January Passed Me By
Hi friends,
Within a blink of an eye, February arrived seemingly overnight. With it came small signs of spring: tiny purple flower budding on my balcony, slightly sunnier days, and a shift away from the constant freezing weather.
January marks an exceptional time in Paris. It signifies Haute Couture Week and the tradition of eating the “galette des rois” a flaky cake with almond filling and a prize inside. For me, it also signifies the start of Chinese New Year and the beginning of my New Year Resolutions. Even as I write about it, January was a BIG month to start the year with.
The first month of the year also brought a puddle of seasonal depression, a layer of burnout from working through the holidays, and homesickness. I found it hard at first to juggle all the demands that life kept churning out for me but now that I’ve gotten out of my rut, I’m starting to feel more hopeful that this year can live up to my aspirations.
What I Wore:
When the weather begins to drop under 32°F/0°C, I start to prioritize function over style. Therefore, winter dressing means rotating between my assortment of coats. This one was a hand-me-down from a dear friend who moved to Lisbon. Yay! For a truly sustainable style moment.
Now that my hair is longer, I’ve been loving the idea of experimenting with hairpins and other baubles in my hair. These are vintage mother-of-pearl bangles.
When it’s too cold to go outside, the best option is to go somewhere for a tea and enjoy the beauty of historical Parisian hotels. You’ll be overpaying for tea but at least you can enjoy some ambiance.
My friend, Raphael De Lacroix debuted his collection for the first time in NYC. I’m super proud of him and the team. I visited the studio for a few last minute fittings and content curation.
Lately, I’ve been on the hunt for a new everyday bag. Lately nothing has caught my eye except this vintage bag that I found. It was so beautiful but the clasp was weak and as a result, not practical for an everyday bag in Paris.
Sofia Richie’s pre-wedding looks from 2023 has been on my mind for spring inspo looks. I love this dress with pockets and I feel like it’s the perfect dress to start off the season. Note: It’s still too cold in Paris to wear this kind of look outside.
Where I Went:
A true hidden gem for art gallery lovers, Giacometti Institute is small but the perfect little escape for an afternoon. There’s even a small library where one can browse art collections and history over the decades.
The custom lip balm cases by Officine Universelle Buly has been on my wishlist for over a year. I was so excited to splurge a little on myself and my dear friend, Ivana, for her birthday. It was the perfect girly activity to do together and way better than friendship bracelets.
My dear Slovakian friend, Sara, is showing her art at L’Atlas Gallery. Naturally, I was so proud to support her and see her beautiful art in person.
During an evening wandering around the city, I found myself inside Mariane Ibrahim Gallery located near Sotheby's auction house along rue Saint-Honoré.
For a little afternoon teatime, Hotel Alfred Sommier is another hidden gem with a beautiful sweeping staircase and indoor terrace.
What I Ate:
As I am half Japanese, half Chinese, I try to do my best to maintain small traditions from each culture for New Year. On my Japanese side, it’s tradition to eat a mochi for New Year’s Day with a bit of sugar and soy sauce for the perfect salty/sweet taste.
Le Tê is one of my favorite new Asian cafes in Paris serving warm egg cakes with your tea drink of choice.
The sweet brioche with apple preserves at Inform Cafe is one of my new brunch cravings.
With my work routine in full swing, meal prepping is always my go-to. Lately I’ve been making garlic noodles topped with sesame, edamame, and Japanese sausage (not pictured).
For Chinese New Year, I kept things short and sweet. I hosted a small circle of friends for making dumplings together and served miso soup, tea, rice, and pistachio flan for dessert.
As always, thanks so much for taking the time to read my little blog. I always have the intention to be more consistent but with life comes so many ebbs and flows. Creativity is always more like a wave than a evergreen.
Bisous,
Kiana