LOVE

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My Favourite Fashion Location: the pearl of the orient, the big lychee or as I like to call it Honky-town.

Hong-Kong; a shiny, towering beacon to market capitalism and unbridled creativity. From the world’s most recognized brands to local designers “innovative”, creations. I see Hong Kong as the epitome of East meets West a concept exemplified perfectly by the fashion.

Honky town has always been a fashion obsessed island. However until recently the island has only excelled at mass production and the import and export of European and American brands. Now, finally, local designers have found their feet and a place in this jam-packed city.

My favourite place for local designers and bargain finds is Fa Yuen Street in Mong Kok. Ignore the market in the middle; it’s the shops on either side that house the hidden treasures. Be warned you might have to do a bit of digging; in my experience the local designers seem to regularly toe the line between crazy and fabulous. It might not be everyone’s style but you have to admit they are creative. I mean really, where else could you find high-heeled Gucci-print gumboots?

If you’re the type of person who enjoys the finer things in life and has the budget to accommodate such desires, The Landmark in Central will be your haven. The Landmark is one if the swankiest shopping centres in HK it houses the most prestigious international brand- Burberry, Narciso Rodrigeuz, Missoni, Helmut Lang, Valentino. You could easily blow you’re whole yearly income here. It’s also home to my favourite cosmetic houses Nars, Chanel and Su uemura.

While local designers are still facing an upward battle against well known international brands there presence and influence is constantly increasing. I say the more diversity the better. If you’re in HK take a look around.

I’ve certainly caught the asian fever.

Zany over Zara

Move over H&M I have a new obsession: Zara

I literally cannot stay away from this oasis of beauty and style. Each collection is practically spot on. I constantly come home looking sheepish and hiding multitudes of dark blue bags behind my back. Even though the temperature in honky town rarely falls below 30 degrees and due to sweltering humidity I'm working up a sweat just getting to my castings, I decided I needed/had to have this cherry red blazer.

I left the store swearing that was it. I was content, I didn't need anything else. I got about 100 meters out of the store before turning and literally running back into my air-conditioned heaven. I scurried out like a rat with a big piece of cheese five minutes later clutching yet another bag containing these super-cute, high-waisted floral shorts.

Unfortunately they don't come with perfect, tanned pins (I wish my legs looked like that) but they are really flattering. I took my new purchases out on the town last weekend and we had a grand time. (I stole the hat when we crashed an Indian themed party).

I cannot rave enough about Zara. They have everything; beautifully tailored blazers, cute playsuits, stunning dresses, super hot heels and great bags.

Although I have now issued myself with restraining order that states I cannot go within 100metres of any Zara store I’m sure nothing will hold me back when the new season collection is released in August.

These are some of my other Zara purchases:

Birdy the bride

Two days of shooting; 30 wedding dresses, 57 evening dresses, five formal up dos, 1000 bobby pins, a can of hairspray, the most horrendous collection of plastic, kitten-heeled shoes whose tackiness could only be rivalled by the mixed bag of diamante clip on earrings and bracelets. Oh yes my dears this was not a walk in the park -this was real work.

A one-hour train and a five-hour bus ride

saw us arrive in smoggy, humid ChenXhou. China is exactly how I remember it from four years ago. Chaotic traffic, greasy food and awkward but amusing language barriers.

Luckily I was working with some of the most chilled out Chinese I’ve ever met. The clients were sweeties who were intent on getting fellow Aussie model Katrina and myself to try their suspicious looking Chinese ‘delicacies’.

Highlights from the shoot include the 40-year-old Mr Chio singing along to Lady Gaga’s poker face, getting high on numerous Coke Zero’s, and stealing the photographers camera.

I like to think of catalogue jobs, as an exercise is patience. Long hours, language barriers and logistical issues equal somewhat tense moments. For example the client decided, as I was so chirpy she would call me ‘little bird’. It was cute for about 20 minutes then it was just annoying. After 12 hours of shooting and her yelling, “fly pretty little bird” I could feel my patience slipping, no flying out the window. I couldn’t suppress the references to Nora from A Dolls House and all that feminist studies slipping into my mind. But more frustrating I had no idea what she wanted me to do! Jump? Flap my arms? I’m a person I can’t fly! I’d been zipped, squeezed and laced in and out of 27 corsets and the chirpy little bird had flown away long ago.

What always amazes/fascinates/horrifies me about bridal shoots is that these dresses could one day actually be worn down the isle. Yes even the baby pink princess dress complete with sequined, butterfly detailing and a five-meter train could be someone’s dream dress. I guess everyone has different tastes but I hope when my day comes that I will remember these three things I’ve learnt:

1. I can't take myself seriously when I'm wearing ten layers of lace and tulle,

2. Petty coats went out of fashion 100 years ago for a reason and

3. Corsets are a form of legal torture that should only be worn in the bedroom where they are sure to be quickly removed.

I want future husband to look down the isle and see a goddess gliding towards him not a meringue.

Chanel Heaven

Coco Chanel is one of my favourite designers of all time. So being booked for a Chanel show is kind of a dream come true.

When I think of Chanel I think of pearls on black. I think of jersey jackets and of course I think of the black quilted purse with interlocked chain strap that I just can’t afford.

The reason I love Chanel so much is the spirit of the brand. Which comes from the matriarch herself Coco Chanel.

Coco Chanel came from nothing her father unable to care for her sent her and her sister to an orphanage. From there to put it simply she revolutionised women’s fashion.

It was the 1910’s and opulence ruled; women’s dresses involved several layers of materials such as silk, satin and chiffon. All this material was layered over a restrictive literally spine-bending s-corset that manipulated women’s bodies into an exaggerated hourglass shape that was overtly sexual and considered the feminine ideal. Add to this a surplus features such as bows, feathers, jewels etc. and you have the amazing over the top dresses that women wore everyday.

Chanel flouted these ideals. She wore simple outfits- shirts and riding pants, hats and neckties. Her designs challenged the preconceived norms and ideals of female fashion. More than that she challenged what it was to be a woman. Chanel reduced her dresses lines to their simplest expression; shortened dresses to above the ankle and removed the need for restrictive corsets. By removing the need for restrictive undergarments she restored woman to their natural shape and allowed women more movement to be active.

She designed clothing that embodied the spirit of what she called ‘the modern woman’ before the modern woman existed. A modern woman was one who drove cars, wore pants and was independent or at least gave the impression she could be. This was the look of Chanel and today that same spirit continues on through the Chanel Empire.

This is my favourite quote

Coco Chanel speaking in the third person:

“She took the English masculine and made it feminine. All her life, all she did was change men’s clothing into women’s; jackets, hair, neckties, wrists. Coco Chanel always dressed like the strong independent male she dreamed of being. She set woman free because she had suffered too long from not being free herself.”

Eccentric- yes. Full of contradictions- of course. Genius- I believe so.

Ok so enough of my rambling as you can see I’m a bit excited.

Today the spirit of Chanel is the same. Timeless elegance. Clothes for the modern woman. This week I died and went to Chanel heaven.

After trying on three full-length evening gowns unfortunately made for someone about a foot taller than me. I found my dress (well the stylist selected it for me). It was a simple classic Chanel look. Black chiffon pleated dress synched at the waist with a black belt. Shoestring straps and some very fiddle but very pretty button detailing. Add to this jewellery worth more than my house back home and Mary Jane platform shoes.

The show was quite the affair- no expense spared. The Chanel team transformed the third floor of the industrial building into a crystal city. Giant glass model buildings and towers stretched the centre of the room. French champagne, French food and French music. Two giant sliding doors open and four models dripping in diamonds descend down the stairs…

Oh Chanel heaven is a sweet, sweet place.

Photo’s still to come…

Hennes and who?

What does one wear to a Jamaican themed rooftop party? Dreadlocks? Rasta hat? A bobsled? Maybe just a big marijuana leaf?

Unfortunately I had none of these things in my carefully packed luggage. Secondly being new to town and this being my first ‘model party’ I thought rocking up looking like Bob Marley might be a bit keen. I literally I had nothing to wear. Yes I had a whole wardrobe of clothes but nothing that seemed right.

So when my roomies suggested a trip to H&M I jumped with excitement.

Hennes&Mauritnotz better known as H&M was established in Sweden in 1947. Since then it has rapidly expanded and now has over 2000 stores in 37 markets around the world. Unfortunately Australia isn’t one of them. We are seriously missing out.

H&M collections are created with their broad clientele in mind. As such there is everything from great basics to sportswear to high fashion. The women’s section took up two levels. I wanted to buy everything even the maternity section had some cute stuff. This is one of the few chain stores I’ve been to that is not over priced. The material and workman ship are decent and the clothes actually fit.

I picked up an awesome kiss inspired tee for just $100 HK dollar

s about 16 Aussie and a “Jamaican inspired” necklace for HK$50. They have a killer swimwear section; really cute materials and styles. Better still they have sizes ranging from 34 through to 46. I know I sound like a bad late-night infomercial but I really can’t get over the prices. Bikini tops are just HK$49 that’s about $8.

So for all those lucky ones jetting off to Europe and abroad if there’s a H&M I recommend taking your credit card for a little work out. While its not top end designer I think everyone will find something they love.

Check out the magazine at

HM SUMMER MAGAZINE

www.eyemagonline.net

Ps. Jamaican party theme apparently translates to 'wear black' in the model world- I didn’t get the memo!

Getting there is half the adventure:

My earliest memories of flying are all blissfully happy. The 1.5 hour trip from Melbourne to Sydney was a fun-filled adventure. Everything was free: activities book, colouring in pencils, headphones, in-flight movies and food. There was no stressing that I’d forgotten anything as obviously my parents packed my bag for me. I just had to sit back and enjoy everything the flight had to offer. My favourite game was seeing who could drink the most coke before needing to go to the toilet my little brother or me. Much to the very patient airhostesses delight my brother and I used to consume gallons of coke before one of us would eventually bolt to the bathroom. Oh yes sugar highs and colouring-in books the good old days.

Those days are gone. I’m old enough to book my own flights and too old for colouring in books. What used to be a fun filled adventure is now more of an ordeal. International flights can be anywhere from fun to hell. My flight to Hong Kong was somewhere in between.

Things were looking good- I had an aisle seat, I was sitting next to my boyfriend not a person with poor personal hygiene or anyone particularly large. I happily sat back and opened my in-flight magazine to select my movie of choice only to discover there was no movies-on-demand for this flight! Devastated I resigned myself to catching up on some beauty sleep.

I’m very jealous of people who can sleep sitting up. It is a skill I certainly do not possess. As such sleeping on a plane involves some very interesting positions not dissimilar to intermediate yoga. I think all up I maybe had four hours of restless, uncomfortable slumber. I awoke with my head resting at an uncomfortable angle on a very hard arm rest, my mouth wide open probably spilling drool, both legs shoved under the opposite arm rest intruding into my boyfriends space, my arm was dead and my neck already aching. Confused I looked around to see what woke me. To my left was a chirpy, Malaysian airhostess politely enquiring if I wanted the chicken or the omelette for breakfast. In my half conscience state I chose the omelette. Very bad choice! It was soggy, cold and a suspiciously fluorescent yellow colour. Disappointed and hungry I tried to head back to the land of sleep.

The trip from KL to Hong Kong was much nicer. Movies-on-demand was available. Hallelujah! I made myself comfortable and settled in to watch It’s Complicated. After devouring my croissant and mini fruit salad I adjourned to the bathroom for a little me time. I brushed out my hair, deodorized, moisturized my face and dabbed a little concealer under my eyes. Feeling ten times better I prepared to land in Hong Kong.

As we descended into Hong Kong like a little kid I gazed excitedly out the window. The city looks like something from the future. Cradled by forest-covered mountains are skyscrapers so high they break through the low cloud. It’s really quiet beautiful.

From the airport we went straight to the agency then straight to castings. Running on fruit salad and a lot of adrenalin we traipsed around the city: from Kowloon to Causeway Bay back to the agency to the apartment to dinner to dragon-i before finally collapsing into bed.

Hong Kong I’m already falling for you.

Top tips for flying:

1. Wear whatever you like to the airport but take comfortable clothes to wear on the plane. No one cares if you look like a bum when your mid flight. I usually wear boots onto the plane to save space in my suitcase-, which by the way was 8 kg over the limit oops!

2. Those goofy looking neck pillows are amazing. You might think you look silly wearing it but trust me your neck will thankyou for it.

3. Drink lots of water. You can’t take bottle onto the plane due to the 100ml liquid limits. Just ask the flight attends very politely. Don’t drink alcohol you’ll feel like awful.

4. Moisturize, moisturize, moisturize. The controlled air pressure in planes dehydrates your skin. I recommend Clinique moisture surge it leaves skin feeling rejuvenated and plump.

5. Relax don’t complain you’re going on a fun adventure and remember getting there is half the fun.