Modern Simple Living

Wardrobe & Gear Review Uniqlo Quality Decline A 2023 Shopping Haul Retrospective 11 Items Purchased $150 Total Spent (USD) 1 Item Still Wearable 40% Korea vs U.S. Price Savings Table of Contents ① What Failed (and How Quickly) ② The Shopping Haul ③ Wardrobe Perspective ④ Final Takeaway The biggest takeaway from my 2023 Uniqlo purchases is simple: most of the items barely lasted a few months. While Uniqlo was once known for delivering solid quality at affordable prices, that value proposition no longer feels reliable. Out of everything I purchased, only the green U Crew T-shirt remains wearable today—and even that has noticeably faded. The most disappointing items were the Supima Cotton T-shirts, which shrank significantly and developed holes within weeks of regular wear. Before 2020, Uniqlo consistently d...

Watch Collection Watch Collections Update A year of enjoying what I have 6 Watches in Collection 0 New Purchases This Year 3 Daily Rotation Pieces Table of Contents ① The Collection ② Apple Watch Updates ③ Usage Patterns ④ Looking Ahead   Section I The Collection I've decided to skip any new watch purchases this year and focus on my current collection of six watches: → Rolex 114270 → Omega 2531.80 → Zenith Cal 126 → Casio A168 → Casio G-Shock 5600 → Apple Watch SE2 Overall, I feel quite content with this lineup. My daily wear typically consists of the Apple Watch, though I often swap it out for the A168 or G-Shock. The versatility of the humble A168 continues to impress me. ...

Gear & EDC Shoe Rotation Update Finding the right fit — in brand, style, and size 5 Pairs in Rotation 3 Air Jordan 1s 10.5 New Target Size Table of Contents ① Current Rotation ② Comfort Adjustments ③ Impressions of Jordan 1s ④ June Update ⑤ Future Plans   Section I Current Rotation I've settled on Nike as my preferred brand, moving from Onitsuka Tigers to Adidas, and now focusing on Air Jordans. Here's my current shoe rotation: Regular Rotation → Air Jordan 1 Low — Reverse Black Toe  9.5M → Air Jordan 1 Low — Flight Club  10.5M → Air Jordan 1 Mid — Tartan Swoosh  9.5M → Miler's  10M Special Occasion → Air Force 1 Low  9M   Section I...

Coffee Korea Coffee Rankings A tasting tour through the Korean coffee scene 6 Items Reviewed A+ Top Pick ₩1,000 Best Value Find I've been enjoying the diverse coffee options in Korea, and it's great to see how much the scene has evolved since 2018. There's a fantastic variety of flavors now, moving beyond just rebranded American products. Here's my current ranking of some of the options I've tried:   Rankings Coffee Rankings Product Grade Notes Origin Toffee Nut Latte A+ Rich, perfectly balanced flavors. The standout of the bunch. Maeil — Barista Rules Madagascar Vanilla Bean Latte A− Quite decent. Vanilla shines here, though it doesn't quite match the Toffee Nut. ...

Travel Tokyo to South Korea A Week in Busan 7 Days 4 Flights Home 3 Cities Itinerary ① Day 1 — Arrival in Busan ② Day 2 — Ananti Hilton & Lotte Outlets ③ Day 3 — Nampodong Family Dinner ④ Day 4 — Nampodong Lotte Mall ⑤ Day 5 — Lee's Pizza ⑥ Day 6 — Coastal Walk ⑦ Day 7 — Return to the USA Day 1 Arrival in Busan I arrived in Busan from Tokyo and opted for a relaxed evening. After a haircut, I enjoyed dinner at a pork BBQ restaurant. After a long day that began at 4 AM in Tokyo and a crowded train ride, I decided to take it easy.   Day 2 Ananti Hilton Busan I spent the night at the Ananti Hilton, which was a luxurious experience for about $300 a night—something hard to find stateside. I had lunch at the Lotte Premium Outlets while shopping. The Tonkatsu was good, though I think Japan still do...