Christmas Treats & Thanks

Although it didn't feel like Christmas this year, I am still thankful for the gifts!

Marc Jacobs flats

Saksfifth Shoes

Chanel Nail Polish

Fur For the Holidays

Blistering cold in Korea! Another year has gone by so fast, yet I can't wait for next years trends.
* Current love affair: My Moscow fur trimmed hat

 Hat | A Land

Bag | Tory Burch mini

Gloves | Coach

Top | J.Crew Striped Sweater 

Boots | The Shoe

United Colours

One of my first memories of a casual/ luxury brand is United Colors of Benetton. Luciano Benetton's vision to see a market for colourful clothes is still "recycled" today: the colour blocking trend. How did he know? Did he fail a few times trying to elevate this fashion niche? I can only admire him for taking that bold step. In celebration for the holiday seasons and coloured trends, I wore this bright canary-yellow jumper.

Jumper | Smile Market

Pants | A LAND

Shoes | Vintage Gold Oxfords

Ring | Calvin Klein

Dinner at Mamas

There is nothing like the smell of a freshly oven baked, crispy mushroom panini on a cold winter day. Compliment the meal with a side of ricotta cheese salad topped with almonds and cranberries. It's perfectly divine. Mamas opened closed by my office and a storm of women paraded into the cafe, similar to a rush for a Diane Von Furstenberg 50% off sale.

Jumper | Zara

Ring | Coach

Bracelet | Tiffany and Co.

Earrings | ALand

Blocking Streets with Color @ Cut and Paste

After coffee at Rabbit & Turtle, Jung Im and I went to look for that perfect jumper. We strolled past the boutiques and small accessory shops at Garusugil, glancing for bright coloured sweaters.

I wore this outfit that night for Cut & Paste, which was held at Platoon. (Cut & Paste Competition in Seoul, Korea 2011: 15 minutes for 2D artists to come up with innovative designs based on a random topic, using only Adobe Suite Software.)

Outer | BCBG Maxazaria Blazer

Top | JS From

Skirt | American Apparel

Stockings | J. Crew

Boots | Boutique at Hongdae

Clutch | Ririn

An Early Gift: Oxford Wedges!

Mom's acute fashion sense and quick fingers to out-beat any online shopper never fails. Delivered in less than 3 days was 2 pairs of shoes, camera accessories, and a dress from Saks Fifth.

Coat | I Madison

Wedges | Signor Morrison "Belle"

Bag | Ferragamo

Ring | Coach

A Frosty Snow Day

It snowed for the first time on today. Unfortunately it only lasted less than thirty minutes. I admit. Korean clothes usually poor material, but they do make up in form and style. Catching the right jacket with a sturdy collar and detailed lining is difficult, but not impossible. For instance, I bought this grey blazer at Gangnam yesterday.

Wedding Crashers

Koreans celebrate weddings in a grand scale. When I use the term "grand," I am referring to a guest list that extends outside the borders of friends and family, to random people who, come to get a free meal. The fashion at weddings is usually either beige or black one- piece dresses. Thus, I opted for sparkling tights and bright floral patterns with my Prada bag.

Bag | Prada

Glasses | Prada

Necklace | Bloomingdales

Earrings | Vintage from Thayer St. R.I.

Blouse | Theory

Leggings |  Near Ewha Womens School

Blazer | Theory

Boots | Fendi

A Touch of Red

Frankly, many clothes in Korean boutiques look nice from outside. (Emphasis on "outside"). Koreans have mastered exhibition design to an alluring art, but they fail to deliver. Many clothes lack in quality and use poor material. You want to feel that thick and silky soft knit sweater fold in your hands. But it's rough. It's like crochet mixed with 10% cotton. This is the cold hard fact in a country that reacts to fashion trends with such speed.  

But that fact never stops me from still trying to find that one piece with a decent price tag that matches its quality. Below are a pair of bright ruby heels I got off of a 40% Sale at Perche (collaboration with Miranda Kerr; Sinsa)

Jacket | TANKUS Leather jacket

Bag | BCBG Maxazaria

Pants | Dongdaemun Street Market

Top | J.Crew Black Blouse 

Shoes | Perche with Miranda Kerr Red Heels