a real bobby dazzler

The annual dilemma of NYE dressing. My advice is not to stress too much over the outfit. Wear something nice, for sure, a dress, maybe sparkly, but concentrate on your head. By that I mean get a blow dry and wear a fabulous headband. Blow drys add a lot of value, especially if you go to Prive in the Valley (where they are HK$80! +852 2838 8321), they make you look stylish, polished and instantly glossy. Add a glamorous headband and you will look like “a real bobby dazzler” as my dear grandmother says. Try Brands Boutique (41 Hollywood Road, +852 2851 3111) for a feather, jeweled, or both for HK$399, Lane Crawford for simple feather versions (black, nude) or slim jeweled numbers (navy, caramel, black) for around HK$900 or venture into Net-A-Porter, they have a huge range priced from GBP30. If you are staying in and doing country house chic then opt for a cosy cashmere one, no excuse for missing the blow dry though. Happy New Year x

tree pornament

A "Christmas Tree Pornament!" Love it. Normally I would not write about such sordid things but this is just hilarious, can you imagine Granny's face when she clocks the fact that it isn't a cutesy snow scene? Such delicacies can be found at a very naughty store called Showtime, they are open until 11pm tonight and tomorrow so get down there to grab your own special tree decoration. Showtime, 2/F Shama Place, 30 Hollywood Road (opposite Coast), Soho, Central, +852 2530 3309. Have a very lovely cosy Christmas x

style your snood

I am loving the snood trend this winter. A warm cosy knit around your neck, no dangley bits and a great excuse for flashing a huge vintage brooch. Giordano have a stylish snood, reverse knit in nudey pink for HK$325, which, if you have been listening carefully readers, is very much the right colour to be sporting in 2010. You can wear it loose or fastened, either with the huge pin (which comes with it) or pop to Evelyn Artwear for a bling brooch, they have 20-40% off until January (Evelyn Artwear, 21 Aberdeen Street, Central, +852 2850 8906).

create your own clive

Anyone who does not find Clive Owen ludicrously attractive is, quite frankly, clinically deranged. I named my first car after him. Just remember that scene in Closer (with the naughty swearing) when he is in the zip neck jumper...yummmm. So this Christmas you are going to create your own Clive:

1 - Head to Uniqlo for a warm-cuddle-up-next-to-jumper, preferably cashmere, with a zip neck front (see Closer scene for ideas).

2 - Book an appointment with Roger for a peck-skimming, bicep-hinting fitted shirt for HK$450. Roger is the most stylish mens tailor in Hong Kong Roger (Roger Concept Tailor Co., Room 504, 5/F, Takshing House, 20 Des Voeux Road Central, Tel 2537 8449). Make sure you ask for the coloured button holes - so gorgeous and Roger can advise on colours and styles.

3 - Hide his razor. A little bit of stubble maketh the man and who cares if its a bit bristly...

Hopefully come 2010 the whole world will be full of mini Clives...ooooooooooo *faint*

homesick + hats

I am feeling superbly homesick, I want to be skating at Somerset House ice rink, strolling through Liberty, hugging a mulled wine in a cosy pub and making my cheeks the perfect pink walking in the countryside with my gorgeous Mummy. Moan over. It is finally getting cold here, almost enough to warrant wearing a hat, which is very exciting as I have discovered a stylish milliner. Mademoiselle Slassi is inspired by the eras where hats were part of an outfit. She likes to give timeless shapes a contemporary touch by playing with colours and using feathers and crystals. Each design is unique and she can work on bespoke pieces if required. Contact caugusto@carlaaugusto.com or see some of her designs at Melaine, 37 Cochrane Road, Central. Prices range from HK$1000 to 3000.

the art of giving...

...to yourself. Ha Ha. Well, actually you can do both this week. Melissa Lo is holding a Christmas Show and donating a percentage of the proceeds to the Hong Kong Cancer Fund, a very worthy cause. Her gorgeous designs (above) will be at The Caine Room, Level 7, The Conrad Hotel today (11am- 8.30pm) and Friday (10.30am-6pm). Lola & Syd - remember that Aussie stunner? She is flashing her wares ( jewellery, bags, shoes, scarves, belts, baby clothes as well as some vintage pieces) on Monday 14 December (4-10pm) Rooftop, above Flat 25C, 2&3 Seymour Terrace, Mid-levels.

double happiness

There have been some divine designer collaborations this year, proving that tough times call for creativity. I love a good collaboration, especially when it is genuine and stylish. People love it. These three have been particularly fabulous... The Claridge's Christmas Tree by John Galliano for Dior, Giles Deacon's dress for the Cadbury Caramel Bunny and the Erdem designs for Smythson. I want all of them please.

is vintage a load of old pants?

I used to think so. I also thought you had to be super cool to carry it off but that is just a load of tosh. Finding the good stuff is the key to looking good...

Hong Kong Honey - I stumbled upon a very hidden 70s vintage store in HK last week called Bang!Bang! (great name) which moved island side last month from TST (where it was based for years). They stock everything, from flares and furniture to cool clutches and amazing print dresses. 1/F, 16A Aberdeen Street, 9045 8006/9233 1225.

Loving London - On my last trip back I was delighted to discover a new, and very cool shop near my hairdressers Hari's, its called D&Me and has the best sign I have ever seen in a shop, it says "Your husband called and said treat yourself" or something along those lines. Anyway it worked and I bought some amazing earrings. They have beautiful sparkly vintage pieces, very 1920s and some great off-the-wall designer clothes. The shop assistants are gorgeous, of course, but also very friendly. 309 Brompton Road, SW3 2DY, +44 207 589 2684.

I can't cope with smelly shops - If you just can't deal with vintage stores then snuggle up on the sofa and browse these fabulous sites...Atelier-Mayer.com is the luxury vintage site which stocks items you dream about finding in your granny's closet. Lady Pearls is an "online treasure chest" full of well priced goodies. Vintage Secret was born out of frustration with "overpriced nylon and moth ball nightmares" and the desire "to showcase only the best one-off vintage finds". Also try Net-A-Porter for their One Vintage stock which seems to fly off the site as soon as it lands. Finally, if you want to blag your way into the world of vintage cool then become an avid reader of Queens of Vintage.

paris meets hong kong

I found the coolest new shop last night, it was their opening night and they were still unwrapping the clothes....so exciting...I love a new find, especially something this cool. Magnan & Tse is the collaboration of two seriously stylish women, Catherine Magnan and Yuen Man Tse. Their aim is to mix Paris and Hong Kong in their creations. They succeeded, the fabrics are light, soft and feel expensive, the bling is more glam than babysham and the result is stunning t-shirts, long vests and dresses in black, grey and olive, from around HK$1280. Definitely pop in to their boutique on Aberdeen Street, just opposite where Gage Street ends.

desk to disco

Love the naff title, don't you? There are hideous amounts of post-work parties this December, and whilst we have discussed underwear, we have not touched upon the annual desk to disco dilemmas. Can you wear a polo to a party? Well only if it belongs to a foxy sweater dress and you team it with some fabulous bling or shoes. This French Connection dress offers a great solution, team it with black opaque tights and layer underneath with a thin black polo or long sleeved top. Come 6pm whip off the layered top or polo and change the tights for grey sparkly numbers and there you have it. Gosh I'm good. There are only a few left in the Pacific Place shop...

go nude

I am totally in love with all the nude, blush colours around at the moment, and its creeping into 2010's spring summer collections too. They look divine with greys, gold, silver or pattern and are super smart with black. You can add jewels, feathers, vintage lace or sparkles and make yourself look ten times more expensive. The trick is finding the right shade to wear, if they work with your skin they can really bring it alive. I am super pale and never tan (unless its fake) so pinkier blush tones suit me, if you are darker skinned then you can take really light or yellowy shades. I love how these have worked.