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.