All Laced Up


Vivian Chan Chriselle Top
Romwe Eyelet Lace-Up Skirt c/o
Massimo Dutti Contrast Plimsolls Shoes

See below for more options!


What’s it like to have grit? Am I a gritty person?

Now the next, best question to ask is whether grit is overrated?

I’ve been doing a lot of thinking lately. A lot of it regarding my look of my content and writing on my blog. You ever get those days where you feel extremely unfulfilled? Then you realize it’s not just that one day.. it’s been a week? Or maybe a full-blown month now? Well I’m actually just in the middle of that. I’m thinking of ways to shift my mindset and change up my routine. Perhaps a change in style when it comes to my approach to blogging and my aesthetic? I’ve drafted up a couple mood boards to challenge myself to experiment and test my level of creativity. Also to test out whether I can get outside my light, airy, comfort-zone. Still a work-in-progress… So stay tuned. Moving on.. Let’s be honest guys— who doesn’t want to stick to something safe that works for them? Now I ask myself… Is what I’m doing at the moment working for me? Am I meeting the goals I set for myself a few months back? I see a lot of people on the daily post the same trendy pieces, imitate poses and even the same compositions.. which makes me wonder… ‘Wow it’s working for them…should I do it?.’ Is that best practice? That’s where the gritty attitude kicks in and says you should stick to your guns and build yourself the way you want to. The ability to pull from the masses is one of many everyday challenges one constantly faces.

Being appealing is great and all. However, does that allow yourself to give you self-appreciation and value? Do you have more value over others because of numbers or because you stuck it out when it came to pushing the envelope and successfully getting others to love you for you? The measure of motivation is astronomically difficult to solve by yourself when you’re the one working through the original problems, you, yourself have set.

So.. what do I want to do? Well… I want to continue what I began. There will be no setbacks that’ll discourage me. The kind of person I’d like to be in this industry is not only the talented and creative kind, but the one with a whole lot of tenacity and grit.

Photography by: Artiese Studios
Collaboration with Romwe


White Story x Call it Spring

In Collaboration with Call it Spring

Summer is the season of becoming…rather minimal. And bright for me. Fresh, alluring whites and playing with delicate textures. In attempts to stay cool by wearing lighter shades during the longer days, there’s also something very exciting about wearing all white. Could it be the triumph from staying mess and accident-free? The great achievement of looking luxurious without breaking the bank? Or just all above. 

Don’t tell me you haven’t celebrated at least once where you went wearing white all day while remaining squeaky clean. Cleanliness aside, wearing all white has basically become my go-to when I have no idea what to wear. It’s adaptable and presents me in such a way where I always look ready for anything.

Photography by Artiese Studios

_________

“People are dying from overthinking. They fill their wonderful brain with harsh thoughts and it brings the body down too. Chances are no one thinks as bad about you than you.”


Zara white long waistcoat (similar here)
Zara gold double v-neck top (similar here)
Zara white flowing culottes (similar here + here)
Call it Spring ARALLE Heels in Ice
Call it Spring FLAXTON cross body bag
Call it Spring FRAYWEN sunglasses
Call it Spring BLASDEL earring set

Call it Spring NEELD ring set

For more similar options, see below!

Buckle Up


Club Monaco Simonettah Sweater Dress
Jenny Bird Silver Thick Choker c/o (Similar here)
LuvAJ Crown Hoop Huggies Earrings

Womens Lack Of Color Spencer Boater Natural Straw Hat
Rayban Aviator Sunglasses
Zara Black Strap Heels

Check out more similar options below!


I personally never thought I would ever ride the choker bandwagon but I guess it doesn’t hurt to try. Of course Jenny made it more enticing for me to ease into this trend. I mean..go big or go home, or should I say go thickkk-er? It’s one big, shiny neck party.

Thanks to Instagram for bringing self-documentation to a more “acceptable” level as we known as taking ‘selfies,’ it’s not a subtle catch while mindlessly scrubbing through Instagram to find a bikini clad ladies and young teenagers decked out in the hot 90’s trend, now that it’s gone completely mainstream. Can I say, Throwback Thursday? #TBT? #circa1998? I also died when I landed on a online jewelry site that had their hero banner headline read out ‘Chokers..The New Flower Crown.’ It’s true. These things are making their way back into every girl’s wardrobe, thanks to ITgirls like Olivia Palermo and major fashion bloggers slash social media influencers like Kristina Bazan and Chiara Ferragni. We also can’t forget media’s favourite model of the moment, Kendall Jenner. At first I found it weird that chokers were making a come back but now they’ve taken over the spotlight. First knuckle and armour rings, then arm parties, now the chokers that come in all sorts. Dainty stretchy cord with gold tips which you often see attached to newly purchased clothing to display labels and price tags, velvet ones, gold ones.. even ones that come with little charms attached at the center. Nudge, nudge..someone make interchangeable charms for their line of chokers.. Pandora? But hey, you can wear them everywhere now.

You might not be a choker-kind-of-lady…

However.. I’ll have you know that you can wear chokers with your swim wear, formal attire and night out..in the daytime at office. The creative kind, obviously. Think about it?

Creative Direction: Cynthia Nguyen | Editorial assistance: Paul Van Winssen
In collaboration with Jenny Bird


Nook Goals


 

 

If you know me and my situation, I’m in the midst of bouncing around. I mean actually physically bouncing around with all my belongings like a little well-dressed gypsy. I’m looking for a permanent home and while I’m on the hunt, I’m moving around temporary homes while simultaneously getting my ducks in a row to prepare for this big move. With about 2.5 months to find, offer and officially purchase this perma-home… the time spent outside of work, freelance and blogging usually goes towards researching mortgages, real estate lawyers, sifting through MLS and Google Maps. When you find yourself in my situation, you’ll get what I’m saying right now. What all that being said and done– I try to compensate for all the heavy amounts of research and paperwork by rewarding myself with pinning pretty interior inspo via Pinterest. Talk about building so much hype for a space I don’t technically own yet! It’s okay though… the time will come soon enough!

Boring stuff aside. I’m a huge sucker for Scandinavian interior. All white space, yep. Playful textures, uhuh. Bold black accent pieces, you got it! The tiniest details in a vast amount of open, clean space just gets me every time. Something so peaceful yet interesting when your curiosity is piqued within such a space. Let me tell you… this will not be an easy or fast task to accomplish. One the areas in a home that’s a priority for me is a good working space slash to relax in your down time. The one place you can be with yourself and feel content as the same time. A.K.A. My nook. Within this post– you can have an idea what I’m aiming for… for my future nook. (I just can’t wait to welcome people into my future furnished home and openly say…. ‘And lastly…this is my nook.’ (Cue, ‘Ouuuu’s and Ahhhh’s.)

You know what they say… collect the pieces over time. That way when you create your space, it’s a genuine reflection and story from you. Every little accent or essential piece has sentimental or purposeful intention to be in your own home.

Q: What’s your must-have in your current or future nook?
Let me know in the comments below!

All Photos via Pinterest

 


Parisian Elegance by Guillaume Alan


Interior Designer, Guillaume Alan

Born and grew up in the world of architecture and interior design by virtue of his parent’s profession, and also due to his grandmother who worked as an antique dealer. All discussions, all atmospheres where he grew up obviously helped him and he rapidly felt the need to express himself, to create and share his own harmonies and worlds. He soon took the plunge and opened his own studio in Saint-Germain-des-Près in Paris, he was 24. At 38 years-old, based in Paris and in London, he counts among the ambassadors of the French touch in the process of gaining international recognition.


Q: How he has achieved so much success at such a young age in terms of working with high-profiled people and the projects he has been fortunate/privilege to receive. (i.e. Dior, Chanel, Tom Ford, etc.) What did his process to his present experience look like?

A: Guillaume Alan’s artistic sensibility has resulted in very close and powerful encounters with demanding and trend-setting clients who entrusted the young designer with the architectural design and decoration of many private places. His architectural work and collection give a feeling of great simplicity and absolute purity, concealing a ultra-precise mastery. He signs projects in harmony with the finest tradition of French design and décorateurs ensembliers: he signs the architecture, the interior design, the pieces of furniture (everything is custom-made and drawn out) and selection of pieces of art. Guillaume has been working with Emilie Le Corre since the beginning who is in charge of the Paris and London studios. She plays a fundamental role in the process of obtaining an exclusive outcome.

Guillaume and Emilie share the same vision of what is an extraordinary rarity. Together, they try to reflect their sensibility in order to arouse emotions, this is one of the main aspects of the stamp of Guillaume Alan and why Guillaume Alan’s interiors are unique and recognizable.


Q: His choice of aesthetic and style, how has his style developed and why those choices? 

A: Guillaume is attached to follow his own vision, his own instinct. He hates to follow rules or trends to draw the attention. He evolves in his own world, trying to exchange and to convey his own inspiration to his clients. He draw his inspiration from everywhere, there is so much richness for our eyes, or even from emotions. The simplest details often become a trigger point and lead to reflection.

Guillaume Alan’s references or masters can be summed up this way: “luxury, calm and poetry”. It is always about alchemy, balances guided by excellence. His architecture, as well as his collections of furniture, gives birth to calm and pure spaces, where luxury and rigor coexist without ostentation.


 

Special thanks to Emilie Le Core for providing the beautiful photos as well as
Alan’s responses to my questions!


Looking for Something?