Even though the Margiela knuckle duster (above) I got myself (and my sister-in-law, bought the last two in the shop) for Christmas is super comfortable to wear, it doesn't make typing very easy. When I discovered these Made Her Think rings online, they pleased me to no end. They fulfill the multi-ring effect but without constricting your hand span, because they're attached by chains instead of fused together. Only problem is that they're a few hundred USDs, money I can't be spending on buying rings online due to my inhumanly small fingers which only work with adjustable-size rings. (The smallest size at F21 is big even on my thumb.)
That said, anyone with normal-sized fingers would go ga-ga over these, and a lot of the collection is actually a lot more reasonable in price. You can get rings for around US$60, going all the way up to US$2000+. Hm.
With CNY coming up, Bally is trying to convince you that instead of red packets, everyone should be giving out Bally gift cards instead. The concept is pretty straightforward, it's more the marketing angle that needs work. The beauty of the gift card is that it allows the recipient more freedom to choose what he/she wants -- to give a gift card instead of a red packet, aka cash, is, to a certain extent, taking away that freedom.
Also, given that the cash denominations usually received in lai see packets aren't usually that high, (I personally haven't even received anything more that HK$1000, and that number was only reached due to the generosity of my own parents) that also inevitably means that you'd have to shell out your own dollar dollar bills to actually buy anything worth more than $1000 at the Bally counter (which, let's face it, is everything in the store). The gift cards are available at HK$500 (ha! useless!) to HK$30,000 at any Bally boutique.
In the meantime, check out German actor-director-producer Til Schweiger in their latest ad campaign. Schwing! Yes, I know that's a gender-inappropriate reference. But he is pretty.
Tszuji.co.uk, an online website that sells shoe storage systems have come up with the research to support our shoe buying habits. Conducting a survey with their customers, women were asked about their feelings towards their footwear, and what they could remember about their shoes compared to their relationships. Findings include:
92% of women remember the first shoes they bought with their own money, while only 63% recalled the name of their first kiss. 96% of women regret throwing away a pair of shoes, while only 15% regret dumping a boyfriend.
So what does that mean? Has Sex and the City ruined romance for everyone or is our desire for fashion greater than for love? Or simply that we have become cynics who don't believe in love. What's the answer? I don't' know. It's been a long day at work and I need to get me a drink.And maybe shop online for that perfect pair of shoes. After all, they're much easier to find than Mr Right.
PS Image stolen from Google images of Tamara Mellon and her shoes
I've never been a big fan of poetry yet but for one of my majors when I was doing my Bachelor's degree, I decided to do Creative Writing with a focus on short fiction and poetry. To my immense surprise, I found poetry really enjoyable and in fact fell in love with quite a number of poets. My all time favourite is still Pablo Neruda The Book of Questions while ShoeGeek proclaims a love for Nikki Giovanni.
Having been back in Hong Kong for a number of years, I've never managed to make my way to the Outloud Poetry events. Outloud has been going on for about ten years at the Fringe Club but in 2010, it will be moving to a new location due to the refurbishment of the Fringe building. Where will it be going to? The Bostonian Restaurant at The Langham, Hong Kong. Entry to the event is free of charge. What with the new year, new venue, maybe it's time to finally check it out.
Event Details at a glance: OutLoud at The Bostonian in The Langham, Hong Kong February 3, 2010 8pm until 10pm Free entry for all, first come, first served basis. For more information contact: 2375 1133
The stylish woman's uniform is pretty simple: skinny jeans, black blazer with rolled-up sleeves, loose T-shirt that hits at the hips, you know the look. A hundred million women own these staples, but no two have the same collection of T-shirts, I'll guarantee you that. The T-shirt is where every human expresses him or herself, sending a message about what he or she is all about. Are you wearing the Nike logo-sperm hybrid that reads "Just do it"? Yeah, you're funny, we get it. The solid fitted tee emblazoned with a brand logo like Versace or Dior? Yeah, you're rich, we get it.
Me, I like shirts with faces. I'm not sure what that says about me, maybe I'm afraid to face people so I have to stare them down using my torso, or maybe I just relish the idea of being a walking totem pole. Whatever the reason, it's my fetish, so it was a pleasant surprise to receive a package of product samples from the Tshirt Store in Sweden, on the occasion of its opening up a branch in Hong Kong just before Christmas.
Two different faces were included; a mean little boy whose expression mirrors one I make at my dog when she's been bad, and a clown face that would probably suit someone a little younger than me. As for the first one, it was like I had found a younger brother for the bitchy-looking babe shirt I got in Taiwan last year: here's the sibling's shot:
At first, the boy really scared me, but then I kind of liked the idea of him staring ominously from a door crack, so I hid him mostly under a white short-sleeved blazer so only his eyes peeked out. Because the tee is this perfect long length, I just threw on leggings, cowboy boots and my typical smattering of ridiculous gold and back accessories, and was out the door.
We were a bit skeptical about the quality when we first received the shirts, but I found them soft and comfortable, especially if you prefer a looser sleeve but a fitted body. Now I kind of really want to order more friendly faces, or take a trip out to Nathan Road to check out the shop. The "fox in disguise" shirt really appeals to me, for obvious reasons to anyone who knows me.
Of course there are other shirts that don't involve the child star of a horror movie, as well as some calculator watches that I am digging; you can find the whole selection either at the online store or at iSquare: Tshirt Store, Shop 402, iSquare, 63 Nathan Road, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kowloon, Hong Kong. Tel: 852 2682 3687.
We've always thought being a geek is pretty sexy and now we are getting affirmation for our beliefs. The creators behind the iconic Barbie doll is asking us to vote for her next career and Mattel is fully on board with geekiness being the next big thing. Since her debut in 1959, Barbie has had over 120 careers. She's been an astronaut, a pilot, a rock star, and a veterinarian. And for the first time, Barbie can indulge in her techie side and become a computer engineer. Cast your vote here.
Through an extremely circuitous route, us Geeks ended up being invited to Liberty Private Works to trial the omakase menu prepared by chef Makoto Ono, who is one of our favourite chefs ever. We had had the privilege to try his food twice before, once at a private dinner held at Prive and another when he was guest-cheffing at Dakota Prime, and I distinctly remember thinking, the first time I tried his food, that his was the best meal I had had all year. Bear in mind, too, that besides being a dedicated glutton, I also cover the Dining section for a luxury lifestyle publication, so I do have a little bit of frame of comparison. I don't mean to show off, I mean to say (in a circuitous way) that this guy is really damn good.
Liberty Private Works lives up to its name by being as private as possible. Despite its having opened in July of last year, we were the first so-called media people to be invited to dine there (we are SO lucky, I know) and it's located on the third floor of a random building on Wellington Street, with no elevator, so it's for those "in the know" only. That said, when we arrived at slightly after 8pm, the long bar table was full. The restaurant seats around 10 people along a long bar table facing the open kitchen, where Makoto and two other chefs busy themselves preparing your dinner. The menu changes on a nightly basis, but generally varies on a theme, with an amuse bouche, a raw fish appetizer, soup, meat, seafood and a dessert. There's a blackboard in the back which lists the courses and ingredients involved, sort of like in the Mandarin Oriental's Krug Room but without the crossword puzzle element.
Since we were late, (sale at JDC, $200 boots, you know the story...) the spicy chips and amuse bouche (an ostrich skewer thing) were served immediately, and promptly devoured. What I think Makoto is best at is getting the right textures -- the ostrich wasn't overcooked so it was still juicy, but not so raw that you spend forever and a day chewing, or can't pull the meat off the skewer.
Next up was a Kampachi appetizer, which looked kind of fishy but tasted really tangy and refreshing. You sometimes wonder what the point is of flavouring and garnishing raw fish, when it tastes so good on its own or just with soy sauce and wasabi, but I think Nobu proved that a little marinade never hurt anybody. And the Makoto took it to the next level with grapefruits and ponzu jelly, using a strong citrus to counter the fish.
The downside to dinner here is maybe that there's sometimes a lot of ingredients going on, it gets pretty filling halfway through. Sweet potato veloute with rabbit ravioli and 16 other ingredients I didn't quite catch, was a pretty heavy soup considering we hadn't even hit the main course. I did, however, love the soup (sweet potato soups are so sweet and creamy) and the contrast between the crunchy veggies, the sweet soup and the savoury ravioli.
FashionGeek and I were deeply engrossed in conversation when my eye caught 10 pieces of salmon pass me in a baking pan. "Groan..." I thought, roasted salmon. Roasted salmon is the most ridiculous proposition, in my mind, because it robs the fish of its moisture, and NOTHING is worse than dry salmon. That's why we pan-fry ours so we can watch it and remove it from heat as soon as it reaches the desired pink-itude. It wasn't promising when the plated fare arrived, browned on top in a small pool of brothy sauce. But OH. LORD. When I took the first bite I stopped mid conversation and squealed "Oh my god" to FashionGeek. I'm not in the habit of doing the in-public orgasm face but I swear, this salmon is better than sex, or maybe I just haven't had the privilege of having really good sex, because I'd give everything up -- sex, dog, child, shoe closet -- for more of this salmon.
By the time the beef arrived I was pretty darn full, having cleaned all my plates beforehand, but I do recall it being serviceably soft with good sauce and accompaniments. I do remember that at the Prive dinner we attended, Makoto served a saga beef with manga salsa that took my breath away, so maybe this time I was just busy relishing the afterthought of that salmon.
Before dessert, a palate cleanser of cranberry-sangria ice and jelly was served, which kind of took a bit of the fullness out of my stomach. The dessert was pistachio and caramel cake -- admittedly, not bad at all, but not of the same outstanding quality as the rest.
It must also be said that another perk of the dinner is to sit at the bar table and watch the chefs in action. Firstly, because it's always cool to pick up tips and watch food being prepared. Secondly, because Makoto is something of a hottie, especially if you like the tattooed bad boy type, the kind who drives a rice rocket and has squinty eyes. The Geeks both agreed that we would marry him instantly if asked, in particular if he cooked for us every night, so perhaps that's all the endorsement you need.
Liberty Private Works is at 3/F, 12 Wellington Street. The omakase menu is around $500-600 I believe, and worth every penny. Tel: 852 5186 3282.
Okay now there's actually a fashion-related angle to this whole Robert Downey Jr gushfest, courtesy of Cole Haan. You don't hear that brand name mentioned too often in relation to the red carpet, probably because Cole Haan is known more for comfortable basic shoes you wear to the office if you have to take the MTR. They're comfy but not the sexiest thing you've owned, by far. Surprisingly, Cole Haan made an appearance at the Golden Globes, and beyond that, made a pretty loud statement when it came to Monsieur Downey Jr, who wore a pair of combat-boot-inspired dress shoes to pick up his award for Best Actor in Sherlock Holmes.
The gents I've seen in formal attire tend to default to shiny oxford wingtip type shoes, so it's refreshing to see RDJ rough it up a bit in accordance with his personal style. From the full-length shot, he seems no different from any oxford-sporting male, but I bet when he sat down that boot collar peeked right out of the bottom of his pant leg. (Well, that is, if he'd had his tux trousers properly hemmed.) Straight boys, take notes -- You can mix up your shoe choices beyond the typical black or brown lace-ups.
The particular shoe in question we are seeing on Mr Downey Jr is the Cole, Rood & Haan Bearcat Boot, which is part of Cole Haan's new handmade shoe line that's a bit more rough around the edges than the brand's regular fare, and is inspired by vintage designs (what isn't these days), in particular the "classic and dangerous leading men of the infamous Jazz revolution era," or so says the press release. The Bearcat retails for HK$4,150.
By now I'm sure you've all heard about the NBC drama that has ensued since the powers that be decided to give Leno back his old spot and move O'Brien to a later spot. I've been following the story quite a bit (rooting for O'Brien I must admit). He just had his last show last Friday and I must say that his antics have gotten more and more amusing throughout his last week. I have nothing more witty to add but because it's Monday morning and we all have to work again, I decided to showcase my favourite part of his farewell programme (where he blows through as much of the NBC budget as he can in one week) in order to give us all a chuckle.
It's never really bothered me that Robert Downey Jr was a bad-ass, except in the sense that being in jail or on probation or coked out or whatever prevented him from making movies and TV shows. His presence onscreen makes everything better, and he is in my humble opinion the only man who can carry the suffix "Junior" and still retain an aura of coolness. Not to mention the fact that he is the hotness. There's not really a point to this post except to say that, and that I'm glad that he won the Golden Globe, and please can I have his babies?
Women are never satisfied. Only three wears in to my amazing ASOS motorcycle gloves, and I'm already sweatin' these amazing American Retro over-the-elbow fingerless gloves. And I'll be needing a kick-ass pair of over-the-knee boots to go along with them for the mummified look.
Nuh-uh they didn't! The Olsen sisters borrow that red sole to put on their adorable Rizzo booties with an impressive metal pin heel. If you ask me, they didn't even need it.
Shu Uemura will be launching the rouge unlimited supreme shine on Feb 1st in Hong Kong. Boasting of "the ultimate fusion of pure, high fidelity colour supported by the brand’s signature hybrid pigment technology. The new lipstick provides infinitely a deep, dewy shine. The breakthrough formula amplifies colour and magnifies shine with two revolutionary ingredients of film keeping capsules and ultra shine oil for a deep moisture feeling that glides over lips like dew." Whether or not that's true remains to be seen but the girl in the image does have unbelievably shiny lips. I'd be interested in seeing whether or not the texture of the rouge is sticky. Much along the lines of lip gloss, anything shiny tends to be rather sticky. Fingers crossed that Shu Uemura will have solved that problem.
We promised you free stuff and you're getting free stuff -- next up in our lineup of giveaways is a Chinese New Year treat, an abalone and turnip pudding with air-dried meats (okay I'm sure it tastes better than the name implies) worth $288. Obviously these things have expiration dates, so instead of the actual pudding you'll be receiving a coupon to pick it up from the Four Seasons Hong Kong in IFC, Central. We don't have a pic, unfortunately, but it's a three-Michelin-starred pudding, you really can't go wrong, here's a shot of Lung King Heen's dim sum turnip pudding, stolen from FoodNut.com
As usual, email giveaway@hkfashiongeek.com with the subject line "Four Seasons giveaway" and we will use a random number generator to decide on the winner. You have a week to enter, and you can have an extra entry if you RT on twitter (@hkfashiongeek or @hkshoegeek so we know), or join our Facebook fan page (sorry, new fans only, just let us know by email if you've joined). The contest is open to Hong Kong residents only.
And of course, a big thank you and wet smooch to the Four Seasons Hong Kong for the pudding. Art jam or lunch karaoke is on us next time!
5:35 PM
hkFashionGeek
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