I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.

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creative direction SHINI PARK photography assistance SIMON SCHMIDT in collaboration with ZALANDO
Dress – POLO by Ralph Lauren. Bustier – Fenty PUMA by Rihanna. Bag – Louis Vuitton.

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top FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA skirt GLAMOROUS

True story: In August we shot a story for a one-pager print feature (coming to newsstands near you come October – more on that later), which involved a few extra bodies in the studio than usual. You know, stylist, hair & makeup, light people, sandwich people, champagne and massage people…etc, the whole jazz. Halfway through look two, the theme of the shoot was determined: COULD WE TRY AGAIN THIS TIME WITH SHINI’S DAMN LEGS CLOSED, because apparently this harlot kept posing with her legs wide open like it’s peace sign.

Glasses – Ferragamo. Dress – Lavish Alice.

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right: FENTY PUMA BY RIHANNA skirt GLAMOROUS boots J.W.ANDERSON

But here’s the dealio kids: posing like a d-bag, or Mrs Duke Nukem, makes one feel powerful, confident, brave even. Zalando, you asked me – how does fashion help be who I want me to be? Uncross your legs and look straight in the lens – send that glare down the barrel, let it parkour up the internal mirrors and poke the cameraman’s eyes while growling I’VE GOT BALLS OF STEEL. This will genuinely help getting past any insecurities, trust me. You’ll be able to wear anything and feel confident in anywhere. Like Fenty in a ballroom in South of France. Or don’t fit in. Alas, imperfections make the best charm.

No ragrets.

Top – 3.1 Phillip Lim. Trousers – Just Female. Heels – Bally.

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I kid, but sometimes with all the various modes of transport I consider daily just to get from A to B within London it does feel like what a threesome might feel like: EXHAUSTING. (Or not? Tell me in the comments) (OMG PLEASE BE DESCRIPTIVE)

I don’t tend to write much about apps, not because I pride in some strict editorial integrity (heck I’ll write about adult diapers if it’s awesome), but this time I’ve quite genuinely stopped using all other taxi apps and moved onto Karhoo. So this post, effectively, is me saving myself from a week-or-so of embarrassing fan-nerding on Twitter, like I did when Deliveroo was on the rise. It’s everything you thought you need in a cab comparison app in one – pre-booking, real-time car tracking, post-trip rating, service levels, and choice from multiple cab companies – they even list taxi numbers in cities they haven’t yet launched in. Here’s three ways I use and abuse.

creative direction SHINI PARK photography TEAM PARK & CUBE produced for Karhoo

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Evening
Meetings
Travel

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One of the last operational postcard London services since red phone boxes became entrances to The Ministry of Magic

I may have lamented a few times before, how I – despite having eyeballs – decided it was clever to jump into a black cab in grid-lock traffic, but aside from this genius making genius decisions – it still stands that London Black Taxis is the best choice when it comes to whizzing around within Central London for meetings. If not for the fact that you’re jumping into postcard London, then the thrill of cackling at others while you race through on the bus lane. Karhoo just modernises the whole experience really: summoning, tracking, quick automatic payments…

PENNETHORNES | Somerset House, Strand, London WC2R 1LA

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Evening
Meetings
Travel
Top – POLO Ralph Lauren. Culottes – Zara. Suitcase – Globe Trotter. Bag – J&M Davidson.

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Isn’t it all about survival of the fittest, at the end of the day?

Contrary to popular belief, the London Underground is an asshole when you have a suitcase and a plane/train to catch. Especially in the morning and after-work hours, and even more so if you have to change at Bank Station. For some years I’ve been counting the taxi fare to the airport/station as part of the general travel budget and relishing the fact that I did not die of stress on the cusp of reaching paradise-on-earth or somewhere beachy at least. And FINALLY I can pre-book with Karhoo and avoid the poop-in-pants situation I normally get into after forgetting to book a car for stupid-o’clock, yay.

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Evening
Meetings
Travel

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Alfred, call me a Karhoo

Since we don’t live in Gossip Girl world and nobody really owns a limo, this is the closest I believe I can get to hitching meself a Chuck Bass. The exec level has been my friend in times of 1) presentable arrivals at events (friend’s kid’s birthdays count, right?) and 2) extreme tipsiness when you suddenly feel like you can afford a swanky ride because you just found £5 in your clutch from the last time you were out.

TOWN HALL HOTEL CORNER ROOM | Patriot Square, London E2 9NF

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Dress – Kalita. Heels – Gianvito Rossi. Belt. Stella McCartney

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The Setting

this is a photo Diary(ish) of a twenty-something year-old taking on seven days in new york city for fashion week, one hot minute a time. watch as she steps into a puddle of trash juice and denies the whole thing happened, then does a marylin monroe over subway fart in front of a gaggle of construction workers. it’s ok, she is proud about it all.

I can never go back, can i.

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art direction SHINI PARK photography & styling TEAM PARK & CUBE supported by THE APARTMENT, in collaboration with KURT GEIGER
00:10
Checked into an AirBnb in SoHo and got lost everytime I went out to get milk.
Dress – 2nd DAY. Skirt – ASOS (similar). Hat & Bag – Kurt Geiger. Watch – Larsson & Jennings. Bracelet – X Jewellery.

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00:20
…so much that once I took a cab back from two blocks away.

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As usual, the effect of New York to this European-to-the-core is that of whiplash, whatever medal I mentally award myself for packing semi-appropriately for the weather (contrary to the numerous occasions in the past in which I had completely missed the memo about either blood-stopping cold or biohazard heat). The minute you get in that Uber at JFK, it’s Keep your hands in at all times, and better secure those sunglasses because they will fly off on the next loop. If a New York minute is to Johnny Carson, the interval between a Manhattan traffic light turning green and the guy behind you honking his horn, to me it’s that (ever so slightly dejecting) micro-moment when the tax gets added onto a bill. One minute you have the exact change, the next minute you’re splitting your $100 note and getting a Robin Hood sack of change in coins. My point is, seven days in New York is but a blink of an eye, and at the end of it all, you’re just in sheer amazement of how much you managed to take in such beautiful grandness, smelly, screaming awesomeness, in that split second of a minute. Well here’s me trying to explain in photos.

And of course, it’s just too bad a London Minute is essentially the customer ahead of me in the Royal Mail Post Office checkout line, which means I’m looking forward to being in New York again in about TWO BILLION YEARS.

Bag – Kurt Geiger

#SPARKYxNY

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#SPARKYxNY
Cotton shirt
Boden
Contrast boots
Kurt Geiger
Messenger Bag
Coach
Navy Bandana
ASOS
Mineral UV Shield
Omorovicza
V-Rings Pack
Claire’s
Denim Culottes
Topshop
BOND Stilettos
Kurt Geiger
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Dress – Coach. Culottes – Finders Keepers. Bag – Coach. Boots – Kurt Geiger. Watch – Larsson & Jennings. Bracelet – X Jewellery.

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New York Fashion Week
Lest we (or I) forget the fact that we are in town for work
Streets of London bracelet
Park & Cube for X Jewellery
Knit top
Carven
Tailored trousers
Filippa K
D Earrings
ASOS
Wool wrap-skirt
Jacquemus
Tortoise Sunglasses
Kurt Geiger
CM Silver
Larsson & Jennings
Sparkling probiotic drink
Kevita
A little bit obsessed with layering a wrap-skirt over similar-coloured trousers these days!

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00:30
Fell back in love with dresses at Zimmerman SS16

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…and fell in love with multiple beautiful models at POLO Ralph Lauren

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Speaking of falling, the models kept falling over at Opening Ceremony. On purpose, it turns out, and to one sick beat.

#SPARKYxNY

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00:40
The Apartment as a base between the hustle and bustle…
Brigadier Skirt
Boden
Rings
Astrid & Miyu
Belt
Boden
Platform heels
Kurt Geiger
Sunglasses
Gentlemonster
Sometimes I look back and think, how did I even handle life during the Fashion weeks without the haven that is the Apartment. Now, I haven’t explained much why I spend so much time at the Apartment, but it’s basically my second home away from my Airbnb home during Fashion Week, and voluntary self-spoil-station with manicures, plush sofas, food… Particularly loved gathering some of my favourite people during NYFW with the help of Boden for brunch this season.

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Pouch
Kurt Geiger
Black Bond bracelet
Park & Cube for X Jewellery

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#SPARKYxNY
Shoes – Kurt Geiger. Trousers – Filippa K. Top – Carven.

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00:50
…and of course, stuffed my trap every moment of the way.

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01:00
In the end, seven days in the city of dreams dashed by like a single New York minute
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