chatting...

Things we've been chatting about recently at secretstylist HQ…aren't these boots incredible? can we buy these ears for ourselves? what about a velvet print dress for christmas parties? or animal? how gorgeous this knit is (spied on cup of jo) …have you ordered your fur yet? If I buy this for my man I can totally borrow it…

new mens shoe label: mulo

Love a boy who wears pink. My friend Dave often sports a salmon pink cardi with maximum effect. Coral pink shoes though...only the very manly (rugged beard and copious amounts of chest hair) can rock this one.

Check out new shoe brand Mulo. They just launched in the UK and the US. You can find them at Project No. 8 in New York (Soho and Ace Hotel) and Wolf & Badger in Notting Hill and Montenegro! They are kindly offering you a friends and family discount of 35 USD, making them 90 USD a pair (offer ends 11 July) exclusively at orders@mulo.co.uk.

cos opening in hong kong..net-a-porter hong kong...and secret sales

So much going on in the Kong. I heard a rumour COS was opening and its been confirmed, arriving this summer on Queens Road Central! Net-A-Porter are expanding to Asia and looking for fabulous people - if you're keen check here or contact Jeanine at Niin or pop along to her event at The Space tomorrow (flyer below). Orlebar Brown are popping up at Sidewalk boutique for two weeks so stop the boy from looking like Tony Blair on holiday any longer and pop along to the launch - 4 Gough Street - Thursday 8 March - 7-10pm.

online shopping....male grooming

Having watched a lot of men running the New York marathon yesterday (well done Ed and Tim!) I decided to post on male grooming. A little bird told me about Niven & Joshua which was launched by two friends of his from his days at Leeds uni. They stock the best of the best grooming products, ship everywhere and have an award-winning blog Ape to Gentleman. A great site for presents me thinks. Now for a picture of Clive...who, with the right grooming products (plus low lighting and a squint) could appear in a bed next to you very soon...

He's thinking about moisturiser

Oooooooo Clive

*image from here

hello there mr porter

There has been a lot of buzz around the launch of Mr Porter, the site introduced by Net-A-Porter designed solely for men, which launches on Tuesday. They invited people to become founding members and then gave them a sneak preview, clever, I like it. I had a browse and I was impressed with the level of content (they hired Esquire Editor Jeremy Langmead to be Editor-in-chief, again, clever) there are interviews with stylish dudes, great wardrobe ideas and good advice, all simply laid out and easy to navigate. Here are some of the looks which caught my eye...and remember...real men can carry off cardigans, scarves and pink.

hong kong tatler fashion editor arne talks style...

Stylish men are hard to find, especially in Hong Kong. Arne Eggers, Fashion Editor at Hong Kong Tatler, is one of the most stylish men I know, so I quizzed him about his fabulous job, the spring/summer collections, and discovered a few of his style secrets...

1) Describe a typical day as Fashion Editor for Hong Kong Tatler
I think the most typical thing about my job is that there are no typical days: One day I might be running around town to attend press events, other days I could be in a studio shooting a fashion story, in the office laying out pages with our designers, or in a cafe brainstorming new ideas with a photographer. That's what I enjoy about the job - it never gets boring!

2) Which key trends for spring/summer 2011 are you most excited about?
I'm actually not very excited at all about the menswear trends this season! Floral prints and cargo pants? No thanks. But even in the worst season there are a few things you can find: my spring look is going to be cut off shorts with a simple low round neck t-shirt, a formal suit jacket and casual espadrilles.

3) Current favourite designer and why?
I don't have one single favourite designer but of course there are a few people in the industry who I admire: Alber Elbaz from Lanvin example, for delivering one stunning collection after another. Raf Simons, for designing a standout spring collection for Jil Sander that featured some of the most beautiful looks I've seen in years. Alexis Mabille, for bringing a great new vibe into Haute Couture.

4) Where do you shop for menswear in HK?
I buy a lot of my clothes abroad so I when I'm shopping in Hong Kong, I try to find things that aren't available elsewhere. I'm lucky enough to have a body type that fits the local fashion, and love mixing my wardrobe with pieces from Hong Kong based high street labels such as Indu Homme. Another great place to shop local menswear is Moustache on Aberdeen street, a fun store that offers menswear ready-to-wear, accessories, and bespoke tailoring.

5) Top 3 items in your wardrobe?

1. Black cashmere silk scarf by Loro Piana.
This Italian brand is producing the most divine cashmere and even though it comes with a rather large price tag, it's worth every penny. I had this heavenly soft scarf for years and wear it almost every day
2. Black slim fit tuxedo jacket by Dior Homme.
Whether I wear it to a black tie event or with jeans and t-shirt - this timeless jacket gives my look an instant lift
3. White Topshop Plimsolls.
I love my canvas plimsolls and was very excited to learn that Topshop now delivers to Hong Kong. There is no other shoe in the world that is as low-key and stylish at the same time.

top 5 star street shops

Having called Star Street "so 2010" last week, I found myself there this weekend, hunting for last minute presents. 100% calmer and simpler than shopping in the manic malls, you are guaranteed more unique, quirky brands, especially when it comes to buying for boys. So here is my tour, top 5 shops only, begin at Monocle, 1-4 St. Francis Yard and keep walking...

Monocle: as cool as the magazine, packed with minimalist items which are ideal for boys. Wallets, bags, man-bags, gadgets, you name it.

Lostnfound: Next along is this little shop full of randomness, packed head to toe with old posters, signs, clocks, watches, retro phones. Perfect for stocking pressies.

Kapok: Further along on the right is Kapok, I've blogged on them before. Great leather goods from Danish designers, I spotted a brilliant t-shirt which says something really rude about bankers. Stylish shoes for men and happy socks, which they always appreciate. They stock Niin too, in case you need a treat.

Chen Meji: Head to the end of St. Francis Yard and take a right down an ally and you'll reach this little lane pictured above. Chen Meji is full of retro style furniture and home wares, worth a peek, you might find a gem.

Kapok interiors: The second branch of Kapok, they often have pop-up collections like the one I posted on. They stock the Moshi Moshi POP phone, which everyone loves, Moleskin notebooks (can't go wrong), stylish rustic European crockery (cute egg cups), bags, jewellery and much more. 

Sonjia: Last stop is round to the left after Kapok interiors. One for the girls, pretty glasses, vintage cups and saucers, loads of gorgeous bits and bobs for the dining room, plus a clothing label further inside and earrings to die for...whoops.

Inside Sonjia, a little treasure trove

one for the boys

I've been meaning to post on this shop for ages, I had a great chat with one of the owners ages ago when I popped in, loved their collections, design of the shop, and general style. Great t-shirts, shorts, belts, shirts and all reasonably priced, although definitely for the more stylish men you know, not the boring ones. They do bespoke tailoring too. I do think its important when we make such an effort to look so damn hot, that our men folk follow suit (pardon the pun). I know that most of my ex-boyfriends have come out of our relationship looking 1 billion times better having had me (how do we put this?) re-dress/re-direct their fashion sense! You can do it subtly girls, Christmas presents, the odd wardrobe clear out (when they are at the pub - blame it on the cleaner) or you can just send them to Moustache. They're rumoured to be doing girls stuff soon too. Find them on 31 Aberdeen Street.

my picks from uniqlo +J

High waisted camel skirt, perfect with a Breton top, booties and a blazer. Love it. Bought it. HK$499

They do it in grey, I resisted, just.

Pencil skirt with a nice flick at the bottom, comes in black, brown, grey, navy, HK$499

Draped dress in a dark navy, gorgeous, they've nearly sold out, only 1 medium in Taikoo Shing and 4 smalls in Harbour City, HK$799

Smart but stylish winter jacket, imagine collar up with a nice leopard print scarf. Yum. HK$TBC

I spied this too, dark navy, HK$299

One for the boys, love the navy one, HK$1,699

Every boy should have a waistcoat, they look incredibly hot in them, especially when paired with a casual t-shirt or a fitted white shirt, HK$599

This isn't by Jil but I couldn't resist, HK$699

See the rest, and various store locations in Hong Kong here

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*

lounging fabulously

It's Monday, it was a hectic weekend and now all we need is a cup of tea + the sofa + chocolate. The only thing we can wear in this stinking hot weather is bikinis. But lounging about in your designer two piece with frilly bottoms isn't all that amusing. My advice is to pop on a pair of Jimmi Jamms. Comfortable, colourful and cute, they have just started their summer sale, with 20% off any two items bought (boys look particularly hot in the Nice Ass numbers) and free shipping with orders over US$100. Drawstring waists allow for Green & Blacks chocolate overload. Brilliant.

smug love

Romantic Rita spends Valentines being all schmuggle puggle cutsie wootsie with her boy who buys her a gorgeous Love Ring. Saucy Susie spends the night in (and out of) sexy lingerie from the Secret Wardrobe. Naughty Nina makes her man whip up a fabulous gourmet dinner whilst wearing a pair of pink budgy smugglers.
What is your Valplan?

shopping with the strange species

There are three key rules to making this successful. Speed, price and ego stroking. Make sure it is not a Saturday, and enlist a good shop assistant who works fast, the male attention span is short and you need to be quick. Remember this is like buying groceries to them, a necessity, not a pleasure. I suggest you go somewhere mid range price wise. Zara is perfect, they have modern clothes erring on trendy but are not too expensive. Men don't understand brands or designer price tags. Encourage them to understand fabric and texture and don't be offended when they shout "gay" at 75% of the items you put in front of them. Regularly shout "can we have this in extra large please". They love it. Tell them what to wear with what, colour matches etc, this is not patronising to men, it is factual. Last, but not least, congratulate them on the fabulous purchases which will make them look like a GOD. Men need ego stroking like women need chocolate. Often and in large doses.