Pretending it's Fall on August 1st in Hong Kong (while waiting for Typhoon Nida)

J.Crew top 

Valentino Tango Pumps

AG Jeans 

Balenciaga bag

New favorite shopping site: Avenue32

Lucky strike, my dream red/navy jacket, very last one found at 70% off in size 38.

I am not all that adventurous when it comes to online shopping. I have stuck with Net-a-Porter for about nine years, and now that they offer same day delivery in Hong Kong, it's still my first choice for practical items. But Net-a-Porter is now Yoox, and despite the fact that Yoox is the ultimate well oiled and organized online machine, I miss the spirit of Natalie Massenet in the selection they offer.

I am in awe of Massenet, and had a funny experience seeing her at JFK airport a few years ago - read about it HERE.

Avenue32 is more fun, more like a proper boutique shopping experience, full of colorful and interesting designs by designers you may have never heard of. Normally, I am also not courageous with new designers when I have only seen the product online, but the founder of Avenue32, Roberta Benteler (see her instagram @robertabenteler) is so stylish, that I have total confidence in her selections. Check it out sometime.

Irresponsible Infatuation: Dior Embellished Boots

The windows of Dior, Pacific Place.

There is so much embellishment in stores right now! I blame thank Alessandro Michele at Gucci for that, although it must be said that Jenna Lyons at J.Crew has been a steady supplier of embellishment for years now. Michele's designs are not conventionally pretty, however - geek chic comes to mind, and the styling of his shows hint at affection for a kind of Royal Tenenbaums eccentricity. I haven't seen anything this exciting since Tom Ford's Fall 1995 show for Gucci.

On a side note I am devastated that the navy gingham rhinestone encrusted shirt I love at J.Crew has never gone on sale, because I sincerely hoped to celebrate my next birthday in that all that preppy shine. But at $5,000 Hong Kong Dollars, that is unlikely to happen until I turn 75.

Anyway! These distressed patent leather boots with silver and red grommets, suede buckles, crystals, and decorative back zips are not for wallflowers, actually they are slightly ridiculous, but of course I have developed an instant infatuation with them. Whenever I doubt my own fashion sanity, I wonder if Alexa Chung would wear them, and I think she would, with an A-line mini and a T-shirt perhaps. Only the very cool possess the nonchalance needed to get away with so much deliberate design detail.

And that's probably not me. Good night from Hong Kong. 

I love the simplicity of Chanel summer make-up

Just a bit of SPF and something to define the eyes - and you're all done.

I normally wear Armani make-up, but when I want SPF I like this Chanel foundation better. I stumbled upon sales girl Hecky Li at IFC Chanel when I went there to buy a birthday present. She suggested this foundation to me, and she gave me great advice, without the urgent need for truth telling one can encounter in Hong Kong at times (you are old, you are fat, you have wrinkles).

In winter I like to play with eyeshadow, but that melts away in seconds in a Hong Kong summer. Chanel's Stylo Yeux Waterproof is much easier to apply than liquid eyeliner, but is just as intense in color and long lasting.

The John Derian tray was a gift from a good friend, and immediately became one of those objects that make a house a home. I have written about my fascination with provenance before (HERE), and this tray will always remind me of my friendship and my time in Hong Kong.

I stalked some baby blue Gucci shoes on Queen's Road today

How great is this girl's outfit?  The loose beige trousers and the very casual heather blue T-shirt are the perfect compliment to the more dressy patent leather and pearl Gucci pumps.  And so perfect for a hot summer's day in a rather formal city. 

OOTD on a very hot day on The Peak (34 degrees, but feels like 42 according to the forecast)

Since when did HK get this hot? With T-shirt or without? LMK, please

J.Crew shorts (find them HERE)

Top Shop camisole (find it HERE)

J.Crew sleeveless T-shirt (old)

Prada flats (old)

A last holiday post before life in Hong Kong resumes as normal: San Fran via Carmel and Palo Alto

The beach at Carmel.

Stanford University - I desperately want my children to go here!  I think California has given me sun stroke.

A hilly neighborhood with the Transamerica Pyramid Center in the background.

San Francisco is both very grand and very picturesque.  I visited 20 years ago and didn't love it.  But this time we walked miles and miles, and there is no better way to see a city properly.

Some very pretty houses on Chestnut Street, on our way to yet another Brandy Melville shop in the Cow Hollow neighborhood of San Fran.  My daughter is properly addicted and spent every cent of the Benjamin we gave her for spending money at the Brandy Melvilles in Newport, Santa Monica, The Grove, and Cow Hollow.  Strangely enough the shop there had T-shirts saying "The Peak, Hong Kong", from where I write to you this morning.

San Fran from the piers.

I was surprised about how tropical San Fran looks.

The famous "Painted Ladies".

The Bay Bridge leading to Oakland.

San Francisco Moma

The San Francisco MOMA has a special graphic design exhibition. It is fantastic.

Uniforms and German descriptions of where and when they should be worn.

An intensely red ladies room and a rare selfie.

I could have spent hours here but husband and kids had had enough by the time we got to the top of the museum and found this amazing exhibit. I must go back obviously - I feel a girls trip coming on.

Snaps from the Pacific Coast Highway

LA is beautiful, part 59

A seemingly random Kanye

The gardens of the Getty Villa in Pacific Palisades

Blue Star Donuts, old school donuts going high end with a stupidly high price tag

Early evening in Santa Monica

Painted walls everywhere - this one on Abbott Kinney in Venice

Joan's on Third - a super delicious deli near Anine Bing's fab store

Wall decorations everywhere - again on Abbott Kinney in Venice.  I love the creative spirt of LA

The Venice Canals - idyllic, but my friend John says "a bit whiffy" at the end of summer

A random back street in Venice

Two Craftsman houses between shops on Abbott Kinney in Venice

More wall paint.  I LOVE LA

Jergens Natural Glow

I bought a tube of this moisturizer with gradual self-tan at Target the other day.  It was actually a bit annoying that the Target we visited had only this brand which I had never used before - but actually, it is so amazing that I am going back and stocking up.  The color is beautiful!  Like a real tan!  Second best self tan I have ever bought (first was a product by Decléor, now unfortunately discontinued).

LA: the easiest place to get dressed in the world

Just throw on a skirt, a T-shirt and some flip flops. And don't forget sunglasses.

Isabel Marant Étoile skirt

Madewell cropped black pocket tee (these are brilliant)

Ray-Ban Caravan sunglasses

Havaianas flip flops

Eating my way through California

Only in California can a bit of brown rice, seaweed, some avocado and raw tuna taste this good.

The obligatory palm tree shot.

Another all veg dish - tasted better than any meat dish I have ever had before.

Thankfully my new J.Crew shorts still fit me. Shirt by Bash.

La Jolla Cove.

Oscar's Mexican Seafood in La Jolla.

One day I ate both breakfast and lunch at Oscar's Mexican Seafood - Screw You Donald Trump.

Lunch time fish and shrimp tacos. I would have eaten dinner here as well if it weren't for the fact I am now in Santa Monica.

Best Views in Hong Kong: Café Gray at the Upper House Hotel

49th floor view from my favourite booth at Café Gray with the tall skinny ICC building on the left

Finally not feeling so blue anymore

I thought of Bora (read about her HERE) so much these last two weeks; wondering how she is doing and what she is wearing. And then she found me on instagram (@hendricahubertina), and I found her right back. Bora is as always looking glamorous and living fashion to the fullest.

I, on the other hand, have been walking around with greasy hair, dirty clothes, feeling overwhelmed by circumstances and barely able to leave the house. It's just as I said when I first received Bora's photo: fashion falls by the wayside so quickly when I am stressed, but yet it's fashion that would have made me feel stronger and more confident while dealing with the issues at hand.

It was only this morning at 6.15 that I jumped out of bed thinking I must do a post before I leave. I think that means I am better - or maybe it just means I am ready to fight back. Either way, this is what I am wearing today. See you soon from California.

  

Silk top by J.Crew Collection

Lace up flats by J.Crew

Culottes by Hyke (buy at I.T in Hong Kong, see website HERE)