Love Chic

The day we spent at the bay area of San Francisco was a blur. I’ve always longed to see one of the most picturesque cities I’ve ever explored through books, and there it was, every scene (as well as the chilly weather) leaving me breathless.

What I wore. Again, I raided my aunt’s barely-used wardrobe that morning for something to wear, as most of the clothes I brought turned out to be too spring/summer for the still very fall/winter temperatures of San Francisco. If you’ve been reading this blog long enough, you may recognize the SM Accessories hat, Forever 21 boots, and Seph’s scarf from Baguio. Hype this on Lookbook here.

Our lovely relatives in Sacramento who took care of us as soon as we arrived from Longbeach. They cooked hearty Filipino meals, treated us out to sumptuous lunches and dinners, and showed us around. Here are just a few of the beautiful things we got to see.

Crossed the bridge when we got there

Tulips and other beautiful flowers abloom

Pier 39, where all the shops, restaurants and attractions (such as these sunbathing seals) are, as seen from the Blue & Gold bay cruise ferry

Fellow passengers marveling at the skyline

Sailing near Alcatraz Island

While no longer a prison for the most cold-blooded and sophisticated criminals in the country, Alcatraz emanates an eerie glow, a shadow of its dark history by which one can’t help but be haunted.

Albatrosses flying low around our ferry, as if guiding us on our way

Every hour is magic hour

Sailing under the most famous suspension bridge in the world

Spanning 4,200 feet, with each cable 7,650 feet long, 36 and 3/8 inches in diameter and containing 27,572 wires within, the total wire used was 80,000 miles long and the weight along with the suspenders and accessories is 24,500 tons. I may forget these numbers soon, but the magnificence of how the Golden Gate Bridge was built will remain.

   
Next: Sacramento

We were advised to dress comfortably on the second day of HKFW, and this is how we wore our matching Keds.

On Seph: Forever21 coat, R.A.F. shirt, Bench jeans, GAP scarf, Timex watch, SM Accessories glasses, grey Keds.
Hype on Lookbook here.

On Shai: Human cardigan, thrifted starry top, Abi Ong Project skirt, Topshop stockings, gray Keds, SM Accessories necklace.
Hype on Lookbook here.

This was the day we got to cover the Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza, the most anticipated fashion show in all of Hong Kong Fashion Week attended by local celebrities and covered by national media. We had to be literally on our toes for the flurry of activity that happened that day: designer interviews, press conference, lots of picture-taking, and other fun reporter stuff that didn’t really allow for painfully dressy shoes. Stay tuned for this story!

This fashion show featured the collections of two Hong Kong-based designers: Indonesian-born Ika Butoni and Meiyi Chung. Here are just a few of our favorite looks from that night.

Ika’s designs present a combination of influences: from the rich colors and patterns inspired by Indonesia’s culture to the structured, minimalist sensibilities inspired by the modern working woman she creates clothes for. She is a senior member of the Hong Kong Fashion Designers’ Association and the founder and chairman of the International Bali Fashion Week. Ika has boutiques in Hong Kong, New Zealand, Australia, Japan, Korea, UAE, France, Germany, Italy, Denmark, Canada, South Africa and USA. For Ika, “Beauty and the Beast” is as a juxtaposition of the elegant, classy and charming with the brute, savage and villainous.

Meiyi Chung’s “Elements of Women” reflects on the playful, fun-loving and colorful personalities of the young and stylish. At the same time, the collection shows Meiyi’s penchant for creating wearable art. “Fashion is a piece of art. The fabric use, the workmanship and style that forms a composition able to bring aesthetic pleasure to people is the most valuable part of a piece.”
   
Special thanks to Miss Vivienne Chee and Chloe Kiosk of the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council for inviting us to be Overseas Journalists.

   
Next: Hong Kong Fashion Extravaganza

Hong Kong Fashion Week showcased all the best the region has to offer and more. Literally thousands of fashion merchandise and designer pieces from all over the world were on display in a combination of runway shows, fashion on parades and trade exhibits. Our itineraries were filled in with events scheduled at the same time, and we were left to choose which shows to see. We thought the Chenghai fashion on parade would be interesting because this district in Guangdong, China is known for its toy and handicrafts industries. The parade was held on a small stage in the middle of one of the exhibit halls, featuring wovens and layered knits.

 

   

Special thanks to Miss Vivienne Chee and Chloe Kiosk of the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council for inviting us to be Overseas Journalists.
  
Next: International Fashion Designers Show—”Beauty & The Beast” by Ika and Whosthat

A week ago, we were blessed with the most amazing opportunity: to do coverage of Hong Kong Fashion Week for Love Chic! We actually received the invites to be official Overseas Journalists (OJs) of the Hong Kong Trade Development Council as early as Christmas time, but we didn’t want to believe it until we actually had the plane tickets on hand. In effect, we were still completely surprised when they arrived in the mail!

The flat little building amidst all the skyscrapers is the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre (HKCEC), where the fashion shows, trade fair and press conferences all happened. We’ll be posting all about these in the coming days, but for now, the obligatory outfit posts.

Topman shirt, Forever 21 Men plaid shirt, Bench jeans, Adidas sneakers, 101 New York scarf, Kissaholic satchel bag. Hype on Lookbook here.

From Bangkok dress, H&M shorts, Topshop stockings, Aldo socks, Parisian at SM Department Store booties, Kissaholic satchel bag, 101 New York scarf, SM Accessories connector ring. Hype on Lookbook here.

It’s our first time in Hong Kong, and also our first time to go out of the country alone. So despite being terribly underdressed for the fashion capital’s winter air, we were feeling warm and fuzzy inside. We can’t wait to share more photos and stories with you!
   
Happy Year of the Dragon, folks!
   
Special thanks to Miss Vivienne Chee and Chloe Kiosk of the Hong Kong Trade and Development Council for inviting us to be Overseas Journalists.