Mass Elitism: Starting with the Birkin

Who knew Karl Largerfeld's idea of Mass Elitism would come true so soon? Bringing luxury to the masses. I used to think only Karl had the ability to do that, but it doesn't seem to be the case. There's a huge Hermes Birkin bag fettish all over the world right now and when I looked farther into it, there's actually quite a few sources. The basic idea is to print the Hermes Birkin bag on a canvas bag, thus everyone can get Birkin bags at cheap and affordable price(plus the environmental damage caused by dying leather bags would also be lowered and canvas bags can be made of organic materials). So there you have it, low prices, environmentally friendly and very classy and stylish. Here are three sources I've found so far.

Banana Taipei

in French Honey Camel

From Taiwan, this bag reaching the hands of fans all over East Asia. I would know because I just helped my aunt get one. We put in an order for a Supper Champagne Grey one late December and it finally reached us earlier this week. I had actually seen it on the streets earlier but decided not to buy one after finding it in nearby boutiques. The good thing about it is that the size is similar to the original Hermes Birkin, great for school, books and A4 files, the handle is also printed on, theres a magnetic button inside, and there are ten colors to choose from. But on the minus side, you have to be really careful about keeping it clean if you buy a light colored one. The price is around 400RMB to 590HKD including shipping in the East Asia area(I'm not sure about the price in Taipei).

Picture from: Facebook Banana Taipei

Official Site: bananataipei.com

TATA Baby Birkin

From Japan, this is the one that's REALLY hard to get a hold of. I can't even find an official site. I know it's from Japan for sure and available for purchase at a boutique called Liger in Hong Kong. There's quite a few pro's about the TATA Baby Birkin: the material is waterproof, the printing is very detailed, there are various sizes and colors, and there's an extra cross shoulder strap! But on the other hard, the TATA Baby Birkin is the most expensive of the three options. I've flipped around and found that auction sites are selling them at 3400HKD and my aunt gave me a heads up saying it around 3000HKD

Picture from: Savvy Mode

Thursday Friday Together Bag

in Blue

From the US, this is a much more simple version compared to the Banana Taipei and TATA. Nonetheless, it conveys a similar message. Three colors: red, blue, and camel. Available online for 35USD and ships everywhere (which is REALLY convenient for people in the US, Canada, or Europe because the other two do not ship that far yet). It's similar to the large original Hermes Birkin size. The longer straps are easier to through over your shoulder.

Picture from the Official Site: ThuFri website

So, what would you say?

Yes or no to a new canvas look-a-like Hermes Birkin?

As awesome as it is, I think I'll keep looking first.

All for now!

Delilah

the versatile white tshirt

Oh I am not happy. I typed up a whole post here and POOF after uploading the pictures, the text was gone. Unhappiness is one good way to describe the past week: unpleasant grades, delivery getting caught up in customs, academic material not making ANY SENSE whatsoever. I'm officially pretty lost and ready for vacation all over again. However, a few positive have turned my frown upside down: I got my white Peter Pan collar black dress and it fits perfectly, my aunt is satisfied with the Banana Taipei bag I helped her buy (a creation by a Taiwanese company, printing the actual size Hermes Birkin on a canvas bag) and Chanel's exhibition in the Shanghai Museum of Contemporary Art. Hopefully, it'll be open over the Chinese New Year holiday and I'll be right in time to see it when I'm there next week (Jeisaaa: How I wish you would be there!).

MAISON MARTIN MARGIELA MM6

The White Flap Tee

Yes. It may look like your ordinary layered white tshirt but it can actually be worn in three different ways. Perfect for those days when you want to wear the same shirt but at the same time, you realize you've already worn this shirt in the past week.

Numero Uno: the Original

Numero Dos: One Side Tucked in

Numero Tres: Tied in a Knot

My favorite? The Original look would be my choice but I wouldn't mind trying the others :)

This will go on my wish list of multifunctional/versatile pieces, next to the American Apparel circle scarf!

Photo Credits and Where to Buy: Oak NYC

All for now,

Delilah

we are GOLDEN!

Yes, we know. It's a been a long long time since Jeisa and Delilah have a had chance to come together and write up a post together. School exams, school holidays, and the busy holiday season really was quite time consuming. Now I (Delilah) have just started second semester and I feel extremely UN-eager to start my studying (plus, it can wait!). So here we are, making our picks of our favorite dresses from the recent 2011 Golden Globe awards!

Favorites from the Two of Us

Olivia Wilde in Marchesa

D: Pretty, pretty, pretty! Olivia Wilde in this shimmery fitted bodice and poofy-at-the-bottom dress by Marchesa. The simple hair and makeup paired with a pair of very funky heels looks amazing put together. I love how the glitter fades out towards the bottom of the dress.

A peek at Olivia Wilde's shoes: Christian Louboutin

Emma Stone in Calvin Klein

D: My favorite! I hope it's not a post-watching Easy A bias. I generally dislike orange. In fact, when I found out my ex-university dorm's color was orange and our dorm t-shirt would be bright orange, I honestly considering applying to another dorm. Orange is just a hard color to make work! And I have to say, the color fits Emma Stone's new hair color and skin tone perfectly. The fit of this backless Calvin Klein dress on her is also amazing. Such a simply, not over the top, classy statement. New found LOVE.

Leighton Meester in Burberry

D: Leighton Meester tries a large variety of fashion statements and I love her for being daring and experimental, but sometimes, some outfits just don't work so well on her. However, this Burberry dress worked so well! It's a light chiffon princess-y look without too much extravagance and so pretty without revealing any skin. I'd wear it too, if I could get my hands on one. XD

Anne Hathaway in Armani Prive

D: Shiny and Gold, that's a difficult combination to pull off, especially when it a floor length gown! Nonetheless, this also backless gown and it looks so good on Anne Hathaway! It's another shimmery, floor length gold gown (like the Balmain one on the cover of Elle) that Anne Hathaway can pull off oh so well. Thumbs up!

Jeisa's Personal Favorites 

Mila Kunis in Vera Wang

Delilah's Personal Favorites

Lea Michele in Oscar de la Renta

I'm actually not the biggest fan of how Lea Michele has worn this dress, but nonetheless, the dress itself is gorgeous. This dress by Oscar de la Renta is a piece that I personally like a lot; the soft pink, the ruffles, and the long train on the gown. I WANT THIS. I've heard repeatedly that this dress brings a image of hard cold Barbie, but when I took a look at the runway photo, it didn't seem like that to me. I think Lea Michele might have to work on that hairdo, make it more neat, then she might be able to bring out the poise and elegance in the dress. Nonetheless, this dress is my one of personal favorites.

Photo Credits: Omg Yahoo Awards

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