[take me to miami]: thankful for the 305.

so, my family and i switched up the thanksgiving routine this year and randomly found ourselves in miami—it’s a long story to explain, but trust it was a good decision. typically going the friendsgiving route, i’m used to spending the holiday in the city, but it was a pleasant change (and the sea, sand, and sun came at the perfect time). check out a few of my favorite shots from the 3-day escape below. -j

[take me to london]: 100 km per hour.

*inhales, exhales*

sorry, i'm still trying to catch my breath. the past week and a half in london was a non-stop motion of meetings, shoots, and happy hours—i know, i know, such a hard life, right? but when it's all on top of each other, things can get a little crazy. thankfully, in between it all, i found some time to chill out and enjoy being in my favorite city (after new york, of course). you know the deal: check out my favorite shots from the trip below. -j

[take me to málaga]: a visual travel diary.

so, i really needed a day or two to just sit around and do nothing. like, for real... just relax. and honestly, there may be no better place to do that than in málaga, a small port city on the southern coast of spain. charming in how laidback and completely spanish the culture is, it's the perfect place to slow down and get lost.

all that i had on my agenda: relax.

[take me to barcelona]: a visual travel diary.

before heading home from mykonos, i made a quick pit stop in spain for a few days. it was my first time in the country and barcelona welcomed me with open arms. 

while the stay was super short, there was plenty squeezed in—from all of the shops and amazing restaurants to exploring the club circuit and getting a crash course in spanish (and german, haha—inside joke for those who were there). check out some of my favorite shots from around the city below.

going back to the whole point about spanish, i was super proud of myself on this trip. having taken four years of the language between high school and college, i suppose i should've retained something, but up until i found myself surrounded by spanish-speaking spanish citizens, i didn't realize just how much i'd actually learned. the shining lesson here: don't doubt yourself.

[take me to mykonos]: a visual travel diary.

if you've been tuned into the 'gram, then you've probably gathered that i recently spent a few days in mykonos; and i must say, it's one of the nicest destinations i've visited in the past few years.

the island's really like a dream getaway, but not because it's a buzzworthy european hotspot. rather, for the things that truly make the culture great: the charming mediterranean color palette all around you, the tasty food, the 24/7 relaxed atmosphere, and the amazing people i was blessed to come across each day. check out some of my favorite shots from the trip and stay tuned for a look at the other spots i hit while i was away. -j

sidebar: quite a few people weirdly asked me (and my friends) how i could just up and leave like that, without giving anyone notice. *side eyes* well... first, you book a flight to any city of your choosing. then you make the necessary arrangements in that city. finally, you go to the airport. it's really that simple. no permission slips required.

[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.

sketch london x jovelroystan.xyz 4.JPG

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].

london x the no names x wanderlust

[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.

london x the no names x wanderlust 2

[buckingham palace]

london x the no names x wanderlust 3
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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.

london x the no names x wanderlust 5

[the houses of parliament, big ben, & the london eye]

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london x the no names x wanderlust 7
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[st. paul's cathedral]

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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.