SHINO'S JOURNAL

marni x h&m

2012-02-06T00:52:00.000-07:00

See you on the line!

aye!denim

2012-02-05T23:00:00.002-07:00

Topman sunglasses; Ben Sherman cardigan; Topshop sleeveless tee; Aye!Denim jeans; Txture shoes

I never dig jeans before even though guys around me always raving about finding the perfect pair. I have tried Nudie, Ksubi, Citizens of Humanity, and other top jeans brands, but it was never a long term relationship with them. I would always go back to my chino or high-waisted pants or twisted-silhouette pants.

When I was in Indonesia, my friend who is an owner of a local denim house — Aye!Denim — asked me whether I would like to consider wearing his jeans. I went to his showroom a couple days later and tried some of his pieces and I decided to get the tapered pair. They are not better than Nudie or Ksubi, but I like them. And for a made-in-Indonesia denim, they are quite exemplary. It is still a question whether this relationship would last longer, but I am fashioning them as one of my staples right now.

winter escape

2012-01-28T00:47:00.001-07:00

I'm back in San Francisco where the internet is as fast as fast-fashion. It only took me an hour to finish editing and uploading these photographs from my winter break, so with no more words, here is what my break looks like.

My first Christian Louboutin in exotic skin. What could be more perfect for my first?

Monologue iced hazelnut latte is one the best coffee beverages in Jakarta.

A backyard view from my parents' country house.

Current reading: The Great Gatsby.

Oxtail soup.

Sunset in Bandung.

A secret door in Stevie.G hotel.

I did not really go anywhere in my winter break because of my brother's wedding. The reception needed so many preparations, therefore I had to stay around and be a volunteer for the wedding. Even though the tight schedule kept me from vacationing, I managed to try some good foods, escape to Bandung, read a book, and treat myself with beautiful shoes. And now that I feel rejuvenated, I am ready to start spring semester!

hello two-thousands-twelve

2012-01-05T04:10:00.001-07:00

A year has passed and it's time to evaluate what has happened. Remember the pleasant and forget the unpleasant is one way to help us move on to the next chapter in our life. However, take lessons from the unpleasant is an excellent way to improve ourself. The biggest thing that happened to me in 2011 was my decision to move to San Francisco and pursue my dream. I still can not say that my decision to leave Canada was the right decision, but it was definitely not a mistake.

I have only been in San Francisco for four months but everything feels great. I've made new friends and more importantly I love what I am doing in San Francisco: rushing to school with my portfolio bag, reading Diana Vreeland biography for my assignment, and scanning every look from the fashion show. Even though I come home exhaustedly almost everyday, I enjoy every moment of it. I couldn't ask for more.

In welcoming 2012 I have no high hopes and expectations because I just want to walk along this year with this excitement I have. It is still a long way for me to reach my goal, therefore I just want to give my best and have fun while pursuing it. Perhaps the only expectation I have for 2012 is to expect the unexpected. Happy new year peeps!

the first fashion editor

2011-12-13T15:46:00.000-07:00

If you buy a fashion magazine — be it Vogue or Elle — you are most likely to pass the written-article pages and flip through the fashion spread that is featured in that magazine. This fashion spread — or fashion story — showcases the latest clothing pieces made by designers around the world. Before 1936, or more specifically before the arrival of Diana Vreeland in Harper's Bazaar, this so-called fashion spread did not exist. As two of the biggest fashion magazines. Harper's Bazaar and Vogue used to report fashion in the form of writing, illustration, or still-life photographs of the clothes. However, when Carmel Snow — the then-editor-in-chief of Harper's Bazaar — promoted Diana Vreeland to become a fashion editor of the magazine, everything began to change. During her career as a fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar and, later on, Vogue, Diana Vreeland set a new standard of what fashion magazine should look like. She — along with the biggest fashion photographers of her era — also created some of the iconic images in fashion history. What Vreeland did throughout her career was to influence the fashion industry and society (her influences are still alive in today's fashion industry) making her one of the most influential figures in the history of fashion.

Diana Vreeland was born in Paris. Her father was a stockbroker and her mother was an American socialite. Vreeland moved to New York City in 1914 and married Reed Vreeland when she was eighteen years old. At the age of thirty, Vreeland got a job as a columnist in one of the legendary fashion magazines — Harper's Bazaar. Six months after Vreeland started working in Harper's Bazaar — which was in 1936 — she became a fashion editor of the magazine. Diana Vreeland worked as the fashion editor of Harper's Bazaar for twenty-six years (1936-1962), and then moved to Vogue as the editor-in-chief of the magazine (1962-1971). In thirty-five years as a fashion editor, Diana Vreeland influenced the fashion industry in so many ways.

Before Diana Vreeland, the term fashion editor did not exist. There were only journalists who reported for fashion as it was: they saw the collection, wrote about it, took pictures of it, and then published it in the magazine. There was no reinterpretation of the clothes in a different way besides the still-life photographs of the runway show. "Vreeland invented the fashion editor. Before her, it was society ladies who put hats on other society ladies!" said Richard Avedon during her speech at Diana Vreeland's memorial. There was nothing more and nothing less. Diana Vreeland, on the other hand, was not just reporting fashion to the public, but she also embodied fashion as a statement — whether in political or cultural — that defines the current situation. Vreeland captured the spirit of the current time and expressed it through enchanting photographs in the pages of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue, which made fashion become more important than ever. She made fashion magazines a medium that not only reported on fashion, but she also showed the role of fashion in society in the pages of those magazines. In the 1960s the youth gained an important status in society, fifty percent of American population was under the age of 25 in 1962, which made them influential and important in both society and fashion industry. This was a revolution. A change that had never been seen before and Vreeland captured this time in the pages of Vogue, "The sixties were about personalities. It was the first time when mannequins became personalities. It was a time of great goals, an inventive time... And these girls invented themselves. Naturally, as an editor I was there to help them along," Vreeland said about the decade. One of the iconic images that Vreeland created to represent the era is the photographs of Edie Sedgwick — Andy Warhol's It girl — that was captured in 1965 by Enzo Sellerio. Edie Sedgwick was an actress who starred in Andy Warhol's movies — Poor Little Rich Girl and Vinyl — and Diana Vreeland adored her and thought of her as the freedom of the 1960s. Another iconic image is the July 1967 cover of Vogue — which featured Twiggy — and the famous Richard Avedon photographed it. Twiggy was only sixteen years old when she graced the cover of Vogue, and this cover, of course, embraced the importance of the youth in that decade.

Louise Dahl-Wolfe, Cecil Beaton, Irving Penn, David Bailey and Richard Avedon are some of the biggest fashion photographers in fashion history. These photographers collaborated with Diana Vreeland and created inspiring images in the pages of Harper's Bazaar and Vogue. Their collaboration with Diana Vreeland put their name on the map of fashion industry. One of the most famous images that Diana Vreeland and Louise Dahl-Wolfe created is the March 1943 cover of Harper's Bazaar with Lauren Bacall on it. This image of Lauren Bacall standing in front of American Red Cross launched Bacall's career as a Hollywood actress. Richard Avedon's best works are also produced when he was working with Diana Vreeland. The February 1960 cover of Harper's Bazaar — which was photographed by him — is the magazine most iconic cover. Other famous image Avedon produced is the Kennedy's family portrait that was published in the February 1961 issue of Harper's Bazaar.

After Diana Vreeland got fired from Vogue in 1971, she worked at the costume Institute of Metropolitan Museum of Art, which later transformed the way museum showcases a collection. However, there is no doubt that her stint in both Harper's Bazaar and Vogue were the highlight of her career. Some of the biggest fashion photographers produced their best works during their collaboration with Diana Vreeland, and she extended the role of fashion magazine in the fashion industry. Her influences when she was working in those two legendary fashion magazines were forceful. And that is what make her one of the most influential fashion icons of all time.

dear santa

2011-12-11T23:16:00.002-07:00

Here we are again at the end of the year where everybody is eagerly hinting their wishes. My secret wishes to santa — if he does exist — this year are a cable knit from La Garçonne Moderne, Theysken's Theory black leather jacket and calf hair messenger bag, Rag & Bone ankle boots, and a True British coffee table book. And santa, some of them are on sale.

the track

2011-12-09T21:52:00.001-07:00

(H&M blazer; Madewell shirt; T.Babaton pants; Club Monaco purse; Acne track boots)

When I was exploring my closet this morning I realized that I own Acne Track boots. I forgot that I have them. Silly me. Naturally, I decided to take them for a spin today. I finished my final exam yesterday but I still have one more assignment to kiss this semester good bye! I am so excited to go home and meet my family for holiday. I really need a vacation. Another thing that I am so excited about is to shop in Indonesia. I have been obsessed with Indonesian brands' — Nikicio, Danjyo Hiyoji, Oneandahalf — garments lately and I can not wait to get a handful of them.

seagull and cupcake

2011-12-07T22:20:00.001-07:00

(Étoile Isabel Marant coat; my brother's tshirt; Topman pants; Robert Clergerie for Carven wedge loafers; Céline phantom luggage; J.Crew socks)

Despite of the craziness of final weeks, I made my steps to Pier 39 after school today. The blue sky made me want to escape from school's works just for a couple of hours. I wandered around Pier 39 and saw a lot of tourists and epic food parlors. It was my first time wandering around Pier 39, so I felt like a tourist who is French. At dinner time I went to In and Out to bite their famous animal fries and chocolate milk shake. To made my sugar blood even higher, I went to Ghirardelli Square afterward for a chocolate velvet cupcake. With this much sugar in my brain, I should be able to survive a night of studying tonight. Wish me luck for my final exam!

sunday noon

2011-12-05T22:52:00.000-07:00

(Céline sunglasses)

Nothing is better than having a great meal — and coffee and orange juice — with good friends to start your Sunday. And Bar Tartine is a great place to do that. I went there last Sunday with my friends and I had the best french toast I have ever taste. I know I'm not a food critic, but it has a combination of sweet, sour, salty and bitter, which is weirdly great. The best thing about Bar Tartine though, is that you can make a reservation instead of having to wait for thirty minutes for your brunch.

clear autumn

2011-12-01T01:28:00.001-07:00

(T.Babaton turtleneck; American Apparel pants; Cheap Monday ankle boots; Alexander Wang bag)

Photography by Bimo Ganzar

I really love autumn days in San Francisco. Clear sky, not-so-cold weather and snowless-street make it possible to wear almost anything. Me and my friend walked around Dolores park yesterday and saw people did nothing but sun-bathing on the lawn — it is such a California thing to do, no? — while I posed for my blog. As the end of the year coming up, I am starting to think about holiday gifts and trip. Perhaps Raja Ampat for New Year's Eve?

ursule

2011-11-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

(Robert Clergerie for Carven wedge loafer)

I fell in love with this Robert Clergerie for Carven wedge loafer the first time I saw it. It adds height but I feel like I'm wearing a pair of flats, which is a good combination. I also love that it gives a cool-preppy vibe to my look. There is nothing better than a pair of footwear that complement your outfit.

holiday essentials

2011-11-24T00:10:00.003-07:00

(Cheap Monday booties; Frederic Malle perfume; Band of Outsiders shirt; T.Babaton turtle neck)

It would not be a holiday without fashion. Some of my essentials to survive American Thanksgiving would be my favourite ankle boots from Cheap Monday, purchases from fabulous retailers, Frederic Malle's Iris Poudre perfume, a Band of Outsiders shirt, and a cozy knitwear from T.Babaton. And turkey too!

It's my first Thanksgiving here in San Francisco and I believe it's going to be exciting. My friend is hosting a dinner at her place tomorrow night and we are planning to dress up for the occasion. Beside of the fancy dinner, I am also planning to catch up with the movies — Martha Marcy May Marlene and Happy Feet 2 and Puss in Boots among others — in movie theatre this holiday. I barely go to movie theatre because of the school works, so this long weekend is my only chance to see Elizabeth Olsen's performance. As for Black Friday, I am trying to avoid it by doing pre-Thanksgiving shopping today but I'm still going to check the retailers for their awesome deals. Maybe I would bump into one of you in Union Square?

Happy Thanksgiving peeps!

a dazzling night

2011-11-11T22:37:00.002-07:00

Every year before Halloween I get this pressure on what to be at the party I am going to, because these days the choices are diverse. It used to be just horror and creepy characters that are on the Halloween costume menu, but now you could be a muffin or an iPod. And being broke this year makes the pressure even higher. This Halloween I was volunteering for a non-profit organization — which is ran by Indonesian student in San Francisco — that hosted a party on last Saturday night. VooDoo was the name of the party. The dress code for the party was simple, "do not be yourself!" and that was everyone was for that night. I decided to be a traditional Indonesian maid because I thought it was appropriate since I was literally working at the party. Even thought I did not get to dance and drink, I enjoyed the party because I got to mingle and see people's costumes up close.

I was one of the hostesses that night. I escorted VIP guests to their table and took their order, so I literally was all over the place. I saw all kinds of character at the party, from the prettiest one to the most horrifying one: Holly Golightly, Jabbawockeez, hot sailors, Bluto from Popeye the cartoon, and of course plenty of zombies, were present. It was amusing to see these people took so much effort to not only look the part, but also play the part. The girl who was playing Holly Golightly moved gracefully as if she was the social butterfly in Breakfast at Tiffany's and the Jabbawockeez was b-boying and popping most of the night (they were hilarious). By midnight, more people were coming to the party. Prisoners, Native American, doctor and pirate joined the crowd, and started to fill the lively dance floor.

Besides the obvious characters that always show up on Halloween, at this party I saw some interesting choices of costumes. One of them was a disco ball. Indira Windiasti was wearing a silver shiny polyester top and her skirt was a round disco ball — made by polyester as well. She completed the look with a pair of glittery Miu Miu pumps, which made the look, over-the-top yet stylish at the same time. And the fact that she made the costume by herself made her the It-girl of the night. Poetri Marsela was impersonating Indonesia's former first lady that night — Raden Ayu Siti Hartinah. She wore one of Indonesian traditional outfit — Kebaya and Sarong — and completed it with Hartinah's iconic glasses and hair-do. Her choice was an unexpected and smart. The It-boy of the night, I thought, was Charlie Suryana. He was a surgeon whose organ has been stolen by his patient. Suryana's attire was purchased at the costume shop. However, he made it looked like a Do-It-Yourself costume by ripping it and splashing Betadine on his body. He looked disturbing but comical at the same time, and the hole on his stomach looked quite realistic.

Photographs by Andrea Reza Rendradjaja

When the clock hit one-forty-five in the morning, the light went up and the DJ was ready to say good-bye. The crowd smiled and looks satisfied as they made their way out of the club. Though I did not get to play a character and look enchanting that night, I was amazed to see how creative the crowd was. I got to see my favorite characters came alive and got to feel the excitement that filled the room. It was a night to remember.

hayes

2011-10-22T23:04:00.001-06:00

(Lucky Brand monk-strap shoes)

It's been more than two months since I stepped my foot in San Francisco but it feels like it's been forever. I am starting to get use to everything in here: annoying homeless, stinky bus, noisy night, to-die-for shops and the beautiful culture. I also have started exploring random neighbourhoods and got to find cool shops and restaurants. Last week I went to Hayes Valley — another hip neighbourhood — and got to torture myself by looking at the fabulous boutiques there (I am currently saving some of my bucks to get a pair of Jil Sander lace up). There are so many places that I have not visit but that is what make living here more exciting. If you live here or have been here and have any recommendation please let me know!

dress to success

2011-10-21T00:08:00.002-06:00

They say college students live in their sweatpants and sweatshirt throughout their entire college life, because a busy schedule and tons of assignment make it impossible for them to dress up and look fashionable. Unfortunately, this stereotype is true. I have been studying in three different universities now. The first-two universities I attended were in Calgary, Canada — University of Calgary and Mount Royal University — and then I end up here at the Academy of Art University in San Francisco. My parents told me that I was travelling rather than studying because I moved a lot. At first it sounded like an insult, but now I think he was right.

For the past four years in Calgary I have seen and known a lot of students who dress differently, but most of them fit into the stereotype I mentioned before. Sweatpants and sweatshirt with the University's name and logo filled the hallway and the classroom. Some of the girls would tuck their sweatpants into their UGG boots in the winter and they would carry a can of Rockstar and Red Bull instead of a Starbuck's cup. I, on the other hand, would carry a coffee cup every morning to the campus and wearing a stylish clothing everyday even though it was minus thirty-two degree Celsius on that day. I got stares and sometimes a laugh from a random student whenever I wear something fashionable, but I never cared.

When I first arrived at the Academy of Art University everything seems different. It felt like I just stepped my foot into another world. The first thing I noticed was, where are the sweatpants? Even though it was not a surprise for me that fashionable clothing is required at the Academy of Art University, I never thought sweatpants and sweatshirt would completely gone from a huge group of students. Everybody dresses up. The students at the Academy of Art University are fashionable. They pay attention to what they are wearing and carefully choose what they are going to wear to campus. One day I would see a guy wearing a cropped top that shows his toned abs, and one day I would see a girl walking on sequined shoes with skyscraper heels.

Habibi Winter is a Multimedia student at the Academy of Art University. I met him in front of 180 New Montgomery building while he was waiting for a shuttle bus. He is not necessarily the type of guy who dresses up extravagantly, but he looked cool. I was not surprised when Winter mentioned that he is doing a Visual Merchandising as his minor study and works part-time at Zara, because it translates in his attitude toward dressing-up. Winter considers himself as a person who loves to dress up. He always chooses what he is going to wear to campus before he goes to bed, which is why he looks good when he goes to school. As a person who prefers rugged boots instead of sneakers, Winter calls his personal style Urban Adventurer. And I think it suits him because my first impression towards him is a chic city-boy.

One of my classmates in a Fashion Business class, Kim Moon Joo, is a fashion-obsessed girl. She is a freshman, just like me, and she is majoring in Fashion Merchandising. Moon Joo loves comfortable clothing but she also hates jeans and sweatpants. Vintage store and independent boutiques are the places she favors to shop, because she thinks retailers like Zara and H&M are overrated. Most of her clothes are from the brands people are unfamiliar with. I personally love Moon Joo’s personal style. She always wears something that I would wear — a pair of black harem pants she wore when I photographed her is one of them — and she always looks effortlessly chic. Moon Joo does wear jersey to campus when she stayed late the night before, but that only happens in mid-term or final week. And she tries her best to avoid it.

An actress-to-be, Danni Dio, is the girl I met in front of a coffee shop. She was waiting for a traffic light when I said hi to her and complimented her look that day. Dio is studying Acting at the Academy of Art University and she is from China. She told me that she needs thirty minutes to get ready before she goes to school, and she always tries her best to look casual because she does not like a look-at-me kind of clothes. She carefully mix-and-match her clothes, which is why the colors-coordination in her outfit looks tuneful. When it comes to shopping, Dio does not like to spend too much on her clothes. She likes to keep it low profile while looking stylish.

These students pay attention to what they wear and they also have a busy schedule just like the rest of us, but for them that is not an excuse to go to school looking like a slacker. Most of the students dress not to impress others but they dress for themselves. Looking good is a part of their daily routine and it helps them boost their confidence to survive the day.

late night

2011-10-17T14:16:00.002-06:00

from new york to paris

2011-10-17T01:12:00.001-06:00

Whether it is going for a cup of coffee and gossiping with your best friend, or going to a beauty salon for a cream bath, a girl needs to pamper herself at least once a week. Going shopping, of course, is also one approaches to treat yourself, and for ladies in San Francisco Bay Area, Curve — a little boutique in the corner of Fillmore St and Washington St — is the perfect destination to do so. Just opened last month, this simple and modern space offers a wardrobe collection from American to European designers: Alexander McQueen, Alexander Wang, Balmain, Burberry Prorsum, Iro, Isabel Marant, Proenza Schouler, and Theysken's Theory are among the brands that they carry. Besides the famous names that fill their clothing rack, Curve also has a fashion-forward selection, which can barely found in Saks Fifth Avenue or Bloomingdales. The Burberry Prorsum juicy bright orange coat, the Alexander Wang metallic pump with a front tassel, and the Cor Sine Labe Doli Bianco ceramic bow tie are some of the highlights of Curve. Based in Los Angeles, Curve has dressed some of the hottest Hollywood celebrities, so they obviously know how to make women look glamourous and sophisticated. Come visit the boutique and meet Jennifer — Curve's fabulous store director — to help you find the perfect outfit for a night out. Another great thing about Curve is that you can bring your pet in to the boutique to accompany you browse the racks. Where else can you bring your best buddy shopping, literally, with you?

(Curve — 2360 Fillmore St, San Francisco CA 94115 — 415-885-4200)

october lust

2011-10-16T17:34:00.000-06:00

Pictures are courtesy of La Garçonne

bringing back the mad women

2011-10-13T01:51:00.003-06:00

As Paris Fashion Week finished, leaving eyes and mind mesmerized with creativity from Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week, a lot of people are starting to think about what should they buy and wear for next season. New York, London, Milan and Paris offered different types of style and creativity. However, there are some similarities in these four cities, and one of those similarities is womanhood. Designers from all around the world want women to be a woman — whose delicacy and femininity are shown in the way she dresses — again.

Back in 1947, Christian Dior showed his first collection. He introduced a silhouette called the “New Look” to the world; tiny waist, long skirt and hourglass-like shape. It became a huge success and the iconic look of the 1950s because it reflected the status of a woman as a man’s subordinate back then. For the past forty years though, this silhouette had disappeared, or at least became almost extinct, because of the changes in society — women became more independent and considered equal to men. At this Fashion Week, we saw the resurrection of the “New Look.”

It started at the New York Fashion Week, where Jason Wu, and Carly Cushnie and Michelle Ochs of Cushnie Et Ochs revived the 50s era, where the shape of a woman’s body and status ere embraced in the society. For his Spring/Summer 2010 collection, Jason Wu stayed true to the clothing style of the 1950s. Most of his outfits flatter a woman’s body and look ladylike. The influence of Mr. Dior is visible. But the detailing — decorated-collar, embellished skirt, and beaded fringes — and color palette make the collection look more appealing to young women. Cushnie Et Ochs on the other hand, adds sex to the style of the 50s. The designers take the hourglass shape and add bondage to the collection. With leather and sharp cutout necklines the models look like a woman whom a male would fantasize about. New York Fashion Week had a good interpretation of the 1950s, and they make an acceptable opening for the Spring/Summer 2011 Fashion Week.

In London, where street style is the root of fashion, designers like Erdem Moralioglu and Jonathan Saunders featured dresses and skirts instead of pants in their runway shows. Their collections look elegant and appropriate. Erdem uses silk, satin, chiffon and laces to extend the beauty of his signature floral print. His floral print is one of the most beautiful floral prints in London Fashion Week, and with delicate fabrics it looks even more beautiful and otherworldly. Moreover, Saunders takes a conservative approach to re-showcase the post-war era; hem below the knee and soft color palette. His silhouette — consider that this collection is an homage — is simpler and more relaxed than it used to be back in the 1950s and it makes the pieces more modern and easier to wear. Here in London we can see more 1950s silhouettes than in New York. Even though the collections look more conservative and subtle, I think they look even more beautiful than the style of the 1950s itself.

I felt like I was watching Mad Men and Pan Am TV shows when I scanned the collections from Milan Fashion Week. The post-war era is obviously embraced vy the Italian this season. Prada and Jil Sander are the highlight of Milan Fashion Week. Raf Simons' latest collection for Jil Sander is probably the best collection to reinterpret the 1950s style. It looks smart, feminine and very modern. More importantly, people will not judge you as the housewife-who-does-nothing-but-serve-her-husband if you wear these clothes. The clean cuts and the use of primary color suggest a modern woman instead of a traditional one. Miuccia Prada also did a terrific job at reviving the post-war era. The highlights of the collection are the quirky print, and the pull-on skirt with an elastic band, which I think will be at H&M, Zara and Club Monaco.

Even thought Parisian designers does not reinterpret the 50s this season, Parisian most famous house, Louis Vuitton, does it. If Raf Simons in Jil Sander toned down the 1950s with minimalism, Marc Jacobs in Louis Vuitton exaggerated it. With beautiful trimmings — feather fringe, organza ribbons, sequins, and floral applique — and color palettes, the post-war era in Louis Vuitton looks decadent. Even thought only a small amount of Parisian houses used 1950s as their reference point for their Spring/Summer 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection, the fashion elite in Paris still loves femininity. Since Sarah Burton came into the picture, Alexander McQueen's — a France-based fashion house — Ready-to-Wear collection has become more wearable and feminine. Her latest collection for the iconic house is still in that direction. Ruffles, curving neckline, subtle color palette and hourglass silhouette are some of the design elements that she uses to make a woman look womanly. With French fashion houses like Valentino and Christian Dior as the pioneers of a ladylike wardrobe, and Alexander McQueen moving into that direction, there is no doubt that Paris will always embrace womanhood.

As soon as Spring/Summer 2012 Ready-to-Wear collection wrapped up, I could not help but felt excited because the womanly silhouette is back. And it is reinterpreted in various different ways. It is possible that modern women think that dressing up like the post-war era women is a sign of weakness and can make them feel less equal to men. Fortunately this time the designers are reminding women to show their all-thin-nice quality in the way they look without being traditional again. With a show like Louis Vuitton's, Jonathan Saunder's, and Jil Sander's, a hope of women slipping into a skirt instead of a pair of pants and jeans are inevitable.

the blanc notes

2011-10-12T03:26:00.000-06:00

Images courtesy of The Blanc Notes

It's mid-term week and my mind is about to explode. The workload I have is just overrated and a lot. I am not complaining though, I am just sharing. Fortunately, yesterday I received an e-mail from The Blanc Notes — an Indonesian-based street-style blog — that put a big smile on my face (just what I need in these days). Basically, The Blanc Notes interviewed me a couple months ago by e-mail and wanted to feature me, as a blogger, on their blog. The e-mail I got yesterday told me that the interview is up on their blog, and I looked it up as soon as I got home. First, I feel so honoured and flattered to have a photograph of mine and my voice on such a cool blog, so thank you very much The Blanc Notes. And second, I am proud of myself. Even though it is not a big thing, it is still a huge achievement for me. Again, I would like to say thank you to The Blanc Notes, specifically Astriani and Annisa for interviewing me, for the amazing opportunity and for lighten my tough week.

P.S. Ario Achida's comment brighten my week even more!

vespas

2011-10-06T01:53:00.000-06:00

Would love to have one of those someday.

the rocco

2011-10-06T01:46:00.001-06:00

(Alexander Wang bag)

Perhaps I am the last person on earth who is still obsessed with this bag, but I am.

lucky day

2011-10-02T23:53:00.002-06:00

My new obsession. Love her voice and style!

Won’t you give it to me, because you’ve got what I want. Maybe it’s my lucky day~

me on "the girl with the messy hair"

2011-10-02T06:17:00.000-06:00

(Topshop t-shirt; American Apparel pants; Alexander wang shoes and bag)

One of my blogger friends, KD Faustino, asked me to write for her blog. It is such a cool thing for her to ask me to do it. I feel so flattered. Please do check my post on her fabulous blog, The Girl With The Messy Hair.

a charming neighbourhood

2011-09-25T19:02:00.002-06:00

Fillmore is one of my favourite neighbourhoods in San Francisco. It has cool boutiques, cozy coffee shops, a good old-bookstore, and a great magazine stand. A stroll down this neighbourhood is the perfect way to end my week. I always end up with a copy of any fashion magazine and sunday New York Times — sometimes clothes.

alexander

2011-09-12T11:06:00.001-06:00

(Alexander McQueen jacket)

along the haight

2011-09-12T10:58:00.001-06:00

Haight St is one of the most famous streets in San Francisco and it has some of the best vintage/thrift stores in the city. If you have a day off and have nothing to do, strolling in Haight St would be the perfect way to waste your time. You probably going to end up with a pair of vintage Chanel flats or an Yves Saint Laurent suit from the 70s. As for me, I ended up bringing home a vintage Alexander McQueen jacket from the Wasteland.

september lust

2011-09-11T02:00:00.000-06:00

(Lanvin hat; Bottega Beneta coat; Acne leather jacket; Lanvin oxford; Paul Smith oxford)

Pictures from Mr. Porter and Net-a-Porter

welcoming fall

2011-09-03T00:29:00.000-06:00

My friend bought me this fabulous Céline Phantom Luggage in a stamped crocodile leather in Paris last summer - she said she literally had to yell to one of the sales assistants in its Avenue Montaigne boutique to get this Phantom. I thought this bag is perfect for my days as a fashion student as it can fit everything in it. I also got this amazing Alexander Wang Georgie from Barneys New York - it was my first purchase in Barneys and I am loving it - which I thought would be perfect for my evening in San Francisco. As for fall day boots, I could not think of anything better than Acne Track ankle boots in chocolate-brown. I bought it from Net-A-Porter and just got it yesterday. Like any normal fashion-obsessed, I spent all my fall budget on shoes and just going to get new coats from H&M or Zara. What's your splurge for this fall?

net-a-porter

2011-09-02T00:16:00.001-06:00

When I got home from school this evening, I found out that my Acne shoes, which I ordered from Net-A-Porter last week, are here. I know I told you that I do not believe in online shopping and really avoiding it, but I have been looking for these shoes and could not find them anywhere beside the online shops, so I pushed myself to hit the button.

This is my first time buying something from Net-A-Poter (welcome to five years ago!) and so far I am loving the service. My order came on-time and it was packaged perfectly. I even get a welcome note, as a new customer, and a tape measure. How fabulous is that? Call me silly or naff, but I am actually excited with it. Anyway, I am going to try the shoes tomorrow because I am too exhausted right now to even put them on, but lets hope they are très chic for this fall.

today my life begins!

2011-09-01T23:37:00.001-06:00

(my textbooks for this semester)

As you know, today was my first day as a fashion student, and surprisingly, I had a great one. I was really nervous and thought it was going to be confusing, you know, that feeling you get when you are new to an environment have no idea what you are doing in there? However, mine was more than I was expecting it to be. I got to meet awesome people and got to enjoy all of the classes I attended today, so it was perfect.

Today I learned that loving fashion is not enough to succeed in the fashion industry or even to just enter the industry. I really need to work really really hard. Some of my classes only have one text book, and comparing to my finance or accounting textbook, fashion textbooks are not that thick - even though they are thick, they are probably because of the thousands of images, not diagrams or tables. However, I do have tons of extras, like Vogue, Elle, The New York Times, and countless of fashion websites and blogs which I need to read religiously. Since I am majoring in Fashion Journalism, I really need to read more and stay updated with what is going on in the fashion industry and everything that is related to it.

I also learned that in the next four months I will be stuck with my reading materials, which are countless, and my writing and non-writing assignments. We all know my main goal here is to finish this school, get a degree that I want, and work in fashion industry - specifically high-fashion magazine - so I think I have to sacrifice my blogging a little bit. I am not saying that I am going to stop blogging and shut down this blog, but helplessly I am going to blog less whether I like it or not. But I will still be blogging routinely as I have so much to share and talk about.

So here I am back to the fall, back to the school, and so are you, probably. Therefore let's dance and shake the laziness out, because at the very least, you can always make your classmate jealous of your fabulous new coat and boots.

hello san francisco!

2011-09-01T00:16:00.001-06:00

(a view of Golden Gate Bridge from the top of Fort Point; a view from my studio)

It is my third week in San Francisco and I have been around the city. Literally. I arrived in San Francisco on the morning of August 15th, 2011. My friend's boyfriend picked me up at the airport and he let me crashed at his place until I can find my own roof. That's right ladies, I did not have an apartment nor room when I arrived because I did not want to lease an apartment based only from the images I saw on Craiglist. Fortunately my friend's boyfriend is an awesome person. Not only he let me crashed at his place for days, but he also helped me find an apartment and helped me getting started with my new life here, so thank you so much for that buddy.

School does not start until tomorrow - even though the orientation did start last monday and ends today - and for the past couple weeks I had been getting things done (school stuffs and apartment stuffs), walking around the city, strolling down cool neighbourhoods, and went to every department stores like Barneys and Macy's. So far I really like the city. I mean, comparing to what I had in Calgary this city is so much better in what it has to offer, but in overall I can not say San Francisco is better than Calgary because I still know nothing about San Francisco. I am still a tourist after all.

I currently live in a really small studio that is really close to Union Square. I have to live around this neighbourhood because my campus buildings are all over downtown, however it is such a torture to live in this neighbourhood because Barneys is just a walking distance from my place, and that place haunts me every day and night in reality and in my dream. There are also cool art galleries and theatres which I haven't get the time to explore, except the San Francisco Museum Of Modern Art (SFMOMA). However, the most important things though, I can easily get food with all the restaurants and parlour surrounding my apartment building - and it is a good thing because my studio does not have a kitchen. And since it is in the heart of the city, the access to go anywhere around the city is also really easy. So two things to describe my studio, perfect location, bad features.

Tomorrow is my first day as a fashion student and I am so excited for that. The only thing that is bugging me is I am lack of clothes. Literally. My wardrobe is still stuck in Calgary because my brothers are still having their summer vacation and not back in Calgary yet, so there is no one that can send my boxes of couture at least until the next couple of weeks. I did some shopping though, but still, I really have to restrain myself from overspending now that I live all by myself. Anyway, that was the beginning of my story in San Francisco. From now on ups and downs going to happen to me, so stay tuned. Hopefully my new life turns out to be wonderful, and hopefully the journey I am taking is going to be as fabulous as the destination. So keep supporting me peeps!

And last but not least, hello San Francisco!

the edge of summer

2011-08-23T17:53:00.003-06:00

(Oneandahalf shirt; Topman necklace; Topshop jeans; Regal oxford; Johnny Ramli pouch)

Wow it has been forever since my last update has not it? Every summer I barely touch my Mac and stay connected. Not only because the screwed internet connection in Indonesia but it was also because I was too busy hanging out and catching up with my old friends. Anyway, summer is almost over and it is time to print all those photographs you took on your summer getaway and put them on the wall in your room. It is also time to store those short shorts and swim trunks and start unpack your autumn coats and jackets. Or get a new one - or two - from Zara.

As summer coming to an end I am already here in San Francisco starting what I call "my new life." I have been here only for a week and I am getting use to the culture and the hype of the city. And so far I like it. I would love to tell you all about it but unfortunately I broke my camera lens on my way to San Francisco. I am buying the replacement and will get it as soon as possible - as Amazon-dot-com said. After I get my new lens I will start taking photographs again and post them here along with my story. Fair enough heh?

mom's chanel and dad's oxford

2011-07-18T12:53:00.001-06:00

(Rag & Bone shirt; Topshop jeans; Regal oxford shoes; Chanel purse)

I did not bring too many outfits to Jakarta because I left most of my outfits in Calgary to be sent to San Francisco later in fall, so I have a, really, small amount of clothes here in Jakarta. Though my parents are not into style and fashion but luckily some of their items could be very useful to me. I borrow some of their items, especially their accessories, almost every time I am going out. I also borrow a lot of my father's shoes. My father has a huge collection of shoes. Oxford, boots, cowboy boots, loafer, derby, you name it. My mother on the other hand, has a huge collection of handbag and scarf. Yesterday I borrowed my mother's Chanel purse and my father's Regal oxford to complete my go-to look. And now I am missing and longing for my outfits in Calgary.

johnny ramli

2011-07-17T11:53:00.001-06:00

One of the biggest trends for this fall is the men's clutch, and we have seen it in major runway shows like Bottega Veneta, Lanvin, and Acne. I got this exotic skin iPad pouch from Johnny Ramli in one of my favourite stores here in Jakarta a week ago, and I am in love with it ever since - I love that it is made by authentic snakeskin but not too pricey, and how minimalist the design is. I have been wearing it for almost everyday because it goes with almost everything and it is an instant chic-maker.

spring 2012 menswear hit-list

2011-07-12T21:59:00.004-06:00

Photographs from Style.com

I am looking forward to next spring/summer because not only I am going to experience my first spring in San Francisco, but the menswear ready-to-wear collection for that season is spectacular. I would call the menswear collection evolutionary, and perhaps going to be revolutionary as well.

One thing I am impressed in spring/summer 2012 menswear collection is the fact that gender has becoming one of the cliche factors to wear clothes. A few seasons ago, Ricardo Tisci put his male models in kilt, and not-so-surprisingly he insists doing so in his latest collection for Givenchy. Though kilt is a menswear, but globally, kilt has not been accepted yet as a menswear, so there is no doubt that Ricardo Tisci is trying to brain-wash those who think so. Other designers like Rei Kawabuko creatively create an illusion that a man can look cool without a pair of pants. It is not necessarily a skirt or a kilt that her male models wear in her latest collection for Comme des Garçons, but she is creating that perception with a long-hem shirt that fall on the knee. Rick Owens on the other hand, bravely dresses his male models with a skirt and a maxi dress - or let's just call it a maxi overall to make it sounds less feminine - and it is so obvious, at least to me, that they look amazing. With these designers who consistently throw their amazing visions on the eyes of the world, it is just a matter of time that the world will evolve fashionably. And hopefully gender will be just an illusion in the art of dressing up.

Street, punk, rock, dandy, and preppy were the only genres that menswear has. This season though, designers offer more genre in menswear. Uniform has been an inspiration for many designers and it has been emerging on the runway since seasons ago, but not until this season that, I think, it can be considered as one of the genres in menswear. Lanvin is one of the houses that show us that uniform can be dressed up in so many ways, and perhaps could be a season-less styling. Should we call the genre a uniform-ist?

Thanks to amazing designers who are pushing more boundaries in their collection, menswear is getting more and more interesting. Splashy colour palette, psychedelic print, abstract pattern, extreme proportion, and weird silhouette are making more appearances on the runway for this season. Kris Van Asche is one of the designers who makes tailored clothing looks less uptight. In both of his collections, whether for Dior Homme or his own line, tailored clothing has never been more casual and has less control. One of my favourite collections of all time is this season Yohji Yamamoto. I just love the proportion that makes the look looks so relax and breathable. I want every single pants in his latest collection. Prada on the other hand, has one the best prints and shoes. Everything in her collection is daring and fun.

Crazy inventions and ideas are some of the things that make a revolution. Though fashion can not change the way people act or behave, but fashion can change the way people see and think. Let's just hope that these ideas that designers are throwing can do the justice and let's help them by taking more risk in dressing up.

five days in singapore

2011-07-06T21:17:00.000-06:00

Here are some shots from my recent trip to Singapore. Sorry it took so long for me to edit these photographs.

majahouse

2011-06-21T02:32:00.001-06:00

Hey-ho people! I am back in Jakarta and the internet hasn't getting any better here - what was government doing when I was away for five days? - so forgive the long-update. Anyway, there is this place in Lembang, which is just KMs away from Bandung, called Majahouse. It is a restaurant with a cool vibe and great view - as soon as the construction finish that is. I went there with my friends a couple weeks ago to enjoy a beautiful afternoon while sipping a martini with a fabulous colour. My first thought of the place was that I want to have a party here. Maybe when I am rich?

june

2011-06-16T09:10:00.000-06:00

Photographs from Fashion Gone Rogue and The Fashionisto

bloggers by night

2011-06-15T20:44:00.001-06:00

Couples of days before I left Calgary, I went to Bloggers by Night to meet fellow bloggers in Calgary. Bloggers by Night is an event which held every month by Calgary Fashion and the one that I attended was the first Bloggers by Night, so I felt honoured to be one of the firsts to attend soon-to-be one of the most fashionable events in Calgary.

The event itself was a simple get-together night with a theme to talk about. Last time the topic was about this new local underground boutique called Buddha by Night, which sold ethnic clothing and accessories ranging from handmade ring and necklace to printed and patterned clothes from Bali. Beside the mingling and the talking, we can also shop their collection in a literally underground boutique.

Meeting fellow calgarian bloggers and talk about fashion was the cherry on top of the event, not to mention the delicious donuts. It was just so sad that I just got to meet those fashionable calgarian days before my departure.

my sugar mama

2011-06-15T19:55:00.001-06:00

Photograph courtesy of Dazed & Confused and from Models.com

schiphol - amsterdam

2011-06-15T10:17:00.000-06:00

This was my twelve hours in Schiphol look like.

hello cyber world!

2011-06-15T04:16:00.002-06:00

I am sorry for the update absence, internet connection in Jakarta is so brutal that I have to do my e-mail checking via my Blackberry. And to make it worse, internet in my parent's house is not working, so I have to go to a place where wi-fi is provided whenever I want to connect to a cyber world. This past week all I did in Jakarta, beside putting bad foods (by bad I mean indulging) was finding the perfect spot to do my blogging. I have been to lots of places and so far I could only find one coffee shop with a decent internet connection. Luckily the coffee and the atmosphere are great, so hello cyber world!

I am in Singapore right now, just arrived couples of hours ago, accompanying my father for a business trip. While he is busy meeting people, I get to enjoy a much better internet connection here so I can catch up with my blogging. There are so many photographs to edit and post because it has been more than a week since my last post.

I have been to Singapore for countless times and I love the country, but I don't exactly want to wander around this time. Let's just say I want to lay low. Even though there is always at least one new place to explore every time I come here, but I would rather sit, have a cup of Starbucks, and talk to you guys. But it does not hurt to shop a little does it? There is a new shopping centre in Marina Bay after all. And a Topshop/Topman new flagship store.

in transit

2011-06-03T03:32:00.001-06:00

I have twelve hours to kill before my next flight to Jakarta, and since I do not have European Visa, I can not escape this airport. My flight from Calgary to here was not that pleasant, so I am not going to take a nap in the airport because I am booking my sleep on my next flight.

I decided to try everything that Schiphol offers; the cafes, the museum, the duty free shops, and the bars. And of course I will have a photo diary and post it here. Let me show you how fun transit can be.

The adventure begins now!

goodbye calgary

2011-06-03T03:16:00.001-06:00

(Danjyo Hiyoji jacket; Helmut Lang sleeveless shirt dress; Zara tights; Aldo wedges)

I was planning to write this goodbye letter before I leave Calgary, but then packing and such kept me occupied. I also planned to leave Calgary on June 1st, 2011, but my careless habit made me missed my flight - it was one of the most tragic moments in my life. Luckily I got to fly on the next flight which was on the next day, so I got another night in Calgary and another goodbye moment with my friends.

Anyway, so here I am at Schiphol in Amsterdam for twelve-hours transit, so I am thinking to write the letter right now. However, I would like to apologize for the cheesy words I am using. It is one of those times.

I arrived in Calgary on August 23rd, 2009. It was a sunny day with a summer breeze that was going to leave soon for autumn. I took a stroll of Calgary's downtown right after I put my luggages in what was then my new house, ignoring the jet lag. I disliked the city at the time because I came from a big city like Hong Kong where everything is open until at least 9PM and the street is full of people. Calgary, on the other hand, lacks of excitement. And in-fashion people.

It did not take that long for me to feel awfully homesick and despising the city. I refused to go out and get to know people. I also put this thick sunglasses in front of my eyes so that it was hard for me to see the good of everything. I became one of those people who stay in front of the computer most of the time and disconnect myself from the real world and social life I used to love.

Sometimes around October I started this blog, in which turned out to be one of the things that pushed me out of my shelter. Things began to change afterward. I met new people and made new friends. One of the highlights was me meeting Sarah Sugandy, a fabulous girl who made Calgary my home. She helped me meeting new people, took me around the city, and made my days more fun than ever. But the most important thing was that she loved me for who I am and taught me to accept and love myself more than anyone else. Her departure to the next chapter in her life was a great lost for me, but at the time I have had changed. I was stronger.

I became more aware of myself and I saw things differently in my second year in Calgary. I took more risks, whether in life or in the way I dress myself, and I felt more confidence than ever. Then I met Clarissa Sutanto. Another fabulous girl who took my life to another level. We laughed, we cried, we had fun, and we taught each other priceless life lessons that I will never forget. I never felt more thankful in my life and I can't thank Clarissa enough for making me the person I am today. My blog started to become more myself and gained more readers. I became more passionate in what I am doing. And more importantly I started to love Calgary and my life there.

Last february, I did a fashion show for a charity. No I was not one of the models, but I was the one who created it. My parents said they were proud of me for creating the show and finally realize what my passion is. Not too long after that everything has to change. Again.

I decided to leave Calgary and move to San Francisco to pursue my dream. The dream I have since I was in high school. It is really hard for me to leave Calgary, especially when I started to have more friends and created more great memories. However, the decision has been made. I am risking everything I have and going to start over and run on the right track to catch my dream.

Again. So here I am at Starbuck Coffee in Schiphol, Amsterdam, sipping tea and looking back for what I think was one of the greatest chapters in my life. I am going to miss that stinky bus that always took me around Calgary, those avenues I once strutted on, that one coffee shop which has an amazing cappuccino, that one barista I once had a crush on, and that one house in which witness everything I had done with my friends.

I believe I am done with Calgary and I believe Calgary was an amazing stepping stone for my life. However, everything I gained in Calgary is not a stepping stone. It is a lesson that I am going to use throughout my life.

Thank you and so long Calgary...

lilac festival

2011-06-01T02:58:00.002-06:00

(D&G shirt; Shades of Grey shorts; Chloé sandals; Baggu reusable bag; Cooperative hat)

Lilac Festival is one of the biggest festival that is happening in Calgary annually. Luckily this year's festival was sunny, in which made the festival really crowded with people and dogs. Beer, lemonade, corn roast, ice cream, and friends filled my sunday. Perfect things to begin my summer.

vancouver day 3 and salmon arms

2011-06-01T02:12:00.001-06:00

(French Connection sweater; Cooperative hat)

Before we drove back to Calgary, we did city-seeing, tried some foods, and visited some local boutiques. I got a pair of Shades of Grey shorts at One of a Few and that was all I brought home from Vancouver besides the mocha cheesecake. On our way back, we stopped in Salmon Arms to enjoy our dinner with this breath-taking view, which officially ended the trip.

nicola rita tomney

2011-05-31T14:56:00.001-06:00

Some looks from N.R.T. Fashions spring/summer 2011 collection. And that's cover Alberta Fashion Week day 1 and 2. I did not come to day 3 unfortunately, due to my recent trip to Vancouver.

vancouver day 1 and 2

2011-05-30T00:34:00.000-06:00

(Rag & Bone sweater and shirt; Citizen of Humanity jeans; Forever 21 hat; Zara bag; Trippen shoes; Wilfred jumpsuit; Aldo wedges)

I went to Vancouver last weekend for the long weekend. Me and my friends drove to the end of the west coast right after I attended Alberta Fashion Week day two and it took use eleven hours of driving to get there. We arrived in Vancouver on saturday morning at exactly ten in the morning with heavy eyes. We stayed at one of our friends house for the weekend and went back to Calgary on monday afternoon.

Tons of espressos and cans of Red Bull were involved in this trip, and all of us were extremely exhausted. Especially those who were driving. But at the end of the trip we thought it was all worth it.

anne b.

2011-05-30T00:01:00.000-06:00

Some looks from Anne B. spring/summer 2011 collection.

bellissima

2011-05-29T21:54:00.001-06:00

Some looks from Bellissima spring/summer 2011 collection.

arizona muse and liu wen

2011-05-26T00:07:00.000-06:00

Photographs from Fashion Gone Rogue

mealan

2011-05-25T20:45:00.001-06:00

Some looks from Mealan boutique spring/summer 2011 collection.

apt. 22

2011-05-25T15:17:00.003-06:00

Some of the looks from Apt. 22 boutique spring/summer 2011 collection.

alberta fashion week - day 2 outfit

2011-05-25T02:19:00.001-06:00

(Cooperative hat; Zara blazer; Club Monaco belt and shirt; vintage pants; Aldo shoes)

It was not as cold as day one, in fact it was extremely warm. And since I was wearing my Zara blazer from last autumn, I could not stop sweating.

alberta fashion week - day 2

2011-05-25T02:07:00.001-06:00

Day two of Alberta Fashion Week was better I think, even though there were only two designers who were showing their collections, but at least they were designers. The designers who showed their collections were Anne B. Accessories and NRT Fashions. Both of the shows were good to me so it was a great night. The crowd was also great, there were fabulous girls and guys who showed off their beautiful outfits. Definitely a night to be remembered.

alberta fashion week - day 1

2011-05-20T00:49:00.002-06:00

Last night was the opening night of Alberta Fashion Week and I brought home tons of photographs to edit. There was no designer showing their collection last night, which was weird, but instead there were three local boutiques showing off what they are going to carry in their stores for spring/summer 2011. Apt. 22, Mealan, and Bellissima are the three boutiques who were showing last night.

I met the blogger of The Girl with the Messy Hair, KD Faustino, who looked amazing in her stripe mini skirt. I also got to meet the blogger of Lion Lace Lattes, Ashley, whose Aldo I adored so much. It was really nice meeting them, we got to exchange link and had a little chat. I'm looking forward to see them on day 2.

run the world

2011-05-18T22:30:00.000-06:00

Though sometimes I could change my mind about a song because of the music video, but Beyonce's Run the World still does not excite me at all. At least the music video looks amazing and her dance performance is still phenomenal. The wardrobe, on the other hand, is beyond spectacular. Whoever puts her in that white Givenchy and that red Alexandr McQueen deserves a bow and roses from me.

leo boutique

2011-05-18T20:17:00.003-06:00

There are a lot of extraordinary clothing pieces that I see on the internet and dying to have, especially those from Oak. Unfortunately, I don't really like online shopping because of so many factors that bring me to some disadvantages like paying more than going for a real shopping. Major retailers like Club Monaco, H&M, and Zara can be found in Calgary, and their collection is as forward as any other places in North America, so there is no need buy them online nor fly to big cities like Vancouver or Los Angeles. However, it is very hard to find those unique pieces like that geometrical-cut t-shirt from Complex Geometry or those amazing preppy shirts from Acne here in Calgary. This makes those two options I mentioned before, necessary.

I am trying to avoid online shopping as much as I can, but I also can not stop craving from outstanding pieces that I can not get from major retailers. I was browsing Oak's website the other week and I almost bought these Kai-Aakmann shorts but the shipment and the duty costs stopped me from putting them in my online cart. Last week, I went to one of my favourite independent boutiques in Calgary, Leo Boutique, and found the Kai-Aakmann shorts there. Unfortunately, the smallest size of the pants still way too big for me - but at the same time I was glad that I did not buy them online - so I bought the Acne sweatpants instead. I have been Leo Boutique customer for almost two years now and I have never leave the boutique empty-handed. Beside the rare and unique selection that they have, the people there are so fashionably amazing.

The first time I went to Leo Boutique was in fall 2009. My older brother took me there because I was looking for winter clothing and it was love at the first sight. I bought a pair of Schmoove boots and a black Fifth Avenue Shoe Repair jacket with hands-covered sleeves at my first visit. Afterward, I always visit Leo Boutique to find pieces from amazing contemporary brands such as Acne, Velour, B.Scott, Chronicles of Never, Wings + Horns, L.A.M.B. and more. However, when you visit Leo Boutique what you see from their selection is the clothes itself rather than the famous brands because the selection is fashion-conscious. Whenever I visit the boutique I always want to try on everything. The amazing denim-leather jackets from Ksubi, the modern-cut suits from J. Lindeberg, the perfect henley from Wings + Horns, and the chic dresses from Designer Remix are very hard to resist. The selection of the jeans are also very broad. Nudie, Acne, Ksubi, Naked and Famous, are some of the well-known brand that can be found in Leo Boutique.

Leo Boutique is also one of the very few boutiques in Calgary to carry well-known brands, which are not in Calgary or Canada yet, or unknown brands and introduce it to Calgary's market. This season they are carrying beautiful men shoes from Beau Coops, an amazing shoe brand from Australia. According to Jon Wiede, one of the owners of Leo Boutique, they are one of the first in North America to carry this fantastic brand. Though they do not carry that many shoes like any other clothing stores due to building regulation, the cut-out lace up from Beau Coops that they have is enough to make me fall in love with this brand. Leo Boutique is also the one and only clothing store in Calgary that carries the infamous british brand, Topman, and the infamous Opening Ceremony.

The charming people who work in Leo Boutique is also one of the reasons why this clothing store is one of the best place to spend a dime in Calgary. Every time I visit, they are always being helpful and very nice, like giving suggestions and options without pushing it.

Though there are some other several independent clothing stores that carry the same brands as Leo Boutique, the unique and fashion-forward pieces that hang in Leo's rack are what make this clothing store standout. And their daring step to bring new brands to Calgary's market is also what separates this clothing store. I doubt you would find a black sheer-hoodie from Complex Geometry in Calgary if it was not for Leo. And thanks to this cool clothing store, I do not have to pay extra bucks to the government.

vogue us june 2011

2011-05-17T00:02:00.000-06:00

Photograph from Fashion Gone Rogue

lick's

2011-05-14T16:58:00.001-06:00

(H&M shirt, shorts and shades; Cooperative hat;Burberry shoes)

I helped my little brother to find his first suit ever for his upcoming prom night. Remember prom? My prom was good but I did not wear a suit that night. I wore something different and hideous and tacky instead. Anyway, we went to Holt Renfrew and he tried a some suits from Burberry to Zegna to Canali but nothing fit him. Everything was just so big and Holt, as always, does not have 36 S in stock. Made-to-measure was not going to work either, because it takes six weeks to order a custom suit, and he needs the suit in two weeks. When we almost gave up and moved on to Harry Rosen, we found this amazing Theory suit for him and it fits him perfectly. Lets just say it is his suit (even though it still needs a little alteration). After he got everything he needs we went to ice cream parlour near my house, Lick's. We had such a wonderful brothers bonding time this afternoon and now we are getting ready for saturday night out.

used - house of vintage

2011-05-14T11:44:00.000-06:00

The most interesting about vintage shopping is that amazing feeling when you find something so great and rare in racks of nothing. Or to have that one amazing piece when it is almost impossible for everyone's else to have. To be honest, I did not really into vintage shopping before because I simply like new thing. A year ago when me and my friends walked around 17th Avenue, we passed this old-looking clothing store with a colourful choice of clothing. My friend loved the store so much. Me, on the other hand, thought that the selection was just too grandma-looking. However, when my friend found this gorgeous white dress by Bob Mackie and decided to try it on, I was blown away. She looked stunning. My perspective toward vintage shopping was changed right away.

The store I was talking about is Used House of Vintage, and it is the first vintage shop that I really love, and now that I am into vintage shopping, I think the selection in this small store is diverse and amazing. Since the Bob Mackie 'incident' I have been visiting and shopping at Used frequently. Sometimes I find a cool plaid pants that Prince Albert liked to wear, and sometimes I find amazing accessories in this store.

I met with Sarah, the new manager of Used, a couple days ago to talk about the store. I came to the store right after Sarah opened the door to start the business for the day. She asked whether she can have a cigarette first before I throw her with my questions in exchange of me taking photographs of the store, and of course I couldn't say no to that. For five minutes I had the store to myself, which was amazing, because I could squat, jump, and lay down to get great shots of the store. I also checked out the racks to see whether they have new pieces, and before I got to see everything Sarah came and sat down behind the accessories counter and smiled. A signal she showed that she was ready to talk.

The old radio behind her was talking crunchily, making me feel like I was in the 60s, at home sitting in the living room and reading book, just like January Jones when she is on the set of Mad Men, playing the gorgeous Betty Draper. We started talking about the owner of Used, which owns a lot of small businesses. The guy is from Vancouver, British Columbia and turns out he opened Used first store in the city where he comes from. The second store opened in Calgary on 17th Avenue a year ago, which means I was one of its first customers like it is important for you to know. The owner now owns two Used stores and some other clothing stores like The Rocket, and since Sarah refused to give me the name of the owner, I can not look for him online. Not that I want to stalk him or anything, but I just want to see this guy who owns unique clothing businesses. You know, just fashion-ly curious.

Everything in the store is mostly vintage. The clothing is all vintage, but some of the accessories are vintage-replica, like the sunglasses and necklaces and bangles. The clothing in Calgary's store, which is handpicked from Vancouver, can be found only in Calgary's store, so my Prince Albert's pants is, possibly, the one and only in Canada. Every clothing store has its buyer and a vintage store has a similar person who does buyer's job, but to make it sound more old-fashioned we call them a Picker. A picker's job is quite the same as the buyer's, but I do not think a picker does trend forecast and such. Sarah told me that she used to be a picker and, "a picker's job is really hard" she said, "there is this big warehouse, probably a size of Costco, in Vancouver and you have to pick every single piece that you want to sell in your store" she continued. Though it sounds fun, but there are a lot of pickers in that single warehouse and since a piece is mostly limited to one, you have to make efforts to get what you want. "It does not get to that point where we push each other to get a rare piece" Sarah said when I asked whether she ever pushed another picker to get something. Sarah told me that the picker is very lucky if he/she can find something from Chanel or Lanvin. Though, most of the clothing in Used are from the brand that you might never heard of, but sometimes you might find a hot pink blazer from Escada, or a white tweed jacket from Diane Von Furstenberg.

The selection in Used, I would say, keeps getting better. Now I can find more of those rare pieces like Bruno Magli shoes or Coach bag. One time I found this gorgeous pair of white-gold Christian Dior shoes, and I believe they are still in the store. I have no idea why they are still there, if I were a girl they would be in my closet the second I saw them. I also found a cool cardigan from Pendleton that I really love, but I did not buy it right away, and now it is gone and I regret it so much. Gorgeous dresses from different eras can also be found in Used, and I love that even though it is a vintage store, Used manage to stay in fashion too. We are in the revival of 50s and 70s right now because of Mad Men and some of the influential designers, and Used has a lot of dresses from late 50s and early 60s in store. They also have some amazing pieces from the 70s like the crazy patterned dress and blouse, and fringe skirt. However, they also have other pieces from other different eras.

People started to come in to the store as peak hour begins and Sarah turned down the volume of the radio to listen to my next question clearly. Since that day was the first day Sarah worked as a store manager, I decided to let her helped the people who came in - I was running out of question to ask anyway. I thanked her for her time and her efforts to helped me moving some racks so that I had a space to take photographs. And as I left the store, I looked back and I realized that Used House of Vintage will soon be a part of my vintage past.

friday the 13th

2011-05-14T01:44:00.002-06:00

(Jacket and purse from Zara; tank from Talula; bangle from Mango; shoes from Jeffrey Campbell)

I went to Ship and Anchor last night with a bunch of friends to celebrate friday the 13th. We shared about our day and whether something bad actually happened to us, and luckily, nothing really bad happened. Since I spent the whole afternoon editing photographs and writing, beer and a huge plate of nachos were the perfect combination to end the day. Not to mention laughing with my friends.

I was wearing my Talula tank top, which I got from Aritzia. The low neckline was creating a little bit of controversy at the bar. Some people turned their head as I passed by, some of them were staring right through me, and one of them pointed her finger towards me. Should I feel offended or should I feel awesome?

super bass

2011-05-13T16:20:00.001-06:00

I am obsessed with this song and now I am in love with Nicki Minaj just like everybody else.

Boy you got my heart beat running away
Beating like a drum and it's coming your way
Can't you hear that boom, badoom, boom, boom, badoom, boom, bass?

sweatpants

2011-05-13T15:37:00.002-06:00

I never thought the day I wear a pair of sweatpants would come and here I am posing in them (please don't mind my pose as I am the worst model). Since last spring I already saw the rise of sweatpants in some major runways like Dolce and Gabbana's, but I still did not think I would wear them. Last week I visited one of my favourite clothing store, Leo Boutique, and the guy there insisted that I should try these Acne sweatpants. I wasn't really into them at first, but as I tried them on with different tops, I changed my mind. They go with everything basic. They also feel comfy and don't look as bad as the normal sweatpants. With the zipper details and drop-crotch, these Acne pants, I think, can make me look effortlessly cool when I am in hurry and don't feel like messing with my closet. What do you think?

the coffee guy

2011-05-11T17:58:00.000-06:00

I am so happy with the response of my recent post, Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters, though there is no comment left to the post, but some of my friends are actually went to Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters to check the cafe. And that's make me happy and excited enough. In addition to the story I made, I want to share my conversation with this awesome guy who I met a couple weeks ago. His name is Jeremy Ho and he is one of the baristas who work in Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters. I picked Jeremy Ho for a profile because he is not just a regular barista, but he also was the third-runner of last year Canadian Barista Championship. Jeremy is also the host of Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters' weekly coffee-tasting. In case you are wondering, the coffee-tasting is happening every thursday at 6PM in the Marda Loop cafe. Jeremy is the only host for the coffee-tasting, meaning that he is one of the excellent baristas who works in Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters. I have been to their coffee-tasting once, and I posted about how interesting and educating it was, so if you love coffee and want to know about the beverage that you drink every morning you should attend.

Jeremy Ho is the first person I know who is really passionate about coffee. The first time I saw him was at the coffee-tasting, and my first thought was this guy is really having fun doing this thing and I can see that he really is into coffee, so when I decided to make a story about Phil and Sebastian I wanted to include him as a profile. I met Jeremy Ho a week after I met Melody Lu and Jeff McCord. We met at Phil and Sebastian and he was wearing the basic boy's uniform, tee and jeans, and I do not know if this is true, but as far as my observation he always wear his cap. He ordered coffee from the brew bar (I should have asked him what kind of coffee he was drinking as I should have asked why he always wear his cap. Lesson learned people) and get himself ready for the questions I was about to throw him. My first question was, of course, whether what he is doing is just a hobby or a passion and without hesitation he said passion. Jeremy has been doing this for five years now and he is not about to stop. The main reason why he is passionate about the world of coffee is because it keeps expanding, there is always the time when you have to learn more. There is no finish line in it. Though Jeremy is currently taking a master in Health and Society in University of Calgary, and he is also an assistant to a professor, but he said that he is going to manage to stay in those completely different worlds for as long as he could. As he said to me, "working as a barista is very intense. But fun."

Moving on from about-the-guy, we started to talk about the coffee-tasting, his wish to win this year Canadian Barista Championship, and what he thinks make a good barista. "The coffee-tasting is an informal and approachable ways to show people about the coffee world," Jeremy said, and I think it is true. I would not want to sit for hours in a coffee class (if there is any) or in a coffee seminar to learn about coffee even though I am intrigued to know about it, but I would try some free coffee at a coffee shop and talk about it with some people who have the same interest. Before I attended the coffee-tasting my knowledge about coffee is very very limited, but then after I listened to Jeremy talking through it in the coffee-tasting I get the ideas about coffee. Though you don't get the whole thing, but somehow after talking about it you become more aware and interested, and you want to know more. And that makes the hour of coffee-tasting a great way to tell people about coffee.

The Canadian Barista Championship is coming soon and Jeremy said that he is going to compete again this year. In order to compete the national championship, which is the Canadian Barista Championship, you have to win the regional championship. And to compete in the regional championship you need to win the in-house championship. The Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters' in-house competition is happening really soon and he does not seem nervous at all when he was talking about it. He is going to compete again this time of course, and he aims to win the national competition.

There are four categories in which make a barista, a good one. According to Jeremy, the number one criteria for a good barista is that he/she must be passionate about coffee, which proof that passion is what you need to be great in whatever you are doing. A good barista is also need to have a good tongue palette for tasting the coffee. Humble and chill are two personalities that would be good for a barista to have, and that is probably why all the coffee people are so amazing and interesting, and sometimes easily likeable. Finally, a good barista needs to be inquisitive, because as Jeremy said, the world of coffee is unlimited and a barista needs to expand their knowledge and experiment constantly. Based on my judgment, Jeremy Ho does have these categories, so I think he is a great barista.

Before we wrapped up our conversation, he mentioned about how he really love working in Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters. Beside he gets to learn more by working in this coffee shop, he also said that this place is full of amazing people. He has met amazing people through three and a half years of working in Phil and Sebastian, and he has learned amazing things from them. Personally, he thinks Phil and Sebastian is the best coffee shop in western Canada. "I think that Phil and Sebastian is the best because we really care about our coffee and the scary part is that we are still learning," Jeremy said. When I mentioned that I am going to move to San Francisco this fall he told me that the city is full of amazing coffee shops and he asked me to inform him if I find a place where the cappuccino is better than Phil and Sebastian's, and I promised him I will. If you read this Jeremy, you have my word.

love stinks

2011-05-10T21:12:00.001-06:00

It's cheap-movie-day again and I got to see Thor instead of Something Borrowed. The movie was good but I still love the other Marvel heroes more so I can not wait for Captain America instalment to come out. I also got to meet and talk with a person from my favourite vintage shop, Used. Today I was walking, mostly, because the weather was so beautiful, so I thought I should take my new Chloé sandals for a walk - they are not really new though because they are from cruise 2010 collection, I just got to wear them today.

Bridesmaid is out this friday and Alberta Fashion Week is on next weekend, so I have a lot to look forward too. I hope I can see all the designers who are showing this time. Fingers crossed!

cochrane and banff

2011-05-08T17:55:00.003-06:00

Despite of a little time I had on Saturday, me and my brother decided to go to Banff for photographs-hunting and late lunch. We drove my brother's jeep and made some stops for some shots and ice cream along the way.

If you live in Calgary I bet you know the infamous MacKay's ice cream in Cochrane. I love MacKay's ice cream. Beside the great flavours they have and the creamy texture, its history and heritage are also the things that make me love this ice cream parlour, so if you are going to Banff from Calgary, make sure you stop by in Cochrane.

The weather on our way there was a little bit unstable. One second the rain would fall, another second the rain would stop, and another second the sun would smile. After two hours of driving and singing to Colplay's songs and Naif's songs, we arrived in Banff and visited the historical Fairmont castle for some shots. Afterward, we went to Korean BBQ restaurant for late-lunch or early-dinner and then went home. It may sounds crazy for some people because we drove four hours but then only stayed in Banff for two hours, but I think it is better than staying at home sitting and consuming calories. Beside, yesterday's trip made me realize one of the great things in living in Calgary. The sceneries and natures that are surrounding Calgary are so beautiful. The prairies, the hills, the farms, the amazing Rocky Mountains, and the fresh air are some of the things that make living in Calgary different. Though, I am a big city boy and would love to live in big cities like Vancouver and Toronto, I also love the balance of urban and nature in Calgary.

Since I thought it was going to be colder in Banff, I decided to wear my new vintage coat which I got from Used. The coat reminded me of Burberry Prorsum autumn/winter 2011 collection and the size of the coat is too big for me, that's why I love it. It creates the same silhouette as the Burberry's. But the best thing was that the coat is only twenty bucks.

mother's day

2011-05-08T15:11:00.004-06:00

The purest love a man can get is only from his mother.

Happy mother's day people!

in my dream

2011-05-06T00:38:00.002-06:00

(From top: Rick Owen leather jacket, Acne shorts, and LD Tuttle sandals)

Pictures from Oak NYC

may

2011-05-06T00:26:00.002-06:00

Photographs from Fashion Gone Rogue and The Fashionisto

parka

2011-05-04T00:02:00.003-06:00

Yesterday rain finally came down and made Calgary really damp, which I think was beautiful - I really love gloomy weather with the sound of rain, make me feel so serene and sleepy. I also got to wear my new Talula parka that I got a week ago from Aritzia. Instead of laying down in bed reading books and magazines, I went to see movies with my friend. And since it was a cheap-movie day, we went to see two movies in a row - Water for Elephants and Fast Five. I love both of the movies. The set and the costumes in Water for Elephants were breathtaking, while the action-scenes and the story of Fast Five were so awesome and thrilling. Next movie on the list is Something Borrowed.

phil and sebastian coffee roasters

2011-05-02T23:22:00.004-06:00

If I have to choose one place for my favourite place to hang out, I will choose coffee shop. The number one reason is of course because I love coffee, but beside that obvious reason, I think coffee shop is one of the most serene places in the world. And if I have to choose one coffee shop, that would be the biggest dilemma I have ever have since the dilemma of which Céline bag I should purchase. There are five coffee shops in Calgary that I love but they are totally different, and each of them has their own characteristics and charisma even though what they are serving is mainly the same. However, if someone asks me that one of the hardest questions I would ever encounter, I think Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters would be the first name that pop up in my head. Reason number one; they have the best cappuccino I've ever have, yet. Reason number two; The place is cozy and homey. Reason number three, they embrace coffee more than any coffee shop I know.

I used to love the latte from Starbucks (remember I said that Starbucks is one of the reasons I started drinking coffee?) Its double-tall-non-fat-latte to be exact. That is the only coffee beverage (and its vanilla-latte) I used to have. Then last year me and my older brother found a new hobby, which is exploring small coffee houses in Calgary, like Phil and Sebastian. You know, just out of curiosity. I started to try something new like mocha, Papa americano (I mean americano,) and the standard coffee. One afternoon we found this cozy-looking cafe called Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters on Marda Loop and me, my older brother and my girl Sarah decided to spent the afternoon there. I tried the cappuccino and up until now, I have not find one that can surpass Phil and Sebastian's. I am not a barista nor a coffee expert but as far as I can tell, the bitterness and the level of foam and the thickness of the milk is just right. After that day, I started to hang out at Phil and Sebastian frequently, or at least after the Chinook Centre cafe opens.

Last thursday I met two of the baristas who work in their Chinook Centre cafe, Melody Lu and Jeff McCord, to ask some questions about the coffee shop. First of all, it was nice of them to come earlier before their shift began to be asked by an unknown-yet-upcoming blogger, so please say hi to them if you happen to be there. Anyway, it was a lovely afternoon. The sun was smiling and the cafe was not really packed with strollers, which was nice. I was there before them. I ordered the cappuccino, grabbed a table and opened my journal filled with questions to be asked, and then waited nervously (it was my first time doing it.) A moment later, Melody showed up with her sandwich, followed by Jeff with his, I assume, carrot cake. We started talking about what separate Phil and Sebastian from other coffee shops and what makes their coffee taste richer than those we get from Second Cup or Good Earth. Some of the factors lay on the machine they are using, which are one of the greatest and latests. Followed by the roasting level that highlight the natural characteristics of the beans. However, the most important thing, I think, is the fact that their baristas are so well trained. Everyone gone through a complete training, which covered theory and skill building, "I spent fifteen hours of training for steaming milk" recalled Jeff of the training he went through last year, "and I also had a pouring training." Before talking to them I did not even know that steaming milk needs a training, let alone a fifteen hours of training, but the purring training can be seen through the beautiful patterns on top of the foam your espresso-based beverages - tree has always been my favourite, but sometimes I make Melody make a letter "S" on top of my cappuccino foam. There is also a training for making a good espresso and according to Jeff that takes the longest hours to complete. Another factor lays on the way they make their espresso; they make their espresso manually, so they have more control over it, hence the great espresso-based beverages they produce. If you are watching them making the coffee, you will see how intense it is and how carefully they are treating every single espresso shot, and thus are the reasons why their cappuccino is the best one in Calgary.

So many coffee shops yet so little can make you want to sit there and stay for a while, and a good coffee does not necessarily make a coffee shop a good one. I am that kind of person who does not stay at home. I like to wonder around. Maybe go for a walk or read free magazines and books at Chapters, but hanging out at coffee shop doing something is one of my most favourite things to do. Therefore, having a place in which the coffee and the atmosphere are great is a must for me. Phil and Sebastian has this combination. Beside the oh-so-good coffee, the place, whether on Marda Loop or in Chinook Centre, is a great place to hang out. The interior, the furniture, everything make the place so cozy and comfortable. Since I am a details snob, even the cute little dreary lamp on the sugar desk, I think, make a great impact for me to sit close to it. I feel like I am in my own room that I never have whenever I sit there. If I am working on something I can sit there for hours without noticing the colour of the sky that already turns darker. For some people it may sound that I am exaggerating, but really, this thing helps me a lot in finishing whatever I am working on. I can concentrate more in this place. The staffs on the other hand, are very friendly and really nice. It is customer service at its best. They really make you feel welcomed and feel like they are your friends. Each of them has his/her own personality, which is really awesome, and as Melody and Jeff said, you need to have passion and personality to be one of Phil and Sebastian staffs. Come to think of it, after I read Joseph Michelli's The Starbucks Experience years ago I thought that Starbucks has a really great customer service, but now, I think it is average. It is just in today's marketing standard. Though I still get a free coupon sometimes, due to the long-wait or broken brewing-machine, I never feel as welcomed or as comfortable to spend hours in Starbucks like I feel in Phil and Sebastian. And beside, Starbucks does not provide free internet connection, which I think is very crucial for nowadays coffee shop to have one.

Moving on from the coffee itself and the place, we started to talk about the people who work in Phil and Sebastian. I love people who are passionate about anything, and coffee is not an exception. To me, seeing people who are passionate about something is very inspiring. It drives me to be more passionate in something that I love. Jeff told me that all of the staffs who work in Phil and Sebastian are cool and amazing people who are really passionate about coffee. Even the owners of Phil and Sebastian started this coffee shop based on their love for coffee, not business or bucks. They used to be an engineer, but their passion toward coffee drove them to travel around the globe to learn more about coffee and then created this amazing coffee shop in Calgary. Furthermore, I think it is safe to say that they gathered people who are as passionate as they are to help them run this coffee shop. The baristas in Phil and Sebastian are very passionate about coffee. You don't have to ask them about it to make sure, but when you watch them making your coffee, you can see they are in love with what they are doing, and Melody and Jeff are the two of them. When I asked them the reason why they are doing this, the answers are the same. They love doing it. "I am a me-kind-of person, but I love to make a great coffee and share it to people," said Melody. They both laughed at me when I asked them whether a top barista is one of the highest paid jobs or is it just a myth. Clearly I was being fooled by the VJ on the radio. Moreover, Jeff graduated from one of the best universities in the country, University of British Columbia, who I believe is a genius, but here he is making great coffee, doing what he loves - which is what I am doing, throwing my business degree for something that I am passionate about - and I think it is amazing and inspiring. Surrounded by the smell of a great coffee and people who are passionate are the things that make this little coffee shop so great to sit down and hang out. I mean how often we find that coffee shop, the one whose coffee made by someone who really put so much effort and care into it

In some ways, I believe there are other coffee shops who have other interesting things, but the kind of Phil and Sebastian is definitely one in a hundred. The oh-so-great cappuccino that I think hard to replace, the cozy space that makes me want to stay there for as long as I could, the amazing people who make coffee out of love and passion, and the smell of the brewed coffee that is irresistible are some of the things that make this little coffee shop unforgettable. A lot of people say San Francisco is a place with a great coffee scene, so I have no worry to find a great place to spend a day when I am there. However, I believe Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roasters is still going to be irreplaceable for me.

As I ran out of questions related to the coffee shop, Jeff looked at his cellphone, which said 13:55, meaning they have to start their shift in five minutes. I felt so bad for holding them up, so I closed my journal and thanked them for their time before they took off. It was a great day for me because I got to know this place and the people more. And I hope someday when I visit Calgary, the cappuccino is still going to be as hot as I remember.

*Special thanks to Jeff McCord and Melody Lu. If you happen to read this blog, I hope you guys like it.

s for sunnies and shoes

2011-05-02T00:31:00.001-06:00

winter semester is o-v-e-r

2011-05-02T00:15:00.000-06:00

Winter semester is officially over and now I have exactly a month to clean up my room and put everything into the boxes to be shipped to my next destination in life. I am still excited about me moving to one of the most beautiful cities in the world, San Francisco. However, I am also really sad leaving this place. You know what they say, once you know you are leaving, it grows. Fast.

danjyo hiyoji

2011-04-28T01:21:00.004-06:00

I just remember that I have this amazing jacket that I got in Indonesia last summer. It is from one of my favourite Indonesian designers, Danjyo Hiyoji, and finally I got to wear it today. Danjyo Hiyoji is a very talented Indonesian designer and amazingly he is still young too. His designs are very street-couture. Extraordinary and wearable, and surprisingly very comfortable. When I go back to Indonesia this summer, I am going to snap some of his clothes from his latest collection. Let's support Indonesian designer!

april mood

2011-04-27T00:45:00.000-06:00

Photographs from Fashion Gone Rogue and The Fashionisto

rest in my heart

2011-04-26T21:36:00.003-06:00

This past week has been miserable for me and I thought I had to put a stop to it, so I tried to put the main reason deep down in my heart and locked it. It's like making a funeral for a miserable heart. And as my friend said to me once, "never feel miserable for too long because you might lose your chance to be happy."

that priceless moment

2011-04-21T20:22:00.000-06:00

A shot from one of the Fabricated shows.

those memorable places

2011-04-21T13:42:00.002-06:00

There are plenty of things I want to do before I leave Calgary for good and turns out a month is not enough, so I am extending my stay here in Calgary before I go back to Indonesia. I also don't feel like leaving this city just yet because these past few days the weather has been good and it gives me the opportunity to wear some of my favourite clothes that have been hanging in my closet untouched. Despite a bad week I am having, which makes me not in the mood to do anything, I am really trying to finish my to-do list at least before May 25th. One of the things I want to do is I want to make a list of my favourite places in Calgary. The places that I am going to miss, and make a story about each of them. The purpose is to embraces these places and maybe some of you who live in Calgary, or make a stop in Calgary, would make them your favourite places too, or at least one of them. Furthermore, I want to do this for fun and for a practice. I already did a research for some of the places, and I even already met some of the person who work in those places and asked questions about the places (that was my first time interviewing someone and it was fun.) Another skills to improve to become a journalist right?

I already have ten places to do but I think I will have more if I get the time. These places, I believe, can only be found in Calgary, so Holt Renfrew and Club Monaco will not be on the list. I have wonderful memories in these places, which is the main reason they make it on-the list, and thus make them meaningful and sentimental to me. The places, for now, are:

Phil and Sebastian Coffee Roaster

deVille

Caffe Beano

Used Vintage Shop

Blink Restaurant and Bar

Charcut

Opus

Prince Charles Island

Magazine Shop on 17th Ave

My house

As I mentioned before, I already did some researches about these places and I hope I can finish make a story for all of them. On time. If I could finish it sooner I probably will add some more because, surprisingly, there are a lot of places in Calgary that are meaningful to me. Wish me luck people!

i love your smile

2011-04-20T19:36:00.002-06:00

Audrey Tatou and Charlie Winston are so chic! Sweet video isn't it?

kaadiki

2011-04-19T15:35:00.002-06:00

The highlight of KaaDiki collection was the pants. The fit, the cut and the fabric-choices were perfect; great for summer-fall transition. The jackets, I thought, were done quite well, they looked good on the models. This collection is an updated version of casual-comfortable men clothes, and I think it looks modern.

And that's my friends, cover everything about the Fabricated event. Last but not least, I would like to say thank you to Calgary Fashion for inviting me to such a fabulous event. thankyouthankyouthankyouthankyouthankyou!

apiana que

2011-04-19T15:21:00.002-06:00

The Apiana Que collection, I thought, was a bit off. There were some beautiful silhouettes and movements, which I love, but the final execution was not really there. The outfits looked incomplete. The fitting was also the problem; it made the clothes look unflattering on the models. Though the models still rocked these dresses and tried to make them look wearable, I think they could look better.

in my dream

2011-04-18T23:41:00.003-06:00

Pictures from Oaknyc.com, mrporter.com, and net-a-porter.com

From top: Back by Ann-Sofie Back white shirt, Unconditional black bondage shirt, Low Luv gold bracelet, Stella McCartney denim top and pants, and a.p.c denim shirt.

the red riding wood

2011-04-18T17:11:00.001-06:00

Of all the four labels that were showing at the Fabricated, Jalu was my most favourite. Three things that crossed my mind when I saw the collection were nature, wood, and Red Riding Hood. The colour palette (and the music) made the collection look melancholic and serene. The cuts on the other hand provoke minimalism but not necessarily clean or purism. There were some details that extended it from minimalism, like the flaps and the frills and the fringes. The clothes were perfect for a high-street style, especially the updated hoodie, but the thing I love the most about the collection was the accessories. They definitely make the collection looks so much better and interesting. The jacket with flappy shoulders and the necklace which chained on the body are the best of the show; I want to have them.

Jalu definitely has their own personal aesthetic and style, which are great for a brand, and I could see they have ideas in their collection and they also execute them very well. I am intrigued and can not wait to see what they are going to do next.

another 70s homage

2011-04-18T16:52:00.002-06:00

Peeko Apparel was the first to show and it was not disappointing. There is definitely a 70s element in the collection, which is current, and it reminded me of Marc Jacobs and Louis Vuitton spring/summer 2011 ready-to-wear show. There is also a tribal vibe with the wildly fabulous headpieces and animal print; they made the collection more extravagant. And the colour palette, I thought, was fabulous. It was bold and lively. The backless jacket and the slouchy pants were the highlight of the collection. They were amazing.

the attention maker

2011-04-18T15:20:00.004-06:00

Clarrisa's BCBG dress brought conversations at the pre-show.