Vivier pumps with comma heel from the  spring/summer 2005 collection. Photo by Philippe Jarrigeon While we all love our Rupert Sanderson and Sergio Rossi shoes, none of them boast the heritage that Roger Vivier does. Vivier, whose designs were referred to as the Faberge of Footwear, was credited for transforming shoe design into an art during his 60 year career. His fantastical and beautifully crafted shoes were coveted by style icons like Jackie Onassis, Brigitte Bardot, Grace Kelly and Catherine Deneuve, for whom he created the famous buckle pump to wear in the film Belle du Jour. Queen Elizabeth II even wore Vivier at her coronation in 1953. Vivier was also credited for designing the first stiletto heel for Dior in 1955 as well as the comma heel, which is a major focus of the brand’s upcoming autumn/winter collection. Sketch of Diligence bag by Bruno Frisoni (left) and the book cover by Philippe Jarrigeon The brand was resurrected in 2003 under the guidance of the insanely talented Italian designer Bruno Frisoni who has brought a fresh take to the house’s signatures while creating new icons such as the Prismick collection. Marlene shoes  from the spring/summer 2013 collection (left) are inspired by Grace Kelly (right) With such a rich history, it comes as no surprise that Vivier has launched a book that chronicles their meteoric rise from a carriage trade shoe brand to a luxury accessories house that is renowned around the world. The contents  are a treat for shoe lovers – the pages are filled with photographs of vintage shoes, rendered sketches and details of the latest designs by Frisoni. There are also a series of essays by high profile editors such as former Le Figaro fashion editor Virginie Mouzat, as well as conversations with Vivier ambassadors and muses Ines de la Fressange and Catherine Deneuve. Bruno Frisoni's mood board for the limited edition spring/summer 2013 collection. Photo by Antonin Borgeuad Until May 25, an exhibition featuring selected images from the book will be held at the Fringe Club in Hong Kong. Go and be inspired! Roger Vivier published by Rizzoli is available at all Roger Vivier boutiques. The exhibition is on from May 22-25 from noon to 10pm at The Fringe Club, 2 Lower Albert Road, Central,  Hong Kong. www.rogervivier.com

The post Roger Vivier launches book and exhibition appeared first on The D'Vine.

Highlights from Slink Jewellery's  Revival collection include the Falcon necklace (right) The older I get the more I find myself investing in beautiful jewellery that I can wear forever. Don’t get me wrong, I love chunky costume pieces (especially vintage and bold necklaces) but there’s something understated and chic about a simple pair of diamond hoops. That being said, it’s always nice when these so called “classic” pieces have an unusual edge – whether its a slightly different shape or an unexpected detail somewhere. Last year I introduced you to one of my favourite jewellery brands Slink (I have been wearing their cut-out gold earrings for years). This year they are celebrating their 10^th Anniversary and will be launching a new collection tomorrow at Kee Club. The Amira earrings (left) and Falcon earrings (right) Created by jet set designers Kiran Bharwani and Lakshmi Gulab, the latest collection Revival, is inspired by Africa. Many of the silhouettes and colours reference the country’s landscape and colours, be it the red agate earrings or the Cote d’Ivoire micro-pave diamond tusk pendant. The Falcon necklace brings to mind the bird's claws (albeit a more elegant version!) and is so versatile you can wear it with everything from jeans to a cocktail dress. My favourite however is the Amira (which means princess in East Africa) earrings – it’s an elongated hoop made from rose or yellow gold with rose cut diamonds.  The design may be simple but they are striking as soon as you put them on. Proceeds from the Revival Collection sales in Hong Kong  will benefit FilmAid Asia, so you can shop while donating to a good cause! The designers will also be showcasing their Turkish charm line and children’s collection. The Sahara earrings (left) and Cote d'Ivoire tusk pendant The Slink Trunk show is tomorrow, Monday 20 May from 3pm to 8pm at Kee Club, 6/F, 32 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong. www.slinkjewellery.com

The post Out of Africa: Slink Jewellery appeared first on The D'Vine.

HOT Cutouts Summer’s frocks are all about cut outs in strategic places from the waist to under the breastbone. Our top pick? Alexander Wang. Broderie anglais Everywhere from Chloe's pretty skirts to Pomellato's latest jewellery collection. Double slit skirts Cause one is not enough! Metallic pointy toe pumps Essential for the summer. NOT Printed jumpsuits Unless you want to be labelled a fashion clown Handkerchief skirts Otherwise known as skirts with asymmetrical hems. Not a chic look. Woven belts More backpacker than fashionista. Shimmering canvas bags Taking grandma style handbags to a whole new level.

The post What’s Hot and What’s Not this week… appeared first on The D'Vine.

I know everyone is always gushing over Kate Middleton’s style, but I think Princess Diana was far more daring and interesting. It seems that I am not the only one who thinks so, as the Princess is the subject of a new book called Timeless Icon, which is being sponsored by Italian brand Tods. The book was recently published but I managed to get a sneak peek a few months ago (in fact a selection of images are now on display at Pacific Place Atrium). A homage to Princess Diana’s inimitable style, it features a series of 130 photographs capturing her in some of her most iconic looks. What struck me the most was the fact that so much of what she is wearing still looks modern today. Like Audrey Hepburn she had her staples – white shirt, capris – but still managed to put her outfit together with finesse. Best of all, everything about her is understated – something which I feel today’s style icons are lacking especially when its all about grabbing headlines and getting more followers on instagram! Naturally a few of the images depict Princess Diana carrying her beloved Tod’s bag, which was later named the D Bag in her honour. It’s definitely one of my favourite styles and has withstood the test of time, much like her style. Since its debut in 1997, its seen several evolutions as the shape has softened . For spring/summer 2013, Tod’s has launched a new variation called the D.D. Bag, with contemporary details including more pointed corners and a zip decorated with a long leather loop (a detail only a multi-tasking woman can appreciate!) In addition to leather there are also a range of exotic skins available but for me, you can’t beat the classic in Vachetta (natural) leather. It only gets better with age. The exhibition of images is on show at L1 Atrium, Pacific Place Hong Kong until May 19. Buy Timeless Icon online.

The post Timeless Icon: Tod’s pays homage to Princess Diana’s Style appeared first on The D'Vine.

The Anya Hindmarch bespoke store in London I first met designer Anya Hindmarch 10 years ago and have been a fan of her bags ever since.  While most handbag brands unabashedly use the word “luxury” to describe their offerings, Anya’s products have, since the beginning, always embodied the true meaning of the word. She is one of the few accessory designers who have been able to outlast the “it” bag cycle thanks to her discreet, beautifully made and timeless designs. Every season they come with a fashion twist or surprise, making them all the more special. When Anya launched her Bespoke Store in London two years ago, I wasn’t surprised. A natural extension to her seasonal collections, the space is entirely dedicated to personalisation. Every product in there – and there are many, ranging from wallets and jewellery boxes to wash bags – can be personalised with everything from initials and photographs to personal messages in the customer’s actual handwriting. Every item comes with old fashioned touches that are so Anya – evening bags have dance cards, wallets come with a lucky penny and all travel items feature a lucky Saint Christopher card tucked away inside. For that final touch, the item is packaged in a box with the customer’s name on it. The Bathurst bag (left) can be customised with a hand-written message (right) Up until now Anya Hindmarch Bespoke has only been available at her London boutique, but now Hong Kong customers can personalise selected styles from her spring/summer 2013 collection. You can have your initials embossed on handbag straps, or place a handwritten message and your name inside your bag (there are 12 colours to choose from). Styles that have a key cover can also be customised with your own drawing. Styles that are available for personalisation in the current collection include the vintage-inspired Bathurst bag which comes with two shoulder straps; one in a contrast colour and the other in a more classic, neutral tone. The evening bag clasps can also be customised with a short word. In fact, they are my favourite part of the collection and are inspired by 18^th century trinket boxes. Some styles are inlaid with stingray while another comes with a map of New York (love!) They almost look like heirlooms with a modern fashion touch. The Duke and Duchess evening bags Oh and for an extra treat, Anya has flown down one of her master craftsmen to Hong Kong who will embossing products for customers (at various boutiques) until May 19. A made to measure wallet service is also available for men. The embossing service is available at Anya Hindmarch at The Landmark on May 15 & 16, and the Ocean Centre boutique from May 17-19. www.anyahindmarch.com

The post Anya Hindmarch Bespoke arrives in Hong Kong appeared first on The D'Vine.

Plotz autumn/winter 2013 collection While every country or local fashion organization honours their own fashion talent, there aren’t many international fashion awards that recognises designers on an international scale. For that reason, I have to give props to the International Woolmark Prize which was launched back in 1954 and that famously launched the careers of Karl Lagerfeld and Yves Saint Laurent, among many others. Although the award was re-launched last year (the prize is AUD$100,000 and a list of esteemed stockists), this year sees it expand to include more countries, including Hong Kong. Last week Woolmark held an event to announce the regional nominations for Asia, and I was very excited to see two local brands make the cut. Both labels are quite different but have a unique point of view which is why I wanted to share their work. Hopefully this is only just the beginning of local designers making their mark on a global scale. Plotz Plotz was founded in 2007 by Hong Kong born Singchin Lo, a graduate of the School of Design at the Hong Kong Polytechnic University. Lo says he was inspired to become a fashion designer because he liked the fact that fashion came without boundaries. As such his line of women’s wear is trend-defying and focuses on flattering a woman’s body through detailed patchwork and contoured silhouettes. The foundation of Lo’s work are the unique fabrics he creates himself. These are then manipulated to highlight a woman’s body, incorporating additional techniques such as pleating and ruching. The look is edgy yet feminine, but always understated as details are kept to a minimum so the fabric really shines through. His autumn/winter 2013 collection, called Hybrid, is interestingly inspired by Google Maps. Each piece of clothing is like a map, drawn out using different techniques and fabrics on one style. So you'll see inverted pleats on a brown satin dress, which later makes a reappearance  on a hot pink sweater with studs. Fold, knots and drapes create a feminine look, while the palette includes icy blue, grey, navy and hot pink. Ffixxed If you are into conceptual brands that mix fashion and art then Ffixxed is for you. The design collective was founded by Australian born duo Kain Picken (who studied art) and fashion designer Fiona Lau. They met in Berlin where they were working on an art project. In 2008 they launched the brand and immediately grabbed headlines with their wearable art which over the years has included items such as a sun visor draped with a mosquito net and a sweater made entirely from cork. Named by the New York Times as one of seven designers to watch in 2010, their style has definitely become more refined. In 2009 they moved to Hong Kong and set up a studio in a village nearby Shenzen where they do everything from sampling to production. While many of their designs still have a sculptural element to them, they are balanced out with more wearable pieces. And although the designers may not be born and bred in our city, they are inspired by objects that they encounter  here everyday, be it the wooden bead mats found in local  taxis which they transformed into vests in their spring/summer 2013 collection or the demolished buildings they see everyday. For autumn/winter they featured pieces covered in a series of colourful tiles and digital printed woven rugs that can be worn.   All their designs are unisex so there’s something for everyone – just as long as you don’t mind standing out in a crowd. www.ffixxed.com, www.xplotzx.com

The post Introducing Ffixxed and Plotz: Hong Kong nominees for the International Woolmark Prize appeared first on The D'Vine.

HOT Colour block trousers Go for wide legged styles for a fresh look.  J. Crew and Elizabeth & James (pictured)  have some fun styles. Gunmetal The metallic that rules this season. Double denim and white Break up summer’s double denim trend with white for a more modern look. Monochrome handbags Roger Vivier has some of the best... NOT Floral overload We still can’t get over Kim Kardashian at The Met! Colourful cocktail rings It’s all about bold, geometric rings instead. Rock tees Punk may be in but we are so sick of these (especially when they are bought from the market!) Sleeveless polo shirts Preppy gone very, very wrong.

The post What’s Hot and What’s Not this week appeared first on The D'Vine.

Chrysoprase and grey moonstone earrings surrounded by diamonds on black gold I first met Bridget King of Brigetta Jewellery in 2004 and since then have watched her develop into an incredibly talented designer.  I was initially drawn to her bold costume jewellery, but more recently have become a fan of her fine jewellery pieces thanks to their subtle blend of classicism with fashion forward details. To me, it’s also her meticulous attention to detail  that really sets her apart from other jewellers. Her pieces are always beautifully crafted, using the right mix of colours and materials.  She is also a total perfectionist and you can really see that in her work. Which brings me to her latest collection, which will be launched at an exclusive trunk show on May 9 at Kee Club.  While her previous pieces have centred around diamonds, the new collection goes back to her roots and features plenty of colour and organic shapes. The result is an edgy yet elegant line of earrings featuring unusual combinations of semi-precious stones ranging from moonstones, brown sapphires and opals to chrysoprase. Each pair is outlined with diamonds and set in either rose or black gold. Brown sapphire and white opal surrounded by diamonds on rose gold Since versatility and multi-functionality is what she is known for, some pairs can be detached so that you can wear the stones separately or together.  There are also more simple pieces including studs made from opals (they are perfect for everyday!) Everything is made by hand and all the stones are unique, so each pair is one-of-a-kind. Bridget has plans to expand the line and include more exotic stones moving forward. Best part is that you will be able to mix and match those with the current collection. I can’t decide between the chrysoprase/grey moonstone or the brown sapphire/white opal combinations. Or maybe I should just get both?   Opal studs Prices range from HK$5,800 to HK$12,000. The Brigetta trunk show is on Thursday May 9 from 11am to 3pm at Kee Club, 6/F, 32 Wellington Street, Central, Hong Kong. www.brigettajewellery.com  

The post Over The Moon: Brigetta Jewellery appeared first on The D'Vine.

Modern punks (from left to right): Sarah Jessica Parker, Kate Bosworth, Miley Cyrus and Anne Hathaway When I first heard that this year’s Met Ball theme was punk I knew we’d be in trouble (how many safety pins, harnesses and Mohawks can the fashion gliterrati pull off?) I was expecting some edgy outfits especially given that Moda Operandi was selling some of the designs straight off the red carpet online. As usual I was disappointed. Turns out that many ignored the dress code altogether – I’m looking at you Anna Wintour - which I thought was rude until I saw those that attempted to follow the theme. So where to begin? I am a Rooney Mara fan so I loved her white lace Givenchy dress because it was feminine with a punk edge. Miley Cyrus annoys me but her net Marc Jacobs dress was spot on, as was her hair. Anne Hathaway was also sporting a punky hairstyle and I thought her Valentino gown (circa 1992) was the perfect balance of couture and chaos. The not-so-great (from left to right): Kim Kardashian, Madonna and Beyonce Sarah Jessica Parker also gets extra points for the effort she made from her Phillip Treacy punk headpiece and Giles Deacon dress to her tartan Louboutin boots.  And while I am not a Balamain fan I thought Kate Bosworth’s spangly pink dress with a gold belt was fun (pink apparently is the official colour of the punk movement). Speaking of pink, I loved Gwyneth’s pink Valentino number with its flash of skin (no side butt this time!) I know Cameron Diaz’s blue Stella McCartney cape dress was far from punk but I love the colour and spikey gold belt. Beyonce’s floral Givenchy gown was romantic but what was with those boots underneath? It ruined the whole look for me. Ok so lets talk about the elephant (or shall I say the whale) in the room. How did Kim Kardashian squeeze into that floral Givenchy number? Rather than cover her arms she should have covered those swollen calves. Chloe Sevigny looked frumpy in Proenza Schouler (and what was with the hair wrap?) Madonna’s wig was ridiculous – she looked more like a  Japanese schoolgirl. Others who didn’t get the punk fashion memo? Ashley Olsen in a ghastly embellished orange number, Sofia Coppola who turned up in her PJs, Kristen Stewart and Jennifer Lawrence.

The post Fashion at the Met Ball 2013: From Couture to Chaos appeared first on The D'Vine.

Altewai Saome spring/summer 2013 collection Everyone knows that Hong Kong is a shopper’s paradise but recently I’ve found that shopping here has become so predictable and boring. Because of that I am always on the lookout for cool boutiques that sell under-the-radar brands you can’t find elsewhere. If you are a regular reader of this blog then you will already known about Vein, one of my favourite local boutiques that stocks a curated selection from Scandinavia’s best designers. Originally located on Star Street, they just moved to a bigger premises in Lee Gardens Two which concentrates on more fashion forward pieces with a luxurious edge. The new store is also much bigger allowing owner Melinda Wong to showcase more brands than ever before. The designers behind Altewai Saome  Which brings me to my latest obsession, Altewai Saome. Originally from Malmo, Sweden, this edgy yet luxe brand was was founded in 2009 by designers Natalia Altewai and Randa Saome and has been available at Vein since last season. While the silhouettes are sporty and futuristic what really caught my eye were the fabrics and details. The combination of high tech materials and rounded shapes bring to mind Balenciaga, with a touch of Marni thanks to the embellishments. The duo are known for fusing and contrasting several fabrics in one piece adding a cool edge to their otherwise minimalist shapes. The spring/summer collection is probably one of their strongest yet with layered looks including rounded women’s jackets and dresses, brought to life with geometric panels and colour blocking in shades of grey, pink, black and white. I tried on one of the tops decorated with silver eyelets and not only did it look edgy but it was super comfortable to wear as well. According to Melinda, Altewai Saome hopes to bring together elements of minimalistic Scandinavian design with quality craftsmanship from other parts of Europe, especially Italy where the designers previously worked. Altewai Saome spring/summer 2013 It looks like she’s onto something since the duo’s fresh style has already garnered them several awards including the Elle Award for Best Newcomer in 2012. Go and check it out – you won’t be disappointed. Vein is at Shop 121 Lee Gardens Two, 28 Yun Ping Road, Causeway Bay, Hong Kong (tel: +851 2528 4988). www.altewaisaome.com

The post Brand to Know: Altewai Saome appeared first on The D'Vine.