The House of Siren | The legacy of Gregory Derham

The height of fashion, in its most literal translation, is called haute couture. The French understand this term as a coveted title for clothing that surpasses the usual workmanship of pret-a-porter collections. For those who don’t understand the difference, the typical couture dress may require at least 300 hours of work.

It doesn’t take much for me to admit that I’m a lover of haute couture. After reading an article on HK Magazine, I was intrigued by their discovery of a recently opened production company that housed a couture costume collection under an intimate boudoir-like salon.

[OOTD] Paradise

Oh the irony that surrounds the title of my Lookbook outfit! I have just finished helping out at my university's orientation camp and I'm far from paradise with my sore throat and currently non-existent voice. I was hoping to surprise you guys with a big post today but I'm still feeling a little squeamish so here's an outfit post instead.

The highly polished ring I'm wearing is from my good blogger friend Louie Wada over at Rock'n Couture. I'm madly in love with it because of how comfortable the felt lining is despite how hard the ring looked (can you believe it was made from sink hardware parts?!) 

Parisian chic meets modern elegance: Upscale hair salon BRUNEBLONDE reimagined by design studio OneSpace

Designed and created by Hong Kong’s acclaimed integrated-design studio One Space, BRUNEBLONDE brings Parisian luxury to the Grand Hyatt Hotel Hong Kong with its opening. Founded by celebrated hairstylists Roland Boutin and David Gouygou, BRUNEBLONDE provides a refined luxury salon experience, to which its discerning clientele is accustomed.

The salon is the latest credit to One Space’s impressive list of luxury commercial, retail and residential projects created for its sophisticated clients - from high-net-worth client spaces for the most prestigious private banks, to exquisitely tailored executive suites and sumptuous residences. The architects worked closely alongside Boutin and Gouygou, who have achieved international recognition for their innovative and distinctive approach to hair styling, to create a world-class salon that provides the very best for fashion-conscious clients from around the world.

W Hotel Hong Kong 5th Anniversary x Six Lee F/W 2013

A big congratulations is in order as W Hong Kong celebrated its 5th anniversary last Thursday with a fashion show by local menswear designer Six Lee. The W is well known for its über chic hotels around the world that attract stylish individuals with its hip interiors and fashionable events. Making sure they live to their promise, W Hong Kong's birthday bash was no less eventful with dance performances and a front row of the town's hottest stylists and celebrities.

Club Monaco Men's Workshop

To start off the weekend last Friday, Club Monaco held a chill men's event that was divided into 2 segments - a personalised leather card holder making workshop and a whisky tasting. The venue itself in Saint Francis Yard was solely reserved for menswear, reflecting old world elegance and a refined gentleman's parlour. As any sartorial gentleman would know, personalisation is not only highly coveted  but a true signifier of one's attention to detail. From monogrammed ties to personalised stationary sets, any person should have the honour of "putting their mark" on something they own.

UAL Graduate Exhibition 2013: When Arts Meet

UAL - three letters that represent one of the best art institutions in the UK. Central Saint Martins, infamous for breeding one of the best fashion designers in the world including Alexander McQueen and Stella McCartney, are among the 5 colleges within the group. Less revered but equally as talented, we have schools like the London College of Fashion and Chelsea College of Art and Design which offer a diverse range of subjects from interior design to ceramics to jewellery design.

Having spoken to one of the student helpers at the exhibition, I was told of a community within these 5 schools where students of different subjects would come together to create unique collaborations and push the limits of their creativity. Several projects on display at the Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre were created with this mentality of sharing ideas and it was definitely an eye opener for a student like myself. The exhibition runs until next Monday so if you have time this weekend, be sure to check it out!

http://whenartsmeet.weebly.com

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10-12 August 2013

Hong Kong Visual Arts Centre

7a Kennedy Road, Central

10/11 August open from 10am to 9pm

12 August open from 10am to 5pm

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Click below the jump for my favourite works in the exhibition!

ni.ne.mo @ fullcupmusic

I always believed fashion and music go together hand in hand. Alexander Wang, head designer for Balenciaga and his own eponymous line, mentioned that music is a key source of inspiration and that it's any designers ally especially with fashion being grounded in hip hop culture and sportswear. Anna Wintour also once said that fashion is a reflection of what's happening around us so it'd be plain stupid to underestimate one of the main driving forces of culture.

Last Sunday, Nic and I headed over to fullcupmusic café for a mini concert with local indie band ni.ne.mo. Having played gigs at Clockenflap and Hidden Agenda, this rising 4-piece band is a refreshing change to the cringeworthy cantopop that plagues Hong Kong. ni.ne.mo proved to me that all hope is not lost with a show that featured unreleased tracks and music covers influenced by nu-metal and 60s new wave garage rock (they even had a bit of reggae!). I was even more ecstatic when they played in normal clothes and made witty banter during the gig. Despite freezing my ass of with their rediculously cool AC, I truly loved the atmosphere that made me relish every moment listening to quality music without any distractions.

The song above is the last song they played but it's also one of my favourites with a catchy guitar riff that's part Bloc Party mixed with a bit of Franz Ferdinand and Two Door Cinema Club.  Scroll below for more pics!

Oh and do check out their Facebook page if you have time!

Shopping in Hong Kong: 5 Places to Visit in Tai Hang

Welcome to my new shopping series where I'll be sharing some of my favourite shopping districts in Hong Kong! In each of these posts, I'll go over several "must visit" shops and share items that I liked.

A couple of weeks ago, I visited the quaint district of Tai Hang that's tucked away behind the hustle and bustle of Causeway Bay. Like Tai Ping Shan Street, Tai Hang is a little secret that is off the map due to it's distance from the station. Yes, you need to walk 10 minutes to get here but I guarantee that it's well worth the exercise. Besides, you get ice cream as a reward so if that is not a good enough incentive then I don't know what is!

First stop in Tai Hang is this girly turquoise boutique on Shepherd Street that carries a unique variety of accessories and locally designed clothes. The owner Christine, who I took a streetstyle snap of on Style on Pottinger, mentioned that she also works on consignment. Because of this, she can support the Hong Kong fashion scene which I find incredibly admirable. She's also really sweet to talk to so just feel free to pop by and have a chat!

Check out their Facebook page here!

Next on my shopping list is this hipster looking shop with its secretive entrance and cool looking façade. On the day of my visit, I actually had to knock for someone to open the door which made me anticipate going in even more. The awkwardness was well worth it though because, other than the hanging light fixtures, the antiques inside were authentic rather than having it made to look old (unlike some shops in Hong Kong). One of my favourite items were the antique light switches that have been cleaned up and ready for use. I'm sure it would be a good addition to spice up any apartment.

Right next door is their coffee shop that has an enticing outdoor bench for those who want to show off their stylish outfits while sipping quality coffee. It's also quite popular with the locals who hang outside the shop with drinks like their hot chocolate and infamous Shakerato's (espresso, sugar and ice all mixed into a frothy icy drink) where their beans are sourced from the South of Italy a.k.a. espresso heaven. FYI they're also famous for their Banana Caramel Cake.

While I didn't go into the shop itself, I was really attracted to the exterior with it's green plants lining the windows and ground. Lookbook background anyone? It definitely made a good impression and I'll be sure to check it out again when I return.

Check out their Facebook page here!

Oh my, I don't even know where to start with Lab Made! My first encounter with them was at the I.T x W Party where they served their heavenly Hong Kong Pineapple Bun flavour ice cream. The surprise doesn't just end with the flavour though. Get this, the ice cream is made right in front of you in a quick freeze method using liquid nitrogen. The result? Super silky texture and guaranteed freshness!

And if you're a regular, Lab Made makes sure that their customers never get bored with their revolving menu that changes every 2 weeks. At the time of my visit, Crème Brulée, Sea Salt with Caramel, Lychee Yogurt and Longan, and Horlicks with Wheat Cream were on the menu. Though I was tempted to get all 4, I was also perfectly aware of my growing waist line. In the end I went with the Crunchy Sea Salt Gelato with Caramel. The sweet milky flavour of the caramel offset the saltiness and I was instantly transported to ice cream heaven...

Need I say more?

Check out their Facebook page here!

Last but definitely not least, Microwave was a nice surprise as it was more in line with something from Harajuku. First impressions were already rising with the retro looking TV monitors that played back music videos of yesteryear. Inside, the music was unabashedly 80s with a nod to retro fashion. What's special about this place is that it's not a just thrift shop but also a store that sells clothes from independent designers. My favourite item would have to be the translucent crop top and pants from Andrea Crews. Little did I know, they were also stocked in one of my favourite stores in Paris, Colette. So much for thrifting!

Check out their Facebook page here!