thousand of anything: February 2010

Sunday, February 28, 2010

Gianni and Gianfranco

Milan Fashion Week is going to be wrapping up in a few days – time flies when you’re having fun! Two of my favorite designers growing up were Gianfranco Ferre and Gianni Versace. I can still picture Linda and Christie looking amazing in both of these men’s sexy dresses and leather… lots of leather.

Versace: My personal archives. I wasn't smart enough years ago to save the date and name of the publication, so my best guess would be this is from 1988/89 -- but this looks so current!!

Maybe I’m a little dramatic, but I can remember exactly where I was when Gianni Versace was shot in 1997 and then 10 years later when I heard the news of Gianfranco’s passing. I suppose they were my “JFK’s.” Both times I was at work (different companies!) and both times I cried at my desk. What can I say? I’m a softie!

Ferre: From my personal archives. Vogue magazine, August 1990. Timeless, classic. I would wear this now!

I was lucky enough to see Versace speak at FIT when I was a student. He was completely endearing, genuine, passionate and encouraging. I left Katie Murphy Amphitheatre that day feeling inspired… the world was my oyster! When Gianni was killed several years later, I was crushed. Versace was very print driven back in the day and the label has certainly gone through some transitions during the last decade or so, but it’s still going strong. Sister Donatella had the extremely challenging role of stepping up to the plate and taking over the collection. She has done a very good job continuing the legacy and the Fall 2010 Collection was no exception. Actually, it was exceptional!

Gianni Versace - Fall 2010

Photo Credits: Firstview

Gianni Versace - Fall 2010

Photo Credits: Firstview

While I didn’t have the same personal attachment to Ferre, I definitely felt a connection with him on a design level. I really understood and was influenced by his aesthetic. Ferre earned his degree in architecture, but started designing accessories immediately upon graduating. Soon, he began designing raincoats and apparel. He served as Stylistic Director for Dior from 1989-1996. While his signature piece is the white shirt, Ferre used the wide belt constantly (even when it wasn’t a huge trend!) and worked a lot with leather and leather treatments such as perforation. The Ferre label has only been without its father for a few years now, but it certainly seems to be enduring.

Gianfranco Ferre - Fall 2010

Photo Credits: Firstview

Gianfranco Ferre - Fall 2010

Photo Credits: Firstview

Saturday, February 27, 2010

All About Chinese New Year 2010

Today is Chap Goh Meh, the 15th day of Chinese New Year! How time flies! I still remember Chinese New Year eve when I was looking forward to my holidays! How I wish I can turn back time and celebrate it all over again!

One month before Chinese New Year, I stumbled upon these nice angpow lanterns at Subang Parade.

They were all made entirely from angpows!

I think it was on the top floor of Subang Parade. I always get confused at which floor I am at here because it is, well, a bit confusing!

I wanted to have angpow lanterns like these!

And so I got myself one.

I guess it was too huge! But well, I still like it, though this was not the exact design I wanted.

It was a nice change from the usual Chinese lanterns.

A few days before Chinese New Year, I bought myself loads of prawn crackers. These were prawn crackers from Pasir Penambang, Kuala Selangor. Look! I almost filled up my car with them!

The prawn crackers were absolutely delicious! I think it's the best I've tasted! And it was reasonably priced at only RM6 for a huge bag like this!

One day before Chinese New Year, I ordered this delicious chocolate mocha cake from a friend. It was so yummy, I could not stop eating it!

And I found out that it tasted even better when eaten together with a tub of vanilla ice cream. Yummy!!

Today, being the last day of Chinese New Year, I had to make sure I don't miss out on my favourite Chinese New Year food. If you have not eaten this yet, today is the last day you can eat it!

What food am I talking about? It's yee sang of course!

If you don't eat this by today, you will have to wait till next year! So go and lou sang today for the last time this year! By the way, lou sang means tossing the yee sang for good luck and prosperity.

Have a great Chap Goh Meh, folks! : )

PS: For single ladies looking for a husband, don't forget to get ready some mandarin oranges, and for single guys looking for a wife, remember get ready your net to catch those oranges! And for guys looking for other guys, you can do both the throwing and the collecting! Haha!

FIRST COMMENTER

Friday, February 26, 2010

Prada or Nada?

Ah, Miuccia. Life is certainly good for her. Fashionistas, editors, celebrities and just about anybody with a pulse wait with baited breath for her collection to grace the runway every spring and fall.

As a designer working for several different companies in my past, I (and my peers) always looked to certain labels for inspiration. For the last several years, it’s been Balenciaga, Lanvin, Marni, and of course, Marc and Dries. But, it's Miuccia Prada who has always been sitting in the pole position when it comes to setting the trends and the overall direction for a given season. That’s power! Prada power.

I admit that I’m a fan. As I wrote in a recent post, I scoured Europe for my coveted Prada flats that I’ve practically worn to death. But, sometimes I think she pushes the envelope a little too much for my taste. Don’t get me wrong, somebody needs to push it, otherwise fashion would never evolve and we would all end up looking like clones and wearing the same thing season after season.

Above are some details from Ms. Prada’s Fall 2010 collection that showed in Milan the other day. Chime in… let me know what you think of these looks/items. Yay or nay?

How I Changed My Blog's Layout At Genting Highlands (Part 3)

Continued from Part 2

Once we came down from the cable car, my friend Ed and I walked around Genting Hotel to look for a place to have our lunch. Finally, we settled for Coffee Terrace.

Coffee Terrace offered buffet as well as ala-carte. We went for ala-carte.

We looked through the menu and made our orders. While waiting for the food to arrive, I took some more photos of the interior.

These were items displayed on the wooden shelf.

Ceiling light.

I was having a little cough, so instead of drinking something cold, I went for hot tea.

Finally, our food arrived. It did take quite long and I was hungry!

My friend ate beef stroganoff. I hope I got the name right! If not mistaken, I think it is a Russian dish of sauteed pieces of beef served in a sauce with sour cream.

My friend said it was so so only. I ate a little of the beef and agreed with him.

Mine was baked salmon. It was not too bad, though I would not say it's good!

The bill came up to RM82.80 which was pretty pricey to me! But I did not mind splurging a little, so it was OK.

After lunch, we went over to First World Hotel and had a tour of the Indoor Theme Park. Anyone who enters this Indoor Theme Park will not fail to see this Statue Of Liberty.

And this Oscar statue opposite.

There's a T-Rex's head breaking out of the wall trying to attack an overturned car.

And of course there was my favourite Superhero, who is none other than Superman! But they replaced his S logo with a G! No prize for guessing what that letter G stands for!

By the way, anyone knows who is this Superhero?

If you have been to Genting Highlands a few times already, these pictures may be pretty boring to you, but for first timers, I am sure seeing these pictures would make you want to go Genting Highlands, am I right? : )

Lots of shops and stalls selling stuffs. I did not buy a single thing. My friend Ed bought some clothes from FOS.

Look at these unique lantern balls!

There are many indoor theme park rides, but I just took photos of a few of them only.

Below is the Venice Gondola ride. By the way, the man steering the gondola is not real, haha.

This is a Rio Float. They come in different designs.

This resembles a dragon.

This is what they called a Reindeer Cruiser.

A Rio Float with Reindeer Cruisers in the background.

After all those walking around, we decided to have a drink at Starbucks. It was here that we took out our laptops and did some online surfing. I had wanted to change my blog's template for quite some time but did not really know how so I asked Ed for help.

He showed me some Blogger templates. I chose one which I liked then asked him to teach me how to replace my previous template with the new one that I am having now. It was all done within a matter or minutes! Simple!

And that, my dear readers, is the story of how I changed my blog's layout at Genting Highlands! Nothing dramatic or exciting about it, I'm afraid! Sorry if this seems like an anti-climax but that's how I make you read Part1, 2 and 3 of this story! Haha!

Still, I hope this will not stop you from reading the final part - Part 4 - where I will blog about why we were not allowed to enter the casino. My friend did get to enter in the end though. I did not. Anyone want to guess why? : )

FIRST COMMENTER

Thursday, February 25, 2010

Rule, Britannia!

Bloody hell...London Fashion Week is officially over, so before I turn my attention to Milan, I wanted to bid farewell to London. I'm closing with a "Top Twenty" list of things I love about Britian...Cheers!