Forty Years of Fashion via Joyce

Hello again! Here I am blogging about my recent visit to the Hong Kong Museum of Medical Sciences. To tell the truth, it's within walking distance of where I go school, but I would have never bothered to go in unless there was something special inside. This time around, Joyce Boutiques decided to hold it's 40th Anniversary exhibition the museum. On the way to Mid-Levels from Central's Hollywood Road, I can see how it's a rather quiet historic setting, which  fits with the two other locations for the exhibit in Shanghai and Paris, apparently behind the Peninsula Hotel on the Bund and the Palais Royale respectively. Joyce Boutique is a major fashion retailer in Hong Kong and China and it franchises the works of many designers, such as Rick Owens, Rodarte, Proenza Schouler, 3.1 Phillip Lim, and Derek Lam. Without Joyce, I wouldn't be able to catch a glimpse of these fabulous clothes in very classy stores in Shanghai and Hong Kong (I remember strolling into Joyce Boutiques in Shanghai and holding the Balanciaga bag, good times).

That's why I had to take a special trip with my mom and aunt to this exhibition. Although, the big media frenzy is focused on the Laduree macaroons that celebrities are buying at the Joyce store in Central, I'd like to focus on the clothes. So here it goes...

The exhibition begins with a wall of various video clips of interviews with designers with work with Joyce, then moves on to a wall of various photographs and ad campaigns of the brands that work with Joyce and Joyce Boutiques itself. Then finally moving on a a gallery with works of Proenza Schouler, Derek Lam, and Prada (above).

There's another gallery of designers such as Rick Owens, Karl Largerfeld, Dsquared. I particularly liked this chiffon gown by Rochas, the 1992 collection if I remembered correctly(above).

And here's the room of lights that switch on and off (a little irritating when I'm trying to see the detail of this Givenchy dress in the front and the John Galliano gown in back). Nonetheless, the works of some of my favorite designers put in a 300 square foot room.

 John Galliano

 Givenchy

Alexander McQueen

Lastly, the interactive bit. The cards in the slots have the names of the various designers under Joyce Boutiques. All you have to do is place the card on the lighted surface and the cameras above would detect the information on the card and show information on the side about when the designer or brand had joined Joyce Boutiques and its various collections.

That's basically it. There's another interactive room and a semi-gift shop (I only saw gifts on display and the prices, the people there didn't tell me if I could make my purchases there, but I'm pretty sure the macaroons are available in Joyce Central only) that didn't catch my eye well enough for me to take a photo of. Overall, the exhibition was pretty cramped in the museum. Although it probably took up 75% of the museum space, I could hardly take a closer look at the details in the fabrics and embroideries. It's quite a shame that I couldn't even see some of the outfits put at the back of the room. Nonetheless, its probably been the most exciting fashion event in Hong Kong during the holiday season, so I'd recommend for you to take a visit if you have the time and are in the area or in Shanghai or Paris when the exhibition gets there!

All photos are from the cameras of Delilah, remember to give me credit! :)

All for now,

Delilah

Balmain, oh, Balmain! (3) The Glittering Gold Gown

First things first: Merry Christmas from Asia! I had a relaxing dinner at home on Christmas Eve and I can't wait for the Christmas presents to start rolling in. What are you wishing for this Christmas? :) Hmmm, my Juicy Couture bag is coming soon enough. And having my mommy around every morning making me breakfast is nice too!

Anyways, in response to my other two posts about Balmain's F/W 2010 gowns, Lily Donaldson and other magazine features, here will be the the third of the Balmain, oh, Balmain series.This would be my Christmas present for you: a post on the various magazine covers this fall and winter season that have featured Balmain's glittery gold gown (seven covers in total!). As seen on the legendary supermodels, models of recent runway seasons, an actress, and a editor in chief of Vogue Japan, this is one glamourous above-knee length dress that looks good on almost anyone. Needless to say, I love this dress too! Simple effortless glamour. Now let's take a look at the covers...

Vogue Germany August 2010

10 Magazine Issue 37

Zeit Magazine 40th Anniversary Issue

 Vogue India October 2010

Vogue Spain November 2010

Elle United States December 2010

Harper's Bazaar UK December 2010

On the Runway: Balmain FW 2010

Hope you're enjoying the holidays!

All for now!

Delilah

Featured on Nylon Blogs: tag! weasley is our king

Featured! Let's just say I was really surprised this morning when I opened my email and found a reply from Faran Krentcil of Nylon Magazine in regards to an email I'd sent submitting graffiti photos from my summer trip...on AUGUST 22nd! I'd honestly thought for the longest time that either my email didn't get through or the material wasn't what Nylon's blog had wanted. Nonetheless, I'm uber grateful for the response since this post has been featured. I've always wanted to post about findings from vacations but never had the time. So here's a bit more from this summer at Ljubljana, Slovenia.

Here are the photos from the feature: tag! weasley is our king

And here are some extra photos of mixed media mural-esque kind of thing, also from my trip to Ljubljana, Slovenia . It looked so real, I actually stared at it from across the street for a minute. I think it's wood planks and a bunch of other used materials. 

All for now!
Delilah

pencil skirts can be comfy

I finished a 9 hour take home exam today and I decided to give myself a little break. All this essay writing and continuous analysis has really bored me out (I have no choice, it's a required course for me in order to graduate). So here is something that's on the rather exciting, although not new news, end: Alexander Wang's T by Alexander Wang Spring 2011 lookbook. My favorite part? The bunched up pencil skirts, the monotone palette, and these very very light colors. The fabric looks so comfortable, I'd wear it any day :)

Enjoy!
Delilah

Holiday Dressing

Departing from my Balmain obsession for just a bit, all this holiday spirit has really gotten to me! Especially when I'm in Asia, where people don't celebrate Thanksgiving! But I've got tons to give thanks for, and I sure don't mind an extra week of holidays, especially when I was on the verge of collapse last week. (the after effects of too much work still remain: shoulder pain, eye strain, bad skin, ouchies what a horrible experience), Nonetheless, I treat myself towards the holiday spirit buy lots of online retail therapy (my Juicy Couture bag during Juicy's online sale on sale offer, I can't wait to get it! It's currently with my friend in the US because Juicy doesn't ship internationally. And my many purchases on taobao.com, China's ebay network, I can't wait to get all that jewelry in my hands!). It's surprising how the internet shopping trend is on a rise. Asos is doing free international shipping all holiday season and the Outnet had a free international shipping weekend last week. And Google's opened boutiques.com. I wonder if that means I don't need to go out shopping anymore. I doubt it. It's not the same when you get to feel the textures and try the items on :)

Anyways, I came across these dresses when flipping through Nasty Gal's latest lookbook on facebook. And I thought "these dresses would look awfully good during the holiday season!" Simple colorful sleeveless dress. Very cute, young chic, with a bit of a vintage-y vibe. Yet bright, silky, and very structured for a formal holiday dinner.

BB Dakota 

Halsey Dress and Winsor Silk Dress

Both dresses available on Nasty Gal's site: Halsey Dress and Winsor Silk Dress
Words of wisdom (and those of a thrifty shopper): It's cheaper on Nasty Gal then BB Dakota's site! Plus you can try to getting it during Nasty Gal's special sale periods.

Enjoy!
Delilah :)

Balmain, oh, Balmain! (2)

Remember my previous post about Balmain: Lily Donaldson in Balmain? Well, I decided to turn it into a Balmain, oh, Balmain! series and this post's going to be number two in the series. Turns out that this floor length sequin gown , in both black and gold, from the Balmain A/W 2010 collection is the favorite of magazine editors, models, and many more (hehe, hint: the person who's writing this). So I've been following where this gown's been showing up. So here it is, the same black floor length sequin gown that Lily Donaldson was wearing in Elle UK, spotted in a spread for Harper's Bazaar Spain and Vogue Russia.

Worn by Tanga Moreau and photographed by Nico for the December 2010 issue of the Harper's Bazaar Spain for a spread titled Yo Soy la Fiesta. Strong, beautiful, and feminine!

Harper's Bazaar Spain: December 2010

Yo Soy la Fiesta

Source: Fashion Gone Rogue

Meanwhile, one of my favorite models, Jessica Stam, in the same gown for the December 2010 issue of Vogue Russia, photographed by Greg Kadel.

Vogue Russia December 2010

Source: Livejournal

All for now!
Delilah

Porcelain Dress

Hellooo! Sorry about the extremely long hiatus. Has it been a month? It's seriously felt like forever though. School work has really caught up and now I'm past the semester's assignments and time for exams! Nonetheless, I've found some pretty fashion pieces and pictures to share. I first noticed this really pretty porcelain, blue and white china dress in Roberto Cavalli’s 40th anniversary book. Julia Stegner's wearing Roberto Cavalli's F/W 2005 dress and photographed by Mert & Marcus. Then I noticed it in an article on style.com about Bergdorf Goodman store window displays. It's a such interesting interpretation of porcelain vases, with an Asian vibe (note the dragon on the dress), and so beautifully fitted. Amazing.

In Roberto Cavalli’s 40th anniversary book

Source: Fashion Gone Rogue

In Bergdorf Goodman's Window Display

Credits:Style.com's Style File

On the Runway: Roberta Cavalli Ready to Wear F/W 2005

on Daria Werbowy
Source: Style.com


All for now!
Delilah

Le Vernis de Chanel in Riva

As I said before, Chanel's nail polish fettish is in the air this year and there's no way Chanel's gonna let this great vibe go away anytime soon. It's taking every chance it can to   come up with new colors. Inspired by the 70's, the newest addition by Peter Phillips was seen on models during Chanel's Resort 2011 Collection in May 2010. Limited edition and available in stores on November 15 (oh! Little brother's birthday! Happy Birthday! But too bad that can't be an excuse to buy this. haha) Anyways, Le Vernis Riva is a pretty light sea blue color. Very Saint Tropez, very light summery breeze, and amazing for the summer. I'll be honest: it's almost November, light blue doesn't actually match my outfit! But hey... if someone's able to prove me wrong, then Riva is another Chanel nail polish to crave for and limited edition, need I say more?

Cruise 2011: Riva

Chanel Cruise 2011

Riva as seen on Sara Blomqvist, plus a lovely summer dress!

from style.com

All for now, 

Delilah

the alexa chung addiction: the white collar

Hello! Among the various readings and assignments I have to do for uni, I've still kept myself rather engaged in the whole post-fashion week vibe. I really wish it didn't end! I started spending the last few days of Fashion Week on my computer every morning during breakfast and watching clips of shows from the day before. Meanwhile, as I  was going through recent pictures of Fashion Week, magazine editorials, etc and I noticed another very "Alexa Chung"  feature: a white collar. The collar might be just popping out from a knit sweater or added on to the neckline of a navy blue dress. It's simple, pretty, and very cute!

at Louis Vuitton's SS2010 show

in Elle UK November 2010

Photographed by David Vasiljevic in The Accidental Stylist

in  Madewell's FW 2009 Advertisement

I like this so much, I think I'm gonna go dig out my knit sweaters once it starts getting cold and match it with my white button downs from interning. I wonder if it works... Nonetheless, if you get really creative, you can actually try drawing on a black collar to a white t-shirt? I remember seeing a tank top in Zara over the summer with a printed on bow-tie on it. Maybe next time, Zara can do what I just suggested. hehe :)

Pictures from thefashionspot.com, fashiongonerogue.com, and refinery29.com.

All for now,
Delilah

these shoes are knockin' on heaven's door

In continuation and in addition to Knock on wood by Jeisa

In response to Jeisa's post about these wooden shoes that are popping up all over the SS 2011 collection, I decided to add some of my own picks in this wooden shoe trend. I actually had a huge obsession for clogs this summer. Wooden clogs to replace those straw platform sandals that I've seen way too often. I thought that would be a nice replacement, no? Plus wood can withstand rainy weather and not fall apart (unlike my ancient straw platforms that shredded apart after that sudden short rain shower one night). So, personally, I think this wooden shoe trend is here to say. Get ready to throw out those gladiator sandals and find some space for those clogs, wooden boots and all those wooden heel shoes that are available. Here are some of my picks that lean towards the affordable side (btw, in no way am I advertising for these companies or brands, these are just my personal preferences I've found so far)...

Jeffrey Campbell

Phone Platform Oxfords

Broome St. Wedge

Less wood, less chunky option: Lexie Platform Pump

pictures from and shoes available for purchase on shopnastygal.com

ZARA

 Wooden Sandal with Cross Straps

Vamp Sandal with Strap Wood
I swooned over these shoes for the longest time in Europe, during my summer trip. I told my mom again and again: I'm gonna get this, no matter what you say! (My mother's a very "comfort-oriented" person, so wedges/clogs are a big "no, no" in her opinion) I ended up hoping to buy these shoes in HK (*shhh, I wouldn't need to let my mom know!) but ZARA in HK didn't seem to carry these shoes. Darn!

pictures from and available for purchase on Zara's UK online shop

Swedish Hasbeens

Sky High Peep Toes

Covered Super High

the Autumn and Winter Option: Lace-up Boot High

pictures from and available for purchase on swedishhasbeens.com and urbanoutfitters.com

Next question: How will you match these shoes for the upcoming and present Autumn/Winter season? Well, before it gets too cold, I suggest a long cardigan, long t-shirt of any sort, and skinny jeans with a pair of wooden sandals. Since wooden sandals generally have a ankle strap, you can roll up the bottom of your jeans or khakis to show off your pretty new shoes. The Swedish Hasbeen boots are good for those cold winter days, wrapped up in your down jacket or this year's preferable military jackets or shearling jackets. And lastly, Jeffrey Campbell shoes are a good all-year-round option. Match Jeffrey Campbell shoes with jeans, shorts, skirts, and leggings. It'll look good and your shoes would be good for as long as this trend stays.

I'll let you know if I buy a pair of wooden shoes. :)

All for now!
Delilah