On the 11th Day of Christmas...Redress gave to me...

• A bright pink woolen skirt
• A bright pink with black polka dot cotton cardigan
• A neon green sleeveless top
• A blue with neon green polka dot sleeveless top

So recently, I participated in my first ever photo shoot!  Organised by the HKFashionBlogger founder and uber stylish DRESSME blogger Jasmine Webster, 12 bloggers teamed up with charities Redress and Friends of the Earth HK to front a campaign to highlight the benefits of recycling textiles/clothes and the high level of textile waste in HK.  It is true that a lot of people in HK tend to like to buy new clothes and are not necessarily big fans of second hand clothing.  For those who know me, you know I like a good vintage bargain!  It is definitely a great and affordable way of getting some designer items into your wardrobe!  As a child, I remember wearing hand-me-downs from family friends whereas here, children are primarily dressed in trendy designer clothing....where else but in HK is baby designer gear so prevalent?

The shoot started off with the participants rummaging through 10 massive sacks of clothing that had been provided by Redress and Friends of the Earth.  Remember the clothes bins that can be found in parks and certain streets of HK...yep...that is where the clothes for the shoot came from!  the rules for the shoot was that everything apart from the shoes we wear had to come from the donations.  We could not wear any jewellery that we brought ourselves.  Not having the option to accessorize is a problem as I do believe that accessories DO finish off an outfit.  Another problem for me was that it was hard to find garments which would fit me...especially my bottom half.  I admit it, I am not of model proportions...to be kind to myself, I would describe myself as "curvy".  As most of the garments were "HK-sized", there was a distinct lack of trousers, skirts or dresses that would fit.  I managed to find a bright pink woolen skirt which I could squeeze over my generous hips so I really was restricted to basing my look around the skirt.  In the end, I bit the bullet and just went all out with the colour and patterns.  I recently have discovered that I love prints but even I was a little bit shocked at my final choices of clashing polka dots and bright neon colours.  Thank goodness I brought my bright yellow 5bee shoes as a potential pair for the shoot.  Carla Layne, make up artist extraordinaire kindly volunteered her time and skills to do our make up for us and Sabrina Sikora was our photographer.  With such garish colour combinations, I really could not be subtle so channeled Patsy and Edwina from the comedy Absolutely Fabulous..."it is LACROIX darling...LACROIX!!"

Watching the uber professional and gorgeous Elle Lee and Jasmine Webster made me a little bit nervous.  I had thought after watching so much America's Next Top Model that I would be ok in front of the camera.  However, (unfortunately for me!) once Sabrina started snapping...my mind went completely blank.  It did take me a few shots before I warmed up and then a SUPERMODEL was born...actually may be not.  I think I did every cheesy pose you could think of.  Thank goodness I was in the safe hands of Sabrina.  I have to admit that I did enjoy my moment in front of the camera though I definitely do not think I will be fronting any campaigns in the near future (though M&S if you ever need a curvy Chinese girl to wear your clothes, I might reconsider that...)

My favourite looks were Bryant Lee rocking some skinny jeggings, Clare's elegant ballet like take of a tunic dress, Jasmin rocking a parka and mini shorts (with fierce thigh high boots!!) and Vanessa's use of a coat to make a skirt.  (Vanessa is a true DIY guru!)

So....

TADA.....

Here is the finished product...

A Close Up of ME.....

Check out all the looks on Redress' facebook page.

From London to Australia via HK in one night...or fashion twins separated at birth Sabrina Sikora and Roksanda Ilincic?

OK this is a very belated post regarding two events I went to recently.  Only in HK, would I be able to go to an Australian brand launch and the London Show Rooms HK event.   A truly international night of fashion.

First stop was at the uber cool The Space for the London Show Rooms HK event.  This is an annual event which showcases some of the best of British fashion.  A few of the featured designers this year were Roksanda Ilincic, Jonathan Saunders, Nicholas Kirkwood, Peter Pilotto and Dominic Jones....(sorry I am going to concentrate on the women's wear).  I have been a big fan of all these names and they are always on my wish lists of designers I would love to wear but a) cannot afford, b) I don't have the slender model proportions to do the pieces justice.  Actually scratch that...I nearly was given some Dominic Jones earrings by the boy but in the end received some lovely cherry blossom earrings by Shaun Leane (another uber talented British jewellery designer).

Hello...Peter Pilotto

Nicholas Kirkwood lovelies...

More Kirkwood lovelies...

Roksanda Ilincic

Jonathan Saunders

The clothing was gorgeous and full of brilliant colours which really stood out against the white walls of The Space.   The Kirkwood shoes spread around the room was like gorgeous candy to tempt eager ladies to touch and play.  The lovely DIY maven and All Things Indulgent blogger Vanessa and I were in shoe heaven with the Kirkwood display.

Vanessa feeling some Kirkwood love

My favourite moment of the night was the gorgeous model/stylist/blogger/photographer Sabrina Sikora modelling some Roksanda Ilincic pieces.  I definitely think Sabrina and Roksanda are a) fashion match made in heaven and b) fashion twins separated at birth.

My favourite "fashion" moment of the night...Sabrina wearing Roksanda Ilincic (#fashiontwinsseparatedatbirth)

Images courtesy of Electric Sekki blog, Sabrina Sikora Photography and google images

Also having been previously ignorant of how heavy some of the runway pieces are, I had my moment of clarity when I posed (or tried to pose) with one of the spectacular Peter Pilotto pieces.  It was an amazing sculptural dress with mirror mosaic pieces on the front.  I had drooled over a picture of this gorgeous dress in Harpers Bazaar so was ecstatic that I was able to see the real thing.  However, rather than lifting it gracefully from the rack, I ended up literally having a bicep workout.  Props to the models for making it all look effortless.

Designer Dress Workout...Peter Pilotto dress

Image courtesy of Electric Sekki blog

May be I should leave it to the professionals?  Model makes this dress look light as a feather...

The second event was the Sambag and Sassy party which was round the corner from The Space.  Sambag is a cool Australian brand which has opened its first shop in HK.  Collaborating with one of my favourite HK websites for all things fun and cool Sassy HK, the Sambag team hosted a fabulous girlie evening of cupcakes, bags, shoes, scarves and all things accessories.  I was in love with the colourful scarves on display, the gorgeous yet practical shoes and bags.  It was also great to meet the Sassy girls in person.  Instant Goddess Katie Kay was totally rocking some great Sambag leather trousers (oh to be such a glamazon!) All the Sassy girls are incredibly stylish, friendly and well SASSY!

Lovely Sambag boots

Cute Sambag flats

Sambag and Sassy also were extremely generous and to celebrate the evening, specially created totes were given to attendees.

My new favourite tote...Thanks Sassy and Sambag!

After having my eyes opened in true fashion style, I hopped into a taxi at the end of the evening and gratefully went home to my peaceful bed to dream about all the things I would like to buy if I won the Euromillions...note to self, must get the boy to buy some lottery tickets...one can always dream.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY POLKADOT BOUTIQUE!!!

Last Saturday was the 1st birthday of one of my favourite places to shop in HK actually scratch that anywhere in general (apart from the M&S flagship store in Marble Arch, London!)  So a well deserved "Happy Birthday" to Polkadot Boutique.  This shop totally rocks.  A girlie oasis of pink walls and polka dot furnishings houses some really fantastic local and international designer pieces.  However, unlike other places, it is not shockingly expensive.  I first heard about the place through a write-up on one of the boutique's owners Jamie Wenker as a Sassy "That Girl"  I met Jamie at my first attendance of the HK Fashion Bloggers Monthly Style Summit.  Friendly and approachable with incredible style, we bonded over our love of etsy, jewellery and the need to find clothing for "real" women.

Through Polkadot Boutique, I have been introduced to some fantastic brands such as What the Frock?, Fifi, Vama Style and my current jewellery fave Bejewelled Bespoke.

Amazing Bejewelled Bespoke Ring at Polkadot Boutique

Polkadot Boutique are really interactive with their monthly Sip N' Shop events which showcases one of their designers or products and always has some sort of "event" such as the lovely Carla Layne doing mini makeovers or mini manicures.  Also, who needs an excuse to sip wine and look at beautiful clothes and accessories?

Amazing clothes at Polkadot Boutique

Anyway, it has been a busy first year for Polkadot Boutique as they have won the second place in the Readers' Choice Award for the List Magazine.  To celebrate the success of their first year, the lovely ladies of Polkadot Boutique held a little party with champagne, styling by Sabrina Sikora, new fall collections, make-overs by Carla Layne and a chance to strut your stuff in front of a Photobox for a commemorative photo.  For this special occasion, I wore my "Minnie Mouse" outfit for the first time.  I call it my "Minnie Mouse" outfit as it is a bright red playsuit with white polkadots.

Cute Cupcakes to Celebrate Polkadot Boutique's 1st Birthday!

Cute Memorial Photo to take home...

My Minnie Mouse Photo (Picture from Polkadot Boutique)

Anyway, if you have not been to Polkadot Boutique yet then WHY NOT????  Ladies....I look forward to your 2nd Year Birthday celebrations!!