into the triangle: a weekend in bermuda.

this summer, i made it a major point to really slow down, enjoy the summer and find some time to [relax] for a change. i’m proud to say that i’ve done just that. my travel itinerary over the past few months has been wild—berlin, the bahamas, st. lucia, costa rica—and this past weekend, i hopped on a quick flight (it’s only an hour and half from new york!) to bermuda for an amazing stay at the hamilton princess. while I spent a few hours shooting, i definitely chilled out the rest of the visit. oh, and igee + ryan were there to keep me company. check out some of my favorite shots from the trip. -j

our time on the property was wonderful. my room was huge—equipped with a full living room, patio, and bathtub (not to mention, grooming goodies from le labo). each of the three restaurants we ate at had my taste buds exploding. the staff at the gold lounge was super friendly (plus, they gave us the rundown on what was popping off around the island throughout the weekend). and my very favorite thing about the property: the art collection. they had the most impressive collection of contemporary masterpieces, from warhols to the huge KAWS statue i shot in front of in the pic below. i felt like i was staying at the MOMA.

lastly, we took some time to hang out at the property’s private beach a few miles away. from lounging in hammocks on the water to checking out the critters that live in the cove, it was probably my favorite experience on the island. i love the shots i got with my tripod, check ‘em out.

you can learn more about the property here.

[fyi: this post and trip was sponsored by the hamilton princess. big thanks to their team for having us out].

fall focus: heading upstate with nautica.

-sponsored by nautica and amazon fashion.

last friday, my friends and i jumped in a car, headed upstate, and spent the weekend eating a ton of good food, laughing a little too hard, and being so thankful for everything we have (including each other)—basically, what any good friendsgiving celebration is all about. and thanks to the unexpected mini-blizzard that hit new york the night before, what we thought would be a nice fall getaway turned into 48 hours in a winter wonderland... cozy essentials were a must.

i can be a total homebody when i want to be, so having a huge house in the middle of nowhere all to ourselves was a dream. my blanket doubled as my partner-in-crime, spiked hot chocolate became my new life source, and this comfy sweater from nautica was my uniform. i love a good color-blocked moment, so the design here is perfect, and with a little layering, it helped create the very best snow day get-up.

i spent the past couple of months drowning in distractions, and my social life suffered in the process. but now that i’m working for myself and have more control of my own schedule, i really plan on putting time with my loved ones back at the top of my priority list, this trip was perfect way to put that in effect.

next stop: D.C. this week for thanksgiving, and i just might throw this sweater in my suitcase again—don’t tell, haha. i’ve added some other cool nautica pieces to my amazon shop that’ll keep you looking good and feeling cozy for every holiday moment on your calendar (those anchor print sweatshirts have my name written all over them). -j

[take me to miami]: thankful for the 305.

so, my family and i switched up the thanksgiving routine this year and randomly found ourselves in miami—it’s a long story to explain, but trust it was a good decision. typically going the friendsgiving route, i’m used to spending the holiday in the city, but it was a pleasant change (and the sea, sand, and sun came at the perfect time). check out a few of my favorite shots from the 3-day escape below. -j

[take me to london]: 100 km per hour.

*inhales, exhales*

sorry, i'm still trying to catch my breath. the past week and a half in london was a non-stop motion of meetings, shoots, and happy hours—i know, i know, such a hard life, right? but when it's all on top of each other, things can get a little crazy. thankfully, in between it all, i found some time to chill out and enjoy being in my favorite city (after new york, of course). you know the deal: check out my favorite shots from the trip below. -j

[take me to málaga]: a visual travel diary.

so, i really needed a day or two to just sit around and do nothing. like, for real... just relax. and honestly, there may be no better place to do that than in málaga, a small port city on the southern coast of spain. charming in how laidback and completely spanish the culture is, it's the perfect place to slow down and get lost.

all that i had on my agenda: relax.

[take me to barcelona]: a visual travel diary.

before heading home from mykonos, i made a quick pit stop in spain for a few days. it was my first time in the country and barcelona welcomed me with open arms. 

while the stay was super short, there was plenty squeezed in—from all of the shops and amazing restaurants to exploring the club circuit and getting a crash course in spanish (and german, haha—inside joke for those who were there). check out some of my favorite shots from around the city below.

going back to the whole point about spanish, i was super proud of myself on this trip. having taken four years of the language between high school and college, i suppose i should've retained something, but up until i found myself surrounded by spanish-speaking spanish citizens, i didn't realize just how much i'd actually learned. the shining lesson here: don't doubt yourself.

[take me to mykonos]: a visual travel diary.

if you've been tuned into the 'gram, then you've probably gathered that i recently spent a few days in mykonos; and i must say, it's one of the nicest destinations i've visited in the past few years.

the island's really like a dream getaway, but not because it's a buzzworthy european hotspot. rather, for the things that truly make the culture great: the charming mediterranean color palette all around you, the tasty food, the 24/7 relaxed atmosphere, and the amazing people i was blessed to come across each day. check out some of my favorite shots from the trip and stay tuned for a look at the other spots i hit while i was away. -j

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sidebar: quite a few people weirdly asked me (and my friends) how i could just up and leave like that, without giving anyone notice. *side eyes* well... first, you book a flight to any city of your choosing. then you make the necessary arrangements in that city. finally, you go to the airport. it's really that simple. no permission slips required.

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[take me to london]: a visual travel diary.

two weeks in london... what an amazing trip. honestly, every time I visit, the experience gets better and better. it's almost starting to feel like a second home now. not to mention, the time away from nyc was much-needed. it put me in a fresh mental space, and with my new site and ASOS Insider account having both launched, I feel like I’m where I need to be to really get the fall moving in the right direction.

below, i've dropped a few of my favorite shots from the trip. take a look and be sure to check out my other two posts from my time in london here: me, myself, & the insiders. | sketch.

Take Me to London: Wanderlust

[originally posted on the no names, aug 2014].

[disclaimer]: It took me up until this moment — as in this moment of me writing this post — to remember where this dream of mine stemmed from, but I finally recall it clearly.

So, last Christmas, my cousin [chayenne mia]and I went to see The Secret Life of Walter Mitty while we were back home and something changed within me by the time I left the theater. For those who still haven't seen the film, I won't ruin it for you, but let's just say that after watching the amazing videography and the sights and experiences they captured, I came down with a severe case of wanderlust.

wanderlust |ˈwändərˌləst|
noun
a strong desire or impulse to travel and explore the world: a man consumed by wanderlust.

I've been absolutely overwhelmed with an urge to see the world. I literally think about it every day: on the subway, at my desk, in my bed, in the shower... I think you get the drift. I mean, the way I look at it is... there's no reason why my garments have seen more of the world than I have. With that said, I made up my mind to change this sad truth; and the first step (or you could say the first stop) has been made. I just got back to NYC after an amazing week across the pond in London and I wanted to share a few images with you guys. I tried not to be that tourist who wouldn't put his camera down the entire trip, so Chay and I — yeah, she made the trip with me too — saved one day for all of the typical sightseeing activities. I think we captured some pretty cool shots. Check them out.

[buckingham palace]

The trip was truly an amazing experience and it feels like I've entered a new chapter now. You perspective transforms when you get outside of your cage and fly free for a little while. Until you do, you can never fully grasp just how much there is to see out there. I can't wait to start planning my next adventure.

[the houses of parliament, big ben, & the london eye]

[st. paul's cathedral]

Between the Houses of Parliament and St. Paul's Cathedral, the baroque and gothic architectural styles were completely stunning. I couldn't take my eyes off of them.