Hong Kong Fashion Geek

Wear & Share: Executive Ellen

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 07:56:00 +0000

Try as I might to fight it, I'm at heart a girly-girl. I like things that are sparkly, proper high-heeled pumps that show just the right amount of toe cleavage, slim-fit pencil skirts with the perfect back pleat, and long, luscious hair. Even if sometimes it makes me look like an Executive Ellen. But maybe sometimes fashion isn't about wearing the most accessories, or pulling off the craziest colour-blocking, or having the must-have item before all the have-it-alls have it. Those are nice to keep things fresh, fun and forward-looking, but taking cues from chic propriety works, too, sometimes.

Top: Platinum Mall in Bangkok
Skirt: Club Monaco
Heels: Rupert Sanderson

Bag Lady: Salvatore Ferragamo

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:01:00 +0000

Dear Alexander Wang,

You know you've made it when brands like Salvatore Ferragamo launches bags that are clearly inspired by you. But then again, we've always known you were a genius.

Love hkFashionGeek

What do you think folks, did you have the same reaction as me when you saw this Ferragamo Britta tote?

Available at Ferragamo for HK19500.

SHOErotica: Viktor & Rolf Shearling Platform Booties

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Shear brilliance. After ogling Burberry and Helmut Lang shearling jackets for ages (can't justify actually buying any when Hong Kong's winter is like, three days long), maybe booties are the way to go instead. Or are they too much like Uggs, inside out? They're out of my size, so I guess it doesn't matter so much either way, but if you're a 36.5, 37 or 40.5 (hello big foots!) then consider this a call to arms. Or feet, as it were.

Get them at Shopbop.

Tui Comfy

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 09 Feb 2012 01:59:00 +0000

I never used to wear flats. But that was before ShoeGeek Christina corrupted me and in the span of 12 months I somehow acquired 24 pairs of new heels. Then flats became a necessary evil as I could no longer wander about town in comfy shoes. So when Doorstep Luxury offered to send me a pair of Tui Collection ballerina flats to try, of course I said yes. Unfortunately, with the uber cold weather in Hong Kong, I haven’t had much opportunity to wander around town in them but from the brief stroll I took, they were definitely comfy and no doubt it’s due to the fact that their flats are all handmade using Sumatran python leather and suede inner linings. Designed by Tui Pascale Arielle Sang, the Tui Collection is based out of Singapore and surprisingly little information can be found on them on the web but given how comfy their flats are, I’m sure that will change in no time!

Available at Doorstep Luxury and if you want to get your own, check out the Hong Kong Fashion Geek Photo Hunt as one of the prizes is a gift voucher from Doorstep Luxury!

Sidenote: If you order these online, be sure to err on the larger size since I find that they are quite snug.

Photo Hunt BONUS CLUE!

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 02:00:00 +0000

Our photo hunt competition has officially kicked off and already we've received quite a few entries... but with so many prizes, we can't make it THAT easy for you guys. So in the event that there's a tie, this bonus clue will help determine our first, second and third prize winners.

To earn your bonus clue, send us a photograph of what you think best represents Hong Kong fashion, to photohunt@hkfashiongeek.com.

We will upload your entries in an album on our Facebook page, and you'll have to rally your friends to give you as many "Likes" as you can get. We'll choose the winners based on how much love you get, and also on what we think constitutes best photo.

The full list of regular clues, by the way, is here.

And just in case you missed it, here's a recap of all the awesome prizes, now totaling over $30,000 in value!

Grand Prize is worth over HK$16,000:
- A Shanghai Tang Dragon wine glass set (including four wine glasses) and Dragon fine bone China dinner-plate set (including three plates), valued at $4,720.
- A Longchamp handbag courtesy of Harbour City, valued at $3,300.
- A pair of jeans from 7 for All Mankind, valued at $3,000 or less.
- A pearl necklace from Susan Sng Collection, valued at $1,500.
- A compact Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System, valued at HK$1,400.
- A voucher for four sessions of salt therapy at Inhalo salt spa to share with three friends, valued at HK$1,200.
- A gift voucher from Flaunt Boutique and a complimentary bra fitting, valued at $1,000.
- A PLAY mini recorder courtesy of Lane Crawford, valued at HK$500.

Second Prize is worth almost HK$11,000:
- A pair of jeans from 7 for All Mankind, valued at $2,500 or less.
- A Dooney & Burke Stripes Lambskin Orange Pink O Ring bag, valued at $2,330.
- A compact Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System, valued at HK$1,400.
- A watch and jewellery set from Italian watch and accessories brand OPS! Objects, including two Flat watches, a Love bracelet and a Forever ring, valued at $1,200.
- A gift voucher from Jack Wills, valued at $1,000.
- A gift voucher from Alexandre Zouari, valued at $1,000.
- A gift voucher from Alexa & Todd, valued at $1,000.
- A PLAY mini recorder courtesy of Lane Crawford, valued at HK$500.

Third prize is worth over HK$6,000:
- A pair of jeans from 7 for All Mankind, valued at $2,000 or less.
- A compact Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System, valued at HK$1,400.
- A Chapman belt bag in khaki or navy, valued at SG$150, and a gift voucher for Doorstep Luxury, valued at SG$150.
- A Havianas set of limited-edition his and hers Valentine’s 2012 Havianas, valued at HK$680, and a gift voucher for havianashk.com, valued at HK$400.

I [Heart] You

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 08 Feb 2012 01:20:00 +0000

Food and travel guest blogger hkLifestyleGeek gives us her take on jewellery. Contact her at hklifestylegeek@hkfashiongeek.com

Got your Valentine's Day wish list lying around for your significant other to take the hint? How about adding this cute piece on your list. Mikimoto has created some rings and necklaces with the word "love" that includes an Akoya pearl for the letter "o". Called the Mikimoto Pearl of Love series, the pieces are available in white gold with pink sapphire, pink gold with diamond and a diamond version set in white or pink gold. Surely having one of these says it all for Valentine's Day.

Prices range from HK$6,710 to HK$12,700.

Super Sonic

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 04:11:00 +0000

Last year, when I discovered the Clarisonic Plus, I was in heaven. It was the perfect gadget for a lazy geek who needed to get rid of her acne. However, as the year past and I had to do a lot of traveling, my Clarisonic Plus got used less and less as I found it to be a pain to pack for quick overnight trips. So when I was presented with the Clarisonic Mia (the little sister of the Plus) to try, I jumped at the chance. Like all Clarisonic products, the Mia uses a gentle sonic micro-massage action to deep cleanse the skin. The difference between the Plus and the Mia is that it’s smaller and lighter and just has one button for a one-speed, one-minute cleansing. My favourite part of the Mia however, is how you charge it. All you do is plug in this cable with a small button and it magnetically attaches to the handle of the Mia and charges. Very nifty.

The Clarisonic Mia is available in white and grey at JOYCE Beauty for HK$1,400. However, if you want to be uber special, be sure to take part in the Hong Kong Fashion Geek Photo Hunt as Clarisonic is sponsoring three Mias in either yellow, blue, or lavender which is not available for retail in Hong Kong. So watcha waiting for? Start hunting now for some awesome prizes!

Bad-ass Bertha!

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Super psyched to be procrastinating and surfing Pixie Market and came across my girl Bertha's beautiful brand TOT -- and in the opener image, too, no less. Bertha's never in town anymore because she's always doing shows in Paris or Shanghai or wherever but it's awesome to know that her hard work is paying off. What I love about the clothes personally is that even though the designs vary heavily from season to season -- last season was all about drapey pieces in heavy neutrals with great convertibility; this season is more happy-trippy, with harnessed bondage elements -- the spirit and philosophy stays constant, pleasing a customer who likes to shake things up, stay comfortable, maintain a French sophistication with a bit of Japanese forwardness.

The collection is designed by Bertha's sister Bessie, and just began retailing in Hong Kong at Cocktail (at Leighton Centre, among other locations). They only have the happy-face top left at Pixie Market now -- the harness top sold out before we ever had a chance at it. Or check out other retailers here. I've just gotta sneak peeks at next season's pieces on Facebook and I'm already dying for some of it. Need to remember to put an order in when Bertha is back...

Geek Spy: Moleskine x Lego

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 05:18:00 +0000

Love Lego. Love Moleskine. Put them together and you have the ideal notebook for a Geek. I only wished that the notebook came with a mini Lego set or something to do with the embedded Lego piece. The stickers are a nice idea but I just expect something a bit more from these brands. There are three different types, the Moleskine Lego Black Brick Ruled Large Black: Limited Edition (Moleskine Cover Art) for US$14.81, Moleskine Lego Red Brick Plain Large Black: Limited Edition (Moleskine Cover Art) for US$14.81 and Moleskine Lego Yellow Brick Pocket Ruled Black: Limited Edition (Moleskine Cover Art) for US$11.43.

Available for pre-order now on Amazon. The notebooks will be available starting March 14th.

2012 Hong Kong Fashion Geek Photo Hunt Clues

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 16:00:00 +0000

It's time to get your photo hunt on, folks! Read on to see the full list of clues for the 2012 Hong Kong Fashion Geek Photo Hunt. So whip your smartphones out, load up your favourite camera app and start shooting, because time is a-ticking, and clues wait for no one.

CLUE #1
What to find: The Jenna Leigh Malawi Soft Cup Demi Bra in Cranberry/Black.
Where to find it: Flaunt Boutique, Unit 902, 9th Floor, Union Commercial Building, 12-16 Lyndhurst Terrace, Central.
Clue provided by: Flaunt Boutique

CLUE #2
What to find: The Jack Wills pheasant (kissing it is optional).
Where to find it: Jack Wills boutiques at 77 Leighton Road, Causeway Bay, or Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui.
Clue provided by: Jack Wills

CLUE #3
What to find: Something featuring the letters "D" and "B", OR a picture with a duck.
Where to find it: Get creative!
Clue provided by: Dooney & Bourke

CLUE #4
What to find: Any of the dinnerware items from the Dragon series pictured above.
Where to find it: Shanghai Tang boutiques at 1881 Heritage Tsim Sha Tsui, and Pacific Place (Shop # 218)
Clue provided by: Shanghai Tang

CLUE #5
What to find: The exterior facade of Joyce Beauty or Joyce Grooming.
Where to find it: Joyce Beauty boutiques at G106 Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui (Be sure to shoot the shopfront inside the mall as the one on Canton Road is Joyce and won't count!) or Joyce Grooming - B26 The Landmark, Central, Hong Kong
Clue provided by: Clarisonic

CLUE #6
What to find: Giant piece of rock salt.
Where to find it: Inhalo Salt Therapy at 7/F, W Place, 52 Wyndham Street, Central.
Clue provided by: Inhalo Salt Therapy

CLUE #7
What to find: Yourself, checking out your favourite pair at havaianashk.com
Where to find it: Duh -- havaianashk.com
Clue provided by: Havianas

CLUE #8
What to find: A screenshot of your favourite item on Doorstepluxury.com (Be sure not to crop out the Doorstepluxury.com logo!)
Where to find it: Doorstepluxury.com
Clue provided by: Doorstep Luxury

CLUE #9
What to find: Yourself, wearing a strand of pearls.
Where to find it: In your closet -- or order from Susan Sng Collection!
Clue provided by: Susan Sng Collection

CLUE #10
What to find:OPS! Forever (ring) and OPS! Flat (watch)
Where to find it: KAPOK, 5 St. Francis Yard, Wanchai
Clue provided by: OPS! Objects

CLUE #11
What to find: La Royale hair crown or Lady G Hair band
Where to find it: G22, Miramar Shopping Centre, Tsimshatsui (Tel: 2869 0787)
Clue provided by: Alexandre Zouari

CLUE #12
What to find: The exterior facade of a Lane Crawford boutique.
Where to find it: Lane Crawford boutiques, listed here.
Clue provided by: Lane Crawford

CLUE #13
What to find: 7 For All Mankind - Macau Edition Jeans(Mens)
Where to find it: 7 For All Mankind boutique at Festival Walk, Shop LG2-24
Clue provided by: 7 For All Mankind
Special offer for Hong Kong Fashion Geek Readers: Show the Hong Kong Fashion Geek website to the staff to enjoy a special discount of HKD$500 off net purchases worth HKD$2500 or higher throughout the photo hunt period.

CLUE #14
What to find: Alice McCall Royal Doulton Frock
Where to find it: Alexa & Todd Boutique, 1st Floor, 28 Hollywood Road, Central, Hong Kong
Clue provided by: Alexa & Todd Boutique

Don't forget to send in an extra pic for your bonus clue, instructions here. Have fun!

Divine Feast at Kaetsu

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 03:30:00 +0000

Food and travel guest blogger hkLifestyleGeek gives us her next scoop on fantastic restaurants around town and travel tips. Contact her at hklifestylegeek@hkfashiongeek.com
Chef Yukio Takeda at Kaetsu at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong creates some deliciously divine dishes -- if you have enough room in your stomach for them. He's a personable chef, quiet but keen to please his customers with dishes that are not only freshly prepared but also feature top quality fresh ingredients. I recently had a tasting of 10 dishes including dessert, each small dishes, but accumulated into quite the feast. We tried pacing ourselves but to no avail.

The beginning of the meal had a strong punch -- we were treated to small cups of warm and pungent sake with a small puffer fin in it that we ate. Yes, it's the same fish as the ones the Japanese prize for its meat that can be deadly if sliced the wrong way.

But we were pretty safe with the fin that was a bit chewy, and also marinated in the sake.

Then came the pike eel and green pea dumpling clear soup. The one large dumpling was a sculpted lime-green dollop that tasted light but was quite filling. The clear broth was very flavourful and good to the last drop.

Every dish came beautifully presented, particularly the selection of sashimi each diner's portion presented in different bowls, with leaves and shells incorporated into the dish as decoration. We had generous slices of prime tuna, yellowtail, halibut, whelk and sweet shrimp garnished with fresh seaweed. All were very fresh and delicious, but the standout was the prime tuna that was succulent, meaty and smooth at the same time.

Next came a cup filled with steamed egg custard topped with sea urchin and gold foil. This was probably the highlight of the meal for me, as the smooth steamed egg complemented the texture of the sea urchin, while the latter added lots of flavour to the former. Needless to say each bite was slowly savoured.

We were already quite full by this point, but only halfway through the meal.

Another beautifully presented dish was the grilled marinated flounder fish in miso paste. The fish was cooked perfectly with a crunchy crust, accompanied by a stick of fresh radish.

We were also impressed by the shrimp, conger eel, crab, sweet corn, sweet potato and Japanese pepper tempura. The batter was lightly deep-fried and didn't didn't require the usual dipping sauce with minced radish.

As if we weren't full yet, the grilled Japanese wagyu beef with miso paste was another winner. Each portion was placed on top of a large brown oval leaf which in turn was on top of a mini Japanese tabletop charcoal grill that emitted no smoke. Each piece of wagyu practically melted in the mouth and was accompanied by big chunks of mushrooms.

Next came a selection of sushi -- prime tuna again, marinated salmon, scallop, mackerel and egg. On top of the tuna was a piece of fish bone that Takeda explained could also be used as a toothpick and it did come in handy.

At this point I could barely finish them all and felt there was hardly any room left in my stomach.

However we managed to wash things down with the sweet-tasting clam miso soup, full of hearty clams in the shell. It was a perfect comforting soup for either the beginning or end of the meal.

As if that wasn't enough, dessert was an intriguing combination of cut fruits with wine jelly. It would have been better as a summer dessert, but refreshing nonetheless.

Kaetsu
M/F, Grand Hyatt Hong Kong
1 Harbour Road
Wan Chai
2584 7722
www.hongkong.grand.hyatt.com

Sassy HK Vamastyle Giveaway

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 05:14:00 +0000

It's obviously the week of freebies for blog readers. We just announced our Hong Kong Fashion Geek Photo Hunt with tons of prizes and now we hear that our friends at Sassy Hong Kong have scored a HK$1,500 voucher from Singaporean fashion label Vamastyle to give away to one lucky reader. So watcha waiting for? Head on over, fill in your details and you may just win some moolah for a new Spring wardrobe.

Burma Fashion Geek: Photo Diary Pt. 1

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 01:00:00 +0000

If a picture's worth a thousand words, then I shouldn't bother clogging up this post with extra sentences. But you know I will anyway.

Burma is beautiful. They sell copies of that Orwell book for US$1, I think they're knockoffs. It's the only place in the world in which people bother to photocopy Orwell in mass quantities, and in the name of commerce, no less (as opposed to in the name of literature).

All the temples are beautiful, in their own ways, but most of them look kind of the same to me. In Bagan, they're brown. They have Buddha figures in them. In Mandalay, they're gold. They also have Buddha figures in them.

People do everything by hand. They hammer a piece of gold for five hours so it's flatter than a Ferrero Rocher wrapper. They hammer a piece of silver for hundreds of hours until it becomes intricate, painfully elaborate 3D art. Their telephone booths are a woman and a folding table with two chairs. You give her money, she dials your number. The sun is really strong. People like getting their photos taken by strangers. The monks like to smoke. The nuns shave their heads and wear pepto-bismol pink.

This is a singular and slanted vision of Burma, as seen by one person from a bus. Part two comes later, let's see what I have to say then.

Scarf it Down

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 06:00:00 +0000

My office is cold. So, so, cold. Which means I need scarves. Plural. (And mittens, but thanks to my office secret santa I have those already). I'm digging the prints they have at Hayden Harnett, because anyone who loves a good trend is going to fall for the Aztec motifs and the Givenchy-inspired gothic florals. But what I dig even more is the fact that they offer bespoke prints, so you upload your favourite photo and have it made into a scarf. Lunacy dictates that I'd use a corgi image, but thankfully logic intervenes and a beautiful sunset or dark fashion print, a la We Are Handsome or Black Milk Clothing, seems more apt.

Choose from a sheer chiffon or an opaque sandwashed silk. And exercise good judgment.

Heart to Heart

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 01:03:00 +0000

I'm not normally impressed by heart inspired jewellery designed to capitalise on Valentine's but I just came across Tory Burch's Corazon Collection and fell in love with the chunky ring (quite reasonably priced at HK$980). The rest of the collection is nice but the ring really stands out for me and I think it's because a) I like my statement rings (see my Alexander McQueen ring if you have any doubts) and b) there's something about the keyhole cutout that gives the ring a bit of edge.

Tory Burch ifc store
Shop 2065, ifc, Central
Tel: 2234 7282

2012 Hong Kong Fashion Geek Photo Hunt

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 07:21:00 +0000

We know you've been looking for a good enough excuse to get your butts off the couch and get a bit of exercise in, but there aren't any sample sales to motivate you... so instead, how about taking part in the 2012 Hong Kong Fashion Geek Photo Hunt? Last year we had a phenomenal response, so we decided this year (because we're masochists who like to give ourselves more work) as part of our commitment to Social Media Week, we'd reprise the competition.

How to play:

1. Visit hkfashiongeek.com on or after February 6 for the list of clues.

2. Travel to the participating stores and photograph the chosen items.

3. Email entries to photohunt@hkfashiongeek.com. Please caption your photo with its brand name and/or item name for verification, as well as your own name. You may email entries separately or all at once. Photos will be uploaded onto our Facebook page.

4. One bonus clue will be offered during the competition period, so check back to get that final clue, which may be instrumental in the event that more than one contestant achieves all seeded clues. Also, be sure to get your friends to rally for you by showing you love on the photos uploaded as that may also be a tipping factor if everyone gets clues and bonus clue! Although of course, we will also have some say on the final winners by judging your photography technical ability.

5. The person with the most items uploaded for contest period (February 6 to February 14) wins. In the event of a tie, see point 4 which will make or break your win!

For more information, email photohunt@hkfashiongeek.com
or tweet us @hkfashiongeek with the hashtag #SMWHKhunt

Of course, what's the point of a competition without fabulous prizes? Here's what's in store for the winners.

Prizes
Grand Prize is worth over HK$16,000:
- A Shanghai Tang Dragon wine glass set (including four wine glasses) and Dragon fine bone China dinner-plate set (including three plates), valued at $4,720.
- A Longchamp handbag courtesy of Harbour City, valued at $3,300.
- A pair of jeans from 7 for All Mankind, valued at $3,000 or less.
- A pearl necklace from Susan Sng Collection, valued at $1,500.
- A compact Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System, valued at HK$1,400.
- A voucher for four sessions of salt therapy at Inhalo salt spa to share with three friends, valued at HK$1,200.
- A gift voucher from Flaunt Boutique and a complimentary bra fitting, valued at $1,000.
- A PLAY mini recorder courtesy of Lane Crawford, valued at HK$500.

Second Prize is worth almost HK$11,000:
- A pair of jeans from 7 for All Mankind, valued at $2,500 or less.
- A Dooney & Burke Stripes Lambskin Orange Pink O Ring bag, valued at $2,330.
- A compact Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System, valued at HK$1,400.
- A watch and jewellery set from Italian watch and accessories brand OPS! Objects, including two Flat watches, a Love bracelet and a Forever ring, valued at $1,200.
- A gift voucher from Jack Wills, valued at $1,000.
- A gift voucher from Alexandre Zouari, valued at $1,000.
- A gift voucher from Alexa & Todd, valued at $1,000.
- A PLAY mini recorder courtesy of Lane Crawford, valued at HK$500.

Third prize is worth over HK$6,000
- A pair of jeans from 7 for All Mankind, valued at $2,000 or less.
- A compact Clarisonic Mia Sonic Cleansing System, valued at HK$1,400.
- A Chapman belt bag in khaki or navy, valued at SG$150, and a gift voucher for Doorstep Luxury, valued at SG$150.
- A Havianas set of limited-edition his and hers Valentine’s 2012 Havianas, valued at HK$680, and a gift voucher for havianashkcom, valued at HK$400.

The clues are up here!

Marni x H&M Campaign Image?

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 03:38:00 +0000

We’ve heralded our excitement about the H&M and Marni collaboration previously and with the news that Sofia Coppola shooting the print and television campaign, we had been eagerly waiting for the finished product. Nothing official has come from H&M yet but there is a print image on Fashionista via The Fashion Spot a couple days ago and we must say this has only fueled the anticipation. Commentors from The Fashion Spot and Fashionista believe the model to be Imogen Poots who was recently signed on by Chloe to be the face of their fragrance campaign. What do you think? Is it her?

Designed by Marni's founder and creative director Consuelo Castiglioni, Marni for H&M will be available in 260 stores worldwide and online as of March 8, 2012.

Bag Lady: Burberry Chrome Yellow Textured Bridle Canvas Check Tote

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 02:40:00 +0000

I'm quite digging the Burberry Chrome Yellow Textured Bridle Canvas Check Tote. When I first saw it, I had my reservations but as I look closer into the details, I find myself admiring the subtle details of the iconic plaid, buckles etc. My only concern is that the bag might be quite heavy and being the type of girl who seems to have an inordinate about of things in her handbag, this might be the bag's only downfall. Priced at HK$17,500

Burberry
Shop G5, G/F & Shop 101A, 1/F, Alexandra House, 16 - 20 Chater Road, Hong Kong
+852 2868 3511

Jailbreak Job

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 30 Jan 2012 01:00:00 +0000

While I have nothing against John Steinbeck or Virginia Woolf, and devoured Pride & Prejudice like kids today ravage Twilight novels, it's been a real pain in my ass to have to stare at portraits of Jane Austen and other famed authors rendered as my Kindle wallpaper. So a year and a half after receiving the contraption, I finally made time last week to Jailbreak the device. Now, I get a lovely rotation of black-and-white Foxy Brown pix and random fashion editorials I googled. I figured I'd share it here because a lot of people probably can't be bothered to Jailbreak, or think that it will void the warranty, or didn't even know you could do it.

The process of Jailbreaking is a lot simpler than I thought -- all you have to do is download a file, drag it into the Kindle folder, and then unplug and click update. Then to add the wallpaper hack, you download another file and do the same thing. Straightforward instructions appear here (mirror site 3 worked best for me to download the appropriate files).

Forevermore

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 04:33:00 +0000

It's been a looong time coming, and we've been hearing rumours that Forever 21 was due to land in Hong Kong for god knows how many years. A couple years back I heard that they were coming in and taking over the spot held by Franc Franc in Causeway Bay; late last year I was told it was four floors of Times Square. The fast-fashion behemoth has at long last staked its claim to a retail space, and if you track the trail of bright-yellow plastic shopping bags that flow from the belly of the beast on the arms of savvy shoppers, you'll end up right outside the Causeway Bay MTR station, at Capitol Center in Jardine's Bazaar. (Sidebar: does that mean the toilet restaurant is closed now?) When the full-fledged Hong Kong flagship is completely open, it will comprise six floors of colourful clothing and accessories for men and women, open from 10am to 1am daily.

I sadly missed the media preview due to food poisoning (and already gained back the 2lbs I lost, boo) and kicked myself when I found out everyone got $800 shopping vouchers. Oh well. But wait! There's still a chance at scoring some Forever dollars through a casting campaign. All you have to do is post a photo of yourself on Forever 21's fan page, embodying the spirit and feel of a Forever 21 style star. Winners are chosen weekly until March 31, and will earn a $1,000 gift voucher as well as an invite to the Grand Opening in Spring.

Sam I Am

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 01:54:00 +0000

It was quite the fashionable week last week for Lane Crawford and Pedder Group what with the Taylor Tomasi Hill dinner on Tuesday and then the Sam Edelman event at Lane Crawford last Sat. While my Geek-in-crime was off in Bangkok attending a wedding, I ventured to the Sam Edelman event with some of my favourite tweeps to meet the shoe designer who was in town to launch his Spring/Summer collection and two exclusive styles: “Lizette” & “Addy”, available at Lane Crawford Hong Kong only. The store was full of people and there were these adorable cookie pops with his designs emblazed on it. While superficial me chose the shoe that appealed to me most, Hana was more practical and instead chose the flavour she wanted not caring about the design. During my few minutes with the designer, I ascertained that Sam loves dim sum but don’t know where to go as he always dine at the same place in HK and he’s a bit sick of that. Although that does mean if you’re a fan, be sure to stalk him at China Club.

SHOErotica: Christian Louboutin Sex

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 10:15:00 +0000

So there was this backlash against logo-mania a few years back, when we realized that you buy name brands for quality and good design, not so everyone and their mommas know you shop in the land of the brown monogram. And then Mr Christian Louboutin found a way to make really nice shoes and embellish them with a signature that did the equivalent of the monogram logo, without the associated tackiness. And for a while that was fabulous, until the company started suing copycats, and people (read: me) started weirding out about the cachet of the red sole. I mean, it's cool and sharp and all, but it's the actual Louboutin shoes that we really care about.

Anyway, now the footwear maestro has found a new way to scream "look at me, me, me!" Sex always did sell. Although, ironically, if you think about these shoes, the best way to spell "sex" is to keep your legs together. Which is a little bit counterintuitive, if you ask me.

Get them at Christian Louboutin, 7 On Lan Street.

Top of the Globe

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 09:56:00 +0000

Probably a little belated, but top five looks from the Golden Globes. Starting with Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci Premiere, because I love her and she can do no wrong, and especially not in THAT. So maybe she killed a peacock to get the dress. I'm not judging. I'm not a huge Gucci girl, so the fact that she makes me like the brand says something about star quality.

I feel like nobody was super-wowed by Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci but I loved it; so simple and classic and girly but with that loony Rooney edge. Because when you have a face like that, I honestly believe you should do as little as possible, fashion-wise, to detract from that. That's why I wear all manner of prints and accessories, because my face is not like that. Sad face.

Charlize in Dior Couture, another brand alignment that works perfectly. So pretty and pink and the folds sort of remind me of crab rangoon or some other fluffed up crispy wonton concoction, which is not a negative in my book.

THIS GIRL IS SO "IT" RIGHT NOW IT MAKES ME SICK. I wish she'd go back to blonde but red is now her thing I guess. That dress with that belt and those shoes, they put the "it" in "that shIT is so hot."

People are weird about Tilda Swinton, like, normal people don't like her. And fashion people looove her, but partly because she's really cool, partly because they're supposed to like her -- it demonstrates good street cred. I like her lots, mostly because of her haircuts and her fascination with Haider Ackermann, whom I luuurve, but also because she wears whatever she damn wants, EVEN IF IT LOOKS BAD ON HER. The ultimate supposed fashion pioneer is ironically the ultimate slave to fashion. I mean, here. She looks bad. That hair is trying to run off her head. The shoes are pretty fail. But that baby blue! And Haider! And she's Tilda-fucking-Swinton! So... ergo... it's fab!

Images: Red Carpet Fashion Awards

Sweet Dreams

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 06:15:00 +0000

Food and travel guest blogger hkLifestyleGeek gives us her next scoop on fantastic restaurants around town and travel tips. Contact her at hklifestylegeek@hkfashiongeek.com

Disclosure: Jean-Paul Hevin is a client of FashionGeek’s day job company. All views are presented by guest blogger LifestyleGeek

Chocoholics beware -- there's another place in town to sate your deepest darkest cravings.Famed Parisian chocolatier Jean-Paul Hevin was recently in Hong Kong to officially open his newest chocolate boutique, and unveil his creations for Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day.

The Parisian-style "Boutique et Bar a Chocolat" is on Lyndhurst Terrace making it convenient for those in Mid-Levels so they don't have to schlep all the way to IFC mall or have to dig out their passport to cross the border into Kowloon at the other location in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui.

The two-storey place is very cosy, with the delectable chocolates on view on the ground floor and then a small bar upstairs where you can sample the famous dark treats, desserts, macaroons or even lunch.

Apparently Hevin's chocolates are only on display for three days so one wonders what happens to them after that... This strict standard of quality I have yet to hear of in other chocolate boutiques, making his requirements quite extraordinary.
And hearing him talk about chocolates only confirms this man is passionate about what he does.

Hevin loves his chocolates so much he eats some everyday -- even just before going to bed, believing that it has health benefits, including stimulating blood circulation. He is very particular about his cocoa and travels to various countries, inspecting the farms where the cocoa beans are harvested, fermented and packaged. Once he gets his cocoa, he tries to make the best chocolate out of them without adding sugar.

During his Hong Kong visit he led some folks on a chocolate tasting of five different countries, each with their own distinct flavours, much like wine.

And here are some of his tasting notes:

Caracas, Venezuela: He recommends this chocolate for first-timers sampling his products. It's aromatic and intense, with spicy notes and hints of yellow fruits like banana, peach and apricots. The taste is round and soft.

Colombia: This is a well-balanced chocolate that tastes of caramelised biscuit, a roasted coffee flavour.

Cuba: Floral and spicy, with a strong intensity and aroma.

Madagascar: Acidic cocoa that is very rich. Hevin says he uses this chocolate mostly in cakes and mousses. He considers this chocolate one of the best in the world.

Piura, Peru: Spicy vanilla, chestnut flavours, and can have floral notes.

Hevin also demonstrated how to make his signature hot chocolate, where he added fresh whole milk with chocolate powder and whisked them under low heat for several minutes. After pouring them into the small cups he added raspberry foam on top to add more dimension to the taste.

Needless to say the hot chocolate was definitely welcome on a chilly day.

Prices are competitive with other high-end chocolate boutiques such as La Maison Chocolat, with a box of eight pieces for Valentine's Day going for HK$240 or macaroons for HK$130. The Jean-Paul Hevin tasting tablettes from the countries mentioned above is HK$580.

It's worth indulging here -- Hevin definitely uses high-quality ingredients and makes sure you come out with greater appreciation for chocolate.

Jean-Paul Hevin
13 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central
2851 0633
www.jphevin.com.hk

Oodles of Boodles

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 03:36:00 +0000

I love the name of jewellery brand Boodles. It’s such a fun word to say and whenever I hear it, I start thinking of poodles and noodles and then I get nostalgic for the dog that I traded in for a Marni handbag or get hungry and go on a tangent. But that’s irrelevant to this post. This post is essentially an excuse for me to use the header and also tell you about the gorgeous pieces this over 200-year-old British brand has in store for CNY and Valentine’s Day. There’s the Blossom collection in rose gold and the Waterfall collection in platinum. The Blossom collection showcases oriental charms on pendants, bracelets, earrings and a cocktail ring. The decadent Waterfall collection is chockful of diamonds, case in point 11 carats of white diamonds in the necklace and pink diamonds in the ring. So why not head over to Lane Crawrford this CNY and try on some pretty jewellery. Come on, you know you want to.