On the Road: Brussels, Je t’aime avec Louis Vuitton

February 21-February 25, 2016

 

Visiting Brussels in 2007 as a backpacker, and revisiting Capital of Europe as a Client Advisor, my 2016 EU trip begins with an exciting expectation on the induction training at Louis Vuitton. 

 

Located on Avenue Louise, the headquarter building is surrounding in a vivid and convenient neighborhood. Godiva, Chanel, Dior, GUESS, Sonia Rykiel, Zara and even Zadig & Voltaire are in a walking distance. And my favourite waffle yellow van parking at the major intersection, and that evokes my desire to have a bite after long training day. 

 

The training starts at 9 and ends around 6 every day. Our trainers have us to focus on clientele service at class, adapting several methods such as brainstorming, fast Q&A, video watching, group discussion and role play. I especially find group discussion as my ‘back to the academic good old days’, that we sitting down, having a pen, a note and a cup of drink at hand, sharing different point of views with each other, giving the feedbacks and smiles, and friendship grows every second pass. For no doubt we often encounter difficult questions from the trainers, such as ‘listing at least 5 iconic signatures of our collection’ and so on. We try our best to contribute what we have learnt, and back to the hotel room after training day, we would eager to look up the product handbook to enhance the knowledge and memory. And interestingly, the inspiration could grow immediately over one night. 

Meeting new faces from the Nordics and Benelux is one of the best parts of the trip. We greet each other at breakfast around 8, together walking toward to the headquarter from ZOOM Hotel, and spend at least almost 8 hours side by side during the training, and even more, discover the City of Brussels after the long day. I experience the fusion sushi, the fresh salad, the traditional Belgium cuisine and national treasure--the waffle--with these warm-hearted new friends. In my opinion, product knowledge can be gained not so difficultly from the various media, but the gathering with people is the incalculably precious. 

The other best part of the training is visiting the head office and store in Brussels. The office building is always bright, and in the training classroom, at the entrance, the blossom and the iconic trunk greet us all the time. Brussels store building was constructed back to the 19^th century, accordingly, the space at each floor is rather limited spacious. Still, Brussels store has lovely women’s ready-to-wear collection, and the visual merchandising is echoing the color tone of SS16 theme. Climbing the staircases to the second floor, the eye-catching wardrobe trunk stands still, is well established by its unequalled strength and lightness. The ultimate symbol of Louis Vuitton, has known a myriad of innovations, hiding the signatures such as rivet, corner, malletage and the S-Lock , which of all, also inspired the design of shoes, accessories, city bags and so on. The trunk is like a chronicle of design history, open to recording each and every journey. 

 

And the journey of the connection of warm friendship and profession onto the great design, is to be continued. 

 

Special Thanks: Team Nordics & Benelux

From 2007-16, the backpacker tour to the training trip. Gaining info is easy, but gathering is precious. Brussels, Je t’aime.

Cuisine Crush Taiwan: Street Snacks, Delicious Delicatessen & Fine Food!

Taiwan represents fine food, lovely folks and home sweet home. I was born, educated and enriched in Taipei and Kaohsiung, and inevitably am attached to it no matter where I stay at or travel to. The best timing to enjoy the family reunion is Chinese New Year Holidays, since the weather is usually slightly sunny and around 20’c, and we can relax and discover around our neighborhoods, where the hidden gems of good food always are.

Tofu Pudding is Taiwanese national dessert for all year round. Sometimes called Tofu Blancmange, it has a silky melt-in-mouth texture. It’s made with silken tofu, soybean milk, almond extract, and sugar or honey. It can be eaten either hot or cold in sugary water, added with red beans, green beans, taro balls, peanuts or barleys to enhance the flavor and nutrition. Holding great amount of fiber and calcium, by eating tofu pudding or drinking soybean milk can reduce estrogen and progesterone, and also lower the risk of suffering cardio diseases and diabetes.

Steaming bun is also on my must-have-food list as well. It is traditionally a kind of dim sum, while prepared in xiaolong, a small bamboo steaming basket, which gives the cuisine its name. Steaming bun originate from the Shanghai and Wuxi regions of China. Buns can be made with leavened or unleavened dough, that their skin is tender, smoother, and somewhat translucent, rather than being white and fluffy. Steaming buns are traditionally filled with pork, minced crabmeat, or vegetarian fillings. The most household steaming bun restaurant in Taiwan is Ding-Tai-Fung, not only they serve the most juicy steaming buns worldwide, but also release red bean and taro buns as the alternative desserts after à la carte.

When we travel to Kenting, the southern beach resort of Taiwan, along Kenting Boulevard is filled with special street food stalls. Besides the tongue, the head, the neck, the claw of ducks, grilled boar meat is the recommending specialty to try on. For the Taiwanese aboriginals living in the mountain area, more or less at nowadays, they systematically ‘cattle’ the boars and trade the meat in order to increase themselves some extra income. Therefore, boar meat food stall is rarely seen in the cities. Taiwanese boar meat usually get grilled on the stone palette heated with coals, has more of a wild taste, much fatty and juicier; it is excellent served with garlics, sleeks and Taiwan beer. A box of 100 grams is 100 NTD, slightly costly but it’s worth trying.

Due to the geographical and historical influence, it is easy to taste various authentic Japanese or Korean cuisines in Taipei, Taiwan. When we step out from the cinema, my bro recommends Ootoya for lunch(大戶屋, Literally means ‘Huge Mansion’ in Japanese). I order Hiroshima deep fried oyster as main course, and red bean machi for dessert. Ordering a combo set meal (定食in Japanese) is able to enjoy unlimited rice and Japanese salad as service, which is a good deal for all of us.

In Korean food restaurant Tofu Village, the tapas are also unlimited service. Unlike waitress serving at Ootoya, at Tofu Village there is self-service refilling counter, for customers to decide the amount of their sauces. Tofu Village is famous for Korean tofu hot pot and seafood triangle patties (in Korean called gigimi,해물파전). Seafood triangle patties are wrapped within shrimp, sleek, squid, egg and sugar, then get deep fried until the whole roll turns crispy. We also like the triangle patties dipped into Korean kimchi spicy sauce, which gives out the layering flavor of the seafood. Additionally, the Korean hot tea, coffee and tofu ice cream are free of charge as well. The 2-person meal totally costs 745 NTD (around 21,20 EUR, service fee inclusive) and surely we are very happy!

How the yummy food is, the rich culture represents. In Taiwan, on the streets, at the corner, or in the luxury districts, you will definitely find something interesting but not too expensive to excite your tongue buds and warm your empty tummy.

Welcome to Taiwan!

Special Thanks: Family Yuan, Family Chou 

DING-TAI-FUNG

OOTOYA 

Fashion Fun KENTING! Louis Vuitton Bandeau & Prada Kitty Sunnies at South Beach

Kenting, Taiwan 

Lunar New Year 2016

What to wear at my most expected trip at the Taiwan sandy beach? I select Prada cat-eye sunglasses, Gina Tricot black top, Zara beachwear, American Apparel leggings and my new freebie, Louis Vuitton Bandeau, for the easy-going must-haves.

The 100% silk leopard pattern bandeau is the Marc Jacob era’s collaboration with artist Stephan Sprouse (1953-2004) for Louis Vuitton. Sprouse was a fashion designer and artist credited with pioneering the 1980s mix of ‘uptown sophistication in clothing with a downtown punk and pop sensibility’. Marc Jacobs utilized Sprouse’s 1987 graffiti leopard images for handbags, shoes, and scarves for the AW collection in 2006 and 2008, which sold out worldwide instantly.

Not until I try this Louis Vuitton bandeau in front of the mirror, I usually have been in doubt that if I am suitable for any leopard pattern design. Surprisingly, the dark brown, light walnut leopard patterns with ‘Louis Vuitton’ fuchsia graffiti match each other well at my complexion. Thanks for my Beijing colleague’s freebie, so that during the holidays, I am able to tuck the SS (Stephan Sprouse) bandeau inside of Gina Tricot top, to keep warm of my neck and also create a different kind of chic style.

Prada Kitty Acetate sunnies is tonal grey, black lenses, silver trims, 100% UV protection and Made in Italy, it is a bargain from theoutnet.com. Prada pair is the funky accessory for the beach shore for sure!

On the way back, I just have to slip in Saint Laurent leather espadrilles, take my luggage and jacket, the rest part of the style still remains the same. Saint Laurent espadrilles have its snake effect but calfskin leather comforts my feet, while at the Achilles heels part there emboss the designer’s name. Through mytheresa.com I gain 30% off from the original price, and realize how important of a pair of supportive footwear relaxes the whole walking day!

Special Thanks: Jenny 

LOUIS VUITTON  

YSL 

Accessories Accede: What’s in My Miu Miu Camera Sac?

Q&A during the luggage preparation

Tell us about your Miu Miu camera sac.

Miu Miu’s pinky but not cheesy design has always been my vision pleasure. While Net-a-Porter launches this Miu Miu goat leather shoulder bag at 30% off during winter sale season, I realize that I couldn’t wait for any longer. The gold-tone of designer plaque on the front, the gold-tone hardware, the fully lined raspberry satin show the splendid details of the design. It would become my ideal New Year wallet since its two compartments, and while occasion differs, the detachable stripe would transform the cute wallet to a convenient pochette.

How would you organize your essentials by using this camera sac?

My travel size camera is definitely iPhone 5c, and Marc by Marc Jacobs headset is also an indispensable accessory for the music moment. The other compartment would restore my sample size make-ups and credit cards.

✔Coated in an opulent silver tone, Vivienne Westwood Small Neo Bas Relief stud earrings is my second collection. Using Westwood orb and satellite ring as its inspiration, the earrings are studded with Swarovski crystals and detailed with pink enamel highlights.

✔Prada sunglasses’ leopard pattern is for sure one of the best beach accessories! Black lenses, grey-tonal acetate frames, Made in Italy and 100% UV protection, the cat eye design will transform me into a mystic kitty in a second. Meow!

✔Elizabeth Arden Eight Hour Lip Protectant has been my favourite since 2014. I also find it a great solution to cure my occasional skin redness.

✔L’Occitane Shea butter hand cream 10ml is the must-have item while travelling. This long-term bestseller is also exquisite as body/foot cream when the air in flight dehydrates the skin.

✔M.A.C Skin Base Visage’s moisturizing ingredient with a spray of thermal water always refine my nude make-ups. This 6ml version is one of the freebies while purchasing any two items at M.A.C Helsinki during the spring sales.

✔See by Chloé cowhide leather cardholder is soft and wide enough to insert two ID cards within the same compartment. Only ‘See by Chloé’ at the front pocket, its simple design with sophisticated stiches and bronzing fonts is one of the great bargains in my small leather good collection.

VIVIENNE WESTWOOD
MIU MIU

Magazine Madness: TIME--Adele, The Year Ahead

TIME December 28, 2015-Janaury 4^, 2016

Rarely that TIME would feature a female singer/songwriter on the cover, so when I head to work by passing through the kiosk at Helsinki Central Railway station, my gazes were caught by the poppy red frame, font and photo shoots, Adele’s rouge lips and flamingo fur coat. Since her first album, 19, outstandingly triumphed across the universe, it’s not surprising that Adele’s silhouette popping on the front page of VOGUE, Glamour, Q or Rolling Stone, but a British mom poses on TIME magazine, it proves that pop’s oldest fine soul has her special ray of light.  

Spending 4,95 EUR and having a cup of black tea, have a fun read in snowy January is a bliss. Born Adele Laurie Blue Adkins and raised in the working-class London neighborhood of Tottenham City by a single parent, Adele has her matured voice and sense of humor. She made music history with her new album, 25, which became the fastest selling record of all time after moving 3,4 million units in its first week. And her single ‘Hello’, about the call via landline to someone with the regrets, has been reaching over 900 million views by January 6^th, 2016 on youtube. Viewing her performance at UK X-Factor on TV, her voice is intimate and simple, with a strong emotion of melancholy, sorrowfulness and nostalgia. Unlike nearly all her musician peers, Adele has no product-endorsement deals, and she ain’t stand the bastards getting playing around at her house. The artist could have released her new record, 25, earlier to make it eligible for the 2016 Grammys, but instead it arrived she felt fully ready.

Through the interview with Sam Lansky, we read that Adele is definitely not a Luddite, but unlike many of her contemporaries who use social media to telegraph images, she still writes her songs with pens and paper, buys her own record, and even takes address book with her. Adele considers herself old-fashioned, but the question is, why her songs can be sung and listened together with our grandparents, but the sense of violation does not exist.

Her performance is usually on a neat setting stage, with her evening gown, the band and the yellow dimly lights. Through her true voice, Adele sings out her genuine affection; under the public eyes, she chooses to stay at low profile. Perhaps that’s the main reason why Adele attracts so many various souls, and the fact that I purchase TIME and listen ‘Hello’ again and again while writing these passages. I find that the design of the TIME cover is just perfectly suitable with my new Marimekko unikko teacup set. At afternoon tea time, I place Mozart chocolate joining Adele, for my salute their lovely melody and great talents.

TIME Double issue bridges 2015 and 2016, Adele is music’s past, present and future.

Photography & Works Cited 

www.time.com