I’m not gonna deny — it’s been a wonderful, wonderful festive year. I’ve received lots of heart-stopping tokens and presents. Some of them are material presents but most of the terrific gifts I received the past eleven months are experiences that I’ll forever cherish in my head and my heart.

Sadly it’s not the case with a lot of people around the world. Not many people are as lucky as myself (and YOU) for that matter.

In the spirit of the holiday season, I’d like to request that a few minutes of your time and a donate few dollars out of your pockets. I’m sure you’ve overspent this month buying gifts for everyone that you know. But then again, you can always take a small slice from next month’s Starbucks budget and make the world a better place. Be a superhero and check out these charitable institutions I’ve been supporting over the years. Any help is appreciated, whether it’s five dollars or a thousand.

1) Doctors Without Borders [click here]
2) United Nations World Food Program [click here]
3) Kiva [click here]
4) TrickleUp [click here]

Thanks guys and I love you all!

What is it with the fashion’s love affair with all things plaid? It was one of the biggest trends during fall/winter 2008 and here we are, a third of a century later, it seems everyone in America is wearing something checkered. All the downtown tramps are wearing some sort of a flannel/plaid shirt with a white tank or tee underneath and a leather jacket on top. It’s not just a trend; it’s an epidemic. And this has been going on for years. I jokingly said on Twitter a few days ago, if god (that’s me) sent laser beams from the sky to exterminate anyone wearing plaid, half of New York City would be a goner by now.

Instead of wearing a flannel shirt (which, btw, is not gonna happen even if you point a gun to my head), I took my checked suit (which I bought in Tokyo) out for a spin over the weekend. I think this is the first time, at least on this blog, that I wore a full suit. I like it. No. I LOVE IT. This is a breakthrough for me. It’s like wearing a second skin. To be honest, I think I’m gonna start wearing suits more often. They have to be cute suits though not the snoozefest suits that make me look like a bloody waiter — hello, I’m Asian! 2010 was all about heels, 2011 was all about mixing and matching and playing so I’m gonna try to make 2012 all about suits. I’m kind of hating this new love affair because it means I’m gonna have to put a cease and desist on everything in my closet and start accumulating. It’s not a cheap vice to have.

Oversized fox fur scarf from Sonia Rykiel

HUGO BOSS recently held a contest on Foursquare and the winner, Adele Fevrier, flew in from Paris to shop with Chloe Sevigny at HUGO BOSS’ Meatpacking District in New York. Here’s a quick video summary of last week’s experience.

I’ll post the photos as soon as I can.

Oh Mr. Weather Man will you please explain why the powers that be is taking its time to bring us to winter wonderland? This year’s descent from autumn to winter is taking far too long. Except for that lone freakshow (or should I saw freak-snow) of an incident in October, I’m surprised it hasn’t snowed in New York… and Christmas is one week away! I need my dose of frosty flakes ASAP.

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This month’s Tokyo jaunt has got to be the longest time I’ve ever spent in the city that I found myself saying ‘I’m so Tokyo-ed out’ towards the end of the trip. And how can I not be Tokyo-ed out? I maximized my time with meetings, shopping (more like window-shopping because of the sick exchange rates) and of course, culinary indulgences. Tokyo is a city like no other. The energy and the pace here is simply not the same as, say, New York. I love it nonetheless and I look forward to coming back sooner than both you and I think.

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Behold my first quilted wool pea coat. I’m probably the last person to acquire such banal garment; I often associate it to Asian daddies of the erm, mature kind. However, I couldn’t stop myself fawning over it. I’m gonna spend quite some time in cold weather cities over the next few weeks — I have a feeling this is gonna be a winter staple. Perfectly handy and cozy for those lazy days when I don’t want to wear feathers, fur or exotic skins…

We love our readers. We really do. Given the fact that Rumi and I won’t celebrate Christmas together (she’s heading somewhere tropical, I’m heading somewhere cold), we thought it would be nice to treat you guys with a little holiday cheer from Tokyo. I bought the hat and the beard from superstore Loft and my sweater, “SHAME FACED” is from the “Church of Kawaii” also known as the iconic Shibuya 109.

We both wish you a festive, peaceful, loving and joyous holiday season.

Lots of love,
Bryan and Rumi

Packing/unpacking is the bane of my existence. But when a hotel room’s closet space is as generous as the one at the Peninsula Hotel in Tokyo, the time spent organizing your precious little sartorial gems to see them all on full display is absolutely worth it.

Clothes: Versace trousers, Prada trousers, Filippa K jacket, Dolce & Gabbana coat, Whyred coat, Gucci jacket, Vanessa Bruno sweater, Marc Jacobs cardigan, Adrienne Landau yellow feather coat, Adrienne Landau blue marabou coat, Mirco Giovannini coat, Versace x H&M jacket, Kenzo coat, Prada coat, Prada black polo top, Prada lurex polo x 2, Prada lurex v-neck sweater, Prada lurex turtleneck, Prada lurex v-neck sweater, Prada long-sleeve polo top

Shoes: Kurt Geiger boots, Acne boots, Prada shoes, Versace sneakers, Kurt Geiger suede shoes, K. Jacques sandals

Others: Peter Som x CFDA tote, Marc Jacobs polka dot bag, Reed Krakoff bag, Jason Wu Little Miss Wu bag, Chanel necktie, Hot Momma feather hat, Kitson baseball hat, Prada sequin pailette hat, Chanel sunvisor, vintage scarf from Herr Judit, Louis Vuitton Masai scarf, Louis Vuitton scarf, Commes de Garcons sweaters in beige and black, Marc Jacobs black shirt custom-tailored shorts

Chukling aside, the first thing my gurl Rumi asked me after she opened the door was: “is that your Empress outfit? You look very… regal!” I don’t blame her for saying that. I think this is the first time I wore a white look. My friend Mirco gave me this coat in Milan a few months back. I’m so glad I brought it with me because it’s so cold here in Tokyo, it’s not even funny. I know I’m gonna get mileage out of it in the months to come. Real winter (the snowy kind) hasn’t even started yet!

Hat by Adrienne Landau, coat gifted by Mirco Giovannini, socks and shoes by Prada.

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It’s always awkward asking random strangers to take photos but pride must be swallowed from time to time to get the shot.

On me: sunglasses, shirt, coat, socks and shoes from Prada
On Rumi: coat and shoes from Prada