This Time in Seoul

Thanks to all who responded to my previous post. Thank you for supporting me and giving me much to think about during this at times, confusing moment in my life. I’m in a much better frame of mind now. I choosing to honor the present and not worry about the future.

I just iChatted with my dear friend Jacqueline T. in the NYC! Technology is amazing it was as if she were here in Seoul, in my cozy little apt. The monitor, power and sound of our iMacs are incredible!
There she was in a thick, lovely fisherman’s sweater as it is is quite chilly in New York and here I was in Seoul, thirteen hours ahead in my sleeveless summer blouse. Jacqueline would look great in any of these hats and she has a head for hats. People, some people look good in hats and other people should just wear big sunglasses and gorgeous scarves, you know, Jackie O. style. In any case, love what you wear or better yet, wear what you love!

The sun is shining so much today and that of course makes me think of the photo shoot that I did for the magazine last week. These hats are hand-sewn and can be found at the lovely shop, Comble in, Samcheong-dong. The designer’s name if Choi, Hye Jung.

I fell in love with hats as both my mother and father wore them to work or sometimes just to go to the grocery store. Hmm, maybe that’s why mom has such great skin, not a wrinkle on her face!

Well, in addition to sunblock I believe that I will have my head measured and fitted for one of these stylin’ hats! I believe it will be this one:

or this one:

this one would be great for a garden party:

or better yet, for just keeping it cool and simple:

Boutique: Comble
Designer: Choi, Hye Jung
email: chaapeaux@hanmail.net
tel: 011 315 3318 or 02 720 1146

It’s just as appealing to people watch in Seoul, South Korea as it is in Paris, France.

After having lunch at Shim’s Tapas today I glided, angel style (ha!), into my favorite boutique in Hongdae. Ladies and Gentlemen: MamasKick.

I love the placement of everything in this store, the size is just right and the staff is ultra chic sans “the attitude”. Hee Young Kim is the CTO (Chief Technology Officer), so creative and always greets me with a warm smile whenever I stop by. She’s also a designer in her own right. Look at what she gave me this afternoon! I’ve been wanting a pretty little leather coin purse for ages but had yet to find one. She gave this to me, sewed it herself on the old fashioned sewing machine so artfully placed in the store. That was so generous and kind of her! Thank you Hee Young! I’ll make sure to find something beautiful just for you when I go to Thailand.  

Style will save you!
MamasKick
Website: http://mamaskick.com
tel: 02.325.5713

More gracious models and their stylish hats. I’ll head over to Edae tomorrow to buy one. Also, a couple of weeks ago while strolling in Samcheon-dong (that’s how I roll), I couldn’t help but notice a woman sitting with her husband, in a boutique, knitting and drinking tea. Picture perfect. I went in to say hello and to also inquire if she teaches knitting classes. She informed me that she did not but the boutique next to them did. Well, we started talking and laughing, etc. She offered to teach me knitting if I would teach her a little more English (her husband put that in the mix) her English is pretty close to perfect. Well, a deal was made and now that I have a better schedule, I’ll start knitting classes next weekend. 

I’m the luckiest woman! 

It all started when I took a closer look at a tweed coat. From there it seemed that everyone that passed me by wore a color or a texture that was particularly appealing. Here’s a gorgeous velvet coat worn by a gracious young woman.

Thank you, for being my model. 

Just kidding folks. I know that you all give everyday of your lives: a smile, a helping  hand, words of encouragement to all that cross your path. I would just like to say that I wish you all a very Happy Holiday! Merry Christmas! Happy Hanukkah and just Happy to Be Alive Day!! Of course I’d like to give you a little beauty before you go and here it is.  

I must first thank the lovely Mikeum and I-Soo for taking time out of their busy lives to navigate me through the sea of fabric at Dongdaemun. They are currently students and now I hope, friends. Patience truly is a virtue and they are most virtuous women!

Dongdaemun is one of Seoul’s most famous markets. Here you will find everything but the kitchen sink, but I’m sure some adorable elderly Korean gentleman has a store tucked away somewhere stocked full of the nicest kitchen sinks…but I digress. You could get lost in this area for a week and still would not have seen it everything that this place offers. Mother necessity has been knocking on my door for a while and well,  she told me to get my long legs to Dongdaemun, find some beautiful fabric, have some pants, blazers and a suit made.

The fabric/textile section of ‘Dongday’ is just…amazing, it’s almost too much to take in at once. You’re in amazement, you’re overwhelmed by the volume of silks, wools, prints, textures that your surrounded you. Another thing, you will probably become a tad bit irritated because every second someone is bumping into you or telling you to move as some race down the aisles moving fabric from place to place. The aisles are narrow here and this is no place for the “wide of hips”. I hope that the merchants will let me photograph here. 
I picked up some wonderful fabric tonight for two pairs of trousers that I’m going to have made, as well as have a wool suit custom made from a highly regarded tailor in this market.  He has the loveliest wools, cashmere, etc. and the hues were perfect. A lot of people usually go to Itaewon to have a suit made for them but I just can’t stomach this area for more than an hour which is about how long it takes for me to choose some shoes to be made, buy a mag and get the hell up and out of there. Seriously.
I can hardly wait to be fitted for my first suit! I’ll of course model it for you when it’s done. I wouldn’t be surprised if I become a designer. Thank you Korea!

Well, I seem to have touched a nerve with my last post. I’ve received a lot of clicks and emails about sewing, design in fashion, etc. I really love this particular sewing machine as it is quite tiny. Must have been all the rage at the time of its conception. It’s so compact that I could’ve carried it around all day in my purse. I do love the color as well, very crisp.Note: I’ve just received some good news about the shoe-making project. I can hardly wait to see someone mold, sew and bind leather and thread and/or at least get closer to the design process.Another note: Happy Thanksgiving!  

If you sew, please let me know. I remember winning the blue ribbon prize for sewing a stunning heather grey wool blazer while I was a high school student in Texas. I probably sewed on this very machine. I know, I know, it’s highly unlikely but wouldn’t it be cool it was the very same sewing machine? Stranger things have happened. I was really surprised to find this in one my favorite stores in Apgujeong.I would really like to learn how to knit. I like working with my hands. There’s nothing like making something useful with your own hands.

I hadn’t see my favorite sales and design folk over at Papergarden in a while so I decided to pay them a visit. Jin Young Cha and I first met at the Halloween bash but that certainly wasn’t the time to get to know her a little better. Now was the time. Jin Young is one of the brilliant designers at Papergarden and we talked about the amazing shoes by Choi Jung In that I’d just photographed. She knew the designer and was actually wearing a pair of her creations. She let me know that she is in the process of designing a shoe and showed me the prototype. Here it is. I will follow its development.