Hong Kong Fashion Geek

Nuts for Nacho

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 04:19:00 +0000

Just a very quick one today (spent the morning figuring out how to get "approved" to send out our weekly newsletter, which you can now sign up for on the right... shameless plug...). I was meaning to post this later when the online shop was officially open, but I wanted to introduce you ladies to Gizzy & Nacho, which is going to be Hong Kong's answer to Shopbop. The site isn't live yet but a showroom is open on Arbuthnot Road and you can make appointments or go during walk-in hours on Tuesdays 6-9pm or Saturdays 2-5pm.

WHY you would want to go to the showroom is because the clothes are totally sick, and totally affordable. After a quickie meeting with the lovely owner Laura, I was meant to go to a work cocktail but instead spent time in the changing room debating over which colour of the Naven dress I'll be needing... (hot pink? blush? white linen? denim? arghhhhh). I decided I need to return with FashionGeek in tow as my colour coordinator/advisor, but I picked up two MinkPink tanks for the drop-dead sale price of $240 each, which is about half of what you would pay at any other site online (Shopbop, Tobi...).

Totally channeling fashiontoast's Rumi Neely. And even though today is not as warm as the HK Observatory previously predicted, I had to wear one tout suite... And I'm proud to report that this is the first time during my 830am dog walk that people were staring at me rather than my attention whore of a dog. Granted, it was smarmy old men staring at my chest, rather than fashionistas gasping over my wardrobe, but... oh well. Take what you can get.

I also really wanted this Boulee corset but... er... it was ridiculously small. And I was kind of embarrassed to ask Laura's boyfriend to go get me the biggest size possible. But... not too embarrassed to write about it on the internet. Go figure.

Anyway, this post didn't end up being short at all (my propensity to babble rears its head again...).

Images: Gizzy and Naven

A Little Fall of Rain

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:13:00 +0000

An awful lot of my friends are moving into new apartments recently. So much so that the past couple meals I’ve had with friends have always been interrupted by contractors or delivery men or designers etc. And normally these calls tend to be rather lengthy so I’ve found myself daydreaming about what my own place would look like when I eventually make that grown up step and move out. First thing I decided was that I must have a decent shower. And on my daily prowl for things to entertain you, I come across the perfect thing.

I never thought I’d be one to lust after a shower fixture. After all, lusting after fashion and gadgets already fills my ‘to covet’ quota. But check out the products from Jaclo’s spa collection. Choose from the Aquavolo Duetto, a stainless steel showerhead fixture that doubles as a waterfall shower and a rain shower, the Circolare spa rain canopy or my favourite, the Dream Light Rain Canopy which features LED lights to illuminate the falling water in white, blue, amber, red, green or warm white hued lights. Why you need to have coloured water, I’m not quite sure. But doesn’t it look pretty? It’d be perfect for those days when you want to belt out that Glee tune, or perform an impromptu rain dance.

SHOErotica: Valentino Floral Organza Sandals

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:48:00 +0000

The Go Fug Yourself girls said Amanda Seyfried looked like she "put glue on her feet and then ran through a tub of curds and whey" when she sported these babies to the Golden Globes afterparty... but I think they're lovely.

GET THEM at net-a-porter.

Spoil Me Silly

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 01:36:00 +0000

How many of you have moaned about not know what to get that significant other for their birthdays, anniversaries, Christmas etc? I find that the older you get, the harder it is to buy someone a gift that they will appreciate which is why I normally go through the boring route of asking people what they want for their birthdays. I’d much rather give them something they want/need than something that is just going to be regifted, or hidden in a closet for years and years. After all, we all know closet space is a premium here in Hong Kong and there’s only so many old gifts we can shove in there before our clothes scream for mercy.

So I was really excited when Spoilt contacted us to be their ambassadors. What’s Spoilt? It’s a brand new startup that was launched last month and brings the concept of experience gifts to town.

Here’s how it works. You go to the Spoilt website, www.spoilt.com.hk and choose from a selection of gifts in the following categories: water, flying, outdoor, gourmet, creative and pampered. You can also browse by occasion, recipient type or price range. After you make your selection, an experience voucher is couriered to the recipient and packaged in a personalized gift box. ShoeGeek and I have had a wonderful time browsing through the experiences and our favourites include:

Tall Ship Sailing with Pirates - Join a pirate crew and learn to sail this beautiful European tall-ship, The Bounty. Get an introduction to Escapology and help with hoisting the sails! Afterwards, relax and enjoy the harbour view!

Mini Coffee Cupping Experience - This one is perfect for coffee lovers. Coffee cupping is a coffee tasting experience where you will get the opportunity to compare the aroma and flavour profile of different coffees.

Scrapbooking Workshop- Commemorate your precious moments by decorating and narrating your photos in a scrapbook! More than just a photo album, scrapbooking is a way of preserving memories by arranging photos, journaling and other embellishments in a creative layout.

And these are just the beginning. According to founder Michelle Lam, there will be more experiences rolling out throughout the year. So keep an eye out for our new column, Spoilt Rotten as we embark on some of the experiences and bring you a review of our favourites.

Fashion Week Redux: Leatherhead

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:30:00 +0000

Oh how I heart leather. You should see me in shops when the sales assistants turn their heads away -- manhandling, sniffing and generally molesting specimens of the softest, most buttery skin. And then eventually my purrs of lust alert the salespeople to irregular activity and I'm forced to pretend I was only casually eyeing some garment. Because leather is such a tactile pleasure, it's frustrating to see it on a flat screen... like watching porn with the sound off. But it doesn't stop these babies from looking damn good.

Stylish Bites

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 10 Mar 2010 02:12:00 +0000

Continuing our love for gummy bears, we present the Gummy Bear Chandelier. Unfortunately, dear readers, the gummy bears in question are made of acrylic and not edible but the chandelier is still pretty darn cool. And check out the store which carries them, Jellio. Combining interior design with childhood fun, they have created quite a few bits of yummy furniture. Sorry guys, I’m really hungry right now so I’ve got this fixation with the food furniture more than the other fun stuff but if you go on the site, you’ll see plenty of iconic pieces of childhood brought back to life in a funky way.

Jellio’s key focus is to create interior design that makes you smile and they have certainly done that with the amazing items they’ve created. I’m drooling over the Cupcake Seat and would love to pair it with the Ice Cream Bench. Also, be sure to check out their Custom Projects section. They’ve done some pretty cool stuff such as creating lava lamps for the folks at Google, and Rubik’s Cubes for a PS3 launch. Be prepared though. If you are a Geek like me, you’d covet everything they have on offer yet won’t be able to afford it as their items are pretty pricy.

Branded

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:44:00 +0000

Here I was thinking "damn I forgot to put up a blog post last night, better do a quick one covertly from work" and then I promptly forgot about the issue and decided to open my mail instead while fretting about the fact that I completely forgot the Chanel show is in two hours and I'm wearing no makeup and no jewellery and... flats. Thank God I keep a pair of heels in the office. And then I noticed a Chanel envelope amid the fray and thought it might be a follow-up notice, reminding me to RSVP to the show, or perhaps notifying a change of location.

Et voila! Insta-jewellery!

Two sheets of the Chanel temporary tattoos were included, which were used in the Spring 2010 show, as well as a disc of images showing the models sporting them. Jewellery? Check. Blog post topic? Check. And this is, dear readers, probably the most economical Chanel bling you will ever purchase -- $550 for 55 patterns, or $10 a tat. Available at boutiques from the end of this week.

Now that's what I call branding.

ETA: Decided not to go to the show. Giant chin zits marring my ability to be seen in public. So the tat application will have to wait!

Geek Spy: TweetBookz

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 01:15:00 +0000

Perhaps you have always dreamed of penning that Great American Novel. Perhaps you are full of witty banter that no one appreciates. Or you’re just looking for a gift to present to someone who seems to have everything. If you fit the above criteria AND the words obsessive tweeter describes you, you may have already written the novel without knowing. In which case, head on over to TweetBookz, a handy service that allows anyone to create, print and order books of tweets from any Twitter account.

Choose from four designs in soft and hard cover versions. Prices range from US$28 to US$38 which covers shipping in the US. Extra charges apply for international shipping.

Of course, if you want to opt for the cheaper option, there’s always http://tweetbook.in which despite the similarity in names, only provide a pdf book of your tweets.

Bag Lady: Valentino Laceland Tote

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:46:00 +0000

The Valentino Laceland Tote is oh so pretty yet oh so pricey.

Shelf Life

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 08 Mar 2010 01:24:00 +0000

When you've been working in the magazine biz for a number of years, you may find you've collected quite a number of back issues that clog up your apartment. The primary reason to keep a full-time job, I often find, is so that you can refrain from bringing home magazine issues until absolutely necessary. As you can tell from the images above, I've come up with some uber-stylish solutions for displaying my life's work... NOT.

But I'll be moving into my first official "grown-up" apartment and will be getting a wall-to-wall shelving unit that, my designer friend guarantees, is calculated to hold "20 or more years of career." Yay! I can't remember where I found all of the below pictures, but if you're looking for a bomb-ass shelving system, just take them to a contractor for replication. Yes, I am condoning architectural piracy. Doesn't everyone do it?

I was rewatching The September Issue and fell in love with Anna Wintour's neat white Vogue spines in her neat white shelves. But not all of us are lucky to stay with the same publication for 20+ years. The colour coordination of book spines seems like a tedious task, but it is cool-looking. Otherwise, I do also like how Mizz Wintour leaned photo frames against the magazines to add some detail and personality. Wish I could find a photo...

Spring Fling

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:47:00 +0000

As part of my quest to gain as much weight as quickly as possible (not really but that's what my stomach seems to be feeling these days), I bullied a certain PR King at Langham into taking me to lunch at Ming Court. The Michelin men don't always get it right, but if the dim sum is anything to go by, this Chinese restaurant seems to deserve its two stars. What's most delicious is that the prices are fairly reasonable. So if you were to calculate on a price-to-value ratio, it would score pretty damn high.

So my bottomless stomach and I are considering a return visit (and not just so I can achieve mayoral status there on FourSquare, as the venue is currently mayorless), because Ming Court has debuted a Vibrant Spring menu that's just filled with naughty, naughty food. Like what, you ask? Roasted suckling pig with foie gras sauce. YUM and only $78 a head. Braised lobster with urchin sauce. Pan-fried wagyu beef with black truffle oil. It's like the chef decided to take a truly decadent ingredient and then bump up the sex factor by combining it with another madly desirable component. For a triple-whammy, the lobster trio pictured above left is almost too pretty eat... except everyone knows beauty is fleeting, so that needs to get in my belly tout suite.

Note to self: Do not write food blog posts when hungry. Except, dear readers, though you may see this time-stamped as posted in the AM, I am actually writing this literally five minutes after dinner, with my oil-smudged bowl still sitting on my bedside table. Glamorous, I know. But I must then conclude that either the food is looking so good it's getting me hungry again... or I'm just a pig. Probably a bit of both.

Ming Court will be serving this special menu, which can be viewed in full after the cut, until May 31. The restaurant is at Level 6, Langham Place, Mongkok, Hong Kong. Tel: 852 3552 3300.

MING COURT’S VIBRANT SPRING MENU
Roasted sliced suckling pig with foie gras sauce
$78 per person
Braised lamb with thyme in honey and loh-sui sauce
$138
Thai style barbecued pork loin
$198
Lobster trio - Cooked in superior soup, steamed with yellow wine and egg white, stir-fried with hot and sour sauce
$178 per person
Double-boiled chicken with Chinese herbs
$688
Braised lobster topped with urchin sauce
$588
Braised whole African abalone (three heads)
$788 per person
Braised superior sea cucumber stuffed with prawn and matsutake mushrooms
$198 per person
Braised matsutake, mori and ling chi mushrooms with sea cucumber and dried shrimp roe
$298
Pan-fried wagyu beef with black truffle oil
$268 per person
Pan-fried wagyu beef rolls stuffed with matsutake mushrooms and fungus
$98 per person
Baked flaming pork loin in red wine
$198
Braised pork loin with kale, served in a casserole
$198
Stir-fried fish balls stuffed with minced lamb in herb and soy sauce
$188
Steamed chicken with sake
$188
Stir-fried diced lotus root and olive leaves served with lettuce
$168
Steamed organic sliced bean curd accompanied with stir-fried diced vegetables
$168

Happily Ever After

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 01:42:00 +0000

As more and more brands hop into the luxury hotel bandwagon, the impact of staying at one of them lessens. But the trend is here to stay and the latest label to house a ‘pet project’ as referred to in the press release is Moschino. Joining the likes of Bvlgari, Armani and Versace to name but a few, Moschino recently opened a hotel property in Milan that boasts of being the “home and place of enchanted fairytales”. With 65 rooms to its name, a restaurant headed by acclaimed Chef Moreno Cedroni, a spa, and of course, a Moschino boutique, Maison Moschino is situated in a neoclassical building that was once Milan’s first railway station. Sixteen designs have been chosen for the rooms, and all are based on fairytale, such as” Alice’s Room” and “Red Riding Hood”. Check out more of the interiors after the cut.

SHOErotica: Jessica Simpson Dany

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 04 Mar 2010 01:11:00 +0000

Normally I wouldn't post a Jessica Simpson shoe here (then again, once you've seen dog-filled crocs on here, who's to say where we draw the line) but it seems this unassuming model, the Dany, has been garnering quite a bit of attention out there. It looks darn ugly in the image above, but as you'll see after the cut, it actually is a lot more elegant once on the foot. Quite a few of my favourite fashion bloggers have sported them in spite of the freezing temperatures in their climates. But it seems the way to go is to pair these babies with socks... yeah, not for me. Thank God it's warm in Hong Kong.

From the top: Fashion Toast, Where Did U Get That, Fashion Chalet

GET THEM at Zappos... or not. They're sold out. Everywhere.

Down the Rabbit Hole

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 23:06:00 +0000

In honour of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland opening today, I thought I’ll showcase some Alice in Wonderland paraphernalia that’s been floating around the web from makeup, bracelets, pendants to nail polish.

Tom Binns Smashing Time bracelet

OPI Alice in Wonderland colours which are called Off With Her Red! Absolutley Alice Mad As A Hatter and Thanks So Muchness!

Stella McCartney charm bracelet

Swarovski's Red Queen, Mad Hatter and Cheshire Cat pendants

Urban Decay’s Alice in Wonderland Book of Shadows

Geek Spy: Cubist Theory

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:36:00 +0000

In a city where tiny apartments are prevalent and stress rampant, this Foldaway Massage Chair should be pretty ideal for the Hong Kong market. Boasting of invigorating leg and foot massages and folding to the size of the ottoman, the Foldaway Massage Chair uses air cells to inflate and deflate to deliver a kneading sensation. Finger-like nodes provide acupressure massages on the toes, arches and soles of the feet. At US$800, this is a pretty pricey gadget (not to mention it’s basically the Osim iSqueeze plus a chair, and the iSqueeze is considerably cheaper) but there’s something about its red and white colour scheme that has us wanting this overpriced ottoman that folds into a 22” x 19” block (the press release calls it a cube but the math nerd in me disagrees). Of course, the fact that us Geeks are suckers for anything convertible might also be a factor. What do you think? Is it worth it?

Available here

Re-Gifted

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 01:15:00 +0000

I'm not sure if these are sold out yet, but Joyce is now peddling a line of exclusive iPhone cases designed for their annual Truly Gifted line, which went on sale last week and will go until March 14. Last year, they released a limited-edition USB stick by Alexander McQueen, but this time they've partnered with no less than six design houses, including Anna Sui, Marni, Bless, Dries van Noten, Etro and Rick Owens.

Now maybe my standards are a bit high, but does it seem like some put more effort than others into their little creation? Having six designers really creates a scale for judgement. For example, is slapping your logo on a bright yellow case tantamount to releasing your own branded limited-edition iPhone case? I would think not, but here Dries is certainly doing it... and I'm betting some brand whores are buying, too, given that four out of the six aren't stamped with logos, thus rendering them indistinguishable from the HK$38 cases you can buy in any shop on the street. Sort of. Bless' pebble-shaped creation is no doubt the most unique, but I could get on board with Etro's, which utilizes the house's signature print work, or even Rick Owen's crater-faced creation.

All of this leads me to wonder at which point the dilution of brand value will actually begin to affect luxury retailers. It's great for the consumer, and especially the Hong Kong consumer, that luxury-good retailers are spreading their wings into numerous markets, instead of concentrating on the US and Europe as in years past. Asia has always put up with a lot of complaints regarding fake designer goods, which is fair, because you can find a lotta fakes out here. But what about the brands who are whoring their name out to the point that for every seasonal item offered, there's an equivalent limited-edition version produced? Flooding our continent with a small supply of unimaginative exclusive goodies isn't exactly pumping up the value of your brand, is it?

Many luxury houses get into the fragrance market because it's a way to increase their brand's reach at lower income levels. For the gal who can't own a Gucci bag, for example, there's always the Gucci Envy perfume. That, I understand: you want consumers to be able to access you on some level while they save up for the big-ticket items. A small stable of exclusive products goes in the opposite direction, intended to reward those who are truly loyal to the brand.

And now we have something not quite here, not quite there: exclusives that aren't that exciting, intended to please whom, I wonder?

Geek Gab: Ching Dynasty

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 01:35:00 +0000

We’ve got a bit of a crush on Mary Ching shoes designed by Alison Mary Ching Yeung so we decided to hunt down the designer in question and ask her a few questions. Currently available in Shanghai, Mary Ching will be coming to Hong Kong this month. Her shoes are often inspired by the Chinese culture but with a British edge much like the designer herself who is a Chinese-British blend.

Hong Kong Fashion Geek: How would you describe your personal style?
Alison Mary Ching Yeung: Eclectic, vivacious and flirtious.
HKFG: What trends are you appreciating right now?
AMCY: I don´t follow trends, I make them!
HKFG: Who would be your dream celebrity client and why?
AMCY: Right now I really want to dress Maggie Q, Zhang Man Yu and Gong Li
HKFG: What's one item you're saving to buy?
AMCY: A useful man.
HKFG: What's something you never leave the house without?
AMCY: My dog Dim Sum.

Mary Ching will be available to buy in Hong Kong at a new concept store, Forest Bird, on Staunton Street which is opening in early March..

Toy Story

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 23:32:00 +0000

Even though I'm a Geek -- I get addicted to meaningless sim games from Restaurant City on Facebook to Fish Tycoon on iPhone -- I do draw the line at ponying up real cash to support my geekiness. No judgement to those who do, just that once I open the wallet, its a slippery slope to emptying my bank account on decorative limited-edition casino items to make my restaurant more stylish...

So I definitely, definitely won't be using this Toy Traveling service that Michelle sent me, through which you can send your beloved plushie around the world to Prague, where it will be photographed extensively so that you can partake in its post-holiday tales. This seems particularly apt today as I just caught Vin Diesel as XXX, who saves the city of Prague from destruction by gas-bomb-wielding anarchists (and you thought I was going to make an Amelie reference). Anyway, so your toy can see the sights that Mr Diesel did, all for the very low price of... 90 euros, which includes the photos, a certificate, daily communications and a "surprise." Upgrade to the 150-euro package and you also get a photo album, aromatherapy and massage. No word if these services are for you, or your beloved soft toy, but either way, I'll be saving my cash for shoe shopping.

Images: Toy Traveling

Bag Lady: Bow Glazed-Leather Shoulder bag from Sonia by Sonia Rykiel

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:24:00 +0000

I'm normally not a fan of bows but there's something appealing about this off-kilter bow. From Sonia by Sonia Rykiel

Fashion Week Redux: Cape Town

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 02:01:00 +0000

When I posted last week about the top 10 LBDs at NYFW, among the selection was a sort of caped Paris 68 dress that gave me wet dreams about being a caped crusader-Catwoman kind of hybrid. And then I noticed that it wasn't just one designer that created garments utilizing this silhouette/neckline. Spotted in London and Milan:

Christopher Kane did a more structured version that might only give you limited arm mobility...

Luisa Beccaria did a very demure, lady-like pleated blue...

And at Emilio Pucci, a very dramatic and wispy version...

Images: Style.com

Who to Trust

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 02:15:00 +0000

Here’s some fun trivia for your Friday morning. Reader’s Digest recently conducted a survey in October on the city’s most trusted people and professions and the results are in. Josephine Siao Fong-fong is considered Hong Kong’s most trusted person while our leader Donald Tsang is ranked 77 out of 80. My question is, if you flip the list around, do you get Hong Kong’s list of most least-trusted people? And if so, does that mean Donald Tsang is third on the list? And who is number one on the least-trusted list then? Jacky Chan.

Other people who made it into the top 10 trusted list includes Joseph Sung, Rebecca Lee, Andrew Li, Lee Lai-shan, Chow yun-fat, Wong Kam-po, Yip Wing-sie, Sydney Chung and Sir Run Run Shaw.

So which professions do people trust the most? The number one spot belong to firefighters followed by medical technicians, doctors, physiotherapists, pharmacists and dentists. I guess it’s not too surprising given that if you can’t trust your doctor, who can you trust?

The least trusted profession ironically is fortune-teller. Every CNY, fortune telling books fly off the shelves. And in a city like Hong Kong where almost every office has been blessed by a fortune teller (or a pastor), I wonder how much of the loss of trust is related to the recent Tony Chan scandal?

Source: SCMP

SHOErotica: Sasquatch! Pet Bed

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 26 Feb 2010 01:08:00 +0000

Not quite the shoe porn you're used to, but for a footwear fiend like myself, there's nothing cuter than a dog bed inspired by the croc. Who's a cozy little corgi?

Get it at Sasquatch! Pet Beds

Skin Deep

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:57:00 +0000

Fans of British skincare and spa brand Elemis should go check out their new Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser at Pacific Place this week. Developed in response to the trend towards richer and creamier cleansers, Pro-Radiance Cream Cleanser contains deep-cleansing waxes that remove make-up while providing anti-oxidants to nourish the skin. So why head over to Pacific Place? Elemis is holding an exclusive preview this week where you receive free samples of the cleanser when you undergo the free 15 min Elemis Skin Lab consultation and a free home skincare kit worth HK$500 when you purchase the full size cleanser (HK$580). If you go for the skincare consultation and then purchase the cleanser, then in addition to the free skincare kit, you also get a 30 minutes free facial at the Elemis Spa Pod in Lane Crawford.
This promotion is valid until Feb 28, 2010

NYFW Redux: Top 10 LBDs

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 25 Feb 2010 02:15:00 +0000

There are a few things that we all have in common -- we all eat, sleep, poop, etc. When it comes to the category of us ladies, I'm pretty sure that amid all the differences, one thing we probably have in common is that we each own at least one incarnation of the Little Black Dress. In my case, it's more like 30 different versions. But I thought it'd be interesting to trawl through all of New York Fashion Week and find the 10 best LBDs around (I haven't gotten through LFW yet). Starting with the above... a grid-like pattern at Herve Leger by Max Azria which seems much more forgiving than the previous bandage dresses.

For a posh night on the town for a girly girl, this Marchesa lace dress is sophisticated and flattering.

No surprises here, the queen of the LBD, Victoria Beckham, gives us a sleek and classic pencil silhouette, updated with a little draping at the neckline.

Threeasfour has been more and more impressive each season. If you remove the alien-princess-from-Star-Trek styling, this is actually a beautiful sleeveless round-necked assymmetrical dress in a flashy fabric.

Oh Proenza Schouler. The designer duo seemed to have been moving away from the corseting that made them famous in the beginning, but I see a hint of that coming back in this little dress, though the bodice isn't as severe. And I'm such a sucker for leather.

Jen Kao is a relatively new label, but it's been making quite a bit of noise in a short time, especially in the blogger circle. This rock 'n roll furry vest and minidress would be perfect for a leggy model. Which sadly, I am not.

Paris 68 is in its first season, its designer Marcella Lindeberg's husband works on William Rast, but I like her collection more than the Justin Timberlake-helmed rugged denim-loving brand. This black dress with a built-in cape is so simply yet so different from anything you see out there.

I'm not personally big on embellishments, the whole pailette-covered bejewelled thing. But if you have to weigh down your look with built-in accoutrements, then Malandrino does hardware right: chunky, dark, daring.

If the doyenne of wedding-day wear were to do a wedding dress in black and cut it to cocktail length, I think this is what it would look like. But what I think is so genius is that it is romantic while maintaining a bit of contemporary flair.

Last but certainly not least, Coach's Reed Krakoff's inaugural womenswear collection under his own name has this utilitarian feel that I'm very much liking. This leather dress comes off as a little bit dungaree-ish, which I like, I like a lot.

Images: Style.com

Sausage Party

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 24 Feb 2010 02:23:00 +0000

After a KFC smorgasbord last night which I chased with blueberries, shrimp chips and swedish fish, I should by all rights be curled up in bed with a tummy ache, but instead I'm ogling hearty food photos as I slurp my morning yogurt. And what's getting me particularly hot and bothered this AM is the Good Wife Sausage, available at the Belgian pub-restaurant, Frites. This new addition to their already lethal menu includes a half-metre-long sausage slathered in onions and gravy, coupled with mashed potatoes in case 50 centimetres of tubular meat isn't quite enough to satiate. I'm not sure what Freud would have to say about my current food fetish, but I'd be willing to trade years of therapy for a bite of this right now. And anyway, Freud was Austrian, so he probably had his fair share of sausage anyway. No pun or Freudian slip intended.

One of my seminal partners in gluttony blacklisted this place when we went last year during Chinese New Year, because he ordered the five-beer sampler, and in place of the esoteric home-brewed concoctions he expected, he got instead the likes of Stella Artois... how very exotic. But if memory serves, they do have pretty darn good mussels... so it may be time for a visit, before the cold weather subsides and the diet begins.

Frites is at Shop 1&2 1/F Queen’s Place, 79 Queens Road Central. Tel: 852 2179 5179.