Happy Tuesday! Just a quick post today sharing this easy ensemble I wore last week. My skirt is old and I hemmed the scallops myself, but I also own this similar version (also sold here) that’s been restocked from last year! That one is made in a sturdy, stretchy knit material and is fully lined – see it on me in sz US2.
On another note, we’re currently planning some travel to Tokyo and possibly Singapore and Bali – all spots where Nick and I had really wanted to go after our wedding last year! We didn’t go on a honeymoon due to our schedules at the time, but are really looking forward to taking some trips this year. I’d love to hear about any must-visit places, and of course your favorite recommendations for where to eat and things to do in those areas!
there's one other tip that is kind of weird, but pretty useful. For marketing purposes, branded tissue paper packs are often handed out in the street. You should hang on to these since not all public restrooms have toilet paper 🙂
there's lots of great stuff in Japan!
– If you can make a trip out to Hakone for the hot springs, it's worth an overnight trip and a stay at a ryokan, but day trips are doable.
– The drugstore makeup in Japan is of very high quality, would recommend going to any matsumoto kiyoshi store and perusing the makeup area
– Bar High 5 in Ginza serves amazing drinks with a very dapper bartender. Very meticulous mixology, was one of my favorite experiences in Japan
– If you have the opportunity to try a kaiseki dinner experience, it's really special. I went to one in Kyoto, but there are lots on Tokyo. Your hotel can always make the reservation for you if there are language barriers and if the restaurant only takes reservations by phone
– Asakusa: great neighborhood with lots of little shops and street food with a major temple. It's also near kappabashi-dori, which is the kitchen supply district (my fiance collects Japanese knives, so he bought a knife and whetstone here). There are shops with the fake food models.
– I was excited about the clothing options in Japan, since the sizes are more petite-friendly, but I found that the styles are very different, and the clothes that I did like were pretty expensive, so there may not be as many clothes shopping opportunities as initially thought.
– not sure if Nick is into samurai swords (my fiance is really into swords and manly things like that), but I actually would not recommend the sword museum in tokyo. it's really small and not worth the price of admission
– I also agree with other commenters that if you're just going to be in Tokyo, a JR pass isn't necessary, but a Suica or Pasmo card is fine for the subway. A JR pass will only save money if you plan on doing a lot of traveling all over the country.
– Tsukiji is also pretty special. We weren't willing to wake up so early for the auction, but went later in the morning and it was still fascinating. The sushi places (Sushi Dai, Sushi Zanmai are two) are pretty touristy, but serve very fresh sushi.
– the food floors in the basements of major department stores is worth checking out. You can see some really interesting specialty items.
You really can't go wrong in Tokyo, it's such an amazing place! I also wanted to say hi again 🙂 I went to your meet-up in San Francisco with a friend a few months ago and it was such a pleasure to meet you after following your blog for so many years!
Your outfit is absolutely gorgeous!
http://www.llindatt.com
Lived in Singapore my entire life and I wouldn't recommend Newton Circus for cheap and local food. It's highly commercialised and tourists only go there to get scammed for a local dish. It might be a little out of the way but try Chomp Chomp or Old Airport Road instead for the real cheap and good local stuff. As a rule of thumb, anything above $5 at a hawker centre is a bit pricey, unless it's seafood.
Hi Jean!
I am a big fan of your blog and I lived in Tokyo for most of my life. The Olympics in 4.5 years in Tokyo for some reason means that the govt sees fit to make all sorts of new and in lots of folks view, wrong changes to the city. One big thing is a lot of lovely quaint and quirky streets around Shibuya are getting torn up so restaurants and shops that have provided a lot of color to the city are closing. So it's a good time to go so you get to see some of this stuff!
I second Tsukiji market. If you love sushi, you have to go. Also, Japanese food is my favorite and almost any where you go, you'll find great restaurants. Ueno/Ameyoko street would be fun to walk through. Asakusa and the Skytree areas are also fun. Ten minutes walk from Nippori station to Yanaka Ginza, you'll find another fun street to walk through. Yanaka, Nezu and Sendagi are probably the last bastion of old Tokyo. Neighborhoods are quaint and traditional. These areas are closest to Tokyo station. I would stay near Tokyo station to get the feel of old Tokyo and to also be close to great shopping.
Since you are extra petite, you'll find shopping for clothes really easy for you! Lots of places only seem to cater to size 00 to 2. Have so much fun!
Hi Jean – Love to hear that you consider Bali as your next place to visit.
Here I knew a blog that talked about good places (for accommodation and eating) to visit when you are in Bali. Hope this can help you ^_^
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2015/08/la-laguna-canggu-bali.html
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2016/01/15-cafes-to-visit-in-seminyak-and-canggu.html
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2016/01/weekend-well-spent-at-intercontinental.html
And this is for the cafe in Singapore:
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2015/12/arc-academy-roastery-cafe-singapore.html
And this is for Japan:
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2015/05/tokyos-best-patisserie-that-i-visited.html
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2015/05/eatandtreats-japan-loccitane-cafe.html
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2015/05/eatandtreats-postcards-from-japan.html
http://eatandtreats.blogspot.kr/2015/05/eatandtreats-japan-omotesando-koffee.html
I think you can find many information for Japan, Bali and Singapore from this blog. I don't know the author but his blog is good and I think useful for you.
Enjoy your next holiday!
Cannot wait to see your upload post for your holidays! xoxo
Hey Jean!
Love your outfit ;). Have a great time in Japan! I absolutely loved it and can't wait to go back. Depending on the time of year you go, I highly recommend climbing Mt. Fuji. It only takes a day (or two if you do the overnight to summit at sunrise as I did which is totally worth it!) and Kyoto for shrines, tea houses and geisha if you're lucky 😉 and fantastic shopping! I also hit an onsen in Kyoto, which was a cool if odd experience. If you have tattoos, you'll need to cover up or if they're extensive you might want to skip this as it is kind of frowned upon. I stayed in Shinjuku, which is one of the largest areas of Tokyo and I really liked it but it was constantly bustling. Shibuya is identifiable from Lost in Translation and has a good shop if you need climbing gear in country. If possible I'd try to find a restaurant offering a traditional kaiseki. Find a great paper/stationery store and a kimono shop – I found both in Shinjuku. Otherwise, just stay away from the touristy places, eat as much amazing sushi as you can and have a great time! Oh and don't worry too much about the metro. If you've been to New York it's not that different or more complicated and everything is color coded for train lines and spelled phonetically. Just watch your times – they don't all run late!
-Jo
Hi Jean!
As spring and summer approach I have been contemplating if shorts for moms is a fashion do or don't. I'm 32, 4'11 and 99 pounds with a 1 and 2 year old. I'm just not sure if it's appropriate to wear shorts anymore 🙁
I know you are not a mom, but figured you or others that follow you could still weigh in.
Thanks!
Hi Jean – love your blog and style, always elegant and on point!
Goto Ichiran Ramen when you're in Tokyo, there are several locations (https://www.ichiran.co.jp/english/html/oshokuji.html). It's rated one of the top Ramen places in Tokyo.
Also, I recommend going to the Tsukiji Fish Market to watch the fish auction. You'll have to wake up early for this but definitely worth it for the fresh caught sashimi – highly recommend Sushi Dai 🙂
Melody
Very cute look!
Your daily inspiration and motivation on http://www.letucc.com
First of all, that scalloped skirt is gorgeous! I love pieces with fun details like that. Also, that trip sounds like it's going to be so much fun. I can't wait to read about it on the blog. 😀
-Helen
Sweet Helen Grace
Hi Jean-
First of all, your blog is one of my favorite fashion blogs to follow. Your style is impeccable and I appreciate having a little more insight into the fit of the items you wear and having ideas for outfits for any occasion.
Your work outfits are my particular favorites, as they manage to be professional but still have a personal flair. As a young professional trying to enter the business world, I was wondering if you have any recommendations for outfits to wear to interviews — particularly informational interviews. It's difficult to find the proper balance between stuffy and casual with the varying office dress codes I've seen, and I would love to know of any "go-to" outfits that will leave a great first impression.
Side note: This outfit is amazing!
Hope you have an awesome time in Tokyo! I was there last Spring for my birthday. You must check out a theme restaurant while you're there. I went to the Robot Restaurant and had such a great time! I also enjoyed visiting Mt. Fuji. It's so beautiful there!
Polly
http://gemsandjoy.com
Awww!
This is such a cute outfit! I like it a lot. 😉
Laura
http://furiouslychic.blogspot.ch/
That skirt is adorable, love the scalloped hem! I've gone to Tokyo once before with my family, would love to take my boyfriend there!
xo, alice / T Y P E N U
I'm a fan of the trench addition.
http://www.dressupchowdown.com
I live in Japan, but not Tokyo. Personally, I would recommend Western Japan (Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kagoshima to the far west) over Tokyo.
If you do plan to go to Tokyo and stay in that area, you don't need a JR Pass (a rail pass for trains to areas outside of Tokyo). I would recommend getting a pasmo or suica subway card. They can be purchased easily from machines close to the subway entrance and can also be used with most buses.
The subways in Tokyo are crazy, with four to six different companies operating various overlapping lines. Prices change by distance, the line you ride and the type of train you ride. If you are lost, ask the attending staff who are close to the ticket booths rather than trying to ask anyone (Japanese or not). Most people only know their own line.
There are some subway apps you can use, but they may not cover all of the lines. Unfortunately, I can't recommend any because the one I use is in Japanese.
People may recommend you try to eat at Jiro sushi. I don't think most Japanese people know him. Besides, his son has a restaurant in a department store in Ginza which serves sushi for about $30, compared to Jiro's $300.
Personally, rather than looking for touristy, expensive restaurants to eat at, I'd find smaller places. Tokyo gets so many tourists that most places will have English menus. Check out the basement levels of Shinjuku station, and department stores like Mitsukoshi and Sogo. They have supermarkets and lots of small shops selling a huge variety of freshly made food. If you want lunch, visit those places at 10:30 or 11 to avoid the rush.
If you are in Ginza, the restaurants are in the small alleys behind the main street.
The last time I was in Tokyo, I had some very tasty kebabs (not on a stick, in a wrap) in Akihabara. GoGo Curry, which I hear has a NYC location was also in Akihabara, but I did not end up eating there.
There are a lot of used camera shops around Shinjuku station, too. 😉
For historical places, Meiji-jingu is a popular spot (which I've also never been to, sorry!). Kamakura, which is not in Tokyo, is this huge statue of Buddha. The surrounding town is pretty traditional, old-school Japan (for a place so close to Tokyo).
Tokyo has a number of museums. I went to the National Art Center, Tokyo last year and thought it was nice. The building design was cool and the surrounding area is Roppongi, which is an OK area.
If you take the subway to Yokohama, there's a huge Chinatown.
I don't know how helpful this is. When I go to Tokyo, it's usually for work, to see friends and maybe to eat at places like Outback Steakhouse…since I can get Japanese food anytime in my city.
Aside from sushi, I'd definitely recommend Japanese curry, tonkatsu, manjuu, and Tokyo has a huge ramen scene. Definitely browse through the department store basements for food sampling and ideas.
The somewhat new Tokyo Skytree is an interesting place. It's not far from Asakusa. I walked to it from there and…if you don't like walking, take the subway! To go up costs about 3,000 yen. And to go up to the highest floor costs an additional 2,000 yen. The view is amazing. I got some great night shots of the city when I went.
Hmm…this is getting long…sorry!
You are adorable!
Wow, so exciting about your travel plans. I've always wanted to go to all of those places! 🙂
Enclothed Cognition/Bloglovin
I live in Japan, but not Tokyo. Personally, I would recommend Western Japan (Kyoto, Nara, Osaka and Fukuoka, Nagasaki and Kagoshima to the far west) over Tokyo.
If you do plan to go to Tokyo and stay in that area, you don't need a JR Pass (a rail pass for trains to areas outside of Tokyo). I would recommend getting a pasmo or suica subway card. They can be purchased easily from machines close to the subway entrance and can also be used with most buses.
The subways in Tokyo are crazy, with four to six different companies operating various overlapping lines. Prices change by distance, the line you ride and the type of train you ride. If you are lost, ask the attending staff who are close to the ticket booths rather than trying to ask anyone (Japanese or not). Most people only know their own line.
There are some subway apps you can use, but they may not cover all of the lines. Unfortunately, I can't recommend any because the one I use is in Japanese.
People may recommend you try to eat at Jiro sushi. I don't think most Japanese people know him. Besides, his son has a restaurant in a department store in Ginza which serves sushi for about $30, compared to Jiro's $300.
Personally, rather than looking for touristy, expensive restaurants to eat at, I'd find smaller places. Tokyo gets so many tourists that most places will have English menus. Check out the basement levels of Shinjuku station, and department stores like Mitsukoshi and Sogo. They have supermarkets and lots of small shops selling a huge variety of freshly made food. If you want lunch, visit those places at 10:30 or 11 to avoid the rush.
If you are in Ginza, the restaurants are in the small alleys behind the main street.
The last time I was in Tokyo, I had some very tasty kebabs (not on a stick, in a wrap) in Akihabara. GoGo Curry, which I hear has a NYC location was also in Akihabara, but I did not end up eating there.
There are a lot of used camera shops around Shinjuku station, too. 😉
For historical places, Meiji-jingu is a popular spot (which I've also never been to, sorry!). Kamakura, which is not in Tokyo, is this huge statue of Buddha. The surrounding town is pretty traditional, old-school Japan (for a place so close to Tokyo).
Tokyo has a number of museums. I went to the National Art Center, Tokyo last year and thought it was nice. The building design was cool and the surrounding area is Roppongi, which is an OK area.
If you take the subway to Yokohama, there's a huge Chinatown.
I don't know how helpful this is. When I go to Tokyo, it's usually for work, to see friends and maybe to eat at places like Outback Steakhouse…since I can get Japanese food anytime in my city.
Aside from sushi, I'd definitely recommend Japanese curry, tonkatsu, manjuu, and Tokyo has a huge ramen scene. Definitely browse through the department store basements for food sampling and ideas.
The somewhat new Tokyo Skytree is an interesting place. It's not far from Asakusa. I walked to it from there and…if you don't like walking, take the subway! To go up costs about 3,000 yen. And to go up to the highest floor costs an additional 2,000 yen. The view is amazing. I got some great night shots of the city when I went.
Hmm…this is getting long…sorry!
Hi Jean,
Love your blog! If you guys do go to Singapore, you have to stop by Momma Kong's for their chilli crab. It is the most amazing dish in the world. http://www.tripadvisor.com/Restaurant_Review-g294265-d3916132-Reviews-Momma_Kong_s-Singapore.html
Great rainy day look! I love that scalloped skirt!
As for Japan, I'd recommend going to Kyoto over Tokyo. Both cities are great, but I loved visiting the temples in Kyoto. It's got a much smaller more cultural feel to it.
Lifestyle by Joules
If you head to Singapore you have to try Laksa, especially the Sawarak version (my grandmother used to cook it for us as she is Malay and from that region). It is the best spicy noodle soup you will ever have! My favourite comfort food. And there are tons of food stalls every where you go.
And the best part of Singapore is the all the variety of petite friendly clothing! Some of my favourite dresses are from local designers that you can find on Orchard Road.
Gorgeous! Love that skirt!
xoxo
Sharan
http://www.MyGoldenBeauty.com
Best ramen I had in Tokyo was a place called Ichiran. It's cheap, delicious, and a very Japanese dining experience. There's typically a line out the door for at least 30-40 minutes, but it's worth the wait. https://www.ichiran.co.jp/english/
The scallop skirt is so cute:P
Shall We Sasa
Just came back from a trip to Singapore and Bali.
Must do:
Singapore
> Garden by the Bay (flower dome)
> Have a rooftop drink at sunset at the Marina Sands or at the Fullerton Bay
Bali
> Book a dinner at Locavore in Ubud (book as early as you can, it is always super full). One of the best meals we ever had was there.
Hey Jean, big fan of your blog and style! Since you and Nick are big foodies, I would highly recommend the depa-chika (ie department store basements) in Japan. Most of the department stores (I recommend Mitsukoshi and Isetan) have fabulous food emporiums in their basements. Every food imaginable is down there and you can buy a little bit of everything to eat in your hotel room (as it can get expensive eating out all the time). There are also great bakeries/patisseries so you can pick up breakfast for the next day (I recommend Dalloyou, Johan and Kimuraya).
And I also agree with the previous poster, if you have time to travel around, definitely pick up a railpass before you head over. It's a great, and very affordable, way to see the country.
xo
Hiromi | http://www.instagram.com/everydayangles
such a cool top 🙂 love that you took those photos while it was raining – such a rare thing 🙂
x Lilli | http://www.LilliFerreira.com
I lived in S'pore for 3+ years. It's been almost 7 years since we moved back to the States, but there are still places that I miss eating at. One of the places that I really miss is this place for their prawn noodles w/ the chili sauce. Even in S'pore, i could never find a place that came close, and forget it in the States.
https://foursquare.com/v/thye-hong-hokkien-mee-food-republic/4b304f2ff964a520cdf824e3
Enjoy your trip…I really enjoyed living there. As one of the other posters mentioned, S'pore is about 7 hours or so to Japan. S'pore and Bali are about 1.5 hours or so.
Love your top!
Abbie E.|| http://www.abulouslife.com
I've had friends try tacking on Singapore to a Tokyo trip and I always warn them that they are about 6-7 hours from each other. (People always think they are closer.) Singapore and Bali are great to tack on together since you can get a very cheap budget flight to Bali from Singapore (as cheap as USD200 if you book in advance).
In Singapore:
– if you must have chili crab do yourself a favor and also try butter crab (my fave is Uncle Leong's or Mellben), salted egg crab, and/or white pepper crab which are all wayyyyyyy tastier IMHO
– must eats at hawker centers: char kway teow, popiah, chicken rice, laksa (recommended hawker centers: Lau Pa Sat, Maxwell, Chinatown, or Tiong Bahru for the real local stuff)
– my favorite local spot is Sin Hoi Sai in Tiong Bahru (faves: marmite pork ribs, moonlight char kway teow)
– whenever I go back I always, always eat thunder tea rice it's a nice, light, but still yummy break from the other really heavy stuff
– fave place for a drink and some live music: Timbre on the river next to the Asian Civ Museum
I'm one of those people that plans every.single.meal. when I go to Singapore. So much to eat, so little time.
Bali is amazing. My fiance and I stayed at a few airbnb properties for about $60 USD a night. One of them had a private pool, one was an awesome treehouse and one was right on the ocean! We rented a moped and explored on our own. One of the best trips of my life!
My best friend lives in Singapore and I've been there many many times. It's honestly not super exciting as a tourist but they have the best food.
My fiance (John) also works as a Japan travel specialist right in Boston! He plans customized trips and lots of honeymoons :). He knows I love your blog and is probably grateful for all your awesome tips for me (I'm pretty much the same measurements as you!). I'm sure he'd love to help you out! Check out https://www.audleytravel.com/ca/japan if you're interested!
Hi Jean!
I'm no Tokyo expert, but here are some of the more out-of-the-way things that my husband and I really enjoyed when we were there:
Best Gyoza. Ever. Worth the queue, go hungry eat till you drop: http://www.lonelyplanet.com/japan/tokyo/restaurants/other/harajuku-gyoza-ro
For an amazing Whisky/Whiskey (they have both) experience, enter a mysterious dark door into Bar Nemo: http://tabelog.com/en/tokyo/A1311/A131102/13016817/
Tips we loved from a friend who lives there:
Sumida river boat trip is nice
http://www.sunnypages.jp/travel_guide/tokyo_leisure/water_busses/Sumida+River+Line/1870
You can get the boat to Asakusa which is an old historic area and quite interesting to walk around. It has the Sensoji temple which is touristy but worth a visit, and ‘Kitchen Town’ Kappabashi which is where chefs buy all their gear and is also dedicated to the mythical Kappa (nothing to do with the Italian sportswear label and everything to do with humanoid turtles)
Jinbocho
An atmospheric area with lots of old bookshops. You can walk up to the Yasukuni shrine.
http://www.mori.art.museum/eng/
Mori museum has some good exhibitions and Roppongi Hills also has a viewing tower (Roppongi station Oedo subway line)
Hope this helps, can't wait to see your posts from the trip and please please do a HAUL VIDEO. Japanese girls are fairly petite so you should find some great stuff.
Japan is my favorite! I'm going again in a couple of weeks! If you have time, you should go to Kyoto too – so beautiful there. (If you plan to travel to other areas in Japan, you should buy a Japan Rail Pass before you go. It'll save you so much money for train travel. You can only buy it outside of Japan.) For Tokyo, we love Sensoji in Asakusa, crepes in Harajuku, day trip to Kamakura, and of course the Tsukiji fish market 🙂
That'd be quite a trip! Good luck getting it all together.
Those green hunters add so much character to the look!
xx
Mikayla | thatluckieone.com
Oh my gosh, my fiance and I are planning to go to Tokyo and Bali as well this year! Mainly Bali but a layover in Tokyo for a couple of nights, hehe. I have no suggestions, but I'd love to hear more about your trip and suggestions YOU might have from your trip! 😀
http://www.deasynoel.com
Did you take advantage of the recent fare war from Boston-Tokyo on United/american? Tsukiji is moving in nov 2016, so you should definitely go there before it moves. Shinjuku, Golden Gai, Robot Restaurant are pretty awesome places!
So super cute!!
Blonde in Cashmere
Haven't been to SG nor Bali but a few times in Tokyo. You can eat non stop all day and all night long. I would suggest you to pick one or two nicer restaurants (omakase) based on opentable or Michelin Star reviews and then ask the hotel to help with reservations.
Love this look! that skirt is so cute!!
Lee – leethrifts.com
Singapore must eats- Kaya toast, Chicken rice, and Hokkien mee
http://travelerfolio.com/ya-kun-kaya-toast/ <-- most famous, must go place to eat Kaya toast!
Food courts are excellent. They are not fancy and certainly not very clean, but they're authentic.
If you get to go to Tokyo, you must visit the tonkatsu restaurant called Tonki. My Japanese grandpa has been going since it opened decades ago and my family and I eat there every time we visit Japan.
How exciting! When do you plan on traveling?
Hi Jean! You helped me with your recommendations for my recent to sf so I thought I'd help you out since I grew up in Singapore!
For Singapore, in terms of sightseeing, you can go to:
– Gardens by the bay
– Sentosa Island – nicknamed "Asias favourite playground" you could go zip lining and visit a beautiful aquarium that makes you feel as if you're in an ocean cave & etc
– Singapore Flyer – view of the whole of Singapore
– Singapore botanical garden
– night safari or jurong bird park
– Orchard Road – a street full of shopping! There's so many stores ranging from Australia brands, local brands, UK brands and Us brands (also, if you spend more than $100 in one receipt, you can get a tax refund in the airport! – "GST refund")
– Marina Bay Sands – swim in their infinity pool!
Food:
– you can go to a local hawker center such as Newton Circus to try delicious local food like fried carrot cake (not actually cake), BBq sambal sting ray, Laksa, chilli crab, oyster omelet, minced pork noodles and many more
– you can also "dine in the sky" in a cable car or at the Singapore flyer
– banana leaf in Little India
– Paradise Dynasty for colorful xiao long baos
– try Kaya Toast at Kopitiam
– level 33 for a reatusrant with a view
Hope this helps! Let me know if you have any questions ^__^
Love the classic beige and navy combination! The scalloped hem adds a really nice touch.
Avanti
xxx
avantigarde.wordpress.com
This comment has been removed by the author.
For your trip, if you like flowers, especially orchids, consider going to the Singapore Botanic Gardens. My husband has travelled to Singapore several times on business and raves about the orchids he's seen there. Found your blog about 6 months ago and absolutely love everything about it!! I have lived in Mass all my life and visit Boston often, and love seeing your neighborhood in many of your postings.
Try a cat cafe in Tokyo! and you should go see Mt Fuji and Tsujuki markets for their fresh sashimi! Japan is one of my favourite places to go!
katattack2000.wordpress.com
If you end up picking Bali, check out a traditional cooking class in Ubud! The Hubby and I were there last June and we loved spending the day with Paon Cooking Class. It started with a tour of the morning market before a full hands-on cooking class with fresh ingredients making everything from scratch. I just blogged about my experience. http://xiaoeats.com/2016/03/paon-cooking-class-pt-1/