new shoesies gifted from NastyGal. they are aptly named the perfect platform. why? cuz they are just that. height plus that super weightlessness that make walking in them clunk-free. *TIP* buy half a size smaller–these run big!

buy here

i call this look: rebel school boy meets yeti. i bought these shorts last year and they’ve been a staple ever since. i like how they are longer than what i usually wear. i’ve also been playing with the idea of a jacket inside a jacket. much easier said than done, but i think this works. it’s sorta messy but orderly.

so. week one of new years in china. first night, sky is illuminated by fireworks–literally. the streets are deserted. no honking. no hawking. no screaming. just the cackling and booming of pyrotechnics. it’s sorta romantic in a way. me and nic got overly dressed up and went for new years night dinner right across the street. some duck. some veggies. some seafood. and of course beer. oh yum.

second set of resolutions: stay healthy. be more in love. meditate more. start making stuff. read more. blog more.

wearing Zara white shaggy jacket (similar one here), Vintage eBay motorcycle jacket, Romwe Metal Accent Collar blouse (similar one here), Taobao. com shorts, Sam Edelman Zoe Booties, Michael Kors MK5055 Boyfriend watch

i think if i could go back to high school this is exactly what i’d wear under the bleachers while skipping gym class.

1. UNIF Go To Hell Tee 2. Boy. By Band of Outsiders Varsity Jacket 3. Marni Goat Hair Purse 4. Yesstyle distressed ‘boyfriend’ shorts 5. Nixon Time Teller P Watch Matte Black 6. Linda Farrow for the Row 7. Mac Fluid Line In Black Track 8. Revlon Color Stay Eye Liner in Blackest Black 9. Alexander Wang Freja Whip Stitch booties <<SALE!>> 10. YSL lipstick in Black Tulip

this will be my first chinese new year in china and i’m pretty excited to see what it’s gonna be like. nic and i went to the store today to get ‘supplies’. apparently it’s going to be hard to get around town starting sunday. most people will be closed until February, likely visiting family and taking some much deserved time off. as for me, no family this year but i’ll probably be corralled into an expat dinner with friends.

i wonder how many posts i’ve worn these sam edleman boots in. they are still one of my favorite pairs of shoes. ever. so light and sorta indestructible, which says a lot because i neglect almost everything i own. nic asked me today: ‘doesn’t it bother your readers that you always wear the same thing?’ ha. he learns fast that one.

i think i might cut my hair again. it’s starting to creep into that awkward in between length and i don’t think i’ll have the will power to not chop it off. well like maybe a couple inches. ha we’ll see. it’s not good luck to cut your hair after new years, btw. one of many superstitions around new years. joy!

aren’t these jeans awesome? i live in jeans but rarely wear them on my blog because the two pair i wear (of like the 30 or so pairs i own) are raggedy. so…not awesome.

wearing Yesstyle furry coat, Isabel Marant jeans, Sam Edelman Zoe Boots, Michael Kors gold watch (model MK5055)

say hi on facebook + twitter!

i love houndstooth suddenly. especially in this deep dark forest green. i’m also totally in love with the ‘suit’ seen everywhere this fall and spring. this is very prep, but more sarah michelle gellar than reese if you know what i mean…

skirt from romwe.com; jacket from www.taobao.com (they only ship within China)

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this sweater is a little inappropriate for such cold weather but i don’t care! it’s super sexy but i think in a very subtle way. It’s also great layered on top of a tshirt, giving new dimension to the ol’ sweater and tee duo. so sorry for the disappearing act; i’ve been sick. after an amazing (and very gluttonous) visit to France I caught a bad airplane cold. (of course). runny nose. congestion. fatigue. that being said, i’ve still been creeping out at night to see friends etc…likely compounding said symptoms. sigh.

China is a week away from its official new year. it’s supposed to get super crazy in Beijing. firecrackers day in day out. i’m sorta excited to see what it’s like, but my boyfriend warns me it gets tiring fast. people blowing their hands off and red paper and orange peels strewn about town…yep, it’s a constant party here!

wearing Yesstyle Slit Cut sweater, Urban Outfitters Leather Pants (similar pair here), Zara Bias Cut Pumps , gifted faux fur purse, fingerless gloves

goodbye 2011, hello 2012. despite finding the whole reminiscing of yesteryear to be sorta cheesy, I will do exactly that now. just cuz i like hearing my own thoughts….and it is cathartic in a way. 2011 meant cutting my hair off. moving to china. moving out of china. finally moving back to china. for love. now i’m in paris with him walking around a city i haven’t visited since i was 15 and reveling in how strange life is. how awesome it is.

here we go. new year.

wearing romwe sweater; urban outfitter leather pants (similar pair here) ; Zara jacket and shoes; H&M hat (similar one here)

also, Shop La Dama and The Haute Pursuit are offering you a special unlimited 25% discount off the entire store with code HAUTE25

just follow La Dama on Facebook and Twitter to win a chance at getting a silver or gold claw cuff!!!!! Contest ends Dec 26th, 2011

ok! so week one is over in beijing. I have to say that despite the bone-chilling cold, I like Beijing much more in the winter. There are less people on the roads and the city feels a little less polluted. Plus coming from a cold place, i find myself acclimating much easier to this than the the almost 50 degree weather of the summer.

it’s strange how the constant hustle bustle and seemingly endless chaos that was so strange just about six months ago all seems normal to me now. I suppose in a way, i’m finally mentally adjusting to china….at least for the mean time.

wearing HereJ sweater; taobao shorts; sam edelman boots; michael kors watch

i’m heading back to beijing this coming Monday…it’s so weird. 2 months. what seemed originally like eternity has turned into a second. a flicker, really. i’ve just had enough time to go see all my good friends and eat as much fresh food as I can. As much as I’m looking forward to returning, I’m a little weary of the pollution/lack of edible food/language barrier. but alas, if something isn’t challenging, it’s not worth doing, right?

these pants are surprisingly easy to wear. i was going to wear a black leather tshirt originally but then opted for my new slouchy vintage sweater.  it’s also freezing out now (literally) and anything less than a cm of wool is just crazy. I also think i got a little frostbitten when i wore my zara pumps earlier…which unlike the sweater offered no insulation. ha.

wearing vintage mens sweater, versace for H&M pants, Zara shoes, Michael Kors watch