I miss Kai Tak airport

Do you remember when planes used to descend over Kowloon after turning 90 degrees once in view of the red and white checkerboard and landing only 20 minutes away from my home.

But I do love the new airport too.

What thousands must die, so that Caesar may become the great

Infernal Affairs forever, The Departed never.

It's changing

FRESH START. NEW DIRECTION COMING SOON.
THIS CHRISTMAS.

GM Tee discount code!

I came across a most unique T-shirt site, called GM Tee. The prints are gorgeous and epitomize all that I've grown up around while living in Hong Kong. It is based in Hong Kong but the designs wield a whole range of beautiful Asian sights.

What is even more wonderful is everyone can enjoy a 10% discount at their online shop with Get Dressed Hong Kong!'s own discount code - gdhk - which will expire on the 10th of January.

All the women's T-shirts look lusciously long, which is so hard to find in Hong Kong, my favourite of the women's Tees:


'Maneki Neko', literally means "Beconing Cat" is the cute lucky cat we see at every shop entrance. This is my favourite and I'm definitely getting myself one.


'Geisha' is so beautiful.


A 'Samurai Teddy', I love the colour of the Tee and the image is so wonderful.

And of the men's:


'Rainmaker' Toad of immortality with a cherry blossom print pattern.


'Japanese Castle', that resembles every pagoda HK children ever spent their childhood running around.


'Chinese Dragon'.

My mission

I'm back and I have the greatest mission of all time: to stock up on the warmest clothes ever. England weather is colder than anything I've ever had to endure and I'm terrified for January. Waking up is the hardest. My warmest clothes consist of a denim jacket, jeans (which have a hole at the knee and lets in a draft of cold) and a few holy socks!So, I've made a list of essential winter clothes I need to collect while I'm back in Hong Kong! And each time I find an item I will post where I got it. It will be my winter shopping diary.
* Good thick socks
* Beautiful tights and leggings

photo by gpwarlow

* Warm coats and jackets
* Scarves
* Pashminas (I'm especially interested in the patterned ones)
* The compulsory Ugg boots. (I've never been such a fan of them until recently, I think black ones look killer with a white pair of tights)
* Wellington boots for the infamous UK weather
* Gloves

While I've never bought anything on ebay before, there are a few items I have been watching from this shop. I've also got my eyes on a black pair of Ugg boots on ebay. 

I can tell Granville and I will be reunited very soon. <3>

Coming home soon!

It's been way too long and I miss Hong Kong excessively. The only shopping I've done in the UK has been at Primark. Being a poor poor student doesn't create many pathways that lead to Reiss or Topshop or Whistles. It's scary how badly I need retail therapy. Everytime I see something in the shops here I just think how much cheaper I can get it for in Hong Kong. I walked into River Island a few weeks ago and a dinky little sequined vest was £50!!! With the current exchange rate that's HK$800. I remember when the exchange rate was $12 to a £.. does anyone remember those glorious days?

I do drool at shop windows here in the absence of actually being able to purchase anything, quite inelegantly too. I'll just salivate everywhere until I can even think about stepping within. I'm thoroughly procrastinating now, I have a pile of work to do but instead I spend time surfing online shopping sites:

ASOS
Faith
Topshop

And then just these beautiful designers:

Helena Horstedt
Velerie Tolosa
Nicola Finetti
I'm pretty sure I found these on this Livejournal community.

Feast your eyes on this beast. I'm going to make an attempt at making something similar when I'm back home. The shiny colours are actually really small sequins which I absolutely adore.

'Indie' style is the current fashion phenomenon here, I'm probably part of it but not extremely. It's all inclusive of boys and girls, just as the diminishing 'New Rave' was. I've fallen for a boy who only listens to indie music and wont flash a glimmer of a smile at anything above he norm. We went to watch Soko together and it was gorgeous and I want to marry her. He now loves her too and we fight over who she wants to kiss more. Of course it's me.

I will be home in 2 weeks.
LOVEEEEE!

Hiatus

Regrettably, this blog will be on hiatus until Christmas time because I go to UK in 2 days.
Unless something Hong Kong style wise comes up while I'm at university there will be minial activity here.
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A Video of Luohu Commercial City

Quote Tee of the Week

Spotted in Luohu Commercial City, Shenzhen.



I wish you could have seen his reaction when we managed to sign language what his shirt said...
"omg....omg..." was all he managed to say, but in a pretty cheeky satisfied sort of way.

Typhoon Dress Code

As I sit here writing this, with the storm as my soundtrack, still damp from my scurry home after a cancelled gallery exhibition openning, I realised I was not properly attired or prepared for the incurring typhoon. Typhoon season is upon us(!) and unless you enjoy the wet and wind-swept look, it's time to get out the wet weather gear. My holy No Sweat sneakers introduce too many rain drops to my socks, this is most unwelcome when I have to sit on a bus dripping wet under the blasting air conditioning.

Some tips for the typhooning weather:

T1 - "This is a stand-by signal, indicating that a tropical cyclone is centred within about 800 km of Hong Kong and may affect the territory."

Not too serious, you can get by with any old umbrella and even your ordinary gear.

T3 - "Strong wind is expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near sea level, with a sustained speed of 41-62 km/h (kilometres per hour), and gusts which may exceed 110 km/h, and the wind condition is expected to persist. Winds are normally expected to become generally stronger in Hong Kong within 12 hours after the issue of this signal. Winds over offshore waters and on high ground may reach gale force."

You'll want to pack a sturdier umbrella so leave the compact one at home and bring with you the mary poppins' style one. Wear comfortable shoes that don't get slippery from the rain or get drenched through and through, jelly shoes would be your best bet.

T8 - "Gale or storm force wind is expected or blowing generally in Hong Kong near sea level, with a sustained wind speed of 63-117 km/h from the quarter indicated and gusts which may exceed 180 km/h, and the wind condition is expected to persist."

While an umbrella can generally keep the rain off of the upper part of your body, the lower becomes a target once the gusts reach 180km/h. My advice would be a very large mac, wellies and as little clothing as possible, to avoid catching your death of cold on the public transport. Skin dries faster than material. Socks would also be useless in this weather.

T10 - "Hurricane force wind is expected or blowing with sustained wind speed reaching upwards from 118 km/h and gusts that may exceed 220 km/h."

Hopefully you'll have reached your safe house before a signal 10 is enforced, but if you're unlucky enough to be stuck in the million person long bus line here's what you'll need: EVERYTHING that was mentioned for T3 and T8 plus a towel, a helmet, walkie talkie with your next of kin on receiving end, spare clothes and make it your life's mission to avoid areas of built up illegal structures. Flying roof tops may occur, Wizard of Oz style.

I'm now off to scour the streets for Umbrella Fashions.

Proud to Live in HK

If there ever was a way to prove it.

TodaY I'm Wearing -3/8/07-

*Black and white stripey tank top from friend
*Waist coat from Me & George
*Brown necklace from Sham Shui Po
*Gold necklace from my Nana
*Blue skirt from Mary Bible
*Bag from Shenzhen
*Blue shoes from 5cm

--Today I'm heading out to Sham Shui Po to try and make a copy of the gold necklace.
--My friend recently told me Sham Shui Po is a shopping area we have gravely missed out on. That is my next scouring destination and will soon report back.

Shenzhen Part 2: The evidence

Crossing the border is the easiest for Hong Kong permanent residents and even easier for Chinese nationals. In the latter only an ID card is presented into an electronic machine along with thumb print. HK permanent residents; don't forget to bring your passport with your Visa, along with your ID card. (I forgot my passport and lost 2 precious hours. Silly me). The KCR takes you straight to the border, Lo Wu.

Lo Wu Commercial City Centre is the closest mall from the KCR station and needs at least a whole day to take a good look around. Close to 1500 shops selling clothes, shoes, sunglasses, watches, gadgets, DVDs/VCDs, materials and jewellery. According to Ellen McNally, author of "Shop in Shenzhen; an insider's guide" even real dinosaur eggs. (!!!)

We entered, at random, one of the many shops and after much unsuccessful haggling and leaving because I literally didn't have enough money for the two jackets I wished to purchase. After being physically grabbed and dragged back into the shop, fingers working quickly on calculator and persuaded with half the amount of which the garments were originally priced I bought them. Success! Penniless, we moved onto the tailor on the top floor of the mall, where any fabric of any design can be chosen to make whatever you wish. Anything. Bring a picture, an item to copy, or even your own design and it's theirs to make at an impressively affordable price.

I brought a dress to be copied and the result will be posted here next week. Whether it turns out well is the risk you take. For my Year 13 formal I had a dress made from my own design, when it arrived it was unwearable and the fabric I had chosen was atrocious. So unless you're very talented in selecting, designing and explaining exactly what you want, it's better to bring an original to copy.

Here are the jackets I bought:

Shenzhen Part 1

Yesterday I ventured out to Shenzhen for a day trip. I planned to get a dress copied and stock up on warm clothes for my looming new life in England. What a success it was. Today I saw the latest HK Magazine, No.689. It's main article is about shopping in Shenzhen, so get a copy and get yourself over to Shenzhen. Explore the crazy vast world of super cheap treasures. Extortionate bargaining is a protruding trait of shopping in China. If haggling you love, China be your sweetheart.

FAKE ALERT: they are everywhere, but maybe that is your reason for travelling there. However, I caution you, in recent times the authorities have been cracking down. A $2000 fine per fake could turn out to be a costly skip over the border.

Each country has different prices for Visas to China, there is a comprehensive list here: www.visainchina.com/visa3.htm

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

*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!

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

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

*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

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:

Granville Heaven

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!



I went with a mission to find some new sandals.


As you can see I was in great need, they began to hurt too because the straps were stretched.


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.


Only $87, I kid you not!!! And they have the most amazing pockets, perfect for bag hating days.

What you can find on Granville:


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.


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.


Luen Fat has the same sort of collection as In Fashion with less variety but with very good and cheap fashion tops.


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.


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.


5cm is generally for guys, but I've seen it recieve love from girls also.


I've mentioned Zucozz before, so so good for dresses and stylish going out clothes.


$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:

The coolest kids on the block. Mathew and Carl are both shop assistants in Kitterick, of course!


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!
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