Magical Skyscraper Land: Hong Kong

Hi guys,

You have probably noticed from my Instagram that I recently went to Hong Kong for the first time ever. It was a short trip, but it certainly didn’t lack in anything.

So here are my tips for what to do in Hong Kong.

Hong Kong is just a short fight away from Singapore, making it a prime spot for any city lover residing in Singapore.

I had to take this huge suitcase with me for all those new and cool things I was gonna buy in Hong Kong. And yes, this was very clever!

Tip number 1: Bring an extra suitcase

Hong Kong was always at the top of my list and so I was super excited to go there. Cant say I started planning for the trip far ahead, it was all very last minute.

All I knew was that I had to try local food, check out the malls and walk around Hong Kong for as long as it takes to form an opinion of this awesome city.

Getting there was fast and easy. The airport is as efficient as Changi and there was no taxi queue so we literally walked right into a cab. And I gotta say it didn’t take long to impress me. All those green tropical hills, islands and light fog was quite enchanting. I love the feeling of space in general, but this just seemed like another planet. The skyscrapers hiding behind the hills, endless bridges, islands, I felt like I was high above the ground even though I was in a cab.

Tip number 2 – do take a cab from the airport, you wont regret it.

Another thing that struck me was construction work everywhere. I am not complaining here, I just didn’t expect to see as much road works and construction sites. Hong Kong is definitely still growing at a really fast pace.

As we got closer to the hotel, it felt much more like a city and less of a magical skyscraper land. We stayed in Central area. Boasting more mirrored glass skyscrapers than I could possibly imagine, Central is paradise for the modern architecture lovers as well as members of the skyscraper appreciation society like myself. LOL

The area also has a lot of restaurants and shopping malls. So plenty to do here.

Waking up to this view felt truly magical.

My tip number 3 – if budget allows, stay in Central

and enjoy what it has to offer. I loved how everything was walking distance (relatively speaking). I enjoy walking and the weather was perfect so we walked all around Sheung Wan and Soho areas.

Navigating around a new city is always a pain, so our first stop was a 7-eleven. Got the SIM cards, activated a data package and off we went.

Tip number 4 – get a sim card and stop yourself from getting lost!

We got ours in a 7-eleven inside one of the metro stations (MTRs).

First things first – I really wanted to see Sheung Wan and Soho. Partly because of the history of the areas, partly because of convenience we went there first. I gotta say it is a very eclectic place. Just a crazy mixture of everything. Imagine walking down the road and seeing a traditional chinese medicine store next to a designer boutique, then a calligraphy store and then a deserted shop and an expensive restaurant. I was constantly like “What the hell”. In other words: unpredictable, must see, quirky, do not take it too seriously.

Tip 5: walk around Sheung Wan and Soho. Wont take long, will no doubt surprise you.

If you are a big fan of shopping malls and just cant get enough, you should definitely try IFC. It is a lot of walking, a lot of designer stores, the biggest high street names as well as an unusual amount of mid range stores, which are so rare. You will need deep pockets if you want to buy several pieces here, but if you have saved up for a quality piece this is a perfect place.

If you have a day or more to spend on shopping, you should head straight to Tsim Sha Tsui or TST. This whole area is basically one giant shopping mall, incredible variety of items, lots to see and just an incredible experience all together. Miles and miles of walking in and out different stores will definitely tire you out, but hopefully you will pick up some awesome stuff along the way.

Tip 6: wear your most comfortable shoes. They are your best friends in HK.

If this is still not enough shopping for you, try Times Square and the surrounding area. I found a lot of quirky Japanese items in this area 🙂

In terms of food Hong Kong is no doubt a paradise. With so many amazing restaurants to choose from, we were really lost and decided to go with some recommendations first.

Mott 32 was amazing. I love the dark lounge atmosphere and it is always nice to be escorted to your table by a beautiful hostess.

The food was delicious, modern Chinese is the best I can describe it, traditional flavours with a modern spin, well presented and delicious. Had crispy duck and these little pork and cucumber rolls.

A very romantic place, perfect for a date with your loved one.

Now the next place was really quite something. I wanted to try local food from the start and what is better than a traditional tea house? One of the oldest ones in Hong Kong – Lin Heung Tea House in Wellington street. It was definitely an experience…first of all you kinda have to wash your own cups and chopsticks here. Secondly, you have to speak Chinese to order. Thirdly, all tables are large and round and so you have to just join people at their table. Only locals here, I haven’t noticed a single tourist. The food is all worth it though, the pork soup was delicious, the egg noodles where the best I had, dim sum was full of flavour too.

Tin Lung Heen was another restaurant we tried in Hong Kong. Couldn’t resist having crispy duck again and of course tried the dim sum too. I have to say this place is a bit overrated, the food was not as amazing as TripAdvisor promised, but the view from 102nd floor was to die for.

I have to say my favourite thing about Hong Kong is the view at night. Paired with some cocktails and a cheese platter it is truly unbeatable.

I will be back soon!

Trend Report: Japanese-Inspired Fashion

This 2015 a lot of designers looked to the East for inspiration, specifically Japan. The land of the rising sun definitely has no shortage of beautiful landscapes, unique art, and cultural heritage and history to draw from. Designer runways, from Alexander McQueen to Tibi, prominently featured design details directly drawn from Japanese culture and tradition.

I love how designers translated Japan’s heritage into wearable and fashion-forward pieces that every woman would love to wear. I, for one, would love to own something Japanese-inspired. The East meets West aesthetic is just so modern to me. Here is my take on Japanese style for Singaporean designer Silvia Teh. Click here for the full fashion spread that I previously blogged about. Here are some of my favorite looks from the shoot:

There are 4 styles that characterize this trend: origami detailing, tied/obi belts, kimono silhouettes, and japanese print motifs.

Silvia Teh’s design certainly reflect all 4 of those trends. I mean, how amazing is that wave print on the jacket? I also loved that navy kimono vest tied with an obi belt as well as the piece with an origami ribbon detail around the chest.

Here’s a closer on look on the 4 key pieces that comprise this hot trend:

Origami Details

Architectural and sculptural folding details are being integrated into runway looks this season. Instead of dressing up your clothes with jewelry, why not be progressive and opt for origami detailing that lends your look a futuristic yet sophisticated appeal? Margiela’s approach interprets origami via silhouettes that emulate origami’s stark folds and calculated proportions.

 Dasha Gauser // Image from DesignerCentral

Maison Margiela // Image from Vogue

Kimono Style

Probably the most wearable out of all the Japanese-inspired fashion trends, kimono styles easily translate from one season to another. Keep an eye out for exaggerated sleeves, billowy fabrics, and wraparound silhouettes. What’s great about kimono styles is that it’s flattering to most figures and can be styled for either casual outings or fancier events.

Herve Leger // Image from Lollipuff

Copyright © 2013 infinitas.
Article Photo for Denim Jeans Observer
http://www.denimjeansobserver.com
All brands, product names, corresponding products, supplementary materials, graphic or photographic images, licenses, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

WHYRED // Image from Denim Jeans Observer

Copyright © 2013 infinitas.
Article Photo for Denim Jeans Observer
http://www.denimjeansobserver.com
All brands, product names, corresponding products, supplementary materials, graphic or photographic images, licenses, registered trademarks, trademarks and service marks are the property of their respective owners.

GIG COUTURE // Image from Denim Jeans Observer

Tied/Obi Belt

To look more in the know, swap out your leather and metallic belts for fabric belts that you can easily tie around your waist. It adds an air of chic nonchalance to your look, and it feels so on trend. You can choose thicker or thinner bands depending on your figure. If you’re looking to make more of a bolder statement, look for the full-on wide obi belts.

Image from FashionMio

Japanese Print Motifs

Be on the lookout for vintage-looking Oriental flora print or ancient art inspired prints. It’s patterns like this that will make you stand out head and shoulders over the fashion pack. Consider this the more high fashion alternative to your typical prints.

Image from Trendspotter

Silvia Teh meets SWK

	Fashion Designer:	Silvia Teh
	Photographer:	Cheryl Ho
	Styling:	StyleWithKate
	Model:	Kate Khar

 

Supereasy breakfast for 2

Morning!

Just wanted to share my super easy breakfast with you guys.

Since I always wake up VERY hungry I prefer to go for an easy and fast breakfast. Most of the times I have my lazy oats 😉 

Occasionally, I want something warm and cheesy and that is when I whip out the pan.

This healthy breakfast takes minutes to prep and cook.

First of all I chop a few cherry tomatoes and some sweet pepper and sometimes sweet chilli pepper for added spice. Quickly fry it in some olive oil, literally for 1 minute. 

Then add 3 eggs, don’t worry this is for 2 people! Wait about a minute or 2 and mix it.

Then sprinkle some cheese on top, and this is a real bad time to be greedy. Its breakfast, a few extra calories won’t hurt, so add extra cheese and enjoy the taste. I have used mature cheddar here.

Give it a minute to melt, fold the mixture over itself and voila! All ready to plate up.

Throw some crunchy salad leaves, sprinkle some virgin olive oil and balsamic, or whatever you feel like having and put the “lazy omelette” on top.

Add some pepper to taste, and if you like it salty add some salt or even more cheese! I’m always generous with cheese so there is never any need for extra salt.

Bon appetit! 

Back to Black

Just how chic is black?

In my personal opinion, very. Always been, always will. And it is backed by research! See the results here.

So rock the black and forget all those doubts. Black is always hot. Whether you are going to an interview, first date or just going about your everyday activities it adds confidence and chic to your look.

Here is an all-black-look I put together: 

Perfect for that important meeting or as an everyday look for a lady boss.

A handbag can dramatically change your look, you can instantly go from a in-office manager to an international sales executive. So tread carefully and choose exactly the look that suits you and your position. 

Adding some color won’t ruin the all-black look, on the contrary it will give it extra contrast and emphasise your style. Be brave!

Don’t forget about hair and makeup. Opt for natural colors to freshen up your face and make you look rested and full or energy. For hair, a simple up-do is perfect for work. It is easy, convenient and requires just a few minutes. Hair down will always look great, but requires a blow-out, so if you want to save time, an up-do is your thing.

Have a great Wednesday!

Ma-Ga giveaway

Is it your lucky day?

You could be the winner of the stunning ‘BILLY BONES’ WATCH: BROWN STRAP & GOLD worth over $180!

StyleWithKate is hosting a giveaway for Ma-Ga London. This awesome British brand is known for their quality and attention to detail. So don’t miss out on the opportunity to get your hands on one of their most coveted item – the Billy Bones Watch.

What you have to do?

1. Follow @Ma_Ga_London on Instagram2. Post a photo on Instagram and tag 5 of your friends

3. Hashtag your post #MaGaLondon and #swkMaGa

It is that easy!

Everyone is eligible to enter. As long as you live on Earth you can be the winner!

Try your luck in the next 4 weeks and by the end of October you could be taking those photos with the watch already on your wrist!

The winner will be announced on @stylewithkate on the 15th of October.

Good luck!

Hottest Denim Trends

If there is one thing we can be sure of is that denim will be a mainstay in our closet. From your everyday jeans to your staple denim jacket, the timelessness and rugged casual vibe of denim can’t be beat.

You probably have lots of jeans and a couple of non-pants denim pieces like a denim shirt or skirt, and you probably have trendy styles like wide leg jeans and boyfriend jeans. But I’m here to tell you all about the hottest denim trends that you absolutely must-have. This is your guide to fashion forward denim this coming season.

Patchwork Denim

Blame it on the 70s trend that is taking over. Patchwork denim is having a major moment. From rebel denim patches a la Leigh Lezark or going full patchwork with a shirt and jeans like Miroslava Duma, patchwork denim is an exceptional way to get on your denim A game. I also love how Annabelle Fleur of Viva Luxury wore her patchwork denim, with a classic camel trench. That’s the key to making this trend work, tone down the boho feel of patchwork with pieces like leather jacket and ankle booties.

Denim Overalls

Take it back to the old school and get nostalgic with a pair of denim overalls. This isn’t for the kindergarten playground anymore. Star blogger Chiara Ferragni of The Blonde Salad wore an embellished denim jumper that looks so stylish, especially when paired with a bright hued cross body. You can also opt to let the overalls hang loose around your waist like Gwen Stefani, it gives such a rocker feel! As Alexa Chung does airport chic with a denim jumper and a trench coat and Selena Gomez rocks a crop top for a cute festival look, you can definitely see how versatile this piece can be.

White Denim

No white jeans after Labor Day? Nah. Feel free to throw fashion rules out the window this season, and prepare for the white denim trend takeover. You can wear this typical summer staple well into fall/winter, it all depends on the styling. Consider white denim as your new go-to season transition piece.

Take a cue from Lauren Conrad, wear it with a fuzzy knit and a top knot for an easy laid-back look. I also love how Alessandra Ambrosio kept the camel color palette of her ensemble consistent resulting in a polished chic look.

Love street style? Give your white denim some global style attitude. Try some colorful fur or menswear inspired styling.

Denim Skirts

Denim skirts are making a major comeback. It’s not about mini skirts in the 00s. It’s all about slim pencil-like silhouettes with either a sexy slit or a button-down front. Sleek and modern, reach for figure-hugging denim skirt styles that end at the knee. Get inspired by Olivia Palermo and Poppy Delevingne, and keep the rest of your outfit simple. Reach for statement shoes to finish off the look though, check out Olivia’s lace up heels and Poppy’s glittery sandals.

Other alternative denim skirt styles to try: high-waist distressed denim minis and denim midi skirts.

Frayed Denim

Cutting edge fashion bloggers like Man Repeller and Fashion Eaters rarely get trends wrong. Frayed denim is the latest blues that it girls are wearing. Instead of cuffed and distressed, frayed hems just give your look an undone cool look. Balance this effortlessly casual trend with more structured items like block-heeled ankle boots, cap-toe ballet flats, and a leather top handle satchel.

Bleached/Tie-Dye Denim

Whether you choose to DIY this denim trend or not, bleached and tie-dye denim is the new must-have wash. Balance this trendy piece with classic items to avoid looking a fashion victim. Check out how these street style stars style this piece, you might get an idea or two.

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Which denim style are you loving? So hard to choose just one, I want ’em all!

Substantial Salads

10 ideas on how to make your salad taste good

We all know salad are good for you, we all know we gotta eat it, yet why does nobody ever bother to make it taste good?

Why do people just throw some greens on your plate and call it salad?! 

Lets stop that! Now!

Who said salads have to be boring? Healthy doesn’t have to be boring, and neither does your salad! So use your imagination and improvise. Add some ingredients that will spice things up a bit. Or a lot!

1. Avocado

Feel like having more than the standard 5-a-day? Start adding some avocado to your salad. This nutritious vegetable is tasty, goes well with anything and always makes your salad taste good. Add a generous amount!

2. Lentils

I am a huge fan of lentils, but certainly not the only one. Lentils will add some bite to your salad and help keep you fuller for longer. They also contain iron that can be hard to find, but is so essential for your body. Lentils are still carbs, so don’t go crazy! Alternatively use quinoa, buckwheat or barley.

3. Cucumber

Why not add a bit of juicy crunch to your salad? Cucumber offers a just that and tastes very refreshing – all at no extra cost. That is – zero calories. (Some even call cucumbers a negative calorie food)

4. Sun dried tomatoes 

Tomatoes are delicious in all forms and I am sure most people with think of adding fresh tomatoes to their salad, but what about sun dried tomatoes? They are just so lovely in salads as well as other dishes and bring so much flavour with them. Try it!

5. Gherkins

This one might be an acquired taste, but if you are into salty vinagary things you will definitely enjoy it in your salad.

6. Cheese

Goat cheese, mozzarella, roqefort, Philadelphia cheese or any indeed any cheese that you like is guaranteed to make your salad tasty. Just mix it in with your dressing and you have yourself a perfect salad.

This is completely fool-proof.

7. Apple

If you feel like adding some sweetness to your salad why not go with juice red apple chunks? You can also try blueberry or rhubarb or indeed anything else you like. 

Good idea right?

8. Nuts or seeds

Nuts are a great way to transform a salad into a full meal. By adding just a few nuts you probably double the total calories. With that you add some omega-6 fatty acids and other nutrients as well as a hell of a lot of extra flavour. Great way to spice things up.

9. Dressing

Dressings can be tricky, but don’t get discouraged. The simplest way would be to mix some olive oil with a dash of balsamic vinegar and some lemon juice. If you don’t mind the smell, add tiny pieces of freshly cut onion or chives. If you don’t like olive oil try macadamia, almond or sunflower oil instead. At the end of the day it is just mixing 🙂

10. Grilled veggies 

Have a few pieces of roasted sweet peppers left over from last night? Maybe some grilled aubergine or courgette? Throw it right it!

There’s a few solid salad ideas you can use. Share your own ideas with everyone in the comments below!     

   

Giveaway

Hi guys,

This week I am hosting a giveaway for Serene Sky Boutique!

The lucky winner is going to get a $25 voucher from Serene Sky Boutique.

Want to know what you can get? Check out shopserenesky.com. My favourite piece is this little necklace. It is just so elegant and lovely! It is super easy to match and it always catches everyone’s attention.

How to win:

Step 1: Enter your email in Rafflecopter Giveaway
Step 2: Check your email to see if you are the lucky winner.
Step 3: Good Luck!

The winner is going to be announced next week and will receive the voucher immediately.

Why not try your luck?

How I cut back on carbs

I am about to venture into an entirely different territory here – food. Food bloggers, don’t worry, I won’t be taking up your space at all. I will be talking about food as part of a healthy lifestyle.

Here goes the first of its kind – the Food post.

 

Ever since I first started wondering about which food is good and which is not, the question “what shall I eat” have never really left my mind.

 

 

As a teenager going through that sensitive stage between 13-16 years old the purpose of food was shifting from “just eat whatever to feel full” to “just eat whatever doesn’t make me fat”.

 

It was a really long pursuit with lots of trial and error, but eventually I figured out that sugar makes you fat. And soon after that the real culprit was out – carbs.

 

Overnight carbs became my sworn enemy.

I remember thinking “OK. So that’s easy, just minimise the carbs and life is perfect”.

Not. So. Fast.

The week that came after the day I started reading the labels on all the foods that I were eating became the most horrifying week ever. I won’t take the risk of sounding negative here, so I will just call it the “The Week of Enlightenment”. During this week all the skeletons were coming out the closet. And there was a huge number of them, far more than I realised. By the end I was so “enlightened” that I just wanted to curl up and die. Almost everything I ate was either super high or high in carbs. There was almost nothing left that fitted my new criteria of “low/no carb”.

 

What was I going to eat from now on?! 

Hoping for an easy way out, I decided to just give it all up. I thought if I give up everything all together it will be easier to grieve and survive this loss. I lasted till dinner time. At around 7 my blood sugar level was so low I had to eat something sweet and fast. I could not even think of anything else at all. It was all like FOOD FOOD FOOD SUGARRRRR. On repeat. So this strategy was never going to work.

 

 

My next strategy which proved slightly more successful was to burn off all the carbs that I eat doing exercises. I liked exercises and really didn’t mind doing more, I also liked carbs, so this strategy sounded like a win-win. To my dismay it really didn’t work. The reality was that to burn off all the calories I was consuming I had to exercise for 5-8 hours a day. I tried to google the most generous estimates of how many calories are burned during exercise and even then it still meant I had to exercise 5 hours a day.

I lasted 2 days.

 

 

After trying a wide variety of stupid strategies and feeling complete exhausted I finally took a first step on the road of low carb life – made a reasonable plan. The plan was very simple and looked something like this:

Super duper plan
To replace:	Replace with:
cereal (high sugar)	oat porridge with blueberries
sweet yogurt	natural yogurt with fresh banana chunks
chocolate bar	apple or orange
bowl of pasta	spinach salad with lentils and goat cheese
…	…

Schedule

Replace cereal by 7th of September

Replace sweet yogurt by 14th of September

…

I stuck to my guns on this one. And it worked.

 

Of course, I still eat some carbs. It is a small amount and it always comes “sugarcoated” in lots of fiber. I shall keep the details for a future post 🙂

 

 

In the mean time, if you want to cut out some carbs from your diet you can make a plan and get started.

 

Good luck!