Our First Postcard From Mark Asuncion in Istanbul
A New York photographer lands in Istanbul with a camera, a considered wardrobe and a loose plan. Mark Asuncion shares how he packs, how he travels and the Derek Rose pieces that carried him from long days exploring the city to cold evenings by the Bosphorus.
There's a particular type of traveller who moves through cities the way a good photograph is taken — with intention and patience, and a willingness to let the unexpected happen. Mark Asuncion (@moodsbymark), a New York-based photographer, is exactly that. We asked him about his recent trip to Istanbul: how he packs, how he plans (and how quickly that plan dissolves), and what he reaches for when long days demand both comfort and a degree of polish.
"Once I ease into the new city and find my favourite areas, I let my guard down and go with the flow." - Mark Asuncion
Q: Do you have a travel uniform?
A: I like to reserve my favourite clothes for the destination, but a few comfortable layers are usually my default to cope with any temperature changes during my journey.
There's something in that. The journey itself deserves its own kit — functional, forgettable almost — so that arrival feels like a proper beginning.
Q: What's the one (unexpected) thing that always makes it into your bag, no matter where you're going?
A: A travel catch-all tray is always with me. I need a convenient place to drop all my everyday carry items once I get to my hotel.
The small rituals that make a strange room feel like yours. We understand the instinct.
Q: Do you have an in-flight ritual?
A: I will always take the opportunity to snag a quick nap as soon as I get seated. The white noise is so conducive to rest. After that, I browse in-flight entertainment to see if it beats what I have downloaded.
A sound approach. Sleep first, negotiate later.
Q: Over or under packer?
A: I lean slightly toward under packing because I need space for my cameras. Once I get my camera gear sorted, whatever room I have left will be for my wardrobe. I'll make sure I have a few solid outfits, but the rest becomes more of a flexible capsule wardrobe.
When you know what actually matters, everything else falls into place.
Q: Do you plan your trips or go with the flow when you land?
A: I try to stick with my planned schedule for the first few days. Once I ease into the new city and find my favourite areas, I let my guard down and go with the flow.
Structure as a starting point, instinct as a compass. It's a good way to travel — and not a bad way to live.
Q: What Derek Rose pieces did you pack for this trip, and why?
A: I packed the Orson Merino polo for my polished outfits because I had a few nice dinners planned. I went with the Linen Tee, Basal Micro Modal Tees and Harris Lyocell trousers for a balance of comfort and style during my long days out exploring the city. Since I was there during the transition into spring, I also packed the cashmere hoodie for the cold evenings by the water.
Istanbul in early spring asks a lot of a wardrobe — warm enough by afternoon, sharp enough for dinner, genuinely cold once the Bosphorus wind picks up. It's a city that rewards packing with purpose.
Q: Do you have any must-visits for anyone travelling to Istanbul soon?
A: From what I experienced, most of the city wakes up slowly — except for the fishermen on the Galata Bridge — and becomes more alive at night. For some fun, take the ferry to Kadıköy, the Asian side of Istanbul, for a livelier evening.
Noted. The best travel advice is always the kind that feels earned rather than googled.
Istanbul has a way of rewarding the unhurried. The mornings belong to the fishermen; the evenings belong to everyone else. For Mark, it's the kind of city that makes a good argument for packing with intention — a wardrobe that works as hard as you do, then quietly steps back when the view demands your full attention.
Men's Resort Wear
