It's been a looong time coming, and we've been hearing rumours that Forever 21 was due to land in Hong Kong for god knows how many years. A couple years back I heard that they were coming in and taking over the spot held by Franc Franc in Causeway Bay; late last year I was told it was four floors of Times Square. The fast-fashion behemoth has at long last staked its claim to a retail space, and if you track the trail of bright-yellow plastic shopping bags that flow from the belly of the beast on the arms of savvy shoppers, you'll end up right outside the Causeway Bay MTR station, at Capitol Center in Jardine's Bazaar. (Sidebar: does that mean the toilet restaurant is closed now?) When the full-fledged Hong Kong flagship is completely open, it will comprise six floors of colourful clothing and accessories for men and women, open from 10am to 1am daily.

I sadly missed the media preview due to food poisoning (and already gained back the 2lbs I lost, boo) and kicked myself when I found out everyone got $800 shopping vouchers. Oh well. But wait! There's still a chance at scoring some Forever dollars through a casting campaign. All you have to do is post a photo of yourself on Forever 21's fan page, embodying the spirit and feel of a Forever 21 style star. Winners are chosen weekly until March 31, and will earn a $1,000 gift voucher as well as an invite to the Grand Opening in Spring.

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It was quite the fashionable week last week for Lane Crawford and Pedder Group what with the Taylor Tomasi Hill dinner on Tuesday and then the Sam Edelman event at Lane Crawford last Sat. While my Geek-in-crime was off in Bangkok attending a wedding, I ventured to the Sam Edelman event with some of my favourite tweeps to meet the shoe designer who was in town to launch his Spring/Summer collection and two exclusive styles: “Lizette” & “Addy”, available at Lane Crawford Hong Kong only. The store was full of people and there were these adorable cookie pops with his designs emblazed on it. While superficial me chose the shoe that appealed to me most, Hana was more practical and instead chose the flavour she wanted not caring about the design. During my few minutes with the designer, I ascertained that Sam loves dim sum but don’t know where to go as he always dine at the same place in HK and he’s a bit sick of that. Although that does mean if you’re a fan, be sure to stalk him at China Club.

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So there was this backlash against logo-mania a few years back, when we realized that you buy name brands for quality and good design, not so everyone and their mommas know you shop in the land of the brown monogram. And then Mr Christian Louboutin found a way to make really nice shoes and embellish them with a signature that did the equivalent of the monogram logo, without the associated tackiness. And for a while that was fabulous, until the company started suing copycats, and people (read: me) started weirding out about the cachet of the red sole. I mean, it's cool and sharp and all, but it's the actual Louboutin shoes that we really care about.

Anyway, now the footwear maestro has found a new way to scream "look at me, me, me!" Sex always did sell. Although, ironically, if you think about these shoes, the best way to spell "sex" is to keep your legs together. Which is a little bit counterintuitive, if you ask me.

Get them at Christian Louboutin, 7 On Lan Street.

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Probably a little belated, but top five looks from the Golden Globes. Starting with Evan Rachel Wood in Gucci Premiere, because I love her and she can do no wrong, and especially not in THAT. So maybe she killed a peacock to get the dress. I'm not judging. I'm not a huge Gucci girl, so the fact that she makes me like the brand says something about star quality.


I feel like nobody was super-wowed by Rooney Mara in Nina Ricci but I loved it; so simple and classic and girly but with that loony Rooney edge. Because when you have a face like that, I honestly believe you should do as little as possible, fashion-wise, to detract from that. That's why I wear all manner of prints and accessories, because my face is not like that. Sad face.

Charlize in Dior Couture, another brand alignment that works perfectly. So pretty and pink and the folds sort of remind me of crab rangoon or some other fluffed up crispy wonton concoction, which is not a negative in my book.

THIS GIRL IS SO "IT" RIGHT NOW IT MAKES ME SICK. I wish she'd go back to blonde but red is now her thing I guess. That dress with that belt and those shoes, they put the "it" in "that shIT is so hot."

People are weird about Tilda Swinton, like, normal people don't like her. And fashion people looove her, but partly because she's really cool, partly because they're supposed to like her -- it demonstrates good street cred. I like her lots, mostly because of her haircuts and her fascination with Haider Ackermann, whom I luuurve, but also because she wears whatever she damn wants, EVEN IF IT LOOKS BAD ON HER. The ultimate supposed fashion pioneer is ironically the ultimate slave to fashion. I mean, here. She looks bad. That hair is trying to run off her head. The shoes are pretty fail. But that baby blue! And Haider! And she's Tilda-fucking-Swinton! So... ergo... it's fab!

Images: Red Carpet Fashion Awards

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Food and travel guest blogger hkLifestyleGeek gives us her next scoop on fantastic restaurants around town and travel tips. Contact her at hklifestylegeek@hkfashiongeek.com

Disclosure: Jean-Paul Hevin is a client of FashionGeek’s day job company. All views are presented by guest blogger LifestyleGeek

Chocoholics beware -- there's another place in town to sate your deepest darkest cravings.Famed Parisian chocolatier Jean-Paul Hevin was recently in Hong Kong to officially open his newest chocolate boutique, and unveil his creations for Chinese New Year and Valentine's Day.

The Parisian-style "Boutique et Bar a Chocolat" is on Lyndhurst Terrace making it convenient for those in Mid-Levels so they don't have to schlep all the way to IFC mall or have to dig out their passport to cross the border into Kowloon at the other location in Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui.

The two-storey place is very cosy, with the delectable chocolates on view on the ground floor and then a small bar upstairs where you can sample the famous dark treats, desserts, macaroons or even lunch.

Apparently Hevin's chocolates are only on display for three days so one wonders what happens to them after that... This strict standard of quality I have yet to hear of in other chocolate boutiques, making his requirements quite extraordinary.
And hearing him talk about chocolates only confirms this man is passionate about what he does.

Hevin loves his chocolates so much he eats some everyday -- even just before going to bed, believing that it has health benefits, including stimulating blood circulation. He is very particular about his cocoa and travels to various countries, inspecting the farms where the cocoa beans are harvested, fermented and packaged. Once he gets his cocoa, he tries to make the best chocolate out of them without adding sugar.

During his Hong Kong visit he led some folks on a chocolate tasting of five different countries, each with their own distinct flavours, much like wine.

And here are some of his tasting notes:

Caracas, Venezuela: He recommends this chocolate for first-timers sampling his products. It's aromatic and intense, with spicy notes and hints of yellow fruits like banana, peach and apricots. The taste is round and soft.

Colombia: This is a well-balanced chocolate that tastes of caramelised biscuit, a roasted coffee flavour.

Cuba: Floral and spicy, with a strong intensity and aroma.

Madagascar: Acidic cocoa that is very rich. Hevin says he uses this chocolate mostly in cakes and mousses. He considers this chocolate one of the best in the world.

Piura, Peru: Spicy vanilla, chestnut flavours, and can have floral notes.

Hevin also demonstrated how to make his signature hot chocolate, where he added fresh whole milk with chocolate powder and whisked them under low heat for several minutes. After pouring them into the small cups he added raspberry foam on top to add more dimension to the taste.

Needless to say the hot chocolate was definitely welcome on a chilly day.

Prices are competitive with other high-end chocolate boutiques such as La Maison Chocolat, with a box of eight pieces for Valentine's Day going for HK$240 or macaroons for HK$130. The Jean-Paul Hevin tasting tablettes from the countries mentioned above is HK$580.

It's worth indulging here -- Hevin definitely uses high-quality ingredients and makes sure you come out with greater appreciation for chocolate.

Jean-Paul Hevin
13 Lyndhurst Terrace
Central
2851 0633
www.jphevin.com.hk

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