caught between two years

hello 2011! // fort langley, like a painting // first photo of 2011 at 0:00 // sparkler fun // our version of comfort food // woke up to a bed of snow // new asos necklaces // sunlight // keep'on walking // dusk of the first day of 2011 // first outfit look of 2011

urban outfitters cowichan motif down vest // club monaco jc penney sweater cardigan and sweater // gap 1969 denim // o'hanlon mills socks and shoes // h&m fingerless gloves // gucci weekender // asos necklaces

true

Look - Thrifted Holt Renfrew Creme Linen Shirt Jacket // Thrifted Balmain Creme Shirt // Thrifted DKNY Snowflake Silk Scarf // Banana Republic Navy&Rock Striped Tee // Gap 1969 Washed Jeans // Rockport Red Boat Shoes // Thrifted Caramel Leather Briefcase

The weather was once again peculiar today. Spent half my day looking at style.com at the Men's runway stuffs. It feels weird to look at these again, after a few months, I really felt different about each collection now, and am more inspired than ever. I guess at that time, I was too caught up in the whole "Hey! A new collection is out, I should look at all the looks and quickly whip up a review so I can be one of the cool style people" phase. Today, with tea, Joanna Wang and the sound of rain, I actually looked at each look slowly, and got to appreciate them a lot more. Just thought of a little project for myself that I want to do. Just need the ambition.

I really want a hair cut. It is so strange, no matter how I cut my hair in the first place, it will always grow back to the exact same shape within a month or two, hence the hair in the image. It is so annoying. I want the euro, laid back chic hair.

So much was missing

Look - H&M Blue/White Gingham Shirt // H&M Grey Organic Cotton Cardigan // Gap 1969 Washed Jeans // Urban Outfitters Creme Boat Shoes // Thrifted Caramel Briefcase

That thrifted caramel briefcase is one of my most amazing finds ever. 

It is the perfect used leather briefcase that everyone needs. Perfect stains, perfect whitened parts, perfect scratches. I loved it the second I saw it. 

Smile like a child

Look - 2% Grey Hoodie with Yellow Stars // Stage Patrick Tee // BBC Spaceman Jeans // Pink Backpack from Taiwan // Timberland Boots // Cheshire Cat Pin

Dinner full of laughter tonight with Ariel and Sarah at the House of Wings. The burger was amazing! But it makes me feel so fat after and so full too!

Made a quick stop at Value Village to "check it out," kind of like a doctor doing rounds. I found this amazing vintage briefcase/bag thing. It is the perfect "used" condition, with a few scratches here and there, and the best thing is that the lining is PLAID!

I nearly screamed when I saw it. I am afraid that I might be using up all my luck with thrifting... I hope not!!

DIY Day

Look - DIY thrifted Rodarte-inspired sweater // DIY studded-collar Zara shirt // DIY Kazumi Bleached Jeans // Adidas Green Sneakers // Gap Socks // White-rimmed glasses from Nightmarket in Taipei

Progressive day. I finished the Velvet Room design contest things, got it all "done up" in a portfolio. Going to hand it in on Friday. DIY'ed a lot of stuffs today. Ripped up this sweater that I found at Value Village. I was inspired by Rodarte, and I clearly cannot afford the Rodarte for men collection with Opening Ceremony, so I might as well just make some myself. Fake, but whatever! It's authentic denier & manera! Also studded the collars of my white Zara shirt. Simple, took me 15 minutes. Also cut off a pair of Kazumi jeans that I no longer wear. I might've made it too short, and it is too cold in Vancouver to wear that. I wore it today, and I was shivering. Shivering!

The original state of the sweater before I did anything to it.  

I’ve come too far to forget

Look - Alexander Wang Oversized Knitted Sweater // H&M Grey Cardigan with Zigzag detailings // BDG black deep-v tshirt // Moschino LOVE black skinny jeans // Worn in Black Boots from Urban Outfitters // Gold Diamond Trump Card Necklace // Versace Glasses

I went thrifting today. Found some bad-ass stuffs. As usual, I just quickly schemed through the guys' suits and shirts section but did not really find anything interesting. Then I moved on to the outerwear section, and there it was, a Christian Dior Summer Overcoat. I died. It was amazing, beige, under $30, looks brand new, and CHRISTIAN DIOR! I've found my Spring coat! Also bought two other cardis, one is deep beige with leather trims and the other is a double-breasted inspired cardigan with a black/white folk-ish print. Also picked up this awesome belt.

 

The Christian Dior Spring Overcoat. It is 100% cotton and the lining is this gorgeous plaid in 100% cotton as well. Its a size 40, which fits me perfectly. My heart literally stopped when I found this among the usual London Fogs and crappy thrifty clothes. Gem in the stone, anyone?

The greyish-black cardigan with a folklore-ish pattern on the lapel. I love the double breasted details. This was $5 CDN, couldn't pass on it!

 

The other cardigan that I got today. I love the treatment of the trims playing with a striped effect. I also love the suede front panels. This was $6.49 CDN.

The belt that I got today. At first, I thought it was just a really worn old belt, so I just kind of looked at it. I picked it up and saw the brand, Claudio Orcani, I had no clue who this was, but I quickly google the name on my iPhone and discovered that this was actually a luxury brand from Italy. Like wow, then I looked at the belt again, and it was done like that deliberately, and it was hand-made in Italy, and it was my size! The belt was $5.99 CDN.

let's start from here

Look - Thrifted Plaid Wool Blazer from Salvation Army // Tommy Hilfiger White Knitted Sweater // Club Monaco Green & White Gingham Shirt // Club Monaco Yellow Tailored Shorts // Urban Outfitters Creme Boat Shoes // Louis Vuitton Beaubourg in Damier Canvas

I had a very satisfying weekend. With two birthdays, one on Friday and one on Saturday, I was out both nights to celebrate with my friends. Pretty much went through half of Vancouver. Ate, laughed, and smiled, I really enjoyed the company. There's just so much to do, and I just feel slightly overwhelmed. But there's not really much that I can do except to keep on doing what I am doing. Below are pictures from the BBQ party at Kim Ga Nae, a Korean all you can eat BBQ restaurant near Aberdeen Centre in Richmond. I personally don't recommend it because I am not a big fan of meat lately. Eating too much meat makes me feel like I want to puke. But anywho, we had a lot of fun eating and laughing.

Don't carry the world upon your shoulders

L

Look - Thrifted Turqoise Arnold Palmer Cardigan // Thrifted Yves Saint Laurent Mustard Yellow Shirt // No Brand Multi-Color Polka Dotted Scarf bought in Tokyo // Grey and White Striped Shorts from Uni Qlo // Creme Boatshoes from Urban Outfitters // Louis Vuitton Damier Canvas Beaubourg

Today, I bought two striped Tees from Banana Republic. They're like the softest things ever. Also went to check out the infamous Salvation Army in North Vancouver in which one of my friend's friend's friend's aunt found a Hermes Birkin bag. I just kept thinking, what if a Birkin was waiting there for me. It's harder than winning the lottery. Also bought some birthday presents for long time friends today. Going to start sketching for the Velvet Room Canadian Design Contest.

red & pink

Look - Thrifted Red Gabicci Cashmere Cardigan // Club Monaco Pink and White Floral Shirt // Thrifted DKNY Snowflakes Silk Scarf // Club Monaco Black and White Gingham Shorts // Marc by Marc Jacobs Oversized Tote // Aldo Boatshoes

Rain, rain, go away!

Rain. 

Shine.

Clear.

Shower.

Shine.

Pouring.

Cloudy.

Clear.

Seriously. What is wrong with the weather?

Look - Thrifted black/white/grey graphic sweater // Fitted Khaki Trousers from Fred // H&M polka dotted socks that look like CDG // Creme boatshoes from Urban Outfitters // Black/white Coach umbrella // Thrifted Polo Ralph Lauren tube bag

paint your palette black and grey

Today was the kind of day that you just feel lazy, but everything seemed to run smoothly. Went to my go to Value Village and found some awesome frames and a Christian Dior shirt and a MadHatter-ish tie for a total of $19ish. That is cheaper than my dinner. 

Anyway, still in love with my self-made drop crotch trousers.

Look - denier & manera ternion scarf (black silk/grey linen/creme flax) // alexander wang two toned grey sweater // denier & manera deep navy drop-crotch pants // Adidas green sneakers with white soles // Marc by Marc Jacobs oversized tote

drop the crotch

I've been meaning to make myself some dropped-crotch trousers for the longest time possible, but procstination got in the way. I love dropped crotch trousers, they are so CDG and YY, which are two of my favorite brands. However, I cannot afford these brands, and furthermore, even if I could, I cannot find any in Vancouver. I only own a pair of dropped crotch trousers, and they're from the women's line at H&M, but they fit terribly, and it is impossible to walk in them, but I love them nonetheless.

My Comme des Garcons look, with the aforementioned H&M womens' trousers.



So tonight, I decided to make some dropped crotch trousers myself. I measured myself, drafted a pattern, cut out a muslin, made some changes, and whipped up this pair of dropped crotched trousers with three pleating details on each side of the front panel with a 9" zipper opening. It has a boxy feel from waist to knee, and below knee is like a skinny jeans. I love how it turned out, it has instantly became my new favorite. It feels so strange to be able to create what you want to wear with your own hands. I've decided to make these in all possibe colors and fabrics! I will become the dropped crotch trousers guy!

H&M Black Cardigan buttoned incorrectly deliberately // H&M blue blocked shirt // denier & manera polka dotted chiffon scarf tied the Mad Hatter way // denier & manera deep navy dropped-crotch trousers


 

motivation

I miss the time when I had the motivation to do this. I documented what I wore every single day. Tonight, while listening to Joanna Wong and drinking some tea, I suddenly went through this album on my macbook that was named "365," which housed over three months of outfits from January to March 2009, I was going to do it for the entire year, but somehow, I just lost the motivation and thrive to do it after awhile. But now looking back, I actually thought about picking this up again, it is really a good source of documentation.