You all know that us Geeks have been waiting anxiously for Tim Gunn’s return. Imagine our delight when we heard that there’s an All Stars Challenge to go with the premiere episode. However, after watching the episode, we feel a bit of a let down. Of all the fabulous contestants that they could have brought back to make it work, the powers that be made some pretty poor choices. We didn’t want to see Uli, Sweet P (accidentally typed her name as Sweat P!), Korto, Mychael Knight (anyone know why he changed the spelling of his name?) and Jeffrey Sebelia (he’s already won once, why is he back?), So instead, ShoeGeek and I spent a wonderful morning going through all past contestants and came up with our list of Project Runway All Stars.

The ones that the network got right:


Santino – Ah Santino. We hated you in Season 2 until you did that perfect imitation of Tim Gunn and all of a sudden, you became all right.



Chris March- Who doesn’t love Chris March? He moved to New York because of Sex and the City! Anyone who loves Carrie Bradshaw that much can do no wrong.


Geek’s choices:

Austin- You’ve got the talent, you’ve got the body (for who else could have modelled for a fellow contestant when a model dropped out?) and you would have definitely brought the drama.



Kenley- Hated you last season. Still hate you but would have been great to see you throw a cat at Santino or anyone who dared cross your path.



Siriano- One word. Fierce.



Andre- Where’s Andre? Is he mad at Tim Gunn and still stuck in Red Lobster?



Elisa- Wouldn’t it be fun just to see her space out on everything and come up with a fabulous extraterrestrial outfit?



Daniel Franco- His weird obsession with Heidi, coming back as a contestant twice in two consecutive seasons, how many times can one contestant be back?

Who would you have wanted to see in the challenge? And what do you think of Season 6 so far?

We, the citizens of Hong Kong, suffer from a severe dearth of space. Our couches are cozily close to our coffee tables, our kitchens rarely come with space-invading conventional ovens and many bedrooms just don't hold anything more than a bed and dresser. It's my dream come true to one day have a living room set that doesn't touch any living room wall.

But, such is the price we pay for convenience and a rockin' city life. Balconies are often non-existent, and when they are, are normally smaller than the average closet. A friend of mine once owned a dining table set from PriceRite that collapsed on two sides with a pillar to hold the table up in the middle, which also acted as a secret cabinet that stored four folding chairs (chairs, not stools!). This is just as good -- a collapsible barbecue set that will allow you to get your grill on, without taking up permanent balcony space. It's probably a bit of a bitch to clean, but that's the barely a hassle compared to the joy of having an at-home barbecue grill, no? A plus -- you can also take it camping!

Get it at i want one of those

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Perfect for the start of a girl's night out.

Despite having the world's most confusing and annoying website, Thomas Voorn appears to be a very interesting, quirky artist-designer who's taken a relatively simple concept and made a name for himself. What does good ol' Tom do? He makes weird sentences out of clothes, and places them in random locations, then photographs them. Bet you're having one of those "well I could do that" moments. Yeah, me too. But he thought of it, you didn't, and you can't deny the minimalist appeal of these weird and random still creations. I can't say I would mind having one of these images hanging on my living room wall. That said, I bet he's a really annoying and consciously cryptic "artist type". Yep, his ridiculously un-user-friendly website is still bothering me.

It's a pretty common complaint that there are no real vintage stores in Hong Kong. Admittedly, I haven't gone out of my way to find any, although HK mag and various other publications have done some round-ups of our city's piddling selection. Why bother seeking out a virtual boutique, however, when there are so many options online, though?

Ever heard of a little online auction site called eBay? It's a treasure trove of pre-loved goodies, provided you can find the right sellers. One of them, who's been on my bookmark list for ages, is Thriftwares, which always has page upon page of eclectic finds, from a simple Pierre Cardin double-breasted blazer from the '80s, to a floral bandage dress of questionable provenance that looks eerily similar to a piece from the Erin Wasson x RVCA collection, to a cage-sleeved jacket that could have been taken from the collection of the blogger fave, i heart norwegian wood.

I for one am particularly smitten with a candy-cane pink member's only bomber jacket that is currently going for US$9.99 but I know will skyrocket when the end of auction time nears... as most pieces sold by thriftwares are wont to do, goshdarnit. Watch avidly, shop freely and style outrageously.

Below: '80s floral shirtdress, sheer flapper dress, '70s tuxedo-style romper, '80s high-waisted leather skinnies, MY members only bomber in pink, sequined turtleneck romper, pierre cardin double-breasted blazer

Were you one of those kids who could never tell the time and felt that getting a digital clock was demeaning? Well hopefully by now you’ve learnt how to tell the time. If however, you are still having trouble, check out this German handmade marvel called QLOCKTWO. This clock spells out time via a typographic time format in 5 minute intervals combined with four-minute dots. The text is highlighted using light sensors that automatically adjusts the display to ambient light. The clock itself is made of wood with an acrylic face and glass polished edges. Literacy not included.

More info here

Check out these gorgeous bags from creator of Elly Clay NY, Crystal Haylett. New on the fashion market, Crystal started her design career in 2007 in order to create a bag that can be used from day to night. I’m particularly taken by the Botas studded hobo (pictured above). I’ve been looking for a hobo bag for a while but it’s hard to find one that meets my criteria; affordable and chic. While I haven’t had the chance to see the bag in person, this calf leather gold studded bag looks super soft. This brand started in 2008 and the philosophy behind it is to create a bag that is suitable from day to night and takes inspiration from the urban chic streets and glamorous culture of commuting New Yorkers. More of Crystal’s bags after the cut.



For more information, visit http://www.ellyclay.com/

I don't know why, but it's incredibly hard to find a really good New York-style slice in Hong Kong. And if you're looking for Chicago deep dish, you're better off trying the frozen food section at City'super. Californian pizza joints, however, seem to fare better in our city -- California Pizza Kitchen is pretty ubiquitous, and apparently Shakey's Pizza Parlor has been in Hong Kong for some time now, although they've been rather low key about it all. Locations already in operation include Sha Tin, Kwun Tong, Tuen Mun, Tai Po and Tsim Sha Tsui, so I guess it's no wonder they haven't made much of a mark in the expat/English-speaking community.

All that is set to change with their inaugural Hong Kong side location, at Stanley Street. To celebrate this momentous occasion, they want us all to eat pizza -- lots and lots of pizza. If you can eat HK$50 worth of pizza five times before September 14, you'll be entitled to join a lucky draw that will earn one winner a year's worth of free lunches at Shakey's. I suppose if you're desirous of a year's worth of pizza lunches, eating there five times in the next three weeks is probably not too hard. Unless you mean hard on your stomach and waistline.

The menu's got some pretty good-looking junk food options though, including traditional thin crust and pan, as well as "gourmet" pizzas like the lobster one pictured. For reservations, please call 852 2525 3030 or visit www.shakeys-pizza.com.hk

Check this out.. statement bag alert! Get it at Net a Porter

I recently attended a wedding , and during the ceremony the pastor got into the whole meaning of wedding bands and the significance of the circle as a symbol of love. How touching and meaningful and all that jazz, yes. But just because you aren't getting married, that doesn't mean you can't acknowledge love with an alternate form of expression, capturing the spirit of the shape in new incarnations. A perfect example is this disc of a necklace from Tryst by Kerry that tells the world OUI -- YES I am in love. YES I will marry you. Or YES to whatever question you would like to answer.

I love the fact that Kerry, the lady behind all this, is an Electrical and Biomedical Engineering grad. The whole mishmash of the romantic and the technical is quite fetching. By technical, I suppose I mean the idea of working parts fitting together to make interesting new designs and devices. On the one side, you have ornate baroque earrings; on the other, a black-and-white bird print in a glass window that opens.

The more I think about it, the sense of symmetry in a circle is actually quite painstakingly beautiful. There is something so nostalgic and romantic about an old-fashioned locket painted with fair woodland creatures, that holds a picture of your loved one close to your heart. And then, something so delicate, so fragile as a few slivers of hoop. But enough pillow talk. Tryst's pricing is the biggest selling point: A handmade piece of circular jewellery? Under $35 Canadian. An unending, unbreakable symbol of love everlasting? Priceless.

Regular readers of the blog will know that ShoeGeek and I are avid iPhone users. (Still contemplating on the 3GS though… not too keen to switch to 3 and Vinko insists that it’s much better to stick to Smartone). Anyway, tons of brands have infiltrated the iPhone apps market and now charities are doing the same. The Hong Kong Cancer Fund has launched a free iPhone application that brings you basic cancer information and aims to aid cancer victim and their families in coping with the disease by offering guidance and support. There are also preventative measurements that one can take against cancer showcased in the app. Available in both English and Traditional Chinese, the app can be downloaded by searching for “CancerCare” or “Cancer Fund" on the Apple app store site or through links on the Cancer Fund’s site.

PHWOAR. What a dangerous pair. GET THEM at net-a-porter.

If you fancy seeing images of yourself plastered all over Hong Kong, head on over to Causeway Bay Lee Theatre Plaza, Mong Kok Wai Fung Plaza and Kwun Tong APM. Esprit is launching a campaign to find a group of friends to front their latest winter advertising campaign. There are no age restrictions and I hear that aspiring models from the age of three to 70 have showed up. In fact, one entry comprises of a group of Taiwanese work colleagues visiting Hong Kong and asked not to be identified or have their faces shown on film as they had undertaken the trip without the knowledge of their boss who had been told that they were on sick leave. The only criterion is that you show up with a friend and tell the story about your friendship. A total of eight groups of friends will be featured in print and web-based promotions for the Esprit Friends ’09 Fall Winter Advertising Campaign and attend various events to represent “the New Face of Esprit” in Hong Kong. And if the fame isn’t enough incentive, you will be offered HK$10,000 cash to split between the group if chosen.

Visit www.espritfriends.com for more information.

No one can deny the power of makeup and a good skincare regime, but if you’re anything like us resident Geeks, you just can’t be bothered to go through a daily process of toner, serum, day cream, makeup base, foundation (liquid and powder), concealer, mascara, eyeliner, eye shadow, blush, lip liner, lip stick and lip gloss.

Of course, if you’ve seen any of those viral emails where a fug girl transforms into a pretty lass, you might be inclined to give it a shot. If, however, you still can’t be bothered, here are a few simple beauty tips to keep in mind.


Tanner overdose
Self tanner gone wrong? Get rid of those dark splotches by rubbing a fresh-squeezed lemon on the spots. It will brighten up right away.


Mascara woes
Bought a mascara you're not loving? Try using the wand from one you do - it may just be the brush and not the formula


Sauna alert
Before going into a sauna, try rubbing some body oil (preferably natural oil such as avocado or olive) onto your skin before going in. The dry heat allows your pores to open up and the oil will deeply moisturise the body.


Puffy eyes
Besides the tea bag and cucumber trick, try depuffing your eyes by lightly patting under eye circles starting from the inner corner and patting outward. It breaks up trapped fluid.


Flaky lips
You can easily exfoliate your lips by rubbing some sugar on your lips gently with a washcloth. Yummy and efficient.

What are some of your beauty tips? Leave a comment or a tweet or email us at info@hkfashiongeek.com to have your tips included in the next installment

Images courtesy of YesStyle, Getty Images