Leavin' on a Jet Plane

(Neutrogena Ageless Essentials Continuous Eye Cream, Boscia Clear Complexion Tonic Face Refresher, Alexander McQueen scarf, All Saints cardigan, Bassike organic cotton t-shirt, Ruby & Ed sleep mask*, Helmut Lang denim leggings, Oscar Blandi dry shampoo spray, Sony PSP Go, YSL lamb leather bowler bag, Elle Japan, Jean Yu silk-satin bra, MAC lipstick in Crosswires, Maybelline Volume Express mascara, Philosophy blush compact, Natalia Brilli bracelet, Valentino sandals)

*I never wear a sleep mask on a plane, but I like the idea and this one is cute.

Tomorrow I'm leaving for Chicago, which is normally a 12-hour flight, but I was late and couldn't get a seat on the direct flight so I have to transfer in San Francisco, turning 12 hours to 17. 12 hours is rough enough.

Regardless, being comfortable on such a long flight is my main priority and I've naturally put a lot of thought into it. Denim leggings (I will never say the j-word) are perfect in maintaining a casual chic look while still being completely comfortable. A loose t-shirt and barely there bra are also key in this. Planes have a tendency of being ice cold, so I always bring a cardigan and/or big scarf along onboard (which can also easily turn into an extra pillow if needed). As for shoes, I usually opt for flats as long as they're cute, make me look good, and are easy to take on and off.

The bag, of course, needs to be big enough for all my personal entertainment and in-flight necessities, while still being awesome. I always bring a magazine, book, and some sort of handheld gaming device...though I've unfortunately lost my DS somewhere in my apartment. The air in planes is very dry, so on long flights I make sure to bring along some undereye cream as well as some kind of skin refresher (sprays work best for quick, mess-free application) to keep my skin moisturized. I always seem to break out a bit on planes, so one that promises a clear complexion doesn't hurt.
If you want to look fresh when you step off the jumbo jet, bring along some dry shampoo for a quick touch-up. Although an aerosol can admittedly wouldn't be ideal to try and bring through security.

I don't like wearing makeup for long periods of time whether I'm on a plane or not, so I take it easy. A swipe of mascara and lipstick, and a bit of blush (I'm so pale that I look like a corpse without a little color), and I'm good to go.

What are your must-haves when you have a long flight ahead of you?

It's Getting Hot in the Cityyy...

(Photo from the G-Staff Blog )

The sweltering summer heat and humidity is in full effect and here to stay until sometime in October...this calls for eating salted watermelon with friends, daytrips to the beach, guzzling cold mugi-cha (barley tea), and spending lazy afternoons in cafes with a book and a tall glass of iced coffee.

I love summer. ♥

Next week I'm headed to Chicago for two weeks...I'm sure I'll get homesick for Tokyo, but I'm looking forward to escaping the humidity for awhile. It's pretty brutal and I'm sure my fan could use a break, too.

Rain Keeps Falling on my Head...

(Clockwise: Hunter x Jimmy Choo, KORS by Michael Kors, Chooka, Dolce & Gabbana, Chanel, Kate Spade, Givenchy, Vivienne Westwood, YSL)

With the rainy season upon us, it's time for me to temporarily put away my favorite suede, silk, and cloth shoes and bring out the rubbers. Of course, this time of year is the perfect excuse to stay at home sleeping in or curl up on the couch, slowly making your way through your entire book collection, going to the movies, sitting in cafes for hours, and department store shopping (the rainy season is devastating on your wallet, you see).

But sometimes you do need to go outside, and when the time comes, rubber shoes can be your best friends while maneuvering through the thousands of puddles on crowded sidewalks.

The obvious choice for any rainy day are rain boots, of course. Luckily more and more designers have started rolling them out, so they're not the boring fishermen variety of years past. A lot of them even have heels now, which I absolutely love.

However, it IS summer and it's insanely humid, so sometimes I just don't want to stick my feet into muggy boots all day, you know? This is where the wonderful world of rubber sandals comes in. And there are a lot of good ones. I'm seriously lusting after the KORS, Dolce & Gabbana, and Givenchy rubbers above.

My only dilemma is that I hate the squeakiness that comes along with rubber shoes when you go inside...