Happy as a clam in Current Elliott jeans, J.Crew shirt, and Jason Wu flats

J.Crew shirt HERE

Current Elliott boyfriend jeans HERE

Balenciaga bag HERE

Jason Wu flats HERE

Reading Leandra Medine's funny post this morning about her sometimes contrived fashion week outfits (see it HERE) made me even more happy to be running around in my favorite basics for the second day in a row. No matter how much I love fashion with a capital F, I don't think I ever feel better than when I wear this classic uniform. Basics can make for a great outfit too - you just have to make sure you only ever buy things you really really  l o v e .  So not any old white shirt, but buy one with a great fit. And not any old jeans, but buy some with a beautiful weave and rinse. The shoes and bag can then be tasked with adding some personality and off you go, happy as a clam just like me.

A new moon, a new year - I wish I had a new Moleskine diary

Chinese New Year Dragon at the AIA Carnival on the harbor

I was due to go see friends in Melbourne, but circumstances kept us in Hong Kong for Chinese New Year. This was my favorite day - a family walk up to High West, and glimpse of sun through the fog. Looking down on Pokfulam and Cyberport, with Lamma Island in the background.

If you don't have a diary yet... then your disorganized self and I should be friends. I didn't have a 2015 diary until a week ago. I stupidly got mine at Smythson and then wandered into this store at the IFC mall - Moleskine is next to J.Crew and has a beautiful selection of notebooks and diaries, pens and other writing gadgets. The store is beyond stylish and made me think of old fashioned American typewriters and classic American typeface. Moleskine, however, is not at all related to anything American, instead it is a relatively young Italian company which produces its notebooks in China. Still, I absolutely love this very charming shop.

In the mood for denim with Chanel and Louis Vuitton

the perfect denim skirt at Louis Vuitton, Times Square, Hong Kong

the perfect denim bag at Chanel, Times Square, Hong Kong

First day of the lunar new year: Hong Kong on 19 February 2015

Gage Street just off Lyndhurst Terrace near the mid-levels escalator in Central Hong Kong

I have always loved the Gage Street fish monger's optimistic array of stripy awnings

I can't remember a sunny Chinese New Year in the past six years. I often wonder whether the gaudy bright red and gold lanterns and decorations are meant to divert our attention from the grey melancholy in the February skies during this all important Chinese celebration.

My son has strawberry blond longish hair and it is around this time of year mainland visitors love touching his hair for good luck. He has been used to it ever since we were on a school trip to Ocean Park six years ago, where a middle aged woman stepped over 4 or 5 small children (seated in a circle listening to a story) to pet my son's head and giggle at the bewildered British teacher before stepping over some more children to rejoin her friends.

Today, however, at the Peak Lookout restaurant his hair got him in trouble in the men's restroom. As he entered the facilities the female attendant inside the room (nice bit of irony there) reminded him this room was for men only. My son ignored her and went about his business anyway, but when he returned to the table he did ask me urgently when he could get a haircut. 

A haircut??? But you've got the coolest hair ever, my friend.

orange bushes cheer up the terrace of the Peak Lookout

We walked home a bit giddy, the adults from a bottle of New Zealand chardonnay, the kids from their sugary treats acquired at 7-Eleven, and back at the house we checked out the handsomest rock star of all time, Kurt Cobain, watched him sing unplugged for MTV (see it HERE, you absolutely must), and convinced my boy that his hair style is a 1990s American classic not to be messed with on a whim.

Kurt's scruffy cardigan reminds me of my visit to Abercrombie and Fitch with my daughter. I had never entered the Pedder Street shop out of protest - I was under the false impression that the A&F-ers had ripped up the beautiful old shop to turn it into some kind of characterless mall store, but that is not the case. The imposing wooden staircase is still there and the rest of the shop looks pretty much as it did when Shanghai Tang was in residence, except for the merchandise. And the merchandise, well that wasn't as bad as I expected it to be. There were lots of bohemian dresses and loose knits, quite cute for teenage girls actually and not crazy expensive (once you are used to Hong Kong prices). It smells delicious everywhere, and the grey grungy cardigan I bought for myself still smells flowery and fresh four days later.

My best attempt at grunge

Abercrombie and Fitch cardigan

Zara T-shirt

Zara jeans

Chloe flats

Thin line between love or hate continued... Céline white block heel lace ups

Phoebe Philo gives us white block heel lace ups at Céline

I cannot begin to imagine a woman who would look good in these. I cannot begin to imagine the outfit anyone would pair with these, although believe me I have tried - I love nothing more than a fashion challenge. But I think even tomboy lace up aficionado Diane Keaton could not pull these off. Every fashion girl loves a new silhouette and a new edge, but not many girls I know are willing to forgo pretty entirely. The first thing I thought of when I saw these was Seinfeld... Remember when Kramer wore Joseph's Technicolor Dream Coat and was arrested for pimping? Go down memory lane HERE. What is going to happen to Céline's accessories without Johnny Coca (who is now at Mulberry)? And how important are accessories to the success of the company? Do you like these shoes? Please correct me if you think I am wrong!

It's a thin line - do you love or hate these Prada platform clogs?

Prada clogs

I am on the fence. I love all things 70s (when done well it is the sexiest decade ever) but I have never really embraced platforms or clogs. If you were to wear these with flared jeans and a peasant top I think it would all be positively hideous, but how about with a belted mini shirtdress in a preppy blue and white stripe? The shoes would give the shirtdress a little kick but you wouldn't look like a 70s caricature.

Gianvito Rossi block heel pumps

Off to lunch, keeping it very simple and comfortable

Zara dress in stores now

Gianvito Rossi pumps (HERE and HERE or in his shop at number 10, On Lan Street in Central)

Pierre Hardy bag (similar HERE)

Thou shalt not covet...

girl's sneakers from Seed

... thy daughter's sneakers. Or shalt thou? At least kids' sneakers are still sold at reasonable prices. Adult slip-on sneakers are going for crazy amounts at Givenchy, Jimmy Choo, Lanvin, and Saint Laurent just to name a few. You can't do much with HKD 5,000 if you are interested in one of those designers, but yet I am completely stressing myself out with my unrelenting demented desire for a pair of pink sparkly Givenchy pretend Vans.

Argument against: don't be daft and get some Vans for less than one tenth of the price. Like these ones HERE.

Argument for: the designer styles are lined in leather and will be less likely to cause blisters in hot weather. Not buying that? Okay, they are really pretty!!! And now that fashion sneakers are the hottest footwear around, why not indulge in a bit of retail economy boosting to ensure designers keep making them forever?

THESE are similar to the ones I love (and at Bluefly they are actually on sale).

What do you think?

Hong Kong on February 9, 2015

Looking down on the south side of Hong Kong island from Violet Hill during an early morning hike

Crossing the new tunnel construction area to get to the carnival around 6.30 PM

Looking towards the city from the pier - the ferris wheel at the carnival

The Man Repeller's mother is 51

Middle aged female designers are doing beautiful work, but where are the bloggers?

Stella McCartney at the Landmark in Hong Kong

In a post about texting vs. phoning The Man Repeller referred to some elderly relatives yesterday, and then to her mother who is apparently 51 years old (read it HERE).

Whaaaaat?????? I knew Leandra Medine was young, but because she is very intelligent and doesn't flaunt her belly often like the very young bloggers seem to do, I like to think of her as 34.

But actually, there aren't many prominent fashion bloggers of 34. Garance Doré is turning 40 this year, and Natalie Joos is roughly the same age - but I'd have to think for a bit to name others. And frankly if you are not a fashion obsessive you are probably wondering right at this moment who is Natalie Joos? (Natalie is a former model and casting agent from Belgium who has a lovely blog, Tales of Endearment).

There are plenty of 34-year olds who write cupcake blogs or interior decorator blogs, but why not fashion? Maybe we all aspire to look younger? Is taking fashion advice or inspiration from a middle aged woman admitting defeat?

Do you know women over 34 whose style inspires you?