New In | Polo Ralph Lauren, Sandro, Burberry

POLO RALPH LAUREN Mod Club Tie | SANDRO Lighthouse Reefer Jacket | BURBERRY Large Classic Cashmere Scarf in Check

New In | S'Well, Versace Collection, Burberry

S'WELL 25oz Bottle | VERSACE COLLECTION Crew Neck Sweater | BURBERRY Brighton Lightweight Technical Jacket

New In | Burberry, Versace Collection, Nudie Jeans

BURBERRY Kensington Mid-Length Trench Coat | BURBERRY BRIT Brighton Lightweight Technical Jacket | VERSACE COLLECTION V Neck Sweater | NUDIE JEANS Lean Dean Jeans | BURBERRY Pipley Satin Bomber Jacket

Cravings of a minimalist

I wouldn't necessarily call myself a minimalist per se but I do gravitate towards that aesthetic. My wardrobe mainly consists of black white and navy blue pieces. Any pops of colour are probably things I've bought but hardly (and perhaps never) worn. Indeed, some of my favourite pieces are extremely minimal (like the classic Saint Laurent low cut court sneakers, skinny black jeans from Zara and my Saint Laurent black duffle bag) and just a white t-shirt.

2017 New Year's Post

Happy New Year 2017! So many memes lately of how bad 2016 was but was it really? I think it was ok. It felt kind of short though. Maybe that's because I was lucky enough to be travelling so much. Not this year though I think :( It's really in the new year that you realise how many online stores you have signed up to that send you a Happy New Year card. I also noticed the iMessage fireworks when you get a Happy New Year text. I think that was a nice touch :)

Anyway I hurt my leg in the last few days of 2016 and now I'm recovering and hopefully I will be good to go back to work tomorrow. 2016 really had a lot going on. For me one of the biggest changes in fashion was the shift to see now buy now. This sense of urgency in retail and spending definitely became far more prominent.

Labels like Burberry are offering products almost as soon as they debut on the runway (re the September 2016 runway releases) and this hype and excitement is probably much needed in the industry now.

Taken from Burberry

Consumers have changed how they spend money. People these days rather spend it on experiences and pay astronomical prices for food rather than something they can keep. Fashion therefore, has to remain fresh and interesting and fashion retail had to become an experience - that feeling of from runway to everyday. I think this continuing trend away from material spending is both good and bad. Yes we should value experiences that enrich us, but fashion is also an expression of art as well as a business. Designers like Raf Simons and Miuccia Prada have expressed more recently about their desire in creating art rather than revenue and I think that's highly commendable too. However, for art to be viable, it must also sell.

At the same time, I think spending so much money on food is really unnecessary. You're hungry tomorrow again! And what for? Just the small dose of dopamine you get when your food picture gets a like? Still I think as with everything, there is a need for balance. I don't mean you should not eat or buy what you enjoy, but I guess I just don't value extravagant food as much as I do clothes and design.

Christmas - Work, Pokemon and all that

Christmas is coming up so I've been quite busy at work wrapping up the year. It's had it's moments but I think it couldn't have worked out any better without me losing something I learnt this time around. As always I am reminded of small things that make life interesting if you choose to pay attention to them, as well as the fact that too many things are disappointing.

Onto Pokemon Sun, which is taking far less of my time than I anticipated. I am enjoying it (I think), but it is feeling very tedious. Also, I'm getting to about three-quarters through the game so I am feeling quite anxious about playing the reset game when Solgaleo comes along. This game is like what I think Christmas is about. It is usually about finding joy in miserable things - whether it be the winter of the Northern hemisphere, or the disgustingly humid heat waves of Sydney the past few days, I have had a bitter sweet year that I love very much.

New In | August 2016 (Burberry Shoes & Accessories, Versace × Rosenthal, Saint Laurent, Versace Collection, Burberry London, Vivienne Westwood)

I feel like I really toned it down this month in my shopping but clearly not enough. It's a little outrageous when I bought so many pairs of shoes.. but I'm pretty content with them. Anyway, this month I've also started trying to save aggressively. For what? I don't know, but at least I will be spending less. I've been doing ok so far but so tempted to shop :(

New In | July 2016 (Burberry Brit, Church's, Vivienne Westwood & Saint Laurent)

Every year around this time I go crazy with my buying and I often justify it because it's sale time but I still spend way too much :( Haha but it's cool I've become much wiser with my spending in that I'm buying things that I can see myself loving years to come - or so I tell myself. However, sometimes I am very tempted by very seasonal pieces - by their innovative flavour and how they captivate my imagination.

Anyway, here are just some the the things that I got in the June/July hump-month shopping.

On Structure and Vegetables

I haven't blogged for a while, hmm since summer school in New York last July. I guess I haven't because I felt too busy or just didn't feel for it. Irresponsible I guess. I do want though, and need structure in my life so I know that blogging is good for me if not anyone/thing else. I also felt a little disillusioned after travelling on exchange in Europe from August to January this year and seeing how fashion is treated over there. I don't want to go into it too much but would say I was disappointed - although I do still like it, maybe less so now, I just feel like I may have other priorities now. Anyway that has caused me to prolong my absence from here. But I want to come back. I want to because I want to be able to choose, despite demerits or merits. I still enjoy and like fashion, but more than ever I'm having more doubts on what is presented to us, and I think that's ok, I think I can reconciling this love-hate within myself. And I will be posting those things again soon.

Like I said, I really value blogging because it gives me a structure even though there are always busier periods and more peaceful times. Winging it has its benefits but I like to plan, I like to have a general idea, and then being spontaneous and flexible on top of that. I think that's what blogging for myself gives me, and that's what a hobby is. It is almost ritualistic like a job but there is still so much necessary freedom.

And on vegetables? I'm making more vegetarian choices, a day I never thought I'd see coming, well maybe I did but something that would happen much later. But I thought to myself, why later when you can now? I've had enough hamburgers to not need to have another one when I'm out, I can pick a vegetarian one. If I feel like I'm missing out, I might pick a meat option, but that hasn't really happened yet except from the really bad vegetarian toastie I got on the plane over a slider and mini hot dog, I really hate beans and lentils I think.

So what is 'making more vegetarian choices'? Maybe it's a cop out for a commitmentphobe or maybe I just want to emphasise discretion. I don't want to be too strict because I still wanna try interesting foods, meat or not. Anyway, I'm doing this because I want to, I want to choose. In a world of options, if we don't exercise choice, what are we but machines? I don't know if I will change the world, but I want to make a choice that I want to make.

Some of my friends confuse this as a trendy thing with 'clean eating', but no, I don't think vegetarianism is that healthy either because many dishes outside use so much more oil to make them taste better and fuller. Another conceptual difference is (and I'm not saying this is everyone), but someone who is eating clean can order a beef salad and not eat the beef, but I wouldn't order that in the first place because the meat is still consumed. That brings me to another point, that my recently vegan friend brought up. Just because you turn vegan doesn't mean you throw out all your leather goods, it just means that you'll choose not to buy more. Throwing them out does little good since they have already been consumed anyway.

And with that I have consumed a considerable amount of your time. But it's always good to think about things to think about when you're thinking about things, right? At least it usually is.

New In: June 2015 (Marc by Marc Jacobs, KRISVANASSCHE)

New In: June 2015

Marc by Marc Jacobs GO! T-Shirt

KRISVANASSCHE Grey Suede Runners

Instadigest | 2015 Autumn

Dear life,

I am writing to inform you of my happiness that most of my exams are over. On top of that, I am finally getting time to plan my trip to the U.S. properly. Although the study/examination period was not particularly demanding anyway - seeing as I had time to finish seasons 2-3 of Suits, season 17 of the Simpsons, millions of hours of Sir David Attenborough-narrated documentaries, watch The Good Wife, Dexter, picked up a good book - Old Man and the Sea (gotta start with the classics), start House of Cards and the general busy-ness of graduate applications and their assessments. House of Cards is so off-putting for me. I hate him so much lol it's just I don't know.

Autumn was quite productive this time round and I am glad that I got all that done and lots more, like planning my S2 exchange and many miscellaneous things, while also getting hibernation-worthy amounts of sleep and way too much eats. I guess I realised that it's probably my final year to be this free and autonomous before work or the stress of finding it will take over me. Anyway, I'm really happy about you and about me, but what I really need now is some great Japanese food.

Tony

-------

Dear battery life,

Where are you?

ever go to IKEA and buy random things for no reason

Ben Sherman suiting event

Weekender for a great weekend :)

Very much needed drinks after an all day lesson

Mini-Bucketlist: Flying

I guess everyone likes travelling these days so I'm jumping on the bandwagon a bit. It's also because I'm approaching the end of my degree which is super bitter sweet because on the one hand we're all pensive about graduate positions but on the other we want to really be released from the shackles of university. Adding to that is the fear that once we do have jobs, we won't have time to be as free as we are at university. I know, how oxy and moronic of me.

In any event I have travelled quite a bit since 2014 and will do more for the rest of this year. It's going to be my final semester at the bottom half of this year and I'll never get the opportunity to go on exchange again.

Why I like shoeboxes

So I just got back from Hong Kong, New York and Boston last week and I have so much to put away. To do so, I had to find space for them in my wardrobe and room. After folding all the pants, sweaters, sweatshirts and tshirts, and hanging up my button shirts and jackets, there wasn't much room left for stuff like socks, ties, scarves and fragrances. It's really tough work making space from no space. Especially when I'm such a hoarder - keeping everything I get overseas as memorabilia like subway passes and sometimes even flyers.

Acne Adrian Sneaker in Black

But the thing I hoard the most would have to be boxes. Especially shoe boxes. I just can't throw them away! Especially with the big sneaker trend in recent years, we're buying more and more stylish footwear season after season. And the packaging? Oh they look great too.

my must haves 2014

Once again, kicking off the post with "I haven't blogged in a while" but you know the age old excuse of uni and work - actually I can't really blame work I haven't been doing much of that. I've been buying a few things and rewarding myself for nothing (I guess if I was in charge of the economy I'd cause some pretty bad inflation). Nonetheless I think I can get back into routine very soon since exams are quickly approaching, less than 2-3 weeks away and I'll be done in 32 days.

Karl Lagerfeld / Marc by Marc Jacobs / Dior Homme / Acne Studios
Costume National / Saint Laurent Paris

The not-so-nice-to-me month of May passed so quickly actually. It was mainly just contemplating to begin my assignment due next Friday - I have yet to start because towards the end of a semester I just get so burnt out. I think it's time for window retail therapy and really make a list of stuff I want to achieve in buying, seeing as I have ticked off most of the stuff from last year. I do feel that shopping is empowering and can provide satisfaction. Also, this is probably the only age I'll be able to splurge (living at home, no mortgages and other debts) until later in life.

I do think that from frequent shopping, I have realised the downfalls of fast fashion. I don't always feel comfortable wearing fast fashion because the quality of the clothes does make a difference. I used to think the opposite, wearing it just for the style and the quality can suck it and get in the trash in a year. But buying quality items that will last a long time really does pay off. I find that I always return to 'slow fashion' than my fast fashion buys. Oh except for jeans, I wear black jeans 363/365 days a year.

I think a lot of bloggers talk about the items which they like or whatever but wouldn't actually buy so it does seem a little superficial. So I am doing the world good in setting myself goals. Ha! That's my justification anyway. Hmmm.. Maybe there will be good sales on because of EOFYS. Yes please. I'll feel so proud of myself when I get all these things - but looking at the balance of my savings right now, they will have to wait. I'll try not to break the bank again because I did recently, with a purchase from Saint Laurent but my idea about money is that well, you can always make more. I know, it's so bad.

Karl Lagerfeld 7 Watch

Watch Pick: Karl Lagerfeld 7


I've been eyeing this watch ever since it came out in 2013. But it's more expensive than any other of my existing watches and I can't bring myself to buy it yet. Also because I haven't really seen anything else too outstanding this year to my liking. It should go on sale soon. right? Haha time to bargain hunt. So freakin cool because the prismy triangle theme is so futurist and luxe which I adore. AND - it's black so it can basically be an everyday watch. Oh but there's a leather strap one which I rather not get.

Marc by Marc Jacobs Big N' Boss Leather Duffle Bag

Bag Pick: Marc by Marc Jacobs Big N' Boss Leather Duffle

So I did mention in this post that this was one of the most interesting mens duffles of NYFW SS14. And my eye is on it. I'm actually very proud of getting the Saint Laurent 24 Classic Black Leather Duffle this year and I told myself and my friends that I wouldn't really look at anything else for a while because that one should last me a long time but this MMJ bag has been in the back of my mind for a while and plus, it's nowhere near the price of the SLP. The main things are the great colour combination and size.




Shoes Pick: Saint Laurent Paris Black Leather Sneakers / Acne Adrian Black Sneakers

Saint Laurent Paris Classic Black Leather Sneakers / Acne Studios Adrian Sneakers in Black Leather

Now I kind of regret the words I used because everything else seems to sound nice except this (perhaps 'Pick of Shoes' no). I think sneakers are so cool and casual that they fit my daily style the best. I don't agree that menswear should always be that GQ-esque look (you know, all dressed up, in a suit and all) to be 'mens fashion'. I think a cool and collected everyday style is very important too. Sneakers really reflect the luxe and energetic nature of a guy's personality. When I was younger I would only wear high tops but in the past few years that has slowly changed when I realised that high tops really cut off the length of your legs (I had no low tops and now about half my shoes are low tops). I was tossing up between those colourful trainers from Raf Simons x Adidas or these Black Sneakers from Saint Laurent/ Acne Adrian Black Sneakers. Well of course the Acne ones are cheaper but the only thing I don't love is that they are patent leather - too much shine for everyday. These shoes are also very versatile and can go easily with almost any outfit. Leather is so important though, so that they become timeless additions to my wardrobe.

Dior Homme Blacktie 177S in Blue Acetate

Sunglasses Pick: Dior Homme Blacktie 177S in Blue Acetate

Which two things do I buy the most? Sunglasses and watches, well maybe I buy shoes more these days (I'm pretty sure in 2014 alone I got roughly 8 pairs of shoes already). I just don't like constantly buying new t-shirts and shirts. Anyway I have yet to get something from KRISVANASSCHE because I think he is so talented and I love seeing his designs for Dior Homme. I did mention in this post that I was infatuated with these shades BUT - I can't find them anywhere in Australia, nor have I seen them online form the site I'm usually on because Dior has such a limited and exclusive stock lists. Time to check out the Dior concept store but to go in means I will have to buy something right? Haha. I'll go for these sunglasses or something KVA has done in collaboration with Linda Farrow because the quality of those sunglasses are through the roof - and they're always luxe and smart. I'm not kidding. And I don't really like sunglasses with a bar because they make me look like I've got a monobrow :D

Costume National Cyber Garden EDT for Men

Fragrance Pick: Costume National Cyber Garden

Haven't actually looked at much because I have basically all the ones I want - my favourites this year are probably Bottega Veneta Pour Homme, Calvin Klein Red and Davidoff The Game Intense. Check out my Cologne Diaries. But in the beginning of the year when I visited Melbourne, I came across the new one from Costume National. Although the store keeper offered his sole bottle (which was the tester before the stock came in) at a reduced price, I thought I would be better off getting a completely new one. He didn't like this one as much as their first fragrance but I think this one is more fresh and summery. Which is great because who knows how long it will take for me to find this (it might be summer by then) as I haven't seen it in major department stores in Australia just yet.

Most of these things are accessories or what I think are secondary garments/ whatever lol, because I already have nice t-shirts, shirts and jackets I bought throughout the year. Oh god, my favourite and most useful ones to date are from Raf Simons and ASUZA - good jackets are good investments.

New Year

- Can you believe it's the New Year already?
- I didn't feel it until last night.
- Remember to spend it with people you love.
- Or people you want to love.
- And include those you want to be a part of your lives.
- And just enjoy where the world takes you.
- Look for things you want to do.

Instadigest | 2013 Spring

Well that was fast. A huge chunk of it was just uni. I wonder how Summer will go since it's ALL holidays. The last weeks of November were terrible. I'm still quite sick. Fix me pls. And work, well work is just work.

The good thing about Spring is that I spent a lot of time blogging about NYFW, LFW and MFW (I loved New York's the best). I should do PFW too but it's been too long and I'm still sick. Yes that will be my excuse. There were a few things going on in the last week of November too in the Sydney fashion world but I was too drained and tired to go. Nonetheless, I had a good time at the End Of Year Parade of Sydney's Fashion Design Studio and meeting the founder of Bailey Nelson Eyewear.

I've been watching a lot of Mad Men. It's such a great drama. Every episode leaves me very content even though sometimes not much really happens. The show is very surprising actually. I thought it would be much more sinister (like full of schemes) and once in a while, something very light hearted happens. Like the foot thing. Thanks Bambino for lending me the DVDs. I really liked the more sophisticated style of the earlier seasons.

Also, Spring in the gaming department meant the release of Pokemon. Which I spent a LOT of time on during the course of Uni. I play before class, in class, after class, whatever time I had. Also spent about the same amount of time for Animal Crossing... Then it got a bit boring so I studied a bit more (not really, it only got boring AFTER my exams.. yay.) But I've bought a lot of other games too. I hate PS3, such a terrible system with no good games except Ultimate Marvel VS Capcom 3. The only reason why I even bought a PS3 in the first place.

I finally got my PONY shoes. Although the sizing was annoying, so I basically bought two pairs of the black suede and I'll give the smaller pair to Arch and the white ones don't fit me that well. Oh well, I quite willingly suffer for fashion. Speaking of purchases I've basically got most of everything I wanted so I'm good with no shopping for a while, maybe just 1 watch left. But yeah, I NEED to save now :)

Also, had a great time at the birthday parties of my friends in Spring. They were probably New Years celebration and Valentine's Day babies.

Now or Never

Sorry for the lack of updates, but I'm going to type up a huge chunk of stuff right now. As with this time of year, it's the wonderful exam period. Only 2 more years of this to go (hopefully). I really hate studying, it's just been so slow this semester and I can't seem to sit myself down and block out distractions. I really do think I have dumbed down but that's my fault. I haven't stimulated my mind and I have tried to avoid it. Just something really small I noticed that I haven't been playing games that can critically stimulate my mind and make me think and make me frustrated. It's because I know that in certain scenarios I will be so annoyed and I avoid it completely. Wrong mentality. Really, I should have thought about tackling the problems and trying to solve something instead of knowing that I don't want to do it and avoid that sort of anxiety. You know patience really defines a person so I've lost myself there a bit. Ok, back to studying... Although arduous now, I know I'm going to miss it because I'm the sort of person who acts very wise and pretends to enjoy the experience. Well not pretend but I tend to try and appreciate it more and then I do. I know I'll miss it because any change to me is refreshing but at the same time, a reminder of how great something else was. This kind of really hits me at my current job. I haven't been adjusting well to the new job and all in retail. I really wanted to be more involved with clothes and fashion doing retail but it's nothing like that. Retail is just selling garments. There's almost no fashion element in the job so far. I have had one register experience selling watches though and I do think that's much more what I want. I guess I just want to be associated and work with those brands. But I think I have settled on the mentality that it's just for the money right now. Okay, it's not like I make billions of dollars but it really isn't bad money for the job market right now, for something just part-time on top of study. Work is however, repetitive, non-stimulating and with a low sense of achievement everyday. I've never had a job before where I was in it just for the money. I'm always looking to fulfil my soul. The other day I got an e-mail about some fashion PR companies in New York that were looking for interns. I started daydreaming. Actually first of all I don't even know WHY I would get such e-mails because I'm all the way here, but yeah, I started daydreaming. Wouldn't it be amazing to go to New York to pursue something you've always wanted? It's just like a scene out of a movie (which I will create one day based on my memoirs - not). LOL anyway, so many things in life to me are just scenes out of a movie but they NEVER seem to end the perfect way like they do in there (so many times I can't even). But it's still fun to speculate and have a mental plan of what will I do and how I would face challenges. I was daydreaming about applying and getting it and making my way there in the belly of the beast doing something that would be fun to me. Then I just chickened out because I knew how difficult and expensive everything would be and went to sleep. Ha! Oh well, I know one day I will be ready though. When I am, I will do my best.

'It's now or never, daydreamer.'

YUI

New Page.

So today was my last day at work. I know I'll miss that place, the people, the work culture and all the shenanigans - and all the laidbackness. It's weird to quit tutoring and wanting to go into retail and quite a few people are surprised that I want to move into a new job that has nothing to do with my uni degree. I don't know though, it's just something I want to do right now, at least for a year or so. I wouldn't say that this was a dumb decision but in life, sometimes we are so wayward we want to make a 'dumb decision' just because it makes us happy. It will be more challenging for me. It will be tougher, longer hours, less time for study and less free time in general. Everyday will be more hectic but the idea of being busy is so rewarding to me. I just want to never stop right now. I don't know if it is more right to make myself happy right now or if it is more right to work towards a future that I don't even know if I will enjoy. I'll have to hold off internship related stuff for a while. Maybe this doesn't seem like a big decision to other people, but right now it's changing a lot of what I think I will apprehend. I'll do my best. Grow upper.

Instadigest | 2013 Winter

It's Spring time, although Winter wasn't relenting this year at all. I actually had quite a lot going on and I couldn't pick out only 6 photos from my instagram which represented this time completely, but I guess I had to make a decision and here are some of the most characterising moments for me this Winter. Plus, I kinda blogged about other lifey things in the Op-shop and Cologne diaries.

(30+ days x 3 months)/ 6 photos = 15+ days
So I guess mathematically, each photo should represent more than 15 days.

Left: Birthday month takes priority of course ;) Thanks to everyone (especially my mum and sis for flying to visit me), and especially for the love from all your shrivelled up black hearts :D

Right: Hanging out with Chrissy around The Rocks and The Observatory! The day was pretty tiring actually but it was super fun and one of the many good days I had during the break from uni. More photos here.

Left: Splurge day. Hi Pierre Balmain. I am very poor now but this jacket is an investment and leather jackets last forever anyway.

Right: The launch of SUCK IS FREE at +ESTATEofMIND. A great party and launch of a Sydney label. Check out my post here and the outfit post here. I had such an awesome time!

Left: Shooting with ensofoto! It was really thrilling and embarrassing doing this in public LOL. It was much more challenging then I thought. The finished photos are here and the outfit post is here.

Right: At the NOKIA Lumia 925 Launch Night. The dress was also showcased at Vivid Sydney 2013. Awesome night and super great planning. Check out more about the night here.

The Op Shop Diaries - Leather Jacket

24 July 2013

I don't exactly remember when I bought this jacket but I deduced that it was more than 4 weeks ago and I knew it was a Wednesday so I guess that's the date. Woah, it's already been 4 weeks. Oh that's right, its the end of Week 4 at uni. Yeah mid sessions and quizzes are approaching me fast.

Anyway, I got this at Paddington St. Vincent de Paul and there were quite a few good things there. I was at Paddington because I was running all around Sydney trying to find 110 mm film for the Agfamatic 2008 Camera... found nothing except at Blender Gallery and then later at MCA. I think op-shopping at Paddington and finding something that was pretty nice got me into op-shopping.

Alongside this jacket I saw an Industrie leather jacket for $35 (I think) but it had cigarette stains or mould at the back or something and the zipper didn't work (I probably wouldn't zip it anyway). It was gone when I went today to develop the film, so someone probably knew what to do with it. Leather jackets are really cool cos they can be worn in a very structured or very unstructured way. On the same day I splurged on 'that' Pierre Balmain leather jacket. So I guess I didn't really thrift at all, taking the day as a whole.

Isn't my bathroom beautiful?