Need some Friday Inspiration to "Just Dance"?

Visiting Hong Kong 4X's a year for work it's hard not to fall in love with the fun, vibrant & colorful style that is the Hong Kong street style scene.  This energetic & vivacious video says it all for me!

So take some inspiration from Asia's trendsetting boy band, Big Bang and "Just Dance, Dance, Dance!"


Big Bang Video: "Fantastic Baby"

My Lazy Sunday in Hong Kong in Photos...

I've been inspired to document one of my Sundays because of a great blog post I'd seen by one my Chicago blogger buddies, Tabitha Green.  At first I wondered if my Sundays were really interesting enough to document and then thought of the bigger picture: shaping and defining who Chi-Style Maven is.  Through a number of different blog posts you've only gotten hints and glimpses into my world & have been exposed to some of my passions. 

Now, I want to take this opportunity and invite you to experience a "Lazy Sunday" with me in Hong Kong, enjoy!

Sunday, March 25th:

8:30am: Good Morning! First thing I do every morning is check my social networks (Twitter & Facebook) and email.  As you can see, being on a plane for 15hrs yesterday travelling coupled with jet-lag I had a lot to catch up on.

9:45am: Time to head down for breakfast & also a great time to catch up on current events happening here in Hong Kong, China.  I was a little bummed at first that I had missed the Rugby Sevens tourny that was out here in Hong Kong, but then heard news that the Tonga Rugby team had a pretty major loss quickly cured me of feeling down about missing the game.

12 (noon): Breakfast/brunch is now over and now on to my favorite activity in Hong Kong: Shopping! (Let's just be honest it's my favorite activity no matter what continent I'm on)  What I see as an amazing coincidence (but ask my husband and he might have a different opinion) is the fact that my hotel is connected to one of Hong Kong's largest shopping malls. Total score right? My first stop always at the mall is H&M.

1:00pm: My next stop is Monki. This shop only has locations in Hong Kong & the UK.  So exclusivity plus unique pieces puts this on my 'must visit' list. I'm always able to snag unique pieces that are fashion forward exude the Hong Kong style aesthetic of drapey silhouettes & daring prints.

2:00pm: Blog Time! On the weekend it's my time to actually focus and plan out my blogging creative calendar for the week.  Like most bloggers I have a "9 to 5" M-F, so my only real time to blog are in the evenings during the week.  So when the weekend hits, it's blogging time.

3:00pm: Time to get a work-out in and feel the burn! I'm training right now for the United Run for the Zoo 10K race this June.  I've done this race now for the last 3 years and have used it as my training prep for the upcoming warm weather season (although with the recent Chicago heatwave I'm a little late in getting swimsuit ready for the beach).

5:00pm: It's a gorgeous day in Hong Kong, so why not have drinks outside.  After an amazing work-out nothing sounded better than enjoying a refreshing cocktail at the outdoor bar of my hotel. P.S. How insanely high-tech & green is Hong Kong? That menu is an iPad and it's not an uncommon practice to go to a restaurant/bar and recieve it as the menu.

6:30pm: I always love the busy streets of Hong Kong.  So much vibrant life & energy! Decided to go to dinner outside of the hotel just to take a stroll outside and get a buzz of energy from these electric streets.

 7:30pm: Dinner time! One of my favorite things to get here in Hong Kong is fresh seafood and what better way to kick of my fresh seafood love affair but with sushi! I ate at Tokoro-Robatayaki & Whisky Bar & loved it's quarky modern theatre style seating.  Don't know if I will go back again, but I will say that I was happy I at least tried it.

 10:00pm: Time for bed!  Today was the best day because I took full advantage of the opportunity to make this a "me" day and it was a total success. Everyone needs a Lazy Sunday and I'm happy that I was able to have one in Hong Kong.

What did you think of my Sunday? How did your Sunday stack up? Hopefully you enjoyed taking a peek into my life and enjoying this "Lazy Sunday" with me!

Chi-Style Maven xo ;)

Spruce up your Office Attire with Spring's Latest Trends!

1920's Inspired Dress: Diane von Furstenberg as seen on Net-a-porter

Recently I have been getting a lot of fashion/styling questions about how to incorporate the latest trends into a more professional work-place setting.  For many, formal office or business attire is typically associated with the classic suit silhouette that is comprised of a trouser pant, simple blazer and a blouse.

There have been so many changes to what is now recognized as "Office Attire" over the years, that many have forgotten that to look professional and well put together does not have to equate dressing in a power suit.  For this Spring/Summer season incorporate these great concepts that are influenced from the great fashion eras of the 1920’s & 1960’s and very on trend for this Spring & Summer 2012 season:

• The 1920's have been romanticized and are often thought of as a time for glamorous Flapper dresses. There are key features of a Flapper dress that can be incorporated into the working wardrobe. For example head bands will be very in. These headbands will be more 1920's Flapper influenced. Thick headbands that are solid colored or beaded are good examples. Beads and fringe will become more popular. Beads can be used in long strings to accentuate outfits. Fringe can be used on skirts, blouses, or even jackets to bring a 1920's look to the garb. Look for low waist lines on dresses, to bring the classic 1920's look into the workplace.

• The 1960's is thought of as a more playful and swinging era. It is also portrayed as a very colorful era. Don’t be afraid of color! Spring & Summer are all about vibrant & bright jewel tone colors. Incorporate this trend with a bright cerelean blue blouse or candy apple green scarf.  Abstract geometric patterns can accentuate a dress. Lace can dress up any outfit and bring a 1960's feel to the office. Peter pan collars can be used more often. Full circle skirts or pencil skirts will be reintroduced as options. Low riding belts will also be more acceptable in the fashion world.

• For those who want a pair of 1960's pants, try a high waist cropped pants to be in style. Bulky more masculine looking shoes will also be more in style. Maybe look for penny loafers to pull off the bulky shoe look. Swing coats and capes will be introduced during the colder fall and winter months. These fashions will be great during the summer and fall months because of their more vibrant coloring schemes. However, neutral tones can also pull off these fashions.

Depending on your workplace clothing standards, only some of these recommendations may work for you. As a general rule, try to stay away from extremely short skirts or plunging necklines. Each work place is different. But, always adhere to your employment dress code. Purses and bags are not off limits. If your workplace is very strict on dress code, try to stick with accessory use. For example use a fancy & fun handbag in order to accentuate your style. You can use any of the concepts mentioned to stay fashionable, even if limited to your handbag.

It may be fun to jump back and forth between eras to keep your wardrobe from becoming stunted. Always remember to have fun and keep your own personal style incorporated into your look!

[Chicago Fashion Event] 'The Real People of Style' Spring 2012 Fashion Show

Spring has officially arrived and mother nature has ushered her in with some gorgeous Chicago weather! Keep your 'Spring Fever' going by joining CheekyChicago.com and Peroni Italy on Thursday, March 29th from 6pm to 8pm for one of Spring's "must-see" fashion events of the season: "The Real People of Style".

Kicking off it's 3rd annual spring show, "The Real People of Style" will feature nine of Chicago's most fashionable tastemakers.  Come watch some of Chicago's chicest strut their stuff at a showcase being held at the 900 North Michigan Shops (Level 3).

This year's "Real People of Style" are:

Get your tickets here and enjoy an entire floor of fun, fashion and some of Chicago's chicest peeps!: purchase tickets

Vogue Italia's 'Haute Mess': Over the Top Fashion or Racist?

Vogue Italia, photographed by Steven Meisel & styled by Lori Goldstein

Vogue Italia Editor-in-Chief, Franca Sozzani, has been catching alot of flack due to the spread they launched earlied this month "Haute Mess" (photographed by Steven Meisel & styled by Lori Goldstein).

The spread features a series of nearly unrecognizable A-list models sporting outrageous outfits, elaborate hair weaves, drawn on eye-brows, and mouths full of gold teeth, while pushing baby strollers, sporting mini-backpacks, and making the infamous fish faces for their bejeweled bling'd out iPhones.

Many are calling the fashion spread as blatant racism, while the site has claimed it was "messy drag queens".  The ironic thing is that when deliberately asked if Sozzani felt herself that the images were racist, all she replied was, "A racist image, I really do not understand.  I went through the pages so many times... They don't know what it means to work at a magazine.  That is it."

Check out some of the images from the "Haute Mess" spread (see below).  What are your thoughts: over the top Fashion Art that pushes the boundaries to the point of making it though provoking or is it just blatant racism? You decide...

*Photo Credit: Vogue.it

[Chicago Beauty] The Verdict's in on Posh'aah Nail Spa!

Posh'aah Nail Spa Owner Makeda Moore

I'm no newbie to a nail salon/spa and I'm always on the hunt for any new and innovative nail art & nail treaments.  So when I was extended the opportunity to go and experience Chicago's newest nail spa experience Posh'aah Nail Spa I couldn't resist .

Posh'aah definitely embodied every essence of their motto, "We do what we love, it's just that simple." From the minute I stepped into this modern contemporary styled open space I was immediately transformed into a state of relaxation.  After a thorough consult of what my nail needs were, my "Oh My Posh'aah!!" manicure & pedicure commenced. This process can only be described as "Ohh. Emm. Gee." My hands & feet were treated to a coated sugar scrub and then topped off with a pink champagne "frosting" cream that was to die.  

Posh'aah prides themselves on staying on trend and offering what the new season's colors currently are (i.e. The House of Posh'aah's Colors of the Season), what the new nail treatments are (i.e. CDN 'No-Chip' Shellac), and nail care recommendations, etc.   I was thoroughly impressed by Makeda & her staff's knowledge of new and innovative nail trends as well as forecasting what they personally believe will be the next big nail trends (look out for their new innovative service of Digital nails).  

For Makeda it was important for her to keep her approach to Nail Care, Treatments & Services simple and easy.  Not only do they take all of the guessing work out for you as to what colors & trends are in season for your nails, they offer a wide range of specialized services such as waxing and even nail treatments for children.  There were no details missed in that they also offer goat's milk exfoliating soaps in the shape of cupcakes.

Needless to say, I had an amazing experience and will definitely be back! If you are looking for a new approach to your typical nail spa experience I would highly recommend giving Posh'aah a try.  

It's definitely Chi-Style Maven approved ;)

In Search of Simple Arm Candy for Spring?

If simplicity in silhouette and style is what you are after, then you are in luck because my spring obession with The House of Delaux is right up your alley.

Delaux is the oldest fine-leather luxury goods house in the world and to tout this label's rare and exclusive customers they are creators of fine luxury goods for a number of Royal families and high profile aristocracy.  This of course is a view of yesteryear, because now for those "that have..can have" (i.e. Kim Kardashian carrying literally the world's largest Hermes' bag ever).  But for the restrained mark of courture the 1958 MM-Brilliant is of outstanding quality & craftsmanship.  These handmade beauties created by only 3 craftsmen that painstakingly create each bag from start to finish and therefore only a limited amount of bags are produced annually.

The Chaperon Rouge is based on their iconic Brilliant MM silhouette, it has the same size and references but is made of bright red vinyl.  This great bright red exudes Spring's key trend of color. The House of Delaux is now available exclusively at Barneys New York in the United States.

Don't sleep on this great Arm Candy, because only a rare few will be able carry this beauty (but only if they are quick enough to snag one)! 

Photo taken from Barneys New York: Delaux Chaperon Rouge Brilliant MM

Chanel: Rock-Embroidered Statement Brow!

Photo taken by Luca Cannonieri/GoRunway.com

What was on Karl Lagerfeld’s mind as he was designing Chanel’s Fall 2012 line? Minerals! The pale, pebble-strewn landscape was spiked with towering crystal sculptures that called to mind a modern-day Planet Krypton—except that this being Planet Chanel, it was ruled not by Superman, but by an army of glittering, leggy Karl-ites with glittering eyebrows to match.

Peter Philips, Chanel’s creative director of make-up, said backstage “It was a sort of impression, with lots of blush and stones floating on the face. I wanted to translate it into something that would look great on the girls. Contemporary and a little bit military—a kind of strong textural element.” Philips set out on a mission to bring reality to Lagerfeld’s inspiration. He began dreaming of graphic arches made entirely of real, twinkling stones—but with 70 girls walking in the show, “I knew I didn’t have time to sit and (glue them on) one by one,” he said. Searching for a solution, he called his friends at Lesage—the storied French atelier now owned by Chanel and responsible for its legendary embroidery work. Together, they fashioned a pair of slim, rectangular fabric strips that could be pressed on with one simple gesture. “Each one has a base of organza that’s covered in hand-embroidered sequins,” he said.

Naturally, such statement pieces called for a well-prepped canvas. Before gluing them onto the skin with theatrical adhesive at a sharp, horizontal angle, Philips blended Chanel Mat Lumière foundation onto the skin for a soft, natural finish. “It’s very cold today so a lot of the girls are coming in with red noses and cheeks. We need to even them out,” he said. In the spirit of Lagerfeld’s original sketch, he used a generous swirl of a cool, unexpected mauve-ish taupe powder, (the shade: Notorious), due out next fall. “I’m using it to sculpt the cheekbones and also as a veil on the eyelids that disappears all the way into the hairline.”

That pale, slightly punkish color also turned up on the nails in the form of Frenzy—a lavender-taupe polish plucked from the fall collection, as well. “With the Chanel girl, there is always a bit of a twist.", said Philips with a smile. 

I must say Mr. Philips, I wholeheartedly agree with you! Are you inspired to rock this statement brow?



*Some text taken from Vogue.com