Tuesday, August 31, 2010
Monday, August 30, 2010
Something Smells Fishy
This is probably on one of those "you know you're Asian when..." lists already, but it still holds true. You know you're Asian when you squeal like a dirty little Lolita upon seeing anything that is sushi-related -- examples: sushi USB drives at the computer mall, sushi phone charms, sushi erasers, sushi slippers, sushi iPhone games, bag lines named Su-Shi, Hello Kitty dolls dressed up as sushi (no photo but I swear I've seen it) and the other way around, sushi dressed up as Hello Kitty...
So I really thought I'd seen it all when it came to strange interpretations of Japan's most famous food. Trust Demeter, the fragrance purveyor who brought us Dirt, Clean Window, Between the Sheets and Holy Water, to create a scent called "Sushi." Demeter's description reads: "Not what you think it would smell like! Demeter's Sushi is the fresh scent of just cooked sticky rice and straight from the seaside seaweed, laced with hints of ginger and lemon essences. Simply delectable... after all, if it smelled like fish, would you wear it?" Other than making me want to hyphenate "just cooked" and "straight from the seaside," that little paragraph also makes me want to test-drive the scent, except that Makeup Alley's reviews are so-so -- most say it errs too much on the side of citrus, missing out on the oceany nori and the spice of the wasabi... but it's still a nice enough smell. And at US$20 for a one-ounce cologne spray, you're in this for the novelty, anyway.
Bag Lady: The Veneta from Bottega Veneta
Friday, August 27, 2010
The Ring
I never knew I had such an overwhelming collection of rings until I needed props to test out my new iPhone camera app. And wasn't willing to leave the vicinity of my bed. It came down to either the contents of my bedside jewellery box, or the bewildering stash of snacks I keep within arm's reach, consumed and replenished daily. And yeah, bling porn won out over evidence of my descent into gluttony.
The camera app is Super Camera, by the way. It's free and has lots of options, but Scrub and Natural Sepia are the only selects worth using.
Do you want to know where these are from, by the way? Click on for credits.
1. Clockwise from bottom left... Chunky gold ring and rusty gold three-finger knuckleduster from Bangkok; giant amber cocktail ring from hawker stand, $20 from the super bitchy hawker lady that I hope to re-encounter outside Aji Ichiban/Okashi Land in Causeway; four-finger ring from Maison Martin Margiela.
2. Clockwise from top... Marc by Marc Jacobs coil ring; cosmic-looking ring from Forever 21; necklace (duh) Dior -- one of faves from the honey pie.
3. Left to right... White flower/filigree ring made by our own Chic Infinity, aka FashionGeek, for my birthday; Swarovski crystal heart ring from my daddy; corset ring by Dior; two-finger Bijules seagull ring from Moxsie.
Bigger is Better
It’s an interesting conundrum that watchmakers are dealt with these days. Time is so ubiquitous that you really don’t need to have a watch to tell time. I used to be a regular watch wearer until I got my iPhone and then since I hold my phone wherever I go, it became easier to just check on the phone than the watch. So now I think of watches as an accessory, a sort of bracelet or bangle with the added function to tell time. I’ve been looking to get some statement watches at a reasonable price and came across Invicta Watches at ShopNBC. Here are a few that I think has potential, particularly the black and rose gold one. Although I'm obviously still in a summer mood as the other colours I've chosen are bright popping happy colours. Hmm what do you think? Which should I get?
Thursday, August 26, 2010
It's Alive!
Maybe you thought I was crazy, maybe you really couldn't care less... but I knew The Shkirt existed in real life. Yeah, me and Alexander Wang, we really have the same taste.
At La Garconne.
Pearl Jam
Some of you may know that I like to make jewellery and have an online store under the brand name Chic Infinity. Unfortunately, in recent months, the shop has fallen to the wayside as I’ve been dedicating all my efforts to my full time job and of course, this blog. Well, since I’m officially banned from shopping in a pact that I made with ShoeGeek, I was inspired this weekend to recreate a piece of jewellery that I am coveting, the Vera Wang asymmetric pearl necklace.
I decided to create something similar but not as extravagant as I’d like it to be wearable every day. With weight being a key factor in the making of this necklace, I had to forgo the lovely Japanese glass pearl beads that I normally use and use the inferior plastic beads which are so so much lighter. Three hours and a couple hundred beads later, this is the result. I’m still not quite happy with it and am thinking if I should add another strand of beads to it to tangle it up a bit more but the beauty of DIY is that I can wear what I’ve made for now and add more when I’m bored. Amazingly easy to make and without the US$650 price tag. Perfect for a Geek on a budget.
SHOErotica: Fendi Gothic Romans Cutout Platform Pumps
Between this and the killer Peekaboos... I think I'm falling for Fendi. Who would have ever guessed, considering I have a Fendi tank and skirt sitting in a bag in my closet waiting to go up on the potential new blog/site ShopGeek for us to channel our unwanted warehouse sale finds and other stuff.
Get them here.
Wednesday, August 25, 2010
Street Style: Colours of the Rainbow
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
RIP
We had some regularly scheduled posts for you today, but in light of last night's events, thought it more tasteful to take a day to reflect on things less shallow than blogging about fashion. Like the people and family of people struck by last night's tragedy, to whom we offer our condolences and best wishes from afar, inasmuch as our thoughts can't really mollify anything. There's a million reasons to be angry -- poor judgement, bad aim, inept and rashly made decisions -- but I guess what matters most now is the healing. So may time heal the wounds inflicted last night.
Monday, August 23, 2010
Going the Distance
I'm not sure if this is commonly known, but say you have UA miles that are soon to expire, but you don't really have a UA destination that you want to travel to, you can always extend your expiration deadline by shopping on UA Mileage Mall. There are a whole bunch of sites you can shop, but not all of them ship to Hong Kong. Shopbop is one of them, and with their free shipping to Hong Kong with any purchase over US$100, it's a wise place to spend. Since you're really shopping for the sake of shopping, I thought I'd put together a list of cheapie goodies from the sale section, all in or under the US$50 mark. The opening image is a simple tank with back button detailing by Alice and Olivia, US$46.20.
Click in to see more picks...
Like this dagger necklace by Noir, the brand of jewellery often spotted on thy favourite tomboy boho blogs, Fashion Toast and lulu and your mom. And only US$37.50, which for Noir is damn cheap.
I'm obsessed with bustiers, no matter how uncomfortable they are, there is nothing like throwing one on over a white tank or tee to take casual to come-hither. This one from Kettle Black (US$47.50) sort of has an open back as well, making it twice as cool.
Pretty sure none of our readers are going to buy this, but I am mysteriously drawn to this cotton onesie by Haute Hippie for US$43.50. Maybe I am subconsciously reminiscing about my days as a baby, when I didn't have to go to work on Mondays and read endless reams of colour proofs for the upcoming and always ridiculously intense September issue.
More bling, this time courtesy of Fallon Jewelry, US$49.50.
Sick little belt, probably DIY-able if you had the time and motivation... but no one has the time or motivation, especially not if you can pick one up and renew your mileage status all for the dirt-low price of US$32. Thank you, Elegantly Waisted.
It's a miniskirt. It's designed by Erin Wasson for RVCA. It's tiny, hot and priced at only US$37. This should go in the cart no matter what your mileage state-of-mind might be.
Last but not least, this toes the line just a bit at US$50.70 but it's a comfy-glam poufy-shouldered T-shirt mini, Torn by Ronny Kobo. Every girl needs one of those, right?
Bag Lady: Temple leather iPad Case
Get the Temple leather iPad case here.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Smell Ya Later
If you can't break a shopping embargo... divert your cash instead to branded tea sets, like this Chloe-inspired afternoon tea at MO Bar at the Landmark Mandarin Oriental. The meal is created by the famed chef Richard Ekkebus (who calls me "Princess," teehee, I think because he doesn't remember my name) based on flavours and scents in the Chloe fragrance, which include lychee, honey, rose, pink peony, freesia, magnolia and lily of the valley. Scones, pastries, finger sandwiches and pastries are all on the menu, as well as a cupcake buffet, which is sure to slay me, the cupcake whore. Yes, I am not ashamed to admit, I am a cupcake whore -- I will have dirty sex with you in exchange for cupcakes (for red velvet ones, I'll do gosh-darned unspeakable acts). But not finger sandwiches, because they sound like sandwiches filled with fingers, and creep me out.
Alright, it's been a long week. Back to reality and the thesis of this post, the Chloe tea set. It being a tea set, it also comes with... wait for it... tea. Or coffee. And a special Chloe gift set, which I'm sensing will include a trial-sized Chloe fragrance. The set is priced at $190 or $360 for two, and is available between 3-530pm daily until the end of September. For reservations, please call MO Bar on + 852 2132 0077.
Guerlain 68 Champs-Elysees Fall Makeup Collection
Thursday, August 19, 2010
Crowning Glory
SHOErotica: Camilla Skovgaard Suede Wedge Bootie
Because a white boot is probably the most impractical thing you can own. But it has a practical sole... and it's not yet Labour Day, anyway.
Get them at Kirna Zabete.
Wednesday, August 18, 2010
Thin is In
Given the fashion world's attempts to fatten up, between banning too-thin models and championing big-boobed corseted loveliness a la Marc Jacobs and Miuccia Prada this season... it's kind of scary to see the Proenza Schouler boys go the scary photoshop route with their first print ad campaign. I can't decide whether this is a case of virgin campaign creators overlooking the non-existent waist on the model (one of Ann or Kirby Kenny, the twins)... or if this is Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez's convoluted way of asking Kiefer Sutherland to head-butt them again. I'm certainly ready to. No! BAM! One's! BAM! Waist! BAM! Is! BAM! That! BAM! Slim! And also, can I have a PS1 please if I stop head-butting you guys? No? BAM! Here we go again...
Images from Style.com, more shots plus a behind-the-scenes video after the cut.
Geek Spy: iShoes
Regular readers of the blog will know that us Geeks are massive fans of the iPhone. And sure the tons and tons of fun apps are an attraction but the thing I love the most might be that there are so many different casings for it. From the cheap plastic cases (of which I break one every two weeks but I don’t care coz that means I can change colours without feeling the guilt of excessive consumption) to the designer, there are no lack of options to choose from. My attention was recently drawn to the iShoes which are rather whimsical interpretations of the plastic iPhone case that you see all over the place. Of course, I think if they positioned it as the iCorset, it might be a better marketing strategy. For who doesn’t love turning their items into lust worthy objects? Available at CitySuper or G.O.D. for HK$169
Tuesday, August 17, 2010
Knucklehead
I totally forgot how great the McQueen knuckle-duster clutch was, even after FashionGeek posted the Bag Lady earlier this week with the clearly inferior skull head box... until Coco Rocha and Nordstrom reminded me with this lookbook image. It's like apples and oranges, except more obvious. S'mores and brussel sprouts -- and this is clearly the s'more. I love it s'more and s'more, the s'more I look at it.
Image: FabSugar
The Bougie Breakfast
Who doesn't love bacon and eggs? Some people love it so much that they make cushions as an homage, then sell them to other bacon-and-egg-loving freak shows... as documented here. If you too love bacon and eggs so very much that you can't believe the dish is confined to breakfast diners and Sunday morning at-home fry-ups, then this is a blog post for you.
Sample, courtesy of the California Caviar Company, caviar flavoured to taste like bacon and eggs. For US$15, you get one ounce of the good stuff, and I'd be somewhat disgusted by the thought of this, except that a) bacon-infused ANYTHING normally tastes pretty good; and b) I once scoffed at lychee-flavoured caviar at the Krug Room, and that turned out to be the shizzle indeed, so much so that I need to use ebonics to express how good it was. The company also produces saffron, wasabi, lemongrass, truffle and bourbon-flavoured whitefish roe, if those flavours are more up your alley.
Of course, most of our readers don't live in the States, and the California Caviar Company doesn't ship international. There is instead this other high-end interpretation of the classic breakfast staple: from the pages of Bachelor's Banquet come this bacon and egg risotto, with photo and recipe available at this blog or after the cut. It's making me hungry just to look at it, so I must leave you now with that in order to go scrounge up some calories.
BACON & EGG RISOTTO (serves 2)
Familiar themes make for some of the most satisfying meals. Bacon and eggs are breakfast standards, our risotto takes those themes and reintroduces them with a twist, using egg yolks in place of more conventional cheeses to bring out extra creaminess.
Ingredients
4 slices double smoked bacon
2 cups arborio rice
3 cups chicken stock (page 186), simmering
2 tablespoons celery, grated
2 tablespoons white onions, grated
1 egg yolk
Salt and pepper
Olive oil
Garnish
Fleur de sel
Pepper to taste
Truffle oil
Procedure
1) In a large heavy saucepan heat olive oil over medium heat, add grated celery and onions and cook gently for 30 seconds stirring occasionally.
2) Add arborio rice and continue to stir until each grain of rice becomes translucent and coated with oil.
3) Slowly add 1 ladle of stock and stir until the stock evaporates. Repeat this step for about 15 minutes until the risotto is thick, then remove from the heat and allow to cool for 1 minute.
4) In a small bowl break the egg yolk and whisk gently, slowly pour the egg into the risotto while off the heat, stirring constantly until both the egg and risotto are integrated.
5) In a separate frying-pan, sear the pieces of double smoked bacon until dark brown and crispy.
To assemble
1) Divide the risotto into 2 long plates and insert the bacon strips directly into the center of the risotto.
2) To finish drizzle with truffle oil and garnish with a sprinkle of fleur de sel if desired.
Opening image courtesy of bacontoday.com
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