essentials: the best summer / travel bags

the effortlessly lovely Liu Wen

every summer, a kind of seasonal minimalism takes over. hot weather has a funny way of inspiring simplification, and i find myself liking everything lighter and unfettered this time of year.

travelogue // April in Japan: Tokyo

my city bag and a view of the Tokyo skyline from Shibuya

essentials: spring travel uniform // sale PSA

at the magical Fushima Inari shrine, Kyoto // 

wearing my spring travel uniform: utility jacket layered over ryan tank and drapey hoodie (also here), black jeans, Nike frees, camera case, and Balenciaga bag.

the big friends & family / best sale ever is now on (INTHEFAMILY14)! (an excellent opportunity to get some of my favorite travel essentials for less.)

 i will do a more detailed post on Japan later, but here some of my favorites:

wardrobe planning: spring travel essentials

via tumblr

my spring wardrobe planning themes of sportif/comfy/simple pretty much apply to packing for Japan. the travel m.o.: bring only tried-and-true favorites that are functional, comfortable, and stylish.

travelogue: spring in Japan

via 

i'm so excited to go to Japan next month (hopefully in time to catch the cherry blossoms!). my bf and i will be mostly splitting our time between Tokyo and Kyoto. dear readers, please share your recommendations for favorite places / good eats / shopping!

P.S.: i'll be doing a post or two on packing for Japan soon. please chime in if you've any travel/sartorial tips as well :)

change of scene

maoming road

i'm going to Shanghai for a year. the last time i was there, i spent a lot of time strolling around and exploring all the small boutiques near Maoming road, Tianzifang and the old French Concession neighborhood. i'm really excited about what i'll discover about the city and its ever-changing spaces this time. there is something unique about every city, and Shanghai can be very intense in the contrasts of its sensory ambience - the smells, the frenetic rhythm of everyday life, the particular din of the rush hour traffic...yet all of this can quickly fade away when you duck into a teahouse or a tiny shop in one of the quieter neighborhoods. in the past, i've often gone in the summer, so i'm also very much looking forward to scoping out the street styles of chic Shanghainese in the fall and winter months.

some more inspiring photos from the excellent blog shanghai style file: