Little Thoughts is always welcoming and somehow, quite soothing. Maybe it’s Yulanda’s affinity for wearing sunshine shades of yellow? Whatever the reason, Yulanda’s quirky-cute ensembles are a breath of fresh air and a nod back to the nostalgic 60s. We love how her look is always clean-cut and tailored, yet dainty. Not to mention, Yulanda’s practically a professional photographer! Her photographs are muted and ethereal - who would have guessed quick style snapshots could be art?

Your trademark look?
I’ve always considered it to be a mix of this and that (perhaps due to my indecisive nature). I like to think I’m constantly evolving. However, I do have a penchant for the colour yellow, peter pan collars, grandpa cardigans, pleats, plaids, and tights in a variety of colours, patterns, and textures.

Gig?
I’m in the midst of building my print portfolio and rebuilding my online portfolio. I recently completed an internship at a Canadian publication named FASHION Magazine. I was their photo intern and it was such a great experience.

Inspiration?
Photographs of all sorts, memories/history, my imagination, and cliché as it sounds: life. Other bloggers inspire me as well - I love seeing how someone halfway around the world with the same article of clothing makes it his or her own.

Currently coveting?
Among the million things on my wishlist, I’m coveting a non-existent pale yellow wool coat that my mind dreamt up. Since I’ve given up all hope of finding it, I’m digging the Ines-S coat from Soïa & Kyo, which is quite different from the imaginary coat. Hopefully I’ll have enough money for it soon!

Grooving to?
Artists that consistently make my ears happy include Nada Surf, Interpol, French Kicks, Sigur Rós, Caribou, Air, and Shout Out Louds.

Can’t live without…
My cameras, my Macbook, poutine, lip balm, and my Shu Uemura eyelash curler.

Most beloved finds?
All the vintage handmade (by a Shanghainese tailor) qipaos that belonged to my grandmother. When she lived in Hong Kong, she wore a qipao everyday (similar to the women in Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood For Love, though hers weren’t as fancy). She had casual ones for daily wear and dressier ones for special occasions. Also, the various cardigans I’ve collected from both my grandfathers. I have a soft spot for the MBMJ pear watch pendant I was given last Christmas.

Closet envy?
My mother’s when she lived in Hong Kong as a teenager in the 60s. I love looking through her old photographs. When she was growing up, she often had clothes and shoes tailored since it was cheap to have clothes custom-made. She would drop off a sketch to the tailor shop in her apartment building on her way out and pick it up a few days later. It must have been amazing!

I will never wear…
I don’t like saying never, but it’s pretty safe to assume I won’t be doing the big shoulders anytime soon. Some people can pull it off, but it’s definitely not for me - I look like a pint-size football player!

Favorite haunts?
Little Italy - for the gelato at Dolce and the magazines at Presse Internationale
The Annex - for mashed potatoes, cake, and hot chocolate at Futures and dolsot bibimbap in nearby Koreatown
Chinatown - for the pho at Pho Hung
Leslieville - for the oatmeal raisin cookies at Tango Palace

Yes, they’re mostly food places! I also have a knack for constantly ending up at a bubble tea café called Go For Tea. Their cold mango black milk tea never fails to make my taste buds smile. The hot strawberry tea at Ten Ren is amazing as well. Enough food - I like the vintage shops in the Ossington area and trawling around the H&M at Eaton Centre during weekdays in the early afternoon before school kids take over.

Sources: Yulanda Yee