passion is in fashion

She wore a black sheath dress, black and white leopard print cardigan, black slingbacks, and a gold bangle.  So chic.  In a panel of five, she was the only one who seemed to be completely at ease: putting on a cardigan when it was cold, fidgeting with the hem of her dress, zoning out when it was appropriate, and making naughty quips with raised eyebrows.  (And her eyebrows are really striking to begin with!)

I love the way she talked, with very long drawn out words and elaborate hand gestures.  English is not her first language, which gave her even more of a flair.  While recounting the cultural richness of Vienna, she asked: “What is it, when people take too much drugs?  Yes — Overdose!  I felt like on Overdose!”

English is not my first language either, so I had thought “doyenne” meant an old lady who wears gaudy jewelry and orders people around.  Not true.  The one word that kept appearing in my mind while watching Ms. DVF interact with Prabal Gurung and Norma Kamali is “doyenne”.  Clearly, she commands so much respect that everyone hung on her every naughty quip.

One of my favorite quotes of the night is when she spoke on her design for the New York Sidewalk Catwalk, which is an allover leopard print.  ”It’s nice for women to feel feline, which is why I guess the leopards wear it.”

New York’s Sidewalk Catwalk

Times Talks

During my time off, I wandered into the Louis Vuitton flagship, battled with the latest batch of Chinese mistresses who are there to buy their tax-free status symbol 包包’s, and actually found a pair of basic black sunglasses that I really liked.  I have trouble finding sunglasses that fit my face (small round Asian nose!), and LV is really ahead of the game here — not simply enticing the affluent Chinese consumer with their ubiquitous logo, but also designing things ergonomically to fit the Chinese frame.  Cool!

Was just checking out their site as linked by The Selby, and found Todd Selby’s collaboration with the brand.  Selby to me always represented indie cool, so this is a delightful surprise to me.  (But I mean, indie is the new cool.  Just take a look at the Gossip Girl soundtrack and Elle magazine’s music recommendations.)  I lvoe (typo, but I’m keeping it) that LV is going back to its travel roots.  After all, it is what really distinguishes the brand from its counterparts.  Be sure to check out the Shanghai profiles — the sound is very China!

Journey of a Wardrobe by Todd Selby for LV

Was at the Causeway Bay Lane Crawford the other day and when I ran into something so extraordinarily inspiring.  In this particular branch, the contemporary section is right next to the old ladies section, and in the little path in the middle were three impeccably-dressed mannequins.  All three boasted St. John’s jackets with interesting texture, casual jersey t-shirt or woven shirt underneath, ripped up short shorts, and accessorized with those of-the-moment heavy metal chain necklaces.  The result is so chic, perfectly blending uptown and downtown.

I have a pink St. John’s jacket that I adore, but rarely wear for the fear of being mistaken for a Republican.  This totally inspires me to pair it with ripped up short shorts!

Onto my fourth day of living like a tai tai, and still very much enjoying it.  (Scary!  What will become of me?!)

Had a trim at the Mandarin Salon this morning, and witnessed a real coiffure being done.  The woman goes there every morning and sits for ten minutes for the blowout.  The dedication!  Right then and there I decided that having thick long straight hair is one of the best genetic blessings from my parents.  Thanks parents!

So tired after a weekend at the pool.  Checked into the Four Seasons for no particular reason.  Super fun!

The age old question that has graced many the magazine covers.  One thought: the iPhone is rarely a graceful instrument to use.  I often see people poking/pointing/sliding/shaking/tapping the hell out of their iPhones, none of which is particularly attractive.  Remove the iPhone, and the movement itself is actually hilarious and kind of stupid.  Ask yourself this: does this body movement go with your strapless floor-length Oscar de la Renta gown?  I will posit that it does not.

On the other hand, the Blackberry is much more graceful to use, if not only for the fact that it is more mysterious.  You may see the person furiously thumbing away at something, but not necessarily what exactly he/she is doing.  In this matter, the iPhone is the equivalent of those clear plastic satchels a la Prada SS10 – with all its secrets shamelessly on display!

The similarities are uncanny

In the name of good style, I personally will not be pointing my well-manicured index finger to any iPhone soon. 

*Not* the movie about Puyi, but the one about Valentino.  Saw it this week and loved it so much.  It was such an honest documentary, and even included scene where Valentino was throwing a tantrum at the cameraman and running away.  Would like to quote Roger Sterling here on Creative Directors: “imagine he knows just as much about business as you do, but inside there is a child wanting to get out.”  Ah — Roger Sterling knows everything about life!!!

For anyone who has already seen it, how awesome were the pugs?!

Hello world!  It has been a good 2010 so far indeed.  Had a wonderful holiday in the US and came back to H to the K with a severe jetlag – which means curling up with my Kindle Sylvester and discovering the key functions of iPhoto!  Hahaha.  I LOVE iPhoto!  Did you know it puts a pin onto your photo album locations and automatically identifies events?  Very Big Brother of Apple!

Saw Teddy last night and went to movie with the Honey.  Just like old times circa 2008!  We brought McDonald’s into the theater and saw An Education.  A very very good movie.  It totally inspired me to wear more slingbacks!  And if I may say so myself, had a very important and relevant takeaway.  Hahahaha.

I am off to Jakarta next week.  Ta ta for now and miss you all!

Wishing you a lovely year ahead!  Am now back in HK.  So warm here.  Walked out with a miniskirt and 3/4 sleeve blazer this morning.  Oh how I love climate!

Had the most wonderful holiday with my family.  Cooked a new year’s dinner for them (the soup was a bit too spicy, but the cakes were a hit!)  Did not stay up until midnight however, as I have been consistently passing out around 8pm.  (I’m *so* cool!  Hahaha.)

Was walking up the stairs today when I lost my right shoe.  It just slid right off.  During the winter all I wear is opaque black tights (and avoid pants at all costs).  They do tend to make your patent leather pointy toe stilettos a little more slippery though!