Friday, July 27, 2007

Today I'm wearing -26/07/07-

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

*Silver headband from the recently opened H&M (I've only ever been in once and I only liked the accessories and one tshirt)
*$20 necklace from Argyle Centre
*Green tank top from Fa Yuen Street
*White skirt from Op shop in Australia
*Tights, to prevent skirt from being totally see-through, from Granville which I cut because it's 34 degrees outside.
*White sandals from Mango

Faking Fakes

Yesterday I ventured to Lion Rock Road in Kowloon City to search for treasures. It's not too exciting at the moment, a lot of shops have evaporated. However, I did find something curious. Buying fake brand name goods is a major trend in Hong Kong, tourists will buy fakes to impress friends and family back home. In Hong Kong you can find copies of almost anything; clothes, shoes, watches, jewellery, DVD's, sun cream, sunglasses... and the beat goes on.

On a counter in a store selling 'real' designer clothes there was a very unambiguous collection of clothing labels. 'Marc Jacobs', 'DKNY', 'Stella McCartney', 'Jil Sander' which I would guess were all ready and lined up to be sewn onto an illusory copy of their respective pieces. Although there are a slew of fakes within our grasp, it's not uncommon to find the real thing but marked down because it has a fault, got lost in transit (was stolen) or is actually fake with a very real looking name tag.

Crossing the border into China, Shenzhen is a frequented habit to many Hong Kong residents and travellers. Say you have a top you love to death and wear everyday of your life. One day your beloved item will rip, shrink, disintegrate or get put in the wash with something a dastardly colour. Don’t panic, get a back-up made in China. With their masterly skills they can whip up an exact replica within a week and your tears will be stunted eternally. A more sinister use of their skills would be to copy the latest Diane von Furstenberg wrap dress and sell it advertised as authentic.

Essentially they're making the exact same item just without Marc's/Diane's/Jil's/Donatella's approval. This would anger the ethical pants off anti-consumers because of designers being allowed to charge a ransom for what is worth little more than their toothpaste. The world is not fair, noted.

If you're after cheap designer items check out The Milan Station. It sells second hand, barely used designers such as Gucci, LV, Prada, Chanel, Juicy Couture, etc. The store itself sports a Hong Kong Tourist board approval sticker but keep your eyes and ears open anyway.

How to spot a fake:

1) Exotic misspellings of brand names give the game away instantly.
2) A flirty line connecting the L and V is not a fresh moderation to the logo.
3) Dodgy sewing on garment and particularly on the name tag. (Even in shoes)
4) A half-hearted snip at the name tag. To avoid arrest and penalty, name tags are snipped at indignantly so as not to be obvious. This makes it a mission to figure out whether you're about to buy Moschino or Marc Jacobs.
5) The quality of material. The silk feels like paper? Then it's not silk.

We'd rather wear local designers anyway!

Monday, July 23, 2007

Poll #1

This may sound strange but I currently have 4 books on the go (On The Road, Catcher in the Rye, Junior Pears Encyclopaedia and, of course, Harry Potter) and need to make my way through 5 magazines. So I'm pretty swambed in words right now, along with Cantonese lessons, I've been swallowed up in a world of learning. I'm addicted.

Just to keep you occupied I've added a poll.
It's in the sidebar on the right.
You have a week!
Get voting!

Much love,
Laura

Friday, July 20, 2007

Today I'm Wearing -20/07/07-

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

*Sunglasses from Mango
*Necklace from a collection of my Nana's
*Yellow spot dress from b+ab
*Silver wrap belt, gift from friend
*Baby blue shoes from guys brand 5cm

Wednesday, July 18, 2007

Me & George

Me & George is a fashion import shop in Mong Kok.

No.64 Tung Choi Street.

This is the same road as Ladies Market so you have to duck behind the stalls and scour the hidden shops. At first glance the shop doesn't look much more interesting that a granny store but if you go inside and probe the racks you'll be sure to find some treasures. Yesterday I bought 3 dresses in Me & George for HK$100. Thats a mere HK$33 EACH!

US $4.20 EACH!

CAD $ 4.40 EACH

AUS $4.80 EACH!

3 Euros EACH!

1.90 Bahrain Dinars EACH!

!!!!

Here they are:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Monday, July 16, 2007

Granville Heaven

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Granville Road in Tsim Sha Tsui is by far my favourite place to shop. Put all my favourite shops on one road and you got Granville. All but one that is, and even then this it's only a few minutes walk away (Kitterick). Yesterday I visited Granville for the first time after my holiday to Australia and boyyyyyyy did I miss it. If you're not taking advantage of the amazing sales right now you need to get onto it, it's crazy around here!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I went with a mission to find some new sandals.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
As you can see I was in great need, they began to hurt too because the straps were stretched.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
These are the new ones from my all time favourite Hong Kong store; Kitterick. I have a VIP card for Kitterick that expires in 2010, which you get by spending over $800. The shoes are from the brand 'Red"s' and were $292 after 20% sale!

Red seemed to be the theme of the day, I also got these trousers in the same shop from the brand K-2 Factory.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at PhotobucketPhoto Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Only $87, I kid you not!!! And they have the most amazing pockets, perfect for bag hating days.

What you can find on Granville:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
The very first and best for scavenging cheap tshirts, shirts, skirts, trousers, skirts, shorts, anything! I saw they have a copy of the House of Holland slogan tshirts. They also have really good summer vests and tshirts right now.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
i.s.o is right next door and filled with great patterned clothes. Need some leggings with lions and tigers? i.s.o is the place for you. They also have some great tshirts for guys with diamonte patterns.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Luen Fat has the same sort of collection as In Fashion with less variety but with very good and cheap fashion tops.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
There are two Maple stores on Grnaville, this is a picture of the smaller one. The larger Maple is so good for accessories, every sort of earings, necklaces, belts. Skip the sunglasses though, always spend money on good sunglasses, caring for your eyes is important.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
2% has a fragrant array of colourful clothes, perfect for beach fashion. There was a very special pair of slit front ankle boots but their largest sizes are 39 european.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
5cm is generally for guys, but I've seen it recieve love from girls also.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
I've mentioned Zucozz before, so so good for dresses and stylish going out clothes.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
$50-100 shoes it advertises, but the good ones are at most $180. Still amazingly good. These shoes will only last half a year if you wear them relentlessly.

Rise Shopping Arcade at 52A Granville Circuit is a must do. A mall filled with wonderful local fashions and imports from Japan.
Inside Rise:
Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
The coolest kids on the block. Mathew and Carl are both shop assistants in Kitterick, of course!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Mr. Fat. The coolest shop on the block, vintage style leather, shoes and glasses. Johnny Depp would buy his glasses here. Mr. Fat has a selection of wonderful leather bags, the large kind that you can fit everything in!

Thats all for now!
X

Comment Feature


Jessica said...
oh my oh my i'm so glad you started this blog! your posts are insightful and so... inside-y!

i'm here (in hk) for two weeks and am wondering if you could please give me some tips. i really want to go exploring in laforet and causeway plaza... is the stuff on kowloon side all that different?

THanKS MUCHLY!



Hi Jessica!
I shop on Kowloon side mostly because I live in Sai Kung and it's closer than going to HK island but there are a few spots that are definitely worth checking out; Granville Road, Granville Circuit, Ladies Market, Argyle Centre. and if you have time, Lion Rock Road.

Tsim Sha Tsui is stocked full of big brand names in Ocean Terminal, Gateway and Nathan Road but Granville Road is a grand exception. Granville is my favourite shopping area in the whole of Hong Kong because it's one road with all the shops I love; Izzue, In Fashion, Maple, b+ab etc, then there's Rise Shopping Arcade at 52A Granville Circuit which is full of local designers' goodness. Although I love Granville it's not that much different to the stuff you would find in Causeway Bay.

However if you venture to Mong Kok, Ladies Market on Tung Choi Street is totally unique to Kowloon side. It's the best place to bargain and to buy anything from fashionable shoes to fake designer handbags and copy clothes, even wacky things like frilly elephant mens underwear. Behind the stalls if you look carefully you'll be able to find Me & George which varies from time to time in fabulousness. It's a second hand store with whole racks of old mens waistcoats, leather jackets and other forgotten fashions and everything is incredibly cheap. I bought a waistcoat for $HK30. Fa Yuen Street, parallel to Ladies Market is a sporty alternative.

Argyle Centre!!! How I love Argyle centre, beautifully stylish necklaces and earings for $20 a piece and other such fashions similar to Granville Circuit.

Kowloon City is an even cheaper variation to Granville. Take a taxi from Lok Fu MTR and explore Lion Rock Road for a range of trendy clothes. Sometimes Lion Rock Road is pretty bland and you can get through it in 10 minutes so I suggest only going if you're feeling adventurous to go all that way, if it doesn't work out go watch a movie in Kowloon City Plaza.

Shopping in and around Causeway Bay is amazingly easy with everything pretty close together. Laforet is a great mall for cutesy local and imported fashions. Don't forget to check out Island Beverly just up the road on George Street which is my favourite mall in Causeway Bay.

I could go on and on...
I hope this helped!

Loveeeee,
Laura

*Check out SmartTravel Asia shopping guide for a look at the whole of Hong Kong.

Shopping in the train station

Forgot to put on your clothes before you left the house?
No worries,
you can buy your outfit for the day in the MTR....

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Friday, July 13, 2007

Today I'm Wearing -11/07/07-

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

*Dress by Lu Lu Cheung
*Yellow vest by Zucozz
*Black pumps from Gallaz (not HK brand)
*Home made necklace made with a shell given from a special boy

Style profile 13th July 2007

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Raje Hiranand:
Occupation: Student/ video EZY employee/ wannabe glassblower/great friend
Age: 20
Favourite local HK designer/brand: Anything that tickles my fancy
Favourite hk shopping area: Mong Kok/Argyle Centre
Interests: Mosaic mirror, painting, photoshop
Favourite HK fashion season: Winter
Favourite thing about Hong Kong: Skyline, food


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
Elizabeth is wearing Chinese character necklace that reads 'Mai', specially designer for her middle name.

Elizabeth Schroder:
Occupation: Student/ ESF worker/ teaches English/ wannabe private detective
Age:19
Favourite local HK designer/brand: In Fashion
Favourite hk shopping area: Granville/ Fa Yuen/ Stanley Market
Interests: Rugby, Cantonese, beach
Favourite HK fashion season: Between summer and autumn
Favourite thing about Hong Kong: Rugby 7's, food, Wan Chai, people


Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Aman Dillon:
Occupation: Student/ wannabe lawyer and accountant
Age: 19
Favourite local HK designer/brand: Esprit
Favourite hk shopping area: TST, Jordan "There is an awesome $10 tshirt store in Jordan"
Interests: Hockey, golf, cooking
Favourite HK fashion season: Summer
Favourite thing about Hong Kong: Food

Wednesday, July 11, 2007

A quick look at Mong Kok

Mong Kok isn't all about Tung Choi Street, Ladies Market. If you take the time to adventure a little bit you'll find a huge array of wonderful malls, alot of them discreetly advertised and hidden behind the bustle of street food stalls. Ladies Market eats up all the attention but I highly recommend you take a wonder and find a mall, any mall, and let yourself be excited by its contents. I discovered one called 'Chic' that catered for guys with tastes for tshirts, ties and waistcoats. After leaving there I walked around a bit more and spotted these two and followed them into the King Wah Centre.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
I love tshirts with random phrases and Hong Kong are never short of these.

Inside King Wah Centre I found these:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

I appologise to these people who I confused greatly by asking to take their photo and I technically didn't ask permission to post their faces on a website but I hope they don't mind since I am saying how great their style is!

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

If you do venture to King Wah Centre do not leave without visiting 'Double Step'. The clothes were addictively beautiful and the shoes androgynously cute:

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket
There were two parts to the shop, one directly above the other so visit both to make sure you don't miss anything.

Photo Sharing and Video Hosting at Photobucket

Sunday, July 8, 2007

Introduction

Hi.

I live in the amazing city of Hong Kong and have so for 16 years. This makes me a permanent citizen with a bitchin' ID card that allows me to get in and out of the country with just a thumb print. This also makes me a local and in my mind partly Chinese. I love HK style and its unique quirkiness. It's fashionable population seems a bit shy in comparison to the cutthroat runway capitals of the world. Style here is not used as a weapon making it a subdued mecca that craves attention.

Anyone who lives in Hong Kong knows how stylish its inhabitants can be. Although it's profile has risen of late with certain designers hosting massive shows it still has talent and style that is majorly overlooked. Indepenent shops and labels are festooning and I wish to find them and tell everyone about them. I hope to also profile the local fashions, designers and scenesters of Hong Kong.

Get dressed HK because I'm coming to snap you up.