dynamic duo

Richard Nicoll and Kylie Minogue, it's a match made in heaven. Kylie's petite yet voluptuous figure carries Nicoll's Spring 2012 collection with inspiring aplomb; the peekaboo gowns work wonderfully with Kylie's sexy-but-cute persona, and his Linder Sterling printed pieces undoubtedly appeal to Kylie's well-documented playful side. Nicoll is a master at playing with juxtapositions - sultry yet conservative, eye-catching yet unassuming, colourful yet neutral - these are all themes that Richard plays with season after season, so Kylie's ever-changing personality works wonderfully with Nicoll's ever-changing mood. One thing always remains consistent, however, is Richard's eye for sophistication and class; two things that Minogue has built her musical empire on ever since she started, years and years ago. We hope to see many more collaborations between this dynamic duo in the future!

Minogue arrives at the ARIA Awards 2011 red carpet, looking stunning in a sheer Richard Nicoll Spring 2012 gown.

The gown on Richard Nicoll's Spring 2012 runway.

Kylie hits the town in a casual Linder Sterling-print Richard Nicoll shirt dress.

Nicoll and Sterling have collaborated on several collections so far to rave reviews from both critics and retailers.

Richard Nicoll is available in Hong Kong at I.T , Liger & Maria Luisa

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les artistes profile: boris burgess

Our second burgeoning online media mogul is Boris Burgess, founder of HKHQ.tv.  Boris started his film career at the mere age of twelve; from the moment he picked up a camera, he knew that film was what he was meant to do.  Hailing from Sydney, Australia, Boris studied Media & Communications at the University of New South Wales, while simultaneously producing, directing and editing award-winning short films for film festivals such as the Sydney Underground Film Festival and the Dungog International Film Festival.  Boris Burgess moved to Hong Kong at the beginning of 2010 to pursue a full-time career in film, founding Mediam Rare, a full-service film production house specialising in promotional videos.  His newest project, HKHQ.tv is Hong Kong's freshest online channel for fashion, arts and lifestyle videos; HKHQ.tv has quickly become known for its sophisticated aesthetic and in-depth look into the behind-the-scenes action of the city's creative industries.

Boris Burgess wears a jacket from Pal Zileri and a shirt, pocket square and scarf from a selection at The Armoury.

Boris Burgess wears a jacket from Pal Zileri and a shirt, pocket square and scarf from a selection at The Armoury.

POPBEE wears a dress from Twenty8Twelve & cuffs and a necklace from Lucy Hutchings. 

Two learn more about these two online media gurus, visit their websites:

HKHQ.tv

POPBEE

Our Les Artistes series was photographed by international photographer, Daniel Garriga and produced by Elite Photography.

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les artistes profile: popbee

In today's Les Artistes profiles, we bring you two media moguls transforming the landscape of online entertainment.  First up?  POPBEE, one of Hong Kong's first online magazines, established in 2008, broadcasting the most up-to-date fashion, beauty and shopping news to its readers.  Originally launched as a personal style blog by its founder, Janice Lee, POPBEE has evolved into a growing full-blown online fashion community.  POPBEE covers all aspects of fashion and culture with contributors from all over Asia, including Hong Kong, China and Taiwan.  POPBEE brings a sense of accessibility to its readers by reporting on topics in a relatable and conversational manner; features include industry insider interviews,  reviews on local 'hot spots', personal style posts, shopping deals and more.

Janice from POPBEE wears a Twenty8Twelve dress and Lucy Hutchings cuffs & necklace.

Janice from POPBEE wears a Twenty8Twelve dress, Lucy Hutchings cuffs & necklace and Christian Louboutin shoes.

Our Les Artistes series was photographed by international photographer, Daniel Garriga and produced by Elite Photography.

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north korea's first taste of luxury

It's baby's first taste of luxury! North Korea's dictatorial communist regime has recently loosened its restraints on certain categories of foreign imports: namely, luxury goods. North Korea has just opened its first 'luxury store' in the capital city of Pyongyang last week, carrying brands such as Chanel and Dolce & Gabbana, giving North Koreans their first taste of access to the rapidly expanding luxury consumer market. Despite the widely poverty-stricken population, elite members of the Communist Party and close friends of leader Kim Jong-il are reportedly big-spenders at luxury stores and hotels in nearby China. With the luxury sector in China booming at a rate far faster than the rest of the world, companies such as LVMH and the Gucci Group will surely see this new luxury store in North Korea as an interesting new emerging market. Can't wait to see what happens next!

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london show rooms: through carmen's lense

Carmen Chan's photographs aren't new to this blog; she photographed our new showroom in Wong Chuk Hang earlier this year for one of her online projects, How I Met Your Style.  Her photographic style is distinctively unique, with a hauntingly beautiful, intimate quality about them.  She captures personal style in a way that is, well, so personal; this may seem obvious, but it's amazing how many personal style photographers there are out there who have no clue as to how to take an intimate, personal photograph.  Armed with her camera, Carmen came out to the British Fashion Council's London Show Rooms event in Hong Kong and spent a good hour snapping away for her Tumblr.  She captured some great footwear shots, in particular, but look out also for Tracey Cheng from I.T: what a super-stylin' lady.

These were a definitely winner of the event Nicholas Kirkwood for Meadham Kirchoff shoes, straight from the runway! Fun!

Love how Kirkwood took a simple blue pump and turned it into a full-on multi-coloured textured wedge!

A great shot of all the models in their glorious footwear, chatting in a circle.

The collar detail on Tania's outfit for the evening.

Tracey Cheng from I.T, captured outside The Space, where London Show Rooms was held, decked out in Isabel Marant.  Dope sneakers, want them!

#details #armparty

Check out more of Carmen's amazing work:

How I Met Your Style

How I Met Your Style - Tumblr

Carmen Chan

Carmen Chan - Tumblr

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best bet: iron bartender @ fly

Not sure what to do tonight?  Want to be guaranteed that you'll have a stellar evening?  Come on down to FLY from 11.30 pm to 1.30 am to watch the Electric sekki brand managers take on the Electric sekki marketing team, all in the name of raising money for the World Cancer Research Fund Hong Kong.  Drinking in the name of charity?  Is there any better excuse?  We think not!  See you there, party animals.

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a smile for christmas

Fiona Kotur has been making lovely clutches with beautiful brocade linings for five years now; her impeccable fashion pedigree has guaranteed that her collections are always delightfully tasteful and sophisticated, with a hint of much-needed whimsy.  Fiona's sister is an ex-longtime editor at Vogue and her mother worked for years in the industry as a fashion illustrator, so it's no surprise that Fiona's Kotur line of handbags is fit for any style maven in the making.  In honor of her 5th Anniversary in the business this fall, Kotur has designed a special collection of customizable clutches, whose profits go entirely to the charity Operation Smile.  The clutches are available now at Harvey Nichols and can be personalised with the addition of an array of embellishments on offer.  Operation Smile is a phenomenal charity that works to help fix oral deformities such as cleft lips or palates around the world; I can't think of a single better gift than the gift of a smile for Christmas, so please take the chance to head down to Harvey Nichols and have a look at Kotur's special 5th Anniversary collection.

Delightful fashion illustrations by Fiona Kotur's mother, full of glamour and whimsy!

This bright brocade clutch may just be the perfect purse for the holiday season.

100% of proceeds from Kotur's special customizable 5th Anniversary collection go to the charity Operation Smile.

To learn more about Operation Smile and the work that they do, please visit their website here.

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style jam: valerie soh

This edition of our Style Jam series features Valerie Soh: personal style blogger, PR guru and all-round awesome chick.  Valerie's got a great sense of style; she's always unafraid of trying something new and different.  On the day of our Style Jam, Valerie was having a bit of a 'crazy grandma' influence, opting for big coats, glasses, pointy shoes and fun, sequined bags.  The result was an awesome photo shoot featuring an abundance of Something Else by Natalie Wood, Jamin Puech and Beau Coops, in particular.  See all the photos from the shoot below.

Valerie wears a Twenty8Twelve jacket & silk shorts, Something Else by Natalie Wood sweater, Disaya cuffs, Beau Coops wedges, ksubi glasses and Jamin Puech hedgehog bag.

Valerie wears a Lucy Hutchings ring, holds a Jamin Puech teapot bag.

Valerie wears a Something Else by Natalie Wood coat & dress, ksubi sunglasses.

Valerie wears a One Teaspoon faux-fur coat, Something Else by Natalie Wood dress & top, Disaya cuffs, Beau Coops heels.

Photos courtesy of James Gannaban for Valerie Soh.

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les artistes profile: superwowomg

Born in Singapore and raised in Hong Kong, Denise Lai's appreciation for creativity was nurtured from a young age; she was constantly doodling on anything and everything, from restaurant placements to old Nike shoeboxes.  In high school, Denise studied art and textiles, which motivated her to pursue a degree in Graphic Design from the Pratt Institute, New York.  Now back in Hong Kong, Denise is working as a graphic designer under the moniker D-NYCE Designs.  In 2008, Denise launched her lifestyle blog, SUPERWOWOMG, another creative outlet for her to showcase her love of fashion and style.  Known for her excessive love of jewelry and accessories, Denise's blog has garnered the attention of local Hong Kong press and has been featured in several local print magazines and online media such as East Weekly, Jessica, Honey and Sassy Hong Kong.

Denise wears Lucy Hutchings necklace, Disaya rings and No. 21 by Alessandro Dell'Acqua sweater & leather jacket, holding an umbrella from a selection at The Armoury.

Denise wears a lace playsuit from Twenty8Twelve.

Our Les Artistes series was photographed by international photographer, Daniel Garriga and produced by Elite Photography.

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les artistes profile: omar khan collective

The Omar Khan Collective is an exciting design firm that delivers fresh concepts and creative solutions to anyone looking to up the ante in the visual sphere.  The firm's namesake and Creative Director, Omar Khan, has worked with many of Asia's largest and most loved retail brands; his portfolio of work includes heading the On Pedder visual department, outfitting the Christian Louboutin boutiques in Asia and large-scale set designs and brand concepts for famed Indonesian designer, Biyan.  Omar Khan graduated from New York City's Parsons The New School for Design.  He is recognised in the retail industry as a visual merchandising guru whose attention-grabbing retail installations have been made legendary in Hong Kong; his illustration and graphics design background has led to his design credo that everything must be uniquely beautiful, inventive and edgy.  Omar is truly a visionary whose creations are impactful yet whimsical.

Omar wears a top from a selection at The Armoury.

Omar wears a trenchcoat, shirt and tie from a selection at The Armoury.

Our Les Artistes series was photographed by international photographer, Daniel Garriga and produced by Elite Photography.

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bloggers at BFC

On the first day of The British Fashion Council's London Show Rooms event in Hong Kong, Electric sekki hosted a Bloggers' Hour in the evening, giving Asia's top online media and #HKFashionBlogger personalities the chance to meet all the designers and even try on some of their favourite pieces!  Many were too shy to ask, but a brave few did muster up the courage to try on some killer looks; see Melinda looking fresh and modern in Peter Pilotto, Tania & Cindy in show-stopping Mary Katrantzou and Cristina in what could be the perfect pair of pumps for S/S '12 from Nicholas Kirkwood.

Melinda of Ztylistas with Peter Pilotto.

Melinda of Ztylistas in a Peter Pilotto printed shirt and pencil skirt.

Tania of T Like Bubble Tea and Cindy from Cindiddy in Mary Katrantzou with Mary Katrantzou! Gorgeous!

Cindiddy in a gorgeous underwater print structured mini dress from Mary Katrantzou.

Tania from T Like Bubble Tea in a show-stopping Mary Katrantzou gown with asymmetrical hem.

Cristina (aka HKShoeGeek) of HKFashionGeek tries on her favourite pair of Nicholas Kirkwood heels.

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lane crawford x ch-ch-charity

As Christmas time roles around, events around town seem to start shifting their focus towards charity; one of the best Christmas gifts I've ever received was a donation in my name to UNICEF. At a time in the year when there is so much joy that surrounds us, it is important to remember those who are unable to participate in such a happy occasion, be it because of poverty, poor health, lack of education or resources, lost loved ones or any number of tragedies that the less-priveleged face each day. Recently, a fashion-for-charity cause caught our eye: Lane Crawford's Wrapped with Love: Create & Knit initiative for the Crossroads Foundation. The entire Electric sekki office got involved in Lane Crawford's Wrapped with Love project; boxes of yarn were delivered to our boardroom where we spent much of our free time knitting away, making woolen squares which will be sewn together to create at least 3,000 blankets for families both locally and abroad.

In true Lane Crawford style, their packaging was immaculate; knitting needles were provided, as well as instructions on how to knit. Spools of wool were donated to the cause by Club Monaco.

Electric sekki Co-Founder and Managing Director, Amiee Squires-Wills knits away in our boardroom!

More Electric sekki team members learning how to knit.

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blow my mind

We've gotten a lot of questions over the last couple of days about Forever 21's new store opening in Hong Kong in 2012.  Most of the questions involved the hologram show that a select group of media were treated to at the MGM Grand Macau on Tuesday night.  The show really highlighted the fun nature of the Forever 21 brand.  What does it look like? and Do you have to wear 3D glasses? were the two most popular questions asked.  To answer you, it was pretty mind-blowing.  It was beyond just being 3D; there were moments where I wasn't sure if I was looking at a real person or a hologram.  And to answer the second question: no, no silly 3D glasses that make you look geeky...phew!  So, if you're still curious, have a look at this recording of the Forever 21 hologram fashion show in Austria below.  It captures the essence of the show, but you really had to be there to experience it in full.  Enjoy!

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forever 21 hologram

You heard it here first, kids: Forever 21 is finally coming to Hong Kong!  Slated to open in early 2012, this will be the retail juggernaut's first store in the Greater China region.  Set to occupy a massive multi-level space in Causeway Bay, Forever 21 is sure to be the biggest news in retail for 2012.  Electric sekki is thrilled to be working closely with Forever 21 on all of their press and marketing in the lead-up to their opening early next year; we'll be bringing you updates, gossip and, of course, all the details on their massive opening party.  Last night, Forever 21 hosted an intimate dinner and hologram fashion show at the MGM Macau in celebration of their newest venture in Hong Kong.  For those of you who have never seen a hologram show before, let us tell you: it's seriously mind-blowing.  It really looks like there are actually 'models' walking down a 'catwalk'.  If it weren't for the cool visual effects such as evaporating models and raindrops morphing into humans, I would definitely have thought the holograms were real people.  It was a fun night with some of our closest #HKFashionBlogger friends, including Christing, Carmen, Denise & Faye.

Love the invite!  "Tickets" to the Forever21 Hologram Fashion Show!

Yummy colourful cake-pops for the ferry ride over!

... and the hologram fashion show begins!

American staples were served for dinner.

You can't go wrong with a classic American burger!

Mini American dessert platter! Cute!

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murakami x fabrik x the wanderlister

Art One is a wonderful large new space that has opened up in Convention Plaza; several galleries have already moved in, including a space featuring several of Simon Birch's new paintings as well as Fabrik Contemporary's new home.  Last week, one of Electric sekki's Les Artistes (video here), architect and #HKFashionBlogger JJ Acuna (aka The Wanderlister+) collaborated with Fabrik to host an intimate Takashi Murakami exhibition in their new Art One space.  As I chatted to Jurgen Abergas, the Director of Fabrik, he explained to me that the shape of Murakami's iconic cartoon flowers is based on Buddhist iconography; a symbol of perfection and harmony.  Murakami reached international stardom in 2002 when Marc Jacobs invited him to reinvent the ever-so-popular Louis Vuitton logo bags; Murakami put his own whimsical twist on Louis Vuitton by changing the classic beige-on-brown tones into a multicoloured work of pop art.  A great selection of Murakami's works are on display at Fabrik Art One until 4 December; make sure to stop by and check it out.

Fabrik's wonderful new home at Art One, Convention Plaza.

Takashi Murakami's iconic cartoon flowers are based on Buddhist iconography symbolising harmony. 

Being a HUGE Wanderlister+ fan, I loved the toothpicks with the W+ logos on them!

Here I am with triple-threat JJ Acuna: #HKFashionBlogger of TheWanderlister+ fame, Les Artistes participant & talented architect.  The perfect Renaissance man?  I think so!

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