An ordinary woman, balancing life in her own way.

If there are three words to describe me, they would be: professional, dedicated, and simple.

Hello, I’m Phuong Anh. I’m an ordinary woman with a professional job at a Dutch corporation, and a 14-year-old boy who is at the center of all my plans throughout the day.

To me, being “professional” is not limited to the office. It extends to every aspect of life: taking my son to and from school, talking with his teachers, and the way I respond to and handle even the smallest matters in daily life.

To be professional, dedication is essential. And when you put all your feelings and intentions into something, everything naturally gets done in a simple way.

I don’t choose between work and family. When I step out of the house, I belong to my work; when I come home, I let everything go to devote myself fully to my family. Perhaps that’s how I keep my life balanced and relatively peaceful.

Freedom in every choice

But when I stand on my own, I’m someone who loves freedom — freedom in every decision, not the kind that means leaving work or family behind. I want work that is interesting enough without feeling restrictive, and a family that is warm without exhausting anyone.

Freedom, so that every choice ultimately brings me back to a feeling of happiness.

It shows even in the way I choose what to wear each day. I don’t decide my outfit the night before. When I wake up in the morning, I simply pick what feels comfortable first — something that matches my mood and the day’s schedule. And TimTay’s linen gives me exactly that feeling: soft and light enough, yet modest enough.

Simple, but not careless; refined, but never showy.

That’s the short definition of my personal style. I like to be distinct in my own way — not too unusual, but with just enough of a signature for people to look and say, “That’s Phuong Anh.”

That signature also comes from the fabric: thick enough to hold its shape, yet breathable enough to stay comfortable and allow easy movement, without being tight.

At 43, I find myself loving clothes that let the body breathe - not the kind that forces you to struggle to maintain a pose or constantly hold your stomach in inside tight-fitting outfits.

And that signature also comes from minimal, refined designs that suit my work in internal communications. When meeting senior leaders or high-level partners, I need to appear professional yet humble; when I go down to the factory to meet employees, I choose something approachable and simple to shorten the distance between us. My outfits need to work in both of those contexts.

In the beginning, it was simply a matter of affinity.

The first time I discovered TimTay was through a friend’s personal page. To be honest, at first there weren’t many TimTay pieces that truly suited me. Yet I kept coming back — perhaps because of the space, the comfortable feeling, the careful stitching, or simply the quality of the fabric.

There are things that, at first, I thought didn’t quite suit me. But after encountering them a few more times and actually trying them on, I realized I still really liked them.

My connection with TimTay feels like a kind of love that isn’t impulsive — it grows slowly, gently, and lasts for a long time.

I truly appreciate the way TimTay selects and treats its fabrics, as well as the cohesion and versatility between different pieces, making them easy to mix and match. TimTay may be selective with its customers, but those who connect with it tend to stay loyal.

I also once read somewhere about a scientific study on the energy frequencies of clothing materials. According to it, linen, being entirely plant-based, is gentle on the body and can make the wearer feel more at ease and uplifted.

Over the past two years, I’ve collected almost every TimTay design, yet each piece still carries Phuong Anh’s own signature: I have them made in the colors I love and customize small embroidered details to match my personal taste. That’s why my TimTay wardrobe has gradually become quite extensive!

And above all, wearing TimTay means being myself.

Whether I’m going to work, attending meetings, going out, or traveling for business, I always have a few TimTay pieces in my suitcase. With the same top, simply changing the trousers and adding a blazer makes it formal enough; switch to a skirt and flats, and it’s perfect for a coffee outing.

Beyond looking beautiful, comfort, the feeling of being truly myself, and a quiet sense of feeling special are what TimTay brings to me.

So whenever I meet someone with a similar aesthetic, I’m always happy to recommend TimTay. Comfortable, beautiful, and distinctive — just enough to create a subtle difference.

And if there is one wish I have for TimTay, it would be for the brand to create a special highlight or a limited edition each year for customers to look forward to. At the same time, it would be wonderful to see more variety in colors and materials, while still staying within the brand’s familiar aesthetic.

Other than that, as long as TimTay continues to stay true to the values it already has, I will gladly remain - just as I have since the very first day we “met.”

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Mrs Phuong Anh is wearing Jumpsuit Đồi Xanh, Đầm Lam , Áo khoác Lam, Áo Lam & Quần Kendo.

Interview: My Anh
Photographer: Thanh Tien