Lauren and me doing the classic-John-Paul-staring-into-the-distance-while-saluting-some-unknown pose with the John Paul. Lauren was John Paul's and my mommy in journalism last year and since we were a family, we decided to take a bunch of Kardashian family-esque photos to prove that we were more deserving of a reality show than the Kardashians. This is one of the few photos that came out truer to our identity as a family than the Kardashians. Also, that Diane von Furstenberg dress is still one of my favorites. Invite me to a formal event, so that I can wear it again.

crystal clear

Playing: Trouble-Coldplay
Reading: The Stranger by Albert Camus

A week or two ago, I celebrated Tina's and Hannah's birthdays at Crystal Cove. It's a really cute area and I used to spend a lot of time down there as a kid. There are two places to eat down there along with a bunch of summer homes from the 1960s and tide pools, which are always fun to explore. Afterwards, we went to Lemonade at Fashion Island for drinks and went shopping. Just by our wallets, purses, and drinks, I think you can tell a lot about our personal style. Hope you're all doing well!