Saint Laurent Brass v. Hermès Silver

my Hermès silver bracelet on the beach the Maldives

Saint Laurent brass and silver plated bracelet - HK$21,340 (approx 2,754 US Dollars!!!!) on www.net-a-porter.com

If you google the price per ounce of brass, you keep getting websites in America for scrap metal sellers, and the price is quoted in pounds rather than ounces. Per pound, the price seems to average between 2 and 3 US Dollars.

Silver on the other hand, costs about 20 US Dollars per ounce.  A pound has 16 ounces, so that's about 320 US Dollars per pound for silver.

I suppose we often don't buy fashionable things for their true value. If there is enough hype, or if we believe the item we covet could be a fashion investment, we may forget the material value of the item is rather non-existent.

I have been seduced by Hedi Slimane's Saint Laurent as much as the next fashion victim, but this is too stupid even for me. My classic silver Hermès bracelet costs approximately 900 US Dollars less than the costume jewelry version by Hedi Slimane. When have you ever read such a sentence before? A costume jewelry copy bracelet cost 900 US Dollars more than a silver Hermès bracelet.

Here in Asia, we hear reports every day that the retail industry is not doing well. And you wonder why. We as consumers need to wake up and demand quality and value for money (i.e. not buy ridiculously overpriced brass bracelets by Hedi Slimane, but go to Hermès instead. I never thought I would be able to say that but I am loving every syllable of that statement).

Lunch is served

We went fishing yesterday and caught six very good size fish - a jackfish, some red snappers, and a rather sizable white snapper as well - all referred to as reef fish by the locals. For lunch today, we were served our catch in a variety of styles at the beach side restaurant. Close to the very best meal in my life.

Chinese style with ginger and oyster sauce - the stripy shadow over the plates comes from the palm leaves softly swaying in the wind above us while we eat and wonder if we are in heaven

simply baked with salt and pepper

in Maldivian style curry

When your after-lunch belly has grown so much in size that you can no longer imagine showing yourself in a bikini, you bring out the Mara Hoffman. By far the best swimwear I have EVER bought in my life are her rashies (sorry that is flagged as a spelling mistake, but that's what all my Hong Kong Aussie friends call sun protection shirts for swimming).

My only regret is that I just bought two. They are the perfect swimwear to wear over untanned white bellies, bellies with a hint of cellulite (mine), jiggly bellies and all other bellies one may be shy about. Mara Hoffman is your answer. At the Four Seasons Landaa Giraavaru resort in The Maldives.

I don't want to go home - Maldives day 10

so tempted to climb up and get my own coconut - then I remember Keith and Ron tried that too with Keith ending up in hospital rather concussed

riding my bike from a swim on one side of the island towards lunch with lots of sauv blanc - an army of chauffeured buggies is available to take the loopy riders home

time for some espresso martinis at the 10 pm manta ray feeding session - and another lovely day in the Maldives comes to an end

If I ever wear shoes again

loafers are back with a vengeance - this chunky tasseled pair is perfect with a skinny trouser - all by Max Mara

And how charming and French are these Lanvin fringed block heel loafers when worn with a super short party dress - I love the styling on this outfit - my order is flying round the Indian Ocean on its way to Net-a-Porter as we speak. If I ever wear shoes again, it'll be these.

The Maldives Week 1

Maldives day 3 - the most peaceful place on earth?

I think there are about 30 guests on this island right now - but we never see anyone

snorkeling with mini lemon sharks - this little guy is in 5 cm deep water and thankfully he is very scared of me

What to wear on a day like this

Two days after almost 300 men, women, mums, dads, grandparents and children were killed by thugs while their plane flew over Eastern Ukraine, I can't write about frivolous stuff. More than 150 Dutch are dead, but nationalities don't matter in disasters like this. Every single one of those people on board had someone out there who loves them and who will mourn and miss them for many years to come. President Obama was right to warn Europe that this tragedy shows us we are not isolated from wars in foreign places no matter how unimportant we may consider such conflicts to our daily lives. Sooner or later the pathetic war mongering thugs and the "local" conflicts come to right to our doorstep, and it is the duty of our elected leaders to prevent such devastation before we bury more innocent children and their families.

The Maldives Day 1 and 2

My first fashion thought this morning was I want to steal this robe. It's nothing like normal robes in heavy toweling fabric with even heavier shawl collars - this was lovely. I didn't steal it because stealing is wrong I thought I could just steal buy it at the next resort -  but having now arrived at the next resort I realize I should have struck while the iron was hot, because the print on the robes here in Landaa Giraavaru is lovely but not quite as lovely.

Resort number 1: The Four Seasons Kuda Huraa

Resort number 1: The Four Seasons Kuda Huraa - view from our villa.

Then a colorful jetty and sea plane to the next Four Seasons at Landaa Giraavaru

Villa pool at Landaa Giraavaru - I have a feeling when this vacation is over I may be really sick of turquoise. It is literally everywhere.

And here is the first of the threatened promised JDCamicetta snaps. My way old (but good) silk jersey Fiona dress and knees at resort number 1.

Jackie holiday style

I rushed that last post. I was waiting for the new washing machine to arrive. My first few days without a helper have not been as romantic as I expected. I have yet to cook my husband dinner because I have been washing socks and underpants by hand after the machine broke on Thursday. On the bright side my forearms are showing fresh muscle definition after hours of wringing out soaking wet towels.

What I was trying to say is that I don't like wearing a costume on holiday. But these famous pictures of Jackie Kennedy on holiday in Capri explain that far more eloquently than I did.

Find similar shirts by Totême HERE

Even when she went a little bit more adventurous with a printed gypsy skirt, she pared it down with a simple black top which makes the outfit just as suitable for a stroll in Manhattan.

I don't know where she is in this picture, and this dress is probably too formal for a lot of beach holidays. But if you go to Italy you can take a dress like this anywhere.

    

This picture is interesting. Jackie is in her every day sporty cool style but her friend (can't tell if that's her sister) has donned a special vacation garment, some sort of (probably very expensive) kaftan. But to me she looks like she is wearing a costume, and that's not how I want to look on my holiday.

Packing is easy with JDCamicetta

Sandals, a few pairs of white shorts, and a breezy JDCamicetta Joanne top. Literally every top and dress in my suitcase is JDCamicetta.

Fiona looking cool in our JDCamicetta boyfriend cover up.

You can't read a magazine in the month of July without being subjected to articles on what to pack for holiday. I wonder if anyone ever buys any of those special holiday clothes that you cannot wear anywhere else. If you are new to I LOVE FASHION you may not know I have a small company with my friend Jane and we make dresses and tops. Our clothes are designed to work both in the city and on the beach. All you need to do is change your shoes and your bag. I am planning to bore you with daily JDCamicetta snaps from the beach in the Maldives.

Sunday morning reading mags

thank you Tatler!!!!!!!!! 

Something to discuss over Sunday lunch and a glass of rosé

no, no, no! you've got it all wrong - this is not an advertisement to sell you bags. This is a curated series of photography!

Yes they do.  Mental note : MUST go back to Amalfi coast, the most beautiful place on earth.

It's winter in Pacific Place

I did a quick circle around the Pacific Place mall (in the Admiralty neighborhood of Hong Kong) before I went grocery shopping. I wore a JDCamicetta slip dress because it was so hot again today. In Chloe I loved this little jacket - cropped in front and longer in the back in a really cool bobble knit pattern. The velcro shop assistant immediately asked if I wanted to try it on, so I thought what the hell, I might as well. It's really cute, but I am not ready for fall and it looked rather odd over my print slip dress.

The pre-fall bags in Céline are nice, but so expensive. I am not ready for that either. Four days until my summer holiday to the Maldives.

Our World Cup is over

I thought the Dutch penalty curse had been lifted after the match against Costa Rica, but 40 years of penalty kick disasters have made choking on the penalty spot as much part of our DNA as cheese. But against the Argies (more HERE) it is particularly painful. I mean, we crowned Maxima as our Queen for god's sakes! They could have shown us some gratitude by letting us win. I comforted myself with a Dutch breakfast, (this was daily summer breakfast in my house growing up), toast with strawberries and sugar.

I did some more comforting later on at this pretty spot, the 3rd floor terrace bar of The Pottinger Hotel, on the corner of Pottinger and Stanley Street.

And I am wondering if I should find some more comfort later in this lovely Etoile Isabel Marant coat and Nicholas Kirkwood shoes. I am planning to go to England this October, and it's cold there... Just saying. Find them HERE.

Saint Laurent studs at Lane Crawford

The Saint Laurent display at Lane Crawford in the IFC Mall, Hong Kong. Click of photo to enlarge.

It's time for some more Anja Rubik worship

I love how she ducks down - she is too tall to fit on the cover

for Giuseppe Zanotti pre-fall 2014 - I want that hair

for Vanity Fair Spain

in the Gucci pre-fall 2014 campaign - I want that coat

same - first time I have liked a hand full of rings like that

for Vogue Korea with the most perfect soft red lips ever

for Vogue Korea in pants with a skirt cape