I never understood the concept of birthstones. How were they assigned and what exactly are the benefits of birthstones? So when ShopNBC.com approached us to take a look at their vast birthstone jewelry collection, I decided to do a little research. Most gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones arose from the Breastplate of Aaron: a ceremonial religious garment set with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve tribes of Israel and also corresponded with the twelve signs of the zodiac and the twelve months of the year. Birthstone jewellery is supposed to enhance the personality and traits of the wearer. So what are the traits? There’s a poem published in a Tiffany’s pamphlet in 1870 that describes the characteristics of each month’s baby which makes for a rather interesting read, although three of the verses are the same. Signs of a lazy poet indeed! (Scroll to the very end of the post for the poem)

Taking a look at ShopNBC.com’s offers, I was amazed by the variety on offer. And I do mean a vast variety with 913 items to be found. Of course, not each item has all 12 birthstones as options but there’s certainly something for everyone. Being the type of girl who prefers funkier pieces, I fell in love with the Gemstone Stingray Cuff Bracelet which coincidentally comes in my birthstone, ruby. Of course, even if it doesn’t I’m sure I’ll find an excuse to lust after it anyway. After all, birthstones are just another excuse for us to shop for jewellery isn’t it?

By her who in January was born
No gem save garnets shall be worn
They will ensure her constancy
True friendship and fidelity.

The February born shall find
Sincerity and peace of mind,
Freedom from passion and from care,
If they, the amethyst will wear.

By her who in March was born
No gem save bloodstone shall be worn
They will ensure her constancy
True friendship and fidelity.

She who from April dates her years,
diamonds shall wear,
lest bitter tears
For vain repentance flow.

Who first beholds the light of day
In spring's sweet, flower month of May
And wears an emerald all her life
Shall be a loved and a loving wife.

By her who in June was born
No gem save pearls shall be worn
They will ensure her constancy
True friendship and fidelity.

The gleaming ruby should adorn,
All those who in July are born,
For thus they'll be exempt and free,
From lover's doubts and anxiety.

Wear a peridot for thee,
No conjugal fidelity,
The August born without this stone,
`Tis said, must live unloved; alone.

A maiden born when autumn leaves
Are rustling in September's breeze,
A sapphire on her brow should bind;
To bring her joy and peace of mind.

October's child is born for woe,
And life's vicissitudes must know,
But lay an opal on her breast,
And hope will lull those woes to rest.

Who first comes to this world below
In dreary November's fog and snow,
Should prize the topaz amber hue,
Emblem of friends and lovers true.

If cold December gave you birth
The month of snow and ice and mirth
Place on your hand a turquoise blue;
Success will bless whate'er you do.

I can’t quite decide how I feel about Taiwanese designer Colin Lin’s ballerina flats in terms of aesthetic but am definitely feeling the design concept. Using recycled Chinese newspapers woven into a lattice pattern and dipped in plastic for durability, Colin creates these ballerina flats with the help of cottage industry artists in China. Each pair is handmade and unique. Having been in business for 26 years, Lin has sold more than 4,000 pairs of shoes to customers hailing from the United States and Europe. I had expected that quite a large number of raw material is needed for the shoes but apparently it only takes three and a half sheets of newspaper for a pair of these eco-friendly flats. In addition to the flats, Colin also creates eco-friendly tote bags. Both of the items go through a time consuming manufacturing process which explains its rather expensive price tags. A pair of paper shoes takes 3-4 hours to make and sells for US$100-150, while a tote bag takes as much as two to three days and retails up to US$260. Available at online retailer Moxsie.

This is a long overdue follow-up to our last giveaway! Readers, line up for a 50ml bottle of the classic Bulgari Voile de Jasmin scent. (Not sure if you like it? Drop by Sasa for a sample sniff or sign up anyway because free stuff is free stuff which can't be bad...)

We're looking to do more freebies and whatnot in 2010 to keep you guys happy so just to get the ball rolling, we're throwing in some of the press gifts and samples we've received from brands and never put to good use. Hopefully you will give them a happy home!

The requirements are simple: just send an email to giveaway@hkfashiongeek.com with the subject "Perfume giveaway" and you will be eligible, no strings attached. RT the giveaway on twitter (make sure to @hkfashiongeek or @hkshoegeek so we know!) to get an extra entry. Since this is coming out of our own personal stash, it would be ideal to meet on HK island to pass you your freebie, or we can work something out. The winner will be chosen at random with a number generator and contacted via email.

The contest ends in two weeks, or whenever we feel like it after that :)

With the dawn of the new year comes new year's resolutions, taking all the fun out of new beginnings. Couple that with the holiday hangover associated with being back at work, and year, early Jan isn't all that fun. The one thing you can do to indulge a little bit (without breaking the rules that stand between you and total hedonism) is get a refreshing spa treatment. It's all part of the "shedding the old you to reveal the new one" process... or whatever other excuse I can make up that will get me in that bed with a face hole in it.

It's rare that I go to spas in Hong Kong. Mostly, I'm pretty busy, but also, I associate spa visits with press trips or my quarterly pilgrimage to Bangkok (yeah, I lead a tough life, I know). Somehow over this holiday season, I ended up at two different spa venues.

The first, Sense of Touch, was kind enough to let me trial a treatment at their new Repulse Bay location, in the same building as The Verandah. First of all, that structure is one of the most romantic outdoor shopping malls you can come across; it's almost like the Italian Piazza Lite (very, very lite), all moonlight and arches and whatnot. It's not the easiest to navigate, but once I found Sense of Touch, everyone was welcoming and efficient (I know you're supposed to chill out at the spa but I hate it when they force you to hang out with your tea for 10 minutes contemplating what manner of disposable underpant they will be providing you with).

The theme is thankfully not Thai wellness or holistic herbal blah-di-dah, but rather Old Hong Kong. Nostalgic photos line the walls and a kind of Mediterranean influence takes over the treatment rooms and idyllic garden area (pictured above). But where the old-school vibe really takes over is in the treatment menu, with a Nostalgia series that includes far-out programmes including Tobacco and Opium (named respectively for their main ingredients) and Fragrant Harbour, inspired by the sandalwood forests that gave Hong Kong its nickname.

There's a second Sea series with Ocean's 11, a clay mask/massage utilizing a choice of 11 essential oils, and a Sea Shell massage, which is a massage with warm sea shells.

I test-drove the Tobacco, which came with this narration:
Tobacco ($990 / 90 mins)
A stimulating treatment that uses a combination of tobacco flower, ginger oil and sea salt to scrub the skin rendering even the most weathered seadogs baby soft and smooth. Followed by a body massage treatment working on tight and fatigued muscles. A treatment this good could become a habit… "

Nobody loves a good addiction like me (just check out my shoe cabinet) so I was sold. The experience is generally very homey, and what I enjoyed was that the therapist got the job done, instead of just feeling me up and calling it a massage. The skin scrub did leave me ridiculously smooth, and the process didn't leave me freezing under a wet sheet. All in all, a good job. And no, I didn't even need a tobacco fix afterwards, I just basked in the glow of myself...

The other thing that's great is that they use products from Aromatherapy Associates (also used at the Mandarin Oriental spa, but SOT is muuuuuch cheaper), and having met the team from AA, I know that they all look ridiculously radiant at all times, so there's got to be something good in their products.

The best part (well, arguably the best part if your priorities in life are shoes and food) is the Jason's Marketplace in the same complex, which happened to have fresh ravioli on sale for HK$15 because it was due to expire in two days. SCORE!

Sense of Touch is located at G211, 1/F, The Repulse Bay Arcade, 109 Repulse Bay Road, Hong Kong, call 852 2592 9668 or visit www.senseoftouch.com.hk.

What does J Lo, Paris Hilton, Hello Kitty and Lightning (the protagonist in the upcoming Final Fantasy XIII) have in common? Their own signature scents. Taking video game marketing to the next level, Square Enix will be releasing Lighting's Eau de Toilette one month after the game's launch in March. So what does a video game heroine smell like? The scent is described as having notes of peach, followed by rose and a feminine musk. It'll be all yours for about US$80. Some might say that's a bit pricey but judging from the early buzz of the upcoming game, it might be money better spent than on the actual game itself. Of course, coming from a family of Final Fantasy fans, it'll still be making its way to my home when it's out. We'll see if it's as bad as they say. In the meantime, I'm trying out Final Fantasy VI which my brother swears is a classic.



Side note: When I first saw Lightening, there was something oddly familiar about her yet I couldn't pinpoint it. Then it hit me. Doesn't she look like a tranny version of Cloud Strife?

For our first Geek Gab of the year, we talk to the Coach design team about their inspiration for their latest collection.

Hong Kong Fashion Geek: What was the inspiration behind the Coach Spring 2010 collection?

Coach Design Team: Spring was inspired by a subdued and sophisticated color palette of pale yellows and blues, easy neutrals, and natural metallics. Silhouettes are softer and more organic in feel and texture.

HKFG: If you had to only choose one design as your favorite, which would it be?
Coach: The entire Kristin collection really personifies the Coach aesthetic, so for that reason, along with it's pretty array of colors and fabrications, it's one of our favorites.

HKFG: Do you have any designs that are specifically targeted for Hong Kong and the Greater China market?
Coach: We design for the Coach customer as a whole; she is chic, fashionable, and modern. Of course from time to time, a special occasion or one-off design calls for some exclusivity and we do like to create a small assortment of pieces for individual markets. Look for exclusive items in China this spring.

HKFG: What outfit would you suggest for the Spring collection's hero product?
Coach: We think a roomy, easy jacket or chiffon-y blouse paired with slim, tailored pants would look great against the refreshingly natural, yet girlish, feel of the Kristin collection.

HKFG: What can we expect from your coming Fall/Winter collection?
Coach: Experimental fabrications with rich attention to detail; think pleating, studding, and supple metallic leathers.

Sucks to be back at work, huh? Even though I got a late start today, I'm still feeling the pangs of withdrawal from the holiday season. But if we can't partake in the fabulousness that's holiday parties and the frocks that accompany said events, at least we can live vicariously through the lives of those who experience fabulousness every day of their lives. No one better embodies this than the great Valentino, who became the star of the documentary Valentino: The Last Emperor and truly shows how the dolce vita is led with his expansive yachts and castle residences and impeccable luxury dinner parties. I saw this one at the film festival I mentioned going to late last year, so at the end of the flick, the director, Matt Tymauer, came out for a Q&A and was joined by, of all people, Andre Leon Talley of Vogue. What I discovered: The director is an ass of epic proportions, who spent the lion's share of his session coming up with witticisms to deride Valentino et al, focussing primarily on the "orangeness" of V's skin. And Andre Leon Talley is not quite the diva you expect, he's much funnier than that, almost a mix of Uncle Phil from Fresh Prince and Miss J from America's Next Top Model. Of all the "fashion films" that have hit the screens in recent years, this is probably the most interesting and entertaining one. Valentino and his lifelong partner Giammetti make great unintentional comedy, and their relationship is probably the most epic love story you've seen onscreen in a long time, made all the more moving because it's real.

Get it on Amazon.