Entries Tagged as 'Fashion'

Fashion Fix: Zoe Karssen

04.04.13

A girl can never have too many high quality tees, or tongue in cheek sweaters, and right now I can’t get enough of Zoe Karssen and her playful, rock’n’roll take on varsity.  Launched by Amsterdam based design duo Zoe and Quince Karssen in 2010, the label’s been gaining a cult following over the past couple of years. Mixing pop culture slang and famous fashion quotes with high school finish that screams teen crush, Karssen’s witty label is a perfect spring time wardrobe pick me up!

CLICK TO SHOP ZOE KARSSEN 

Zoe Karssen D’Accord Sweatshirt £82.50

Zoe Karssen Live Fast Tee £49.50 

Psssst. Have you heard of Pop Bands? Huge state side, and on every model’s wrist at fashion week, these rad little hair bands will change your pony tail/ top knot hair life forever! Now available in UK from £5. Shop Here 

Pop Popband 5 PackPop Popband 5 PackInky Popband 5 Pack

Retail Opportunities in Hong Kong

30.03.13

Hong Kong is home to the largest number of billionaires in the world with over 8.8% of it’s 7.2 million populationmillionaire households according to Boston Consulting group. Combined with it’s popularity as an off shore centre of wealth and popularity with tourists, ( over 40 million high spending visitors per annum) it’s easy to see why the retail landscape is dominated by luxury brands.   

The current Nick Knight campaign for Lane Crawford aligned perfectly in store

 From Hermes to Isabel Marant to luxury department stores Lane Crawford and Harvey Nichols, you would be hard pressed to find a western premium brand that does not have a presence in this former British colony. Whilst this breeds a positive consumer culture of aspiration, in reality there is little shopping choice for the millions of average pay office workers and expats whose spending power, makes up on mass, a considerable opportunity for western mid-tier retailers.   

This gap that was identified by Zara back in 2005 and has steadily been filled by H&M, Forever 21, Abercrombie & Fitch (see me looking awkward above)  and soon Topshop yet there is a growing demand for affordable fashion and a real opportunity for hip, alternative stores such as Urban Outfitters and dare I say it independents to thrive in this market.  Indie surf and skate brands enjoy a strong sales presence whilst outlet malls are springing up all over the outskirts of the city and over 4 vintage shops ( see Select 18 below) have opened in the past 2 years- its an exciting time for smaller brands to enter the market.   

My opinion on this open door was bolstered further after a visit to Hong Kong local shopping haven Causeway Bay where I spent much of my teenage years seeking out the secret mini shopping malls. Entered through non-descript doors with staircases leading up to 5 stories packed full of  local designers and Korean brands occupying no more than 3 square meters each. Bursting with fashion under £10, when I returned to Hong Kong last week I was impressed by the growth of these malls. Not only are there now more of them, but the little shops have upped their game with sleek visual merchandising and branding that have transformed them from a small space full of clothes to uber-mini uber cool boutiques. Whilst these malls remain largely undiscovered by the expat community and tourists, the local 16-24 year olds acceptance of lesser known and local brands is an incredibly compelling and encouraging sign for indie boutique owners and up coming British brands.  

Im eyeing up a popup space in Hong Kong now, as well as speaking to the country’s first fashion e-commerce site ( another huge opportunity) all with a quote from Chinese military general, strategist and philosopher Sun Tzu in my mind-  ‘opportunites multiply as they are seized.’ 

Gizzi Erskine’s ‘Skinny Weeks and Weekend Feasts’

27.03.13


Im a big Rag & Bone fan- I love their urban New York meets Brit cool aesthetic and when I saw this acid green jersey dress it was an instant sartorial romance. Textured jersey fabric in a beautiful skater cut, I teamed it with a Lulu Guinness Clutch and some Flash Trash Girl Jewellery to go and celebrate my wonderful friend Gizzi Erskine’s new book launch down at London’s W Hotel ( where you’ll also find our FLASH TRASH jewellery concession!)  Go check it out sometime and try Gizzi’s limited edition afternoon tea! xx

1. Rag & Bone Fluro Skater Skirt £256 2. Gizzi’s new book £10.99  3. Lulu Guinness Lips Clutch £261  4. FLASH TRASH GIRL Hoops £15

Im Listening to: Robin Thicke – Blurred Lines ft. T.I., Pharrell

Esquire Little Black Book Party

27.03.13

‘The style manual for successful men’ are the bold words you will find on the cover of Esquire Magazine’s bi-annual Big Black Book. Gracefully and quite clearly encapsulating for me why I have always had a penchant for men’s magazines. Particular Esquire. They focus on power and timeless style, ambition and quality objects, they value wit and character over fads and fame.

Overall they promote investment into quality over conspicous consumption and with every page, address the reader as if they are CEO– a boss’s faithful companion- a trusty manual for success. I may have to go get a suit tailored.I first read Esquire when I was roughly 15 on a flight to Sydney with my dad. I remember the tinge of resentment; envy at the tailored suits and silk ties,and confusion as to why the women’s magazines I read didn’t feature stylish people in industry and have people like Ramon Ang on the cover.

Esquire had witty commentry on a company’s IPO and told you what the best thing to say in a board meeting was. Of course at 15 the nearest meeting I got with a board involved chalk, I still felt like I was being addressed as if I was powerful. This masculine perspective of decadence rolled up style in substance- It’s experiences and a successful life they endorse not just shopping and beautiful women. Although there is plenty of that, in between appreciating the female form I’d like to know where to get the best sandwich in every city in the world. Thanks Esquire, now please make a style manual for successful women.

Men’s Essentials Round Up

1.Band of Outsiders Shirts  2. Dan Ward Canvas Bags 3. Katie Eary Skate Board

Wearing Rag & Bone and FLASH TRASH GIRL with Mills and Bip last night at Esquire Little Black Book Party


 

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