The Countdown: Barcelona Edition

At one point I was in a long-distance relationship with my boyfriend. For over a year and a half I created a new life here in Hong Kong while JB continued his in San Francisco where I left for an amazing job opportunity. Whenever I mentioned that I was in long-distance relationship, people would say, "Ah, that must be really difficult - most couple I know eventually broke up."

Thanks for the vote of confidence.

I was determined to make this relationship work and in an age where we have email, Skype, Whatsapp, FaceTime (need I go on) I felt there was no excuse why a long distance relationship could not work. Don't get me wrong - there were many moments of weakness but it was not like I had to a mail a letter that would take months to be sent overseas, agonizing the day I would receive one in exchange and fearing my own letter would be lost. Anyways, from this distance was born something called "The Countdown." We would see each other three to four times a year, each time marked with the commencement of a roughly weeklong themed-email exchange to "countdown" the days until we would see each other.

For our first countdown we exchanged pictures we found online that included the number of days left. Simple enough.

For another we shared pictures of things quintessentially Hong Kong from thirteen black sesame dumplings to eight bags of goldfishes that you can see at the Mong Kok Fish Market. Again, the number of things in the photo had to correspond to the number of days left.

We tried to get a bit more creative and did a music-themed countdown, sharing a song that containing the number of days left. It was a great way to discover new music and to listen to a few classic oldies. How can you not love Craig David's 7 days?

Her Playlist

Day 11: Bears - Eleven a.m.
Day 10: The Beautiful Girls - 10:10
Day 9: Sonny Boy Williamson - Nine Below Zero
Day 8: Rufus Wainwright - Dinner at Eight
Day 7: Norah Jones - Seven Years
Day 6: Of Monsters & Men - Six Weeks
Day 5: Asura - Take 5 (ft. Dave Brubeck Quartet)
Day 4: Mary Chapin Carpenter - 4 Tiananmen June 1989
Day 3: Elliott Smith - No Name #3
Day 2: Spice Girls - 2 Become 1
Day 1: Amerie - 1 Thing

His Playlist

Day 11: U2 - 11 O'Clock Tick Tock
Day 10: The Black Keys - Ten Cent Pistol
Day 9: The Temptations - Cloud Nine
Day 8: R.E.M. - Driver 8
Day 7: Craig David - 7 Days
Day 6: The Wallflower - 6th Ave Heartache
Day 5: Luniz - I got 5 on it
Day 4: David Cook - 4 Letter Word
Day 3: Matchbox Twenty - 3am
Day 2: Will Smith - Just the two of us
Day 1: Ne Yo - One in a million

And my personal favorite - a photo a day of the cutest puppies one can find. I desperately want to get a puppy so this was the closest to the real thing without assuming all the responsibilities that come with having an animal. There was a whole lot of "Awwwww!" and “So cute!” going on for this edition.

Now that JB and I are together in Hong Kong there are not that many opportunities to do these countdowns. When I found out that he would be going to Barcelona for a week I jumped at the chance to revive this tradition. I happened to be browsing on an interesting site called Forty Days of Dating and was immediately struck by this visual. "Connect-the-dots" is something I am pretty sure everyone has done once in her/his life - to me it is extremely nostalgic and beautiful in that as you connect each dot you are in essence becoming the artist.

Inspired by this, I created seven connect-the-dot cards for JB to take on his seven-day trip, each with something iconic to Barcelona or Spain. And to ensure that he was not just drinking and partying and did in fact do some sightseeing and cultural activities, he was also asked to identify each image.

Day 7: Sagrada Familia

Day 6: Salvador Dalí

Day 5: Torre Agbar

Day 4: Paella

Day 3: Casa Milà

Day 2: FC Barcelona

Day 1: Casa Batlló

Nails: Happy Valentine's Day

XOXO.

Chanel Macarons

I began this project to answer a simple question: What would Chanel macarons look like? After all, combining this delectable French confection with the iconic French fashion house sounded like a marriage made in heaven. As I began my research, most of the Chanel-inspired macarons I found online incorporated the brand's interlocking C logo or pearls, two elements synonymous with the brand. But I wanted to delve deeper and see what other symbols and motifs could be used. What I did not expect was to be taken on an educational journey into the world of Chanel and its designer Gabrielle “Coco.”

I, like many women around the world, have been an admirer of the brand but could never really articulate why until now. The answer is: Chanel is not just about an iconic handbag or perfume but also about the hypnotizing stories and allure the designer conveyed in all the impeccable things she created.

In the end, eleven jasmine-infused macarons were made, marked with something quintessentially Chanel. Interestingly jasmine is a key ingredient in the Chanel No. 5 perfume. Anyways, I would love to share with you how they turned out and what each represents if you do not know already.

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Now for the educational part.

Interlocking C's

Coco Chanel designed the fashion house's logo in 1925, simply interlocking two opposing C's and as a result birthing one of the world's most recognizable symbols. It is commonly believed that the C's represent the designer's initials, inspired by the geometric shapes created on the stain glass windows in the Chapel of Aubazine convent orphanage where Coco stayed for nearly seven years of her childhood.

Two queens are also noted for using the interlocking C's, which begs the question if Coco was inspired by something other than the convent windows. Queen Claude of France (1499 – 1524), credited to be the first person thought to use the interlocking C's surrounded herself with her emblem. It can be found at her home, the Château Royal de Blois, where the symbol was carved in white. Interesting the C's served as a personal motto of candidior candidis meaning "the fairest of the fair.”

Queen Claude's daughter-in-law Catherine de Medici (1519 – 1589) adopted the symbol soon after her marriage to Henri II. In 2012 a small hairpin owned by the Italian-born Queen of France was discovered that has a striking resemblance to the Chanel logo. Both Catherine and Chanel shared a love for jewelry and had many of their pieces stolen upon their deaths.

It is also said that while visiting one of her friend, Irène Bretz's Château Crémat in Nice, Coco Chanel was inspired by interlocking C's peppered throughout the home.

The last and most romantic interpretation of the Chanel logo is that it symbolizes Coco herself and her lover Boy Capel, an wealthy Englishman who played an integral part in Chanel's life both personally and professionally. He fueled her curiosity in literature and art and financially invested in the beginnings of her business endeavors, including her first boutiques. It is said that the more masculine and simple Chanel Look was inspired by Capel's very own clothing style. The relationship abruptly ended in 1919 when Capel died in a motor accident and Coco created the logo soon after to forever interlock their love.

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The Number Five

Five was Chanel's lucky number - she was known to present her collections on the fifth day of the fifth month to bring her good luck. This somewhat superstitious association with the number started as a child during her days at the orphanage. Everyday she would see circular patterns repeating in the number five along the pathway to the cathedral where she did her daily prayers. The hillsides of the convent where Chanel frequented were covered with cistus flowers, five-petal roses that would later be an ingredient in her No.5 perfume.    

Chanel was also well-versed in the "Golden Ratio of Pythagoras," which after all this reading I am still not completely sure what it is. I gather it is a mathematical formula that compromises of five intersecting lines that form a perfect star and was the architectural basis of historical buildings like the Parthenon as well as the cathedrals and abbeys Chanel was surrounded by.

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No. 5: The Perfume

As the story goes, in 1920 the Russian-French master perfumer Ernest Beaux lined up several glass vials of scents numbered 1-5 and 20-24 for Chanel to sample and she unequivocally chose the fifth one. The perfume was released, of course, on the fifth day of the fifth month in 1922 and was an instant hit and still to this day is the bestselling perfume in the world.

Chanel No.5 was revolutionary for its time, both in scent and bottle. Beaux used 80 notes including the never-before-used aldehydes to create this uniquely modern yet clean scent, contrary to the popular single-flower scents favored by “respectable” women and more heavy animal musk scents favored by the more daring. Likewise, unlike the extremely ornate perfume bottles of the time, Chanel No.5’s bottle was extremely minimalist, believed to be inspired by the rectangular lines of Charvet toiletry bottles and possibly even Place Vendôme as you can see below. The later theory I find completely ingenious!

“What do I wear to bed? Why, Chanel No.5, of course.”

— Marilyn Monroe

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Four-Leaf Clover

Chanel loved to surround herself with lucky charms, her favorite being the four-leaf clover both rare and symmetrical in design. Each leaf represents faith, hope, love and luck. It is very rare that you see a four-leaf clover as most only have three leaves. I know this very well as I remember combing through a field for hours as a child while my brothers played tag. I was indeed lucky and found one, still pressed into an old book. But I digress.

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Leo

Chanel once said, “August 19th is my birthday. I was born under the sign of Leo. I am a Leo and, like a lion, I use my claws to prevent people from doing me harm, but, believe me, I suffer more from scratching than from being scratched.” Chanel saw herself in these lions – strong, wise and filled with justice. As a result, she surrounded herself with models of lions in her apartment at 31 rue Cambon and wove them into many of her jewelry and clothing pieces. Even after her death, she is protected by five lion heads that overlook her burial grounds, as you can see in the below.

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Constellations and Shooting Stars

Chanel not only loved her horoscope sign but anything related to constellations and stars and wanted to cover women in them. So deep was her affinity for the evening lights that Chanel's first jewelry collection in 1932 was inspired by them. She created beautiful pieces that featured the Leo constellation, starbursts and comets that symbolize dreams of happiness and freedom and wishes coming true.

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Tweed Jacket

In 1954 the prevailing fashion was flamboyant and over the top. Chanel, sensing the changing times, created a men’s-inspired jacket that singlehanded changed the course of fashion. The jacket was shocking minimalist and nonchalant but more importantly easy for women to move in with its straight, non-restricting lines. Made of tweed, the jacket had four matching pockets with buttons stamped with Chanel’s iconic logo and lined at the based with a thin chain to ensure that the jacket laid perfectly. A revolutionary success, the Chanel tweed jacket continues to be reinvented and admired today.

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The 2.55 Bag

The 2.55 bag is one of the most iconic and desirable bags in the world. I would like to call it the holy grail of handbags. It is named after the month and year it was launched - February 1955 and was the first hands-free bag that was meant to be functional yet extremely stylish. The strap, inspired by the chain waist belt that the caretakers at Chanel’s orphanage would hang their keys on, was easily adjustable. Again Chanel pulled from her days at the orphanage - her childhood uniform color inspired the burgundy lining. The bag had multiple pockets, a secret compartment where Chanel supposedly hid her love letters and another back pocket where extra money was kept. The original bag was made out of jersey fabric and had a rectangular-style lock but today many different interpretations of the bag continue to swoon Chanel lovers’ hearts including me.

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Camellia

The camellia was Chanel's favorite flower, loved for its pure simplicity and symmetrically perfect shape. The white bloom, the symbol of eternal youth in Japanese tradition, was a strong and hearty flower, just like Chanel herself. Similarly, the camellia was reflective of the work that Chanel was creating, a bit understated and demure yet extremely beautiful and complex. It is a favorite motif among ladies who love all things feminine. 

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Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld, with his iconic white hair, black sunglasses and striking black and white outfits, is the creative force behind the House of Chanel. When Lagerfeld joined in 1983, at which point Coco Chanel had passed for over ten years, the brand was a weak force in the fashion world with its primary sales coming from its Chanel No.5 perfume. Lagerfeld took to the Chanel archives, reintroducing classic brand motifs mentioned throughout this page but reinterpreted for the modern times. At 80 years young, Lagerfeld, who amazingly does not have a cellphone, still births works of art that solidify Chanel as one of the most desirable brands in the world.

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Pearls

And last but not least the perfectly round pearl. Pearls, elegant and illuminous, were a favorite of Chanel. It is said she first fell in love with them after seeing the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna and the works of Renaissance painters. She was captivated by the natural gem’s opulent glowing color and was famously known for wearing multiple strands of pearls, a look that is still seen on today’s favorite celebrities. Rihanna's look below is just breathtaking.

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Well, there you have it. After all that research, drawing and writing, I think it is time for me to enjoy some macarons. You should definitely do the same.

Nails: What does the fox say?

That he loves my nails. And I definitely do as well.

Tea Forté for J.Crew

I have a little bit of a girl crush on Jenna Lyons, the creative genius behind the American brand J.Crew. I first was captivated by her personal story of growing up as an awkward kid with a severe skin condition and then climbing the ladders at J.Crew, where now she basically oversees everything. And how can you NOT love her signature mix-and-match style?

“I’m not one of the cool kids, and that is totally fine.”

— Jenna Lyons

Luckily my bank account is not completely depleted because it is a bit harder to get my hands on a cashmere cardigan or a pair of 3" chino shorts here in Hong Kong. So I always make it a point to ship a mountain of goodies (of course using my 40% off promo code) to my parents' house in San Francisco where I usually go back to twice a year.

"Are you really here to visit us or to pick up your clothes?" my mom will ask when I visit.

Anyways, ENOUGH drooling. The catalyst for this design project was what Jenna once said when asked why J.Crew carries non-J.Crew brands in its stores:

"It goes back to editing, and also appreciation of quality. The Red Wing boot—they do it well, they do it in America. Why try and re-create it? Some things are amazing the way they are. Alden shoes, Sperry Top-Siders. We love that you’re buying our Ludlow suit, but we want you to have the option of the best possible shoe out there. They come with tons of history and brand integrity that we might not be able to offer in shoes."

It's so true. As the old saying goes, don't reinvent the wheel. I think it's absolutely wonderful that J.Crew as well as other retailers including H&M, Target, and Gap are collaborating with brands and designers giving costumers the unique opportunity to discover new products and/or own one-of-a-kind pieces that merge the personalities of J.Crew and whatever brand it is partnering with.

The Cambridge Satchel Co.

Lulu Frost

Corgi

The Laundress New York

"Shiny Ponies"

Then I saw this this video that J.Crew put out in early 2013 showcasing its Italian-made shoe collection. I was left with two conclusions:

1. I should not feel guilty for having far too many pairs shoes, a few that I also still have not worn.

2. I have the perfect but an unexpected collaboration idea that would showcase these colorful heels in a 'drinkable' way.

The Idea:
What about a Tea Forté x J.Crew crossover?!

In case you do not know, Tea Forté is an American tea company that was founded by American product designer Peter Hewitt. The company's mission, with its beautifully designed tall, square pyramid infusers, is to "elevate a cup of tea into an extraordinary experience for all of your senses." So when I was having myself a cup of this tea, it dawned on me that a Tea Forté drinker could definitely own a pair of J.Crew heels. This woman would appreciate the finer things in life and would take the time to have a cup of tea in her prettiest tea cup, accompanied by maybe a warm scone slathered with strawberry jam and clotted cream and would not mind spending a bit extra for a finely crafted pump from Italy. Have a beverage brand crossover may seem like a bit of a stretch but the idea was begging to be designed.

So I painfully narrowed down to five of my favorite pairs of shoes from the collection and worked away to what you see below. I will have to say the final outcome is quite charming and perhaps too adorable to drink.

Too adorable to drink!