For today’s Sneak a Peak I have volunteered myself. I did this mostly because I wanted to see exactly what was in my purse (it’s been a while since it’s been empty).

Everything in my purse (except for the crumbs)

1). Wallet. Definitely has no cash, but the cards are useful.

2). Stickers. I teach children and these are useful for distracting them from Angry Birds/AniPang and bribing them to do work.

3). Compact. Can’t let the shine get the best of you. Also good for checking out if there is stuff in your teeth after a big meat binge at the bbq restaurant.

4). Pen + paper. I constantly need to make lists to remember stuff. Living in a foreign country it is also good for drawing signs and directions…and doodling.

5). iTouch + headphones. Music, games, internet, and general distraction techniques.

6). Lip stain. Cause…just because.

7). Card holder. I have a lot of loyalty cards from different cafes and restaurants. This little bugger helps me  keep them organized.

8). Coin purse. Coins are super annoying, but this purse is cute.

9). Mini perfume. Gotta keep fresh.

10). Bobby pins. I will probably lose all of these within the week.

11). Planner. I don’t really use this for advance planning so much as for recording what I’ve done. Kind of like a stark, cold-hearted journal.

12). Toothbrush + toothpaste. You never know where you might wake up, eh? Also, Korean food is pretty heavy-handed with the garlic.

Why do we even try? As many people (correctly) point out, most people set the bar too high, work hard in January…then realize working hard for results is difficult and tiresome and they quickly go back to their old ways.

I’m no different, of course. But this year…I want to be. I have two resolutions to make this year and I think I can do it. After many years of making the same promises to myself, I will keep my word and be even more awesome in 2012.

So, resolution numero uno: buy only one thing each month. Now that sounds stupid. How can you buy only one piece of food for one month? How can you buy only one subway ticket?

Actually, what I’m referring to are non-essential items. Usually, my paycheck is sprinkled about the clothing stores and clubs of Seoul. Not in 2012. Instead, I will budget for food, my transportation, utilities and the like…and one other thing. That new spring jacket that I must have? Well, it will be the superfluous thing I will buy in April. Those amazing sandals that will complete my wardrobe? That’s July.

This will be hard. Harder than the infamous diet resolution that 80% of people make every year (I mean, what’s more important – shoes or food? SHOES.). For that reason, I will be starting a “I Bought Something New” column (a concept borrowed from Cracker Your Wardrobe magazine – my favorite!). Each month I’ll post what I bought and why I chose that item.

Enjoy my pain. Relish my sacrifice. Also, feel free to suggest items to buy or items to avoid.

Resolution Two: Contribute to Cracker Your Wardrobe. I don’t care what kind of contribution it is, but I have to connect myself with that magazine somehow. Ideally, it’s taking photos for them. Second place is getting captured for their Seoul Street Style section. Either way, I want IN!

That’s it, those are my goals. Nothing impossible, but certainly something to guide my efforts this year. And if I run into Hyun Bin, Won Bin, Lee Seung Gi or Lee Byung Hyun this year…I’ll take that as a bonus.

December! A big month of holidays, traveling, gifts and binging. This is the first month we are picking our “best of” item and it’s going to be extra difficult. Usually there are one or two primo items given as gifts towards the end of the month…and how do we know which of those will prove to be most radical?

Oh. We know.

Disco pants, bitches!

Front view

Holy shit, how have I lived my life without these pants? Yes, they are ridiculous (thank you, American Apparel, for giving a name to my pants so my family can mock me more thoroughly). Yes, they are expensive. Yes, they are essentially high-waisted leggings. But…disco pants!!!!

Pros:
>The shape. Loving the high-waisted styles right now and these conform to your body like a glove.
>The fabric. It’s stretchy, but not thin and it sucks everything in. Think smooth lines and an appearance of firmness (where there might be none…).
>Adaptability. Coffee with friends? Disco pants. Date with hottie? Disco pants. Clubbing? Disco pants (well, obviously). Feel free to add a shirt and shoes if necessary.

Cons:
>Price. For what they are, these pants are bit steep. Of course, having paid the price I don’t regret a thing…but it was hard letting go of that cash.

I’m really enjoying these pants. I’ve had them less than a couple weeks and already worn them several times with great results. These pants have a bright future in my closet.

UPDATE: After owning these for about three months and wearing them consistently, I noticed some laddering in the high-stress seam areas. Not cool, American Apparel. I took them back to the store and asked for an exchange and after a few weeks, they exchanged them for a free pair…which also ended up laddering. Oh well!

Laddering near the seam             (original pants)

On our first edition of Eye Candy we’ve decided to showcase an online store, thecityshop. Online shopping is a viciously dangerous habit that *thankfully* most of us left behind in our home countries. How can you shop online in Korea if you can barely read the sign for the toilet?

Well, where there’s a will, there’s a way. Or, more accurately, where there’s a Korean, there’s a way. Also, stop being lazy and start studying Korean, you damn alcoholic.

thecityshop is a trendy little collection of all the items you see the “it” girls sauntering around in on Garosu-gil, Myeong-dong or pretty much any Rodeo street. Some of the items are basics that every girl should have (think plain tee-shirts, jeans, sweatshirts) and some are a little bit special.

The main page has a selection of  links on the left-hand side, conveniently in English. In fact, most of their product names are also in English, making it easy to choose items and add them to your cart.

thecityshop tends to cater to a pretty girly clientele, so expect lots of frills and skirts (the essentials for a Korean closet):

Of course, we wouldn’t feature a website that only does run-of-the-mill type stuff. thecityshop often surprises with fresh twists on beloved items. For example, we’re loving these jeans with the kick-ass mesh line down the back of the leg:

This necklace is also rocking our world. It’s simple without being boring and can probably be worn with anything:

Shopping at thecityshop is a bit more expensive than Forever21, but you won’t be breaking the bank. Expect the sizes to follow Korean standards and don’t get your hopes up for anything larger than a medium. The most convenient way to pay is a bank transfer and they are excellent about sending electronic receipts and following up on your purchase. Also, like any online purchase in Korea, the shipping is extremely fast: you’ll receive your items in 3-4 business days or less.

Seoul is finally starting to see more severe winter weather and these blacks and grays just aren’t cutting it. If I see one more girl in black tights and black ankle boots, I’m going to kick her in the knee. Thus, the “best of” item for January is appropriately bright colored:

Royal blue swing coat! I’ve had my eye on this one for about a month and finally decided to buy it (thanks, stylenanda.com, for making my bank balance decrease at a faster rate than ever before).

Front view (full length)

Reasons to love this coat:

1). Color. As I stated above, dark neutrals are flooding the city and it’s freakin’ depressing. As much as I love a black-on-black-on-black ensemble, a pop of color does a lot for my mood. It’s also kind of thrilling to stand out from the crowd (then again, foreigners in Seoul tend to do that anyway).

2). Cut. Swing-a-ling-a-ding-dong. There’s something about a long swing coat that evokes a vintage, classic style. I picture myself as a 1940s fashionista, strutting around Manhattan with white gloves and a pillbox hat (or, I guess, present-day Brooklyn).

3). Size. Buying clothes from Korean stores is always a gamble for Westerners (for many different reasons). However! This beauty fits like a gem, despite being “free size.” It sits well on the shoulders and it’s roomy enough for a sweater underneath. It’s a great length for me and falls just above my knees.

Detail view

So, January is shaping up to be an awesome month. Instead of avoiding the bite of the outdoors, I throw on my coat and sashay my ass down to the coffee shop in style…and then run right back to my bed, because who are we kidding?