Top from Topshop, trousers and slippers by Zara, and bag by Mansur Gavriel.It’s raining like a woman sobbing at a Japanese crying hotel today, but on Friday we were blessed with beautiful lighting when we shot at EAST Hotel Beijing. I stayed at the EAST in Hong Kong when I went in January, so it was interesting to compare these two sisters. The Beijing edition is younger, has more open space to work, read, and just rewind. Plus it’s smack next door to the 798 Art District which sets the tone for the classy-artsy types staying here. Tall ceilings and little working cubicles make this the perfect environment to catch up on emails and have some Cronuts.

Sidenote: am I the only one who did not know that Cronuts are a cross between donuts and a croissants. Because I totes thought they were a type of nut. Also, I saw Ai Wei Wei and his team working up on the second floor, but was mentally fangirling too hard to think of a functional way to say hi. Next time then.

 

Love Pillowbook top, Stefanel blazer, Nike sweatpants, Nike sneakers.

Every time I’m walking into a hutong, I feel like I’m back playing Pokemon on my Gameboy Color and Ash is walking along those grassy areas and eek! a wild Caterpie appears. Except in a hutong, it’s more likely to be an elderly Beijinger shouting at you for being, well, you.

Anyway. What I’m trying to say is that you always end up finding something magical and unexpected. Even the faint whisks of toxic smog add some charm to these walkways. Yep, I just made pollution #romantic.

These photos were shot by Irene the other day outside her Hutong studio. I’m wearing a dudou top from her label Pillowbook. You can read more about it in the interview I did with her here. Also since I’m not allowed to wear anything but sneakers for the next half year because of my damsel-in-distress of an ankle, I might as well join the sneakerwear bandwagon officially and cop some new stuff. In the meantime, here are my Nike Air Forces, falling apart and all.

Wearing COS top, & Other Stories culottes. Floral image via Tumblr

Beijing’s a little ahead, so it’s already December 31st. I can’t believe this is the last of 2014. What are your plans? I’ll be celebrating it with some of my favorite people in Beijing tonight. Right now, I’m working on compiling a recap post… the last time I made one was back in 2011. Kind of funny how my aspirations and dreams haven’t changed since then. Am I still the same overly-ideallistic kid living in a world furnished by Tumblr? Whatever. Keep dreaming.

Nick and I arrived a bit too late to AOTU Studio‘s Christmas party, so the space was almost devoid of both people and mulled wine *sad emoji*. But we decided to explore and ventured upstairs to where the hairy activities of the collaborative hair salon take place.

Hawt clean minimalism featuring just wood, glass and the lonely cactus here and there. The salon space was elegant, clean and consistent in styling. I loved it. Founder of the studio, Ray Wu, was also there and chatted to us about how the two-week space is not yet finished, and his potential plans for making practical use of the open rooftop space come spring. Rooftop haircut? I’m down for that.

AOTU STUDIO
Beixinqiao Toutiao 67 Beijing