Well, I’m certainly not blue about my new bag. It’s hard to tell, but it’s a slubby dark blue canvas with black leather trim, spacious enough for my Macbook Air and other sundries (and it’s Balenciaga, obviously). You would never guess it, since I never post about my collection, but I’m a huge fan of Balenciaga’s Le Dix bags. I remember the first one I bought—I was in Paris, about 24 years old, and, instead of opting for classic black, bought an acid yellow bag. Acid yellow—just about the most random color of Le Dix to buy, haha. But, oh, I love that bag. I really must dig it up from my archives. Anyway! I then went through a phase wherein I thought the bags were too overexposed. Everyone, I felt, had one: My co-workers. My dentist. My grandmother (I jest about the last one, but only sort of). Now, though, that Le Dix frenzy has transferred to other styles (PS1, Celine Luggage, etc), I feel like they’re au courant and cool again. Hence this recent acquisition.
What bag is your dream purchase? I’m curious, do share…
Whistles varsity and custom pouch, Sandro tank, Clover Canyon leather shorts, Zara flats, Westward Leaning sunglasses… and purply-pink hair and silly Hello Kitty phone case.
Specifically, I want these candy-colored (the brownish is milk chocolate, okay!) Proenza Schouler wallets. I’m perpetually on the hunt for the perfect wallet. A friend recommended these to me and so I’m pondering what color for SS2013?
Reunited, yet again, with my beloved selfie mirror! Back in NYC for three days to visit my grandmother (visiting from Shanghai), a few meetings, and so—of course—I’m taking the opportunity to wear a very NYC outfit: Marc Jacobs sweater, COS skirt, Miu Miu heels, and… finally… side-sweepable bangs!
It’s odd, I never everwore jeans when I lived in New York City (besides one pair of cropped black jeans from The Kooples. But I don’t think black jeans count as “real” jeans, for some reason). But now that I’m in Los Angeles, all I want to wear is denim. I wore blue (!) jeans from Elizabeth and James last week and I’m really tempted by these rainbow-bright Mother jeans as well.
My husband and I in deep, loving communication (haha), manicures galore, and black and white harmony with the world’s second cutest dog (the first is my darling Otto): all on Instagram. Follow me here!
![Shocking but true: I meet an amazing number of young girls who complain about their tasks as an assistant or intern—oh, the hours! oh, the menial tasks! Sigh. That makes me shake my head. The most important thing to absorb about being an intern or assistant is this…
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You are there to learn. Of course, your supervisors should treat you professionally, with courtesy, and (hopefully) kindness. But—and I’m being rather frank here—tough it out. Don’t expect the sun, moon, and stars as an assistant (don’t, for instance, ask if you can write the cover story for the magazine you’re interning. Someone once asked me that. My eyes nearly popped out of my cranium). Essentially, you’re a human sponge. Listen, absorb, learn the way the place works. Don’t skim on the surface of your internship or assistant (or work in general) experience and see only the day to day. Think bigger picture. That is what Helen Gurley Brown (and how chic is her outfit even now, no?) saying.](http://25.media.tumblr.com/29352745aea952af19d67328d973d26c/tumblr_mk0q8cCUfm1qg6ri4o1_500.jpg)
Shocking but true: I meet an amazing number of young girls who complain about their tasks as an assistant or intern—oh, the hours! oh, the menial tasks! Sigh. That makes me shake my head. The most important thing to absorb about being an intern or assistant is this…
Accessories of the day: hooray, a new customized pouch (I swear by pouches. They keep my life—and my oft-giant purses—organized) from Whistles, Prada sunglasses, and a fresh manicure (highlighter-yellow French tips).
You’ve mentioned three great ones already (I particularly love Jean’s writing style—her columns for ELLE magazine in the 90s were one of the reasons I gravitated towards magazines, and beauty, at all). I would also look into Diana Vreeland’s memoirs, The Teen Vogue Handbook (not just saying that because I worked on the book. It gives a great baseline knowledge of the different careers in fashion, from art department to designer), and—this may seem random—The Mailroom. The latter is a book about working in the mailroom (basically as an assistant) at top talent agencies (CAA, William Morris, UTA) in the 80s and 90s. It may seem like an utter disconnect but when I read the book, I saw a lot of parallels in what it takes to make it as an agent as it does an editor: the same drive, ambition, organizational skills (truth!). Lastly, I would encourage you to be informed about the world as the whole, not just the fashion world. It’s important to be attuned to current events, local issues, and culture—you can live for fashion, but remember that you live in a larger community that informs fashion. Make yourself as well-rounded as possible. (And to answer your last question: yes, it is in the works ^_^)
For some reason, relocating to Los Angeles has exaggerated all the strange, pattern-mixing tendencies I have. Case in point: studded Chloe boots. Camo Zara pants. Tibi bird print top. Topshop flowy jacket thing. Suno Warby Parker sunglasses. I mean… what?
Well, need is a relative term. “Want” is probably more apt, in this case. Lately I’ve been re-feeling Balenciaga’s Le Dix bag. I own an overnight travel bag (black) and a small one in acid yellow. This medium one—black with denim details—would look great with everything and it’d fit my laptop. So technically it’s a work bag, hmmm…
From Austin to Los Angeles, from Karlie Kloss to blogger buddies Chriselle Lim and Aimee Song, check out all my Instagram action here!
Personal style: it sounds (and looks) so simple yet it’s an elusive, tricky thing to nail down. Because, really, at the end of the day it’s personal. There are some people who find their so-called personal style and are self-assured of it from an early age; others, it might take high school, college, twenties, thirties. Really, though, I think personal style is less about a signature look and more about the confidence to wear what you want to wear. Sounds simpler than it actually is, though, right? So, where to begin… I would start by incorporating some fashion items (maybe it’s a pair of boyfriend jeans, penny loafers, overalls) that you love but are somewhat unsure of. The more things you try on and say, “Oh, hey, I loved that! I want to wear it again” or “I didn’t feel comfortable in that”, the better. Personal style is trial and error and, most importantly, ever-changing. Enjoy the evolution—don’t over-think it or worry too much about it. Fashion should be fun, an outlet, not a burden.
Curious about these Monika Chiang shoes because they walk on the fine line between chic and comfort (sturdy heel! thicker straps! platform!). I’m on an eternal quest for shoes that are chic and walking-friendly. So far, my list (and, mind you, the comfort of shoes is individual and personal to each person’s own foot issues) includes the following:
Reunited with the lovely Julie Sarinana of Sincerely Jules, a fellow Marc Jacobs Daisy Chain blogger. I love her simple color-blocked look. Meanwhile, I have no idea what is going on with my look (what happens when you get dressed in thirty-six seconds): Sandro top, Dittos boyfriend jeans, Monika Chiang heels, Prada sunglasses.
