Hong Kong Fashion Geek

Nespresso Niceties

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I swore that I'd scheduled more posts for last week, but I guess that was just in my head... in my mind you all were being properly entertained while I was gallivanting around Milan and Venice, which is what I was doing last week. Man, writing a blog just really interferes with going on holiday, you know?

Anyway, on to a topic that's pretty near and dear to the heart of anyone who's suffering from jet lag: coffee! I'm totally obsessed with limited-edition Nespressos. I buy them and then when I get home nobody is allowed to drink them but me. Which, admittedly, has led to me tricking friends into drinking decaf when they're looking for a mid-day boost... but I'm a big believer in the placebo effect, not so much in sharing.

Maybe some of my sleepy friends have been complaining to Nespresso... because the brand has just brought back three of its popular flavours -- chocolate, vanilla and caramel -- and placed them in the permanent collection. When they do the same with cherry, I'll know that good things do come to those who wait, and that Santa did get all my letters.

And in line with that whole crowd-sourcing trend, they're letting customers choose the next limited-edition flavour that will be available (but... I thought they normally did three anyway!) from the options of chai, mint and choco-raspberry. You have until June 26th to vote at this link here: http://www.nespresso.com/vote... but what if, like greedy ol' me, you want them ALL?

Parisian Pastries a la Pierre Herme

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

Christina talked about her thoughts on Pierre Herme a couple weeks ago, now check out what hkLifestyleGeek thinks about this famed pastry chef.

The macaron craze has officially hit Hong Kong now that the "Picasso of Pastries" Pierre Herme has set up shop in ifc mall. It's impressive when a French patissier makes his mark in Japan before establishing himself in Paris -- 15 years ago. And now goodies are finally flown into Hong Kong. Sadly, not all of them are available in the Hong Kong, particularly the ice cream sandwiches which I hear are to die for...

In any event the Pierre Herme Paris boutique carries the signature chocolate and macarons as well as teas and scented candles. And the verdict on the prized macarons? Some are good, some are not too special. We love the Mogador -- milk chocolate with passion fruit that is dusted with cocoa. It's not too sweet and has a nice thick jammy texture in the middle. For the sweet tooth, it has to be Infiniment Caramel, a salted-butter caramel macaron that is dreamy.

More sophisticated tastes will probably enjoy the complexity of the Huile d'Olive & Vanille, a macaron made with olive oil, vanilla and slices of green olive in the middle. It's a subtle delicate flavour.

Of the four I tried, I didn't like Infiniment Rose, made of rose and rose petal. While the shell is a gorgeous shade of brilliant pink, the filling is like butter cream and not very pleasing for the taste buds.

Other flavours that will be available in Hong Kong include: Arabesque (apricot and pistachio), Creme Brulee (vanilla and caramel pieces), Imagine (matcha green tea and black sesame crisp), and Celeste (passion fruit, rhubarb and strawberries).

"I approach my work based on the combinations of flavours, in the same way a perfumer would," explains Herme. "I pick up associations of fragrances to turn into flavours, but it is never a literal translation, it's an interpretation. The perfumer uses his nose, the patissier his nose and mouth."

For chocolates, some creations include: Makassar (salted-butter caramel mousse ganache, covered in dark chocolate), Ouvre-toi (sesame praline and sesame nougat in milk chocolate), and Lou (ginger and milk chocolate ganache with gandied ginger).

"I wanted to go further in exploring the playful side of chocolate," adds Herme. "I enjoy a special relationship with chocolate, both physical and passionate. It is a substance that is not easy to domesticate. It is a particularly complex, sensitive ingredient."

Check all these delicious goodies at Shop 1019C in ifc mall. But beware the prices aren't cheap -- a box of seven macarons will set you back HK$210 and for a dozen it's HK$330.

www.pierreherme.com

Tod's and Hogan Friends & Family Sale

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 17 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

Bag Lady: Louis Vuitton Speedy Damier Paillettes.

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Fri, 14 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

So I normally feature bags I love in this column but this bag is just too hideous not to show you. I like the Speedy. I've professed my love for the bag in the past here and here. It's a great bag for travelling as it folds flat but this updated version for pre-fall 2013 is just fugly. Maybe it's just that I'm not a fan of sequins but urgh.

Isabel Marant for H&M

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 06:33:00 +0000

Each fall, the H&M x designer collaboration is heavily anticipated and news have come out that the next collaboration for H&M after MMM is Isabel Marant. What are the chances there will be sneakers? Are we excited? You betcha!

Geometric Beauty

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 11 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

The internet is a wonderful thing. It allows me to discover cool Czech designers like Blueberries (it's a fruit! It's healthy! It must sell things that I covet! Actually, the brand is so named because it was born during the summer which is when blueberries ripen). How amazing are these pieces? AND there's a geek element too given that it's created by 3D printing.

Available at Blueberries

Organic Glam, that OG Kush

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

In Hong Kong we aren't trained to think about organic anything, until you grow up and start hearing about bird flu and mad cow and rats in China passed off as lambs and poisoned vegetables and just about everything else you see in newspapers these days (which is precisely why I avoid watching and reading the news, it takes the enjoyment out of life and blissful ignorance.) So fine, we start buying the veg from city'super, even though it's three times more expensive. And we buy the frozen chicken wings that haven't been injected with crazy growth hormones, even though they're 30 times more expensive.

But then we put on our lovely skincare products and makeup daily without thinking about what's seeping into our skin. And I was shocked when I got a press release about The Organic Pharmacy's makeup brand, Organic Glam. Because it informed me that we eat FIVE POUNDS of lipstick in our lifetime. And lipstick is basically just wax and colour, right? I mean, I rinse my instant noodles and boil new water just to make soup because I don't want to eat the plasticky stuff that coats the ramen. But as a lipstick obsessive, I eat toxic lip formula almost EVERY DAY.

So, I plan to be switching to organic. Despite the fact that there's never any proof or legal definition of organic for beauty labels, I figure a company that at least claims to be organic has gotta be doing better things for me than one that isn't even bothering to pretend, right? OG doesn't claim to be all healing, either, it's just a lot better than others, and the product range stretches from foundation to nail polish.

And since The Organic Pharmacy is already one of my favorite skincare brands, why not start checking out the makeup too? Products for review are coming my way soon, so expect a review shortly!

Quirky Brasserie with Solid Fare

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 10 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

hkLifestyleGeek revisits French Window

Last fall French Window in IFC underwent a major renovation, removing the redundant partitions and creating a large open space that aims to be more casual and now has a newly revamped menu to complement it.

The Happy Hour seems to be popular, with people making a beeline for the bar where they can have drinks and snacks at reasonable prices. Meanwhile chef Matthieu Bonnier is enthusiastic and happy to introduce menu items. He presents some classic dishes, from French onion soup to duck confit, coq au vin and creme brulee, as well as variations like the French Window Burger with raclette cheese, pan-fried salmon fillet and grilled beef tenderloin. Diners are invited to share -- particularly the fries.

The menu looks fun -- featuring cartoon drawings of food, including a French fry wearing a beret relaxing with a cigarette in a bathtub of bubbling hot oil. However we still find the drawing of a snake swallowing a pig and in its stomach are another pig, goose and cow quite disturbing.

In any event we were there to try the food and we sampled a lot. For starters, the grand seafood platter was already overwhelming. At HK$1,188 it's definitely for at least four to share, filled with crab, lobster, sea whelk, prawns, clams and of course oysters. The bivalves are usually from France, but will be sourced from other countries for seasonality. A smaller seafood platter costs HK$698.

Appetisers are quite gourmet -- the pan-fried crab cakes (HK$108) are placed on a celery and apple salad with black truffle mayonnaise, while the salmon tartar (HK$158) is refreshing and light for summer, the beef tartar (HK$178) a heartier portion.

For those who love foie gras, having it pan-fried and placed on toasted brioche with gratinated turnips (HK$198) is an indulgence and a half -- practically a meal in itself.

The main course of Burgundy-style red wine braised beef cheeks with potato mousseline (HK$298) is a highlight. The beef practically melts in the mouth and is full of flavour worth savouring. The coq au vin with tagliatelles (HK$198) is also tasty, but the meat was more on the tough side.

The crunchy suckling pig (HK$308) was definitely crackling in the mouth, though we didn't think much of the matchstick fries and much preferred the side of thick-cut fries with various sauce (HK$208) that were more substantial -- so much so we were tempted to finish them all...

By now we were pretty much stuffed and had to find room for dessert, which we did for the flaky apple and almond thin tart (HK$78). Another relatively light dessert is the French lemon pie topped with meringue (HK$68), and the fruit sherbert or ice cream (HK$48) for a refreshing finish. For sweet tooths, the chocolate mousse with whipped cream (HK$68) will hit the spot.

French Window
3101, Podium Level 3, IFC Mall
Central
2393 3812
www.thefrenchwindow.hk

Cynthia Rowley Flask Bangle

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

The website description reads: Necessity is the mother of invention. I love picturing the classy Ms Cynthia Rowley being so hard up for booze that she unscrews the top of her bangle so suck whiskey from her wrist. Get your own sophistication flask bangle here.

Bag Lady: Peter Bristol Shopper

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 07 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

So as you know, I've been swamped with Spark Studios lately and not able to post as frequently as I used to. This is why I love my Geek-in-Crime Christina who helps me find awesome things to post like this Bag Lady and saves it in the draft folder so that I don't have to spend time researching. Now to wax lyrical about this bag. Yes, summer is coming. Yes it's made out of wool felt. I don't care. I want it! Can someone please contact Peter Bristol and get it manufactured?

SHOErotica: Brian Atwood Alphard

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Can't say that I was ever a fan of Brian Atwood footwear, the shoes tend to be quite uncomfortable, but HEEEELLOOOO NURSE! So they're a little tacky and Vegas but that's what sometimes we like in a shoe. Hey, PVC and platforms used to be strippers-only.

SHOErotica: Charlotte Olympia Girls on Film

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

I know she's the golden girl of footwear who can almost do no wrong, but I sometimes find Charlotte Olympia shoes more kitsch than cool. And this filmstrip thing going on with this pre-fall number is just so literal that I don't know how to feel about it. On the one hand, I'm like... I get it, it's a film strip, because you were inspired by movies, how original. But on the other hand, I'm like... what a great way to tie things in to the whole PVC trend without doing another illusion-film-with-a-solid-cap-toe pump, and such a flattering and leg-lengthening colour, and what a statement collectible piece, and I like how she tied it in even with the custom gold buckle, because that's REAL luxury. So yeah, I'm a little here, and a little there, but that's because I'm a Libra. Decide for yourself, and if you want them, pre-order here.

The Big Bang Theory Figurines

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Thu, 06 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

It's no secret that I love The Big Bang Theory. It reminds me of my days at Carnegie Mellon and being a Geek at heart, it totally makes me smile when I see the interactions of these socially inept geniuses. I never knew that there were Big Bang Theory Figurines and seriously let out a little squeal when I discovered these. Check Amy out! She looks so cute in her geek glasses! Want!

Available at ThinkGeek

Givenchy Seventeen Watch

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 05 Jun 2013 13:27:00 +0000

At what age does owning a cool watch become a really big deal? I don't think I got my first watch till I was like, 8? It was a Winnie the Pooh watch. And it was tight one day and I took it off and put it in my little lady purse and because I never really used purses I thought I lost it until seriously one year later, when I used my patent yellow handbag again at last, I found it again. But really, in that time-less year I really didn't care about not having a watch.

Nowadays for me, owning a watch is about looking at the time more discreetly when I can't reach my phone or don't want people to know I'm checking how long I have till I can ditch them. Although sometimes I rummage through my bag looking for my phone to check the time, because I'm dumb like that. For some people, watches are about making a fashion statement. For others, it's a status symbol. And then for really rich people, it's an "investment strategy".

Anyone who works in luxury publishing learns to despise watches, because every single luxury lifestyle magazine eventually decides, oh, let's do a watch guide/supplement to thank our watch advertisers! And there are, like, 100 watch brands and all of them have advertising budgets higher than our annual salaries. But still, even though I have no idea what "calibre" or "complication" or "tourbillon" REALLY means, I do know when I like the look of something. Now, this Givenchy Seventeen watch is what they call a fashion watch, which basically just means it's only going to depreciate in value, but it looks pretty cool. It's part of a greater series of watches that will be released by Givenchy, with each style named after a prime number. This one seems particularly inspired by that whole rugged military vibe, which I've been digging lately. So maybe it's just the item to bring me back into the watch game, sort of renew my interest in the genre. No word on pricing yet though...

Wear & Share: Topshop Crop

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 05:50:00 +0000

You've probably already heard it through the grapevine, because the grapevine has been buzzing about this for, what, five years? But Topshop FINALLY lands in Hong Kong this week! The high-street retailer flings open its doors on the 6th, and given the shopping lines that regularly plague similar international mass-market retailers like H&M and Zara, you can expect that the buzz will be UNREAL.

To celebrate the opening and get some pre-hype going, Topshop sent out tees and jeans! And... how appropriate to spell out "SWAG" on the swag itself... What a perfect boxy cut on this thing, and flattering even for the not-so-flat-chested of us to whom crop tops are not always friendly (#firstworldproblems). And the cropped length just toes the line between trashy and sophisticatedly sexy. Ha. Of course I had to girlify it with an Asos floral pencil skirt and my Loubie Pigalles.

Note that any retailers that sell Geek tees are okay in our books. Can't wait till Thursday? Start shopping here...

Bombana Immortalised in Wine

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 04 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

hkLifestyleGeek gives us the scoop on Bombana

Chef Umberto Bombana's restaurant 8 1/2 Otto e Mezzo continues to gain more accolades with its three Michelin stars, and still going strong in the Asia's Top 50 Restaurant list. Oh and can we add he has expanded his culinary empire to Shanghai and Beijing?

But Bombana has one more thing other Hong Kong restaurants don't have -- his portrait on a wine label. The portrait was recently unveiled at Otto e Mezzo, courtesy the winery Castello Romitorio owned by Italian artist Sandro Chia.

He is a well known contemporary artist who was part of the Transavanguardia movement that gravitated back towards figurative painting. Chia counts such artists as Jean-Michel Basquiat, Francesco Clemente and Julian Schnabel.

In 1984 Chia purchased the winery and a few years ago asked his son Filippo to oversee management of it. The younger Chia was in Hong Kong for the launch of the label featuring Bombana -- he himself has a MFA in photography at New York University. He also has a strong American accent, but speaks fluent Italian as well.

Nevertheless Sandro Chia met Bombana four years ago and the artist came to Hong Kong last year for the Hong Kong Art Fair. It was then that discussion of a possible wine label could be created, as Chia believes art also extends to cooking. While the portrait doesn't look exactly like Bombana, it does bring out his warm personality on canvas.

The label is featured on the Il Toro 2009, an easy-drinking red that goes well with most dishes, and of course available at Otto e Mezzo.

Craving Catalunya

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Just an observation, but literally everyone I have spoken to has loved Catalunya. Even Yardbird can't touch that, because I do know a few people who think it's either overhyped or overpriced. Anyway, I'm a lover of both, but I've found myself at Catalunya three times already in the month and a half since it opened -- and the fact that it's situated right next to my house doesn't hurt the idea of returning more (hint: can't get a reservation? Show up and eat at the bar, which serves all of the tapas options, so pretty much half the menu).

Go, get the sucking pig, the tomato tartare (what? it's not beef?), the croquetas (what? there's no potato in that?), the bikini (okay, just a grilled ham and cheese but with TRUFFLE) and the other Spanish tortilla (what? they used to serve this at elBulli? Cool.) The torrija is the must-get for dessert. I haven't had them yet, but the prawns are meant to be excellent (although expensive), make sure you get your money's worth by sucking on those heads!

Acid Attack

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 01:30:00 +0000

I’ve always been intrigued by glycolic acid treatments and whether or not they are really that great for exfoliation and lightening acne scars and freckles. I remember having done a peel a couple years ago and it did seem like my skin was smoother and lighter but as it was a one off treatment I couldn’t really gauge whether or not it was effective. So when I saw that (MALIN+GOETZ) launched a 10% glycolic acid pads, it piqued my interest. Apparently it’s physician grade glycolic acid and it sloughs away dead skin to encourage cell turnover and collagen production. For those of you haven’t tried glycolic acid treatments before, I would recommend you try it on a small area first as I’ve heard of people having an adverse effect to it. Also, after treatment, be sure to apply the spf liberally as your skin essentially has lost its outer layer and you are more susceptible to sunburn. Priced at HK$420 for 50 uses and available at 10/10 Space.

Beauty Notes: Creer Beaute Love Darling Eyeliner

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Fri, 31 May 2013 06:12:00 +0000

I had just about given up on eyeliner when I decided as part of my Japan beauty haul to pick up this Creer Beaute "Love Darling" liquid eyeliner. Gel is unbeatable (I've always used MAC Fluidline) but since I only have an angled brush, and my brush-cleaning frequency is, er, less than the recommended dosage, achieving a pretty wing is pretty much impossible, unless jagged edges are the new thing in beauty.

The Japanese beauty site Cosme ranked this eyeliner as the number-one eyeliner product launched in the past year, so I chose it over other brands like Dollywink and K-Palette 24h, which were the other ones highly ranked on beauty blogs. I'm about a month into using it, and I haven't looked at my Fluidline once. The brush is super thin, so you can draw really nice and precise lines, and it's the best formula I've come across for oily eyelids, but you don't need any special makeup remover to take it off. My only (minor) complaint is that because the point is SO thin, it takes a while to colour in the cat eye/wing area. But that's probably not even a problem for more people.

Images: Bunny & Spice

SHOErotica: Sophia Webster Lola Pumps

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Thu, 30 May 2013 10:02:00 +0000

Don't think I need to sing any more praises about Sophia Webster, but everything is just good. Fun colours, ultimate comfort, REASONABLE HEEL HEIGHTS. And well, the girl herself is so cute and stylish, just the perfect brand ambassador in an industry primarily dominated by men (Christian, Manolo, Sergio, Giuseppe, Nicholas...) Her new pumps are exclusive to Net a Porter and come in so many awesome colours, from neon yellow to glittery bronze to sensible navy... get them here!

Little White Tops

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Wed, 29 May 2013 06:00:00 +0000

Little white tops, the best way to motivate yourself to continue on the Paleo diet... carbs? sugars? dairy? legumes? I forget what those even are. All I remember is pressing "confirm" on getting these off Nasty Gal, and now I better get fit for summer. If you, too, would like retail therapy to be your motivation, check Nasty Gal.

Cole Haan Friends & Family Sale

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 28 May 2013 04:17:00 +0000

It's definitely sale season! Enjoy shopping!

Warehouse sale: Ralph Lauren

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Tue, 28 May 2013 01:30:00 +0000

Escada Friends and Family Sale

noreply@blogger.com (hkFashionGeek) — Mon, 27 May 2013 12:00:00 +0000

Pierre Herme and the Temple of Sweets

noreply@blogger.com (hkShoeGeek) — Mon, 27 May 2013 06:30:00 +0000

Pierre Herme has officially opened in ifc! Which means that the Picasso of Pastry's delicious works are available to all of us, a mere day after I've started this crazy Paleo diet... (no sugar, carbs, dairy -- all of which are flouted in a single macaroon). But that's what cheat days are for. I'm looking forward to seeing if any version of the Fetish Saint Honore, limited edition in Paris, will be sold here... AHHHHHH.

Anyway, for you fans of the pastry maestro, there will be a book-signing event for the public on Thursday from 230-430pm (sadly, for anyone with a job), so you can bring along your cookbooks or t-shirts or boobs or macaroon boxes along. A limited number of cookbooks will be available at the event itself, if you can't find a suitable canvas. The shop is at IFC podium level 1, shop 1019C.