Top: View from Victoria’s Peak
Bottom: Best dessert ever! Coconut milk with different kinds of sweet jelly, Almond milk with mango, banana, apricots and jelly that looks like fish eyeballs (but not!).
_____
Hong Kong is now my all time favorite city in the world! The lively vibe of the city, the incredible food that exists everywhere at anytime of the day, the fantastic shopping with the best prices and I didn’t feel so short walking around in flats all day. I was never much of a solo traveller but this time around I had the best time! I would walk around and see a huge line in front of a restaurant and I took it as a sign to go wait with everyone. Once I waited a full hour, only to be seated in a tiny table across of a much older man who was also sadly a party of one. There was an uncomfortable silence all night long but the food was worth it, almost like a bad date with great food. I followed all his orders which I’m sure he thought was creepy. But he was from HK and I don’t know anything about HK food! With the best recommendations from Izzy (who writes one of my favorite blogs, The Dandy Project) I knew exactly where to go shopping. My all time favorite place that I hit three times was IT in Silvercord, which like Izzy said is the best edited mall I’ve ever been to. Mall culture is huge in HK and it’s not just for teens like here in the states. There are some amazing food and incredible shopping in these centers. Some are so huge and incredible that you can spend a whole day wandering around getting lost.
Top: View from Star Ferry going across from Kowloon to Hong Kong Island (the whole time I was there it was cloudy and foggy).
Bottom: Tofu pudding with fruit on top and dry ice for effect. I ordered this alone at a resturante and it was such a flashy dessert everyone was starring at me going “owwww”/Congi with very unidentifiable meat.
When I wasn’t shopping and eating, I spent my time at the the tailors. I picked two tailors: Soong Salon being on the more expensive side and David’s Fashion on the cheap. I gave Soong Salon my pricey fabrics that I brought from NY for the more classic wear (my kinda of classic not the generic) and gave David’s Fashion the more experimental designs. I was able to take my finished items from Soong Salon, but since I had too many orders from David’s Fashion they are going to mail me my order in about two weeks. When I receive my items in the mail and they are up to the promised standards I will write about them.
Soong Salon was worth the price, as my three pairs of pants and shirt came out beautifully. Jimmy, one of the owners, a quiet and sweet man who looked like my grandfather was there to greet me and take my orders. I spent the next two hours going over all of my sketches and reference photos to help him see my exact vision. I was so specific even to the number of belt loops on my pants. I can be aggressively annoying when it comes to my clothes, but I did manage to get a smile in once or twice during the conversation. I think he found me amusing as I would almost dance around in his shop showing him how it should drape and flow— grabbing all sorts of embarassing body parts. I went in for 3 fittings (in two days) which is necessary if you are making anything that is form fitting. In the beginning, they paired one deisgn with the wrong fabric but they were able to fix it right away. I will be posting our perfect creations in the next few days to share. Most tailors in HK, including Soong, usually make business suits for women and men but I was able to have them create very modern clothes. You just have to know exactly what you want and have the perfect reference photo or sketches. They kept saying…I’ve never seen pants like this before. I highly recommend them. Going to Hong Kong and not getting something custom made is like taking the cheese off your pizza.
Soong Salon de Mode: 2/F Flat A, Hanchung Mansion, 8-10 Hankow Rd, Kowloon, 00 852 2723 1400.
on May 8th, 2009 at 10:59 am
Thank you for sharing your experiences. I’m looking forward to read more about your time in HK. I will move to HK in a couple of weeks for several months, so I’m very grateful for every recommendations.
May I ask you how much did you pay for your tailored items? I’m thinking of getting something tailored as well but the offer of tailors are so huge in HK and it’s hard to find out which tailor is worthy his money or which can give you the best offer in terms of quality and price.
on May 8th, 2009 at 11:34 am
I remember my first time in HK too, everything was so amazing to me – must’ve been the density & the wonderful mix of different things. HK remains one of my favourite cities in the world & I’m so glad you enjoyed it!
on May 8th, 2009 at 11:48 am
where did you get that dessert in HK? they look sooo good!
on May 8th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
OMG the desserts look SOO good. I’m craving the coconut milk w/ jelly…mmm. I think that’s definitely a good way of telling whether a restaurant is good or not: the crazy line. Thanks for sharing your wonderful experiences. Hong Kong sounds like a blast!
on May 8th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
I love HK! It’s been too long since I’ve been! When I was in Asia last year, my day-stop in HK really doesn’t count hehe. Anyway… glad you loved HK so much!
I too love getting clothes tailor-made in Asia. I have yet to find a really good tailor (I went to a couple in Shanghai when I was there last year) but next time I’m there, I’ll have to do some more research on where to go! I can’t wait to see the experimental designs you had made.
on May 8th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
This is the most random comment ever but I really like the font on Soong Salon’s logo. It’s quite different! At least from what I’ve seen where I live.
I love reading about travels abroad. Hopefully someday I can visit too.
on May 8th, 2009 at 3:26 pm
Glad you enjoyed Hong Kong! One of my favourite cities in the whole world and of course my hometown
That’s hilarious that you ordered that flashy dessert and the restaurant was gawping… I so want to do that when I get back this summer hahaha xoxo
on May 8th, 2009 at 5:16 pm
OMG! I had to stop reading your post to tell you that that Coconut dessert is making me drool right now! What I would do for a dessert like that right now…
-Gisela
http://www.heightsoffashion.typepad.com
on May 8th, 2009 at 5:51 pm
Ooh! Can’t wait to see the finished tailored results
I haven’t been to HK since ‘83, am sure it’s completely different now, thanks for sharing these!
xx
on May 8th, 2009 at 5:57 pm
Wow, what I wouldn’t do to be able to have my clothes custom made at a tailor! I can’t wait to see the finished pieces!
on May 8th, 2009 at 7:54 pm
Gosh, where is this IT mall? Would love to visit hk again this year
I only heard of the IFC mall….
on May 8th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I was laughing while reading your recounting of your HK tailor experience, I totally see myself in you! I, too, am aggressively annoying (or even annoyingly agressive) but having built a good relationship with my tailor, I can joke around with him especially when I’m haggling for a price. Two thumbs up for attention to detail though! Pairing one design with the wrong fabric—always happens! “They kept saying…I’ve never seen pants like this before.”—same here, especially now that I’m becoming more experimental with my projects; I’m “designing” more than just having things copied.
And yay! I’m incredibly pleased my Hong Kong shopping tips served you well. I look forward to seeing all your new stuff from IT. By the way, Juan, I think the IT mall she is referring to is called Silvercord Mall on Canton Road, which houses both the low and high-end lines of the IT boutique, along with APC, D-mop, and others.
on May 8th, 2009 at 9:21 pm
so glad i can live vicariously through your travels! can’t wait to see the finished products!
on May 8th, 2009 at 10:32 pm
thanks dandy
would visit it when I’ve a chance again
sighh…i really miss hong kong now.
The honeymoon desert makes me drool.
on May 9th, 2009 at 6:48 am
The FarEast is always a great source of inspiration and is great for doing research. I’ve been 2 times in Shanghai and I know very well the chain of IT shops. When I went, I was very impressed to see how fashionably dressed were girls on the streets, very creative and unique. Sorry but I have not understood well, perhaps are you launching your own clothing line?
on May 9th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
HK is great indeed! I’m very curious for how your projects turned out!!
x!
on May 9th, 2009 at 6:47 pm
YAY. You’re finally there. I am so excited to see your other posts of Hong Kong. I don’t know if you’ve already been there, but there is mall in Mongkok called Langham Place and there is a lot of great shops in there, including I.T., D-mop, and Password. The first two might be slightly pricey but Password has amazing garments for a very reasonable price. There is so much good food in Mongkok too. Hope you enjoy the rest of your stay in HK.
on May 9th, 2009 at 9:27 pm
those cityscapes are breathtaking! also, i’m a fan of any dessert that utilizes dry ice for effect.. looks amazing!
on May 9th, 2009 at 11:56 pm
it should be exciting to see how they turned out!
on May 10th, 2009 at 10:37 am
I haven’t been in HK, but I want the desserts. I had one of that kind in Thailand, it was so good, because it was hot there but that dessert was kind cold, so it colded me down a bit
on May 10th, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Looks like so much fun! I’m so curious to see your creations ^-^
Oh and you made me hungry with your food pictures haha!
on May 10th, 2009 at 10:07 pm
I can’t wait to see the items they made for you!!! Thanks for sharing this info by the way. I’m going to def make a visit to Soong next time I’m in HK, at the end of the yr.
on May 11th, 2009 at 3:01 am
Wow! amazing shots of the city!
There is an outfit of yours in my post today, if you do not mind,
xxx
on May 11th, 2009 at 3:24 pm
Just wanted to let you know that all of us at Acrimony love your blog!
Check out our store and our blog!
xxLinda
on May 11th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
The pictures of your desserts look so good, I really really miss the food in HK! And I love how they use fruits as well as herbs in their desserts as well, it makes me think that I am having something nourishing, despite all the sugar that I am consuming.
I can’t wait to see the finished product for your clothes!
on May 11th, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I am so unbelievably jealous! I’ve always dreamed of going to Hong Kong and having a bunch of clothes made for me…
on May 12th, 2009 at 2:05 am
Omg yum the food looks so good! I miss HK I hope I can go there at the end of this year, your post has made me miss it more =) it’s such an amazing place! xx
on May 12th, 2009 at 4:11 am
Thanks for sharing the address of your tailor.. I would love to go there and get some stuff tailored too! plus.. missing HK.. havent been there in a while…
on May 13th, 2009 at 11:43 pm
OH WOW!!
all of the desserts and the clothes look absolutely delicious!!
im sooo jealous that i didnt ge tto go
xox Kelsey
on May 19th, 2009 at 2:20 pm
Wow, it’s my dream to go to Hong Kong. The culture is so intresting and beautifull. I love your blog. xx
on May 19th, 2009 at 10:25 pm
such a great idea! tailored clothes are the best.
Hong Kong is by far one of my favorite cities too!
can’t wait to see how all the other pieces turn out
on Jun 13th, 2009 at 12:44 pm
I really like your post. Does it copyright protected?