Shopping in SoHo NYC and the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory

I’m a bit delayed with this post but, hey, it’s better late than never?

Last month, Josh and I took a quick train adventure to New York City. I previously shared a glimpse into Day One but have two more days to share.

When booking this trip, we had zero defined plans. After a stressful year of work events, we decided that we wanted to keep it casual with no rushing from place to place. Instead, we committed to picking an area to wander. That area ended up being SoHo.

(Save $50 with code SARAHFLINT-BASERENAJ)

Our adventure began at the Sarah Flint Pop-Up Shop. I first came across the Sarah Flint brand (through Instagram) over the summer months. I was on the lookout for cute summer footwear and found the Mirjana Sandal. I also adore beautiful silk neck scarves and fell in love with Sarah’s painted designs.

Fast-forward to this day: Josh and I stepped into the shop and were greeted by Joseph. As Sarah Flint doesn’t typically have brick-and-mortar locations, I was excited to see the footwear options in person and try on some shoes (specifically the Linda x Gravati Boot and the Natalie Flat).

Both of these selections were stunning and, on the spot, I made a “Treat Yourself!” decision.

While I was determining my sizing, Sarah herself happened to step foot into the store. She kindly made conversation with us and shared about the craftsmanship behind her brand. She asked about us and we shared that we typically visit NYC for work assignments but were in-town for leisure.

Now, here was something unexpected: Sarah took down our information and I was later invited to partner with the Sarah Flint brand as an ambassador. As I’m new to this whole style blogging scene (and lack a significant public following on my personal Instagram account), I was pleasantly taken aback. Not that follower count indicates worth, success, or capability (it doesn’t)… but I was nevertheless surprised.

I’ll be sharing more details about this brand partnership in a separate post.

However, since I am presently part of the community, my personal code is SARAHFLINT-BASERENAJ. If you are new to the brand, you can save $50 off of your first order!

Linda x Gravati Boot in Black Calf and Shearling (Save $50 with code SARAHFLINT-BASERENAJ)

After our trip to the Sarah Flint Pop-Up, it was time for Josh to browse some stores he’d been wanting to stop into (mainly Loewe, Rimowa, and Dior).

Transparently, I’m still trying my best to navigate the world of style blogger photography. As an introverted photographer and filmmaker (outgoing when required — typically client-facing), I struggle with publicly being in front of the camera. I mentioned to Josh that I was hoping for more “candid outfit photos.” The goal was to not distract from our daily experiences and promote authenticity, as I’m not a fan of going to a spot and ruining the experience for area pedestrians. However, this “candid method” proved to be much more difficult than we had anticipated. Ideal framing and focus rarely aligned with showcasing a clear image of the full outfit. (This also may have had to do with the wool coat that covered the majority of my outfit from most angles.)

With that said, here is an incredibly awkward photo of myself standing on some cobblestone with an attempt to capture quintessential New York City within the frame (a passing yellow taxi cab). The entire image feels like a lie but does showcase the majority of the outfit worn. In retrospect, I should have removed the wool coat for at least a few frames. Again, I was attempting to avoid ingenuity (which makes no sense, as I have personally requested the removal of coats for hundreds of client portrait sessions throughout the last decade+).

I’ve seen many of the Christian Dior Book Tote designs, but this one was gorgeous. Also, if I hadn’t already treated myself to some footwear, I would have considered these lovely pointed-toe slingback flats. They paired so perfectly with the outfit I was wearing.

My hope is that I will cross paths with an authentic, gently-worn pair of these flats on The RealReal or Poshmark. Funny enough, I was incredibly lucky with the pair of Hibiscus Walk n’ Dior sneakers I wore for most of this day out. I had considered this limited-edition pair while they were in season and, all of a sudden, they sold out. Recently, one pre-loved pair (in my size) popped up on Poshmark. So, with all of that said, it isn’t completely out of the realm of possibilities!

We stopped into the Dior Men’s Store for some more browsing. Let’s just say that this was a “Treat Yourself!” type of day for the both of us.

Galeries Lafayette Navy Beret | Gucci Interlocking-G Flower Pearl Earrings | Sheertex “Nude Sheer Tights” in Light-Medium | Hibiscus Walk n’ Dior Sneakers via Poshmark | Strathberry Nano Tote via Poshmark | Fleurette Wool Coat in Tan via The RealReal | RED Valentino Dress with Bird Collar via Poshmark | Gold Skirt via H&M (circa 2018 — I no longer shop fast fashion)

This fall, we stayed overnight at the Mandarin Oriental, Washington DC for a client’s event. Ever since, Josh has been obsessed with the Philosykos scent by Diptyque Paris. It was on his bucket list to stop by a Diptyque store while in NYC.

Unfortunately, the majority of their inventory (including the Philosykos scent) was only purchasable online.

Thanks to Simon (the incredible associate who was a part of Josh’s Dior shopping experience), we left the area with some wonderful dinner recommendations. The two of us had never walked through New York City’s Chinatown so we headed that way for some delicious eats. Simon’s recommendations did not disappoint.

There was also an opportunity for some night-time street photography (see below).

Stop Asian Hate.

I spotted this #EnoughHate sticker and couldn’t resist snapping a photo.

Nyonya Malaysian Cuisine and its famous Roti with Curry Dip appetizer lived up to the hype.

Simon (from Dior) was also of Asian descent and, at one point, we chatted about foods that felt home-y to the both of us. As a young child, I was introduced to Red Bean ice cream and it quickly became one of my favorite dessert flavors growing up.

The Chinatown Ice Cream Factory was a personal local favorite dessert spot of his and he strongly recommended that we swing by. It was a delight and exceeded our expectations. Next time we’re in NYC, we are certainly making a stop.

I ordered the Red Bean flavor (predictable) and Josh chose the Taro flavor. Both selections were everything we had hoped for.

And that’s a wrap to a day of delightful cuisine and luxury shopping experiences! Stay tuned for a post on our last day (a stroll through Central Park) and a look into the quirky Japanese hotel we stayed at.

Photographs captured by Josh and I on the Leica Q2 and iPhone 13 Pro.