efficient dressing

Dressing up can be a distraction. This is why I wilted my closet down to the basics. By getting rid of cheaply-made and ill-fitting things, I am able to ensure that whatever piece I pull out will look decent on me. It saves me time and saves me from heartache.

The older I get, the more I appreciate structured pieces that fit well and retain their shape over time. And so in 2012, I spent most of my lunch hours Googling everything there is to know about the iconic jackets and cardigans from Chanel.  After looking at endless tweeds, bouclés, and delicious buttons that look like jewelry, I finally took the plunge. Here, ladies and gents, is the jacket I will wear forever, provided I stay in this size:



It is perfection. Because it's unlined and lighter than the usual tailored jackets, it is suitable for this tropical weather. The miracle of good tailoring means it elongates the arms, narrows the torso, and lifts the shoulders. Best of all, it is timeless. Eternally chic. Forever relevant. It might even outlive me. 

This was my only clothing purchase in the last 6 months. Hard to believe, but true. I buy much less now that I know what works for my body. I've been getting by on classic dresses, a stack of cashmere sweaters, several dark and lean jeans, several good bags, and a pile of ballet flats. Oh, and of course I have my usual box of ratty shirts for traveling. I am starting to add tailored jackets to this short list. My beloved Valentino needs to be tailored down, as I have lost weight since I bought it (which was at least 4 years ago). I am eying a black Balenciaga tuxedo jacket and waiting for designer discounts, but haven't decided on my next purchase. Maybe next year?

long time coming

It's been years since i added anything to my minimal closet.  Last week, I finally pulled the trigger.

A grueling climb up a mountain and a cycling adventure around Laos finally killed my beloved 5-year-old Prada travel hobo bag.It has been to over 20 cities, through the worst summers and freezing temperatures. I have always used it to carry travel documents, hotel vouchers, emergency food, and other odds and ends through some of the world's most glamorous airports and nondescript borders. It carried my water, book, cardigan, and my money while I caught trains, rode bikes, and walked around places where I knew no one. But the interior lining is now ripped, and the front pocket is dotted by mysterious permanent stains. I have also outgrown it, as I now carry a slightly bigger netbook when I travel.

(And so, my beloved, I lay you to rest. I will wash and keep you in your dust bag until I figure out how to recycle you. Perhaps you will be reincarnated as an organizer - you know, for my undies and my moisturizer.)

The replacement is predictable - another Prada body bag, of course. I got a black one this time, to hide stains. It seems boring, I know, but I don't pay for whimsy. To me, this is good design - straightforward, functional, nothing unnecessary. The luxury is in the details - the polished steel hardware, the leather trims and zipper pulls, the very small enameled logo and logo lining, and the lightweight and hardwearing Vela fabric.

It is officially a camera bag, but I have other plans for all its pockets. The main compartment fits the netbook and all essential chargers, and the outside pocket can hold a snickers bar and boarding passes. 

We haven't been on a trip yet, but I already love it.

things to wear forever

Going minimalist requires a lot of confidence because yo can no longer use material things to make you feel good.

That said, fine things are still necessary. Reconciling simplicity with luxury is essential to living well.

For example, I am very particular with my choice of fabrics, even though my closet is the size of a small box.

My minimalist wardrobe says CASHMERE and SILK.

Two little black dresses.


Here are some of my cashmere sweaters. Warm enough for fall, cool enough for spring and air conditioned rooms.


Two basic coats - a dressy red city coat, and an outdoorsy black winter coat.

I've had most of these clothes for years, and I'm quite confident they will outlast trends.

They just HAPPEN to have labels like Prada, Chanel, and Valentino, because sadly, good quality clothing often means designer (though not all the time). I didn't pay retail for any of them. Some I got for even less than the price of a substandard trench coat.

I realize they look like boring staples, but to me, they're easy style. They don't need ironing and they fit in my little travel bag.

Now, if i can only stay this size until I'm old, I may never need to buy clothes again.

shiny new thing

Raincoats fascinate me. I always expect rain.

This what happens when you've had the life I've had. You end up in Cannes, carrying a raincoat in the middle of spring. True enough, it drizzles.

Some say it's paranoia, but I call it preparedness. Hey, at least I'm not soaking wet.




Anyway, so this was me in the South of France, in an orange kid-size raincoat that was still a little too loose. I got it from a bookstore, of all places.



And this was me up in a mountain almost 3,000 meters above sea level, looking like I was dealing with radioactive chemicals. I got this ugly pair of plastic coat + pants from the store where the motorcycle people get their gear. It worked, but by the time I got down from the summit, both the pants and coat already had big rips. What did I expect for P200?

Naturally, I needed a more fashionable and sturdier alternative.

I might as well be stylishly prepared.







I found this coat on sale from the local Italian warehouse where I get all my goodies. This is from LiuJo, and was about $150 but marked down to $30. I had to have it. (I never pay retail).




It's shiny and made with "crystalized Swarovsky elements."



And it's structured like a regular trench coat down to the details (belt, buttons) except that it's completely waterproof. It's not just "repellent," but "proof." It also folds down to fit into the small body bag where I put all my travel documents, but it's not quite as compact as my previous cheaper raincoats.

I got it one size bigger, in anticipation of layering it over a thick coat should I travel in the fall.

My next trip is in 6 months. I wonder if it will rain.

packing for mt. pulag

In 18 days, we're climbing and camping in one of the most challenging mountains in the Philippines - the cold and wet Mt. Pulag. Time to pack.

I'm sure I'm forgetting something.

FOOD - These are ready to eat meals rationed to the US military, which the boyfriend bought from his airsoft buddies. We took out some items (mostly cakes) to make them lighter. Packages come with instant food/beverage heaters - that greenish plastic bag you see.





CLOTHING - Extreme weather layering essentials:

Columbia Kaleidaslope Omni-heat insulated jacket, for the cold




Moisture-wicking shirt and arm warmers for the day hike





The niftiest waterproof Stefanel hiking pants / shorts combo:






Raincoat, wool socks




My 5-year-old, Paris-tested wool inner layer from Terranova, more wool socks for the night




Thermal tops and leggings for layering, all Europe-tested, from Marks & Spencer





Trail running shoes from New Balance



CAMPING GEAR -

Sleeping bag for colder weather




Tent (for sharing with MSP)





TOILETRIES -

Disposable emergency urinal, baby wipes, razor (you never know when you'll need the blade!), meds for diarrhea, fever, etc., the usual toiletries






I still don't have:
1. a headlamp
2. plastic bag for trash
3. tissue - lots of kitchen tissue (in place of towels)
4. maybe extra shoes (my old Nike), in case it rains so hard and my trail shoes don't dry up?

This is so unglamorous and exciting at the same time.

the chicest hiking backpack in the world

Dear Prada backpack,

You will make my treks much more fashionable.




Too bad you're not available in Greenbelt 4.

And even if you were, I doubt that I would fork over RETAIL PRICE to have you. So let me wait for you in the Prada outlet store in HK next year, okay? It's where I got all your sisters at 40% off.

Love,
Mussolini

dresses

I thought I would celebrate by trying on random clothes. Running has toned me down to a size 2, which means I can shop in designer sample sales :)

Forgive the camwhoring. I am turning 30 in a few months, and these dresses may never again be age-appropriate. I just wanted to immortalize them here.

the turquoise prada

Three years before Pantone named "turquoise" the color of the year, I bought a Prada Crispy Nylon - Turchese. I have been using it almost every day since. People hardly see me without it.

I got the bag from the Prada-owned and operated "Space" in South Horizons in Hong Kong, where off-season Prada items are marked down. "Space" also has several branches in Italy and other major fashion capitals. It's like an insider secret. The stores are hard to find.

This was the bag's first "unveiling" from its big Prada box, which I first opened (very excitedly) in the suite in The Royal Plaza (which, by the way, is the room that inspired the condo). My heart was leaping out of my chest as I removed all the acid free paper that protected it. Finally:



I quickly took it out for a spin, but NOT JUST around Hong Kong. I whisked it right away to Macau, no less. Here it was on the ferry from Kowloon:



This Prada has since traveled with me to everywhere.

• It was with me in the Petronas Tower in Malaysia.
• In Paris, I lugged it around the Louvre and other touristy places. It sat with me in cafes and bookstores.
  
• It watched the waves of the Meditteranean coast in the South of France, and then went on a road trip to Monaco.
• It saw a bullfight in Madrid.
• I clutched it while tipsy in Barcelona.
• Heck, it even suffered with me during the dreaded train delay in Montpellier, near the Spanish border.
• Etc, etc, etc.
  

This sturdy bag is easy to clean and easy to use. Unlike other designer bags, it does not need too much pampering. It has survived confusing Asian airports and the even more confusing Eurail / has flown economy and business class / has stayed in affordable bed and breakfasts and in 5-star suites. It's so easy to take everywhere.

Some of the Prada's details:



The tags, handles, and the strap are actually LEATHER. They don't seem like they are (because they are shiny), but they are patent leather.

The markings are brass, and the links are very sturdy.



Three years ago, a few people (with poor taste and ugly Louis Vuittons) told me that my Prada's color was too loud. But now, these pathetic trend followers all want my bag because turquoise is the color of the year. Pantone describes the color as "an inviting, luminous hue, combining the serene qualities of blue and the invigorating aspects of green, evoking thoughts of soothing, tropical waters and a languorous, effective escape from the everyday troubles of the world."

What can I say?

I always had taste.

i know i shouldn't have.....

....but it's 100% cashmere, and it was on sale (practially given away). I'm allowed some indulgences.

Okay. Back to simple living.