Moustache Mens Store & Bespoke Tailoring

Moustache, a mens clothing store on Aberdeen Street in Sheung Wan is one of my favorite stores in Hong Kong.  The owners Jaye and Ellis opened their shop in 2009 with roots from New York City (they both moved to HK in 2005).  Their clothing is impeccably made, with top fabrics and a tailored, yet vintage edge to their clothing.  Most compelling to me, is that they also offer bespoke tailoring for both men and women.  As someone whom is interested in shifting my style toward a more masculine and bespoke look, I have found my new fashion collaborators for 2011.  Their eye for detail, strong sense of styling, and sophisticated taste make them by far the best tailor in HK.  

http://moustachehongkong.com/eng

Traditional Hong Kong Candy

I was introduced to traditional HK candy a few weeks ago at an art opening.  Not only are they great tasting, but the design is brilliant.  Whilst in Hong Kong, you can visit a famous shop in Sheung Wan, Chan Yee Chai, where you can purchase local snacks and sweets.

Hong Kong Culture

The new super food

Pak Tai Temple, Wan Chai, Mix of old and new

Pak Tai Temple, Outside

Historic Blue House Tenement

Chef singing opera, post meal, Da Ping Huo

I realize I am becoming one of those New Yorkers, whom judge everything by New York City.  I shared a taxi with stranger this weekend, after exchanging introductory pleasantries, he astutely told me I mentioned NYC about 8 times in our 15 minute taxi ride.  Sometimes it takes a stranger to point out the annoying parts of your character.  With this noted, I fell into a weekend completely respecting and honoring the reality that I am living here and am actually having an amazing experience.  On to the next chapter of my life here, where I completely embrace my surroundings.

I had dinner at a Sichuan restaurant, Da Pin Huo.  Husband and wife team, whom opens their sophisticated restaurant for 2 seatings each night.  If you enjoy authentic and extremely hot food in a calm setting, book a reservation.  We ate a plant, see photo above, which overtook my mouth in a way that I have never experienced.  It was tingly, sour, sweet, hot, and present, for 10 minutes after a bite.  Has a hint of the indian tamarind, but unlike anything I will ever taste again.  Anyone know the medicinal qualities?  Share.

On Sunday morning, woke up to a walking tour of Wan Chai.  Our tour guide was fortunately an activist,  rather than a romantic tourist version, we discovered the area, thru the eyes of someone whom has first hand experienced the plight of the locals trying desperately to hold on to historic buildings.

Back to fashion this week.  Just needed a bit of depth....

Peter Lau, Shop Sheung Wan

If you are looking for interpretations of traditional Chinese dress, check out Peter Lau's shop on 168 Queens Road Central.  Peter, a veteran of the HK fashion industry for 20 years, established his own label for special occasion wear and since launched a 2nd line called, China Doll, targeting teenagers.  Peter designs his own fabrics and prints, inspired by vintage Chinese fabrics.  His designs are certainly for the more adventure oriented dresser.  Its a special store and often times you will find Peter upstairs working in his studio.  The pieces are nostalgic and sexy.  Perfect for a Western New Years eve dress, or Chinese New Year celebration.

L-Atitude E-Commerce Site

I have been guest writing for the blog component of a new e-commerce site, L-Atitude.  L'Atitude is a New York based shopping site that offers fashion accessories, clothing, and lifestyle products from Mumbai, Hong Kong, Manila, Milan, New York and Istanbul.  It is a great concept, as it gives women the ability to shop the globe, into destinations one has yet to visit.
http://www.shoplatitude.com/

Here is a latest article on the site at vogue.com:
http://www.vogue.com/vogue-daily/article/new-e-commerce-site-l-atitude-is-the-global-shoppers-choice/

Lane Crawford

Me looking good, notice the flat shoes, a long night.  

RM by Roland Mouret

Chloe Pants

YSL Cape

My colleague, Stinger, late nite DJ

I would go skiing, if I wore this Miu Miu jacket

My obsession, Kiki de Montparnasse, its mine!

 Biyan, an Indonesian designer, not my style, but happy to see an obscure designer at LC

I have been essentially living at Lane Crawford for the last 6 weeks.  Having done store installations before, I remember the initial awe of being surrounded by so much clothing, yet overtime, the awe quickly dissipates, when you start looking too closely at the dust on the mannequins, the lint on the black dresses etc and you see that the "glamour" isn't so glamorous after weeks of store walk thrus.  For those of you not in Asia, Lane Crawford is the Bergdorf Goodman of Hong Kong.  With 5 stores in HK and 1 in Beijing, they are the go to store for high end merchandise.  Not as fashion forward as Joyce, yet a go to choice for the fashion staples.  They certainly merchandise to the more conservative HK woman and expat and after 6 weeks in LC, I am ill looking at fur vests, short black skirts, black ankle boots, and skinny black leggings.  Mornings, late nights, lunch time, off times...the stores are always crowded.  I have decided to showcase some of my favorites.  Rather odd, they consist of mostly jackets, guess the mild HK weather has me dreaming of a more versatile closet.

Triple Major Pop Up

Store Front of Shop in Sheung Wan, HK

Interior

Triple Major Store Director, Richie Chan

We advised my friend, NOT to buy this piece....

I had the good luck of running into friends Thursday evening whilst they were heading to visit a temporary shop that opened from Beijing called Triple Major Nomad Store.  Triple-Major is a creative studio and concept store, which brings in avant-garde and lesser known designers from around the world such as Patrik Ervell and Pelican Avenue as well as experimental designers Anntian and Daniel Palillo.  HK is the first stop in the Triple-Major Nomad traveling tour (next stops likely Los Angeles, Shanghai and Copenhagen).

Each pop up appropriate local elements and attempts to fit both the exterior design and merchandise to the local market.  Their HK store front is disguised as a real estate agency, with its windows and interior covered in real estate ads (albeit ironic).

Strong concept, strong enough, I went back for a 2nd time this weekend.
www.triple-major.com

Chanel Resort Accessories

These hand and foot accessories stole the show...perfect for a mixed race Indian girl!

Chanel Resort Hong Kong

Yes, I have been quite absent, Lane Crawford Christmas Installs in 5 stores throughout HK, Chanel Casting & Collection Organization, and a move.  It felt like NY fashion week, yet a fashion week that lasted with such intensity for 6 weeks.  I am back and I look forward to pushing this blog forward.  Some lovely photos from Chanel's Resort Show that took place over the last few days.  9 shows, 2 days, 14 models from around the world and an amazing collection crew, the best I have ever worked with.  Collection not that compelling, but it is more about creating an atmosphere (theme St. Tropez) to encourage direct sales.   A team of sale persons sit with each guest post show to organize their order.  I don't think anyone walks out without a purchase.   Its a winning combination.

Model Casting HK

I have a few photo shoots and projects developing that require my immediate understanding of Hong Kong models and their agents/agencies.  First off, this is not NYC, not in the least, so it takes 200% more effort.  Visited four different agencies and couldn't help but notice that all of model agents were lesbian (a far cry from the shrieking feminine male in NYC).  I am only making an observation and certainly am not making any judgement on this.  But one couldn't help but notice.  There are few Asian girls to choose from which is tragic and reeks of colonialism.  Similar to India and the strive for lighter skin tone, the east asian image of beauty is still one viewed as western (those of you living or from the East won't be surprised by this).  The 1st photo above is Miin (Korean), 2nd photo is Bakker (1/2 Dutch, 1/2 Chinese).  We cast Miin.  We think she is our new muse...

Sham Shui Po, HK Fashion District

It seems that most fashion districts are disappearing world-wide as fashion production shifts almost entirely to China.  Among the benefits of living in Hong Kong is Sham Shui Po.  Over the weekend, I visited the area (Kowloon side, about 20 minutes from Central on the MTR), as I am styling a shoot that requires fabric for custom hats, trimmings, silver chains to make faux necklaces and belts.  Literally anything one needs to make fashion wise (fur, leather, feathers, crystals, buttons, lace, ribbons, silks, cotton, leather etc. etc) exists in a 10 street radius.  Certainly you must search around for the highest quality, but it is the variety and the immediacy that makes this a destination whilst visiting Hong Kong.  Anything is possible here and the prices are 70% less than NYC's limited fashion street.  Politics aside, it is thrilling for a designer, whom recognizes that anything is possible.

LittleShilpa, IMG Mumbai Fashion Week

I am so caught up in all things HK, that my India postings are quite few and far between.   Fortunately, IMG Indian Fashion Week just closed in Mumbai and I have been meaning to write about this accessories designer for a bit.  Littleshilpa is a Mumbai based designer whose handcrafted accessories, most notably her hat and head gear, make her Indian's answer to Philip Treacy.   Not certain if she sales in NYC, but can be found at Villa Moda's Middle East stores and My Sugarland in London. Her inspirations and references range from pure fantasy to India's complicated relationship colonialist history.  I am less enthused about her recent show in Mumbai (hope this was just a one off fashion blunder), so will share with you previous projects and collections.  This is certainly someone to watch.

HK Nails

A bit of a juncture from my regular postings, but I keep spotting these nails out and about in HK.  Trashy, a bit, sophisticated, not at all, but I admire the individuality and style of the designs.  And these women work, these particular hands work at an upmarket restaurant (no matter what your job is, you pick up glassware, food, dirt).  I admire that skill, I can't wear nail polish, I chip the polish before walking out of the salon (i have no patience).

East Asia Meet South Asia-Photo Shoot

I styled a photo shoot last week for an Indian inspired HK fashion label called Kaprice.  She is known for voluminous kaftans, embroidered tops, and cocktail dresses.  I learned very quickly that it is quite tough to find models in HK.  Models here tend to be more pretty than edgy, meaning more geared towards commercial work, rather than fashion.  My friend and colleague, whom shot the look book, Laurent Segretier, works a lot with Angie Ng, whom models in the photos above.  Lovely girl and wish her luck, as she is on her way to Paris for Fashion Week.  Angie and Laurent made the shoot and Kaprice was happy with the end result.

Aalis Shop Hong Kong

As my blog is starting to get some traction in HK and elsewhere, many people have told me about a new shop that opened up over the summer, by a couple, Alice Tam and Boysh (she studied at Parsons, whilst Boysh in Paris).  Their collections are vintage inspired, romantic and full of lace, silks and tweeds.  During my visit, I spotted them re-working some pill hats with lace.  What makes the designs interesting is that they mix Western Vintage with HK style.  This makes for a unique collection.  Well worth a visit.  Located on the 2nd Floor, 31 Yiu Wa Street in Causeway Bay.  As with most things not Hermes, L.V., Chanel in HK, the price point is quite reasonable.

Sonjia Shop

Outside of Sonjia's shop

Sun Street, Wan Chai

Her Latest Collection

Reflected a bit on my blog and realized that my style demographic was shifting a bit young.  Or rather on the eve of my bday, I perhaps am thinking I should start dressing my age (ha!).  With this thought in mind, I want to introduce another gem of a shop on Sun Street (near Star Street) in Wan Chai.  The designer, of Korean and English heritage, is one of HK's celebrated couturiers.  In the current collection you find drapey patterned silks, shearlings, antique fabrics, soft leather jackets, and fur.  She is known for using unusual fabrics.  This shop is geared towards the more sophisticate HK woman and it is truly an experience.

In addition to her own line, she also carries a collection of strong designers such as VPL, Tim Van Steenbergen, Gaurav Gupta and Akiko Ogawa.