Best Value Tailor in HK?
We hear a lot about tailors in Hong Kong but the best value one we’ve found is The Power in Wan Chai. Like every reasonable tailor in the city, they take your measurings but outsource the actual production. It's therefore not created in-house but you get what you pay for. A two-piece suit costs roughly HK$4,000 which is backed by excellent service and that’s where they distinguish themselves. They won’t let you leave without fantastic fitting clothes… and a promise to tell your friends about them.
Genuinely Stylish Men’s Brand Launches in HK
You see a lot of brands recycle the same styles in Hong Kong but talk them up as something "fresh, original, avant-garde etc." If you've ever had the misfortune of reading a press release here you'll know what we mean so thank god for Iter Hominis. They blend Italian tailoring with Japanese fabrics and the results are epic. Check out the main guy in the photo. If he wasn't in a fashion shoot you'd think he was one of the original Boers marching across the Transvaal. It's a strong look.
Surfer Originals Back with a Bang
M.Nii pioneered genuine, wave-worthy boardshorts in the 1950s and the brand has now made a comeback. The original trunks were the work of Minoru and Florence Nii, two Hawaiian-Japanese tailors who loved to surf. Thanks to their durability and bespoke styling, M.Nii's shorts quickly developed a reputation as essential surf wear. They used to cost US$6. That barely buys you a Big Mac today.
HK Joins Official Movember Network
Movember returns in... November, with Hong Kong included for the first time in the official charitable movement. Previously, the central Movember body didn't recognise our fair city as a member of their global strategy but not any more. There's a proper site, hk.movember.com, so there's no excuses for wimping out - even if you grow a moustache like a toddler. Plus, it's the one month of the year you can grow a mousto and not look like a geography teacher.
HK Boutique Unveils Limited Edition Plimsoles
Squarestreet is one of our favourite Hong Kong stores and the boutique-cum-design shop has just launched its 1000’s line: one plimsole in four colours. We like the simplicity of the project. There’s no messing around: No edible gold flakes, no VIP area guarded by one of the world's most repellant anorexics, and no ‘click here if you don’t want AirAsia Insure’. It does exactly what it says - one design in four colours.
Belts & Leatherware from Royal Saddlemaker
The Ashdown Workshop Company, a family business established earlier this year, is producing exceptional leatherwear thanks to a former saddler for the British Royal family. In point of fact, one of the company’s first decisions was hiring John Hammett who worked for decades at W&H Gidden fashioning saddles for Princess Anne and the Shah or Iran, amongst others. To put it another way, if there was an apocalypse he’s got the skills to deserve a place on the only space flight leaving earth.
Refined Accessories for Men
Daycraft is a Hong Kong company that produces top draw accessories, and the one that’s caught our eye is a slim-line Moneywrap ($459). Men have very specific tastes in wallets so their value goes beyond every day use. Some like them to be the size of an iPad and hold all their change. Others despise the very notion of change and compare having a fat wallet to sleeping with your plump cousin. Not if the world was ending.
Just like your shoes and clothes, your hair says a lot about your sense of fashion and personality so it’s worth finding out what different products can do for you.
Proper Beachwear Arrives in HK
To mark the launch of its full line in Hong Kong, Orlebar Brown, the British beachwear specialist, is hosting a pop-up party at Sidewalk. Taking place on Thursday, March 8, it’s a momentous occasion for those of us who like the seaside but don’t like the fashion options. One look at Hong Kong beaches leaves you gasping. The Speedos deserve a Parental Guidance warning.
Suits Crossed with Pyjamas for Formal Bedtime
We recently wrote about Dress Pant Sweatpants but taking the idea of smart looking/good feeling clothing to the next level are suitjamas. We can't say they're going to win any style awards, although you could see Karl Lagerfeld wearing them - who incidentally looks like an extra-terrestrial - but we think they're hilarious. They'd make breakfast time that much more enjoyable, not to mention Monday mornings. Just roll into work.
Male Jeweller Unveils First HK Boutique
John Hardy, the jewellery brand, is the latest marque to open in the Landmark Men, haven for all things slick and masculine. Being guys we don't think of ourselves as jewellery wearers per se, but we're talking about cufflinks, rings and lifestyle items so you'll still feel able to have a drink with James Bond. And John Hardy sounds like the type of guy who likes a stiff drink.
Disguised Loungewear for the Office
Dress Pant Sweatpants are perhaps the most innovative addition to the male wardrobe we’ve ever seen. They look like smart trousers but feel like tracksuit bottoms. Accordingly, you can wear them to work but imagine yourself enjoying another Sunday afternoon in your stale flat with a Paisano’s resting on your belly, Pocari Sweat bottles littering the floor, watching a mindless action film without Tom Cruise. We hate that man.
Here are some snaps showing how our first menswear shoot came into being. It was as tough as it looks…
We were chuffed to bits when Cheryl Rodriguez told us that highly talented make-up and hair artist Christian Merz was coming to town and was interested in doing a menswear shoot for NecesCity. Here’s our virginal fashion shoot – we hope you like it
Upcycling Brand Transforms Taxis in Kowloon
Handsome is an upcycling brand that takes abandoned taxi furnishings in HK and turns them into bags, clothes and even watches. It’s quite the story, especially in Hong Kong where recycling is worse than it was in Roman times. You can chuck anything away here. You just wander up to a bin and dump it. It’s the type of lifestyle that makes Al Gore smug he failed in politics to succeed with the environment. Sort of.
There are lots of places to buy clothing in Hong Kong but there aren’t many places to purchase original and stylish gear. Here’s our guide to the best places for getting unique threads, from pinstriped office suits to pinstriped board shorts for the beach.
Cufflinks with WiFi & 2GB Storage
Ravi Ratan has released a pair of cufflinks with 2GB USB storage and a WiFi hotspot function. The possibilities are endless. Imagine, you’re on a train in Eastern Russia brokering a multi-billion dollar deal but you enter a 100-mile wireless black hole. Not to worry, you remove your cuff-links and hey presto. It’s got Q written all over it. As well as a troupe of leggy blondes on the pay role of the KGB.
Prostate Cancer & Prizes on the Agenda
Movember has quickly turned into a global force and we’re up and running in Hong Kong with plenty of prizes up for grabs and plenty of money to raise for men’s health. Of course the real reason men love Movember has nothing to do with charity. Men grow moustaches for charity so they can develop heinous facial hair but not get bollocked at work because it’s for charity.
Colonial Goods
Arnold Wong, 19, has set up a new menswear brand called Colonial Goods to celebrate Hong Kong’s unique story through fashion. It’s a noble ambition and he’s certainly doing better than most of us were as teenagers. In fact, Arnold’s most obvious rival is Alexander the Great and he’s still got a couple of years before he’ll need to control a fashion empire stretching from Europe to Asia.
From Vvego International
Vvego International produces unique accessories such as wallets and cufflinks that can withstand the hardiest adventures. If you were taking a trip up the Amazon for instance and wanted a tough, shark skin wallet to show the piranhas what you do with scary fish, they’d create one to your exact specifications. Of course it’s more likely you’ll use your indestructible cufflinks at a black tie event rather than shaking hands with an alligator but at least you’ll know they’re quality.
From Mooishop
Mooishop sells classic European furniture from the 50s, 60s and 70s in Causeway Bay. It stocks everything from coffee tables to sofas and the best part is each item has its own unique story. It’s like walking into an adult version of Santa’s Grotto except it’s the cashier who’ll bend you over their leg.
Naked & Famous Denim's Finest
Naked & Famous Denim has unveiled a pair of glow in the dark jeans which really do glow in the dark. Can you imagine walking down the backstreets of Wan Chai with your legs shining luminous green? What a vision. From ensuring motorists can see you crossing the road to scaring the life out of your nieces in the dead of night, they'd make a savvy purchase.
Buy Indiana Jones’s Iconic Fedora
You can buy Indiana Jones’s famous fedora from Adventurebilt, the hat-maker behind the manliest of accessories. Walking around with an Indie hat is a salivating thought. The sense of power would be intoxicating - you wouldn’t even need his eight-foot whip to get stuff done. It would be like real life dressing up, not to mention a compelling disguise if you’re suffering from early stage hair loss.
Despite its long association with triads, tattoo culture in Hong Kong is still in its infancy but it looks like the Chinese love of coin and capitalism will prove its downfall.
Stop Clothes Smelling Forever
UK based company, Odegon, has produced a series of porous tags that can be ironed or sewn into clothing which offer the user odour-free wear. Your clothes essentially never get smelly which is particularly useful in Hong Kong's climate. The amount of times you see some poor guy marching to a meeting soaked with sweat is as frequent as the Star Ferry.
Solar Bikini Charges your iPod
A New York based designer, Andrew Schneider, has pioneered a solar powered bikini that can charge a variety of electronic devices such as your iPod. You can play music on the beach without running out of juice or keep your phone on standby without having to run back to your flat to charge it. You just need to wear a bikini or find a girl to do it.
Military Spec Rucksack Lasts for Life
The Sanction is a sturdy rucksack developed to military spec that’s as stylish as it is functional – particularly when it's accompanied by a floppy haired model (pictured). If you have an unfortunate nephew who’s been cast as the school nerd, it’s the ideal gift. It lacks the power to transform his image completely but it will be able to withstand the bullies’ punches and paint.
Landmark Floor Dedicated to Men
The Landmark has launched a floor dedicated entirely to men with many of the outlets (such as Gentlemen’s Tonic) already open for business. It’s got real appeal because men hate shopping. A day spent wandering from shop to shop, queuing for changing rooms and trying on ill-fitting jeans is less attractive than an economy train journey across the sub-continent babysitting rabid kindergarteners.
How To…Hit A Bull’s Eye
It’s simplistic, its certainly not athletic, but come across a couple of old boys crowded round a dart board at your local, and you’ll see steely determination, their eyes never leaving the number targets, even as they swirl back another foamy ale. To be accepted by this most unlikely fraternity, you’ll need to dance by their tune, the tune of the dartsman.
Tux For All Occasions
The Washable Tuxedo is a brilliant new innovation. Perfect for those poker nights when you want to be formal but don’t want to worry about lamb jalfrezi ruining your tux, you simply throw the formal wear in the wash and save a trip to the dry-cleaners with all its added irritants.
