Fog Linen Handkerchief

I just came back from a two-week Asia trip (okay, I've been back for more than a month now but don't people say that you need a vacation to recover from your vacation? I did just that). Anyhow, thought I'd share some of the stuff that became so essential on my trip, so much so that they also became an inseparable part of my everyday life.

We went to China and Japan in the last two weeks of September. Unfortunately the weather in Japan during that time was still unusually hot and humid. We had to walk outside for a good amount everyday under 90% humidity and were always completely drenched in sweat. The best decision I made for the trip was to have brought these Fog Linen handkerchieves with me. They are 100% linen, light and thin, so easy to carry around. And boy, did it help wipe off all the sweat and help me to stay cool. It can also be used as a mask under pollution - I found myself reaching for it all the time when we were exposed to the terrible pollution in Beijing, and I know a few instances where I even used it as a face towel. It's the most eco friendly item to carry on a daily basis and, in my opinion, is so much cooler and more chic than the disposable tissues. It's very easy to clean - takes two minutes to wash every night and the next morning, voila, you have a clean, soft, and wonderfully smelling hankie to use! The pastel blush and blue colors are so in now that every time I take it out from my pocket, it becomes such a compliment to my outfit as well. 

I remember I always carried a hankie when I was a little girl. And then somewhere along the way, it was replaced by the disposable tissues for convenience. Now in light of the eco movement and the zero waste lifestyle I'm trying to adopt, I can't think of a better way than carrying this little guy again with me everyday as an essential. 

Celine Trio Bag

A few things that I came to realize as I get older: 1) I no longer take great interest in the latest and greatest trend of the season, the hottest items, the IT bags, the "must-haves"... 2) As my friend Serious Shopper said before, how do we choose to spend our time in the daily mundane life is the utmost important, and I agree 100%. 3) The things that interest me the most now are the ones that are functional, simple and classic. The ones that get the job done, beautifully designed, and you know will go with anything in your wardrobe or in your house. The Celine Trio bag is one of those things.

Cross-body bag is the one item that I suspect every girl has in her closet. Some own more than one. I, as no exception, used to and still do own a few. But the one that I reach out to over and over again of late is this Celine Trio bag. I got mine in Paris -  was looking for a black or a maroon color initially but stumbled upon this navy one. It's dark enough that it almost looks like black and still has a nice blue sheen to it. It's light and functional - the three individual pouches actually allow you to fit quite a bit of your daily essentials - I've tried to stuff my wallet, lip balm, mirror, lipstick, hand balm, tissues, keys, iPhone and a portable cellphone charger in it without it looking overly bulky. Its buttery leather gets better after every use. Its minimal design allows it to match perfectly with almost everything you're wearing. Use it as a cross-body bag, a shoulder bag, or just hold it as a pouch. I survived my one-week in Paris just carrying the trio. I take it with me to go to the museum, go to the market, go for a walk along the Hudson river, go get an ice-cream... It's my go-to bag on the weekend. It's easy, effortless, and so chic. I can't imagine my life without it. 

What's your go-to bag on the weekend?  

Comme des Garcons Small Leather Goods

If we think about what are the things that we touch/carry/use everyday, wallet, card case, small pouch, keys (okay, I know, and cellphone) probably are the ones that top the list. If we happen to pick the ones that we truly love, they are the things that give us little (or big) pleasure and joy on a daily basis. 

My wallet evolution kinda took a sharp turn from the long/big spot-right-way brand name wallet to this very low key, hardly recognizable Comme des Garcons brown embossed zip wallet. When I was young, I used to think that having a big wallet stuffed with multiple credit cards, membership cards, receipts, you and your dog (or boyfriend)'s pictures, your business cards, the list goes on...was such a cool thing. It shows "I've made it! I'm in! I'm one of those young vibrant city girls who's having a busy life." Now years have gone by, as I'm trying to practice the concept of being a minimalist and simplify the things I have in my life, I realized I don't really need to carry that much stuff with me everyday. I'm now down to a handful of cards (1 driver license, 2 CCs, 1 bank card to be exact), and a few bills that I have in my wallet on any given day. Changing to a small wallet became a natural thing. This CDG wallet was a surprise find - I was looking for a small wallet and stumbled upon it. As soon as I laid my eyes on it, I knew it was mine. It has this subtle touch - the rich dark brown color, the embossed pattern, the zip closure, everything about it is just perfect. It can be easily slipped into your pocket, a small CDG pouch, a cross body bag... It's been a fixture in my bag for more than a year now and every time I take it out, I still feel the happiness that you get when you find something you truly love. 

The black Comme des Garcons leather pouch is another daily item. It's simple, sleek and super versatile. It's the perfect size to store your keys, your cellphone, your wallet, and you can even fit a small mirror and a lip stick. I carry it when I go see a movie, when I go to the grocery store, when I have brunch with friends, when I want to go for a walk. I also use it to store my passport/important documents/receipts when I travel. I bring it everywhere. It can be dressed up or dressed down, however you like it. 

Last but not least, the CDG neon blue card case. It actually has a even brighter inside - neon orange and green as the inside color. I'm normally not a bright color person, let alone THREE neon colors in one item! I think because it's such a small thing, its small size kinda balances out the bright color. I have my NYC metro card, my insurance card and what not in it. It gives my day  a nice kick to start when I take out the metro card (well, on the days I do use my metro card to get to work). It perfectly represents the fun side of the brand. After all, we all want to be that girl who's comme des garçons (like a boy).