slowly and gently

What makes a magazine worth reading?

Forget about the US Weeklies and OK!s for now. Let's focus on my areas of interests only: fashion and lifestyle. Is it the latest news coverage? The stylist + photographer dream team? The awe-inspiring editorials? Or the exclusive cover story/ interview subject? These are all the things I look for when I'm buying a magazine nowadays. Ever since I moved back to Asia and have no more access to bargain-priced magazine subscriptions for my monthly reads, I have become more picky with my magazine buys. I'm a self-admitted magazine whore, if you will... the kind of person who would would be happy to spend up to 20 bucks (or $160 hkd) for a good imported magazine, and we're talking about 3-4 per month. Most of my preferred magazines are non-HK ones, which means they will cost on average at least double the original price. So to justify spending that much money every month/ season on printed paper which most people consider as disposable goods, there needs to be some criteria for purchase.

News content is not such a big factor anymore as nowadays we can get instant newsfeed from blogs and twitter alike, so 'traditional' magazines will have to rely more on their relationships with celebrities and fashion insiders for exciting stories and interviews. Then it's really all down to the picturesque editorials and amazing styling - beautiful photos that will inspire you.

Everyone's been saying print media is slowly being taken over by the digital age, but I say a good magazine done 'with heart' beats any online webzine any day. The Gentlewoman is definitely one of my recent favorites. The magazine's been talked about quite a bit among fashion bloggers since its debut earlier in the season, but I still have to show my love despite being late in the game.

As an extension of its male counterpart - The Fantastic Man, The Gentlewoman is the perfect harmony of the man and the woman... a sweet, classy unisex vibe, which pretty much sums up my personal style motto. One word to describe it - refreshing. It's a breathe of fresh air from the frilly styling and pop star-as-models that so dominated fashion reads in recent years. The aesthetic is simple, yet striking (I suppose a brand equivalent would be Celine under Phoebe Philo's reigns?!) and it celebrates strong, well-respected women across all fields. One of the things I love most is the way the clothes/ brands are credited in the style stories. The shoes aren't just 'patent leather shoes, Christian Dior' and the dress isn't just a 'pleated silk-chiffon dress, Marc Jacobs'. Instead, the Gentlewoman tells a story about the outfit - that "Eniko's (model's name) nicely contrasting shoes are by Christian Louboutin and the vintage bag from a selection at Marlene Wetherell bears no label but is still very cute." This narrative crediting almost reminds me of fashion presentations back in the old days - where the MC would describe each outfit in flowery details as the models walk out. Just like that scene in Miss Pettigrew Lives for a Day with the 1940's lingerie fashion show. Of course this would be considered dated and old-school to be used at shows now, but somehow when it's in print it seems fitting and with just the right hint of nostalgia.

Until spring 2011, I'll just keep reading my Vogues  and Monocle and Elles to keep myself occupied.

crystallized

Celebrations and merry drinking continued on after New Year's as I had farewell dinners, birthday dinners, family gatherings so on and so forth this week, so I'm still recovering from all this frenzy. Hence experiencing a bit of a "blogger's block" and don't have much exciting to write about today.
Last Sunday though, I had a wonderful and relaxing brunch at The Steak House in the Intercon Hotel. There were still some festive decorations in the hotel lobby, including these crystal Christmas trees with dangling crystal ornaments which actually kinda matched the chandelier necklace I happened to be wearing that day. The tiered trees were really pretty and quite a unique take on the traditional pine trees.
Let's hope I'm gonna get my groove back soon (since one of my new year's resolutions is to blog more regularly), but until then I'm gonna get some beauty sleep and recharge......

*wearing a vintage hat from Amarcord vintage, printed blouse by Staerk, cardigan by Club Monaco, boy shorts bought in Japan, vintage Oxfords from Amarcord Vintage, and vintage chandelier necklace from Treasures + Pleasures

when i was small...

You know how there are certain things or incidents that will always make you smile from the bottom of your heart? Well, if I were to compile a top 10 list of things that make me smile, one of them is definitely old baby/ toddler pictures of myself. Not to be self-indulgent or anything, but who doesn't enjoy looking at their old pictures and reminiscing good times? Whether it's adoring the chubby limbs I once had, wishing I still had that perfect baby skin, or laughing at the "what was my mom thinking" matchy outfits, these old pictures are just really heartwarming every time I look at them. The other day as I was organizing my towering stacks of old photos and memorabilia, I found a small bunch of infant pictures that I've long forgotten, and among them there's one that got me laughing out loud for a good while - this one of me when I was two, all dolled up in leopard leggings and matching leopard figure Tee. Yea, what was my mom thinking putting a 2-year-old in all leopard?!! I'm sure I must have had no clue back then.
Fast forward 22 years to today, I have genuinely developed my love for leopard print (although I would still never wear that leopard Tee...). Here's my new interpretation of the timeless animal print, inspired by my 2-year-old outfit!

*Wearing a vintage hat, vintage cropped jacket both from Amarcord Vintage, T-shirt by izzue, shorts from a local HK boutique, leopard print tights by H&M, and peep-toe booties by Dolce Vita.

flapper frenzy

As mentioned in my last entry, I had a double Halloween celebration this year... the night before my Carmen Miranda transformation, my friends and I attended the Dreamland Orchestra's Masquerade ball at the enchanting Green Building. Flappers and Gastby-esque ladies flooded the dance floor as expected, but there were a couple of Halloween surprises like Dorothy and Scarecrow. I, too, went with the traditional flapper outfit and Charleston-ed through the night. Here's me and my buddy Jessica dancing to Michael Arenella's music. He never fails to entertain!

*Wearing a vintage fringe dress from eBay, vintage bag from my mother, lace-up booties by Dolce Vita, reconstructed feather handband

jazz baby!

Yesterday's weather could not be more perfect for the Jazz Age Lawn Party. Governor's Island was transformed into a magnificent Gatsby Party, filled with Charleston kicks, scrumptious picnics, Eldferflower cocktails, parade of hats and headbands, dance performances, pie contest, beautiful Dreamland Orchestra music, and indescribable joy and laughter.
Nothing felt more heartwarming than to be surrounded by my favorite people on such a fabulous day.

*Wearing a mini-boater hat by White Rabbit, vintage top from Beacon's Closet, vintage bloomers from Beyond Retro, vintage Oxfords from Amarcord Vintage Fashion, and fabric-wrapped beaded necklace bought in Paris.


Images partially taken by mikomiao

what is old is new again

This past Saturday I joined my foodie partners in crime (aka sis and bro-in-law) and went to Le Fooding d'Amour Paris New York at P.S.1 Contemporary Arts Center for a special night of food and booze. Acclaimed chefs from Paris joined forces with equally celebrated chefs in New York to cook up six different dishes, accompanied with Veuve Cliquot bubbly + special cocktails and finishing off with the Greene Ice Cream's Bourbon Vanilla and Salted Caramel Pretzel ice cream. Food was great, not spectacular, but the atmosphere was fun and I've always liked hanging out at the P.S. 1 lawn anyway. The last time I was in the neighborhood was a year ago, when I brought my good friend from home to check out the Warm Up party and the nearby Five Points graffiti buildings. We snapped a bunch of Polaroids in front of the graffiti then, and seeing it again this weekend made me a little nostalgic. So I dug up some old Polaroids that I've taken throughout the year to share a short trip down the memory lane with me.

Clockwise from top left: 3 little pigs in front of Destination store (which is no longer here) in Meatpacking; Bryant Park; Five Points graffiti; last year's winning project for P.S.1's Warm Up; fall leaves at Stone Barns; crystal mirror door at the Swarovski store

how to be a gentlewoman

I loooove fall. It is the season of layering, of new trends ("September is the January of Fashion", hello?!), of change (oh fall leaves!). I always joke and say I have seasonal affective syndrome, because I'm the kinda person whose mood changes according to the weather. I love fall for its pumpkin pies and apple cider, but more importantly because it's the perfect time to play dress up, to pile on accessories, to put on a little more make up (especially lipstick), and to take on different looks. One of the greatest styles of all time that I often associate with fall is Diane Keaton's Annie Hall look. What screams fall weather better than blazers, tweeds, and wool fedoras? Not only did Keaton play the coolest movie heroine ever, she defined the polished tomboy look and made mannish blazers and high-waisted work pants look gamine. French Vogue's September issue paid homage to Woody Allen's stylish leading lady with a painfully hip spread full of menswear inspired clothes. A call for "the gentlewoman" (as coined by the magazine Fantastic Man) in all of us.

*Wearing a fedora bought in HK, tank top by Target, vintage owl necklace, vintage Banana Republic belt from Petrune, Zara pants, vintage Oxfords from Amarcord Vintage, and a Club Monaco boyfriend cardigan





Magazine images: French Vogue Sept '09 issue via Refinery 29

the age of opulence

In love with the decadent and abundant accessorizing this fall -- mirrors, semi-precious stones, crystal rocks, cuffs and bangles, chain mail, tube necklaces... love love love. Lusting more sparkles and glitter for my fall wardrobe. Times may be tough, but the show must go on.

Some of my own bling bling (clockwise from top left): vintage Napier necklace, rhinestone brooches, rhinestone ring, vintage Bakelite cuff from Amarcord Vintage, vintage Whiting & Davis gold mesh wallet (recent purchase from Brooklyn Flea)


Come winter, I want to have a constellation of accessories.


Magazine images via Vogue UK Sept '09 issue

one night only

August has been an eventful month filled with a succession of period-themed parties. Last week was the Mad Men season premiere party at the Roosevelt Hotel, where the lounge was filled with ladies in secretary sheath dresses accompanying men in 3-piece suits topped with fedora hats a-la-1963. Then there was the Dreamland Gala last night at the Green Building to raise money for the fall Jazz Age Lawn Party on Governor's Island. I was surrounded by a sea of beautiful people, all dressed in their finest Roaring Twenties outfits, sipping delectable cocktails and swing dancing to the music of Michael Arenella's Dreamland Orchestra. It was quite a magnificent evening, and I felt like I traveled through a time machine and landed at one of the decadent jazz parties in Fitzgerald's stories. The key to a great costume at these period parties is not necessarily about wearing an authentic vintage outfit from the era (although that helps), but more about embracing the spirit of the time. Obviously it's hard to repeat that same poise and elegance from back in the day now, but I want to believe I radiated a little bit of that free-spirited exuberance of a 1920's flapper, at least for one night.

*Wearing a vintage dress from Amarcord Vintage, Topshop shoes, and sparkly head piece borrowed from mom.

going up the country

First saw them play at Late Night with Jimmy Fallon this week, and immediately fell in love with this trio-sibling-band, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis. At only 16, 21 and 19 respectively, Kitty, Daisy & Lewis is truly a rockabilly sensation and and a rare gem among today's music genres.
But since a video speaks more than a thousand words, I'll shush and let you watch.

madly in love

It's almost here! Season Three premiere of Mad Men is coming out in less than a week, and there's already been a lot of hype leading to it. The most "high profile" one is probably the Vanity Fair article in its September Style issue complete with an amazing spread of Don and Betty shot by Annie Leibowitz. January Jones looks naturally stunning and so elegant that it's like she belonged in that era. Below are some appropriate vintage finds in case you're throwing (or attending) a season premiere party this Sunday. It's time to channel your inner Mad Men character and bottoms up a few old-fashioned cocktails (for little bit of "inappropriate behavior").
Click here to read full article from VF.




Images (from top, left to right): John Hamm and January Jones as Don and Betty photographed by Annie Leibowitz, Vanity Fair Sept 09 issue; vintage metallic shift dress at Marion Mercer; vintage lace cocktail dress at adore vintage; vintage gold-tone brooch at nestboxvintage; vintage rhinestone bow bracelet at Old Hollywood; vintage sheer organza gown at fabgabs

shopping made easier

Came across these vintage shopping baskets at a specialty cheese shop called Fromagination in Madison, WI. I was so tempted to ask if I could purchase one - it would make a lovely picnic basket. And the best part is it's completely foldable, which is a major plus (or almost a necessity) in my Ikea/ Container Store dominated apartment.
Shopping for cheese is more fun than you'd think.

etsy doodle-do

I have decided to post regular etsy features (or at least for now) simply because there's so much goodness on the site constantly! I can spend hours and hours browsing through the numerous artwork + accessories + crafty projects + illustrations created by crafty and artsy members of the etsy community (and I haven't even got to the vintage section yet)...
This time I stumbled upon flapper doodle - adorable illustrations of 1920's flappers (the 2 characters are named Eloise and Romona) by Kate Gabrielle. The drawings are daily depictions of the lives of these 2 Louise Brooks-look-a-likes, and they're always full of humor and at times larger than life. But I love them mostly because if I were born in 1929, I know I would totally look like Eloise (or Romana, I can't tell one from the other), rocking a perfect bob and a flapper dress and yea, riding a hot red Vespa.


All images by Karen Gabrielle @ flapperdoodle. Her etsy shop has prints in all different sizes and a really cute letter set that makes me want to abandon emails and find a real pen pal again!

oh (haute) couture

Watching the couture shows is almost like going to an art gallery or a museum; you are appreciating a piece of art from a distance, mesmerized by the craftsmanship and thought process behind it and intimidated to touch it because it's so precious. Some couturiers focus more on the traditional techniques and workmanship, while others put more emphasis on the glam and wow factor that differentiates couture from RTW. Out of the few fashion houses who still honor this tradition today, Christian Dior's shows are always high-drama and extravagant and not usually my cup of tea, but this time John Galliano for once stole my heart away. The show brought back memories of when I visited the Christian Dior Museum and Garden in Granville, France a few years back during my study abroad program. That was my first physical encounter with vintage Dior and it completely altered my impression on the fashion house (which I often associated with reinterpretations of New Look blazers and saddle bags back then). The couture garments by Monsieur Dior himself from 1946-1956 were divine - utterly beyond words. Each gown was so intricately and beautifully made - it's got haute couture written all over. It was then that I also decided I would probably only love Dior's collections from that era, and nothing else.
And then I fell in love all over again. As style.com aptly puts it, "Galliano took this collection back to the salons on Avenue Montaigne to show almost in the way the clothes were traditionally presented to clients and the press in the 1950's." The courtyard background and the white flowers resembled the rose garden outside the Granville museum. The clothes had many 50's references - New Look silhouettes, crinolined skirts, and peplum jackets. But my favorite was the underpinnings - the garters, girdles, exposed slips, and petticoats. No lady back then (nor anyone today) would actually attend luncheon half-naked like that, but it sure would be cool if someone breaks the tradition now once and for all!



runway images: via style.com
garden images: all taken at the Rose Garden, also the Garden of Fragrances, at the Christian Dior Museum in Granville