GIRLCRUSH // Sophia Chang from Queens, NY

 By Jeremiah Wilson for Hypebeast

When I first heard about Sophia Chang, I had to immediately talk to K from Off Color and was like: Oh my! New Girlcrush! I'm so into her! Why? Her appearance and her style, I love the fact that she's sporty and super feminine at the same time! Oh and the most important part: she's real! Also, her work, her thoughts, and yes even her bun! I was amazed by the young illustrator and designer from Queens. She just had a major collaboration with PUMA and designed the series 'Brooklynite', in which she incorporated her New York inspired illustrations. This creative mind is not only active in the arts & design field, but also in sports such as running and aerial yoga/pilates, which I would love to try out myself, too! 

Her interview on Hypebeast really motivated me to also take some time off from school and explore myself and embrace new projects.. Well, time will tell, but her words really stuck in my mind:  

Struggle, fail, try, make attempts, succeed (maybe) and see how far I can take myself.

Read the full interview here.

She is also part of Undo Ordinary, a magazine where sweat meets culture. I will definitely get a copy of that because it sounds like my perfect bible, style meets culture meets fitness.

 Follow the Bun Queen on Instagram.

@esymai

NYC #6 // Express Yourself in Central Park

H&M Basic Top // ThuThu Shorts

Fleamarket Handbag & Sandals // Bracelet from an ArtFair

One thing I love about New York is that it does not matter at all how you look or dress like. The more time I am spending here, I feel the need to experiment more with my wardrobe and try out new things. Although the outfit I chose for the last hot weekend in NY is not 'new' in the sense that I never worn it before but new in a sense that it is not black, more colorful and just different. These ThuThu Shorts I bought a year ago turned out to be one of my favorite summer pieces. I love how the shorts confuses people and they might think: what is this, skirt or pants? :) I also love the traditional Vietnamese Sapa Pattern as Pocket Details. You should definitely check out ThuThu and her unique creations.

A beautiful smile is worth so much! Thank you :)

Strolling through Central Park that afternoon, we discovered the wonderful singer Bekhari from New York, who was in a middle of a shooting herself. We loved the golden details and her shoes!

Later on, we met the two Denim Ladies Shonelle and Cherish, both dancers from New York and the Netherlands. The Denim trend is stucking with us and won't leave anytime soon as I still see Denim-on-Denim Combos around the city. We really liked Cherish's Jumpsuit and Bomber Jacket, also the perfect mix with the Air Jordans!

 Of course, we had to take a Group Selfie :)

It's New York,

celebrate yourself! ;) 

NYC #5 // The High Line / Dumplings / Brooklyn Bridge

I have to say that I am pretty glad that one of my dear friends from Germany is staying her whole summer semester break here in the U.S.! Every week, we can set up one day for ourselves and the best thing about it is that I can show her MY New York, how I remembered it, which places I loved and explore new spots together.

The first place I wanted to show her was the High Line. It's pretty crowded and packed because now, it appears in any travel guide as the #1 attraction in NY. Additionally, they finished up the beginning of the line, which wasn't there two years ago (see that post here). I think everyone loves strolling around here and it's a good spot to sit down and have lunch. I love the architecture and art surrounding this transformed subway line. But have a look yourself ;-)

That day, I also showed her around Little Italy and Chinatown and she was amazed about how diverse New York is, but clearly, NY is not America. It's a huge city with tons of different cultures clashing together, which makes it so exciting and beautiful. Any corner of New York is worth seeing and I am very much looking forward to the not-so-touristy places. 

When it comes to food and eating out, I always like to check out Serious Eats, a seriously good food blog about where to eat in big cities. Following their recommendation, we visited Shanghai Café Deluxe for lunch and dinner at once, yes, we didn't eat much that day, so we were starving when we went to that place. Not knowing about the size of their dishes, we ordered 2 entrées and the famous dumplings (vegetarian of course). It was a lot of food, but it was really good! I would definitely come here again for their dumplings, but as you know me, I like to try out new things ;)

By the end of the day, we decided to walk from Chinatown to the Brooklyn Bridge Park because I haven't been there yet this year. It's nice to go to places you've been in the past and then remember the good old days :) (see how we celebrated Kate's birthday here). As my American friends would say, walking through the city is a good way of exercise! Let's burn some calories ;)

Mindful Monday: Shopping Madness

NYC #4 // "Money looks better in the bank..

..than on your feet", that is what Sophia Amoruso, founder of Nasty Gal and author of the NY Times Bestseller #Girlboss recommends us. As soon as you get out of the airplane and land in the heart of Manhattan, you see shining lights with photo-shopped ads everywhere. Anytime, you will find sales going on: Buy one, get one 50% off. Buy 4 for 25$. Buy two and you get the 3rd one free. It's crazy! People are running around with huge shopping bags as if spending money would be their biggest hobby. 

Of course, I am tempted, too. There are so many stores you won't find in Germany and designer brands, where you just want to dive in and all the consignment stores and flea markets. Oh my! It's shopping heaven for any fashionista! What shall I do? Buy or not buy, that's the question... I know these are first-world problems, but Mindful Monday is there to reflect and rethink my actions. Before coming here, I already made myself a shopping list and only wanted to buy specific things. Now this list has reached its edge and I don't know what to do. Did my 6 Month-Shopping-Challenge teach me something? 

Yes, it did. Every single day here, I tell myself: Try to keep your money together, save it, you will need it. Only shop what you love, not because something is cheap! Be selective and live within your means. Think first. So, at the end, I didn't get these nice pair of Nike Wedges. Amoruso is right, I do like my money on my bank account better than on my feet.

NYC #3 // Skate and Art Saturday

Last Saturday was my very first day skating in and around Brooklyn and you cannot imagine, I loved loved loved it!! Being back on my board was tremendously relieving! I am so glad that one of my friends from Germany brought one of my boards here, so I can enjoy the city from a different perspective :) So, thank you again T! ♥

Although my ankle is still kind-of swollen, I really wanted to push through Brooklyn! That day, I met up with a dear friend and we had a lovely brunch together in Bushwick. After that, we talked a lot about dreams and travels, how we only have one life and that we should do what we love. What is the best for you? Not for your boy/girlfriend, your parents, your company.. but you? What is your purpose here and what is the most fun to you? 

Deeper into the conversation, she revealed some hidden artwork she did when she studied Design. I had to take some pictures and was amazed by her potential and her ideas :) Find Sarah Azpeitia on her instagram to get inspired!

After that nice afternoon of skating and exploring a bit of Bushwick, I took the subway home. In that train, a skatergirl approached me and we had a nice little chat, she told me that there's a skateboard artshow that night. It was the 20 year anniversary of Chocolate Skateboards. A skate shop on Bedford Avenue, therefore very close to home. It was really packed and really hot inside, so we only stayed for 10minutes, enough to take these pictures! But actually after that, I had tons of fun skating through my own neighborhood by night! It was exciting for me because it was my first time skating through the streets of New York, now I cannot wait to click on publish and head out.

It's beautiful outside,

you should go play! ;-)