Survival Stockings for Snow

Trying to justify the difference in buying a pair of stockings in Korea and in the U.S, is futile. It is like digging through a pile of jelly beans to find that one pink lemon favoured bean, while not getting trick into choosing bubble gum.

Straight to the point. While stockings at J.Crew may cost you up to 35 dollars or more, buying a pair at the nearest Gangnam subway station is more attractive: they are about 10 dollars or less. I've stretched and tortured most of my stockings, but amazingly the ones I bought in Korea survived. Note to any female foreigner coming to Korea: DO buy stockings, socks, and t-shirts. Take for example the pair I am wearing below. (Endured Pair of Stockings Since Dec.2009)

Stockings | Hongdae Subway line 2

Pumps | Calvin Klein Peep Toe Grey Heels

Ring | Moving Pedals Ring @ Dongdaemun

Sweater | Jill Sander

Bag | Marc Jacobs Medium Shoulder Bag

Black & White Holidays

Thanksgiving, Christmas decorations, and holiday joy is here but it all seems surreal. I miss peering though Macy's display windows, stealing a taste my mother's homemade cranberry sauce, and watching re-runs of The Night Before Christmas. 

Koreans celebrate Thanksgiving too: Choosuk. Fortunately, both Choosuk and Thanksgiving have an equal number of vacation days, unless so help me God it lands on a Saturday. Either way, I can't wait till it snows!

Blouse | Zara Studded Black shirt

Cuff | H&M

Clutch | H&M

Leggings | Rick Owens

Shoes | Dolce & Gabbana leopard booties

Versace part one

Prints, glitter, and gold! Yes, Versace is over the top, but if you've shopped long enough in Korea as I have, you would crave a sparkling, flamboyant dress yourself. ( Correction: A sparking dress with quality*).  In addition, my inner graphic design geek convinced me to buy into Versace's marketing plots and bold package design.

Versace is the earliest recollection I have of "designer" and "luxury." As a child, I've watched my mother always come home with a coffee canister in one hand and her black, patent Versace tote in the other.

As one of the best gifts I got this month, I had to post this Versace H M's sequin dress.  

Dress | Versace H&M

Clutch | H&M

Stockings | J.Crew

Shoes | McGuinn

Coat | Black Velvet Maxmaria

Suit Up!

Love, love, love how a classic suit fits. I have a rule. Alter your suits. Tailor them to your frame, size, height, and figure. All my suits have been tailored to fit accordingly to my shape since I've lived in Korea. 


Korean tailors are cheap, quick, and keen about your body shape and will not be afraid to tell you you look fat in your favorite poncho. Note to my all-foreign ladies: find a tailor. (Nearby Ewha Women’s School are many tailors with respectable reputations).

Suit top + pants | Elie Tahari

Shoes | Via Spiga

Watch | Andriod

Clutch | Marc Jacobs Patent Black clutch

Bold Strips at the Classic Red Cafe

The perfect Parisian style black and white striped shirt was the "it" item when Dior released their AW collection back in 2005. But, this stripped look is continuously recycled in the fashion market. Pair this look with some red lipstick and a black mini, and you are ready to go.

It is hard to find “thick stripped shirts” in Korea, whereas you will discover many thin, feeble stripped sweaters. (Try Zara)  

Boots | Coach

Top | Zara

Skirt | vintage from soho

Bracelet | Swarovski 

Lunch Like the Bourgeois

I try to hold off on buying a new coat until December, but as the temperature is dropping and I find it impossible to wait. Inspired by the classic scene with Alice at the Mad Hatter's Tea Party, the outfit exuded a mix of clean and modern, yet unabashedly feminine. In my pursuit to be a successful fashion alchemist--- I kept it classy.

Sunshine on Sundays

Sometimes finding that "accent" piece is difficult. I was lately obsessed about finding oxfords. It had to have a dark, deep, bronze colour.

Coat | Dana Buchman

Shoulder Bag | Marc Jacobs

Leggings | Street market (sinsa)

Shoes | The Kyumbie

Knit Sweater | Ralph Lauren

Ring | Coach

Silver Sheer Nights

You will see several towering buildings in Gangnam, each with their own elaborate décor and wide lobby space. This is as much open space you will get to step on in Gangnam.  Outside the city streets, you will have less than a centimeter of personal space, being pushed by ahjumas (old Korean ladies who have shoulders like bricks), and surviving the stampede of people during rush hour.

It is hard to find a quiet space. A silent space. A personal space.

Below is a random shot I took at the Mertz Building, before entering the bristling streets outside on a Friday night. 

Sheer Jacket | Ririn

Green Shirt | Ririn

Bracelets | Tiffany & Co. + Michael Kors

Leggings | Rick Owens

Boots | Coach

Pink Accented Joy

After work I needed retail therapy.

Discovering this amazing leather pink clutch at a small boutique by Yeoksam, make my day. The clutch had just what I was looking for (other than it's bold color): a thick, reinforced leather trim. It spoke "durability" yet "trendy.” A perfect accent to any simple outfit.

Dress | Zara Woman Collection

Shirt | Ben Sherman
Coat | Dana Buchman

Boots | BCBG Maxazaria

Clutch | Ririn (Korean boutique)

Ring | Coach

Bracelet | Tiffany & Co.

Iced Tips with Fur

The hunt is over. I've discovered the perfectly fur-trimmed poncho.


I try to hold off on buying a new coat until December, but as the temperature is dropping and it is impossible to wait. I was shocked to find a decent quality poncho for under 100,000 won. The poncho had a fur trim that didn’t feel like dry faux fur, nor did the fabric feel rough between my fingers. It exuded a mix of clean and modern, yet unabashedly feminine.

Prada SP2011| Round Graphic Sunglasses

Forever21 | Gold Cuffs

Tory Burch | Metallic Robinson Mini Bag

Coach | Boots

Snake Leggings | Shinsegae Mall  신세계

Green Sweater | iPark Mall

Grey Poncho | iPark Mall