An's List - The September Edit
September life check-in, fashion & travel favorites, fall shoes, movie rec, & recent NYC food spots I love
After unboxing all the packages I received, I realized that my COS package had been stolen. It got delivered a day after I left for Europe, and someone stole it the next morning. This week, our landlord’s mailbox was broken into. We have camera footage with clear views of both incidents, and we have reported it to the police. Sadly, I don’t think there’s anything else we could do, and I’ve been so annoyed about it all week. For the past couple of months, I feel like I haven’t had a full night of sleep without waking up a couple of times throughout the night because of my partner’s persistent snoring. It’s also been so hot that I’d wake up drenched in sweat, so I can’t sleep unless the AC is on. My lower back hurts.
Don’t worry, rant is over. I took some action! I bought earplugs. I went on my neighborhood walk and got bread, and all felt right at the end. Also, I can’t believe that I’d be the one who says that I love my routine now. I’m home in Brooklyn, and life feels like it’s slowly coming back to normal. I used to think routine drained the excitement out of life, but now I really get why people appreciate it.
Anyways, I hope you’re doing well and that your life is good, too! I finally feel like I can breathe because I got most of the travel content up. All photos are ready, and I cannot wait to share them on my IG and my blog.
The September Edit
SEPTEMBER FAVORITES
Let’s start with some favorites this month!
I’m so glad Banana Republic is bringing back these loafers this season. For the price and leather quality, I don’t think you can find anything better. I bought mine (almost identical style to the pair I linked, same price) back in April of this year. I wore them a few times during my Europe trip, and they were the best shoe choice! Yes, walking multiple hours on cobblestone streets!
And they’re so chic, styled around the waist as a belt - SHOP THIS OUTFIT HERE!
I recently changed out my Parachute linen pillow covers to these striped ones from Tekla. They were just a bit cheaper because I bought them at the Tekla store in Copenhagen. My current linen bedding from Parachute (I have Java and Toast!) is brown and perfect, and the sheets get softer with every wash. Eventually though, I’d love to switch over to all percale cotton bedding, preferably from Tekla.
FASHION WEEK FAVORITES
NYFW 2025, showcasing Spring Summer 2026, just ended, and my favorite collections hands down were Khaite, FFORME, and Calvin Klein. Milan Fashion Week is here, and I’m even more excited for Paris. Who’s tuning in?
Big fan of Khaite’s leather pieces and shapes! SS26 collection, HERE.
Jil Sander Spring 2026 Ready-to-Wear Collection by Simone Bellotti
Simone Bellotti gains many fans, and I’m one of them! I think he’s done an excellent job at bringing back the old Jil Sander that we knew and loved yet modernizing it with clean lines and precise shapes.
Prada Spring/Summer 2026 Womenswear Collection by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons
The colors, the proportion, the cut-outs and laying are just top-notch and inspiring. I would wear every single look!
FALL SHOES IN MY WISHLIST
I gasped when I saw these shoes from Phoebe Philo — the buttery soft leather, the contouring lines, and the slightly round-square off toes with the most perfect looking heel height. In case you need to have a browse in person while in NYC, Bergdorf Goodman and Dover Street Market carry her brand!
These flats also come in white, and I’d own both! I love the upper foot design and how it’s hugging the foot, so comfortable!
FALL DENIM
I’d have to admit, I love buying jeans but don’t find myself reach for them as often as I’d like. But I still love buying them! Below are my two top picks, and I love that they’re both styled with white T-shirt and sneakers.
MADEWELL 30% INSIDER SALE PICKS
To become an Insider and get free shipping, you can simply sign up with your email. I find myself browsing Madewell in person and online a lot lately, and this Magasin mention inspires my picks for the sale this time. I bought these jeans (greendale wash, my size, size 26), this belt (burgundy with silver buckle), and this suede tote (soft mahogany). I have these barrel jeans (washed black, 26), and they’re hands down my most worn jeans this summer.
TRAVEL FAVORITES
Copenhagen
The best three bakeries in CPH, hands down! You can start with their popular items or go for any classic Danish breakfast spreads, sandwiches, bun with whipped butter and cheese, pastries, yogurt bowls, local milk, coffee brewed from popular local coffee roasters, tea selection, etc.
You can read more HERE (Copenhagen, Stockholm, and Amsterdam 11-day Travel Itinerary).
Stockholm
Amsterdam
The Papeneiland in Amsterdam will forever have a very special place in my heart. I love its history, location, interior, and old charming vibe. We each had a glass of beer and shared a slice of Dutch apple pie with whipped cream before dinner, and it was perfect. There were also a bunch of people sitting in the front of the café on low-profile tables and chairs, and it reminded me so much of Vietnam (and how we’d all share similar café culture!).
In case you missed, I posted part 2 of my Europe travel vlog, sharing what I did in Stockholm and Amsterdam. I hope that you enjoy it as much as I love creating the vlogs for you!
NYC FOOD FAVORITES
Left: Get 20% off your first Devoción Coffee order, HERE.
Middle: For fresh sourdough loaf, I get mine from my local bakery Saraghina Bakery ($13). I get the Bianca, plain loaf, and I always ask for a light one (meaning the crust is less burnt). If it’s the day of, I usually slice and eat my bread as is. I store the remaining piece in its paper bag on the kitchen counter and then store the slices in a big zip-loc bag in the freezer. I find that it’s much easier to slice the next day! To make toast (without a toaster or without having to turn on an oven): heat up a small pan, add olive oil, and let the frozen piece of toast fry just as is until golden both sides. Then add toppings! Currently, my combo are toasts with good salted butter and jam or avocado and chili crisp.
LES PRES SALES sea salt camargue Belgium butter from Whole Foods
Bonne Maman mixed berries preserves from local healthy food stores
Right: If you love strong matcha, 12 Matcha in Bowery is my go-to, iced Americano or latte with oat milk. I also love the cold whisk Ichiban matcha from Nippon Cha in Williamsburg (I get mine unsweetened!).
My top go-to favorites include all of the classics, and I think East Harbor does it so well and consistent. I’m obsessed with their shumai (best here!), steamed stuffed tofu rolls, shrimp rice rolls with sweet soy, braised chicken feet, sticky rice in lotus leaves, soup dumplings, and har gow. I always ask for extra sauce which is mustard and chili sauce, and of course, you’d also need a pot of hot tea! Last tip: try to make it there before noon for the freshest and best food selection. It’s busy and packed there, but trust me, it’s well worth the wait!
Triple crunch chili crisp, recipe inspired by Derek Chen on Tiktok. I loosely follow his recipe, mainly the ingredients and steps. It turns out so good every time. And addicting!
left: Simple Homemade Sugar Donuts (Yes, I’m aware I need to buy an actual donut cutter, lol!); right: Spam Musubi (no recipe, I just slice the spam block into 6, quickly fry and add a glaze (soy sauce, sugar, mirin, and water - and let it reduced and thickened. This is the sushi rice that I use. To season the rice: I add a tbsp of seasoning rice vinegar and a tbsp of soy sauce.)
NYC RESTAURANTS AND BARS I CANNOT WAIT TO CHECK OUT THIS FALL
I Cavallini - from the team The Four Horsemen, my favorite wine bar in Brooklyn
CERES PIZZA - pizzas!
Swan Room - bar
Red Hook Tavern - burgers!
L’Appartement 4F - pain au chocolat
Monkey Bar - drinks & vibe
Happy Zoe Vegan Bakery - fruit whip
Cecchi’s - their match box! If you’re a collector, you’d know!
FILM FAVORITE
I watched The Girl with the Needle on the plane while flying back to NYC from Copenhagen. It’s a recommended watch by SAS, Scandinavian Airlines, and after reading the excerpt, I know I would be into it. It’s a perfect example of the type of psychological horror black and white films that I like. Set in Copenhagen in 1919, the film explores the themes of desperation, inequality, and survival in a post-WWI Danish society. It’s dark, gripping, and the plot twist is shocking. It’s ‘a tough watch’ or ‘the type of film that needs to get under your skin’, as some reviewers said, but I loved it.
Lastly, my favorite clothing boutique in Brooklyn, OUTLINE, just released their Fall 2025 Catalog, and I loved the styling and imagery. Can’t wait to stop by and browse their new-in section for fall!
I have a friend coming to stay with me this weekend, so I’m excited to take her around to all of my favorite spots. Stay tuned on my IG stories for what I’m up to! Take care and see you next week!
An :x