IT'S WINDY OVER HERE

Coat- Missguided // Turtleneck- Uniqlo // Sweater - Thrifted // Jeans - thrifted // Beanie - H&M mens (old) // Boots - Office // Backpack - dad 

Photography by Nicole / Edited by me

Despite the fact that Chicago is known as the 'windy city', the following can definitely be applied to London, especially when its 9:00 AM and you're rushing to your first Monday lecture whilst balancing a pile of books and a cup of coffee in your hand. The struggle is real. So its actually gotten to the point where I have to invent clever ways to keep myself as warm as possible and much to my chagrin, I cannot keep staying in the comfort of my bed. So turtlenecks, sweaters, coats, boots and beanies (anything that will give me thermal coverage) have all become my best friends now. So these items have become definite necessities to my wardrobe but horrible to my bank account (student life). Also, shout outs to my sister and best mate Conrad for helping me take these photos in my main domain, Chinatown, despite looking extremely un-festive and very blue. But hey, isn't blue the warmest colour? (Ok I apologise for the amount of cheese in that.)

xoxo

natalie 

PS: I'll be heading to all days of London Fashion Week, so if you're in town, holla at your girl (was that appropriate?!). 

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SIBLING

Coat- Missguided // Top - Thrifted // Skirt- Choies // Shoes- Office

Photography by Nicole

Time flies when you're having fun and despite the intensity of work I've received over the past month, I've thoroughly enjoyed it and much has really changed. But before I digress, outfit backstory: These shots were taken a few weeks back when my fellow sibling and I attended a special Sibling runway show at the V&A, showing curated menswear pieces. Thus, we took this opportunity to shoot some outfit shots, taking advantage of the emptying runway and the grey walls of the V&A. As London permanently stays in single digit degrees, a coat is absolutely necessary to surviving the weather. I picked up this missguided beauty after realising a severe lapse of colour in my coat department and it hasn't left my shoulders ever since. 

I've almost finished my first term of uni, having handed in all my assessed work, done and dusted. I've only got one last thing left before I am temporarily freed of my studies. On Thursday, CSM will be holding its annual 'White Show', a fashion show that displays all the works of the first year fashion design students (womenswear, menswear, print, knit and fashion design management). Everyone's been working really hard on it and it would be very much appreciated if the website could be clicked on and the instagram could be followed! The design students are all incredibly talented and this show really exemplifies the skills they possess. Needless to say, I may very well collapse once the show is over so do send over indomie/instant noodle packets to keep me functioning.

I mentioned previously that I achieved my New Year's resolution, so I thought I'd quickly address it here. Everyone and anyone who knows me knows that my No 1 is James Franco. Full stop. And at the start of the year, I made a resolution to go meet him, thinking that it was funny and would maybe happen in about 10 years. Two weeks ago, my resolution came true. I met him and a book signing and I can gladly say that I can truly die happy now. James was incredible and I could go on and on (believe me I can) about my 5 minute encounter but I'll save the rambling for some other time. For now, here's the image that I will, and cannot, ever get over.

xoxo

natalie 

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TATE MATE

Coat- Marc Jacobs // Top - Thrifted // Jeans- Cheap Monday // Shoes- Office

Photography by Nicole

Fact, climate affects style. And as temperatures descend from double digits to single digits, I find myself reclining more and more into the comfort of clothes, even more if they double up in comfort and function. Case in point, this coat, which got absolutely 0 wear in HK is now getting 1000x times more wear in the UK. Not only does it succeed in warmth, its light which lets me fold/scrunch/stuff over my chair/table/bed/, its also rain-proof, which is an absolute necessity in the unpredictability of London's weather. Weather rant aside, a few weeks ago I managed to venture out of the east into the Tate Britain, which I personally think is the underrated version of the Tate Modern to see the Turner prize nominees. The exhibit was interesting, to say the least, and there were many colourful comments left behind, but I do think its best if you go and see it for yourself to determine your own opinion. But as the actual Turner prize goes, my moneys on James Richards to take home the title. 

xoxo

natalie 

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HACKNEY HOME

Jacket- HK boutique// Top - Forever 21 // Trousers- Monki// Shoes- Topshop // Sunglasses- vintage.

Photography by Nicole

Nearly a month later and so much has changed between the past post and this one. For starters, I am now living in London! Departing one H to another H has brought on many changes, but I really do enjoy life here and all the little joys there are. London, is an amazing melting pot of opportunities and it hones creativity. In the past three weeks, I've cooked my own meals (that's for you mum), been instagrammed by Henry Holland, met blogger babe prettysickly, ran into Jim Chapman, cried my eyes at Wicked (it was very stuffy), met a lot of lovely people, watched Gone Girl after waiting xxx months for it, spotted ASAP Rocky at my university and, I can proudly say, I am a university student! I can now officially say that I am a student at Central Saint Martins and needless to say, its been the best thing that's ever happened to me. Though I can literally feel the work load, I wouldn't trade it for the world. And now I've got articles to write and places to see, watch this space soon and thank you for being so patient with me!

xoxo

natalie 

HELLO HACKNEY

top- boutique // Shorts & Dress (worn as a kimono)- thrifted// Loafers- Aldo

Photography by Nicole Chui

In less than one week (six days to be precise), I will no longer be a Hong Kong resident and will be instead settling into my new home in Hackney. Looking back at these photos (they were taken in June), have made me realize how much time has passed since then and as the clock ticks down, more panic seeps into my body as I get ready to depart my hometown of 17 years. However, I'm a firm believer in the fact that a home is never a zip code but rather its who you're with and I hope that I = find that in London. Ok, enough sappy talk, I'll save the love letter for another post. And real talk here, I am incapable of not raising my right hand in 99% of these photos. Brain fart.

xoxo

nat

PS: Enjoy my best Palo Alto efforts. Click here to see what I mean. This may or may not have to do with James Franco. 

LONDON CALLING

Photography by me.

Hey blog, its been a while. But then again, its also been a while since I've last been in HK. Thus the best way to make up for an unexplained absence is to post a myriad of photos explaining the unexplained. Still with me here? Yeah, neither am I. In short, I've spent the majority of June and July traveling all around the globe. In the span of four weeks, I've been on five planes and about to embark on my sixth one tomorrow. I started off my journey by visiting my sister in landan, where we spent many a day venturing out into the city, preparing for my big move in september (!!!) and overall, just having a good time. In my best attempt to list out all the places we went to, we visited canarby, piccadilly, chinatown, oxford circus and spent a lot of downtime in east london. I'll let you re-track our footsteps through these photos and hopefully you'll be as in love with london as I am. 

xoxo

nat

PS: I'm excited to officially announce that of september 2014, I will be living in london! Excited/nervous/howmanyjacketsshouldibring/doesthismeanineedtocook doesn't even begin to describe how my head is feeling now.