it's not what you look at, but what you see

Photos from: HeavyHearts, HardToExplain, HarperAndHarley

Sometimes I just put things in boxes. Thoughts. Junk. And it piles up. And that junk, and things get so big that sometimes I can't sleep at night. And then I start to sort these boxes. Like huge crates. Crates of useless information I've kept locked away--and I don't tell a soul. Not a soul.
So what happens when it leaks out? Explodes? What happens when I start telling people about all this junk and thoughts? Even if its to one person. Just one. It empties. Right?
Sure, it's got meaning, but what if that person were to run away? All the stuff I've conjured up for---my entire lifetime? Do they just jet off with all my junk and thoughts?

that's not just friendship that's love too you like music we can dance to

Wearing | H&M short trench • little black dress from Nordstrom Rack

I would be delighted to type for you a wonderfully abundant spiel on some exotic topic that would captivate you and leave you tempted to check up on my blog every second of every minute of every hour of every day... but I really have nothing to say.

music when the lights go out

Thanks to my dad, I grew up listening to what have grown to be some of my all-time favorite classics from The Smiths to The Cure, and many, many others of the like as a child. Over time, I developed a love for more modern British bands. I'm thrown to the conclusion that many of greatest bands in history originated in the UK: Led Zeppelin, Pink Floyd, Radiohead, The Who, Joy Division, The Kinks, The Clash, Def Leppard, Muse, Depeche Mode, Queen, The Sex Pistols, Iron Maiden, The Police, Cream, Blur, Kaiser Chiefs, Snow Patrol, New Order, Bad Company, I could go on and on and on. Of course, The Beatles will always remain a household name and who hasn't heard of The Rolling Stones?

Don't get me wrong, the US has produced a handful of iconic solo artists (Hendrix, Dylan, etc.), but if you think about the truly unarguably legendary and influential bands who changed the music world, chances are they're from the United Kingdom—and this island is only the size of one of our states! That's quite an accomplishment, if you ask me.

the world's in love just look around

First of all, thank you so much to Tommy Hilfiger for featuring me on their official Facebook page! I don't recall ever getting an actual feature before, so I am very, very honored for my first little one to be by such a leading premium brand. (Just receiving the sweet e-mail informing me about it made me smile completely!) His relaxed SoCal boardwalk-evoked collection last season was actually one of my favorites among many others, and this season he did not disappoint me either—check it.

Wearing | thrifted floral romper dress • Forever 21 cropped military jacket

I can't count how many times a conversation started like this today: "You look so different, but I can't think of why..." "Oh, yeah. I was bored and cut my bangs." I wanted a little change, so I guess it worked... and I didn't even dye my hair or do anything crazy. Fringes can be such a subtle yet transformative change.

Speaking of change, it feels like the dawn of spring in the middle of February.
The crisp morning air is fresh and gives me that promising sweet smell of summer coming. I'm stepping on fallen white blossom petals instead of dry crackling leaves. It now seems right to incorporate thin cardigans and sheer fabric into everyday wear. I feel weightless. I feel free. My naturally rosy cheeks have resurrected from hibernating under my somewhat pale, thick winter skin. The sunshine lits my eyes and the cool breeze though my hair sends me a whisper in my ears... Spring has arrived early.

magic

It's spring all year round when you're a Wildfox model.










Probably my favorite lookbook of theirs by far!
More here.

blackbird fly, into the light of a dark black night

(Pictures from Tumblr and Lolita Blog)

Golden rays reflected cafe windows and little sparrows ate bread crumbs on the ground. The sun was setting and the victorian street lamps turned on. It was him and a fedora over his milk chocolate brown curly locks always so reminiscent to Luke Pritchard's back in '06. On a rickety chair across from the rusted iron rod filigree design table and in my little black number I sat, teacup in hand trying to sip away the obvious lasting smile I had glued on. One last bite into a frosted red velvet cupcake and a conversation about our favorite songs later, he asked me if I wanted to dance. I said there was no music playing. He lifted his hat and looked me in the eyes. "You don't need music to dance," I heard him say. The boy gently took me by the hand and we danced, we danced and we danced and we danced down an empty sidewalk to the sound of old-fashioned cars driving past us. I knew his name but he didn't know mine. A mystical scent flowed through the air as the sidewalk, growing quieter, led us to a slightly creaking gate covered in deep green leaves and pale pink roses somehow mysteriously in full bloom. A gust of wind burst, pushing the gate to open further...

And then I rolled over from my late-night induced coma to the sight of red digits flashing 10:53AM on my bedside. Oh, it was all a dream.

Staying awake to chase it.

i can't afford you unless you're timeless

I believe it was fate in the early evening hours of just yesterday, when I happened to encounter the 60's Mod-inspired top I'm wearing below marked 50% off all by it's lonesome on a pile of blank t-shirts. $16 plus tax given to the cashier and a plastic bag with my new wardrobe addition handed to me, I wondered what I could wear with it. Oxfords? Sure. Tights? Ehhh, typical. Dinner at a lovely restaurant tucked away in a quieter pocket of Old Town Pasadena afterwards and a uniformed waiter walking by with two cocktail glasses of red wine and a slice of cherry cheesecake on his tray was how I captured inspiration for the combination of this outfit.

1969-2010

“I get my ideas out of my dreams. if you’re lucky enough to use something you see in a dream, it is purely original. It’s not in the world—it’s in your head. I think that is amazing.” - Alexander McQueen

Well... I was going to say how much I am loving February so far, with the exhilaration of A/W 2010 Fashion Week to have officially kicked off today in New York, how excited I am for this four-day weekend, the fact that Singles' Awareness Day and Lunar New Year (The perks of being mostly Vietnamese!) are on Sunday, but now I am in total shock to have heard the sudden news that one of the most talented visionary geniuses in the fashion industry had committed suicide this morning.
R.I.P. Alexander McQueen. This is so unreal. He changed the fashion world with his revolutionary designs, and he has left behind such an amazing legacy. His mother just passed away a few days before he took his own life. This just goes to show that the love he had for her was far more important than all the wealth, success, and accolades the world could bestow upon him. Long live McQueen.