Fashion Fun Hanami! Kawaii Kimono at Helsinki Cherry Blossom Garden Party 2023

20 May 2023

Roihuvuoren Kirsikkapuisto Helsinki

Happy Hanami Helsinki 2023! Annually organised by ROIHUVUORI and SCANDINAVIA JAPAN SASAKAWA FOUNDATION at Helsinki Cherry Park, has been the must visit cultural event with dear friends for a lovely springtime picnic. 

 

We Taiwanese gang prepare the Japanese biscuits 仙貝, the plum liquor, the apple juice, a box of strawberry and grapes, of course some FERRERO ROCHER chocolate. Taking Bus No. 80, 82 or 83 from Herttoniemi Metro station, we prepare our disposal blankets and immediately find the spot under the cherry blossom tree. 

 

For the kimono of the day, KIMONO YUKATA MARKET offering the top great condition kimono, made of 100% Japanese silk in traditional pattern, has been my bargain pleasure for the Hanami fashion. This pastel pinkish purple with dyed technique in Tsukesage style 付け下げ, which, was dressed as formal outfit by aristocratic ladies during the Meiji Period 明治時代 1868-1912, matches perfectly together my previous silky pink undergarment. Though May in Helsinki occasionally provides the uncertain cold breezes and slight rains, the triple layers of silk wears constantly keep me genial and graceful under the blossom cherry trees. 

As for the Obi 帯/おび, this vintage cotton and silk woven pastel grey in traditional Japanese monogram serve the pastel tone kimono collection surprisingly well, and decorate with VALENTINO sneaker laces complete the chic and cheap inspiration. While the 1930’s midnight blue velvet vintage kinchaku 巾著/きんちゃく, with gold metallic clasp and wrist chain, was a wonder hunt from the Kansallismuseo Vintage Market. As for the geta 下駄/げた, VALENTINO leather silver slippers with V logo suit not only the casual silk pants, but also the elegant silk kimono. 

 

The traditional Japanese kimono is all-time fun to play with the designer’s accessories. For the golden detailed outlines of kimono and my golden eyelashes 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, and can be coordinated with other creations from the Dio(r)evolution line. Finnish Designer Duo CHAO & EERO Bubble collection adopts Japanese freshwater pearls and 18K gold, no doubt my favourite for the Hanami season. 

 

TOP TIP 1: Layering fine silk garments to keep warm and chic

TOP TIP 2: Mix and match golden accessories with the kimono hues are pinkish pastel, crimson reddish, sky blue or even bleak black 

 

Special Thanks: Wendy and NING

Beauty Boom Printemps! Les Mini Chloé Eau de Parfum & Toilette Sont Mes Nouveaux Amours

LOVE CHLOÉ prêt à porter, J’adore CHLOÉ eau de parfum & toilette, addictif à campagne de mode! 

Les Mini Chloé Eau de parfum & toilette with 20ml travel sizes are amazingly bargain from Helsinki AW sale to carry on the road! Though already launched in 2015, Chloé eau de toilette beholds bergamot, magnolia and lemon as top notes; white rose and Gardenia compose the middle scents plus cotton flower and musk complete the base notes. Created by Michel Almairac and Sidonie Lancesseur, this natural spray vaporisateur is so fresh floral to be my new beloved of 2023. 

 

To my nose, Chloé Eau de Parfum is more of a spicy floral. After the litchi-like opening fades, a swooning trio of rosy flowers shows up, with magnolia being the most noticeable. Created by Amandine Clerc-Marie and Michel Almairac, the top notes peony, Litchi and Freesia start to fade and the Virginia cedar and amber appear, which gives Eau de Parfum fluffy and clean character, whereas the Lily-of-the-Valley and magnolia increase the balsamic aspect of intenseness. The base notes retain some of the musky touch but gets much balmy, instead of creamy feels.

 

For the packaging design, the colour of juice from Eau de Toilette is a pinkish, sweet, much more pastel and dressier version, as a mini crystal cask of rosé. Whereas the Chloé Eau de Parfum original has a stylishly clean sort of shampoo-vibe, Les Mini collection has oval-shaped cap with embossed ‘Chloé, with the sophisticated slimmer body, which feels a more of chic Lolita. The outer cardboard box is designed with pale blushed pink and beige, in Eau de Toilette the off-white and in Eau de Parfum the shiny silver micro watermark. I would wear it for fancy evening outings, or to an upscale jazz lounge with my sexy cashmere top, even carry daily in a small CHLOÉ Marcie sac. 

 

Magazine Madness ELLE France: Kaia Gerber, La Topissime, Une Petite Provinciale au Printemps 2023

ELLE France Mars 2023 

 

Kaia Gerber se voit comme une petite provinciale. Au-delà de leur resemblance physique, avec supermodel mere Cindy Crawford, Kaia est plus relax, plus apaisée. ELLE USA HOLIDAY ISSUE est la première couverture de Kaia Gerber, très élégant avec une touche de sensualité. Au printemps 2023 ELLE France dans le numéro de mars, Kaia Gerber parle de sa vie à Malibu, porte la collection avec VICTORIA’S SECRET et CELINE par Hedi Slimane. 

 

A small-town girl at heart made her runway debut at age 16. A Chanel muse, the ambassador of YSL Beauty, now the face of Celine, Kaia Gerber, the sweetheart of the King Elvis, is now completing with a budding acting career and a new chapter on life. Styled by Alex White, photographed by Cass Bird, Kaia Gerber effortlessly transforms between the posh and quiet luxury, from CELINE by Hedi Slimane the golden glittering sequin mini dress, RALPH LAUREN university baseball jacket and to VICTORIA’S SECRET off-white knit set. As for the tips from 90’s runway super star mom, Kaia Gerber admits the inevitable nepotism environment, still, ‘Be on time. Take the time to learn people’s names, and be nice to everyone’ (78). 

Collaborated with Director EMMA SELIGMAN in BOTTOMS, Kaia Gerber addresses the literary heroine she is dreaming to play on screens would be definitely Patti Smith from Just Kids, and Joan Didion, since Gerber finds the way they dealing with pains mysteriously fascinating. In addition, Kaia, takes her supermodel mom’s suggestion, that keeping a journal about the instant thoughts or working process benefits at fashion industry; she never minds releasing her memoir some day soon. 

 

I purchased ELLE FRANCE Mars 2023 at Relay CDG airport during the departure, and ELLE USA February at Akadenmiska Bokhandeln in Helsinki. French version provides more of cultural critics, essays, and the fascinating skincare advertising pages; while North American edition presents the rather stronger paper quality and warmer tone of printing production. Unfortunately, as young generation as Kaia, the completion of conversation inserting too often of ‘it just like’ or ‘I was like’, without further specific terms or statistics. How I wish to know more about the breed, the name and the life style of Kaia’s fluffy friend! 

 

For the photography, in order to echo the shining gold with sky blue tone of the magazine cover, I adopt Chanel le Vernis #500 Rouge Essentiel and Les 4 Ombres Eye shadow #274 Codes Élégants ; due to Kaia has been the muse of Karl Lagerfeld at CHANEL runways, Chanel No° Eau de Parfum 5ml limited micro bottle edition is absolutely the cutest table setting must-have. I as well replenish Chanel Rouge Allure Velvet #627 Camélia Carmin, Hydra Beauty micro serum 5ml and moisturizing cream 5ml, which the upright settings can create a more of abstract vision due to the magazine shoot is permanently flat lay technique. 

 

As for accessories, Chanel la étoile with CC logo Swaroski crystal earrings are April Paris trip souvenir from Gallerie Lafayette, and holiday limited edition wax seal lace bracelet are no doubt the cutest decoration to contrast the cover star. Plus, GUERLAIN Abeille Royale skin care collection are my recent favourite, the travel sizes of Advanced Youth Watery Oil 5ml, Night Cream Royal Jelly 5ml, Vitamin C Day Cream 7ml and Fortifying Lotion 40ml provide the immediate care on the road, their natural ingredients and fine yellowish tones match perfectly with the fresh look of the season.  

 

Before my upcoming summer adventure 2023, reading ELLE FRANCE offers the easy and breezy way to refresh my French touch of tongue.

Fashion Fun PARIS! Red Valentino Bodysuit, Karl Lagerfeld Wool Coat & Chanel Goat Slingbacks at Paris Fashion Week

Paris Fashion Week March 2023 

Ça va Paris? C’est un plaisir de participer à la fashion week et je suis invité au Untitled Showroom Paris. Je travaille comme journaliste indépendant mais heureusement, je retrouve mon ami Tibétain près de la GALERIE LAFAYETTE et au café LE RELAIS PARIS OPERA. 

 

It is the fashion week under March chilly wind alongside with the strike movement of RER and Paris Sanitation Department; while it is a pure luck where my stay HOTEL MOGADOR locating at the neighbourhood of Galerie Lafayette, Airport shuttle bus station and UNTITLED SHOWROOM. By foot there is no doubt to reach JUSTE Restaurant for the late evening fresh seafood or the grocery shopping at FRANPRIX. 

 

My outfits of the day to visit Untitled Showroom are RED VALENTINO 100% wool Bodysuit, KARL LAGERFELD 85% cotton and 15% wool belt cardigan with ZARA 100% cotton high waist jeans in pastel indigo blue. As for my favourite accessories, SAINT LAURENT D-frame acetate sunglasses, decorated with mini YSL logo on side, made in Italy, with 100% UV protection in shaded lenses, already become one of my travelling essentials since 2022 Turkish tour; CHANEL goat skin slingbacks with patent leather are highly durable during the interview and shopping schedule at Paris Fashion Week.

 

Launched in 2003, RED is the MAISON VALENTINO contemporary and more accessible-priced diffusion line for ladies, an acronym that stands for Romantic Eccentric Dress. As Founder and Designer Valentino Garavani suggested, that for VALENTINO, red is not just a colour. It’s a non-fading mark, a logo, a value and an iconic element of la maison. My 100% wool body suit, made in Italy, owns its sensual crossover stripes, offers sexy open back as well the lightweight knit gives the warm and comfort touches with ZARA jeans; therefore, even walking together with rather chilly March wind in Paris, my tummy catches almost impossible any cold.  

Monsieur Karl Lagerfeld, as in mandarin industry nicknamed as老佛爺，has been outstanding one of my most admirable fashion designers/photographers. Born in Hamburg, 1933, Lagerfeld carries the careers with CHLOÉ, FENDI (1954-82) and CHANEL (1983-2019) as well the casual brand under his name in December 2006, KARL LAGERFELD. 

The keen length 85% cotton and 15% wool coat with reversible black-and-white belt knitted with bold KARL LAGERFELD resembles Chanel SS 2021 Ready-to-Wear collection, as seen German model ANNA EWERS gracing the cover of VOGUE PARIS FÉVRIER 2021. The double chest and below-waist pockets are convenient for inserting lipsticks, sunglasses or tissues, with the KARL LAGERFELD carved buttons show the cute details of the designs, and for the full open as a casual coat, while complete closed can be styled as a little black dress. KARL LAGERFELD collections are surely my bargain investment from the legendary boutique Della Marga in Helsinki. 

 

The Casual wears mix and match with the formal accessories, business trip or shopping spree are never so effortless ever since at Paris Fashion Week. 

 

TOP TIP 1: Contrast the rather colorful bottoms while putting the darker outwears on

TOP TIP 2: Lightweight knits prevent the chilly wind at night and allow the skin to breath at daytime during the spring in Paris 

Special Thanks: QingCuo

Tea Time & Art Attack PARIS! Café DIOR Avec La Galerie DIOR Sur L’Avenue Montaigne 30

Paris Fashion Week March 2023

30 Avenue Montaigne

75008 Paris

 

Bonjour Montaigne! Á part la rue Cambon et Galerie Lafayette, ma nouvelle découverte est le 8ème arrondissement. Prendre le métro ligne 1 ou 9 à la station Franklin-Roosevelt, c'est un plaisir visuel d'apprécier l'art des vitrines. 

 

Boutique Dior on 30 Avenue Montaigne is a breathtaking visit, from the off-white atelier visual merchandising, the seasonal collection pour femme and pour homme to the cute courtyard of Café Dior. The springtime in Paris is slightly chilly during the daytime, for the calm and fresh teatime, I have my pleasure to enjoy the spacious table under the Dior parasol. 

 

Afternoon tea selections at CAFÉ DIOR are pleasant, from Japanese sencha, British Earl Grey to African Rooibos; especially fruity Rooibos hot tea is perfect together with DIOR chocolate étoile: the rich milk chocolate spongy cake is piled up with creamy layer inside along with golden crusty balls, dazzled with tiramisu powder atop. Completed with a cup of espresso added with a slim bag of crane sugar printed 30 MONTAIGNE, Bonjour, chilly March of Paris, after the lovely tea moment, La Galerie Dior surely I am coming. 

Featuring a unique scenographic narrative, LA GALERIE DIOR embodies the spirit of Parisian Haute Couture while perpetuating the memory of this historic address. LA GALERIE DIOR is behind this emblematic façade designed in the purest French style of the second half of the 19th century, with its elaborate balconies, volutes and mascarons, that more than seventy years of collections were born. 

 

Invited and guided by the lovely sales associate Christine to the separate entrance from Rue François, my voyage is warmly welcomed by the contemporary works sculptured under British artist MARC QUINN (1964-) and Franco-Chinese artist Yan Pei-Ming 嚴培明 (1960-) at the hallway. 

 

Taking the elevator and smoothly spiraling down from the third floor, the detailed history of Monsieur Dior and the family prepare the fashion connoisseurs the chronicle concept. Outstandingly and inevitably, from the eye-catching visual display, the magnificent off-white staircases surrounded by over 1,500 miniature objects from the world of Dior, with the most striking colour shades and elegant models; which; seem to float in the air, in a 2,000 square meters area on both third and second floor. 

 

The complete history of the House of Dior is revealed in the 13 thematic rooms of LA GALERIE DIOR, Monsieur Dior’s office, the live show atelier for visitor to request the further knowledge, the magazine archives and the glamorous exhibitions: from the New Look to the iconic Corolla skirts of Christian Dior, from Yves Saint Laurent in youth to the extravagant John Galliano, from Raf Simons to Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré and Maria Grazia Chiuri. Alongside the revolution of classic fragrance, from DIOR POISON to J’ADORE, together, the history of legend has been written through the most talented Art Directors as well through the strong females, from Marylin Monroe to Grace Kelly, Princess of Wales, Diana, to Hollywood red-carpet favourite Charlize Theron and Nicole Kidman. 

 

Last but not the least, the lumière runway grand finale show plays the rays of the beauty, presents the most dreamy, delicate and dazzling gowns, in order to tell a repository of fashion memory, over which the spirit of Monsieur Dior has seemed to float since 1946.

 

Merci Beaucoup, pour la richesse des connaissances et la belle exposition. Je t'adore, je t'aime. 

Special Thanks: Christine & L'équipe de DIOR Paris

For live videos of Café Dior & La Galerie Dior ->@missymindyyuan