I’m turning 31 later this year, which means I am definitely and irrevocably in my 30’s. The human made concept of ‘zero’ can keep you in a Switzerland state of mind between the two chapters, where you haven’t fully closed the old or started the new. At least that’s how I’ve felt being thirty years old; I am entering my 30’s, not quite in them yet.

A few moments that made me realize my twenties are behind me.

1. The thought of going a music festival exhausts me.

2. Watching college students on a night out in the city now hits me with visceral nostalgia.

3. I double cleanse before bed no matter how exhausted I am.

4. My most recent Amazon order included compression socks.

5. When the PR team at work tells me who they are sending mailers to, I genuinely have no idea who they are talking about and have to discreetly google them.

I digress.

What I want to offer to my readers, who I know many are in their twenties, is practical, no-unicorns-and-rainbows, unapologetically realistic career advice that I’ve gained in the decade of building the foundations of my career. If one of the joys of aging is gaining knowledge and experience, then I feel it’s my turn to impart it.

Here are 10 pieces of advice I wish someone told me in my twenties.

Work at least once at a place where everybody in the world (or your industry) knows the company name.

Having a blue-chip company name on your resume does a couple of things:

• It instantly signals your level of credibility as these companies are highly competitive and have notoriously rigorous recruiting processes. So the HR department of any other company would know what you had to go through to get that experience under your belt, and you have to do less explaining.

• Pegs you at a certain level of competency.

• You don’t have to constantly remind your parents where you work.

• Even if it’s not a known company by the general public, work at a company that is widely respected in your industry. For example, most people don’t know the name of top advertising agencies, but if you’re in the industry, you do.

• The company brand boosts your professional brand for the rest of your career, even if you interned or worked a short time period there.

Career pivots are not easy and can set you back.

• I know we’re in the gig economy and side-hustle era (I have been creating content as my side hustle since I was 16), BUT a career does still follow time-value structures: the more time you compound in an industry, the greater your value and expertise builds.

• That is why it’s SO important to choose a role and industry early on where you at least enjoy it 50-60% of the time. All jobs have con’s and are boring at times. But if you know you are in the industry you care about and want to contribute towards, you’ll be able to work through those lull periods and challenges.

• If you HATE your job, and it’s causing mental / physical health issues, then YES, YOU SHOULD LEAVE AND PIVOT. Nothing is worth jeopardizing your health.

• BUT just know that even if you are at your “dream job”, there will be aspects of the day-to-day that you won’t love. And honestly, that is what work is. It’s inherently not supposed to be 100% fun and games. That is what hobbies are for. Sorry to sound like your mom, but sometimes, she’s so right.

• Switching jobs and industries a few times right out of college is normal, but if you continue on this random walk for the entire decade, it will be hard for you to start recruiting for managerial roles that you should be qualified for in your late 20s/early 30s.

• You will unknowingly cross the unmarked line of “Oh, they’re young and figuring it out” to “this person does not know what they want” territory, and find yourself with a resume full of short stints and no clear career narrative.

• My advice: it’s normal to not know exactly what you want to do, but do some serious self-reflection in college and enter in the industry that you at least know you find interesting personally.

Learn the skills of a generalist before specializing.

• This might sound like a contradiction to the aforementioned point, but Industry-specialization and Skill-specialization are two separate topics. The above point means to pick an industry that you are interested in and want to contribute towards building. All industries need all sorts of talent and skills, so you have the flexibility of choose which team / function to join.

• Examples of ‘specialist’ roles: These are skills are double-click into a specialized portion of a function. Social Media marketing within the marketing team, Audit within the accounting team, Vendor management within Supply Chain… these ‘specialized’ teams are not necessarily taught during college, and there are so many specialties I didn’t even know existed.

• You don’t need to know all these in your 20s quite yet… but you should think of the start of your career as a privileged position to cast a wide net and funnel down from there.

Don’t go into anxiety inducing debt for grad school.

• As someone who went to grad school, I still stand by my stance that grad is NOT necessary for any career route and should not be seen as a ‘solution’ to buy yourself more time to figure things out or pivot industries. If anything, it can lead to even more confusion. (Read my ‘Is getting an MBA worth it? post here)

• Time is money. Money is time. And most importantly, money is money is money. I do believe in ‘good debt’ but don’t get yourself into an amount of debt that will follow you the rest of your life. If you do have a true reason to go back for grad school, have a tangible plan on a spreadsheet on how to pay it back.

People always say it’s about who you know, but in your early career, it’s about what you can do.

• Sure, that colleague of your friend’s uncle’s cousin could be nice enough to set an intro email to someone. These connections can certainly help to open the door. But for entry level roles, it has been my experience that teams want to hire people who they know will show up, learn, and get the job done.

• The network and connections will build naturally over time, and the ‘who you know’ piece will gain more importance as you move up. So I’m not saying to forget about this piece, but the weight in its importance won’t be your true career differentiator in your twenties.

Do the boring and tedious work before delegating to AI.

• I do have an old-fashion view on AI in school and the workplace, that you should know how to do something manually before you delegate it to AI. Build a spreadsheet from scratch. Learn the principles of coding. Align the boxes on powerpoint. Match the font styles. Take an online course on how to write AI prompts. You have to know what the steps are to ask the right questions and prompt correctly.

• AI should supplement your work in specific areas where it makes it more efficient, not do the whole thing for you.

Inform yourself on compensation with your peers and online.

• Inform yourself of how much you can make in different roles and industries. Maximizing your earning potential early on is probably one of the smartest financial choices you can make to set your future self up for a stable and comfortable lifestyle.

• Not all of your friends will be comfortable talking about money, which is totally fine, so thank god for redditt. Research in detail valuable parts of the package like PTO, WFH, health insurance, pet care, etc…

• In the end, I know that I chose an industry that is not the highest paid. I took that informed choice because my priorities were to gain knowledge in an industry that I love, within a role that first my personal strengths, and within this scope, agree to a compensation that is fair and competitive. Maybe in this stage of life, your priority will be to maximize your income and the industry doesn’t matter as much. There is no right or wrong, and is so personal to your situation. Make it make sense for you.

Have a clear, yet adaptable, 5-year rolling vision at all times.

• When you are 20, 25 feels like a lifetime away. When you are 25, 30 is basically next week. Point is, time flies. Make sure you are at least heading in the vicinity of where you want to end up in, five years from now. And reassess every year. Momentum is a powerful force, which is amazing when you are in the direction you want to be in, but if you aren’t, then you do need an intervening jolt to reset the path.

Even if you think your boss or team isn’t noticing, trust me, they noticed.

• I can say this with certainty, as I now observe younger team members and interns at our office. All the little things that seem like no one would notice… trust me when I say, that someone is taking mental notes AND talking about it when you are not in the room.

• Be on time, take meticulous notes, attend the events, raise your hand to help… attitude is everything and even if no one acknowledges you for it in the moment, trust that someone is noticing. Your reputation building starts the moment you walk into that office or log onto that Zoom. Perception is reality, and what your colleagues see and perceive of you is as important as your work output.

Be kind, respectful, and show integrity in all aspects of your work, behavior and communication.

• Getting back to the basics here… be nice and respectful to everybody. Everybody knows everybody and everybody loves to talk. Intregrity is NOT dead, despite what the media and political climate says. You have a choice on how to show up every single day. Choose the life you would be proud of.

BONUS: If you looked at your social media accounts as a third-person, would you hire you?

• This is something I actually grapple with regularly, as I work in corporate and have a public following.

• My rule of thumb is:

  • Keep private matters private.

  • Keep it demure and PG.

  • Be honest with yourself, if you were in HR, would you think that post is a flag? If you hesitate, then probably best not to post.

• We live in a social-media voyeuristic world, and that is only going to grow and become the norm to have content creators in the office as more young talent enters the workforce. I think there will be a time when corporations will know how to create win-win scenarios with their employees who make content, but until that day comes, best to keep it clean and conservative.

All of this advice comes from my own personal experience, so as a disclaimer, take and apply what works for you. It all comes from the best intentions, with the hopes that it grounds you in reality and gives you a framework to start your own journey with.

Please share your questions and comments below. And if you have any additional advice to offer, please share those as well.

xo, Dahye

Oh, Paris. There is no place like it.

How can a city possess a beauty so profound and elegant? How can each season reveal another facet of the incredible architecture? How can a place built by humans create an environment that makes the surrounding nature and elements even more romantic?

Art is the city and the city is art. She is never too much and simply can’t be replicated.

My appreciation for Paris only grows fonder with each visit and age. In contrast to NYC or even Seoul, where newness and constant change is chased after, Paris embodies a quiet confidence that values regulars, multi-generational family businesses and incremental innovation that will outlast trend cycles. Its wisdom, the remarkable history it has been the setting to, and the talents it has inspired. The city ages like fine wine and it is a place that I look forward to growing old with.

Save these addresses on your maps for your next visit. I hyperlinked all the addresses to Google Maps for your convenience.

TO SEE

• The top museums you must visit are:

  • Le Louvre

  • Musée d’Orsay

  • Musée Rodin (This is my personal favorite. It’s never too crowded and the gardens are a delight.)

  • Musée de l’Orangerie (This is where the Monet Lily Pad room is)

• If you have time:

  • Bourse de Commerce - Fondation Pineault (Make sure you go when there is an exhibit happening, and not when they are between installations)

  • Le Grand Palais (when an exhibition is on)

  • Le Petit Palais (The interior court cafe should be done with renovations soon)

  • Musée de Montmartre. Particularly loved this one to learn about the history of La Belle Époque.

  • Musée Picasso

  • Day trip to Versailles (40 mins by train from Paris)

My heart is squealing just thinking about these places.

TO SHOP

I will organize these by category, not necessarily neighborhoods. The best part about Paris is that it is best explored by walking and these boutiques are in areas that already have great coffee shops, galleries and restaurants as neighbors.

I actually don’t shop much in Paris, but I love visiting to see the visual merchandising and retail experiences. Truly best in class.

CLOTHING

• LOULOU DE SAISON. I like their location in the Marais for a more boutique feel.

• Rubirosa’s. Personalized shirts and loafers.

• Fortuny

• Maria de la Orden

• Sabbia Rosa. Luxurious sleepwear and lingerie.

• LA VESTE

JEWELRY AND ACCESSORIES

• Le Bon Marché. The jewelry department on the ground floor is a treasure trove of talented designers. They always have new brands to discovery on rotation, and offer a range of prices. Of course, it is towards the higher end but if you are looking for high-quality pieces that will last and not tarnish, I think the investment is worth it. You can find brands in the 200 to 500 euros range that are exceptional, unique and supporting an independent brand.

• Maison Ola. Cute hats in all sorts of shapes.

• RSVP Paris. Well priced minimalist handbags.

• Chapeaux de l’Atelier 144. More hats.

• Chance Boutique. Gorgeous multi-brand jewelry shop.

VINTAGE

Most of the vintage shops I visited were in the Marais, if you walk along Rue de Turenne and bop around the streets, you will come across so many cute ones.

• Preclothed.

• Palace Callas Vintage.

• Kanelle Vintage.

• The Parisian Vintage.

• La Boutique de Cara.

• Iconic Vintage.

• 29 rue Charlot.

• LOUISE.

BEAUTY

• Officine de Buuly. They have multiple locations but my favorite is this one in the 6e.

• Oh My Cream! A sephora-like chain, with multiple locations in Paris. A more curated selection of premium and luxe beauty brands.

• Fragonard. Perfumes, homes scents and soaps. I think this brand is so underrated and amazing quality for the price. Great for gifts!

• Nose. Multi-brand perfume store for olfactory pleasure.

HOME AND ART

• Merci. They were experiential retailers before it became a widespread concept. Best-in-class merchandising, buying and creativity in displays. The Merci tote bags had a moment in the 2010s, and I still love mine.

• Le Chateau de Ma Mère

• Boleslove. Love their hand painted ceramics.

• Jamini. Beautiful table and home linens from India.

• La Romain Editions. Cute and quirky tableware.

GREAT GIFTS

• Conservatoire des Hémisphères

• Bookbinders Design. Gorgeous hardcover notebooks that can be monogrammed.

• The Red Wheelbarrow Bookstore

TO EAT

When we’re in France, we usually opt for French cuisine even though Paris has the best chefs from all over the world. Since my husband is French, we indulge in all of his favorite dishes and cravings that are just not the same in NYC. It’s truly the quality of the local ingredients that make all the difference.

• Le Petit Lutetia (This place has become a little overhyped now, but it’s still a delicious and classically Parisian bistro. Don’t sleep on the chocolate mousse.)

• Au Pied de Fouet. This is a spot I secretly want to gatekeep, because it’s a little gem in the 7th for homey meals and the friendliest staff.

• Semilla. Their lamb lives in my head rent-free.

• Polidor.

• Racines. Love this location inside Passage des Panoramas.

• 19 SAINT ROCH. Excellent example of French innovation in cuisine.

• Le Grand Café. I’m sorry but I have to admit I included this one for the interior.

• La Fontaine Gaillon. The venue of our rehearsal dinner.

• Le Saint Sébastien. Unpretentious and delicious.

• Le Clarence. Pretentious, but a worth French Michelin experience.

COFFEE / DESSERT

• Les Oiseaux. Before or after your Bon Marché visit.

• Maison Fleuret

• Berthillon. Picturesque ice cream date.

• ROJO.

• Cortado.

• Carette. The one on Place des Vosges with a hot chocolate is my ideal afternoon.

TO ENJOY

Parisians have a je ne sais quoi, an effortless elegance and overall chic sensibility, I think, largely due to being surrounded by such beauty 24/7. Our environment shapes us, and the lens through which we view life, and the access to the parks, the Seine and spaces to just linger for a moment all make up for the joie de vivre that can only be achieved by a disciplined practice of enjoying the small things in life… here are some specific areas I love to linger, read and people watch.

• Place des Vosges.

• Square de Vert-Galant.

• Jardin des Tuileries.

• Jardin du Luxembourg.

• Parc Monceau.

• Park around Fondation Louis Vuitton.

• Halle Saint Pierre Bookshop.

• Anywhere along the Seine

Creating a city guide that is detailed and personal, without being overwhelming and not a helpful short-list must be what it feels like to pick a favorite child.

The above are addresses that I truly love revisiting each time and go out of my way to make time for. I hope you love and soak in all the beauty, too. And if you have some addresses I should save to my maps, I would be so appreciative!

À la prochaine.

xo, Dahye

I was born in Seoul and immigrated to Canada when I was a toddler. Still, my earliest memories are of playing in my grandmother’s ‘madang’ or front yard, with my sister and cousins. We would be summoned to eat and briskly gather on the floor around a round ‘sang’ or the traditional Korean foldable tables. An impressive number of side dishes ‘banchan’ would be carefully laid out, until the very edge of the table.

Although I only spent the first few years of my life in Seoul, my parents made great efforts that my sister and I stay connected to our Korean family and identity. We would travel every other summer to Seoul and be greeted warmly by our grandmother, who would order jjajang-myeon, a black bean noodle dish, that arrives at one’s doorstep within minutes of calling, 24/7. It was the original Uber eats.

Even when I was younger, I was fascinated by how fast Seoul would change between each visit. Not only in terms of the infrastructure development, but also in the way people would dress, trending foods, the hottest k-pop idols and of course, the latest skincare craze.

Despite this rapid modernization, I am so grateful that my grandmother’s home has been spared and still stands. It has since been converted into an administrative office, but it is somehow reassuring that at least this part of the city remains intact. In my own selfish way, seeing this house unchanged validates the changes we have gone through on our immigrant journey.

We have profoundly and unequivocally changed our family’s destiny, but I can always return to see the house where everything started.

The older I get, the more nostalgic I feel with each return to Korea. I understand myself better when I understand Korea better. I know I am stating the obvious, but it feels so good to be a Korean person in Korea.

I sometimes wonder what life would have been like if we stayed. To grow up with our extended family. To be close to our ancestors graves. To not be questioned what brought us there. To not question our belonging.

Should I stay? Should I go? Was it the right choice?

These are the questions that burden the first-gen.

I have made peace with how life has turned out. I married someone who is also a third-culture kid, and we have an unspoken understanding of knowing what it feels like to not 100% belong anywhere and we have the privilege to choose where to live.

Home is where we make it.

I realized that my latest trip to Seoul was my first time being there in the winter, since immigrating. All of my visits were in the summer to coincide with the longer school vacations. Now that I am done with academics for good, I realized I can visit the country whenever I want. Sometimes, I need a reminder that I am an adult with free will.

Breathing the crisp winter air and seeing the city bundled up revealed another beautiful facet of the city. I look forward to experiencing all four seasons in Korea one day.

Well, that was a long-winded introduction. Back to the city guide.

Like NYC, Seoul has neighborhoods and boroughs that each have their own claim-to-fame, persona and rivalries.

Here are some spots I loved, by neighborhood:

Seongsu-dong

I will start off with the current ‘hot place’ which tends to migrate every 3-5 years. Seongsu is historically a textile manufacturing district that unexpectedly rose to popularity due to trendy factories refurbished into instagrammable cafes. It has now become filled with pop-ups, retail flagships and experiential shops. I fear it is already becoming too commercial, and it’s going to lose its ‘hipster’ appeal in a few years. But for now, it is a very exciting and happening neighborhood.

As a marketer, this is my Disney World.

EAT

• SeongSuYul (Seongsu-dong 2-ga, 269 212). New multi-floor building with cafe, and music listening lounge and rooftop space.

• Mushroom House (버섯집, 9-10 Wangsimni-ro 5-gil, Seongdong-gu) Filling and comforting rice bowls, with a mushroom based menu.

• Mibbedong (미쁘동 서울숲, 11-12 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu) Japanese dons and noodles.

• OMOT. (12 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu). Traditional tea house and unique cocktails.

• Jayeondo Sogeumppang (Salt Bread) in Seongsu. (56-1 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu) Salt bread is the latest craze in Seoul, and this place always has a very long line so I haven’t tried it yet. I have tried salt bread from other places, so let me know if this one is worth the wait!

• Marly Cafe. (Seongdong-gu, Yeonmujang-gil, 47 홍원빌딩)

• LowKey Seongsu. (6 Yeonmujang 3-gil, Seongdong-gu) Love this cafe for the low key vibes and people watching.

SHOP

• Narrative Object. (24-7 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongdong-gu) I got so many questions about this address when I posted it on my stories! Beautiful selection of hand made Korean ceramics and tableware.

• Hotel Loeuvre (29 Seoulsup 2-gil, Seongsu-dong 1(il)-ga, Seongdong-gu) Parisian aesthetic brand with nice classic silhouettes.

• Archivepke (7 Seoulsup 4-gil, Seongdong-gu). Handbags and shoes, the row like aesthetic.

• Nonfiction. (8-1 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu) This is my favorite Korean fragrance brand, as the scents are light and delicate for daily wear.

• Point of View (18 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu). My favorite stationary store in the Seoul… maybe even in the entire world. They have the highest quality papers and pens from brands all over the world. I can spend hours in here, only to come out with some post it notes.

• Blue Elephant. (315-57 Seongsu-dong 2(i)-ga, Seongdong-gu) A new sunglass and eyewear brand that opened a huge experiential store. I wasn’t in love with the product, but the experiential retail is worth visiting.

• Hetras. (68 Yeonmujang-gil, Seongdong-gu). Home scent brand. I didn’t realize that home sprays and diffusers are a thing again.

• Tamburins. (8 Yeonmujang 5-gil, Seongdong-gu). This location also always has a long line to get in, but worth it for the incredible displays.

• Matin Kim. (24-33 Achasan-ro 5-gil, Seongdong-gu). Cute and comfortable street wear.

• Beauty flagships: TIR TIR, Laka, Hince. If you are a beauty lover, you will love these stores that each express their brand so well through retail.

SEE

• D Museum. (South Korea, Seoul, Seongdong-gu, Wangsimni-ro, 83-21 디뮤지엄). New contemporary museum.

• HAUS NOWHERE. (Ttukseom-ro, 433 KR 서울특별시 성동구) New Gentle Monster & Tamburins flagship building, with a NUDAKE cafe. Incredibly unique modern architecture that towers over the old manufacturing neighborhood. I find this contrast a charm and point of interest of Seoul as a whole.

• Seoul Forest Park. This is a beautiful park along the Han River.

Seochon/Samcheong-dong

This is a historic neighborhood that borders the Gyeongbukgung Royal Palace grounds. You’ll find the cutest artisanal shops and cafes. I always make a point to visit this area for homeware and gifts to bring back. The Seochon area was a new discovery for me, and I think it may be my new favorite neighborhood. It is much quieter and filled with locally owned shops with unique crafts.

EAT

• Root. (54-1 Yulgok-ro 1-gil, Jongno District). I went for lunch with a friend from school who moved back to Seoul, and we both loved the menu of Italian and French cuisine fused with Korean ingredients. A lovely modern Hanok setting.

• MK2. (17 Jahamun-ro 10-gil, Jongno District). Walk across the palace grounds to the west side for coffee and dessert.

• Intelligentsia Coffee. (34 Jahamun-ro, Jongno District)

• Jalpajin Buckwheat noodles. (4 Jahamun-ro 11-gil, Jongno District)

• Samcheongdong Sujebi. (101-1 Samcheong-ro, Jongno District). Famous sujebi (a soup with chewy dough) that has been an institution for decades.

• Taret Cafe. (134, Samcheong-ro, Jongno-gu). Beautiful cafe in a modernize hanok setting and interiour courtyard.

SHOP

• ilsangyeoback. (19-46 Ogin-dong, Jongno District) Ceramic, tableware and small decors made by various Korean artisans. The price and quality here was one of the best.

• ofr. Séoul. (11-14 Jahamun-ro 12-gil, Jongno District) A Paris favorite in Seoul.

• HORANG SEOCHON. (40 Jahamun-ro, Jongno District). Unique cutlery and tablewares.

• Golden Alchemia. (5-9 Pirundae-ro 6-gil, Jongno District). Stationary and cute cards.

• THEILMA. (27 Jahamun-ro 8-gil, Jongno District) Coolest fashion brand I discovered, in the most beautiful shop. It takes a highly refined eye to make an old Hanok look good in an post-modern industrial style.

• MY CHOICE SEOCHON. (28 Jahamun-ro, Jongno District). Home decor and small electronics.

• Grey Mansion. (19-13 Samcheong-ro 7-gil, Jongno District). Various home decor and items.

• Seoul Seoul Seoul 1896. (3 Bukchon-ro 11da-gil, Jongno District). Hand made ceramics.

• TOUT Y EST. (52 Samcheong-ro, Jongno District). One of my favorite Korean brands, I love their bags that are very well priced for the quality.

SEE

• National Palace Museum of Korea

• National Folk Museum of Korea

• Gyeongbokgung Palace. In this area, you will find a plethora of shops where you can rent a Hanbok (traditional Korean dress) to have your k-drama photoshoot

• National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art

• Bukchon Hanok Village. You’ll likely walk through this area naturally when you’re in the Samcheong area. This is a rare area where the traditional houses (hanoks) have not been destroyed by the war or torn down for real estate development.

Itaewon/Hannam-dong

Itaewon is one of the liveliest nightlife neighborhoods, but I love it even more for the daytime shopping and hilly streets. It’s very close to Hannam, so when I’m in this general area, I usually go to both areas.

EAT

• Mutin. (Yongsan District, Hannam-dong, 653-103 2층) Fusion french.

• Parc Seoul (26-5 Itaewon-ro 55ga-gil, Yongsan District). Home style Korean food.

• Stoked and Stoned. (Yongsan District, Daesagwan-ro, 72 2층) Fun bar.

• Passion5 (272 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan District) This is not a cool new cafe, but I went here often with my mom during high school, so it is a spot full of good memories. I’m surprised it’s still around.

• Mr. Ahn’s Makgeolli. (3 Hoenamu-ro, Yongsan District) Delicious Korean fusion with homemade makgeolli, Korean rice alcohol.

• barboo. (Yongsan District, Itaewon-ro, 158 & 루프탑 3층) Wine bar with great music and vibes. Love the rooftop in the summer.

SHOP

• MONOHA. (36 Dokseodang-ro, Yongsan District) Minimalist fashion and nice selection of ceramics.

• Margesherwood. (1F Hannam-daero 27ga-gil, 26-16) This is trending handbag brand. It skews a bit too Gen Z for me, but still very cute, and I know I have lots of Gen Z readers.

• Mardi Mercredi. (58 Itaewon-ro 54-gil, Yongsan District).

SEE

• Leeum Museum of Art (60-16 Itaewon-ro 55-gil, Yongsan District). Contemporary art.

Other sight-seeing places

• National Museum of Korea. Great museum to learn about the country’s history and overall context within East Asia. They have a great gift shop too.

• Dongdaemun Design Plaza. This is that big futuristic structure designed by Zaha Hadid. They usually have some art exhibit happening, but it’s worth it just to see the exterior and walk through.

• Yeouido Hangang Park. This is the neighborhood my dad grew up in, so we visited here most summers as well. This is a great park to have a picnic and enjoy views of the Han River.

Some of you may be asking… what about Gangnam? Gangnam is a wealthy neighborhood and one of the largest business districts of Seoul. Like I mentioned earlier, the hot spots of Seoul migrate frequently and the Gangnam/Apgujeong area has currently lost its crown. So honestly, I haven’t gone there in a while and don’t really know what’s cool in those areas anymore. But who knows, it may have a comeback in a few years. It’s very hard to predict where the next it-place will be.

I hope you find this guide helpful and would love to know if you checked any of these out during your visit, or if you are in Seoul now! And if you have any recommendations, I would appreciate it for our next visit.

xo, Dahye

I have normal/combination skin, that is a bit more towards the dry end of the spectrum. I have been experiencing some breakouts, with an impressive pimple or two bulging out, when I am under stress or if I have been travelling. Overall, my skincare philosophy is to keep things simple, relatively affordable and slab on product GENEROUSLY.

AM ROUTINE

1. Superegg Tonal Scenery Reparative Serum. This is my second bottle, and as you can see, I need to restock. It has white beads that burst when you apply it onto the skin, and instantly hydrates. I can definitely notice how my moisturizer absorbs much better after putting on this serum.

2. Embryolisse lait-crème concentré. This is an OG french pharmarcie brand that is having a come back moment for its no nonsense and gentle formulations. My wedding makeup artist introduced me to this brand, as she used this cream to prep my skin. I love the light cosmetic scent and dewy look this leaves.

3. Bobbi Brown Vitamin enriched cream. A cult-classic for a reason. It is both a makeup primer and hydrating cream in one. Also has a lovely citrus scent, and provides a great base for any level of coverage (CC cream, concealer, foundation) you apply for makeup.

4. Clinique All About Eyes Rich. A great daily eye cream that does the job of keeping the under eyes hydrated! Adding eye cream to my AM skincare routine is a new step now that I entered the 30s club.

5. Krave Beauty Beet the Sun SPF 40. A nice & light daily sunscreen. Slab this on.

6. Summer Fridays lip butter balm in mint. Hydrating and nice applicator.

PM ROUTINE

1. Then I Met You Living Cleansing Balm. I don’t know how it was only this year that I discovered the ease and effectiveness of a cleansing balm. I love the texture and scent on this one, and truly gets off all makeup and subway grime from the day. I don’t double cleanse, I probably should.

2. Estée Lauder Advanced Night Repair. Another cult classic product that just works. Don’t forget to apply all over the neck and decolletage.

3. Stainless steel guasha. I do a quick guasha massage and lymphatic drainage. I am definitely no expert, but I do see the difference in depuffing and lifting even after adding a quick 30 second daily guasha practice. I highly recommend getting a stainless steel one, as I have dropped and shattered more than one made out of jade or rose quartz.

4. Superegg Soft Strength Rich Resilience cream. This is the brand’s newest rich cream launch, and I am in LOVE!!! The texture is lovely and applies on very lightly, but I can feel how much more hydrating it is for an evening routine.

5. Superegg phytobounce eye contour solution. A lighter, gel-like undereye product.

6. Womaness retinol serum. Full disclosure, I only apply this on my neck wrinkles 2-3 a week. The neck wrinkles are really starting to bother me.

7. Clinique moisture surge lip treatment. An amazing lip balm that locks hydration in, and we know we need that this winter.

I love trying new brands and products, so if you have any skincare must’s I need to try, please share in the comments below!

xo, Dahye

Disclaimer: This post is not paid or sponsored, all product reviews and recommendations are that of my own personal opinion and does not reflect that of my employer.

SHOP

What I love most about the shopping scene in NYC is how you can experience best-in-class visual merchandising and experiential retail across the mass to ultra luxe range. As a marketer, I am even more appreciative of the window dressing, omni-channel coordination and ephemeral pop-ups, because someone, somewhere meticulously planned every single logistical detail to make the holiday magic happen. I make sure to block off a weekend in December to pick up gifts from my favorite spots.

Here are some of my favorite seasonal pop-up’s and retailers to visit:

• Holiday on Madison. A multi-brand concept shop gathering a highly selective curation of small businesses.

• Gohar World. Nostalgic and kitschy home and dining wares. I love their vintage silver collection as well.

• LES Collection. Beautiful home decor and everything for a dream tablescape.

• Bergdorf Goodman 7th floor for ornaments and Christmas decor

• John Derian’s annual ornament pop-up. Better than therapy.

• Stele. For niche fragrance brands, you can find TAFFIN Fragrance here.

• nogem. Coffee and concept shop I love for home and decorative knick knacks.

• Bode women’s shop in Tribeca

• Kallmeyer. My favorite brand these days.

• Desert Vintage. A treasure trove of designer vintage you won’t find anywhere else.

• Quarters. Furniture shop with a quiet cafe inside.

• Scully & Scully

• Argosy Bookstore. Gifting a book to someone is sometimes the most intimate and thoughtful present- you really have to know someone well to know what their mind would enjoy.

• Assembly New York. Multi-brand fashion shop. They always do an amazing buy selection here and have great silver jewelry.

• Trove Jewelry. Multi-brand boutique of contemporary and rising jewelry brands.

DINE

This is is painstakingly pared-down list of some of our favorite restaurants in the city. I would definitely recommend booking things a few weeks in advance as these places get booked out pretty fast during the high season.

• Casa Tua. A new-ish addition to the UES with chic Italian ambiance.

• Nubiani. My favorite korean bbq spot in Manhattan.

• moono. My favorite korean spot.

• Ramen Ishida. My favorite ramen spot.

• Scarr’s pizza. My favorite pizza spot.

• Okatte Tanto. Japanese izakaya.

• Cafe Mogador. Moroccan.

• Soda Club. Vegan pasta and vins nature.

• Hirohisa. Omakase.

• The Commerce Inn. Classically American.

• Chi. Favorite Chinese place in Manhattan.

• Don Angie’s. This place is impossible to get a table but it will forever be special as it is where we had our Civil Union dinner.

DRINK

I’m not a cocktail aficionada, so when it comes to drinks, the atmosphere and crowd take priority. Here are some beautifully decorated places where you can enjoy a lovely scene, that isn’t too loud or flashy in the wrong way.

• Chez Fifi 2nd floor. An intimate Parisian setting on the UES.

• Swan Room. Most beautiful interior!

• Jac’s on Bond. An easy place for a pre-dinner cocktail.

• St Jardim. More casual, great selection of natural wines.

• Employees only. I think this place is still cool to go out?

• The Portrait Bar. Ask if you can be seated in the second floor area that is usually reserved for guests only.

BE MERRY

Museums, galleries, shows and experiences you can’t miss during your visit. The access to view the best of the best in all areas of talent is one of the best parts of the city. I cry at each show, not just of the beauty of the story and production, but I am so touched by the dedication and passion of each performer and artist. It always leaves me so inspired.

• The Nutcracker ballet at the Lincoln Center. A timeless masterpiece that can be enjoyed at any age.

• The Rockettes. The show is meticulous to a faulty and so smart in its humor.

• The MET. The Christmas tree and nativity scene are not to be missed.

• Salon 94. A free gallery on the UES that showcases unique artists on each floor.

• Spencer’s Spa. If you have time for a massage, this is an amazing spa for some R&R and quiet in the middle of Soho. Highly recommend after a day of shopping.

• Central Park. Let’s hope for a white Christmas!

• Rockefeller Center Tree. Leave it to the Americans to install a huge lit-up tree, feature it in a bunch of movies and create one of the greatest revenue-generating landmarks in the world. The chaos is part of the experience so just be warned.

Would love to know if you checked out any of the above, or if you have a place to recommend in the comments below!

Stay warm and happy holidays.

x Dahye

When I was an MBA candidate at Columbia Business School, the most frequently asked question I got was: Why did you decide to pursue an MBA?

I wondered why this was the FIRST question that came to most people’s minds. Is it because I’m a woman? Is it because I am not in finance or consulting? Is it because I seem more like a creative than a business type?

Sometimes, I would want to spin the question on its head: Why wouldn’t I want to purse an MBA?

I am sure there are many preconceived notions of who an MBA degree is for and overprescribed reasons WHY someone should purse this specific master’s. I don’t like to be prescriptive towards anyone else’s life, so rather than list out subjective WHY or WHY NOT’s, I will share my own personal top 5 reasons why I decided to pursue an MBA.

1. I wanted to pursue higher education, specifically at an Ivy.

   I am a first-gen immigrant from South Korea, and like many Asian immigrant households, education was always a point of emphasis. My parents were actually not that strict or intense about our grades, but it was understood that you do have to do your best.

   Given this upbringing, I’ve always strived to do well and one day attend an Ivy League. Again, the whole Ivy dream was never pushed onto me by my parents, but it’s something that I quietly wanted for myself.

   Education is not only about the material you learn in class, but it is also about being exposed to an environment that will shape your thinking, your confidence and social tact. These soft skills are so important in an era where hard skills are increasingly commoditized and automated.

   Education is a privileged opportunity to develop your mind, and that knowledge can never be taken away.

2. I wanted to move to NYC and establish a network here.

   Anyone who has known me from a young age knows that I have always wanted to land in NYC. I just needed the right timing and context to make it happen.

   Because the location was a top priority, it easily narrowed down my program options. NYC is the best city to be in for beauty and fashion, outside of Paris. Paris is definitely still the leader for luxury and couture, but I think NYC is the hub for commercial fashion/beauty.

   CBS is located in Harlem, so it enables direct access to alumni and professionals who are already working in the city, which is truly unparalleled to any other M7 program. But beyond that, so many companies and leaders fly in and out of NYC, where meeting global leaders for panels and conferences was a weekly occurrence.

   A lot of CBS alum do end up staying in NYC after graduation, so having that built-in friend circle makes the adjustment to a chaotic place all the more approachable.

3. I wanted to pivot into an in-house marketing role in beauty or fashion.

   Career pivots are one of the most common reasons why people pursue an MBA. My ‘pivot’ was more a 30-degree directional shift, as I went from being on the agency side (where I worked on cosmetics accounts) to the client-side, now on a marketing team in beauty.

   I definitely could have made the jump without the MBA, but it would have been much more difficult and potentially a longer job search, considering I wanted to break into the industry specially in NYC (which is just insanely competitive) and I wanted to increase my salary and title.

4. I wanted to challenge myself and grow as an individual.

   I reached a point in my career and life where I felt like I was stagnating. Everything was a bit too easy and comfortable, and I wasn’t quite ready to feel that comfortable yet. I had some juice left in me to push for one more growth period, before getting married and settling down into definite adulthood.

   Spoiler alert, we got married after I graduated this past spring. This is me in the being married and settling down phase. Hi.

5. I wanted to pre-emptively open more doors for myself in the future.

   If you take away anything from this post, let it be this: proximity to information is the only competitive advantage. Information is power. Get it?

   (Read: Proximity to power is the only competitive advantage)

   At a certain point in one’s career, the promotions and raises will be less about your work output and more about who you know, and what those people in power know and perceive about you.

   This is actually one of the greatest learnings I have from the soft-skills courses at CBS, like leadership, negotiations, change management, and strategy. Whether you want to pursue the route to the C-suite, found your own business, or become an investor, you need the right connections and accolades that allow you to be invited into those rooms.

   Again, there are always rules to the exception, but I don’t see myself as the exception.

These reasons may or may not apply to you. Pursuing an MBA is highly intensive and requires significant time and financial commitment. Even preparing your applications and studying for the GMAT/GRE will be a year-long process (will delve into this in a future post).

I do agree, that an MBA is not 100% necessary to have a successful career or business, but if you do have the opportunity to further your career, expand your scope of knowledge and meet inspiring peers, I personally highly recommend it.

Especially if you are a woman, not in finance/consulting, or if you are a creative type. The instagram girlies also have degrees.

Especially now, every single industry needs creative and strategic minds that can truly think outside the box to solve problems that never existed before. The world needs people of different experiences and backgrounds to create new solutions. And I think that person could very well be you.

As I walked across the stage to confer the degree, in my heart, the MBA was 100% worth it. And like any good investment, I believe the returns will compound overtime. If you are considering pursuing your MBA, my best piece of advice is to make sure you are clear and honest with your intentions from the start.

If you have any questions, please leave them in the comments below.

xo, Dahye

I am very lucky to work in an environment that allows (and actually encourages) people to express themselves through fashion, which makes every morning a fun process of putting together an office fit. Although it is a corporate setting, we don’t have a strict dress code, generally business casual and sometimes more formal on presentation days.

Here are some of the outfits I wore during September and October, taken through brisk photos I snapped during my commute and between matcha runs.

I treated myself to a new office fit from kallmeyer, a NYC based brand that I have been following for a few years. I think for the price, the quality truly stands out amongst similar contemporary peers.

They didn’t have the white jersey draped top in my size, so I opted for this bright blue one- which I’m happy I went with since I don’t own a ton of bold shades. I also got these slinky black pants and tassle belt because we are in a tassle era, after all.

classic white shirt // midi leather skirt (mine is from FRAME but it’s sold out, found a similar one here, here, more affordable one here) // kallmeyer tassle belt, so cute in brown too // big ass working girl bag

my favorite scarf top ever // COS pants from 2 years ago, found a similar model here // brown leather belt from front general store in brooklyn, similar here and here

stirrup leggings are literally office pajamas in disguise // ballet flats // blazer is my mom’s from the 90s, found a similar one here, one with wider lapels here

blue linen shirt (please excuse the horrific wrinkles) // wide leg pants that I swept the streets of manhattan with // statement belt truly is the best way to add interest to an otherwise mid outfit

slit pencil skirt // this is very old zara top, but honestly this cardigan set would be so cute // black leather knee high boots // cashmere scarf similar here and here

this trench is my best fall purchase

a feminine leather jacket // graphic wool sweater // corduroy pants (I feel like I rediscovered the joy of corduroy this fall) // orange speziales

that same feminine leather jacket // button up cardigan // COS pants from 2 years ago, found a similar model here // brown leather belt from front general store in brooklyn, similar here and here // leather booties (kitten heels not pictured)

the girliest puffer jacket that is giving tradwife in the best way plus it’s actually pretty warm // corduroy pants // ballet flats with socks // cashmere scarf similar here and here

relaxed fit trench // white shirt with knotted sleeves

PLEATS PLEASE TOP // slit pencil skirt // ballet flats // similar grey blazer here, one with wider lapels here

I hope this gave fellow corporate gals out there some outfit inspiration for the in-office days.

xo, Dahye

In 2011, I launched heydahye.blogspot.com from my bedroom in the suburbs of Minnesota. This was pre-Instagram days, when fashion blogging was in its nascency. The real ones (now your elder millennials) will know blogspot as the birth place of some of the OG bloggers that pioneered the influencer industry we know today.

As a freshman in high school, I was itching and yearning for a creative outlet to express myself, connect with other bloggers and have a sliver of a window into the big lives of big people in big cities.

The life that I wanted to live one day.

… everything comes full circle.

Fast forward to 2025. I am now a freshly-minted member of the 30s Club, living in NYC, got my MBA, got married, with a fancy corporate title on LinkedIn. Everything my teenage-self dreamt of.

My family and closest friends who have known me throughout this 14-year character arc sometimes ask me if life feels surreal, how I managed to make it all happen, and if I am happy.

To be honest, I feel like the dust is now starting to settle and I am in the midst of taking stock of all the changes that I experienced. Although my Instagram feed and the Vogue article depict a sort of real-life-fairy-tale, it truly was a combination of grit, fate, luck and a dash of delulu that got me to where I am today.

… everything comes full circle.

The timing seems fitting that fourteen years later, substack is the new hot thing, but for me, it is a return to the humble beginnings of how @heydahye started. I guess this means I’ve completed one ‘cycle’ or chapter of life. (and hence, the start of a new one why I am low key scared).

If anyone out there has been following me since the start (please DM or email me if you have), you will find that I brought back the original ‘heydahye’ logo that I hand-drew in my childhood bedroom. I contemplated rebranding my site or logo, but if I stand for authenticity, I believe coming back to the roots is the right move. I am a marketer after all, and brand equity built over a long period of time is irreplaceable.

HeyDahye is back in its original form, a bit older, hopefully wiser. Follow along for my fashion/beauty faves, school/career tips, and other life musings.

I am back to blogging. I am back to long-form. We are indeed, so back.

xo, Dahye

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