Fashion Fun Hanami Helsinki! Kawaii Kimono Delights with Dior Adornment Accessories

11 May 2024

Roihuvuoren Kirsikkapuisto Helsinki

Happy Hanami Helsinki 2024! Organised annually by ROIHUVUORI and SCANDINAVIA JAPAN SASAKAWA FOUNDATION at Helsinki Roihuvuoren Kirsikkapuisto, Hanami Helsinki has been the must-visit cultural May Day picnic event with dear friends under the blossom cherry trees. 
 
We Taiwanese gang prepare the Japanese biscuits, the plum liquor, lemon and peach icetea, several boxes of raisins, a bag of Taffel potato chips, of course some mini milk puffs. Taking Bus No. 80 or 82 from Herttoniemi Metro station, we prepare our disposal blankets and luckily find the spot among the fallen cherry pedals and leaves. 

For the kawaii kimono of the day, KIMONO YUKATA MARKET offers vintage kimono made of 100% Japanese silk in traditional pattern, has been supporting my delectation of festivity collection. This pastel purple pinkish in Irotomesode色留袖, is a type of Tomesode, which is a kimono characterized by its shorter sleeves, particularly at party or wedding occasions. Its elegant and graceful appearances with dyed techniques, adorned with crests/kamon紋章which determines its formality. 

May Day in Helsinki occasionally surprises us with the uncertain chilly breeze and slight drizzle, while the inner kimono and formal irotomesode layers constantly keep me genial and graceful under the uncertainty of Nordic temper. 

 

As for the Obi帯/おび, this vintage cotton and silk woven Maru obi丸帯, (one-piece obi) is the most formal type of women's obi, in length 450cm and width 35cm, weaving golden tone with traditional Japanese cranes pattern, embroidered with metal-coated yarn and foil works. Its formality is folded around a double lining, with its bulk and weight once were at their most popular during the Taishō and Meiji periods. Though Maru obi is rather difficult to tie by oneself, still quite successfully worked it out within 50 minutes, the graceful hue serves the pastel purple pinkish tone kimono perfectly well. 

Obi jime 帯締めare decorative kumihimo cords roughly 150cm tied around the obi and knotted at either the front or the back. Since obi jime can be both functional and decorative, these golden tone with purple geometrical square patterns are woven silk, with pinkish threads feature tassels at each end.

 

The traditional Japanese kimono is never ending fun to play with the designer’s accessories. For the golden detailed outlines of kimono and my rosy cheek blush makeups, DIOR Revolution earrings are distinguished by their whimsical and elegant look. Made in Germany, the gold-finish metal DIOR signature is embellished with hanging charms: a white resin pearl, a star adorned with a white crystal and a faceted white crystal, peer adorably together with DIOR iconic cotton bracelets, which embroidered with Christian Dior at front, is adjustable with handmade tassel cords, can be worn at multiple occasions, alone or stacked. Plus the DIORIVIERA bamboo fan and 100% recycled cotton kinchaku巾著/きんちゃくwith their signature Dior royal blue tone, from the goodie bag of the DIORIVIERA party of Helsinki, all can be coordinated with purple pinkish formal kimono. 

As for the geta下駄/げた, CHLOÉ canvas woody slippers embroidered with classic font logo complete with Finnish jewelry designer CHAO & EERO Bubble Ring made by Japanese freshwater pearls and 18K gold, absolutely suit the kimono of the day for under the pink sky of blossom cherry trees. 

TOP TIP 1: Mix and match gold, purple and pink tone with royal blue accessories to create a vibe touch of springtime kimono

TOP TIP 2 Collaborate the chic look by taking both vintage bargain and modern designers’ freebie goodies 

NOW APPLY Mindy15 to get 15% discount at CHAO&EERO Jewelry 

Special Thanks: Ning & Wendy

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Cuisine Crush Taipei! Cantonese Teatime, Taiwanese Duck, Korean Pancakes & Spanish Tapas to treat the Yummy Tummy

Hello Taipei! The must-have activity in Taiwan that the delicatessen and cuisine always come premium. 2024 Spring holidays provide consecutively yet another warm and comfortable week; there are fierce friends to chit chat, lovely beloved to cuddle around, and no doubt, the delicious food always makes my days.

AMBASSADOR HOTEL TAIPEI 

2F, NO. 177, LIAONING STREET, ZHONGSHAN DISTRICT, 

TAIPEI 104105, TAIWAN

Temporarily Located in Liaoning Street during the major building under reconstruction until 2028, the Cantonese brunch teatime cuisine in AMBASSADOR HOTEL TAIPEI  is highly recommended by MICHELIN. The refined Cantonese delights were seafood rice noodle rolls, deep-fried turnip cake, Hong Kong dim sum are freshly prepared by adopting traditional ingredients and methods. To add to our dining experience, pair the delicacies with a fine Taiwanese high mountain oolong tea. 

 

The history of the Cantonese teatime tradition can be traced back to the period of Xianfeng Emperor (Regin 1850-1861), who first referred to establishments serving tea as Yi Li Guan (一釐館1 cent house). These offered a place for people to gossip, which became known as teatime talk (茶話). At seated, selecting the type of tea to be served, tea is best served in hot cup to restore the temperature, and later lipping open the lid or offset the tea pot cover to signal an empty tea pot and soon the servers will refill the pot.

XIANG DUCK

XIANG DUCK is one of the most prestigious roasted duck specialized restaurants under WNAGPIN Cooperation. For the serve of four, Beijing Roasted Duck can be modified as a bit alternative way to enjoy according to the local ingredients. 

The classic Roasted Duck are from free range in the Hualien or Taitung Valley cherry duck weighing about 2.6KG, raised for 75 days, in order with the optimal body shape and fat ratio. 

On the set menu contains lotus leaf pancake, scallion, cucumber shreds, special sweet noodle sauce, duck flower pepper salt and seasonal dipping sauce. The ways to enjoy are with cane sugar dipped with crispy breast skin, a balance with the grease. For the high dense protein of lean meat of duck, serve together with flower pepper salt, and seasonal dipping sauce developed by the chef, which enhance flavorful of the taste, and wrapped either the breast skin or lean meat with the extra slim wrap, add the seasonal sauces and the vegetables, even with the cucumber shreds and green onion slices are the trendy to try on!

ZHUORI MITSUKOSHI

Where to discover an appetizing and photogenic weekend brunch? ZHUORI Wasabi Smoked Salmon Croissant Pancakes introducing the popular Korean croissant pancakes as a light savory snack. Homemade wasabi yogurt sauce  paired with smoked salmon, plus pickled purple onions and seasonal lettuce to create an healthy and tasty moments. 

 

Last but not the least, Orange and Grapefruit French Mille-feuille continues the French mille-feuille technique, a total of 288 layers of super crispy texture paired with local fresh fruits and Korean custard sauce, gives out a double lovely feeling of taste and flavor. 

PS TAPAS 

1F, No. 19, Lane 21, Section 1, Anhe Road

Taipei, Taiwan 

Operated by a group of Spanish residing in Taiwan, a hidden gem in a passage of ANHE road, PS TAPAS provides the authentic sangria, paella and churros! 

PAELLA de MARISCO originated from eastern coast of Spain, Valencia. Carefully selected local black rice to increase the strong effect in absorbing soup, for its structure remains after stewing. The seafood broth is simmered over a slow fire with a large amount of shrimps, crabs, and anchovies, paired with a super concentrated seafood squid sauce, fresh mussels, sea bass, smoked red peppers and saffron, make sure to squeeze all the essence into every grain of rice! Finally, scrape the plate and eat the crispy rice crust is the Mediterranean cultural output! 

For the desserts, CHURROS con CHOCOLATE with spicy rum chocolate sauce tantalize our taste buds, muy bien!! 

The crispy churros are handmade by kneading the dough for 1,800 seconds in boiling water to ensure the texture is perfect. The richness of rum is combined with the spiciness of dried chili peppers, and the embellishment of cinnamon turns into a smoky fuel, a multiple layer of flavors to tease after hot meals.

Special Thanks: Kuma, Cécilia, Jill, Soniya & Jenny 

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Fashion Fun Tainan! Intimissimi Silk Camisole & Trousers, Chanel Accessories Plus Chloé Cardigan & Slippers at Hayashi Department Store

Spring Holiday April 2024

Tainan Hayashi Courtyard, Taiwan

台南妳好！猶記小時候過年至爺爺奶奶台南眷村老舍，總會經過陰森詭異的嚇破膽墓地（我都會隨便抓一件毛衣遮擋視線）、一望無盡的方塊水田、還有古色古香的延平郡王祠。台南市區甚少走走逛逛，只記得母親的中學好友在市中心開了二層樓書店，我們就可以邊享受冷氣邊挑選一本東方出版社發行的亞森羅蘋偵探小說當紀念。

In April 2024, with the warmest invitation from the dear cousins, we take the TAIWAN RAILWAYS from Kaohsiung to Tainan for this unspeakable exciting long-time-no-see-nostalgia one day trip.

 

We have our meeting at Tainan Railway Station and share the palatable brunch together before Jasmine heading for her afternoon shift. The temperature of Tainan in April could reach up to 30’c, considering the walking tour without relying on bicycle or Uber, the abundant street snacks and drinks are very much needed. 

We shopped the cute souvenirs and enjoyed a bowl of bubble ice sherbet at historical HAYASHI DEPARTMENT STORE台南林百貨, which, equipped with a shrine, originally opened for public on 5 December 1932 during the Japanese Colonisation. Upon completion, the building was with state-of-the-art features of elevators, while unfortunately the brick façade was bombed by the US air force at the end of World War II. After refurbishment since 2006, this five-story department store was finally reopened on 14 June 2014. There lays a delicate courtyard, a cute podium and an artsy snack bar atop, performs the perfect area to appreciate and have the photoshoot for fashion fun. 

The outfits of the Day at Hayashi courtyard are INTIMISSIMI 100% silk royal blue camisole and trousers, which purchased separately from Vienna and Venezia stores. Founded in 1996 by Sandro Veronesi in Verona, Italy, INTIMISSIMI specializes in lingerie and pyjamas for both women and men. As being a silk material fan, sleek ankle length trousers are the perfect pair for the humid and warm season, with the coherent camisole tucking in to create a casual yet sophisticated silhouette.

CHANEL bijoux and le sac in silver are already my daily essentials during the shopping day, beloved reunion or brunch time; they perform either chic or cute elements to enhance the fun of outwear. 

In order not to expose too much of bare shoulders nor catch the rather chilly breeze during the train trip, CHLOÉ 100% wool cardigan in tulip red can be worn or draped on the shoulders; together with Woody slides in 100% cotton embroidered the logo text at Blush Beige colour tone complete the whole look of Tainan one day trip. 

TOP TIP 1: Royal blue outfits are perfect with pastel hues of accessories, together with light warm colours

TOP TIP 2: Silk materials together with light wool or soft cashmere creates a contrast of the whole outlook

Special Thanks: Jenny, Sasha & Jasmine 

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Tea Time Le Printemps! Lomonosov Tea Set & Czech Crystal Glass Serve with Carmencita Frutos Rojos & Strawberry Pocky Biscuits plus Bonne Maman Tartelettes

Le Printemps 2024

Le Printemps is calling for the le thé de haute! Let’s try the happy hour of afternoon teatime mix and match with Belgian waffles, French tartelettes, Japanese snacks together with Spanish tea. 

 

For the selection of tea set, Lomonosov Daisy Collection teacups set with design pattern in intersecting lines of 22 karat gold accents, inverted African daisies carrying the hues of royal purple and cobalt blue. Spotted the teacup pair with extra two tea saucers at price of 14 euros, later completed the set with a sugar kettle by revisiting Helsinki Secondhand on the first of May 2020. This great hunt confirms my appreciation of Lomonosov ceramics from the era of USSR period 1922-1991, with the backstamps of each masterpiece is either in cobalt blue or orange crimson LFZ monogram, stamped “Made in USSR” in red. 

Lomonosov is a producer of hand-painted ceramics based in Saint Petersburg. Also known as The Imperial Porcelain Factory, established by Dmitry Ivanovich Vinogradov in 1744 and supported by the Russian tsars since Empress Elizabeth. In 1925, in the occasion of the 200th jubilee of the Russian Academy of Science, IPF was given the name of the academy’s founder, Mikhail Lomonosov, which became recognized as Leningrad Lomonosov Porcelain Factory. 

  

For the history of Spanish Tea CARMENCITA, the founder couple Jesús Navarro Jover and his wife Carmen Valero were inspired their native Novelda, the saffron, were exported to Asia and Africa. In the 1935’s, Jesús Navarro Jover ventured to the Canary Islands and forged the family brand into the international provider of tea leaves and Spanish spices, CARMENCITA.

 

Frutos Rojos from CARMENCITA contains hibiscus sabdariffa 77%, pieces of strawberry, raspberry, cherry and elder flower 20% plus natural flavour 3%, the taste is soft and fruity, ideal for the rather sweet POCKY biscuits snacks, yellow butter waffles and chocolate caramel tartelettes. 

 

Spring teatime is always for the bites of strawberry POCKY biscuits! Invented by Yoshiaki Koma and first sold in 1966, named after the Japanese onomatopoetic word POKKINポッキン, POCKY is chocolate-coated biscuit sticks produced by Ezaki Glico. During the cherry blossom season among April and May, POCKY Japan promotes the limited edition ‘SAKURA HANAMI’: Pretzel with browned butter scent, coated with cheery milk chocolate, garnished with Japanese sea salt and granulated white sugar; its fresh sweetness is balancing the herbal base of red fruit tea from CARMENCITA. 

 

With quartz liquor glasses from Czechoslovakia transparently display the strawberry pink POCKY biscuits sticks, also clearly crystallise the crimson red and bleak black colours of SUNNY MAID raisins, enhance the hues of fruit tea and Lomonosov porcelain collection.

 

BONNE MAMAN chocolate caramel tartelettes with a velvety-smooth caramel and crunchy milk chocolate, each petite is carefully wrapped in its own little sachet to conserve all its flavour and retain its crunchy texture. Belgian JULES DESTROPPER Butter Waffles with wheat flour, sugar, 26% butter, barn eggs, corn starch, vanilla extract and sea salt. They are especially delight the taste buds pairing with Strawberry Rose black tea from THÉHUONE. Boiling the water up to 90-97’c, adding a teaspoonful of French honey, after 3-5 minutes the tea is ready to serve. 

 

Mix and match the tea and snack selection worldwide, is the most alluring experiment for the spring tea game of tastes. 

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Magazine Madness ELLE USA: Penélope Cruz es la Madre Original

ELLE USA February 2024 

Ella es una joven monja embarazada que trabaja en un refugio en Todo Sobre Mi Madre de Pedro Almodóvar, ella interpreta un hermoso sueño en la película española Abre Los Ojos de Alejandro Amenábar de 1997; Ella es la madre original, ella es Laura Ferrari y ella es la increíble vista con Brad Pitt en el comercial de Chanel.

 

Alongside with Adam Driver at Michael Mann’s FERRARI, this is not Penélope Cruz’s debut to portrait a biographical figure, and certainly not her premiere “homage to a woman in a difficult situation”, still, Cruz felt the weight of “giving Laura Ferrari a public voice for the first time”, she arrives on screen bereaved, already grieving the loss of her never recover from. Relatively Laura is subdued for Cruz’s characters she has been through, while the sorrow reflected on getting dressed in every scene, making this film as a photonegative of Cruz’s works with Pedro Almodóvar, that built on primary colours. 

 

There’s a “back-and-forth dance between fiction and reality,” which Penélope Cruz realizes her hypersensitivity on “plays into a certain stereotype” of actors, but that doesn’t make it any less true, since she has been fighting for her traumatic memories with her long-lost sister from a tragic car accident. 

 

Cruz has been a mother under the public gazes before she became an actual mother. Almodóvar saw that strong, inevitable instinct of Cruz, either her motherhood character a divorce, abandonment, an unwilling or unfertile. 

 

Under the lenses of Photographer Zoey Grossman, by adapting the soft focus, which symbolize the subtle and sweet touch of Penélope’s personalities, according to the author Sloane Crosley, Cruz excels polka dots romper by BALMAIN, glittering evening dress by VERSACE or as global ambassador of House of CHANEL, she nails perfectly either on swim top, tweed suit or collection of fine jewelry. 

As for magazine cover photography, CHANEL No°1 travel size tube 5ml serum, 2023 limited edition of high lighters, Le Vernis Boy de CHANEL, No°5 body soap and CHANEL Exclusive Eau de Parfum 5ml are the tribute to this new face of CHANEL, while the addition of AESOP travel sizes tube 20ml and CHLOÉ brass triple rings and X pedant brighten up the rather bleaker autumn season. 

Having been a fan of Penélope Cruz since Pedro Almodóvar’s Todo Sobre Mi Madre, it’s a great loss of her absence at FERRARI premiere of the 80^th Venice Film Festival. While having my holiday in Taiwan, uncontrollably, I supported an overpriced ELLE USA (420 TWD), merely in order to collect another glimpses on the fragile yet elegant of Los Abrazos Rotos.

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Fashion Fun Amsterdam! Burberry Wool Scarf, Calvin Klein Jeans, By Malene Birger Coat & Chanel Accessories

Chinese New Year 2024 
Amsterdam Canal

Happy Chinese New Year! My greatest gratitude to the CHINA AIRLINES cabin crew that though the last-minute yet the warmest invitation makes the weekend holidays rock and roll in Venice of the North---Amsterdam! 

Located in the Dutch province of North Holland, Amsterdam was founded at the mouth of the Amstel River, which was dammed to control flooding. Originally a small fishing village in the 12th century, Amsterdam became a major world port during the Dutch Golden Age, when the Netherlands was an economic powerhouse of the 17th century. Nowadays Amsterdam has been holding a long tradition of liberalism and fetishism, we gang stroll at Red Light District, dine in the freshest seafood and shop but not to drop until midnight. 

The outfits in Amsterdam during the Chinese New Year are CHANEL 54% virgin wool and 46% cotton in navy blue, with CALVIN KLEIN 100% cotton Mom’s Fit high-waist jeans in indigo blue. For the outwear, the Guldknappen Award winner BY MALENE BIRGER offers both chic and soft personalities from the essence of fine fibers. The black long coat with slightly puffy sleeves during the weekend holidays contains 34% kid mohair, 34% wool, 27% polyamide and 5 % of elastane, and the label By Malene Birger carved on the bleak buttons, bestows the Nordic design of both detailed simplicity and high quality.

 

Made in Italy, BURBERRY PRORSUM 91% wool and 9% silk long scarf presents merely the off-white Equestrian Knight logo, is one of the best bargains I hunt at FINNAVIA duty free sales. Its 188x33 cm size is easy to wrap around the neck and the shoulders or the lightweight touch is comfy to place on the taps as an instant blanket during the dining time, and the black wool fringes gives out the rather feminine touch, surely dexterously to balance the Calvin Klein baggy shape of Mom’s Fit.

 

Though in July 2024, Burberry company announced a profit warning and suspended dividend payments, while under the accusation of using Uyghur forced labour camps provided by the Sunrise Manufacture Group Cooperation for production of clothing, still, my genuinely invoke that traditional houses of fashion altogether refuse to accept the cheap offers, due to the sustainability for the environment and the support of humanity. The clients would be very pleased to appreciate the good quality of craftsmanship rather merely the surprise on the price tags.

 

As for CHANEL accessories, AW22 espadrilles in black raffia outer soles, with pastel denim, sewn in golden threads CC logo complete navy and blue tone of outfits, and the rather both thicker inner and outer soles of new materials enable me to walk smoothly without hesitation in chilly windy Amsterdam. 

 

Third time in Amsterdam, second visit at RIJKSMUSEUM, and now the first time to stay at NOVOTEL AMSTERDAM CITY, for my lovely night watch. 

TOP TIP 1: Always carry a fine cashmere sweater in case of the midnight chill during the winter trip

TOP TIP 2: Tucking the sweater inside of rolling-up baggy jeans, showing off the ankles to reduce a rather puffy silhouette

Special Thanks: Cécilia 

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Magazine Madness GQ UK: Jeremy Allen White--- The 2023-2025 Man of the Year

GQ UK December 2023 - Janauary 2024

A kid growing up in Brooklyn, the Chef of The Bear, a Golden Globe & EMMY winner, now the CALVIN KLEIN Underwear Ambassador. Born on 17^th of February, 1991, Jeremy Allen White is the most sought-after actor in film industry. In favour of renovating his 1920s cottage style house in Los Angeles for seven years, under the lenses of Photographer Luke Gilford and Stylist Michael Darlington, Jeremy teams up with BOSS crimson top and khaki trousers, conquers on the cover of GQ UK the 2024 Men of the Year issue. 

I noticed JEREMY ALLEN WHITE is not because of The Bear, but stripped down to Calvin Klein’s iconic skivvies, for the SS 2024 campaign with photographer MERT ALAS. He slouches way back on a terracotta sofa or gives the camera his best smize, together with the most brutal yet highly sensual of the skylines lingers prominently in the New York City. 

Meeting up the interviewer Cam Wolf firstly at furniture store and later the restaurant FOUND OYSTER, with the full table of razor clams and salmon crudo, Jeremy Allen White opens up about the weird aspect of paparazzi’s interest, still admits his fame accelerating the reservation of Michelin lists. He had built up a rock-solid fitness base after filming The Iron Claw in New Orleans during the wintertime 2023—though he’d slimmed back down considerably after putting on major poundage to play the charismatic wrestler, Kerry Von Erich, together with Harry Dickinson. While the muscle-up and weight-life process provided more of a psychological than a physical advantage, for Jeremy’s current Ambassador image of Calvin Klein Underwear. 

After being offered A24 scripts, is inevitably of a Marvel meeting. Nevertheless, Jeremy Allen White holds his skepticism attitude toward to this all-powerful Disney studio, rage against the evil Empire seemingly set on sucking every possible talent into its boring universe. The second benefits of being famous, is that being able to take a fuck off from blockbuster producers’ execs in the stride. 

Under the lenses of Photographer Luke Gilford, Jeremy is capable with quiet luxurious of Dior black shirt or vintage jumper, or masters a Vivienne Westwood logo knitwear, together with, indeed, for our imagination, of Calvin Klein sexy underwear. 

Jeremy declares that he was his characteristically anxious self before the Calvin Klein campaign shoot, as well as his private life with his two daughters. Jeremy reckons it is undoubtedly positive that he reached superstardom at a rather younger period of life, “getting stuck a little bit at that age. Maybe not forever, but for a period of time”.  

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