Hong Kong Fashion Geek

Restaurant Review: Amber

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 17 May 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Food and travel guest blogger hkLifestyleGeek gives us her next scoop on fantastic restaurants.

Amber recently made the S. Pellegrino Top 50 Best Restaurants list this year again and it's no surprise why -- Chef Richard Ekkebus is constantly striving to improve and create new dishes that surprise and delight his customers. Ekkebus likes using a lot of Japanese products in his dishes as well as organic vegetables and line-caught fish to practice sustainability in his restaurant. Before our meal began we were treated to a deep-fried whiting fish that was filleted and then deep-fried tempura style garnished with a kind of mayo and radish. It was so light and retained the fresh fish flavour.

Next was the famous -- or infamous -- foie gras lollipop covered in raspberry and beetroot gelee that goes down so easily it's tempting to ask for another! But we haven't even started the dinner yet!

The first dish had two components: the top of the dish revealed a thin bruschetta with tomatoes, olive oil caviar and greens that was alternatively crunchy and smooth, while the underneath was a sayori needle fish painstakingly decorated with tomato and zucchini circles and one caviar on each piece garnished with more olive oil caviar, lying in a bed of tomato water. It sounds complicated, but really it's simply delicious.

Next up was roasted wild Suzuki seabass accompanied with organic heirloom tomatoes with the cutest little baby squid that were sweet and crunchy. Ekkebus is always aware of playing with textures that makes his plates so interesting and gives taste buds a full workout.

Next came his version of paella featuring rice-shaped pasta called puntalette, with shellfish, chorizo, tomatoes and asparagus in a light creamy sauce topped with a large thick piece of seaweed.

Then we moved onto more heavier dishes. The duck foie gras was first steamed then charcoal grilled with virgin pistachio oil, complemented with salt-roasted beetroots in cherry juice and hibiscus reduction. As Ekkebus explains, the hibiscus sauce cuts through the foie gras nicely and we like the use of cherries instead of the typical apple or pear.

Probably the highlight of the evening was the very young spring lamb rack, roasted with cumin that was so so tender it almost melted in the mouth. The outside of the lamb was wrapped in a thin layer of crispy sweetbreads and accompanied with asparagus, morels and mustard seeds.

If you have room you can have a selection of cheeses that come fresh from France, mostly soft cheeses and goat cheese.

Or you can go straight to dessert.

A refreshing palate cleanser is the pink grapefruit and campari sorbet over hibiscus jell-O. Yes, Ekkebus is really into his hibiscus, and why not? It's exotic and has a tangy flavour.

Finally the last dish of the evening arrived, not before our stomachs were full to the brim. We loved the construction of the sponge cake at the bottom, white chocolate rolls on top, a crunchy caramel wafer then topped with earl gray milk tea sorbet. More texture playing came to mind with this dessert that was very light and scrumptious to the last bite.

Ekkebus' keen interest in experimenting and concocting new tastes are recognised as one of the best in the world; and if you have a chance, you should try Amber out too.

Amber
7/F, Landmark Mandarin Oriental
15 Queens Road Central
Central
2132 0066
www.amberhongkong.com

Geek Gab: Victoria Beckham

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 16 May 2012 02:30:00 +0000

Victoria Beckham walks into the Peak Suite on the top floor of the Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong. Nine reporters watch as she teeters in, the heels on her six-inch Louboutin Daffodils as pin-thin and precarious as her own legs. Apologies for her tardiness -- a mere 20 minutes, standard waiting time for any interviewee, much less a former pop star-turned-WAG-turned fashion designer -- precede the strange query, "Is the floor slippery?"

We, the nine reporters, look at each other. Is this a rhetorical question? Have we been granted permission to address her fashion highness? Is the floor actually slippery? How would we know? Is she genuinely afraid of falling, or is this a carefully calculated question intended to show us she's just a normal gal?

Reporters, traditionally, aren't the reticent sort, but prior to the interview we have been sent strict directives regarding this group interview session: do not be late. Do not send us questions. These are the questions that will be asked. They will be asked by a moderator. If you ask questions, you will be promptly hung, drawn and quartered. (Actually, more like the interview will end promptly for yourself and everyone else, and you will be held responsible for ruining this opportunity for eight of your competitors who will thereafter shun you for life.)

I'm used to having questions banned, having eyes narrow when I ask the questions anyway, receiving post-interview emails from PR reps asking me not to run particular quotes, having stories run only after approval by the interviewee... but this actually makes my job easy. So I don't have to send in questions. I don't have to be prepared. I don't even have to try my best to ask questions in an engaging manner so that afterwards I can show off that I got a quote that nobody else could, or so that I can pretend Mrs Beckham is my BFF after a strictly supervised 15 minute Q&A session. This could be fun.

And it is. After ascertaining that she won't slip or trip in the 10 steps of space between the doorway and the wall of couches, VB crosses the distance, somewhat less confidently than you'd expect given her photo fierceness. She asks where she should sit before plopping down in our midst, instead of as we expect, on the single armchair adjacent to us. She suggests we start the interview while the models strut down the function room in her new Victoria, Victoria Beckham collection (that, by the way, is the reason for her visit to our fair town).

And so the PR Cher, standing just off to the side of us, begins addressing the questions. And in this specific context, Beckham is a dream interview. She's well-rehearsed, but casual. Her legs are crossed, and one Daffodil pump dangles off her foot. There's a Coke (Diet, I presume, but there's no way of knowing) in her right hand, which sits on the couch next to her. She clutches it rather tightly, either because she's worried it's going to spill, or because at any moment we could attack her with our hands, or worse yet, illegal questions. It's a fair concern.

The questions, yes, are generic, but that's because this is about Lane Crawford its launch of the Victoria, Victoria Beckham collection. And as much as we want this to be about how David is in the sack, or which Spice Girl she hates the most, and how she managed to affect a total image change from ironic Posh to actual posh (accent almost incuded)... it's really about the clothes.

And the clothes, they're good. The mainline Victoria Beckham is streamlined, minimalist, sleek and sophisticated. Victoria is younger, funner, with more prints and easier silhouettes. There's drop in waistlines as well as the price point, and while Beckham can hardly be credited with bringing back the pencil dress -- like Roland Mouret's garments, her pieces are perenially flattering, rather than seasonally important -- her drop-waist dresses could very well be her first step in trend-setting, which makes tons of sense because, as both designer and ambassador constantly in the public eye, she's in a very unique position to set trends herself.

The whole experience, by the end of it, has been rather... pleasant. At the end of the interview, the always outspoken Kawai, TimeOut's fashion editor, ventures a compliment. She loved VB's shoot with the avant-garde Chinese photographer Chen Man for Harper's Bazaar China. Beckham is just slightly taken aback, as if she cannot believe someone dared to breach the code. Except that Kawai hasn't -- yet. She's about to, though. Why did you decide to do that shoot, put yourself out there in China, she questions? It's a tame enough question, the boldness inherent just in the fact of asking. To her credit, she answers it politely ("I just wanted to do something different"), as well as the two other questions posed by other journos who've summoned nerve in the wake of the first transgression. Is it your first time in Hong Kong? No, but the last time was with my parents when I was 13. What's with the cat print? It's fun and girly. (But she has a dog at home). All the while, one of VB's team edges inch by inch into our vision, declaring, after the third stolen response, that they are grateful for our time. The interview is over. With a gracious goodbye and a repeated warning to beware the floor (a model tripped on it earlier, she clarifies), she is gone. Her final words are apt: "be careful" -- because despite risk-taking leaps in career and design, that's ultimately what Victoria Beckham is. A careful interview subject, in control of every bit of her empire. A considerate designer, no doubt born of years of being snapped by the paparazzi from every angle. A control freak, by her own admission. And without a doubt, a very savvy businesswoman.

The full transcript from the interview follows.

How different is the main line woman from the Victoria woman?
You'll see lots of dresses that bridge the gap between the two collections. I think it's the same woman, but then I also think there's going to be another customer as well, because the prices are more affordable. With the first collection of the Victoria line, in the space of a few days, Julianne Moore wore a dress, Michelle Williams wore a dress and Celine Buckens wore a dress. That's an example of three women -- different shapes, different sizes and completely different ages -- that can all wear the same collection. Julia Roberts wore a dress the other day. So that's the great thing about the Victoria line. It's my existing customer as well.

You design for yourself. Is this practical approach part of your success?
One-hundred percent. I'm designing things I want to wear -- I think I know what women want to wear; how they want to feel and look. I think that that is an enormous part of it. And women can relate to me. I'm a designer who loves women, and I want to give my customer what she wants.

Do you think that you have already proven critics wrong at this stage in your career?
I never went into this wanting to prove anybody wrong. I just wanted to do what I love to do. I'm very lucky to have a job I love. I think the reviews have been great, I think the industry has welcomed me and I'm very appreciative of that. I'm constantly wanting to better myself.

How do you handle the pressure of the industry?
I think there's pressure on everybody, no matter what industry it is. It's a lot of work, but then I love what I do. I've got four kids, and I work. But it's no different for me as how it is for other women that have children and work.

When did you find yourself as a designer?
Probably in the last few years. I don't look back at anything and cringe. I look back and think that everything was good, at the time.

What are your fashion rules -- your dos and don'ts?
Fashion rules...I think to dress in a way that suits you. To be appropriate for your shape, size, age, is important. I never like to get too much out -- if I'm wearing a short dress, then I like the top to be covered. If I'm wearing something that might be a little more daring or challenging on the top, then I don't like to get too much out. But I think that's just modern, as well. Is it modern to wear something that's super, super short and super, super plunging? I don't think so at the moment. Leave something to the imagination.

How would you define your own style?
I would say that it's quite European, though I do like to get influenced by all the different countries that I'm fortunate enough to travel to. It's not overly complicated. I'd say that it's quite chic -- I'd actually say that it's quite French, my taste and my style. And I want to stay true to myself. I'm not trying to be anybody other than myself.

And what are the things or people that inspire you?
Goodness, I get inspired by so many places. My family inspire me, my husband inspires me. I meet so many amazing people, I'm really lucky.

What do you think of the Asian customer?
I'm really excited to be in Hong Kong. We've been in Beijing for a week and I'm excited to be here. Asia is a very important market for me. I love Asian women, I find them very chic, at the forefront of fashion. They understand fashion; they appreciate fashion. I think this market gives me the opportunity to have fun as well. I'm very aware when designing clothes how much everything costs. I have to be very aware of that sort of thing. And I was talking with Andrew Keith from Joyce, and he was saying that I have the opportunity here to do exclusives, which is very exciting. I want to have fun, I want to experiment with different things that maybe in other territories I can't do for various reasons. It's an exciting place. I woke up this morning, and the view out of my window is incredible. I wish I was here longer, I definitely want to come back and bring David and the kids because it's really quite breathtaking. I want to get out and see more. I definitely think Hong Kong could influence what I'm doing, and I'm just scratching the surface at the moment. One day, obviously, retail would be a dream come true. The first one would obviously be London, and we're also looking at e-commerce, but I'd love to have a store here one day. I get the feeling from the women that I've met here in Hong Kong and Beijing, they really love fashion and they're passionate about fashion, and they want something different. And they look great. I did an in-store event with Joyce in Beijing, and there were a few Chinese celebrities that came and the best customers. And I was absolutely blown away by how the women look. Though what I do caters to a lot of shapes and sizes, the women here, they have the most incredible physiques that actually work really well with my designs.

The last question -- as a working mother, is there anything that you haven't done that you'd like to? Where do you get the energy to do it all?
There's lots of things that I want to do. Business-wise, I want to expand in every category that I'm currently in. I'd love to do knit, I'd love to do separates, I'd love to do tailoring. There's lots that I want to do, but I want to do it properly. I'm very hands on, I own everything I do, I don't have any licensing at all. And so, I want to do everything in the right way. I'm a control freak, but in the nicest sense of the word -- not a mean one, I'm a nice one. And I'm just really passionate about what I do, and I want to reach out to as many women as I can, whether that's Asia, whether that's America, whether that's Europe, and just make women feel good about themselves. To make women feel beautiful. There's lots of things I want to do. I've just designed a Range Rover Evoque with Range Rover which has gone down phenomenally well. People have responded really positively to that. I like to think outside the box and do different things, that make people say "Why a car? You're not a car designer." Why not a car? I came from a different industry, it wasn't the fashion industry. Why not do a collection? I think it's a very modern approach, very innovative to think outside of the box, do different things. And that's what excites me, that's what I like to do. But make sure it's done properly, done in the right way.

Image of Victoria Beckham shot by Chen Man for Harper's Bazaar China from Makeup4all.

Warehouse Sale: Pedder

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 16 May 2012 01:40:00 +0000

Pedder sales will be the bane of my wallet's existence yet please please keep them coming!

Nail Files: China Glaze Hunger Games Collection

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:30:00 +0000

Been meaning to post this as soon as I got the polishes but somehow, it had slipped my mind. So after waxing lyrical about the colours I wanted to get in this post when I saw the actual collection, I realised I wanted other colours as the green and orange were amazingly similar to other colours I had. (The orange in particular is very similar to the OPI orange from their Burlesque collection.) So the two I have on here is Stone Cold with a smattering of Electrify on the tips. Stone Cold is awesome. It's a gun metal grey similar to OPI suede colours and so doesn't last as long but looks real pretty. Electrify, much like other glitters, is a bitch to take off but on the other hand, it also means it lasts forever and a day so I'm currently using it as my pedi colour since I am lazy and can't be bothered to change pedis as often as I do manis. A little tip on removing glitter polish, I've found that soaking cotton with nail polish remover, then wrapping aluminum foil around each finger for about five minutes make removing glitter easier. So there you have it, my desire for the Hunger Games Collection is satisfied and so I move on lusting after other collections.

Cupcakes & Coupons

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Tue, 15 May 2012 01:00:00 +0000

Went to the Shopbop event, at which spring/summer trends were introduced. Most of us already know about the encyclopedic shopping site; heck, many of us are on it every other day. But as if I didn't have enough addictions, the event gods furnished us with cupcakes and a shopping coupon... which I may or may no have used within four hours of receiving it to buy that T by Alex Wang skirt and neon La Mer wrap watch. Thanks, Shopbop!

Off to Tokyo today for work, have fun this art week without me!

And It Was All Yellow

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 14 May 2012 06:00:00 +0000

Alba Prat's sophomore collection is that perfectly awkward marriage of awkward and hip. Feels very Scandanavian, a kooky aesthetic that's really starting to grow on me. PS, those mittens are awesome.

Images: Trendland

Monki Festival Collection

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 14 May 2012 01:00:00 +0000

I don't know why when I see this collection, the song Summer Nights from Grease immediately fills my head. Maybe it's the vivid colours, the bright blue skies last week and the fun quirky graphics on towels and flip flops. Either way, I likey. Monki is great for fun accessories and outfits, my only complaint is that it's alllll the way over at the dark side and so my visits to the store is far less frequent than they should be. Ah wells, just means I spend more each time I'm there right? MONKI HK STORE Shop L1/29-31, Langham Place 8 Argyle Street, Mongkok Kowloon Tel. +852.3585.8026

SHOErotica: Gianmarco Lorenzi Floral Sandals

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 11 May 2012 08:51:00 +0000

Very girly, very purple, very ShoeGeek. Normally Gianmarco Lorenzi's footwear borders on too stripper for me, what with their chunk-tastic oversize platform and that Italian tendency to go over the top. They remind me of these Giuseppes, which I saw at the Pedder Warehouse in Tung Chung in black earlier this week... Hmmmm...

Get these at Gianmarco Lorenzi.

Bag Lady: Alaïa laser-cut leather clutch

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 11 May 2012 01:00:00 +0000

You can never go wrong with a bright red Alaïa laser-cut leather clutch .

I Love Tatler

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 10 May 2012 13:15:00 +0000

That's all.

Geek Spy: USB Safety Pin

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

I actually don’t know many people who use safety pins anymore but this might be a good thing to have in your wallet for those times when you want to make a fashion statement with a geeky brooch or unfortunate days when you have a wardrobe malfunction. It comes with the added benefit that it can dual as a USB which at the size they are coming in these days, are prone to be misplaced. Unfortunately, this is only in concept stage from Art. Lebedev Studio but much like the paper USB, I quite like it.

Met Gala Madness

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 09 May 2012 09:48:00 +0000

It's been a long day, and I need to eat dinner. So allow me to caption my Met Gala faves in as succinct a manner as possible: I'm going to give out pseudo-awards, meaningless blogger accolades, to each pair pictured above and below. Starting with...

The Orange You Glad to See Me? Award
Can't believe Kristen Bell in Tommy Hilfiger can compare to Katherine McPhee in Elie Saab. But that is the power of the tangerine dream.

The Prada Princesses Award
Carey Mulligan and Gwyneth Paltrow both went short and stunning. Shoes are nothing to write home about, but with legs like those, who cares?

The Even Models Get the Blues Award
Caroline Trentini and Constance Jablonski both clean up well in shades of aqua. Models in gowns are the best.

The How Did You Get an Invite But You Look Great Award
Hanneli the blogger in Calvin Klein Collection, China Chow in Gaultier couture. China Chow continues to be very perplexing to me. What does she do??

The It Don't Matter If It's Black or White Award
I'm hardly ever impressed by Anna Wintour or Liv Tyler, but I lurve both of these! AW (who normally looks like a hunchback) is in Prada and Liv (who normally looks like a linebacker) is in Givenchy couture.

The Short & Sassy Award
Mere mortals would look stupid at a ball in these gowns, but these bitches -- Kate Bosworth in Prada, Emma Stone in Lanvin -- still look happening. What gives?

The Also Short & Sassy Award
Dree Hemingway in Topshop, Chloe Sevigny in Miu Miu. Hate them!

The Can't Do No Wrong Award
Do they EVER look bad? Diane Kruger in Prada, Jessica Alba in Michael Kors. Also known as the "They so pretty, they look good in a paper sack but thankfully have good taste" award.

The Minimal Dress, Maximal Effect Award
Calvin Klein Collection always nails it, if you have the body to carry it off. Which Emily Blunt and Rosario Dawson do.

And finally... The Givenchy Haute Couture Award, Because It's 10:03pm and I Really Need to Eat Now
For my favouritest Rooney Mara, and that supermodel I really hate, Gisele.

Review: Entourage

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Wed, 09 May 2012 02:00:00 +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

Looking for an intimate rendez-vous with your lover? Or a girls' night out off the beaten track? Entourage may fit the bill. In any case, when you go west on Elgin Street it turns right, down before Hollywood Road and that's where the French restaurant is. Walk up the stairs and you'll find curved dining booths for parties of two to six. French executive chef Franck Lebiez has a good selection of dishes on the menu and he's very personable; he likes to come out and greet guests and suggest some items that will be good that evening.

We started with an appetiser of fresh salmon tartar dressed with capers, gherkins and parsley (HK$120). Perfectly sculpted on a slice of baguette, it was very refreshing and light. For a heavier starter, we liked the homemade duck liver terrine, fruits chutney, and brioche bread with figs (HK$175). The fact that the duck liver terrine was made in-house gave it a more rustic feel and complemented with the chutney was delicious.

This was balanced out with a crispy goat's cheese and pesto parcel salad, with lavender and honeydew dressing (HK$110). The goat's cheese and pesto were wrapped in filo pastry triangles that were deep-fried, making them quite oily, but the package inside was very nice. It was accompanied with some fresh greens.

For mains chef Franck suggested making a lobster risotto which is similar to the wild mushroom one with crispy Parmesan (HK$185). It was quite a hearty portion with chunks of lobster hidden inside.

Meanwhile the roast lamb with thyme and rosemary accompanied with potatoes was another recommendation that did not disappoint. The meat was very tender and the portion enough for three to share.

By now we were quite full, but we were tempted by the selection of desserts.

The L'Opera, a chocolate and coffee cake served with custard sauce (HK$85) was a bit on the dry side and rich, and what is a chocolate cake is called a classic dessert from Bordeaux area, based on a pancake served with vanilla ice cream topped with hot chocolate sauce (HK$70) was to die for. The cake was split in half, the chocolate covered ice cream in the middle and all of it drizzled in chocolate sauce. This was a chocoholic's dream with the rich chocolate and ice cream combination for a heavenly treat.

Nevertheless, we also quite enjoyed the thin apple almond tart with vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce (HK$85), the pastry light and fluffy.

On the evening we went it wasn't very busy, but there were couples and a group of ladies having a good time. So while it may not be party central, it's definitely a place for good food and quality time with whoever you're with. No questions asked. I never did find out if it was named after the HBO TV series or had connotations of party groups though. Guess that means I need to return.

Entourage
1-5 Lower Elgin Street
Central
2559 8281
www.entourage.com.hk

Libelatum

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Tue, 08 May 2012 13:18:00 +0000

Some of you may have heard about a little festival called Liberatum that took place a couple of weeks ago, intended to bring creative minds together for talks that would spur inspiration in the local creative scene. Great contemporary innovators, from Pharrell to VS Naipaul, Mike Figgis to Terence Koh, were meant to come together in a forum celebrating music, film, literature, art and more. A series of talks was arranged at Lane Crawford's home store in Wong Chuk Hang, with a surrounding set of events to take place in honour of the visiting luminaries. The talks were said to be free and open to the public on a first-come, first-serve basis, though the official twitter account advised us to book ahead for tickets. I won't talk of the difficulties that resulted from the disorganization of the committee in charge. I won't talk about the many, many cooks in the kitchen, none of whom seemed to have any idea what was going on.

I will talk about the one talk I attended, by VS Naipaul, titled His Master's Voice. I didn't know what the talk was going to be about, but given the notoriety of the Nobel Prize-winning author, I was interested to see what he might ramble on about. He had taught a course at my university, in which he ran class like a dinner party, telling anecdotes about his life in the limelight, and then decided to fail the entire class in a fit or on a whim, who knows. He was not invited to return, as I understand.

First off, the point of a talk, on a very basic level, is for the audience to hear. Nobody could hear shit. Nobody knew that Naipaul was doing a reading, or what he was saying. And no one on staff made any attempt, as far as I can tell, to remedy the volume issues. The person I went with didn't even know what happened when, partway through the reading, the author became choked with tears and emotion. The moderator had clearly received no direction, or perhaps strange direction, because he travelled down a strange path asking questions about Naipaul's opinion on China, and his desire to visit the country (Naipaul, with typically haughty humour, declared he had no interest in the subject. The man's works concentrate chiefly on issues of home and belonging among the diaspora, not Politics and the Chinese Language).

What was most appalling, to me, is the fact that the organizers of the event (including a certain platinum-blonde chieftain) spent the entire time texting, talking on the phone, taking group self-portraits and generally ignoring the speaker. Which honestly made me wonder -- if you guys don't care, and it's your event, then why should we?

Early on, when I expressed to someone that I was excited to see the shape that Liberatum would take, a person marginally involved with the event declared it all a bunch of bullshit -- rich and well-connected people digging into their phone books to bring in big shots in the name of creative revolution. I suggested that, perhaps, revolution wasn't necessary. That simply having such an event would spur something by example.

What it did spur is probably best exemplified in the "Camera Shyness Therapy" hosted by photographers Earl Wan, Wing Shya and Mike Figgis. It was intended as an installation activity in which members of the public could be shot by so-called famous photographers. A perfectly valid idea in theory, except branded as some sort of antidote to a condition of suffering. Let's call a spade a spade. It's a forum for us to look cool, it's Glamour Shots but BETTER.

Next year, if Liberatum returns, let's not pretend it's a hotbed of originals pushing forward new agendas. It's a chance for a bunch of hipsters to get together in our fashion best, see some famous people up close and personal, and to pretend we're part of that culture. There's nothing wrong with that, I do it every day as a job. But I don't call myself a revolutionary -- I call myself a journalist.

Guerlain by Emilio Pucci

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 08 May 2012 06:10:00 +0000

I’ve always loved Guerlain for their skincare as I find their Super Aqua range, in particular the serum, perfect for my skin in the humid Hong Kong weather. But I’ve never paid much attention to their cosmetics with the exception of their liquid foundation which I swear by. However, the crossover they currently have with Emilio Pucci has me intrigued. As always, I’m loving the packaging and the blues and greens just make me want to endlessly go on junk trips and wait for the summer to come and forget about being bundled up in winter clothing in insanely cold Hong Kong offices. If I had to choose one item from the collection that I covet, it would probably be the purple nail polish as I’ve never tried their polish. Yet, the glosses look pretty, the ocean blue kohl worth trying and you can never have too many brushes right? Which means pretty much the entire collection is luring me to their counters. Signs of a good collaboration indeed. Available at Guerlain counters now.

Warehouse Sale: CNC, Galliano etc

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 07 May 2012 04:33:00 +0000

Loewe X Pentax Q Limited Edition Collaboration

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 07 May 2012 01:55:00 +0000

Fueling my very Honkie belief that everything in Japan must be better, Loewe has collaborated with Pentax for a Japan only release of a Loewe X Pentax Q Limited Edition Camera, Lens Case and Limited Edition Micro-Mini Amazona bag. I am in LOVE with the mini Amazona bag which is unbelievably cute with its contrasting colours and mini size. It would be an awesome clutch don’t you think? Anyone flying to Japan anytime soon?

SHOErotica: Walter Steiger Prunelle

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

It'd be fair to say I'm pretty much obsessed with these Walter Steiger Prunelle booties. I mean, that now-classic claw heel was bad-ass enough when it was on a simple black pump, but throw in a peep-toe bootie and a floral-neutral mash-up palette, and it seems like there's so many things going on that it should be wrong... but somehow it's still right. Like, really, really right.

Click here for where to buy Walter Steiger. Impossible to find online.

Bag Lady: Roger Vivier Prismick collection

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 04 May 2012 06:52:00 +0000

Geometric shapes. Chain handle bags. Cheerful colours. Consider me sold. Loving the 3D effect on the blue Prismick shopping bag. Available at Roger Vivier. Prices range from HK$24,400 to HK$26,700.

Wear & Share: Hot Tot

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 04 May 2012 02:44:00 +0000

Finally got my hands on some of my very own TOT. The mint is just a really sick colour, and the fact that I can say I wore it before Fan Bingbing just makes it even better.

Dress: TOT (get yours here)
Shoes: Aldo
Ring: Bijules (get yours here)
Clutch: Gift from Chic Outlets Shopping press event, then DIY-ed with some studliness

The EcoChic Design Award 2012

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 03 May 2012 09:33:00 +0000

Our culture of consumption is a conspicuously evil one, and we certainly are no helpers to the cause. Half of our posts here are specifically engineered to transfer our frivolous want of pretty things/food onto the greater public. So I guess, once in a while, we should try and remind ourselves of the creative opposite: instead of buying, buying and buying more, why not try taking what you already have and regenerating?

That's exactly the idea behind sustainable-design-promoting Redress's EcoChic Design Award, a competition that pits six budding young semi-finalist designers against each other in a Project Runway-style head-to-head battle to churn out mini collections using sustainable materials and methods.

The six designers -- Ku Ho Ping, Tang Chi Shing, Tsang Ho Yin, Tsang Nga Hei, Tsui Yat Sing and Wan Ka Hang -- have their work on display right now at an exhibition in K11 Art Mall in TST, on the 1st floor. And speaking of Project Runway, the EcoChic Design Award offers a similarly cool prize -- the opportunity to design a sustainable collection for Esprit.

There's also a People's Choice Award, in which you readers can vote here before July 1 -- the winner will get an educational trip to London to learn more about the fashion industry. And five randomly selected voters will win a piece of jewellery from sustainable jewellery brand John Hardy, so there's even more incentive to get involved.

To further the public education, Redress also organized a series of three workshops to teach attendees how to refashion used materials into new garments. We attended one last week, so you'll see our photos from that soon -- stay tuned!

Anna Dello Russo at H&M

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 03 May 2012 08:29:00 +0000

H&M is on a roll. After Marni x H&M comes news of Anna Dello Russo designing for H&M. Check out the video for some insights. The collection is available from October 4, 2012 in around 140 stores worldwide and online. The collection features jewelry, sunglasses, shoes, bags and a trolley (!).

Mario Batali takes on Hong Kong

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 03 May 2012 03:04:00 +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: Lupa is a client of FashionGeek’s day job. All views are presented by guest blogger LifestyleGeek

The highly-anticipated Lupa opened to much fanfare, with one of Gwyneth Paltrow's favourite chefs Mario Batali in town for the festivities. LHT Tower -- or the building with the GAP store -- is fast becoming occupied with businesses and Batali won't just have Lupa, but Carne Vino which will open later in the summer.

First let's go over what we like about Lupa. We love love the outdoor terrace in the back. It's huge, has areas for small groups to have laid-back get-togethers and also breathe in fresh oxygen thanks to the vertical garden on the wall. Too bad this area is first come, first served, but well worth the effort of skipping work early just to get a seat.

We also love the interior of this restaurant. The place has the feel of an upscale New York eatery, with lots of tiles on the floor as well as wood, relatively high ceilings and sophisticated look. The private room, if you get a chance to peek inside, is definitely special, with a giant chandelier creating a dramatic entrance and the walls are covered in old school hand-drawn maps.
The giant bronze statue of the she wolf with Romulus and Remus suckling on her, and these twin boys later founded Rome will be lost on most people unless they studied Western civilization; but it's a nice cultural touch.

And then there's the menu. We were surprised to find Batali's famous pizza is not available inside the restaurant, but out on the terrace. We have yet to try this pizza which I hear is amazing (well at least the one in Los Angeles).
However, we managed to try some other dishes and we were surprised to find half of them were good, the other half not -- even with the fleece vest and orange Croc-wearing top dog was in the house.

Nevertheless here was the lowdown: The verdure or vegetarian starters were OK, such as the Sicilian sweet and sour eggplant relish (HK$48), bitter broccoli with creamy cows milk cheese (HK$48). The marinated olives (HK$48) came seasoned with citrus and chilli.

You can't go wrong with slices of proscuitto (HK$148) if it's quality ham from Parma, and for the curious -- I didn't try this -- there's pork head with fennel (HK$98). The salad of arugula with lemon vinaigrette (HK$98) was straightforward, fresh and refreshing. And then we moved to pasta.

The garganelli with oxtail ragout (HK$198) was excellent, lots of flavour, but then we were disappointed by the thin linguine with cheese and black pepper (HK$168) that was way too heavy on the pepper.

For the second course, we enjoyed the local snapper cooked in parchment paper (HK$238), its delicate flavours encased in the package that was opened tableside.

But then in the lamb braciole or slowly braised lamb shoulder with olives, cannellini beans and citrus, the gameyness of the lamb was cancelled out by the sourness of the olives, resulting in the meat having not much flavour. And the overdose of olives made the dish salty too.

Nevertheless, Lupa was redeemed by its desserts.Chocolate lovers will enjoy the flourless chocolate cake with toasted hazelnuts and drizzled chocolate sauce and we loved loved loved the blood orange panna cotta with basil (HK$98).
Service seems well intentioned, but not quite sure with what to do with themselves; there are hordes of staff everywhere but you're not quite sure what everyone does. Hopefully in the next few weeks Lupa will sort all this out -- and we want to get our hands on the pizza -- if we can get out of the office early enough.

Lupa
3/F, LHT Tower
31 Queen's Road
Central
2796 6500
www.diningconcepts.com.hk

Sunny Spectacular

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

1. Grey Ant Foundry
2. Le Specs x Henry Holland Hoodies
3. Something Else Radient Citrine
4. Ksubi Bellatrix
5. Westward Leaning Louisiana Purchase
6. Nasty Gal Neon Circles
7. Nasty Gal Loren Shades

Geek Gab: Charlotte Olympia

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 06:45:00 +0000

Shoe maven Charlotte Olympia was in town a few weeks ago, and a few bloggers got the chance to catch up with her at the cocktail event. Gotta love her crazy platforms and unapologetically pin-up-girl aesthetic. Fifties for the win! Here's what she had to say:

What do you collect?
I collect mermaids -- ceramic mermaids, mermaid ashtrays... I've got a mermaid coffee table that someone gave me. They're pretty mermaids. A lot of them are from the 40s and 50s. Vintage mermaids or funny mermaids. Pictures. I've got a pair of shoes that I say mermaids would've liked to wear, if they had feet. It's the "she sells seashells" one, the really kitschy one.

What's on your lust list right now?
I would like so many things. Hard question for someone who likes to collect stuff. I'm really in my home right now, so I would like leopard print rug to put in my dressing room. A bit obvious, because I like leopard print. I would like hair-dryer, one of those old ones. Not to use, because I do my hair at the salon. But I want one in my dressing room because I think it would be a good focal point. I mean, I could use it, but I want one for decor, in pink. I do like things on the good side of kitsch. I have lots of spiderwebs, mermaids, leopard... you put it all together, it kind of works?

How do you define what's cool?
I like matchy-matchy. Some people could like what I like, but it doesn't work for them. What's not cool is trying something when you're not comfortable with it. It might be a really obvious answer, but I think it's really not cool, trying to be something you're not. Effortless can sometimes not effortless, but as long as it is for you... I mean, I would love to rock the blue hair tips, but I don't think I could rock it well. I think I could do all over, purple roots, but to each their own.

Images: here and here