Intern diaries: week eight

This was a pretty exciting week, both at work and at home! Fashion week invites! An earthquake! Moving! Model fittings! Hurricane Irene!!

The week started off with addressing fashion week invited. A lot of them. My list included all the buyers from big department stores like Barneys, Bergdorfs, Saks and Bloomingdales to smaller boutiques like Opening Ceremony and boutiques in other states. The instructions were simple: channel my inner 5 year old's handwriting. Neat. Simple. Clean. Let me tell you, it's a lot harder than you'd think! Especially if you mostly use cursive, like me.

I also had to run a few errands this week. My most exciting one was to deliver a dress to Hudson Studios (all the way at 26th and 12th avenue), where they were going to photograph the dress that day. In fact, they had already started shooting by the time I got there! The model was so tall. it was quite exciting.

an empty studio I snapped a pic of

Tuesday night, I moved from TriBeCa/Chinatown to my dorm for the school year, conveniently located in Union Sq! My friend Johnny helped me, and everything went really, really well. It only took two hours! And two car trips! Moving in the nyc gives me terrible anxiety (my mum can attest to this), so it was such a relief that everything went well.

My favorite outfit this week was Friday's. I wore a thrifted H&M dress, but I only like the skirt portion, so I threw on a crisp white, sleeveless button up over it. And I added my favorite nude/glittery flats. Eunice said I looked ready for a summer picnic. This was only the second time I've worn that dress, because it is so girly, I'm never quite sure how to wear it. But I really liked the way I styled it. so summery!

My mum's favorite outfit was Wednesday's. I love the skirt (navy! polka dots! pleats!) but I don't wear it too often because it's a few sizes too small. I got it at a Uniqlo sample sale last year and it, uh, takes some effort to put on. to say the least.

On Tuesday, I wore my new pearl collar I got at the HK flea market. I have never received so many complements! A lady even stopped me on the street! I'm so glad I decided to buy it, after fending off another woman who was thinking about buying it.

Friday, the city was in a tizzy about Hurricane Irene. I wasn't too worried, until my boss from Louisiana got me worried. I bought water, granola bars, soup, nuts, dried fruit, beans—you name it, I probably bough it. It was pretty incredible to see entire shelves, and sometimes aisles, completely empty. And the lines! There was a block long line to get in to the Chelsea location of Trader Joe's!

Anyway, I've pretty much been holed up since Friday night (except for a quick-ish trip to Duane Reade yesterday morning to buy tape). The subways shut down at noon yesterday, and most stores are closed this weekend. Not much to do.

Snapshots from the week:

I really want this Muppets nail polish. so fun!

my necklace tree

I'm on the cover of the NYU in Shanghai handbook!!

this baby kept touching my nails and bracelets on th 

my week in eats.

On Saturday, I went to the Parked! event at South St Seaport. It was a food truck extravaganza with over 30 food trucks in one location! It was really overwhelming to have so much yummy food right there. I walked around two times, and I still couldn't decide what I wanted to eat.

the (crowded) scene on one of the side streets

I decided I should get food from trucks that I don't normally see. So I skipped Korilla, Waffle & Dinges and CoolHaus, just because they're always in Union Sq. I still couldn't really decide, so I just got in the Kelvin Slush line, which was one of the longer lines. I had to wait 20 minutes, and I got a citrus and white peach slush. Really yummy and refreshing!

I really wanted to go to the Gorilla cheese truck, but the line was WAY too long. So I went to Sigmund Pretzel and got a pretzel dog instead.

Finally, before I left, I got shrimp takoyaki and butter corn and edamame from this really cute truck, Mimi and Coco.

Intern diaries: week seven

This week, I started in a new department: Showroom! It was a somewhat uneventful week because all the clothes are in pattern making and sample room for the finishing touches for next month's fashion show. My tasks included tracking samples and running lots of errands to publications, our PR firm KCD and the Anna Sui downtown store. And in my down time, I'm in the process of assembling line charts (a big flip book of every garment in the collection) complete with fabric swatches for the buyers who are unable to attend the show/market week. I never realized before that there are more clothes than what is seen on the runway. Only 1/5 (approximately) of the clothes make it on the runway. Anyway, I've been cutting lots and lots of swatches for the Spring line charts. From what I've seen, I really like the fabrics! There are lots of hearts and polka dots! so cute!

I didn't really have a favorite outfit from this week. But on Monday, I did wear my favorite skirt from the Thakoon for Target. I love the colors and the shibori print, which is something you don't see that often. And I really like the shape of the skirt—it's so flattering!

I had a surprisingly social and food-filled week. I had lunch with the other interns and dinner. And I had dinner with Jeff twice this week!
On Tuesday I had a banh mi from my favorite banh mi store, Banh Mi Saigon, for lunch (have you ever seen bahi mi used in one sentence so many times?).

That night I had dinner with Jeff at The Smith. It was my first time and it was so good! I had Tuesday's special: pork cooked for 15 hours over some kind of polenta. I forgot.

It was still early after we finished dinner, so we walked around St Mark's, and then over to the Hudson River Park.

Friday night, I went to Saint's Alp with the other interns! This time I got Taiwanese style pork chop and a Lychee nectar drink. I didn't like this as much as the curry udon, but it was still good. For dessert, I went to Spot Dessert Bar with my friends Ben and Nick! I got a chocolate chip coconut cookie with condensed milk ice cream sandwich. I thought the cookies were really good—really crispy and crunchy. But I didn't think there was enough ice cream, and it didn't really taste like much. I forgot to take a picture, but the cookie was pretty big!

The week went by pretty fast. But I still haven't moved! not good! I'm really excited to move back to Union Sq because it is so convenient! Although, I do really enjoy living this close to Chinatown. I just hate the constant pedestrian traffic on Canal st from the hordes of tourists.
Snapshots from the week:

fun sign in TriBeCa

saw this GIANT line (it wrapped around the block) in Soho. I think it was for a casting

and how chic is this little girl?? two tone sunnies, knit dress and neon sandals.

Hester st Market, round two

This weekend I had absolutely nothing to do because the Hell's Kitchen food truck bazaar was postponed due to the rain. Good thing, because it rained all Saturday night and all day Sunday! My mum suggested I get something to eat at the Hester st Market since I'm moving soon, and I won't be that close to it anymore.
The market was a lot busier since the weather was great! There were so many people and so much yummy food! I decided to get a guaco taco from Brooklyn taco and a pomegranate lemonade from somewhere else. I really wanted to get either the avocado fries or chivacado hot dog from the Chicago hot dog place, but they sold out pretty soon after I got there. And I still want to get a giant shaved ice! Afterward, I wasn't quite ready to go home, so I walked around the LES for an hour or two. I like exploring new areas—and finding new restaurants!

I was so amazed to see the drip coffee!

really cute mini pancakes

I went grocery shopping on Friday, and I noticed this powder coconut cream. I wanted to try and make coconut milk tea, but it wasn't as successful as I had hoped. Even though I use boiling water, the tea was still grainy from the coconut powder. However, I'm thinking maybe it'll work better for the intended purpose, which is food. I'm going to add a bit to my curry later this week. fingers crossed.

Intern diaries: week six

This week was surprisingly slow. The show is just over a month away, so I thought it would be a lot busier! Well, we did get two new interns this week and I got to show them around the office and teach them everything so they are somewhat prepared next week when all the old interns (all two of us) move up to the 15th floor! I'm a little sad to leave Production, now that I am one of the trusted interns, but I feel that I've pretty much learned everything I can in Production.
My favorite outfit this week was Tuesday's. I actually bought this dress at Bloomingdales a really long time ago....as in Spring Break (when I did a huge East Coast college tour) of junior year in high school. And I just took the tags off on Tuesday, the summer going into my junior year of college. I was never really sure of the shape but I ended up really liking it!

My friend (and future roommate!!) Eunice really liked Thursday's outfit. It's a topshop blouse that I think I've only worn twice? It has a lot going on: mullet hem (longer in the back), chiffon flowers, rhinestones, a bow. whew. But I guess it's good to wear it now and then.

I also got three compliments on this super simple Uniqlo belt that I hardly wear. It's just a patent leather lavender. Maybe I should wear it more often too!

This week, I also bought a new lipstick from MAC! My beloved Hello Kitty x MAC lipstick is getting smaller and smaller by the week, so I think I should use it sparingly from now on. I wanted to get a coral/peach color and something that I don't have. I'm pleased with my final choice. I also am really embracing this hair length. I love braiding my hair at night to get soft waves the next day. I'm seriously considering not cutting my hair now!

On Wednesday, I went to Saint's Alps for the second time ever. The first time was before I went to NYU, and I went with my mom to get bubble tea. I had dinner with 11 other Shanghai friends—so it was more like a mini reunion. I had no idea that they also serve food! Mainly 小吃 (literally small eats, or snacks) for $2-3 but they also have rice and noodle bowls for $5-6! Amazing! I had a beef curry udon with coconut bubble tea. I'm definitely going back!

Some random snap shots from this week:

Chandeliers galore at ABC Home and Carpet!

zip tie lamp posts in Astor Place

cute elephants!

My mum got an iPad a few weeks ago, so it's up to my sister to teach her how to use it. I was pleasantly surprised one day when I received multiple youtube videos of funny babies!! They are so cute! and funny!! This is one of my favorites.

Intern diaries: week five

This week really flew by! Sunday night, I visited my friend Jeff in his new Murray Hill apartment! It was the first time I had seen him since Shanghai, almost two months ago! And he told me how hard it was to find a good apartment—tips I'm definitely going to remember for when I have to search!

Now I am the only full time intern in production (there is one girl who comes every morning for three hours), so I have to do all the work. The intern's long term task for this past week was to cut out these leaves and flowers to be used as patches on t-shirts and t-shirt dresses. My other tasks ranged from packing and checking orders, minor sewing (just sewing beads back on a few dresses), checking samples back in, and of course running errands to the contractors. This week, I was also given the opportunity to switch departments! So starting August 15, I'll be in the showroom! I'm really excited to go from production (making the clothes) to showroom, which is all about selling the final garment that all the departments have been working on.

cutting the day away

modeling headbands

and bow ties!

This week I also changed up my everyday hair and makeup. When I was home last weekend, I picked up liquid eyeliner, and I've been doing a cat eye ever since! I love it! And, since my hair is currently longer than usual (I'm waiting for the weather to cool down before I get my hair cut, a little counter intuitively) so I'm not used to styling long hair that can transition from the hot/humid outdoors to AC. I started braiding my hair at night so I wake up with great waves! And when I'm outside or on the train, I just re-braid my hair to reset the look!
My favorite outfit from this week was Wednesday's. It was actually inspired by a woman I saw on the train the day before. She was wearing a denim shirt and calf length black A line skirt with an Alexander Wang bag and great heels. I really liked the simplicity and ease of the outfit, but it was still very chic! So I did a blue shirt, black skirt and added my belt that I got from a village in Southern China! And my blingy bracelet from the Hell's Kitchen flea market.

thrifted bracelet and leather band my friend Kate got me in Italy!

On Thursday night, I went to Flushing for the first time! Flushing is exactly like being in China, more so than Chinatown because there are no tourists. I had yummy Malaysian food with some old friends! I also had a giant shaved ice, but I didn't get to take a picture. I definitely want to go back!