Hola mamacita! Hola papi chulo! Despite all my world travels, I had never been to Mexico. It seemed appropriate that Mexico City be my introduction. I’ve heard so many things about this megalopolis — glorious food, terrible traffic, and plenty of pollution, but to be honest, as I stepped off the plane, I had absolutely no idea what to expect.

I had a long list of places to visit in the city, but at the top was the Centro Historico, or the historical center of Mexico City. At its heart was the Zocalo, a plaza lined with immense buildings with ancient facades stained by the pollution and hundreds of years of rich history. Standing at the center of it all, listening to the bells of the cathedral, I felt as though I could have easily been in some other old-world European city.

Queenie and I left our hotel, the Condesa DF in Condesa, at the crack of dawn to beat the crowds and traffic. We spent the entire morning wandering around and paid our dues at some of the old, very old fixtures, such as the Palacio Nacional, Cathedral Metropolitana, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Museo Nacional de Arte and Palacio de Correos. We got back to the hotel just in time to make the last call for breakfast. We couldn’t have had a more productive morning!

On me: Saint Laurent Paris polka-dot button-down shirt (click HERE to buy), 3.1 Phillip Lim shorts (click HERE to buy), patent leather brogues by Gucci (click HERE to buy). On Queenie: Theory shirt, Prada backpack, All Saints jeans.

Thought I’d share some shots during my final days in Los Angeles. I can’t believe taping Cycle 20 of America’s Next Top Model has gone by so quickly. I remember bolting for the airport after the Calvin Klein show on Valentine’s Day during New York Fashion Week… and now it’s April all of a sudden! The past month and a half disappeared in a flash!

I have to say, I’ve developed a strong sense of familiarity with the production team and crew that are a part of the show. I’m so happy to see most of them this time around. Even though I’ve worked with them for such a short amount of time, they’re all really starting to feel like family. I’m gonna miss all of them so much once we wrap taping.

Jacket by Giorgio Armani Made-to-Measure, shirt by DSquared2, trousers by 3.1 Phillip Lim, patent leather brogues by Gucci (click HERE)

I hit the courts with Queenie and Rumi the other day. It was my first time playing tennis. I have to say that I did pretty well, considering I wore 3 inch Marc by Marc Jacobs wedge sneakers on the court. Mama Anna Wintour is probably beaming with pride and delight right now…

Unless you count swimming in hotel pools or online shopping marathons, I’m not big on sports. I really should be more active at my age. Handling racquets and chasing balls is my idea of a perfect Sunday activity. Why not?

Shirt by 3.1 Phillip Lim (click HERE to buy), shorts by 3.1 Phillip Lim, shoes by Marc by Marc Jacobs, watch by Cartier

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3.1 Phillip Lim just released ‘Trickers’ by Jacob Sutton featuring Phillip’s spring/summer 2013 menswear collection.

The best way to tell whether my boo feels safe or not is by looking at the pocket where he keeps his cellphone. If he feels safe, he’d put his cellphone on the back pocket of his jeans. If he has doubts, he’ll put it in his front pocket. While walking to the White House, I told him, well, Washington D.C. is probably the safest place in America right now, with what, big brother watching from every imaginable angle possible, even from the sky! He then rebutted, well, a small town in Alaska is probably the safest. To which I replied, “I can see Russia from my house!”

No visit to the nation’s capital would be complete without stopping by the venerable White House. Can I just say that it looks much, much smaller in real life than how it looks on television? Proof that television and cameras add 10 extra pounds…

Sunglasses by Celine, shirt by Theory, sweater by 3.1 Phillip Lim, coat by Max Mara, trousers by COS, shoes by Balenciaga

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Finally, some new things for the new season. Snap! Fall 2012 went just like *that*. I’m thrilled that Resort 2013 merchandise are trickling in… I bought this cute embellished sweater at 3.1 Phillip Lim store in Soho the other day. Obsessed with it.

Sunglasses by Celine, shirt by Theory, sweater by 3.1 Phillip Lim, trousers by COS, bag by Rebecca Minkoff, hat bought from Hong Kong, watch by Michael Kors, bracelets by Vita Fede and Tuleste

Click HERE to buy the 3.1 Phillip Lim sweater.

As you guys already know, I went to Istanbul earlier this month for this year’s Elle Style Awards.

Jacket by 3.1 Phillip Lim, trousers from Paul Smith, coat by Max Mara, bag by Dolce & Gabbana, shoes by Balenciaga

Thank you so much for the award and the generous hospitality. Such an honor!

God I love my mom. It’s been quite awhile since I last talked to her on Skype. Without any doubt, the apple didn’t fall far from the tree. Sometimes, a conversation with her like having a conversation with myself.

Sweater by Izzue, sleeveless coat by 3.1 Phillip Lim, bag by 3.1 Phillip Lim, trousers by MTWTFSS, shoes by 3.1 Phillip Lim

“You’ve lost weight.”

“You’re not tanned anymore!”

“I’m now following you on Instagram because you never call and it’s the best way to know what you’re doing… but I like Rumi’s photos than yours!”

Me: “Who else are you following?”
Mom: “Your beautiful friend Rumi”
Me: “Who else?”
Mom: “Martha Stewart.”

It was all fun and good until she said ‘you look thin on THAT image of you with the vacuum cleaner”.

LORD HAVE MERCY.

Great. Just great. Bless the soul of a mother who saw a picture of his grown-up son in black briefs, corset, laced Minnie Mouse ears and a vacuum cleaner on the internet.

I miss my family so much.

Many of you have asked what my Thanksgiving plans are. I’m not American and Thanksgiving is still a very foreign concept to me. Last year, I celebrated Thanksgiving by myself in a hotel room in Tribeca over take-away Indian food. I still don’t know what I’m gonna do tomorrow. A few of you invited me to join your festivities but I think I’m gonna celebrate it by cocooning in my apartment.

No matter where you are in the world, I wish you all a happy Thanksgiving. Travel safe, eat healthy and don’t forget to be merry.

Here’s the view from my seat at the 3.1 Phillip Lim spring/summer 2013 fashion show yesterday afternoon.

What’s worse than a crying infant while trying to sleep on intercontinental flights? A twenty-minute ferry ride from Manhattan to Brooklyn filled with children laughing, children crying, babies who ate their own fingers and hands, babies who dropped their pacifiers on the floor, etc etc etc. I’m very much pro-water taxis but yesterday’s trek was something else. Rumi and I were surrounded by screaming toddlers on the ride to Williamsburg.

Top by 3.1 Phillip Lim, shorts by 3.1 Phillip Lim, bracelet by Hermes, sunglasses by Celine, handbag by Celine, shoes by Prada