As promised, here’s my Fukuoka travel diary after a whole week’s worth of MOFW features. Since this is not my first time in this place, I pretty much spent my time here just bonding with my family, stuffing ourselves with the arguably the best ramen in the world, and of course, my favorite - shopping!

People have a notion of Japan being a difficult place to go to because of the language barrier, but it’s not like they put zero effort into bringing tourists in the country and showing them the beauty in their country. In that one year in between my previous and my latest trips to Fukuoka, a lot has changed in terms of tourist-friendliness - more restaurants have printed out English menus, department stores have suddenly given out shopping privileges for non-Japanese passport holders, etc. I think now is a wonderful time to go to Japan, actually. Your thoughts and words can never be entirely lost in translation. They’re also trying their best to help too! :D

I usually stay in Hotel Miyako which is right in front of the station. This is the view from the entrance of the hotel. It’s super convenient to stay here because you can go shopping whenever you want, lol. Plus there are a ton of places to eat inside Hakata Station so you’ll never grow hungry!

Don’t forget to visit the food section of Hankyu and the beauty section of Tokyu Hands.

First picture of me straight out of the plane. As usual, we took the direct flight to from Manila to Fukuoka via Philippine Airlines.

First stop? IPPUDO! Let me be annoying and say that my family and I were already hooked on Ippudo even before the ramen craze trickled over the rest of Asia.

So hooked that it is also a must for me to go to the Ippudo in SG and HK even if the experience is a little different from the original. Never fails to give me nostalgic feels from the very first time I was able to taste Hakata ramen. <3

Before sunset, we decided to go around the station for a walk. They finally finished the new roof deck area!

They had these cute stalls where you can buy souvenirs and traditional Japanese desserts.

There was also a shrine.

And a giant space for kids to play in!

Such a tranquil place.

Overlooking the city.

We also dropped by the new cinema area which wasn’t there the first time we went to Fukuoka. My dad watched Les Miserables because he couldn’t wait - the Metro Manila Film Festival was still going on when Les Mis was already being shown in different countries. We had to wait til mid-January to be able to watch foreign movies again.

When in Japan, visit Maruzen and buy all the Japanese magazines. :D Well, I didn’t go crazy this time because I already knew exactly what I wanted - ViVi, SCawaii, Jelly and the recent Ninagawa Mika photobook.

Plus I was so afraid to go over my baggage weight limit because it’s normally the books and magazines that I buy that make my luggage so heavy by the end of the trip. T_T

I also buy my magazines in other countries where it’s available! They’re everywhere in HK. In SG, you can get them at Kinokuniya.

Before going back to the hotel, we stuffed ourselves with some yummy Marbre Blanc parfaits. <3

On our third day (second was spent in Hiroshima and Miyajima), we went to Tenjin for shopping! First stop was Tenjin Core which is one of my favorite places to shop in Fukuoka! You can go to this place via subway. There’s an underground shopping center that connects the different buildings together so it’s super convenient during winter time when it’s too cold to walk outside. After Tenjin Core, I went to Parco to check out EMODA and MURUA with the other MarkStyler brands.

Didn’t take a lot of pictures here because my mind was 100% concentrated on shopping! And by lunch I couldn’t carry my camera properly anymore because I was holding too many paper bags lol #shopaholicphotographerproblems

titty＆Co

Spiral Girl

Ank Rouge

CECIL McBEE

Besides the ones I posted here, Tenjin Core houses other brands like Liz Lisa, rienda, dazzlin, INGNI, PeachJohn, Heaven and Earth, GILFY, DURAS, and Lip Service. I know I missed a lot but I’m typing this all purely out of memory. My bad for not taking proper notes. Anyhow, their fall/winter collections were mostly oxblood + brown + black and old rose + white + cream. Adorbs!

Don’t think shopping in Japan is just for girls though. Most places usually have 1-2 floors just dedicated to men’s clothing. My brothers like buying from RAGEBLUE.

EMODA

Jouetie

Hello me! Simple and comfy outfit for shopping. Nothing special!

After a long day, we had yakiniku back at Hakata Station. So rich in flavor huhu I felt so guilty for my stomach after each bite! IDK how everyone manages to stay thin in Japan considering the high quality of food being sold everywhere. The sorcery!

On our last free day, we walked from Hotel Miyako all the way to Canal City. It’s only about 10 minutes away so it was definitely a good warm-up exercise in the morning.

Except it was raining again. Gosingtian family, bringing the rain from Manila to wherever they go to, since… the beginning of time.

This is one part of the mall where you can find Western brands like Zara, H&M, etc. My brothers went crazy at H&M because they were having a sale and they were selling good collared shirts at Y1500 and blazers and jackets at Y2000-3000. NOT BAD AT ALL.

There’s a part in Canal City where I spend hours shopping - it’s on the second or third floor of the mall where they sell brands like moussy, SLY, rosebullet, Ungrid, EGOIST, Esperanza, etc.

Wearing new purchases from the day before. You might find the SpRay jacket, CECIL McBEE sweater and EGOIST bag familiar from my MOFW posts!

One of the special things about Canal City is that they have a Ramen Stadium! It’s like one giant food court full of ramen restaurants with different specialties, cooked in distinct styles. Only the best ramen restaurants can continue selling their ramen here so I think after a certain point, the one with the least sales will have to give his space up for a new “challenger”.

Long queue probably means the best so we queued along with the people haha but it’s already our second time here so I guess this restaurant (Kizuna) still remains to be a fan favorite after all.

Cafe MUJI after a long day of shopping! The MUJI in Canal City is like one big multi-level department store. If you think that the ones we have here is already huge, you should check this particular MUJI out.

My brother Juju having cake!

My cafe au lait. <3

On our last night in Japan, I was lucky enough to catch Kyary and AKB48 perform on television. <3

I was luckier last 2011 though. I caught the whole Kouhaku on NHK on New Year’s Eve. If you still remember my old Fukuoka post, I managed to catch some screens of Arashi and Laruku.

Time to say goodbye to my hotel room. Wearing mint houndstooth pants from Romwe. UGH writing about this trip now is making me miss Japan so badly.

At the airport. Goodbye, peaceful city of Fukuoka! *tears*

‘Til the next travel post and my next trip to Japan! I hope you guys can also visit Japan soon! :)

(dazzlin skirt, Choies top, Mango blazer, EMODA earrings, Esperanza boots, Romwe bag) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Sorry guys, my bag isn’t Laguna Moon but it sure looks like it. It was sold out when I went to the actual Laguna Moon store in Japan, but thanks to Romwe I managed to get myself the exact same design. Thanks to ViVi and a close-to-iconic photo of Lena Fuji holding the same bag, I went all cat crazy for the nth time. Lucky for me last F/W, high street had a lot of these feline furries.

For the 4th day of MOFW, I’m wearing a gold skirt from dazzlin and a pair boots from Esperanza. First things first, Esperanza is on the top of my list when it comes to the best shoe brands I’ve ever tried in my life. I have another pair of boots from them, a black platform pair with a higher heel height, that I’ve worn on my Lookbook a number of times already. They are still in almost-mint condition after wearing it pretty much everywhere. Most of the time I pack at least one pair of heeled shoes when I travel, and that particular pair is always my first choice. I never get blisters and I can wear them for hours, without hurting! What is this sorcery, Japan?!

Anyhow, after a good experience with the Esperanza shoe brand, I got myself another one back in Fukuoka. This time I chose a shorter heel height which is ideal for traveling in both comfort and style. There’s a slight cushion inside that makes it even more comfortable! Plus it makes you feel like you got your money’s worth lol. I also chose it for the two-toned design which was all the rage in Japan during my short visit. :D

On the other hand, this fabulous gold skirt is from the popular Japanese brand, dazzlin. I know them primarily because they present regularly in the touchMe presentations along with EMODA, MURUA, and the other brands from Mark Styler (a fashion group that manages a roster of brands that I all coincidentally love). They recently got Jennifer Eyemere, editor-in-chief of France’s JaLouse magazine, to style the recent dazzlin presentation, which I think is quite genius for them to do, since it presents a different kind of Japanese fashion to people from all over the world. Not the popular notion of it always having to look like cosplay, lolita, decora, etc. I’ve already lost count of all the times when I’ve gotten strange looks from people who ask me about my ultimate fashion influences. When I say Japanese fashion, I guess most people expect me to dress up like Gwen Stefani’s Harajuku Girls. Story of my life. Huu, it doesn’t always have to be wild and colorful! T_T

(EMODA dress and necklace, Chanel bag, Time Depot Sheen watch, Sugarfree Shoes heels, Mango sunnies) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks Kristin for helping me with these photos.

My new default lazy dress c/o none other than EMODA. I already splurged a bit when I went to their store in The One HK, so I decided to behave like a good girl, and choose only 1-2 items to get from them this time. The EMODA in Fukuoka can be found in Parco, which is near the Tenjin Core and Solaria Stage area, so it was quite easy to go to, and very convenient as well since it was located beside other MODE brands like MURUA, if you’re into that kind of style. I’ve always supported EMODA thanks to the constant features in ViVi, but my love for it is mostly because their style is a perfect blend of everything that I consider my fashion influences. Just the right marriage of Japanese fashion and Western high street. Not so cutesy (like Liz Lisa) but still youthful and timeless.

After racking my brains out in the store, because everything was just absolutely wonderful, it all boiled down to this dress and this necklace. The dress was a sure winner - my mom even asked me if it came in other colors because she would totally get one for herself too. The original black, gray and white pattern is classic, and the boxy cut is also sophisticated and chic. On the other hand, the necklace is just something that is so me, yes? Based on years of posting outfit photos, you guys might have already noticed that my taste in accessories is very simple and understated. You won’t even notice the necklace against the busy pattern of the dress, but that is exactly the way I like it.

(CECIL McBee sweater, EMODA bag, Romwe skirt, Forever 21 necklace and socks, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue shoes) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Thanks Kristin for helping me with these.

“My Own Fashion Week” is back, and this time, I’m featuring Japanese brands! I wear them regularly, even when I’m not explicitly promoting them, but for this particular series, I’m going to be wearing my new purchases from my recent Fukuoka trip last December 2012 (so it’s still MOFW 2012). I couldn’t be more excited for this, really. Totes right up my alley because my personal style is deeply rooted in Japanese fashion. Well, I can say that my style at this point in my life is also mixed with Western high street fashion, but I still follow ViVi, etc. like bibles! 

Speaking of Japanese magazines, this sweater was featured in a recent JELLY issue and worn by one of my fave models Miyagi Mai. Perpetually a fan of black and white, I couldn’t take my eyes off it when I walked into the CECIL McBEE in Tenjin Core. These are the kinds of sweaters that anyone can always wear regardless of trends. Classic. But for this look, I went all-out trendy for a change! I paired it with black and white items too, since black and white (together) is going to be huge this spring/summer. Good for me - I always wear them anyway. 

CECIL McBEE is a brand I *always* go to when I’m in Japan. They sell stuff relatively cheaper and more affordable than most gyaru brands, and they usually have huuuuge store spaces with the widest variety of styles to choose from. I’m sure they’re one of the highest-selling gyaru brands because of this! They also sell cosmetics, bags, etc. So much love. Paired the color block sweater with my EMODA bag (which I ordered online some time last year) that is super popular in my Instagram, haha. Because they think it’s a Phillip Lim. :))

(Haute Lifestyle dress, EMODA earrings, SM Accessories clutch, SM Parisian heels) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Last December 19, I attended a wedding with a strict formal dress code. I wore a periwinkle blue dress that must be the most perfect fitting dress that I’ve ever owned in my entire life. I thought my lack of curves was a hopeless case but this dress made me think otherwise. With a proper fit, you can turn a straight tree stump body into something like this! I’m thoroughly impressed - I was panicking for a dress two weeks before the wedding when the Apartment 8 team volunteered to make me one, under their made-to-order Haute Lifestyle brand, and finished the dress in only 2 weeks. They got all my measurements right the first time, and my first fitting was a breeze. Haute Lifestyle, you are doing it right! <3 I’m sure most of my readers who are still in highschool are still looking for prom or graduation ball dresses around this time, so I definitely recommend contacting them asap. The dress’ design was a collaboration between me and the brand, and that was pretty fun to do too. :D

For more details, email them at hautelifestylemanila@gmail.com, visit them at 33B Scout Borromeo, South Triangle, Quezon City, or call them at 709-7338 / 0917-5751502.

(Romwe top, Oasap skirt, Choies headband, Moussy bag, EMODA necklace, Trè Kouture wedges) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

It’s the combination of two different things that made me so happy about how this outfit turned out! Spikes and pearls surprisingly work well together, and I think it’s also very descriptive of my personal style (which tends to be rather bipolar). If you’re still into royal blue color accent like me, feast your eyes on these sky high wedges! They’re definitely one of the most photogenic pairs of shoes that I have. 

Anyhow, I’ve been feeling under the weather recently, so I apologize for the lack of new entries (I know I posted this look 4 days ago on Lookbook and I’m only posting a proper entry for it now), but I promise to get back on my feet as soon as I get better! I wasn’t able to share how incredibly tortuous my throat became last December, but I actually got a major fever and a really bad case of pharyngitis before Christmas. Had to be on a soft diet (seriously, on Christmas eve too) and antibiotics for days. I thought that was over until two days ago when my throat started acting up again like it’s desperately trying to claw its way out of my body, which was the same exact feeling I had with my throat last December. Hoping I’ll get enough rest tonight so I can go back to work tomorrow. Health is wealth~

(The Orphan’s Arms sweatshirt, EMODA leggings, Moussy bag, Sugarfree heels, Forever 21 necklace) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Comfortable dressing at its best. I’m feeling quite the opposite of what’s written on my new sweatshirt, but I see it as a good conversation topic for someone like me who fails so bad at small talk and… well, talking to other people in general. I could already imagine it — “Why do you have woe written on your shirt?” / “I’m actually super happy right now because… (state random reasons here in an attempt to salvage the conversation and not make it throw itself off a cliff)” Yeah, I know that it’s lame, contrived things like these that never successfully push through. But it’s fun thinking about them anyway. 

Because my sweatshirt is so gloomy (but might I add that it’s my most comfortable one to date, as expected from The Orphan’s Arms), I made sure to wear happy printed bottoms and colorful shoes! Yay!

(EMODA top and bag, Kristine’s Collection jacket, Choies shorts and shoes, Time Depot Baby G x SNSD Sooyoung watch) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Kitty wedges! Enough said.

(Time Depot Sheen watch, Romwe top, Oasap heels, SM Accessories ring and bracelets, EMODA earrings) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Silver everywhere! The holidays make it so acceptable to go all-out with everything shiny, and it looks like I won’t be getting over it any time soon. Metallics make seemingly-plain outfits look fancier than they actually are, which is always good for those like me with closets full of mostly casual basics.

The highlights of this outfit? My silver Sheen watch and tassel heels. Sheen watches never fail to give off a very classy vibe, and I’m so happy they recently got SNSD to endorse their watches. Check out the new Sheen ad with Yoona and Seohyun on my sidebar! SO PRETTY!

And these heels! Oh, where do I even start? If Santa’s little elves went into a major fashion revolution, they’d probably wear shoes that look like these.

Sponsored post.

(Minimal top, Topshop pants, Time Depot Baby G x Ke$ha watch, Kookii Boutique bracelet, love.eyecandy bag, EMODA earrings) Hype this look on Lookbook here. 

Went for a all gold ensemble on 12/12/12 and the first day of My Own Fashion Week Indonesia! I got this shiny mosaic top from a lovely store called Minimal in Solo Paragon. No regrets with this purchase, as it is now my ultimate go-to top whenever I feel lazy to dress up. There’s nothing like a little shimmer to get you through everything. Even my watch is super shiny! :D

(EMODA top and cardigan set, bag, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue boots, Forever 21 necklace) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

This is what I wore to a shoot I did recently for Apartment 8’s holiday collection. Right now, I’m super fascinated with the whole concept behind wearing tops and outerwear made from the same fabric. Consider me a new fan of these things called “twin sets”, thanks to this particular EMODA set that I got from my last trip to Hong Kong. I saw it first on EMODA visual merchandiser Naoko Kuroishi’s blog header, and instantly fell in love. I have yet to style them separately, but I’m really determined to replicate this twin set effect with other patterns. New information and ideas make me so excited. <3

Bonus photo of me and my friend Ernest, the designer for Apartment 8’s Paris collections. We simply found it amusing that we wore similarly-themed outfits the day this was taken. I was also telling him that I will totes wear his whole outfit in a heartbeat. Love the crisp button-down with the checkered sweat pants. Dressy but still simple and laid back. Just the way I like it!

(:CHOCOOLATE top, Sheinside jacket, Soeurs shorts, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue wedges, Forever 21 bag, EMODA earrings) Hype this look on Lookbook here. Hair curled with a triple barrel curling iron that I got from my salon (Indigo Salon).

Cats are everywhere on this blog! They’re on my wedges, on my headband, on this shirt, on my favorite shirt (1, 2, 3), on my platform heels (1, 2), on my sweater, and on my skirt. And this still doesn’t include the things that I haven’t taken photos of.

Cats will always tickle my fancy, it seems! I think I would survive, if someone were to dare me to inject at least one feline element to my daily outfits. I don’t even know when my penchant for cats started. I’ve also never had a chance to own a cat before. There’s just something about them that draws me in. I just turn into a little ball of fluff when I see cats on the street or at friends’ houses. <3

My friends in high school used to tell me how I reminded them so much of cats. I guess I’ll have to admit that I may have odd cat-like behaviors at times. I’m a creature of the night, and I’m always lazy and sleepy during the day. I can be really silent when I move, and I am very obsessive-compulsive. Being alone doesn’t bother me either - it has never been an issue for me to go to shop or even eat alone in public places. If I’m busy, I prefer not being pestered into doing things I don’t like. I don’t normally have a lot of energy, but when presented with something I really like, my enthusiasm can shoot through the roof. Some may think I look snobbish, but I’m just really shy around strangers. And based on my nail pictures on IG, I obvs have a special relationship with my nails… 

Changed my eye color for this entry to get light blue-gray cat-like eyes! Thanks to Japanese Candy for the COCORO GRAY lenses. :3

All the talk about cats in this entry was brought about by the cat print on my shirt! I have a similar one that I’ve posted a number of times before, but this one is not sleeveless and has “MEOW” spelled correctly. :CHOCOOLATE, where this shirt is from, is a brand that you can’t miss if you go to Hong Kong (or Macau). They have this lovely minimalist black and white store design that complements all the clothes that they sell. They have wonderful selections for BOTH boys and girls - my mom and my brothers would always find something they like in this store. :D They produce really good basics and classic patterns that will surely last a long time in your closet. Even their packaging and window displays look cool.

Boyish outfit for a change. A predictable me would’ve worn this with a girly skirt and platform heels, but I realized I should wear my shorts, boots, hoodies and leather jackets together more often. How do you like the change?

Didn’t see this coming, did you? I made sure to post this before the month ends, since I know that a lot of you will be going to Hong Kong for the holidays, and I figured I can help you guys decide which places you can go to while you’re there. Only applicable if we have the same interests, of course! :D

Last October, just before the long All Saints/Souls Day weekend, I went on a spontaneous trip to Hong Kong with one of my friends Jee. Both of us have already visited this place in the past, so we only went to our most favorite places this time. 

First stop: BUY ALL THE BERRIES IN THE SUPERMARKET.

We literally stuffed ourselves with blueberries and strawberries during our stay in Hong Kong. They were priced so reasonably.

While walking to the nearest station, we spotted this Korean tourist couple wearing matching outfits. They even had matching Mario keychains!

Jee, also being Korean, admitted to this whole matching items thing being a very iconic part of culture. I wouldn’t be surprised - they make some of the most romantic dramas, and they *always* insert a scene where the guy gets couple rings… which the girl ends up temporarily losing at one point, lol

Saving money by commuting! Going around Hong Kong via MTR is super easy, as long as you make sure you don’t join the rush hour crowd. 

Guess where our second stop was?

DISNEYLAND!

Hong Kong Disneyland is the most accessible Disneyland to us Filipinos. “The happiest place on earth”… is surprisingly just an hour or so away from Manila. You can order tickets online so it’s a lot more convenient.

Pumpkins everywhere! Jee and I were so lucky to catch all the Halloween exclusives. They even made a special map where you can see all the spooky new attractions.

Of course I had to get a Minnie Mouse headband by the entrance before I had my photo taken in front of the castle!

BABY POOH Y SO CUTE

The cutest but most expensive ice cream ever. I love how the Minnie one comes with a yellow ribbon!

Adorable Mickey luggage. So pretty but I wouldn’t want to use it because I would only be afraid to damage it :(

Colorful Mickey iPad case.

Heavy eyeliner to match my Halloween Minnie headband. This was taken while we were waiting for…

OUR MICKEY WAFFLES! Came with whipped cream (that formed a :> smiley) and fresh strawberries. Didn’t taste anything special, but it looked wonderful in pictures (just like most of the overpriced food in Disneyland).

Shoes from Choies. So many people in HK complimented me on these shoes but unfortunately my shoes weren’t able to reply properly lol

The cutest Nightmare before Christmas glass figurines. Reminded me of my good friend Tracy so much!

Epic glass rose from Beauty and the Beast. Belle is my favorite Disney princess! How about you?

Limited edition Minnie pumpkin figurine. I’m not sure if they’re still selling this now, but I’m sure the Christmas products will be just as nice!

Jee and I come in peace! Thank you to the stranger who helped us take this picture :D

Must-haves for all Minnie lovers. That polkadot cardigan, I covet.

Just because Jee is adorbs.

These boys are wheely cute.

*get shot*

It’s a small world after all! It was so fun to spot all the characters from the Disney movies. Here is Cinderella.

I can show you the world~

Just because I love Japan and I can’t freakin’ wait for Fukuoka and Hiroshima in December. I couldn’t ask for a more ideal way to end 2012.

PHILIPPINES REPRESENT. Check out the tarsier!

This part of the whole boat ride was my favorite. PASTEL GOODNESS EVERYWHERE. I was spazzing the whole time so this was the only non-blurry shot I could post. :P

One of the rides in Disneyland. Not for those with motion sickness (like me).

The new part that I only got to see recently! Some of the rides are still under construction, but I’m glad they’re making HK Disneyland bigger. I used to think it was too small to spend the whole day there, but maybe after they finish all the new features,  we can enjoy it until late at night.

Vinyl toys for all the collectors out there. I particularly fancy the wicked witch one (second figurine, bottom row)

Duffy! A lot of people don’t know who Duffy is, so I’ll post the Wikipedia link here so you can read all about it and realize how IMMENSELY ADORABLE it is on your own. <3

After Disneyland, Jee and I spent our remaining days just shopping like it’s the end of the world. Via MTR, we first went to Langham Place in Mong Kok, where we headed straight to H&M and Monki.

Monki, which I think is Scandinavia’s answer to H&M. Very similar styles and selections, and they’re located right next to each other. 

If H&M won’t come to the Philippines any time soon, I hope Monki will! We need some more Swedish brands in this part of the world~

I.T. is popular fashion conglomerate of sorts. Interestingly, the selection of brands per I.T. store differs per location.

Crazy for kitties!

Japanese magazine heaven in a store called kaimonoou. I prefer buying magazines here because they sell the Japanese versions and not the Taiwanese/Chinese versions… which are so much thinner than the originals. 

Also, you know how Japanese magazines usually include limited edition tote bag collaborations from different brands? They also sell the tote bags here separately, in case you missed a certain issue or in case you’re only interested in the bag and not the magazine.

Also in Langham Place, you can find Baby Cafe by the one and only Angelababy! She has been one of my ultimate girl crushes for the longest time. If I could trade faces with anyone, I would choose Angelababy’s face. Or Lena Fuji’s, Nozomi Sasaki’s or Keiko Kitagawa’s.

Found a hidden dazzlin in a building near Langham Place. You might’ve already heard of this brand if you closely follow ViVi and SCawaii!

If you’re up for some good food, don’t forget to drop by the restaurants on the higher levels of Langham Place before you leave. 

Hong Kong by night… is not dark at all. Well, the side streets and residential places are, but all the commercial areas are lit up like this even until late in the evening.

Chicken, fish, pork, sausage and fries in one meal. All for about HKD50+. NOT BAD AT ALL.

Another thing about Hong Kong that I should mention is…

They are also crazy about Japanese brands and Japanese fashion. They have collect point everywhere, so brands such as Lowry’s Farm, JEANASIS (my top 1 collect point brand), HEATHER, and GLOBAL WORK, among others, are easily accessible. They’re all selling Fall/Winter items now, so prepare your wallet if you’re into the styles and colors of the clothes worn by the mannequins above.

Hong Kong by day. 

Along Park Lane Shoppers Boulevard early in the morning. No shops were open yet. I just wore a cozy sweater and a pleated leather skirt because I wanted something comfortable to wear for my official ultimate shopping day.

BECAUSE WE WERE GOING TO THE ONE, MY FAVORITE MALL IN HONG KONG! All caps for emphasis. I went back to this place everyday during my stay. 

This is like, every Japanese fashion lover’s mecca… outside Japan. 

But first, lunch! A lot of the stores in The One open late, so it’s better to go there during the afternoon or evening.

Rose Champagne White Chocolate at Harlan’s Cake Shop.

Refreshments at one of the cafes in the mall.

Okay, it’s time to start spazzing now. MURUA…

and EMODA…

ENOUGH SAID. My top 2 favorite MODE brands are available in Hong Kong! AHH! JUST TAKE ALL OF MY MONEY.

b+ab is a high-end Hong Kong label which I also love. They recently released a b+ab x Angelababy collaboration, which I’ll be wearing in two of my MOFW Hong Kong posts soon. 

I also got my hands on an old b+ab x Hello Kitty iPhone case, which was surprisingly still available! It was definitely meant for me, lololol

Truffle Xiao Long Bao for dinner!

Near the Jordan Station is Prudential Centre, which seems like a weird place to go to from outside, but there are two stores there that I always visit. One is this store called Zucozz.

The other one, which I couldn’t take a picture of, is a hidden gem. But since I love my followers, I’ll let you in on it! It’s called Ayumie, and they sell old season Japanese and Korean brands for cheap! 

Nice merry-go-round display at Samantha Thavasa. If I were still in my Liz Lisa phase, I would get one of these bags in a heartbeat. Sadly I got over it a long time ago, so there’s no room in my closet anymore for bags that come with ruffles, heart keychains and giant toy plushies.

I still love them for getting Miranda Kerr, Tomomi Itano and After School as endorsers. Taylor Momsen was an odd choice.

Me in the middle of Times Square in Causeway Bay. Comfy shopping/walking outfit! I can’t imagine walking the whole day in HK wearing heels!

Top from Lowry’s Farm, and skirt from Far East Plaza in Singapore.

Halloween in Times Square.

Jee and her perfect hair being blown by the wind. The weather was wonderful and cooperative. You might want to schedule a trip to Hong Kong around late October to mid-November! Not too hot but not too cold either. It was windy and cloudy, but definitely not rainy! Perfect weather for those who prefer packing light. 

I still prefer going there late December though! :D Light coat weather!

SOGO and the iconic giant pedestrian. We went here early Sunday morning to avoid the crowd, but there were still too many people D:

Inside the dressing room of :CHOCOOLATE. Just thought it was nifty, lol

These flats, I DIE. I just had to take a photo. I just came from Disneyland, and this was what I immediately get in real life?! *dreams shattered*

When in Causeway Bay… GO TO IPPUDO!

I know you guys are probably already super tired of me always raving about this place. I’ve mentioned it in my Fukuoka post, as well as my Singapore post, and because I love their ramen so much, I need to post it here too. There is always room available for the best Hakata Ramen in this world.

You can find it on the second floor of one of the building in Russell Street… which is the street right in front of Lane Crawford/Times Square in Causeway Bay. 

Going back to I.T., the selection of brands in Times Square is much different compared to the ones in Tsim Sha Tsui, etc. 

Hong Kong has also caught the Comme des Garçons craze, it seems! Lucky for us in Manila, we also now have it in One Rockwell. 

Jee and I wrapped up our trip with a small detour. Just a street away The One is Granville Road, which is this nice and quirky place to shop for edgy items that are priced cheaper than the ones you can find in shopping malls. Well, I remember it used to be so much cheaper here in the past compared to now, but I still love it for its character! It’s like a much, much subdued version of Takeshita Dori in Harajuku.

I love how it still manages to portray the image of the “real Hong Kong” that I’ve known throughout the years. 

Halloween fever ain’t over yet! Orange and black lomo cameras on display.

A hot pink car parked in the middle of the road. 

Posters and graffiti everywhere. 

Nifty lightbulbs on display. While in Granville Road, there’s this 4 or 5 story building that you should visit. I don’t know what it’s called, but it reminds me of a smaller Shoppesville in Greenhills where you can find some young independent designers and online stores selling their stuff in one little space. It’s super cramped and the building looks weird and old from outside, but it’s a must if you like edgy, one-of-a-kind pieces.

The store owners wouldn’t let me take photos so here’s a photo of clocks instead (WHAT).

Granville just before sunset. That store on the right, Cutie Little Fun, sells Liz Lisa-inspired items at half the price. Of course the quality is much different, but it works if you’re on a budget! Liz Lisa can get reaaally expensive.

If you like the real Liz Lisa, you can go to Miramar Shopping Center, which is just beside The One mall. In here you can also find other Japanese brands such as SLY, snidel, moussy, etc.

Foggy morning view from my hotel. I stayed at BP International Hotel for the second time already. It is perfectly situated along Austin Road, perpendicular to Nathan Road, where you can find The One, Miramar Shopping Center, etc. The Jordan and Tsim Sha Tsui stations are also conveniently walking distance! Right in front of the hotel is Cafe de Coral, which I frequent for their yummy fish fillet breakfast set. Just a minute’s walk away is also Sasa, which I know you can also find everywhere in HK, but it’s nice to know that there’s one that is super nearby. At the end of your trip, you can spend all your remaining money on Japanese cosmetic brands like CANMAKE, Dolly Wink/Candy Doll, etc. <3

Phew, that was long! Stay tuned for my MOFW HK, as well as my Indonesia travel entry in December. :)

(EMODA top, Choies jacket, Romwe pants, Kate Spade bag, Charriol St Tropez Infinte Summer watch, FashionCookie ShoeAvenue wedges) Hype this look on Lookbook here.

Recently, every day has been like a “What do I pair with florals this time?” challenge! Today I wore them with this military-inspired jacket, which is slowly climbing the charts when it comes to my favorite pieces of outerwear. The leatherette part, combined with the army green sleeves, make for a nice feminine take on the military trend. I’ve never been a fan of it until now! I owe it all to the blinged-out crystal-embellished ones in Zara’s latest collections. 

I’ve only been a fan of the military trend for a few weeks, but most of you know how utterly smitten I am with florals! This obsession transcends seasons in such a way that I will still definitely wear them even after spring and summer are over. I feel like there are so many different kinds of floral prints that there are definitely some, somewhere in this world, that are totally wearable even in autumn or winter. This pair of pants that I’m wearing, for example, is one of those kinds that work well with both black (and all the usual autumn and winter colors such as wine red, brown, mustard, dark green, etc.) and white. When confronted with this sort of versatile goodness, I die from happiness. Guess you’ll still be seeing me in these pants in the next couple of months!

Paired the two-toned jacket with a two-toned bag! This one from Kate Spade has a boxy shape to it that I really, really love. I guess it’s because I also have a boxy, shapeless body (LOL) that I am drawn to anything that is squarish or rectangular? I prefer boxy jackets and blazers with no waist and boxy dresses that don’t show the shape of my body over sexy silhouettes that emphasize curves. I think having 3 brothers and a mom who had pixie-short hair most of her parent life rubbed off on me and my personal style this way. I think I would even survive living on my brothers’ clothes if I suddenly didn’t have my own! Although I know it would be somewhat cheating on my part because my brothers have absolutely wonderful taste in fashion and they have a lot of items in their closets that can pass of as unisex! 

If you’re wondering what’s written on my loose tank top, it’s from Coco Chanel (LOVE HER!). “In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different.”

So much truth in this statement, I can’t even

And finally, saving the best for last, a close-up photo of this gorgeous Charriol that was sent straight to me from Switzerland, the land of watches (and chocolate)! My wrist can’t handle this perfection. So elegant, and it suits pretty much everything that I wear.