Three things about Hong Kong: Originally colonized by the British, its official languages are Chinese (spoken Cantonese) and English. It’s the most densely populated city in world. If it is your first time visiting, you might want to book your trip for longer than a weekend.

Ralph Lauren shirt (from Francis’s closet), UO bag, Jeans from outlet mall, Dolce Vita boots
We stayed at the Imperial Hotel on Nathan road just next door to Chungking Mansion. This is where Chungking Express was filmed. Now all I need is my sunglasses, Burberry trench and a Marilyn Monroe wig and it would be enough to say, “eat your heart out, Faye Wong.”

If you are a born and bread island person, there will be a lot of firsts for you.

Things like commuting via metro

coming out to play in Disneyland

The live theater show, I enjoyed most of course

riding a crystal cable car suspended 112 feet high

goofing around the Avenue of Stars, wataaah!

vintage sweater, Korean boutique pleated skirt

meditating in sacred places

I am like totally zen

Neneee romper
and generally experiencing the hustle and bustle energy of a big city.

City people weren’t always as curteous as the island peeps I am so accustomed to, but you have to hand it to them for keeping it real. “You no buying, no take pikchar. I am not actress,” said the starlet above.

One thing I was super looking forward to was shopping at H&M, but it was pretty much a let down. Over rated and not so different from shopping at Macy’s or any other commercial department store on Guam, even shopping at Disneyland was way more exciting. The provincial markets on Temple street, Tsim Sha Tsui and fisherman’s village yielded the best novelty prezzies to take home.

Bruce Lee tee, various types of Chinese teas: jasmine, pu erh, lychee, ti kuan yin, white and orchid, Little Prince marshmallows–if only for the packaging, Mickey Mouse chocolates, classic Mickey tee (which would look even better after a one billion washes), MMJ make-up bag, remote control helicopter, lots of black workwear, cheap clothes, expensive shoes
“Bring two empty luggages and a lot of money.” That’s what Mieko said when I told her I was going. It’s a good thing I kept it in mind and also stuffed an extra duffel bag into the front pocket of our check-in baggage.

Eat your vegetables!

If there’s such a thing as buyer’s remorse, even worse is the antithetical nonbuyer’s remorse. I’ll forever regret not buying those miniature wind-up dancing robots and funny splatballs from the old man with no voice and kind eyes at the Tsim Sha Tsui market. Our intuition is good; the problem is we ignore it. I need to learn how to be more implulsive. Like when we decided to have 3 dollar 32 ouncers (amazing!) literally smack dab in the middle of the street. Those were really nice served with poached snail thingamagiggies in a dark chili sauce. I forget what the dish is called, but if anyone knows, please please please drop a line.

Last week I finally scavenged eBay only to find those little dancing robots and splatballs I so wanted but tried to convince myself I didn’t need. I bought them anyway. So I don’t need them per se. So what? They are just cool things to have around. Like in case of emergency, break glass and play with these, they’re fun! And since they are being shipped from Hong Kong, I imagine they are coming from that same kind old man in that same crowded old market.

A final note on commuting in Hong Kong: drivers are either suicidal or insane. Or both. Every time we decide to hop in the back of a cab or bus, I find myself hanging on for dear life. All the while The Smiths are playing There is a Light That Never Goes Out” in the back of my head. That song could pretty much sum up the entire duration of our stay.

photos by Nicholas Haggard
model is Emily Wroe
for Le Loup-Garou

You know how you try to avoid the incessant coughs of a coworker who comes in to work with the flu because they’ve used up all their sick leave? Well that’s how I feel about wholesale orders; I try to dodge them at all costs in order to spare myself from any future suffering. It has a lot to do with 1. not being able to source materials in bulk on short notice 2. fear of tackling such a large order with merely my own two little hands to complete the work, and 3. absolute laziness. But when Laura approached me with the idea of carrying some of my items in her Brooklyn-based boutique, Leloup-Garou, I immediately knew I wanted to work with her.

It was more of a personal decision than one of business. Laura was incredibly warm and genuine; she kinda made it impossible to turn her down. And it’s no wonder with influences like Miranda July and Rufus Wainwright (might I add a mutual appreciation for all types of cheeses) that we got along so well. Eventually I came around to asking her about the general direction of her shop and her style philosophy. Here’s what she had to say:

“I think the most successful sense of style is one that fits the individual perfectly. It doesn’t have to be ‘out there,’ or unexpected, or high fashion, or cost a lot of money, or any of these things. It just has to make sense and fit, both literally and creatively. I think the most important thing is to be brave, take chances, and be ready to wear some things that people might not get; at the same time, to avoid wearing anything that doesn’t feel, down to its core, like it belongs on you.”

Le Loup-Garou translates to werewolf in French. “It’s a beautiful way to communicate a grotesque idea,” she says.

When you visit her website, you’ll notice a clean layout. It isn’t saturated with items catering to different tastes either; every piece looks like it could be worn by the same girl. From the limited use of accessories to the photography, there’s a distinctly edited, cohesive story to be told. What I find most admirable about good storytelling is what’s left out as opposed to what’s piled on. For the same reason why George will forever be my favorite Beatle—because 2 out of 3 times it’s the quiet ones who have more to say without having to say nearly as much.

p.s.,

16 ways to annoy people:

1. Specify that your drive-thru order is “to go.”

2. If you have a glass eye, tap on it occasionally with your pen while talking to others.

3. Start each meal by conspicuously licking all your food, and announce that this is so no one will “swipe your grub.”

4. Name your dog “Dog.”

5. Insist on keeping your car windshield wipers running in all weather conditions “to keep them tuned up.”

6. Reply to everything someone says with “that’s what you think.”

7. Claim that you must always wear a bicycle helmet as part of your “astronaut training.”

8. Follow a few paces behind someone, spraying everything they touch with a can of Lysol.

9. Make beeping noises when a large person backs up.

10. Do not add any inflection to the end of your sentences, producing awkward silences with the impression that you’ll be saying more any moment.

11. Adjust the tint on your TV so that all the people are green, and insist to others that you “like it that way.”

12. Sing along at the opera.

13. Leave the copy machine set to reduce 200%, extra dark, 17 inch paper, 99 copies.

14. In the memo field of all your checks, write “for sensual massage.”

15. Practice making fax and modem noises.

16. Write the surprise ending to a novel on its first page.

via dbooth

3 ways to wear a skirt:

Look 1: by the hour… glass
I took Dave Matthews seriously when he said, “hike up your skirt a little more.” You can pull long skirts up to your chest and sport them as a dress instead. Try belting it to add a little more shape.

Sally Scott skirt (gift from Marlena [thankies, Marlena! I love it xD])
vintage glasses and brooch
LeTigre cardigan sweater
hot pink belt (swapped with Lydia)
nylon socks from ebay
Melissa shoes

Look 2: trapeze swinger
Same skirt-worn-as-a-dress trick, except in a trapeze silhouette—it’s most forgiving on days when you’re feeling bloated. Also, did somebody say all you can eat buffet? Bring it on.

vintage denim vest
Mickey Mouse watch (gift from my mom)
Slow and Steady wins the Race oxfords
thrifted Polo brown leather belt
straw boater hat from ebay

Look 3: skirting the issue
Of course, sometimes a skirt is best worn as such. I like the idea of balancing out the demure length and fancy style of this one by pairing it with a casual cropped sweatshirt.

American Apparel heather grey cropped hoodie
friendship bracelets
self-made necklace and studded bangle
Pierre Hardy for Gap shoes

floral wreath – salvaged from my niece’s communion veil
Sleepyhead romper – self-made
silver moonstone ring – gift from Loraine
nude flats – Capezio

It might have been too predictable to wear a star romper on the fourth of July. That night we found a good spot near the bay to ensure clear view of the fireworks. Isn’t that what happens after you’ve made the switch from adolescence to early adulthood? Things that were fun when you were a kid become exciting again. Like playing Scattegories around a coffee table or boonie stomping adventures. Or do I kid myself into thinking this, obviously still suffering from the Peter Pan syndrome?

Every time a really impressive fat one shot up and exploded in mid-air, the kids behind us yelled, “Whoa, Whoooooaaa, I like that one!” My eyes were following the little one, overshadowed by its preceding spectacles, barely making it somewhere below center show, just before scattering haphazardly like a dozen inebriated Tinkerbells.

photos by Francis

photos by Francis

We chased clouds until sunset, but I only managed to capture the sun and it’s hidden up my sleeve.

leopard cardigan – Ross
floral dress – reconstructed secondhand
leather belt – Polo
rock bracelet – gift from Michelle
silver rings – gifts from Loraine
shoes – Keds