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.
Pullover & trackpant – Charlie May. Watch – Shinola ‘Runwell’.

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art direction SHINI PARK photography & styling TEAM PARK & CUBE in collaboration with Shinola

I feel like this is one topic that has been discussed numerous times before in passing, but I still wonder whether I am perhaps… a dude? Evidence suggests that I, in fact, may be a 13-year old boy, what with the lack of chesticulars and fondness to playing with matches. But on some days I find myself slouched in the pink couch guzzling down some beer or strawberry cider or another, plotting the car I should decorate my mid-life crisis with and ask myself what AM I? A pastel-purple Jaguar (they’re going to have to mix a heck load of white, red and blue at the garage) is the answer so far, although the thought of a velvet-wrapped Porsche is also pretty enticing – solely for the reason of baffling/pissing off society. Sure, this probably is an age-old depiction of ‘man’, and my feminist assistant Simon, will weep silently in a corner in the office once he reads this (#genderequality, you guys) but hey – you tell me if these evidences say ‘lady’ anywhere.

I’m getting to a point, I promise.

Now, I had not known of Shinola (pronounced ‘shy-no-la’, originating from ‘shoe-shine’) until a few months back, during a routine stalking of fine gentlemen on the intranets (you know, Monday morning thing) I came across the brand’s website. A cursory session of digging of the wonder-emporium of leather goods later, decided it was ALL made for me: The leather footballs, stationery, watches with graphically sound (and when I say sound I mean HANDSOME) faces, and MY GOODNESS the bicycles, expertly assembled and shipped from Detroit, which is where the brand originates from. They boast a strong American heritage, in value and history, and all designs are inspired by the city’s industrial past.

iPad cover, notebook, watch – Shinola.

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Bicycle – Shinola ‘Bixby’

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They boast a strong AMERICAN HERITAGE, in value and history, and all designs are inspired by the city’s industrial past.
LEFT: Top – Muji. Trousers – ASOS. RIGHT: Turtleneck – Lands’End. Trousers – ASOS. Watch – Shinola ‘Runwell’.

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I wanted to be that silently brilliant man that took pride in his profession, who treated his possessions with firm-yet-unobsessive care, and owned a fine watch because his time was currency itself. I wanted to set the boob jokes/box of matches aside, change out of that beer-stained shirt and write stories in beautifully bound stationery; roll my sleeves up and take the bicycle to a neighbourhood uncharted before – Detroit, perhaps.

So, this is what a brand with solid value system does to a consumer: it makes a man out of a boy. Add a dose of expert craftsmanship and healthy influence to a socio-economically struggling city… how many times do I have to say, great stories are infectious?

Here is a digitorial, in efforts to emulate the Shinola ‘man’, a rite of sorts, I suppose.

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I wanted to be that silently brilliant man that took pride in his profession, who treated his possessions with firm-yet-unobsessive care, and owned a fine watch because his TIME was currency itself…

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Bomber – Coach. Top – Dagmar. Backpack – Shinola. Skirt – Charlie May.
Watches – Shinola ‘Runwell’

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Jacket – Filippa K. Utility trousers – ASOS. Shoes – Acne ‘Jensen’. Bicycle – Shinola ‘Bixby’

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art direction SHINI PARK photography & styling TEAM PARK & CUBE in collaboration with Farfetch

From Top to bottom: Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2004), Oliver Twist (2005), Inglorious Basterds (2009)

Cashmere turtleneck
Etro
Scarf
Isabel Marant
Ring
Kelly Wearstler
Runwell 41mm Watch
Shinola
Glasses
Masunaga
‘Fedora’ bag
Chloé
Coat
Harris Wharf London

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What can I say, ‘Please sir, can I have some more’ is my catchphrase and battle cry in any life situation. Most heavily used, of course, when involving cheese fries or Tom Hiddleston videos on Youtube. I’ve always wanted to shoot a story inspired by some of the best-known underdogs of literature and cinema, namely Oliver Twist and Shoshanna Dreyfuss of Inglorious Basterds, not only for their ballsy personalities but the costumes – granted, Shoshanna is only complete with actress Melanie Laurent’s gait and pout. The 1840’s fashion is as rigid as uniform-ridden 1940’s, but the characters wear simplified, improvised versions of trends of the respective eras: layered jackets instead of a Victorian 3-piece suit, or a worker’s shirt with woollen culottes instead of a button-down dress. Alas, here’s my interpretation, with current-season pieces from Farfetch and an ever-so-slightly more ballsy attitude to go with it.
Chelsea boots
Alberto Fasciano
‘Andre’ hat
Maison Michel
Cropped trousers
Y’s
Braces
KTZ

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Watch – Shinola. Wool shirt – Citizens of Humanity. Shirt – ASOS.

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Blazer & Shirt – Charlie May. Skirt – Rochas. Trousers – Filippa K. Shoes – Dear Frances. Shoes – Chloe ‘Fedora’

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ABOVE: Wool shirt – Citizens of Humanity. Trousers – Etro.
LEFT: Coat – Harris Wharf London. Turtleneck – Etro. Trousers – Rodebjer. Bag – Chloé

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Work,
breathe,
play.
Repeat.

If you too, growing up, lived under a hand-painted sign that read Work Hard, Play Hard (possibly pinned near a stack of extra-curricular maths problems and a ragged vocabulary pad, contents of which has magically wiped out over the ensuing years after high school graduation and replaced by ‘bae’ or ‘fleek’) then come in for a hug. I feel you. To be fair, for my mother it was more of an ‘advice’, a friendly guidance, what have you, to self-assess whether I have earned the right for that evening at the bowling club at age 15 and accidentally letting eleven missed calls from the house phone happen. That’s when you shit your pants a little and accept the fact that you will forever suck at doing your own taxes, even as an adult. Because the truth is, that equation doesn’t actually cancel out, not to a tiger mum, to whom Play should be with purpose, like a Sims activity that has a blue progress bar on top of your head, like chess (+1 Logic Skill!).

I had started this blog as an escape from my university work load, working hard on my assignments (albeit all last minute), and playing hard on this blog. For years I’d kept it separate, used an alias that helped distinguish ‘real life’ business with ‘blog’ business, and piped on about having no ads. Then from a certain point it became apparent that more and more emails were being addressed to ‘Shini’, and I was being compensated for my efforts. There was undeniably a blue progress bar above my head, and it was filling up. My point is, when you apply enough ‘Hard’ to the equation, Work becomes Play, and vice versa – all you have to remember is to breathe in the middle, because sometimes it does get tricky.

Someday, perhaps I too can become Mayor of Pleasantview and go to work in a helicopter if I continued to play hard.

Created for
Minions, and I dunno, Aladdin.
Brogues – Chanel. Journal & Journal coverShinola. Necklace – JetSet Candy. Lip Balm – Creme de la Mer.

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I like assorting DESK ESSENTIALS (like this Shinola journal cover) where I can see and access them easily. Sometimes I look up and realise I’m working within a setup that resembles an Instagram flat-lay and chortle at the ridiculousness of this to-the-core blogger lifestyle. I then proceed to organizing the pens and pencils in order of height and colour, and realise it’s perhaps a bigger problem.

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As much as I pipe on about pizza and burritos, there’s nothing better to soothe a congested mind than to immerse into PHYSICAL ACTIVITY, or simply taking the time to listen to your own BREATHING. Again, I recommend the 30-day yoga challenge for those chickenshits like me, who can’t commit to a whole year of gym membership.

iPad holder – Shinola. Dermaclear clay mask – Dr Jart. Bracelets – X Jewellery.

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I say ‘Play’ because most of this ends up down the front of my shirt and I end up smearing paint all over my chesticulars and smearing them on a sketchbook and/or canvas. There may also mysteriously be some Jessica Simpson playing in the background and soap bubbles floating around. PLAYTIME.
Animal Egg cup – Liberty. Leather Pouch & Sketchbook – Shinola. Bracelet – X Jewellery. Watch – Shinola.

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Rose gold-tone headphones
Frends

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Neutral Rose
A handbag staple, right next to the eyeliner. Doubles up as cheek-pinching equivalent of a blush colour – just apply with your fingers like war paint and pretend you totally had breakfast.
Three     Hits Wonder
The classic three that took me through Paris Fashion Week and any other high-intensity moments.
Stainless Steel watch
Shinola
Platform pumps
Kurt Geiger

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Parisian Red
The forever classic, this Red means business. I always like to add a flick of eyeliner, which adds a hint of flirtiness and confuses the husband greatly. Also known as lazy-day colour when you don’t feel like applying makeup on the rest of your face.
Polka-dot skirt
Tibi
Crossbody
Saint Laurent
Hoop earrings
Dinny Hall

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Atomic Orange
Proenza Schouler
Celine
Bucket bag
Gucci
Shimmer brick-compact
Bobbi Brown
Tray
COS x Hay
Enamel Ring
Delfina Delettraz
Pop and pizazz in one bullet, for days when I long for human interaction – it sure is a conversation starter. Add softness to the strength by applying with a blended edge and wear against minimal makeup.

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Blazer – Each x Other. Blouse – Raquel Allegra. Bag – Baraboux
When all you need is a glass of wine and a good book. And polar bear GIFs on the phone:
Bobbi Brown ‘Paris Red’

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White and orange were meant for eachother. Just like ketchup on a new white shirt – magnetic attraction:
Bobbi Brown Atomic Orange
Dress, bag & Shoes – Louis Vuitton. Trousers – Zara. Sunnies – Dior.

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Guaranteed to not look like a corpse today. Win:
Bobbi Brown Neutral Rose

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I feel like a big part of the process of becoming an adult, is the ability to brutally edit down some very broad choices in life to an easily digestible-yet-not-so-round number of three. How many little pigs? Three. Musketeers? Three (not sure if those particular ones are life choices…). How many people in a priest, a minister and a rabbi joke? My point is, three is a catchy number, and that’s the number of takeaways I can find in my past 7-days Deliveroo log, and number of words in one of my favourite phrases: Just get naked. (Or I’m lovin’ it)

I’ve spent most of my 20’s leasing space in the beauty pouch to what would now be collectively a sizeable lipstick assortment, which, if laid side-by-side and compared, would simply divide into three categories: the everyday, classic red, and the pizazz. As shown above. The dark purple gothy glittery number doesn’t even make it into the bag.

So this is a story we shot during PFW, celebrating Bobbi Brown’s new Luxe Lip collection as one of the digital ambassadors, and also an semi-official dubbing of the three colour categories that I’ve nailed down and can now move onto my next ‘three favourites’, in the grand path of becoming an adult.

In collaboration with Bobbi Brown & Shopstyle.

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