How long has it been since my last outfit post? Feels like a whole lifetime ago. I know blogging is probably dead and no one reads it anymore, but, honestly, this blog has kept my heart beating all these years. Perhaps I’d forgotten that for so long—what with the vlog and Patreon now—but, ultimately, being able to just write about whatever I want feels super liberating. This space has always felt like my own special corner of the internet. So, let’s catch up!
I’m not even sure where to start. I think the last time we had a proper chat was around March or April—and now June has crept up on us. Well, May, in particular, had been a kind of whirlwind. I was playing catch up with myself and it bled into June a little bit. Now I’m determined to make it right.
How long has it been since my last outfit post? Feels like a whole lifetime ago. I know blogging is probably dead and no one reads it anymore, but, honestly, this blog has kept my heart beating all these years. Perhaps I’d forgotten that for so long—what with the vlog and Patreon now—but, ultimately, being able to just write about whatever I want feels super liberating. This space has always felt like my own special corner of the internet. So, let’s catch up!
I’m not even sure where to start. I think the last time we had a proper chat was around March or April—and now June has crept up on us. Well, May, in particular, had been a kind of whirlwind. I was playing catch up with myself and it bled into June a little bit. Now I’m determined to make it right.
📷 Fujifilm X-T100 with Fujinon Aspherical Superb EBC XC 15-45mm lens
Just Passing Through
These photos were taken around Dukuh Atas station—a place of transit for various public transportation system, namely MRT, commuter line, Transjakarta bus, airport train. Agung and I initially planned to pass through here on our way to Brightspot Market. We went there just a week previously, but missed out on an entire section—so we’d thought to come again. However, unfortunately, Agung’s stomach wasn’t in tiptop shape, so we decided against it. He was determined to help me take these photos at Dukuh Atas though, so away we went.
I used to pass by here on my way to and from campus way back when, but it was long before most of the public transport existed—there used to only be the commuter line and Transjakarta bus. It was so different back then; the area is so developed now. I was also here a few years ago, having taken photos of myself by myself. Even since then, things have changed—for one, that tunnel no longer exists in the same way anymore, it is now a spot for advertisement…such a shame.
Wabi Sabi ID shirt (gifted) | Bobo Tokyo skirt (defect sale) | Roti Eneng tote bag | hand-me-down jacket | ANDiE earrings | photos by Agung
These photos were taken around Dukuh Atas station—a place of transit for various public transportation system, namely MRT, commuter line, Transjakarta bus, airport train. Agung and I initially planned to pass through here on our way to Brightspot Market. We went there just a week previously, but missed out on an entire section—so we’d thought to come again. However, unfortunately, Agung’s stomach wasn’t in tiptop shape, so we decided against it. He was determined to help me take these photos at Dukuh Atas though, so away we went.
I used to pass by here on my way to and from campus way back when, but it was long before most of the public transport existed—there used to only be the commuter line and Transjakarta bus. It was so different back then; the area is so developed now. I was also here a few years ago, having taken photos of myself by myself. Even since then, things have changed—for one, that tunnel no longer exists in the same way anymore, it is now a spot for advertisement…such a shame.
Wabi Sabi ID shirt (gifted) | Bobo Tokyo skirt (defect sale) | Roti Eneng tote bag | hand-me-down jacket | ANDiE earrings | photos by Agung
A Grassroot Runway
That being said, this place has always been pretty iconic. Since it’s a meeting point of various public transport options, it has allowed for a rare pedestrian-friendly space where people can pause from the city—all the while being smack dab in the centre of it.
There are more pavements here than, I daresay, the rest of the city. It sets the stage for a plethora of local-owned coffee shops and—previously—small kiosks as well as an MRT-initiated makeshift library. The last time I was here, I promised myself I would come again soon. Can’t believe it’s been 3 years since then and most of the things I’d loved about this place had gone away.
Still, some of its iconic charms remain. The charms that attracted crowds from out of town to hold their own catwalk—what was famously known as Citayam Fashion Week. What a wild phenomenon it was! It took the nation by a storm—and to think that it was initiated so freely, so simply, so (most probably) without much planning (if any), by a bunch of young people from a somewhat unknown suburbs.
While it was called a fashion week, I did remember it going on for months and months. I also remember mixed reactions from people all around, since the phenomenon ended up attracting such a massive crowd that it became a disturbance to locals. In the end, it needed to be dispersed once and for all.
That being said, this place has always been pretty iconic. Since it’s a meeting point of various public transport options, it has allowed for a rare pedestrian-friendly space where people can pause from the city—all the while being smack dab in the centre of it.
There are more pavements here than, I daresay, the rest of the city. It sets the stage for a plethora of local-owned coffee shops and—previously—small kiosks as well as an MRT-initiated makeshift library. The last time I was here, I promised myself I would come again soon. Can’t believe it’s been 3 years since then and most of the things I’d loved about this place had gone away.
Still, some of its iconic charms remain. The charms that attracted crowds from out of town to hold their own catwalk—what was famously known as Citayam Fashion Week. What a wild phenomenon it was! It took the nation by a storm—and to think that it was initiated so freely, so simply, so (most probably) without much planning (if any), by a bunch of young people from a somewhat unknown suburbs.
While it was called a fashion week, I did remember it going on for months and months. I also remember mixed reactions from people all around, since the phenomenon ended up attracting such a massive crowd that it became a disturbance to locals. In the end, it needed to be dispersed once and for all.
A Two-Way Street
Lately, I’ve been hearing through the grapevine that twee fashion is making a comeback. Twee, it turns out, is the kind of clothing style I’d been wearing when I first started blogging. If you’d read this blog since the early 2010s, you might have an idea what I’m talking about—although, let’s be honest, I still rock that style from time to time. And this got me really sad and nostalgic about those peak blogging years—back when we were a community, back when numbers didn’t matter, back when people still read blogs. Before influencers were a thing, before TikTok and social media took over, before commerce was all that’s left.
Today, perhaps only less than 10% of the friends I’d made through blogging are still active online, let alone still blog. Literally no one I used to read still does, actually. Most of them have gone off grid—which is to mean that they don’t have much (if any) social media presence. While I know they still live their lives—wherever they are—I can’t help but to feel a little sad that I couldn’t somehow be a part of it. Now and then I do miss those friends—I miss reading what they write, I miss being inspired by their clothes or personal projects, I miss sharing stories with people halfway around the world. Even if we never meet.
But such is life, I suppose. Part of it is also growing up—or growing old—and we let go of the need for validation…if at least a little. But I will always keep this little part of myself, the part that loves to wear cute (ethical) clothes and write about places or events or people. Hoping that—little did I know—some of those friends would stop by here sometime.
If we’ve known each other through blogging,
and you happen to stop by, do say hi!
Lately, I’ve been hearing through the grapevine that twee fashion is making a comeback. Twee, it turns out, is the kind of clothing style I’d been wearing when I first started blogging. If you’d read this blog since the early 2010s, you might have an idea what I’m talking about—although, let’s be honest, I still rock that style from time to time. And this got me really sad and nostalgic about those peak blogging years—back when we were a community, back when numbers didn’t matter, back when people still read blogs. Before influencers were a thing, before TikTok and social media took over, before commerce was all that’s left.
Today, perhaps only less than 10% of the friends I’d made through blogging are still active online, let alone still blog. Literally no one I used to read still does, actually. Most of them have gone off grid—which is to mean that they don’t have much (if any) social media presence. While I know they still live their lives—wherever they are—I can’t help but to feel a little sad that I couldn’t somehow be a part of it. Now and then I do miss those friends—I miss reading what they write, I miss being inspired by their clothes or personal projects, I miss sharing stories with people halfway around the world. Even if we never meet.
But such is life, I suppose. Part of it is also growing up—or growing old—and we let go of the need for validation…if at least a little. But I will always keep this little part of myself, the part that loves to wear cute (ethical) clothes and write about places or events or people. Hoping that—little did I know—some of those friends would stop by here sometime.
If we’ve known each other through blogging,
and you happen to stop by, do say hi!