A Korean Magnificence Tour With Comme Si’s Jenni Lee

Though she travels to Korea yearly, Jenni Lee’s newest go to was further particular. The founder and designer behind sock and loungewear model Comme Si travelled to Seoul—together with her husband and toddler in tow—to rejoice and showcase her collaboration with USM Modular Furnishings. Impressed by conventional Korean hanok structure, the gathering consists of particular version loungewear and eight custom-designed furnishings items, a few of which incorporate Comme Si’s signature textiles. Beneath, Lee walks us via her journey, from the wonder merchandise she picked as much as the ‘80s-themed restaurant she known as her “favourite.”

Expensive ITG,

I’m writing to you after spending 10 days in Korea. I reside in LA, however as a child, I went there each summer time to go to household. This time round, I went to showcase my {custom} furnishings assortment for USM in Seoul at 10 Corso Como. USM makes a few of the greatest modular furnishings round (if I do say so myself). My assortment was impressed by Korean architects and conventional hanok designs, after which I custom-made the items even additional by utilizing linen from the corporate I based, Comme Si. We debuted the furnishings assortment in New York, nevertheless it made lots of sense to showcase it in Korea, too. So when the chance took place, my husband and I made a decision to make use of the journey to introduce the nation to our toddler.

We particularly deliberate a daytime flight as a result of we didn’t wish to threat our son not sleeping on a red-eye and disturbing everybody else. The flight was a whopping 13.5 hours, however we landed within the night. That’s truly a extremely good trick for jet lag on the way in which there as a result of we went to mattress as quickly because the airplane landed, after which we have been able to go the subsequent day. Coming again is a unique story although…

Earlier than I journey, I normally do my nighttime skincare routine whatever the time as a result of I do know it’s going to be further dry on the airplane. The principle star is Aestura’s Atobarrier 365 cream. It’s been the primary winter cream in Korea for six years straight. I bought it on my final journey to Korea truly. It’s superb. And I’ve somewhat arduous case package that I at all times take with me. It has Beekeeper’s Naturals propolis throat spray so that you don’t get sick, Laneige lip balm, Tamburins hand lotion, Purell, and Huxley face mist. I additionally had my Fantastic thing about Joseon Aid Solar Aqua-Contemporary SPF, Sulwhasoo Clarifying Masks, Medicube, and Aestura Atobarrier 365 Hydro Cera-HA Ampoule with me.

We stayed within the Yongsan district, which is close to downtown Seoul, for the primary half of the journey. It’s good as a result of it has a direct path to the Mount Namsan move and forest. There’s somewhat child’s forest, too. After a handful of days we moved over to the Grand Intercontinental Parnas Resort within the Gangnam space as a result of we needed to be close to 10 Corso Como. The resort is definitely connected to the COEX Mall—well-known for its large library and aquarium—so you possibly can go instantly from the resort to the Hyundai division retailer inside. In Korea, department shops have the whole lot from groceries to clothes. They also have a meals court docket and correct high-quality eating eating places. You would spend the entire day in them for those who needed to.

After all the wonder procuring in Seoul was next-level. There have been so many good merchandise that I received overwhelmed. Rejuran’s face and neck cream is admittedly widespread proper now. It has salmon sperm DNA, which individuals have been injecting into their pores and skin, too. Actually, once I went to at least one pharmacy, the pharmacist was tremendous blunt and advised me that it isn’t going to magically change my pores and skin. ‘It’s simply one other cream,’ he advised me. I ended up exhibiting him extra merchandise and he’d inform me in the event that they have been value it or not. I did purchase a few bottles of pharmaceutical D-Panthenol’s diaper rash cream. Just like the Aestura moisturizer, it’s actually good for dry or chapped pores and skin. And there was a lot at Olive Younger, a well being and wonder retailer, too. I received a bunch of lip merchandise from Hince and a cushion basis from Fwee for my mother.

I received some facial laser remedies proper once I received to Korea. Since I had the Corso Como launch, I couldn’t do something that was going to depart my face uncooked or unseemly, however I received Onda and Titanium. They aim particular layers of the dermis to tighten and carry. You’re alleged to do them in repetition for the most effective outcomes, however I solely had time to get them executed two occasions. They advised me I’d see a distinction about two weeks later and that was undoubtedly the case. I simply appeared refreshed and brighter.

We ate a lot through the journey. We went to lots of hole-in-the-walls. I cherished how the eating places didn’t have large menus, simply six or seven objects that have been all superb. My favourite was Nanpo, this ‘80s-themed restaurant. I took my mother with my son, and he or she stored commenting how nostalgic the meals was. Oh, and I used to be in a position to attempt Ashotchu, a well-liked drink that has a shot of espresso with somewhat little bit of iced peach tea. The mixture of the sweetness from the tea and the bitterness from the espresso was so yummy.

I attempt to go to Korea fairly incessantly, and it’s at all times fascinating to see how a lot issues change, even within the span of a yr. The retail setting is so modern and it strikes so rapidly, so for me, it was actually fulfilling to see folks in a unique market react to Comme Si and the exhibit total. I didn’t develop up in Korea—I solely visited—however I’ve a love for the standard structure and translating that into the furnishings and having individuals who reside there say that my perspective is a contemporary interpretation was actually, actually superb.

Love,
Jenni Lee

—As advised to Daise Bedolla

Pictures courtesy of Jenni Lee and Comme Si