VENICE IN FILM

First sight of Venice from the airplane.

The scene from our breakfast terrace.

Nicole caught in the wind.

Caught 'gramming the seas.

The sunny but windy weather.

The famous St Mark's Square during the daytime.

Nicole standing in St Mark's Square.

A little tourist shop exhibiting Venice's most notable souvenir, the Venetian mask.

Mother on one of Venice's 409 bridges.

Gondola's parked up after a hard day of work.

Nicole amongst the dusk of the streets.

The interior of the Doge's palace, the prison in which Casanova famously escaped from.

Signature dad pose.

Evaluating ancient wonders.

Nicole inside the Doge's palace.

When in Venice...

An outfit equipped to block out the deadly Venetian winds.

An example of Venice's quiet beauty.

My two favourite things, dad and gelatos.

Standing in a water taxi with the wind in your hair. Irreplaceable.
All photos by me or Nicole via an olympus mju 1 or olympus mju 2 zoom 100 with fujifilm 400 35mm film

Venice has always been some sort of fantasy land to me. Its the kind of place you read about 

in fairytales but never dream to be as real as concrete. So during this past Easter, half of my family and I decided to embark on a new adventure to Venezia, a place that not one of us had been to before. Travelling to a new country for the first time is enchanting and immediately I was entranced by Venice. Instead of cars, there were gondola's, instead of highways, they had canals and instead of tea, coffee, endless roasted Italian coffee. It was a completely different lifestyle and walking around Venice allowed me to fully relax and soak in every unique aspect from licking stracchino gelatos cones (a million times cheaper than london) to biting into freshly fried calamari to feeling the wind through my hair on the back of a gondola. For a brief time, I as if I were transported to a different time where Casanova was still plotting his escape from the Doge's palace and boats were the fastest way to travel from A to B. There is a certain old-timey magical quality buried in Venice's ancient palace's, vast bridges and little gelateria's.  A return back to London and uni has made me lust for all the little joys I had back in Venice but I hope that through these photos, you'll be able to feel even a shred of what I fell in love with.

Nat

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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HOME KONG

Cape- 22 Septembre // Turtleneck- Thrift // Skirt - Vintage Alaia // Shoes- Topshop // Black bag- Vintage Coach // Shoulder bag- Rebecca Minkoff

Photography by Nicole / Edited by me

Happy February! Can you believe that this is my first post of the new year? Well actually I can. But tardiness aside, I'm back in cold, miserable London consuming boxes packets of instant ramen and contemplating how many tabs my chrome can take before it automatically quits. These photos were shot back early in January, when I was back in the +852 for a very brief holiday, having spent most of Christmas in Malaysia with my family. Still, its a funny thing to be back in a place thats home but not quite home and I found that I spent most of my time running around, trying to soak in everything and everyone I wouldn't see for another 6 months. Of course, no trip back home would be complete without at least one visit to Sham Shui Po, a haven for hoarders with its lines of stalls selling multitudes of electronics, toys, clothes, iphone covers, complete with hoards of people rushing to the nearest dim sum shops. The real hustle of Hong Kong. So while I may currently be residing on a little bed in Hackney, a part of my heart will always be in Sham Shui Po, Hong Kong.

xoxo

natalie 

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WINTER WONDERLAND

Jacket- The Ragged Priest // Beanie & Sweater - Lazy Oaf // Turtleneck- American Apparel // Jeans - ASOS // Trainers- Rick Owens x Adidas // Tote- Monki (borrowed Nicole's!)

Photography by Nicole

Christmas is without a doubt, my favourite holiday. There's just something about the smell of freshly cut christmas trees and endless nights sipping hot chocolate that just appeals so much to me. Of course, there's the much needed uni break, but that transcends seasons. Speaking of uni, first term has finally ended, our long but incredible White Show is over and in my rare period of rest, I climbed out of the comforts of my bed into the bewildering chills of the outside. As Nicole and I finally ventured to Winter Wonderland, on a Sunday (also my last full day here until next year), no less. Despite the insanely priced rides (£10 for a 5 second ride!), freezing temperatures (7º C? Lies!) and the lack of debit card accepting food stalls , it was everything that a commercialised, money-sucking theme park could be. There were crying children, haunted mansions (a bit off season don't you think?), hot chocolate stations and none other than, Santa land. One thing for sure, nobody does christmas better than London. The spirit is strong with this one. 

Also, to anyone who's heading to winter wonderland, please note that IF you wear white shoes, they will not come back white. I repeat, they will not come back white.

xoxo

natalie 

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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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