Which designer/label most inspires your style?

Today at Sassy we have this important question on our lips! As part of the event we're working on to preview Lane Crawford's new Autumn/Winter collection (sorry girls, all full up already), we're asking our guests to tell us about their style inspirations. As the answers are coming in, we're loving reading them - it gives such a great insight into personality somehow!

It therefore couldn't have been more timely to find this Vogue Paris fashion spread with models dressed in an exaggerated way in the vision of famous designers. Unfortunately I'm not sure I find my style inspiration amongst them - I'm more of a Miu Miu/Marc Jacobs girl in my heart, though I love the Bottega Veneta image.

Images via I Know What You Wore

Getaway get the look: Bangkok

Sawadee Ka!

"As Calcutta smells of death and Bombay of money, Bangkok smells of sex"... or so goes the famous Paul Theroux quote! We're not sure about all that, but we LOVE weekend getaways to Bangkok, and enjoy strolling around and soaking up all the sights, colours and sounds.

The Friday evening Emirates flight leaves at 22.25, meaning if you are a slave to your desk you don't need to take any time off, and you can be at your hotel by 1am (our faves so far have been the Grand Hyatt or the Four Seasons) - perfect for grabbing a quick drink at the hotel bar before hitting the hay. You've got a whole Saturday of shopping ahead of you!

We've picked out these gold gladiators which will keep your feet comfy while you're mall-ratting, and then this sky blue dress and bright accessories (steer clear of wearing certain colours like red or yellow in Bangkok). We recommend you head to Central World if you're craving those western stores we don't have in HK, like Topshop, Miss Selfridge or Dorothy Perkins. This mall could keep you busy for hours! Then the area around Siam Paragon is packed with cool boutiques crammed with funky bags, accessories and vintage-style clothes.

Once you've had your fill of shopping, book yourself into Healthland for an AMAZING and super-cheap two hour Thai massage. It's not the most fancy of spas, but it's spotlessly clean with a mix of traditional and modern decor, and as it is also a massage school, the technique is fantastic. Bangkok residents swear by it.

You'll now be nice and ready for some evening fun... We've picked out this ensemble for you to wear in a sultry purple, with this silver lace cuff and funky feathered purse. You're ready to hit the Sukhumvit area (take the sky train - it's cheap, easy and fast) where many of the trendy bars and restaurants are. Sassy recommends the Lan Na Thai/Hazara/Face complex, which is a converted Thai villa which is home to a few of the coolest eating and drinking spots in town.

When you wake up on Sunday, you might even feel like taking in some culture, like a wander round the Erawan Shrine or a baking trek around the Grand Palace (shoes on, shoes off, scarf on, scarf off, repeat). Or perhaps just MORE shopping, eating, massages, repeat. That sounds like more our speed!

Day Outfit: Clutch from Mad Imports; Dress from Eruca; Vintage sunglasses from Love Worn; Bracelet and Necklace from Fantasy Jewelry Box; Sam Edelman Glads from Chick Downtown.

Night Outfit: Aurelie Biderman Cuff from Luisa Via Roma; Chloe Dress from Net-a-Porter; Earrings from 1928; Clutch from Peeptoe Shoes; Fendi Shoes from Far Fetch; Dior Eye Shadow from Saks.

Manicure Monday Recap and Pics

At Sassy we always look forward to Manicure Mondays. Not only is it a great time to get our nails in shape but it is perfect because we get to mingle with friends at the same time! One of my favorite parts of the evening is seeing what nail color everyone picked...I am so indecisive (and safe!) when it comes to choosing a nail color so it definitely helps me with deciding what color I am going to get!! We had 3 lucky draw winners this month. Elena won an express facial, Laura won a pedicure and Yoko won a cookbook from Gingers Catering!

Pictures are now posted in the Sassy Pics section of our website.

Sassy Addresses: The Brunch Club

Sometimes we all need to slow down and enjoy a meal with friends. That is exactly what we at Sassy did yesterday. We spent our Tuesday morning over eggs and toast at The Brunch Club. We turned off our mobile phones, put our blackberry's out of sight, and kept the conversation far from business. In the hustle and bustle of life here in Hong Kong it is sometimes so easy to get caught up in work and deadlines. It is so important to step back and simply enjoy good company!

We met at The Brunch Club tucked away on Peel Street (SoHo). An extremely cozy spot with magazine lined walls and comfy sofas. The menu features breakfast, brunch, afternoon teas, supper, wine, and cocktails. Open daily from 8am-11pm. The Brunch Club believes in fair trade, and that is obvious throughout the menu! Maura and I both had the scrambled egg whites with toast and fruit, while Hester had the yogurt with fruit. The food was delicious....and spending a Tuesday morning with two friends at a quaint restaurant was the perfect way to start the day!

The Brunch Club, 70 Peel Street, SoHo

The perfect dress solution?

We're all about dresses this week at Sassy! Following on from our post on Monday thinking about fun accessories to take a summer dress from day to evening, we're now turning our attention to how to get that perfect made-for-you dress. We've always talked together about trying to get a tailor-made dress in Hong Kong, but for some reason always shied away from actually executing because we're not sure how it would turn out, or whether tailors will be able to exactly recreate a dress from a magazine or photo. 

Now we've found Collette Patterns, which sells seasonal and fun patterns which allow sewers to make their own dresses, or those of us in Hong Kong to take the plunge to buy a pattern and take it to a tailor! Designed especially to be flattering to us girls with curves (available for US sizes 0-14), the patterns are just $16. You can choose your style, go to the Western Market to pick out your fabric, then take to a tailor and be sure to get a great result! 

I especially love the Parfait pattern (top), which I think would look super-cute in a little floral print. 

Pink Lemonade Day

Looks like the day promises to be another scorcher... When you ride the escalator down in the mornings from mid-levels to hit central you can feel the temperature climb by several sweaty degrees up the thermometer and the air feels thick like bath water as the buildings get higher and closer together. 

We're mixing up a batch of Ina Garten's pink lemonade to enjoy in big chilled tumblers for our Sassy meeting today - perfect for a sweet hit of refreshment when a frappucino is too slow to hit to the spot! 

Ingredients

1 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice (5-6 lemons)

1/2 to 3/4 cup superfine sugar (caster) to taste

1 cup crushed ice

4 cups water

2 teaspoons grenadine (or 1 cup cranberry juice)

Maraschino cherries - for that kitschy touch! 

Directions

Place lemon juice, ice, water and either grenadine or cranberry juice in a blender and whizz until it's completely smooth. Put a cherry at the bottom of your glass and pour the pink lemonade over. Serve, sip and mop your brow. 

Wouldn't you like to spend more of your life outside?

We know we would... It's SO hot outside, but we just found this Hong Kong site that gives us a little inspiration to brave the great outdoors this weekend.

(Images from the Pastel & Dreamy Set on Flickr)

Why we're happy Aldo came to Hong Kong...

It's pretty hard to find affordable and fashion-forward shoes in Hong Kong, especially if you have Western-sized feet, e.g. big! We're doing our own version of Marie Claire's Spree vs. Steal with the above fab shoes - on the left, Nicolas Kirkwood Python Web Suede Sandals at HK$10,600. On the right, Aldo HK$542. 

Of course, the Nicolas Kirkwood ones are AMAZING, but we'd certainly be leaning towards the Aldo version! 

How to be green(er) in Hong Kong

It's so easy to become blasé about the environment here as it feels like here in South China we are right on the forefront seeing how the Eco battle is being lost... We live amongst swirling pollution, accept the lack-of-recycling status quo, and turn our eyes away from the debris-strewn beaches. The problem can seem so huge, and the steps that one individual can take are so small, that it can seem easier to do nothing.  Here at Sassy we're trying to change our ways one small step at a time, so here are some real-life-friendly tips on going green(er) in Hong Kong:

1. Use a reusable tote bag for your grocery shopping:

We're all moving in the right direction on this, thanks to the measures supermarkets like Wellcome and Park & Shop have put in place where they're making us pay 50 cents for each plastic bag. Keep a foldable tote in your handbag for those unplanned trips to the grocery store. Even better, use one of these great bags from Bez & Oho, which are made from feed sacks. 

2. Use air conditioning thoughtfully:

The Hong Kong government recommend you keep your air con no lower than 25 degrees, and switch it off in rooms you are not using. This will also save on your electricity bill! Make sure the air con is efficient by blocking gaps under doors and sealing window frames. 

3. Get proactive about waste disposal:

Electrical waste and old appliances and computers is managed by the St. James Settlement, with multiple collection locations around Hong Kong. Encourage your building management to introduce a waste separation system. Some of the costs of setting up such a system can be reimbursed by the government. 

4. Return coat hangers to dry cleaners:

This is one that I definitely need to work on! We go through tens of the wire hangers each week, and while some are reused for hanging our clothes, I also put a good amount in the trash. This will be a resolution for me. 

5. Eat less meat:

The production of meat for us to eat is extremely energy intensive, and also causes massive deforestation. Join the Meat Free Mondays cause! 

6. Use reusable drinks containers:

For your coffee, and for your water while you're out and about. Plastic bottles can take up to 700 years to begin composting. We LOVE Sigg water bottles, which you can personalize with your own name or design... a great gift idea. 

7. Clean up our beaches:

If you're a hiker or a lover of the outdoors, you will have seen the shameful state some of Hong Kong's beaches are in. The ICC will be holding their annual Coastal Cleanup in September this year. Last year nearly 5,000 volunteers removed 25,000kg of waste from Hong Kong's beaches.Sign up as a group of friends or colleagues to participate. 

8. Plant trees:

ABLE (A Better Living Environment) is a Lamma-based charity which is the custodian of Lamma Forest, which is growing daily thanks to the tree-planting initiatives they fund. Visit their website to donate or participate.

9. Cut down on your flying:

This is an extremely hard one for us in Hong Kong who love our jet-setting weekends away. Instead of Bali or Phuket, how about looking into somewhere you can get to by train or boat? Or take advantage of the amazing outdoors we have on our doorsteps to spend a weekend in Hong Kong! 

10. Learn more tips from Catherine Touzard:

DB resident Catherine Touzard's book "Going Green in Hong Kong" aims to shake us out of our "affluenza" and offers compelling reasons why we need to take action now. It's a book every Hong Kong household should own. Available in Dymocks etc. 

Manicure Monday Tonight!

We've had a bit of the Monday blues here at Sassy today, so we're extra excited about Manicure Monday tonight at The Feel Good Factor on Wyndham Street. For just HK$100, you can enjoy an express manicure, a couple of glasses of wine and a lovely bit of chatting about the weekend gone by. 

Summer Dress Dreaming

Anticipating the summer heat still to come, today we're searching for those perfect summer dresses that can work for both day and evening in the city... Not a sleeve in sight! From delicate and girly with frills galore, to strong prints and nautical numbers... There's nothing like a dress to make you feel instantly put together - no worries about matching and matching, you just need the perfect accessories to take you from dressed down to dressed up.   

During the day we'll be accessorizing with cute, pastel colored jewelry, slouchy bags and gladiators for pounding the pavements... 

While in the evening we'll be jingling with Tory Burch bracelets, clutching a buttery-soft purse, and slipping on this sharp Balmain jacket to protect us from blasting air con... well, a girl can dream! 

Dresses (from Left to Right):Paul & Joe at Net-a-porter.com; H&M online, Sharp Roses Dress, Topshop.com, Sailor Dress, Shopruche.com

Day Accessories (clockwise from Left): Bracelets from Juicy Couture; Hello Earrings, Hannah Zakari; Chloe Tote; Gladiators from Charlotte Russe. 

Night Accessories (clockwise from Left): Clutch from Misguided; Tory Burch Bracelets; Balmain Jacket; Badgeley Mischka Shoes.

Need a coffee fix- Starbucks now Delivers!

As I was walking home from dinner last night I passed one of my favorite Starbucks and the above sign caught my eye -- Starbucks now delivers!! We live in a world where even McDonalds delivers so I am not sure why I was so surprised to see this. While I am excited about the fact that I can now have my Grande Skim Vanilla Latte delivered right to my door there is something that makes me happy about going into a coffee shop and ordering a coffee to be enjoyed either in the shop or as I am walking around the busy streets of Hong Kong.

I am curious to see how fast they deliver since coffee is meant to be hot - guess I will just have to call the delivery hotline and put in my order to see!

Love Summer

Sometimes it feels like we rush so fast through the seasons - soon the Autumn/Winter collections will be available in the stores, and we are already wishing away these hot, sticky days. Having just come back from Europe, where the summer light lasts until 10pm (perfect for wasting long hours enjoying friends and wine outdoors) has made me want to treasure the summer a little more. What better than this wistful tote bag to spread the inspiration... perfect!

via Cup of Jo

Sassy is going Belly Dancing on July 25th

If you are looking for something different to do next Saturday night (July 25) then join us for a Sassy Belly Dance class! We will be learning to shimmy and shake it like Shakira (or try to anyway!) while having plenty of good times and laughs. The evening will begin and end in true Sassy fashion with wine and canapes and some good girly chat. Hope to see you there!

Space is limited so RSVP at www.sassyhongkong.com soon!

Event Details

What: An evening of hip shaking, girly fun and plenty of laughs!

When: Saturday, 25th of July - 5:30-7:30 pm

Where: Oasis Dance Centre (1 Anton Street, Wanchai)

Cost: $220 per person (includes dance class, wine, canapes and hip wrap)

RSVP: click here to reserve your tickets.

Dress Code: Wear comfortable clothes that are not too loose and allow you to move freely, such as yoga pants or leggings.

Oh, and we can't forget to mention that Belly Dancing is not only fun but its a great form of exercise too!

Special Thanks

Assaf Lebanese Cuisine

Oasis Dance Centre

Michelle Wray Exotic Skin Handbags

Ember

a la mode

Brown Python Hobo

At Sassy we believe that a girl can never have too many handbags. A handbag is the perfect accessory to making an outfit pop and a one-of-a-kind purse is an even better way to make a style statement. While we all may dream about the perfect designer purse the reality is that we are in hard economic times and many of us need to look for more affordable options for our handbags these days.

We recently discovered a line of exotic skin handbags created by Michelle Wray and they are so lovely we had to tell you about them. Michelle creates genuine python, crocodile, ostrich and lizard bags and they are created for girls who love timeless style yet want a little extra twist to fit their own personal look. One of the things we like best is that the different textures, markings and shades of the skin create an individual and unique design that will surely make you stand out in a crowd!

We asked Michelle why she created this line and she told us:

"My passion for skin handbags started a few years ago. I used to love window-shopping in retail shops, yet I found that the bags were ridiculously expensive. I believe that every women should be able to affordably own a one-of-a-kind exotic skin bag so I started my business with marginal profit. My goal is to happily share my deep admiration and passion for skin handbags, and connect ladies with the timeless style and exquisiteness of these beautiful accessories."

If you are looking for an exotic skin bag and don't want to spend designer prices check out Michelle's website: www.ec-photo.com/mtjong329. She is currently offering a summer sale of 20% off all items!

Michelle sells and displays all of the bags in her Mid-Levels apartment. She also does tailor made skin bags if you really want something unique. Appointments can be made by calling 6533 2503 or emailing mtjong329@gmail.com

P.S. I can't get Michelle's a la mode bag (pictured above) out of my mind so I am pretty sure Michelle will be getting a call from me soon!

Prices can be found on her website or by contacting Michelle directly.

Inspiration: Neon & Matte nails

It has been a little dull here in HK for a few days, so we thought we'd inspire you to brighten up, by pointing you towards this cute tutorial on Cupcakes and Cashmere - one of my favourite fashion blogs. Seems that Essie does the best selection of neon polishes... Not such an easy brand to find in Hong Kong as everywhere is very Opi-dominated - let us know if you know anywhere selling this Essie neon range as we're excited to try out the fluorescent green! 

We're also curious to try out the new matte range from Opi in colours like Russian Navy, Alpine Snow and Gargantuan Green Grape - the names make it even more fun, right?

Christian Dior Fall 2009

I usually find Christian Dior a little, well, flashy for my tastes, but I just love these details from the fall 2009 collection. Designer John Galliano stated that this collection "all begins with the corset", and you can really see that inspiration on these shoes. Even with the killer heel still manage to somehow look soft and even comfortable. Perfect for lounging around your boudoir perhaps?

via This is Glamorous

Venetian Macao Summer Disco Party with Lady Gaga

Lady Gaga's Poker Face is on regular rotation at my house these days so I was excited to see that she will be headlining The Venetian Macao's Summer Disco Party on Saturday August 15th. Lady Gaga will be joined by Hong Kong Pop Diva Stephanie Cheng, Korean Hip Hop Dance Group the KUFS and Beatbox MMH (I must admit that I only know Lady Gaga out of these names so I need to do some research on them before the 15th!).

Since the show is on Saturday night I am planning on making a mini holiday out of it and staying over Saturday night and taking advantage of the Venetian's pool and maybe even a trip to the spa. I love going to Macau for an overnight trip because besides loving hotels I really feel like I am on holiday and the great thing is that it is only 45 minutes from home! Let's hope I can learn from Lady Gaga and make good use of my poker face on the casino floor!

Summer Disco Party (featuring Lady Gaga)

Date: Saturday, August 15th

Time: 8:00pm

Venue: CotaiArena

Ticket Price: $880, $480, $280 (all prices are in MOP)

Ferry Info: There are some great CotaiJet ferry packages available for this event so check them out!

Click here for more information and to book your ticket.

Photos from Sassy Hour at Philia

Photos from our July Sassy Hour are now posted on the Gallery Page of our site. We had a great time and want to thank everyone who came! We always look forward to our Sassy Hours because they are a great way to meet new girls and spend time with the ones we have already met. Hope to see everyone at our next one on August 6th. Details on the location will be sent out shortly!!

July Sassy Hour is Tonight (July 9th) at Philia!

Tonight is our July Sassy Hour at Philia! Join us for a fun evening of sipping and socializing. Each girl that attends will receive a welcome Cosmopolitan and enjoy Happy Hour Prices throughout the event. We will also give one lucky girl a bottle of champagne to enjoy at Philia on a later date! Come alone or with a friend...we are looking forward to seeing you!

Philia Bar - 4 Arbuthnot Road

6:30-9:00 pm tonight

New Club Monaco and Juicy Couture Outlet in Horizons Plaza

We all know Horizon Plaza is the place to go when buying furniture but we should also take advantage of the great outlet stores that are available within the huge shopping complex. I just heard that the Lane Crawford Joyce group has opened a 1,500 square foot outlet which features clothes from Club Monaco and Juicy Couture. The outlet offers discounted items from both lines and prices are up to 70% off retail! Club Monaco is one of my favorite stores here in Hong Kong so I will be making my way over to Horizon Plaza shortly!!

Club Monaco/Juicy Couture Outlet

Horizon Plaza

2 Lee Wing Street

27th Floor

Ap Lei Chau

2118 2986

Store Hours: 10am - 7pm Daily

P.S.- there is also a new I.T. outlet store on the 5th floor (figured I would give you another reason to make a trip out to Ap Lei Chau!)

Meat Free Monday

I came across a website this morning and I had to write about it because I think it is a really neat idea. Paul McCartney and his daughters Stella and Mary are asking meat-eaters to forgo meat for one day each week for their new initiative "Meat Free Monday". Paul says that "although it may seem like an empty gesture the result will be impactful in reducing greenhouse gas emissions from the world's livestock". This is among the most serious contributors to global warming.

The program has been launched in the US, Australia and the UK and there are a number of celebrity supporters of this initiative including Yoko Ono, Kate Bosworth, Richard Branson, Sheryl Crow and Kelly Osbourne.

Check out the Meat Free Monday site for more information and if you decide to give Meat Free Monday's a try check out their recipe section for some yummy meat free dishes!

I have wanted to do a little more for the environment for a while now and after reading about Meat Free Monday's I am ready to make my small changes. For months I have wanted to buy a reusable aluminum or stainless steel water bottle to use during yoga instead of a plastic water bottle and today I am going to go out and buy one. I am also going to give Meat Free Monday's a go as well and lucky for me I am already done my first week! I had a veggie burger last night and I had no idea I was already supporting the cause!

Albeit Jewelry

Love these 14 carat gold necklaces from Albeit - a very delicate and understated way to do monogramed jewelry... You can choose from the first letter of your name, or a lucky number 8! 

Books about Hong Kong

I have to admit, if I had to chose between tv and reading I would probably pick tv...it's horrible I know, but at least I am honest! Since my favorite television shows are off for the summer I get to change my ways and become a reader. Being that this is Sassy Hong Kong and we love all things Hong Kong I am going to dedicate this post and maybe my summer reading to books about our lovely city!

I had the Piano Teacher (By Janice Y.K Lee) sitting on my book shelf for a while now and it wasn't until my flight back from the US that I picked it up to read it. The story takes place in Hong Kong around World War II and I loved getting a glimpse into the Hong Kong of years past. It is amazing to me how similar in some ways life was for the expats in Hong Kong back then. I loved reading all the street names, areas and places that I frequent on a regular basis. It was a quick and easy read and while I do admit I had a long plan ride, I finished it before I set foot back in Hong Kong.


I picked up The List today and the issue is called "The Book Club" Issue. You should definitely check it out if you are into all things literary. I particularly liked page 42 and 43 which is titled "Local Reads - Hong Kong in print". This page lists a number of books that are about or take place in Hong Kong. Below are the books they feature:

• White Ghost Girls (Alice Greenway)
• The World of Suzie Wong (Richard Mason)
• Falling Leaves (Adeline Yen-Mah)
• Gweilo: Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood (Martin Booth)
• King Hui: The Man Who Owned All The Opium in Hong Kong (Jonathan Chamberlain)
• The Piano Teacher (Hanice Y.K. Lee)
• Kowloon Tong (Paul Theroux)
• Tai Pan (James Clavell)
• Hong Kong (Jan Morris)
• The Monkey King (Timothy Mo)

The next on my list to read is Gweilo:Memories of a Hong Kong Childhood. I have picked this book up in the bookstore a number of times and I am not sure why I haven't bought it yet. Guess I will be hitting the bookstore sometime this weekend since I am in need of a new book to read!

Here is hoping that my new found love of reading continues even after the Fall tv season premiers!

Is it time to call Hong Kong my home?

Hong Kong: My Home

Philadelphia: Home to me always

I just got back from my US trip late Tuesday night and lucky for me the next day was a public holiday so I was able to chill out, get a massage and sleep away any jet lag I had. Now that it is time to go back to all things Sassy I just wanted to write a post about my time away and how it made me realize how much I do love Hong Kong.

I have been here for a year now and most days I absolutely love Hong Kong but then there are others where all I dream about is being home with my friends and family. Since I have been missing home a bit more lately I figured visiting family, friends and of course the mall was just the thing I needed to get over the homesick I felt for them. I couldn't have come home at a more perfect time....I had Father's Day, multiple family parties and a lot of nice quality time with my friends, parents and siblings. I even made room for multiple shopping trips (jewelry is the best thing to buy because it hardly takes up any room in your suitcase...I bought a lot of jewelry!) and some yoga here and there. The best thing about the whole trip was that I surprised my parents and to see the excitement and happiness on their faces when they saw I was home will be something I will never forget.


What I didn't expect was to be so homesick for Hong Kong while I was away. It hit me as soon as I got to the airport in Hong Kong the day I was leaving. I was so excited to see everyone back in the States but for some reason I already missed the life that I have here and it made me sad to leave it even if it was for only 12 days. I think a good part of this had to do with the fact that I was going home alone without my husband but another part was leaving all the great friends that I have met here. My friends here have become part of my family since I am so far away from my own and even though I was going home to my family in the US I really missed the day to day interaction I have with my HK family (aka - my friends). Being home, the number 1 question I received from everyone was "How do you like Hong Kong?" and my response to them was "I love it" and it was always accompanied by a smile. I have no idea how long we will live here but for me Hong Kong has now become my home. I guess I will always have two homes, HK is my home now because that is what I want it to be and Philadelphia is my home because it will always be.