Accessories Accede: Okinawa Kawaii, Limited Only!

Q&A in Okinawa, Japan/Helsinki, Finland

Happy Holiday! Tell us about your new collection of various facial masks. 

Due to the need of moisturizing skincare products in Finland, I purchase the annual total quantity while traveling to Japan or Taiwan. Usually focusing on the multi-function—tonic lotion, beauty serum, facial cream, eye gel—composed upon on single sheet of facial mask, this time in Okinawa I would like to try on ‘Shisa’ mask, to become the funny guardian lion from Okinawa mythology for half an hour! 

How do you select the unique souvenirs produced by the locals?

I am a fan of organic skincare products, since I always believe the healthy glow of facial condition is the best make-ups; therefore we only need a few of essential cosmetics—such as a touch of blush or black mascara—to lighten up the best look of day. Hence the ‘local limited’ skincare will be my major shopping hunt during the travel, not only avoiding the similar souvenirs made by monopoly factories, but also an alternative act to support the local development. 

✔Balenciaga Mini Tote: Christóbal Balenciaga classic city mini leather tote has been waiting on my shopping list until this February at DFS Okinawa. The tonal studs, the crinkled leather and fringed zipper, combining gold tone of metallic spare parts and olive green lambskin, plus a cute mirror as attachment, this width 24 cm and depth 9 cm has braided handles and detachable should strap, super easy to carry at work or another weekend city getaway. 

✔Kosé Gel Mask: weak acidity, non-colouring with zero mineral oil ingredients, Japanese Kosé Clear Turn Premium gel mask contains sakura extracts and Q10 GL, which makes dehydrated skin 24-hourmoisturizing over day and night. While funny and cute Shisa sheet mask, made in Japan, consists of Okinawa seaweed Cladosiphon Okamuranus (沖繩エキス), is region limited, makes the skincare moments efficient and kawaii. 

✔Christian Dior Brow Ink & Mascara: Visiting my dear friend in Taipei and consulting with some makeup knowledge, then I realize a waterproof eyebrow ink is what I need. Lasting for 36 hours, a touch on the eyebrow mini brush, this brownish colour is perfectly matching with my pupil hue, instantly full and last-long effect; and the CD freebie over curl mascara, both light-weighted and professional function for my daily need.

✔Hair Rules: Written by the Japanese hair stylist Hikaru Kinugawa(衣川光), this self-educated paperback is the great reference for a change of hairstyle with penny a few; every page turn, the minimalistic design of clean-cut photography balance well with vary fonts, definitely my great hunt at Okinawa bookstore. Now I need only a hair curler, a comb, a brush, a hairpin and 2 black rubber bands to make myself over! 

✔Lycée Blanc Eye Drop: Japanese medicine Inc. Rohto again contributes the cutest eye drop ever! With Tetrahydrozoline to release the redness, sodium chondroitin sulphate to protect the cornea, B12 in order to relax the muscles and zinc sulphate to alleviate the inflammation of UV, the coolness lever 3 also soothes the tired eyes, is the best healthcare item before movies or bedtime. 

✔LOTTE Plum Snack: Produced from Wakayama, the mint is must-have after lunch at work, and jelly candy is my favourite chew while traveling on the road. Purchased from either at Lawson kiosk or Hundred-Yen chain stores, they are both good for everyday use or friendship treat. 

✔Chanel Hair Band: with imitation pearl carved with golden logo, Chanel accessory makes the hairstyle elegant and playful. Let’s take some hot tips from Hair Rulesby Hikaru Kinugawa!

✔Chanel Natural Finish Loose Powder: Settles with velvet or satin finish but never a dead matte nor detect sparkles, Chanel loose powder provides a balanced oil control, and while the container is substantial, without a mess it is easy to tap excess off a kabuki brush into the lid. The Chanel puff is dense and reversible, suggested to apply the loose powder first with brush and press with the puff. 

✔Chanel IPHONE Case: Indeed nowadays is the universe of Plus smart phones, but this dark grey lambskin mini phone case is ideal for ID, coupons or credit cards; within between the zipped pocket is for coins, perhaps more of a splendid idea to become a mini cosmetic pouch. The inner layer made of grey suede is exceptional from other seasonal Chanel small leather goods. Love it! 

BALENCIAGA 

Cosmetic-info.jp 

@hikaru.kinugawa

Fashion Fun OKINAWA! Vivienne Westwood Crochet Sweater at Okinawa Art Museum

January-February 2019, Okinawa, Japan

During the family trip in Okinawa, we rent a Toyota hybrid to drive around the island, while brother suggests to visit mountain area with nephew and Joting, I decide to have a solo tour at Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum. An architecture constructed largely of local Okinawan limestone, is designed with the imagery of Okinawa Castle, opened in November 2007, it includes natural history section, the cultural department and Art exhibition. 

The Zen garden in front of the museum consists of reproductions of two traditional-style storehouses. The red ceramic roof-tiles with a number of shisa statues and the home built with Okinawan woods, are the perfect location to relax after getting lost in the museum, for an easy photo shooting moments. 

Okinawa reaches 25’c in early February, so my outfit of the museum day is the newly purchased VIVIENNE WESTWOOD crochet wool sweater. This Made in Italy, with 61% wool, 11% alpaca, 15% nylon and 11% polyamide owns the mixture of olive green and angel blue, knitted all-around, is perfect to wear black underwired contour bras to show a slight touch of sexuality. Together with Zara Premium ripped jeans, Chanel black lambskin sling backs, Vivienne Westwood pearl bracelet (purchased at Kaohsiung Outlet in 2018) and Chloé ivory white acetate sunglasses, Vivienne Westwood light weight wool ready-to-wear is easy-to-match. It is a pure luck that even Vivienne Westwood Women merged from Red Label and Anglomania, shrinking its collection, still a large amount of great bargains (this wool sweater is 80% off!) awaited at Ashibinna Outlet, Okinawa.

I kindly interrupt and ask a Japanese schoolboy (no doubt in Japanese), who wearing glasses, aged around 12, is sitting on a long bench playing his video games, to take some photos of me at the porch of Okinawa traditional house. He is patiently in soft-spoken tone, telling ‘one more shot, just a moment’ to make this shooting easy and delightful. It is a sunny day, a couple of free hours, Shinkai Makoto (新海誠) exhibition and me, a philosophical long walk at museum park.ありがどう, shy but skillful Japanese boy, please take my apology, that I even forgot to ask your name. 

TOP TIP 1: Crochet sweater see-through is sexy to play with black underwired bras

TOP TIP 2: Rock ‘n’ Roll Ripped jeans & elegant lambskin sling backs are the best match!

Fashion Fun Taipei! Zara, Chanel, Chao & Balenciaga Rock & Roll at Passage of Zhong Shan Neighbourhood

Taipei, Taiwan, February 2019

I was raised and educated in Taipei, always having the most unforgettable moments at arrival. The comeback for the delis at nearby late-night food stalls, the new discovery of Breeze Xin Yi shopping mall, the reunion with dear family members and the meetings with lovely friends provide both the thrills and calms to my inner thoughts of mind at the beginning of 2019. 

I used to take Bus 220 passing by Zhong Shan North Road to attend mathematics prep school on Saturdays during 1997, yet have never been strolling alongside this beautiful boulevard until during the Chinese New Year with my Finnish mate, who now is living in Taiwan. We started the city walk from the North Gate of Taipei Railway Station, and out of expectation, Passage 140 appears for our adventures of food, shops and street photography. The greyish concrete façade and the geometric window fences provide an old touch of Taipei, calm and carry-on. 

The outfit of the day are Yves Saint Laurent 70’s vintage black crop top, Zara tweet jacket, Zara Premium black ripped jeans and Chanel black goat skin sling backs. Besides my proudest bargain of YSL crop top (17 EUR at Helsinki Fashion Taivas), Zara tweet jacket produced with 73% of cotton, 27% of polyesters, produced with imitation pearl buttons and with two shallow pockets, is also one my favourite items in 2019. This Chanel look-alike piece can be worn full button closed as knitwear, open-up as mini spring jacket, both shows elegant but comfort city look. Within the snow-white threads in between the knit, it balances the mono dark tone of SL crop top, Zara 99% cotton ripped jeans and Chanel sling backs. 

Chanel Sling backs with low heels have been my focus collection since 2017, the Goat skin pair with patent toe design furnish the playfulness of new black hue, at the same time is easy to walk with during city tour. About the accessories, Chloé ivory white acetate sunglasses are my all-time essential, and Balenciaga Classic City mini tote in greenish grey is the souvenir from Okinawa DFS, Japan; its lamb skin materials and the colours capture my first attention, while the service is warmly friendly. As for jewelry, Chao & Eero Darling stud earrings and small pendant (40-42 cm) match the silver tone of Zara tweet jacket effortlessly. Handmade by Taiwanese jewelry designer Chao, Darling series are two hearts put together as a pair of butterfly wings, about to fly to the moon or future. 

NOW USING PROMOTE CODE Mindy15 TO GET 15% DISCOUNT at CHAO&EERO

TOP TIP1: Mix and match the outfit together with accessories with black, silver and patent leather 

TOP TIP2: Elegant tweet jacket balances the relax city look with ripped jeans

Special Thanks: Luna

Beauty Boom! Chloé Nomade Meets Chloé, Love

2018 is full of beautiful accidents and lovely surprises, it a year of dinner meetings and quality conversations. The Eve of 2019 begins with Hip-Hop parties, during the time, occasionally, never lacks of self-doubts and disempowering moments, still, from the dark side, the lessons are learnt, the mind is released, therefore, another exciting adventure begins. 

New Eau de Parfum always opens up the hope of New Year! In 2018, CHLOÉ launces Eau de Parfum Nomade, the new pillar fragrance, created to evoke the adventurous, brave and still sensual side of Chloé women. Givaudan Perfumer Quentin Bisch created as a floral chypre composition, including the top notes of Mirabelle, bergamot, lemon and orange, while the middle notes with freesia, jasmine, peach and rose, and completed oak moss, amber wood, patchouli, sandalwood, and white musk as base notes. The aim was to make the Nomade less floral but more dirty than the Chloé signature, but still, Nomade was created by the inspiration of freedom, surprises, desires for space and empowerment. 

The finding of Nomade was even a blind guess. While spraying the unregistered parfum on my Zara olive green cardigan, the desirable of smell stays on the sleeves, therefore, I pop up at Stockmann to search this unforgettable notes but in vain for about a month. One evening after work, I test the new bottle on Chloé shelf at Sokos since there is 20% on all the beauty products, and BOOM! Here is the Chloé Nomade now standing on my dressing desk.

The shape of the bottle mimics one of the classic bag of Chloé House---Drew. The heavy clear bottle has the cap with peachy pink suede leather on the neck, and a short string around. With either side of Chloé and Nomade fonts carved on the copper gold metal plate, it makes the deco of the bottle more of the alternative façade to turn and change. 

Therefore, the need of Nomade aids me going on a wandering, perhaps very beautiful journey. To me, the scent begins with citrus grove, with sweet and juicy fruits are ready for harvest, then all the picks are crystallized with floral and sugar topped tarts, lingers with Asian bath oil, and faster and stronger, the slightly ambery environment with a touch of dirt and mud lurking about. While the fragrance goes a bit quieter, the final robust of muskiness comes out for a play around, unexpectedly changes into a masculine world all of sudden. 

Nomade meets Love is always highly romantic. Love, Chloé Eau Florale remains the concept of the 2012 Chloé Love family, A breath of green tea and mate as top notes, continue on sweet pea and wood as middle odor, consists of powder and musk for the base. The composition of Love, Chloé Florale is not as the complex referred to Nomade, it is more herbal freshness with a soft touch of bitter tea, created by Perfumers Louise Turner and Natalia Gracia-Cetto, the journey of Love is always a sweet burden, but still keeps the sophisticate feminine voice, as the breeze of Spring dancing by. The bottle is much lighter in design on light pastel green glass with golden topper, together the tiny chain to enhance the needy but allure side of Chloé women. 

As for photography, Chloé off-white botton-detailed gauze top made with 100% cotton, is not only the perfect match for the parfum bottles, but also the piece will definitely be my 2019 summer major top! See by Chloé purple chain pouch is always my travel essential. Together with different colours of the rose petals, is to hint that the compositions of Nomade. While the 18K gold rings from Chao & Eero and Jo Malone scented candle in Blackberry and Bay, always lighten up the pleasant photo shooting times of my own. 

Tea Time Christmas: Ladurée Les Macarons Served with YSL & Marie Antoinette

It’s been always lovely to enjoy afternoon tea by adapting vintage teacups with friends, after work or on bed, and it is so-called ‘incroyable mais vrai’ to serve with those pastel-coloured petite macarons from LADURÉE during the sipping moment. Having heard of the compliments via universal mouths and food blogs, while transiting at Paris CDG Airport, I decided to treat myself fully ‘Parisian souvenirs’. The warm and chubby African Ladurée lady, Sophie, was always very friendly; She placed 6 pieces in a Christmas-Limited square box, 21,10 EUR in total, alongside with light green menu and paper bag. Bonjour, it’s Joyeux Noël after all!

Founded in 1862, Louis Ernest Ladurée, a miller from the southwest of France, ran a bakery at 16 Rue Royale in Paris. The decoration of the LADURÉE lemon green pastry shop/stall was entrusted to Jules Cheret, a famous turn-of-the-century painter and poster artist. Nowadays, LADURÉE owns boutiques over 25 countries worldwide, provides les macarons to cute cosmetics and already has become a symbol of Neo-luxury of our generation.

Out of 16 flavours I select Rose, Slated Caramel, Cherry Almond, Chocolate, Marie-Antoinette Tea and heart-shaped Raspberry. Due to my curiosity of pastel blue French Queen, Marie-Antoinette Tea’s taste off is crispy, smooth with peppermint outer shell texture and lighter creamier filling, and Rose gives my tongue buds a fresh spring smell. While Chocolate owns strong and rich of cocoa aroma, Salted Caramel has rather creamier filling. Cherry Almond is filled with nutty taste, and Raspberry is fruity but not too ‘jammy’. I am in need of some herbal tea to balance these sweet assortments, and adding up a bud of dried Iranian rose to light up my teatime is surely a great pleasure. Noted that LADURÉE macarons must be kept refrigerated not more than a week and consumed fresh within 4 days after purchase.

Czech Republic porcelain teacup is my great hunt at Helsinki Secondhand, Eira. The hand printed tulips along gold karat alongside the teacup rims, therefore, for photography I adopt half-dried rosy -purple roses to decorate the teaser. Russian Lomonosov craftsmanship tea saucers match almost all the blue, purple or pinkish tones of tea sets. Bon Mama jelly in jar size 25g are always my favourite while doing grocery shopping, and never forget LADURÉE milk chocolate together with NINA'S black tea enhance the Christmas holiday mood. With French exquisite deli macarons, detailed teacup, best-selected snacks and Yves Saint Laurent book from the Paris trip, the grey snowy days in Helsinki has affected nothing at all to me.

LADURÉE