Let's be honest, you've probably clicked on more than a dozen articles with headlines like these: ‘10 Jewellery Brands You Need to Know.’ ‘The Cool Girl Labels Everyone's Wearing.’ If you begin to wonder whether you're discovering something new or simply being served the same algorithm in a different font, I don’t blame you.

This piece is a labour of love. Every brand on the list earned its place the old-fashioned way, not through endless sponsored posts or influencer campaigns, but by making jewellery with a point of view. Some are well or better known. Some are small independent studios you probably won’t come across unless someone quietly passed the name on (you can thank me later).

Jewellery, at least IMO, shouldn’t be about chasing trends. It should feel like you’ve stumbled upon a tiny treasure that says something about you. These are the brands I genuinely wear, dream of buying from, recommend to friends and selfishly hope don’t become too famous. Enjoy!

#1: ALEXIS BITTAR

You probably remember Tyla’s Balmain sand dress from the 2024 Met Gala, but how about the jewellery she was wearing?

Alexis Bittar’s designs are giving Schiaparelli: surreal, sculptural and Art Deco inspired. He somehow makes costume jewellery look outrageously expensive (oh, we love that). Since the 1990s, Bittar has become synonymous with hand-carved lucite, pairing it with semi-precious stones and metal to create jewellery that is glamorous, sculptural and completely wearable. They're statement pieces, yes, but they’re also the kind you'll actually reach for. Honestly, how does one resist?

Not even Neelam Ahooja, and me —

#2: SHAUN LEANE

A year ago, I spotted a girl wearing the chicest pair of hooked earrings. I couldn’t help myself to stop her, tell her how much I loved them and of course, naturally ask where they were from.

‘They're Shaun Leane,’ she said.

That rabbit hole led me to one of the most fascinating jewellery designers I've come across. Before building his own label, Shaun Leane worked closely with Alexander McQueen, creating the sculptural, boundary-pushing jewellery that became part of McQueen's legendary runway shows in the 1990s. Trained as a traditional goldsmith, Leane has a rare ability to turn experimental ideas into jewellery that is both striking and wearable. His collections today are an extension of his projects with McQueen, translating his runway experiments into jewellery for everyday life.

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Side note: I get to interview the cool girl aforementioned, stay tuned.

#3: PANCONESI

If jewellery could belong in a contemporary art gallery, Panconesi would be hanging at the front and centre. Founded by Italian designer Marco Panconesi, the brand plays with asymmetry, movement and unexpected colour combinations in a way that feels sculptural rather than decorative.

What I love about Panconesi is its ability to sit in that sweet spot between wearable and experimental. It’s perfect for people whose style is somewhat in-between to find a brand that ventures beyond classic gold/silver hoops but isn’t quite the kind to wear a chandelier on their ears. That’s me. Is that you too?

#4: ZOÉ MOHM

I first came across Zoé Mohm while searching Instagram for brooch and pin inspiration. Instantly, I knew I’d found a gem. Mohm’s jewellery is predominantly silver (which ticks all my boxes) and carries a medieval undertone. Her designs feel organic, imperfect and funky, yet somehow look effortlessly chic when styled with her own wardrobe, natural hair and bare makeup.

Regarded herself more of a craftswoman than a silversmith, Mohm was captivated by handicrafts during a childhood visit to her mother’s homeland, Cambodia. After studying mainly textile crafts, she mixes her textile knowledge with metal and woodworking, now meticulously creates bespoke, one-of-a-kind pieces in her home and studio in Paris. As a self-taught jeweller, she’s a true visionary not to be missed.

#5: LEO COSTELLOE

If bows and ribbons immediately make you think of the coquette aesthetic, Leo Costelloe is about to change your mind. Having grown up across Australia and now based in London, Costelloe explores queer identity through his jewellery. By casting hyper-feminine motifs in solid metal, he transforms traditionally soft symbols into something bold with an unexpected edge that tells a different story.

Men don’t wear ribbons, said who? I enjoyed his work even more after reading his thoughts on tenderness with Bricks Magazine here.

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Now I’m curious: Which designer would you happily add to your jewellery box? Or did I miss a hidden gem that deserves to be on this list? Tell me in the comments!

Until then,

Chris

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Years ago, whenever someone said ‘Your shoes are… interesting’ or ‘They’re so cute, where did you get them?’ I’d never quite know whether I was being complimented or gently flagged for having questionable taste. It made me wonder if my shoe preferences were just… unusually specific.

While everyone else seemed drawn to versatile, sensible pairs, I’d somehow zoom in on the oddballs, the little beasts that don’t fit in a perfectly curated wardrobe. This was long before ‘ugly shoes’ became fashionable. They were simply the pairs that most people walked straight past but the ones I couldn’t stop thinking about.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So, let me introduce you to the little beasts that somehow found their way into my wardrobe over the years!

CAMPERLAB Tornado trainers

ACNE STUDIOS gladiator sandals

MIISTA Goldie sneakers

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NIKE Air Rift in cameo

Keen Jasper trainers

CROCS platform clogs

A pair I don’t own (yet)

Mine soon (DIRT Range mules)

Even sooner (Vibram FiveFingers)

When it comes to shoes, I’m firmly Team Offline — buying shoes online is nothing but a leap of faith! One brand's 38 is another brand's ‘good luck’, we haven’t even taken half sizes and different sized feet into account. Before I commit, a full ritual of mirror check and pacing around the store is always more than necessary. Especially if you are trying a style that's new, your feet deserve better than blind optimism.

Here’s where I usually find my odd pairs:

Sale section of department stores/select shops

Never skip the further reduced section. It's where the weirdos hang out, the shoes there were a little too ahead of their time for the masses. Try on some non-OG styles and colour ways in front of the mirror! Sometimes all they need is the right person.

Outlet shops

Anything slightly experimental coming from a mainstream brand tend not to sell well and makes its way to the outlet. But outlet shopping is dangerous, it requires a bit of discipline and it's easy to fall in love with the price tag. I always stop and ask myself: If I ignored the discount, would I still love these? Can I actually see myself wearing them with the rest of my wardrobe?

Charity shops & flea markets

Take them if you love them. (Personally, I’ll buy secondhand clothes without hesitation but secondhand shoes remain my irrational blind spot.)

By luck

We need it more than anything else, no?

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In a world where algorithms keep nudging us towards the same choices, the little beasts always win. They make me smile, start conversations and remind me that personal style isn’t personal until it reflects my instincts rather than everyone else’s.

What's the ‘little beast’ in your wardrobe? The piece everyone else overlooked, but you absolutely adore?

Until then,

Chris

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Long story short: I’ve relocated to London!!!

It’s been two months now (exactly today) and it was a quick decision made in early March. By then, our new jobs are starting soon so looking for a house, packing up, handing over and actually moving, these will all be done in less than a month’s time. Having relocated from Hong Kong to Manchester just two years ago, the process of packing up is familiar to me, but decluttering… where do I begin?

My wardrobe is an area that requires major work — even when the smallest new room that fits no bed will be set aside as our walk-in closet, at least three large boxes of clothes have to be sold or donated for spacial reason… such perks of living in London!

While trying on ALL my clothes and bitting my lips, I recalled the batch of questions in my head in no particular order:

How does it fit? Do you like it? Does it spark joy? Is it your current style? Can you make it work? Do you have (multiple) similar pieces? (I buy same clothes in different colours) Can you style it creatively with the rest? What do you do? Do you work mostly from home or at the office? Do you need formal wear to look smart and professional in your field? Do you separate your wardrobe for work and going out? Would you rather mixing the two? Do you need clothes for particular occasions? Do you have what you want to create the looks you want? What is/are missing?

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To get realistic answers, honesty is key. Understanding and accepting your current lifestyle is almost second to none. If corporate job had been a motif and workwear are repeatedly worn so much more than the printed leopard shirt in my previous life as a vintage shop owner, real adjustments have to made.

What I considered:

• Practicality: Typical trait of a Taurus

• Effortlessness: To me, it’s spending less time checking an outfit in front of the mirror

• Identify IC and team players: Pieces that are fabulous on their own have to work well with the others, too

• Sentimental clothing: They deserve a special place, be it my home or someone else’s who will cherish them like I do

• Identify what’s missing: Time to find them out!

Fast forward a month, my refreshed wardrobe made the move to London with me and I have also low key found my ‘new’ style using the very same clothes I’d owned for years, thanks to the more cohesive wardrobe that has a shared colour palette living outside aspirational fantasies.

Non-work outfits are receiving more love for sure:

That’s it for my update! I couldn’t thank you enough for staying and being here while I detoured from writing for a bit, trying to balance work and life in this new and exciting city.

How’s life treating you? I want to connect with you more :)

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Until next time,

Chris

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Observing the winter blues, it feels almost bold to wear bright colours when everyone else is still tucked into dark neutrals. I am, of course, no different than everyone until Mum passed me her old red Coach bag earlier this month.

This bag is a sleek and softly curved lady. Her faded red is quiet and assured that does not glow or shout. She hugs my shoulders gently and fits snugly under my arm as if it was made to be there. Made from rich, glove-tanned leather with a lustrous finish, she carries depth and character with marks and patina. Her trapezoidal shape gives her structure while preserving an effortless elegance — ohhh, she is beautiful.

With signs of gentle wear only, this 30 year-old bag is indeed very well taken care of. The leather feels heavier and thicker than most of the newer Coach bags I have, the suede interior feels soft and luxury too. A classic comparison.

Looking at the serial number stamped straight onto the bag, I tried to identify the style with help from this video clip. Mine was stamped “E8P-9033”, so it’s an Ergo bag style 9033, manufactured in May 1998, the same year Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets was published.

The morning I styled the bag with one outfit, I ended up styling even more —

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There are occasional colours I wear too, by that I mean blue:

Back to my comforting colour ring…

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Conversations with clothes (my partner) haven’t worn —

Last but not least,

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A question you might have… do Coach still do Ergo bags?

Yes, Coach still produces them, primarily through their sustainable “Coachtopia” line and as part of “The Coach Originals” archive revival. They reimagine the iconic 1990s hobo silhouette using upcycled leather scraps or modern materials, doing quite a good job in blending vintage inspiration with contemporary craftsmanship for an eco-conscious take on the classic Ergo design.

Hope you enjoyed this read.

Until next time,

Chris

Catch up on my previous posts:

What I wore this past week wasn’t about novelty — rather, it was an honest record about a version of myself I needed to be from Monday to Friday, formed in the daily negotiation between warmth, comfort and presentation.

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Speaking of the “mandarin jacket” trend (or chaos), there are some really good discussions across the platform if you want to catch up before Lunar New Year in two weeks:

• When your culture becomes a ‘trending’ aesthetic by Vanessa Li, Open Book

• Mandarin jackets are trending by Style Analytics

• Is fashion at a very Chinese time in its life? by Zara Wong, Screenshot This

• 5 Reasons the Adidas “Mandarin Jacket” Is Not Technically Chinese by Carolyn Marie Yim, Designed in China

• Through The Chinoiserie Looking Glass by Lin, Out Of The Bag

• Pankou Buttons Plagiarism by Elaine Wong, TWDY Unfiltered

Until next time,

Chris

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What does one write on their newsletter after a long absence?

Hi!!! I missed this space. And you.

Over the past six months, writing and posting took a backseat with a lot of my attention went staying balanced in life while maintaining daily routines, as basic as it could be, amidst a rollercoaster ride that I had no choice but to ride on. On a brighter note, I got promoted at my corporate job, discovered a new passion and had my first trip home in two years. Less than a month later, I was home again, ending the year with that familiar shift from inconsolable sadness to emotional numbness, the kind that doesn’t heal everything but keeps you afloat when feeling too much would pull you under.

Then it’s already 2026.

Last week, I took a trip to Barcelona trying to relax and reset for the year to come. When you’ve not been to a city before and mapped most of your itinerary sightseeing Antoni Gaudi’s masterpiece of works (Sagrada Familia will take extra 15 years to complete, fyi), shopping in a city renowned for independent brands and watching the Three Kings Parade under 0°C (32°F), you do not have the relaxation akin to Savasana in yoga.

All truly great thoughts are conceived while walking, Nietzsche once said. Thanks to the 15k daily steps taken in Barcelona, a list of life reminders and style resolutions for 2026 eventually came up in no particular order. I have them scribbled at the back of several receipts, tried my best not to lose them when I was on my way back. Now I am sharing the list with you:

• Be honest to yourself. What do you like (that not many people like)? What do you dislike (but is popular as a trend)?

• Refresh wardrobe through styling. Last year I had a conversation with the clothes less loved and they were GREAT. It feels beyond invigorating to update your wardrobe without buying *insert number here* new clothes while staying creative.

• Experiment with personal style. Not saying you will dress in punk rock one day and in 19th century Victorian dress the day after, but you get it. Why dress like everyone else when you can always be true to yourself?

• Shop your own wardrobe. Remember most things are already there for you.

• Choose vintage/preloved clothes in person, not online. As strange as it might sound as a former vintage shop owner who has both a physical shop and online shop, I still prefer experiencing vintage clothes in the material realm. To be able to feel actual clothes in your hand and on your body, even to smell them, before buying, is a luxury unavailable on The RealReal or Vestiaire Collective.

• Borrow from your partner’s wardrobe. So there are two wardrobes of clothes to explore on!

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On my end…

• Be consistent. Self-explanatory.

• Buy a black coat. If the perfect one do exist.

• Explore outfits with skirts/dress. A category I least invested in.

• Read more. Will start a new section about books here.

• Write more. I wrote but rarely publish.

• Sell clothes less loved. Vinted will be my new best friend.

So, that’s my list! Ticking off one box now — I wrote and I published.

Hope your 2026 is off to a good start!

Until next time,

Chris

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EVERYTHING I WORE

Mental note: Wear your clothes regardless!

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EVERYTHING I BOUGHT (FOR A BARGAIN)

Best reason to treat myself.

1. Summer is usually about wearing thin t-shirts but I propose otherwise. Huge fan of heavyweight t-shirt, I came across this 6.5oz cotton t-shirt from b.Eautiful while waiting for my partner outside the fitting room. A quick scan: vintage black, crew neck, intentional imperfect print (at the back) and boxy silhouette. Graphic print? A girl who looks like Mika Nakashima. Jackpot. It’s perfect to come home.

2. Do you know how hard it is to find a silver wallet/cardholder? I missed a Marc Jacobs leather wallet last winter sale so I have always been on the lookout for another one this summer. Last week, I found this perfect Givenchy 4G cardholder with a bargain — good things come to those who wait!!

3. Right, it’s a bowling bag. It took longer for me to jump on the bandwagon but better late than never. I love how clean and sleek this Nothing Written classic golf bag is and the white stitches are oddly cute. There are two other options before I pulled the trigger (a vintage Prada bowling bag and a Comme des Garcons bowling bag) but this golf bag has the missing element of office siren I wanted; plus, big lunchbox fits right in — sold.

3. Are you the type of girl who buys winter pieces in summer (vice versa)? I think I’ve tried this COS cable knit jumper on 3-4 times in the past six months before it arrives at my doorstep several days ago. It fits slightly cropped and structured on the body which reminds me of a vintage Maison Margiela cable knit turtleneck top I didn’t buy in Paris last month which is still haunting me today.

4. Let’s all shop against the season and get the good deals! Another (non awkward colour) winter essential Loewe beanie snatched up.

5. The OMA hoop earrings. It’s not until recently that I started to invest more on basic earrings over statement pieces. When a single hoop no longer satisfies you, go double, especially when it’s white gold plated.

6. Ok, I still buy statement earrings but just not vintage styles for now. These Missoma Dome earrings are perfect for jawline contouring and they are not overly heavy for the ears (very important).

That’s all for today!

Until then,

Chris

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When I was a child, I already knew my Grandma is different from other ladies of her age. She shops with me. She does her nails every month. She puts on make-up wherever she goes. She wears bold prints and colours. As a petite lady and tailor herself, she makes her own clothes and even ours. It would be an understatement to say I am proud to have a grandma like her, a cool grandma that strangers would thought she was my mum.

Speaking of Grandma’s bag collection, she could go on forever. I remember when she takes all her bags out for annual spring cleaning, she would share nostalgic stories one after the other without signs of stopping. That’s when I knew she had good old memories with her collection. While listening to her stories, I like to try on her bags and heels in front of the mirror. Although looking years apart from my actual age, I felt like a fashionable grown up.

It was around high school that I noticed her taste on bags: Mostly constructed in boxy shape, highly practical with at least one interior bag pocket, fan of exotic leather (ostrid, crocodile, snake etc) and always buys niche brands of her time (those that she claimed were one-of-a-kind do not have much trail today…). I kept a great range of her bags when I moved from Hong Kong to Manchester, and to say my personal favourite? It has to be this Piero Guidi’s LineaBold bag in full grain leather —

There is a Facebook page of Piero Guidi apart from its official webpage. To my great surprise, almost all photos featuring the LineaBold bag are filled with over 1k likes and are exclusively commented in Cantonese like the one below:

Then I saw this comment in particular:

My head is spinning hard at this point. Was LineaBold an “IT bag” in Hong Kong back in the ‘90s? Does Piero Guidi used to have retail outlets there? I don’t recall seeing this brand at the street or in any department stores when I was a teenager, yet when I casually ask those who were students in Hong Kong during that era, all answers lead to a huge “yes”.

I further googled for more information, trying to look for old photos with real people wearing the bag instead of models. Not much pictorial clues could be traced on this trend except netizens who shared their own LineaBold bags online, but I had some luck extracting bits from newspaper, magazines, discussion forums and Piero Guidi official page to fill the missing gaps in.

FOR “CITIZENS OF THE WORLD”

It was 40 years ago when Piero Guidi, an Italian sculptor who turned to fashion studies in Rome, realised cities have become metropolises where people travel, meet in trendy places, search for success and forge friendships. These positive aspects of a cosmopolitan society has inspired him to create the LineaBold line in 1982, a collection designed for “citizens of the world” who wanted refined and functional designer travel companions.

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THE METAL TAG

What makes the LineaBold bag different from all other designer travel bag back then is their famous metal tag for owners to engrave their name and address, transforming every single model of the bag into a personalised piece.

Grandma’s bag also had her name engraved —

POPULARITY IN ASIAN MARKET

Reading from multiple newspaper, magazine and discussion forum (all in Cantonese), LineaBold bag had its glorious moments not in Europe but in Asia especially Hong Kong and Japan. It was mostly secondary students who craved owning a LineaBold bag not only because of its functionality or status symbol (asking for HK$3000 / US$380 / £280 / €325 — 30 years ago), but the metal tag had to be sent to Italy for personalised engraving. How cool was that!

Following the successes of the collection, variations have been introduced to include new colours and combinations while still keeping the original spirit of being “Bold Like You” (their motto). The collection was also expanded from designing for travellers to the general public, i.e. introduce everyday bags.

While researching Grandma’s LineaBold bag I realised that all my bags don’t bear names. I only carry a Jellycat or Labubu as bag charms to differentiate mine versus others, not even a name tag with my initials on. It feels peculiar yet intimate to carry a bag that bears not your own name but your beloved Grandma’s as if she is sharing a part of your journey wherever you bring the bag to. Whoever gifted my Grandma this LineaBold bag shall know the intention of adopting it as a travel companion is now well-received: It will be going on journeys with a citizen of the world, aka me.

Last but not least,

Have a great week!

Chris

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During my one hour lunch at work, I gobbled up leftovers from yesterday within 15 minutes so I can spare myself 30 minutes (plus 15 minutes walk to/from designated shops from/to my workplace) only to flip over racks and racks of clothes that never appeared on my shopping radar. 30 minutes of (mindless) intense shopping every day for almost a week so I wouldn’t miss a potential good buy. Wow, such consistency. And? I always come out the shops empty-handed, hesitated to buy any new piece.

Oh.

Recently analysing my closet, I came to an understanding on how I love shopping and collecting pieces. I’ve got reasons, of course I do. But this collector needs to take a pause and revisit her collection, dig out the less worn pieces, restyle them and give them some moment to shine. What’s the point of having a full closet with no clothes to wear?

So last week, I had a 121 conversation with two rarely worn items that have sat in my closet for a long time. For years, we haven’t interacted much, and now it’s time for reconnection.

ITEM 1: Beams Boy gingham blazer

This gingham blazer has been worn less than 5 times ever since I bought it in Tokyo almost 10 years ago. Good old times — it was from Beams Boy, a Japanese brand that often appears in local fashion magazines during my student era (and it still does). After seeing “10 ways to style a gingham shirt“ on Fudge magazine (iykyk), I was influenced that I should buy a gingham shirt because I can get the cost per wear of it by styling it in 10 different ways. Lucky me! I found the perfect one in a Shimokitazawa secondhand shop.

Apparently I’ve forgotten all 10 ways to style gingham, but I know with small and regular fit blazer, the best way is to pair it with oversized trousers (pleated trousers, balloon trousers, extra wide leg trousers etc.) or skirts (a-line skirt, balloon skirt, flare skirt etc.) to offset the seriousness or office vibe it brings. Here is also where the mismatched theory jumps in: Swap the rain protecting trainers to kitten heels or sandals if you are after a completely relaxed and summery look!

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Another new approach I styled this blazer is to wear it underneath an Adidas windbreaker that is normally my gym wear and reveal only its collar (even better if the collar was turned up as mandarin style), basically wear it like the shirt I was initially influenced by.

ITEM 2: Uniqlo t-shirt (gift from Macau)

As a girl who shops souvenir whenever she travels, graphic print t-shirt is not an option to eschew if what she wants are fridge magnets and there’s an amalgamation of multiple magnets in a single frame. This t-shirt is a gift from my partner when she worked in Macau few years ago but every time, I feel embarrassed wearing it. Perhaps it’s the big UT logo right at the centre, perhaps the graphics felt slightly too cute or I simply felt shy wearing a souvenir t-shirt when I have long passed the age of wearing one. Whichever the reason, it was left idled.

This outfit was a real polariser in Manchester last week; I got “I love your look!” on the tram and “is she going to a date/wedding” queries at work in equal measure. Colours mean differently in different cultures. With the traditional correlation to mourning and funerals in Chinese context, all white dressing is fashionably uncommon and my grandmother would probably go nuts if she sees this. But I suppose the combining shades of white, cream and some silly magnet illustrations could break me out of that taboo, particularly when white denotes purity and cleanliness in the country I’m residing in. If an outfit doesn’t inspire to ponder, is it even worth wearing?

It feels beyond great to have a conversation with pieces you less loved: You remember the scene when you bought it, the emotions when you first tried it on, the endless style experiments you had with it and the excitement when it immerse in your ever changing personal style. It’s like how reconnecting with old friends can be fulfilling when you recall spending good old times together while still being able to resonate in life. Sometimes you’ll have to take that step to see yourself in the mirror with your old pieces, offer each other another chance before sending them to the charity!

Until then,

Chris

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If you were my customers from Where I Was From (yes I used to own a vintage shop), you’d know brooches have always been my soft spot and how enthusiastic I was when exploring creative attempts to style them with you. Sourcing and mixing brooches together is my favourite pastime, but more often than not my palate is brooches with same colour tone in different shapes. I also tend to choose brooches without rhinestones to avoid feeling dressy as most of my customers were saying “brooch is an accessory for my grandmother” instead of themselves when their style were mostly casual and modern. Wait no, it isn’t! Styling a brooch is great fun!

One thing I used to do when buying brooches is to check if they are signed or not. Signed brooches are generally considered more valuable and easier to date especially when associated with costume jewellery producers like Monet and Crown Trifari. Since I kept my entire signed brooch collection at my parents house, the handful pieces I now own are newly sourced and mostly unsigned.

Last week, I unabashedly have to say I received so much compliments wearing this outfit to work —

Another monotone look accentuated by a cute fish brooch —

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On days when you feel dragged, you power dress to uplift the mood. Leather and silverware are my reliable twins, adding a brooch pendant is simply chef’s kiss.

Who now owns more new necklaces without having to buy them?

These attempts below are what I regard as eye candy *smirk*

Another possible idea to style is to pin your brooch on shoe straps like this (shoe laces might be too thin though).

Or back to basic basic.

Final note: JUST WEAR YOUR BROOCH!!!!!!

Have a great Easter holiday everyone.

Chris

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I’ll start by praising black as the unsung hero:

Here’s the same blazer with trousers in matching fabric:

Same top, trainers and crochet flower charm. Different everything:

Sometimes I dress up a little. (Still) with the same trainers:

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Or I dress down, styling the same silver ring:

There were also days when the same striped trousers are loved…

And loved again…

When the top and blazer combination gets boring, white shirt is a great companion —

Same greyish tone, same jeans, similar vibes:

At last, a more interesting fit outside work —

Thanks for tuning in! I’ll see you again in April.

Chris

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Currently enjoying more offline shopping than online, I made an effort compiling a long list of cool shops and flea markets to visit during the trip, like the one I did for Kyoto, imagining myself checking in each of them and going home a happy girl. Always an enthusiastic travel shopper, I have also upgraded my baggage allowance from a 10kg check-in bag plus one personal bag to a doubled number of 25kg, although everyone else around me said staying 7 days in a city just 2.5 hours flight from home during cold season, the original baggage allowance should be sufficient (shrug).

Looking past the new and trendy, I usually shop vintage before digging into designer and independent brands for clothes. Perhaps the majority I visited in this trip were too touristy? It turned out vintage shops and flea markets in Lisbon weren’t as exciting as what I expected. Still, I found some good ones to share.

THIRD THRIFT STORE

A vintage store that has a POV and not like the rest. Clean, curated, classic and chic. The 4Cs I adhere to when shopping preloved. The store is nice and spread out so you can browse the racks without feeling like it’s a workout just to move some shirts around, which adds up when you are in winter layers. They have a good mix of women’s, men’s and unisex pieces. With the quality I would say their curation is highly affordable hence dangerously tempting, too.

AQ2

Just up the road from Third Thrift Store, AQ2 is giving off similar vibe because the two shops are connected. Here you can expect cool people flipping through clothes with their cute pet dogs. Compared to Third Thrift, AQ2 offers a broader range of designer pieces and workwear, which I had a splendid time trying on archived pieces by Issey Miyake and Dries Van Noten.

MESS VINTAGE

A little gem hidden among the cobblestone stairs in Rua São Marçal. I love how their clothing selection is well-cared (you can smell it) and every piece is handpicked with personality. Greeted by the shop owner herself, I tried on a preloved Fila wool jumper with half zip and quilted shoulder pads. For months, I have been on the lookout for a heavy wool jumper to style with a preppy shirt and tie. This jumper ticked most of the boxes, except the shoulder pads were a little too big for my already broad shoulders, I had to leave it for the right person.

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Having a penchant for cool and unique finds, the thriving independent shop scene in Lisbon is hard to miss amidst its cobbled streets and historic landmarks. Particularly within the districts of Príncipe Real, Baixa-Chiado and Alfama, independent clothes shops and boutiques are cocktails offering a unique blend of style, quality and personalities.

FAIRLY NORMAL

An eclectic concept store I almost missed during a heavy rain day. Pictured was their flagship store with high-quality and responsibly made menswear crafted by local Portuguese factories. What’s not in frame were the luxe looking surfboards placed opposite the clothing racks which hinted customers of their take on integrating traditional menswear with urban element to those that live, work and surf in Lisbon. Anything but ordinary.

THE FEETING ROOM

Honestly I fell in love with this concept store the moment I stepped in: Good scent, creative visuals and a wide selection of Portuguese brands and independent labels. One of which is called A Line, a local brand that designs and only made their collections locally using top-notch natural materials. Delicious, so I bought a crisp shirt with voluminous sleeves from them. A skill my grandmother taught me while shopping years ago is to turn the garment inside out and examine the seams. When I flipped this shirt over, the seams reminded me of those passionate and skilful craftsman labels made in Japan (iykyk).

On the sale rack, a mustard cardigan with tie collar popped out from the others. The fabric felt warm and soft, I read from the tag and it’s a brand I have not heard of before: FRNCH. There were three racks of clothing on sale and the majority of those that I pulled out were surprising from this French brand. I realised I might have low-key found another new brand to check out.

STRÓ

Ongoing with my search for quality local brands by free flowing on the streets of Lisbon, I serendipitously came across this nonchalance textile design shop with a range of products from fashion accessories, garments to home decor pieces, all in muted colours. After learning about Stró's small-scale production and supply chains to be locally based which enabled them to protect Portuguese workers and factories, I ticked off an item that has long been on my purchase list — a slightly chunky black pure wool jumper.

Note: Their garment collection is available offline only.

LUVARIA ULISSES

Keeping my (unvisited) favourite to the last! Walking past this tiny niche gloves shop that fits no more than 3 customers and has a queue outside every time I went, one could only read Google reviews and Tripadvisor for more information. Being in the business for the 100th year since 1925, Ulisses gloves are entirely handmade by glove makers in a nearby workshop. Similar to Stró, Ulisses is best suggested to visit in person for a sublime shopping experience.

There were also shops that I failed to remember the names and locations but managed to take a snap:

Do I regret spending extra on baggage allowance? Not at all! Lisbon is a magnificent and vibrant city in many ways and I truly loved the independent shop scene here: It was rife with good quality (KEY #1) and has a generally sensible price point (KEY #2), which is something I wish to see more of back in my city!

Hope you enjoyed reading this travel edit. Have a great week!

Chris

Catch up on my previous posts:

Unlike celebrations, blessings fortunately know no temporal boundaries. I hope January has brought much delight and restoration to each of you. For everyone who celebrate the Lunar New Year like I do, may the Year of the Snake bring you a year brimmed with wisdom, transformation and personal growth :)

Brief catch up since my last update:

Thanks to the most celebrated festival of the year, I had a hectic and head spinning December, hence embracing more responsibilities and challenges this year at work (in a good way). On my personal end, I have been missing out on gym, not finishing a single book, not cooking proper meals, enjoying takeaways and sugar so much that my skin started to lose its glow. Things were slowly falling apart yet time went by too quickly that I had a sense I was heading towards a trap of busy surviving instead of living, which freaked me out.

So last week during my trip in Lisbon, a week long trip well-deserved after a crazy year end and appearing signs of burnout, I took a break — a really good break — to set and reset for 2025.

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January is a month for quiet restoration, perfect timing to practice steady inhale, exhale and having a hibernation that allows us to spend more time with our loved ones. But apparently we can't just turn ourselves off with responsibilities from work, home and all that you name it. During the trip, Natalie had nightmares about unfinished work and started to get anxious. I could not help planning what to do once I am back at work. In the sutra “Knowing the Better Way to Live Alone”, the Buddha said, “Do not get caught in the past because the past is gone. Do not get upset about the future because the future is not yet here. There is only one moment for you to be alive, and that is the present moment.”

WELL. We were in the middle of a trip, physically, yet our minds were still at the place where we came from. To combat undesirable sleepless nights, we attempted to meditate before sleep. Instructions online: Play soothing music from Spotify. Dim lights within the room to develop a mood. Sit straight. Close your eyes and let thoughts wander for 10-15 minutes. Focus on your breathing.

That’s simple meditation. It worked. We also came across a list on Threads for annual review and plan, which is really nice that I felt I must share it:

In this trip, I also noticed some changes in the way I travel.

THINGS I DID

• Embraced flexibility and uncertainty. Mostly because of the rain, our itinerary had to be juggled around every night when museums and day trip to nearby cities were in plan. Breathe and have a plan B/C.

• Be late for social media. Instead of watching the city via my phone screen, I enjoyed admiring places and things without having to take pictures, knowing clearly that I would seldom revisit the photo album after an Instagram post.

• Brought clothes I haven’t worn for ages. Mixed feelings.

• Search before walking in any restaurant. That being said, we still made 1 or 2 not average but poor choices. Putting the taste of food aside, service and dining environment do matter. Sorry to say some Michelin star restaurants just don’t live up the hype.

• Went on different means of public transport. I’m glad that I did, if not I wouldn’t have noticed how clean and efficient public transport in Lisbon is.

THINGS I DID NOT DO

• Get creative with my outfits. I only brought 4 tops and 3 trousers, all of them were in sets (see below) so I would not have to bother mixing pieces together.

• Walk in 1.5x speed. I usually do this to get the most out of a city. This time I took my pace much slower, engaged in more conversations and turned out learning even more about Lisbon!

• Eat like there is no tomorrow. To be honest we still had 5 meals a day (I have a huge appetite), but it was comparatively less than my last trip in Kyoto. We ate every meal moderately, hoping to try more different restaurants.

• Impulse buy. Not limited to shopping for clothes but FOMO travel buys in general. For me, it is often travel fridge magnets and postcards which they sell abundance of in souvenir shops. I ended up picking only two of each. Achievement!

NEXT TIME: I can’t wait to share about my shopping addendum there.

Have a great week!

Chris

Catch up on my previous posts:

Happy December! I am slowly resurfacing after a crazy hectic month.

In this newsletter, I’ll be catching up on one month’s worth of What I Wore. Apologies for the backlog; all my non-work hours were dedicated to the notorious UK driving test (I passed!) and thus, a busy and stressful month until now.

This edition encapsulates my work fits up to mid November, when the sun made its occasional appearance and temperature was between 1 to 2 digits range. Photos of record were taken on a daily basis and outfits that brightened my day up when looking into the mirror, still feeling good after a full carbohydrate lunch, will be altruistically shared.

In the past month, I found myself drawn to the simplest colour templates of black/brown/navy/white combos because time is tight every morning. I had a tendency to grab jackets or blazers as they are almost no-brainer and versatile foundational pieces to uplift my boring basics underneath. Shirts look better doubled up, and silver accessories are often my polished choice over gold ones (Silver girlie? oui oui). There is no formula in my everyday corporate dressing, only the consistent elements of elevated simplicity, mixing of new/vintage/preloved pieces and being self-compassionate once I stepped out the door.

Now, onto my fits from some weeks ago!

Starting with my favourite one. This outfit wasn’t what I intended to wear that entire day, but my Schiaparelli vibe giving vintage belt (picture below) dropped to the ground and broke, I hence earned a minimal Jil Sander look as shown above. What’s new to me in this outfit was the shorts + long socks attempt, a combination very often seen on Japanese fashion magazines yet not on myself for once. It turns out quite nice and the outfit was complimented by my colleagues!

Accessories are important. On days when I have no idea what newness to add to an outfit that has been similarly styled for several times, my big box of vintage jewellery is the saviour. The quirkiness and memories associated with vintage would remind me not to shop only with big brands and take influencers recommendations all in, a reminder much needed when working in a fashion corporate 5 days a week.

I feel very me in these:

And this:

Recall this Acne Studios grey blazer and Dear suit trousers combination? I have worn them over and over, sometimes with a cardigan underneath and sometimes with a trusted cap. I love putting the pieces together, but still, a sense of newness is necessary so as not to get bored. This time, the game changer was a tassel necklace scored from a vintage car boot sale during summer and the inner voice saying “wear that necklace to work!” was heard.

Some days I enjoyed the fun of mixing old and new vintage/preloved pieces. When I mean old vintage they are mostly passed on by my grandmother or items I have well kept for over 20 years; as for new vintage, I got them in recent years.

Example 1: Old Sergio Tacchini cardigan + vintage suede jacket from market

Example 2: Old Nike trainers + Theory blazer

Example 3: Old Uniqlo blazer + Jil Sander trousers

Example 4: Cashmere top from grandmother + WIWF 1.0 sheer zipped shirt

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When you have “nothing to wear”, would you prefer to go shopping or reach out to the other’s closet aka your partner’s? I tend to do the latter not only because it is more sustainable, but there is greater joy derived from dressing in other’s clothing than my own. On days when I was keen to dress more oversized or proportionate, my hands stretched to my partner’s collection — utterly new and fresh — the experience was just like shopping itself!

Pictured above, I shopped an oversized shirt (dropped shoulder, longer body length and sleeves) to go with a vest I bought one size down. On another day styling the same vest, I shopped my partner’s regular work blazer to play with a relaxed impression, reinforced by the nun shoes as below:

Another outfit attempt which I incorporated two men’s shirts:

Loving how the black shirt served as an outer! In my dictionary of elevated simplicity, two is better than one. Doubling up shirts of different lengths and cutting create consistency and crispness, with echoing dark green and whiteness on the inside shirt and floral shoes, my last outfit was more than complete.

NEXT TIME: I was gifted a compelling fashion book.

Have a great week!

Chris

Catch up on my previous posts:

Before welcoming the autumnal English weather as of late, I took two months off from this writing space to start a new chapter in my career — transitioning and navigating — from working as a business owner, a freelancer to a full-time employee in a fashion corporation. Yes, a great shift it is.

Within these two months, there were a lot to take in. Set aside feeling like a new kid at school, the challenge that comes with my package of transition is to get dressed every morning without feeling stressed. Being used to throw on clothes without much considerations but my mood of the day, corporate workwear and smart casual dressing are what I wear most at present, much more than the pile of t-shirts and denims that got rotational appearances at least once a week back then.

“Do you think X can go with Y without looking casual?”

“I need MORE blazers and shirts.”

“What should I wear tomorrow? Shall I repeat my outfit?“

Constantly bombarding myself with questions, it was only during the 40 minutes commute that made me realise this actually is the first time I examine my wardrobe towards the direction of “business formal” and “smart casual dressing”, a blend of elegance and professionalism while adding a splash of work-appropriate fashion for subtle moments of everyday joy. I thus thought starting a new series of “What I Wore” — to put my weekly workwear and/or go-out pieces in record — is something fun to write and hopefully intriguing to read about. Finding a daily purpose to dress up and also getting my wardrobe painlessly cleaned out, consciously moving towards to develop a more versatile, integrated wardrobe when my personal style and lifestyle have organically changed shall be the way forward at present. A project made up of daily exercises, keep scrolling to see what I wore this past week!

I recently came across an interview of Julie Pelipas about tailored dressing and her thoughts on personal style. Fascinated by how she employs proportions in her very own style with suits (menswear in particular), I was instantly inspired to dig out some old pieces and try to put together a proportionate work outfit. To me, a good blazer feels like “clocking in”, getting me ready and strengthens my look further when shoulder pads are in the game. I found this vintage Joseph Janard blazer many years ago when I was new to the vintage world, and its shoulder pads were once the reason I hesitated to bring it home because nobody of my age was wearing similar clothes! Glad that it survived over multiple rounds of wardrobe clean out and remains as a solid favourite, easy to wear piece throughout these years.

I don’t have a wide selection of shirts, this beige shirt is my partner’s from Muji Men’s bargain. Lately, I tend to wear more men’s shirts over women’s given their boxy silhouette: Drop shoulder but not overly done like a padded shirt; easy and slouchy vibe giving with longer sleeves as compared to just-fit office shirts; wrong buttoned shirt styling (as above) works better oversized etc. Without adding a third colour, this outfit is accentuated by gold tone jewellery and completed with Adidas Samba in beige that falls into the same colour ring. A simple, proportionate winner.

Remember this all grey outfit in the discussion of classic monochromes? I brought this timeless office fashion tint to work with an absence of friction cap in play. Thanks to this autumnal weather, the vintage Courrèges wool cardigan underneath created a double v-layer to sharpen my look and added depth to the monochrome.

Not knowing what to wear that morning, I tried the boxy shirt + suit dress formula again, restyling the same skirt twice in a week by throwing on another pocket shirt with zipper. Placing the game changer on accessories this time, I went for my proud net of afrocentric red to twist up an otherwise clean and minimal The Row look. Now a hymn to personality dressing is happily sung!

Last but not least, when you run out of creative ideas on the last working day of the week, stick to uniform dressing. My go-to is always a blazer + tee + trousers + pointy flats/comfortable trainers (I tend to pick the latter). This outfit seem minimal but devil is in the details: Leopard printed non-basic cropped blazer and fauna silk pleated low crotch suit trousers that shimmers in movements. Common denominator? The noticeable black, of course.

That’s all for the first “What I Wore” edit!

NEXT TIME: I will wear even more black. Let’s see.

Until then,

Chris

Catch up on my previous posts:

A lot of people prefer experiencing fashion in the material realm. They would prefer to feel actual clothes in their hand and body, to be able to smell or even examine the hems and stitches before buying, the better. It might be easy to scroll past H&M and Zara without a second thought, knowing what to expect in terms of quality and quantity if you choose to buy it later. But in a vintage market, the one-of-a-kind item could turn out to be a surprise, both in exceptional quality and exactly what you are looking for. Although I was not able to drum up the enthusiasm to return to buying more clothes at the moment, I do still love a good hunt and the lingering joy of discovering beautiful things. So when an ad from The Classic Car Boot Sale (@classiccarbootsale) appeared on Instagram some weeks ago, I thanked the algorithm for a second as they are finally making their debut show up North and I have already missed their festival twice! 

Except the usual bric-à-brac, antique homeware, vintage vinyls, costume jewellery and vintage clothes, charity shops with specialised vintage collection (e.g. a range of high quality St. Michael’s from RSPCA) and rows of aesthetically displayed pre-1990s vehicles were common sight in this festival.

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As usual, there were items added to my Album of Liking, which is my habit of keeping a photo album of what I like and returning to it during future shopping. It is my useful track record of taste, setting context to purchase and most importantly, picture taken = bought!

WHAT COOL PEOPLE WEAR

Not long ago I went to another vintage market, took pictures of some remarkably dressed people and found that there seem to be an implicit understanding for those attending vintage markets dress in vintage. Perhaps it’s a particular item they carry, a mix of modern and vintage pieces, or head-to-toe vintage — all without the exception of demonstrating strong personal style and character which got me mesmerised. So unlike taking full body photos of them in my previous attempt, I candid shot some eye candies to share with you below:

WHAT I WEAR

Bringing forth my enthusiasm on classic monochrome dressing (navy in particular), I sported some old favourites and purchases as of late to put together this weekend-vintage-shopping-appropriate look. The vintage blazer, which buttons give off Pierre Cardin’s space age fashion vibe, was an unsold piece from WIWF 1.0 and now a member of my heavily repeated go-out wardrobe. In similar texture and colour tone, this pair of suit trousers I owned for over a decade made it a perfect set to look effortless. New favourites? My vintage necklace from last week’s edit and a Longchamp tote bag.

A SHOPPING HAUL (YOU DIDN’T ASK FOR)

CONFESSION: I didn’t buy much. All that I bought are love at first sight to bring home to. Shoutout to this beautiful beaded fringe tassel necklace! Loving its length as a choker, I knew at once this necklace would be my styling staple — with a shirt, a sheer summer top or leave it dangling as a belt — its possibility is beyond measure. The shop owner was also sweet and welcoming that I tried not to buy more from her as I had just started my shopping…

This 1950s Jacoll pre-tied turban (£25) with visible signs of wear was a purchase in 5 minutes. Having a relatively small head and most “one size” hats meant oversized for me, vintage hats are often the ones I go after. (Buying rule: If it fits perfectly, it instantly is considered a possible buy). So of course, my buying rule applies to this turban; I also love how the eclectic print and scarf tassels have uplifted this headpiece from a formal evening hat to a daytime hat. I would definitely get more wear of it until the end of summer!

Brooches are my weak spot, needless to mention when they come in silver and abstract shapes. For months, I have been looking for a statement brooch in art deco style and I was lucky to source this one from Monet without knowing it was Monet owing to its tarnished condition in the market. A marked difference between an average and slightly elevated outfit, the whimsical element to add must be a pin or brooch (Remember this brooch from my travel edit?) My collection of pins and brooches is growing strong and I can tell my appetite is huge. Should I do a separate post about brooches in the coming weeks?

At last, a vintage clip-on bow tie! The least possible item I would thought of adding to my collection of vintage ties. Although I was initially drawn by the display tile underneath and actually removed all bow ties for a closer look, the green tie with mini embroidery remained on my hand, coming home with me after several attempts of fun styling.

That’s all for today!

NEXT TIME: I’ll let you know.

Until then,

Chris

Catch up on my previous posts:

In the fashion panorama, looks are however becoming bold again. From oversized silhouettes for daily wear, dangling bag charms to chunky earrings and exaggerated floral brooches, distinctive dressing inspirations are everywhere. My approach for a realistic wardrobe balancing the above is to wear the monochromatic style underneath a variety of toppings, which includes a pop of colour that creates friction, accessories or shoes with noted awkwardness plus subtle prints or patterns that go within the colour scheme.

Black is always a good colour to kick off.

Some say the key to monochromatic dressing is finding a matching set in the same shade of colour (e.g. #000000 + #000000), if not differing in lightness and darkness so you do not break the head to toe harmony. Matching old favourites from Zara and SLY, my full black outfit looks more intriguing with a headscarf of rich lustre and complementing red accessories. I have always loved a headscarf look because it effortlessly elevates a casual vibe, bringing it depth and punctuates an outfit. To achieve Elizabeth Taylor’s iconic looks in mind, a big scarf is the choice. The bigger, the better. Mine is already the biggest among the collection, thanks to my small head it works just fine.

Close up of what I wore:

If you ask about another thing I like about monochromatic dressing, it must be the magic of looking clean and taking off at least five pounds or more. Monochromatic dressing creates a visually elongated silhouette, providing an illusion of height and a flattering, streamlined appearance which benefits a petite frame like me.

This full ensemble of black has added 10cm to my height in sight!

My hymn to individuality?

Bold accessories with afrocentric touch (Summer edition).

While dressing all white as an Asian may be regarded as breaking the ritual and associated with bad luck in general, my resolution to a pair of subtly printed trousers over plain white pants is more inclined towards the level of details and sophistication it brings. Accentuated with my tinted glasses scored in Kyoto and a bag in vibrant hue, my grandparents should be contented.

Adding a blazer and changing the sandals to loafers, it becomes a meeting IRL appropriate attire during summer:

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For the outfit above, an idea of trying out yellow and blue combination has subconsciously rooted in my mind after watching the 3 mins Despicable Me 4 trailer last week. This isn’t me; not a fan of Minions, not one who tries to speak their Banana Language either… but here I am under the influence and experimented on double denim with a hint of yellow to see how it goes…

Well, it turns out fine, giving off a juxtaposing grandmother vibe with my crochet bandana. To balance the somewhat morning look, I added a bold J.Crew tote bag with a chic element of satin tassel in golden yellow, an echoing shade with the headpiece that clearly accentuates my full look of blue.

Keeping the major elements of the look intact — a white t-shirt, an oversized denim shirt and straight denim pants — while placing my headpiece over the belt hoops for a more interesting accent, this is the simplified coordinate I wore 3x times last week:

Here comes the classic classic. A tint associated with timeless charm, wardrobe versatility and a dash of 90s nostalgia, all-grey outfit is the epitome of refined simplicity and an effortless quality that underpins “quiet luxury” with a sense of sophistication. To bring friction in serious office fashion, a casual Polo Ralph Lauren initial cap and colour blocking Patrick sneakers in navy shade are included not only to tone down the entire look but also to echo a head and toe colour arrangement like the Minion outfit above.

Don’t want to bother? A grey bag, please.

So to say, what should one wear on holiday to the southern part of the UK for the last bit of hot weather at the end of next month? A French girl inspired summer style can never go wrong with a large brim hat and floral beach dress! All in one colour, if you may.

Credits to statement earrings, ear cuffs included, and a mini bag.

Last but not least, today’s finale… a stay-in-library look that is not boring! A treasured 70s shirt I picked online when I was still a newborn in the world of vintage, it reminds me of the piano keyboard in those never ending piano lessons. Good times though. Loving how the shirt is crease free, I tied a knot instead of tucking it in for a more relaxed look showing some skin while moving.

What have you missed? An adorned canvas tote.

This black Uniqlo tote is an everyday favourite for being sturdy and can fill my whole world in, its ordinary design without contrasting straps or monogram as seen on L.L. Bean bag however makes it minimal under the bag charm trend and am not a minimalist myself. My creative take on the bag thus features a 70s scarf and two vintage necklaces which some of you might actually remember seeing them in WIWF 1.0 — finally, it’s their moment to shine!

That’s all for today! Here I’d also like to thank you all for supporting Where I Was From. It is incredible to see how many of you are enjoying my writing and are subscribing every day. I’ll be forever grateful :)

NEXT TIME: Tune in for a vintage carboot sale with cool people and beautiful things.

Until then,

Chris

Catch up on my previous posts:

After a month long of dedicated hard work on my personal end, I am back for the long-awaited balmy summer! Well, I wish. We are having a disappointingly cool summer up north in the UK. There were a few days of heat in June yet it seems such a long time ago when breezy, cloudy and wet weather has returned. One morning the sun shows up and showers in the afternoon, the other day it is a bit of everything: rain, sunshine, hot, cold - whatever. Put it on random and shuffle, then you know you have to learn about the art of dressing for weather, not seasons in this country.

Here is also where the work of closet editing comes in. Last month, I mentioned setting up an official wardrobe with fewer shelves and boxes for better display of clothes (not seen = not worn), and it turned out polarised in terms of fabrics and colours. Coming from a hot and humid city, breathable thin layers unsurprisingly took up half my wardrobe and winter pieces in hand only combat temperature between 10°C - 15°C, the summer weather as of current. Practical warm items are missing. In terms of colour spread, my summer and winter wardrobe are indistinguishable… made up of dominating black pieces and a great ring of neutrals, only a small proportion of primary colours and a mix of prints and patterns that used to get plenty of wear in Hong Kong remains. I am wearing more neutrals than ever. Looking at my new wardrobe, I finally realised after 10 months of moving to a new country that 1) my lifestyle has changed and 2) my style has changed, too.

Some readers might not know because I have not mentioned it before, I was a vintage buyer and stylist with a bricks and mortar shop (same name as this Substack) in Hong Kong. Helping customers to incorporate beautiful old pieces to their contemporary wardrobe in person was the best thing ever — you do not simply exchange enthusiastic conversations with like-minded people, you also get to meet people who goes into your shop without previous experience of buying pre-loved/vintage yet leaving the shop with 1 or 2 newly acquired vintage pieces for they are trying to speak your language.

I always think if dressing is a language, there would be thousands of languages out there, each with its own grammatical rules to generate thousands of aesthetics with its own perceptions about fit, proportions, use of colours and styling. There are many ways to learn a language, but to speak it well with your own accent, you have to practise speaking eloquently within its parameters and develop a personal style, for instance, your gut feeling, likes and creative endeavours.

OUTFITS AS A VINTAGE SHOP OWNER:

Unlike some who try to make modern clothes look vintage, I do it the other way around. Vintage pieces are my inspiration to create contemporary looks without losing my own voice, which you might learn about my replete appetite for afrocentric elements, bold prints and colour employment from the pictures above. I try to make vintage pieces look modern so when you ask if my clothes are from Zara, I would proudly say “Thank you, it’s vintage” or “I got it from my grandmother”.

Ok. Back to 2024.

It’s July, and seasonal deals usually make shopping frivolous. People sort rack to rack to get the best summer clothes home yet you will probably find me tucked away at the back corner of some store, rummaging through stacks of winter clothes that nobody seems to have any interest in while being indecisive whether my pick would be warm enough for the cool weather. That, was the aha moment I noticed my major change in buying only thick clothes for a new lifestyle, followed by a change in personal style to have a wardrobe filled with 70% neutral colours instead of fun-giving shades of rainbow and bold prints that I used to wear a lot. Heavy layers and clothes in basic colours which used to serve as complementing spice and herbs for my collection have now become the main ingredients of my foundation pieces. Now what?

OUTFITS AS OF LATE

[TO WORK]

[TO A DINNER DATE]

[TO A COFFEE CHAT]

[TO THE PARK]

With less quirky colours and prints, my style seems unexpectedly turning towards timelessness and sophistication, which I reckon is part of a long process exploring my new taste and allowing experiments to take place while developing a realistic wardrobe with staples that spark joy in the coming five years (Yes, I favour an imaginary but foreseeable number). Does that mean my appetite for afrocentric elements, bold prints and colour employment is gone? Despite growing interest in learning more about Romeo Gigli, Donna Karan and Geoffrey Beene, I do not see myself loving Pierre Cardin, Mondi and Roberta Di Camerino any less. We evolve and grow, so does our personal style. Answering the difficult existentialist question of “Who am I?" may be a long, painful process that requires a lot of experiments and constant self-reflection, I trust developing a current and visible representation of identity, personality and place in culture is however, my path up the mountain.

NEXT TIME: I am having great fun with monochromatic dressing.

Until then,

Chris

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1. 95% sightseeing, 5% window shopping -> wear comfortable shoes

2. tight preparation time before going out -> basic outfits + more accessories

3. they are going to dress really casual -> opt for neutrals

Mapping out what I should/want to wear, I googled the weather (10 to 20 degrees) and started a list on my Notes app in front of the newly built wardrobe to vividly elicit pieces in mind:

The list is relatively short consisting of mostly basic pieces — solid t-shirts, knitwear, shirt and pants without much prints or patterns to save a professional packing procrastinator from spending extra minutes procrastinating. And right, I brought only a pair of sneakers, no loafers no flats for my good old Tiger should practically serve its purpose of handling 20k steps per day.

One thing I love about a quick trip is the extended opportunity to employ colour focus to simplify everything and minimise the likelihood of packing the wrong ingredients. Opted not to pick bright summer colours, my meekly neutral, dark neutral if you insist, travel wear palette safeguards against any mistakes made given the time constraint of an hour to mix and match pieces over one another. Happily picked the monotone trio of black, grey and white with some pop of patterns, et voila!

Another thing to love about a quick trip is the opportunity to add in new elements to recurrent styling practice. There may be a few ways to style a certain top, yet when the same item is worn a few times, you might leave feeling repetitive. I feel this most of the time when pieces owned since my younger years give out plain Muji vibe in exact correct sizing, lacking the fun of interplaying between texture and proportions, the key players which I learned years after. Some clothes from those eras stayed and moments like such call for a game changer to add dimensions to what I wear, transforming the basics not so basic: Jewellery (stacking).

Fancy some close ups?

#1: DOUBLE NECKLACE + VINTAGE BROOCH

As per usual, brooch is a good friend. Still fascinated by Le Marquis de la Mahieu with his earlier attempt of doubling beads necklace and pinning a vintage brooch, I have my take further on using non-colourful colours to draw attraction to the neck game. Juxtaposing the heaviness of rhinestone filled brooch and contrasting beads necklace, a clear choker was included for extra friction — it worked well!

#2: ABSTRACT RINGS + VINTAGE BRACELETS

If an arm candy guardian angel must be chosen, I would gravitate towards sterling silver over gold or bronze considering its cool tone blending well with light skin. Since collecting brutalist designs, jewellery with geometrical and substantial lines also fall into my search chore looking for the right design with the perfect size.

#3: STATEMENT NECKLACE

Statement necklace, a category that may not be everyone’s cup of tea turns out to be mine without doubt. From 90s punk chokers to dainty chains, my taste in jewellery evolve through exposure to a vast array of pieces while working for my shop. It is a blessing, allowing me not only to source but also to handle and appreciate jewellery spanning over periods, reflecting cultural and societal contexts in the past and bringing new meaning to the present. This faux pearl necklace gifted by another vintage shop owner who used to be a customer meant stories to remember. Far from just decoration, I love traveling with a piece that holds personal significance.

#4: RINGS WITH VARIOUS ELEMENTS

There’s no rules or equations on how to wear rings. Ditch the saying of being '“cohesive” — simply mix all ingredients in one big bowl and see how you feel! The joy and possibilities are endless.

#5: CHUNKY EARRINGS

Again, traveling with accessories made by a dear friend doubles the exhilaration! Last summer I received this pair from Le Looper and immediately came up with several outfits to go with them. It’s a flower, it’s tatting lace and it’s handmade. Irresistible.

Recounting the entire packing experience in 60 minutes is… wild. This probably would not (be allowed to) happen ever, ever. Salient reminder for a packing procrastinator? Carry-on luggage is simply not worth the stress! Check the weather, draw a short list, pack neutrals and stack your jewellery. Happy short travels!

NEXT TIME: Shall we get prepared for summer?

Until then,

Chris

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• ICE: Thin summer layers with keywords e.g. cotton, sheer, short, detachable

• FIRE: Winter dumpling keywords e.g. wool, faux fur, long, layering

Juggling with the words and my transitioning wardrobe, planned outfits of this week is now served:

LOOK 1: IN SEARCH FOR COOKIES & CREAM FRAPPUCCINO

Featuring:

• Vintage faux fur cream top

• Paisley bandana gifted from Mum (Similar from Asos but I like this one better)

• Burberry double waist trousers

• Vintage Chanel bag

• Casetify pearl phone charm

• H&M velvet Mary Janes

• Vintage gem rings and earrings set

This look is inspired by Ava Gardner in the movie Mogambo (1953). More attracted by her than Grace Kelly (ikr), one of her very typical 50s looks caught me in particular: grey cigarette pants paired with a tucked in knitwear top, use of thick belt to emphasise waist line, choose bold colour/printed summer neck scarf and loud jewellery to make sure everybody sees you in it. Oh, the vibrant and elegant 50s!

Recreated the look in my own take to feel modern and clean, I started off with earth tone colours for the main ingredients (top and trousers), replaced the belt-trousers combo with a pair of double waist Burberry scored in 2019, attached a lovely Casetify pearl phone charm to handbag and completed the ensemble with a subtle pop of red and silver matching jewellery set. More often than not, red is the bit of colour I add as stand-out indicators when dressed in neutral palates, offering a pleasurable look when consumed in the correct dosage.

Back to the choice of ICE + FIRE, short sleeves faux fur top did keep me warm and breezy at the same time (sadly it gets almost zero wear when I was in Hong Kong). And for a better colour match with my scarf, chocolate socks were changed to coconut flavour the moment before I stepped out of the house as follows:

LOOK 2: TAKE ME ON A PIZZA DATE

Featuring:

• Vintage trench coat

• Ruffled white tee

• GU denim shirt

• Uniqlo straight denim (now turned skinny)

• Miu Foolishthings clutch

• Leather sandals from Thailand

Yes, it’s the algorithm of spring references that made me unconsciously put together this Londoner spring ensemble: Trench coat, white tee, denim and socks. (Not blaming! It’s classic-classic). Slightly tired of coats and layering but I reckon layering should not be abandoned altogether. ICE + FIRE means being strategic without feeling chilly or overheating, one effective method is to incorporate cotton coat and shirt as outside and middle layer, with a breathable t-shirt inside. Taking the outer off, surely you still look put together with the shirt functioning as standalone jacket.

A year-round staple and perfect candidate for layering, my trusty GU denim shirt, which I have owned for about 6 years, only seems to get better with time. Pairing it with Uniqlo straight (which unfortunately becomes skinny) denim, tone on tone creates a coordinated look that feels like a pure symphony.

Offsetting how a conventional Londoner may dress, I added some artisanal, or Gerda Goosen’s afrocentric accent if you wonder, to help punctuate the coinciding ICE + FIRE play and still feel like me. Maximalist wins, she always wins!

LOOK 3: BROWSING FLOWERS IN GARDEN CENTRE

Featuring:

• Zara knitted top

• Vintage scarf from Grandma

• Military khakis from Natalie

• Vintage belt from Natalie (feat. 80s clip on earring)

• Miu Foolishthings clutch

• Charles & Keith woven flat

The coveted jelly shoes by The Row is getting everyone busy on the official site and resale platforms (red is sadly sold out, electric blue is still up for snatch if that’s your colour). Lucky me, my old pair of Charles & Keith doesn’t look worn out to stage its comeback this season and they look amazing lifting my casual pieces of green.

Speaking of which, said you can't unsee inspiration when it hits and I think she is right. After seeing her style khakis in multiple dimensions, I promptly tried on Natalie’s favourite pair to share the joy even when it apparently is oversized on me. Result? Thanks to my waist and the belt, I LOVE the paper bag effect!!

What also works:

1. Tie a neck scarf around the high collar. Still feel chilly? Shift the piece right inside your collar for instant warmth.

2. Use clip on earrings as an extra belt accessory. It’s fun and intriguing!

LOOK 4: A PROFESSIONAL WINDOW SHOPPER

Featuring:

• Frank Garcon polo shirt

• Uniqlo x Mame Kurogouchi sheer top (Almost bought their entire collection)

• RNC leather box bag (with Peter Rabbit keychain scored in Kyoto)

• GORGOR skirt

• Camper nun shoes

Pulling together all summer pieces creates another ICE & FIRE appropriate outfit. While sheer top may seem extra for polo shirt and round skirt, it covers the skin AND elevates the look without being an overly casual street ensemble. A category I shop and own a lot, it is your second best friend to denim shirt when it comes to layering.

Giving adequate proportion to all black outfit is also key because let’s admit it can be boring boring boring if you are not making the slight effort to style. If proportions come into play, you save time adding accessories and is free to have a nice scone served with matcha latte (don’t ask me why). Being a small frame, I therefore accentuated my shoulder game by little and picked this crispy nylon skirt specialising in creating volume while walking. It feels good window shopping in this way I dress, no?

That’s all for today!

NEXT WEEK: I’m (anxiously) packing for a short trip (again).

Until then,

Chris

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