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 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]: sketch.

from the time I started working at ASOS (a british company fyi), I’d heard tons of stories about sketch london. if you've never heard of it, it's this posh little tea and pastry shop/restaurant/ballers club in mayfair—think soho house meets magnolia bakery meets starbucks, haha. having heard so many different opinions about the place, I didn’t really know what to expect, but let's just say that now... I totally get all they hype.

take an amazing interior, add some dimmed lighting, lots of pink, amazing treats, and throw in a funky bathroom from the year 2316, and that's pretty much sketch in a nutshell. branded with an air of exclusivity and the misleading idea that everything is super expensive (it’s not—i spent 10 pounds for all that i got, and it was worth it), it’s definitely a cool place to check out if you’re in the area. bring a friend or two, put your phones down, and just talk—and then go take bathroom selfies, of course. -j

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.