Miu Miu Donna Pumps

After every conversation with my friend who works at Miu Miu, I find myself on the Italian fashion brand's website, combing the pages to see what amazing handbag or wallet I can add to my wardrobe. I came across this gorgeous pair of heels that made my heart skip a beat. Even though I can ask my friend to help me get these amazing Donna Jeweled Suede Pumps at a special price, I thought it would be much more fun to try to recreate it on my own. Plus, the do-it-yourself route would be much easier on my wallet.

For this project, I made my way to one of my favorite districts in Hong Kong - Sham Shui Po. This area is a mecca for all things fashion from fabrics, feathers, and trimmings to buttons and beads. I have ventured here many times before while working on different DIY projects, including my feather dress and Facebook Fairy costume.

Sham Shui Po:
Bead and crystal heaven
for crafters.

I focused my search to one particular street that has several crystal shops, pulling out drawers to find all the colors that I would need for my jeweled shoes.  I was able to find the crystals in the varying sizes quite easily but locating the silver and gold rings that the crysals would be nestle into proved to be more diffult.  Feeling desperate after an hour without finding these rings, I toyed with the idea of forgoing them. But I decided to visit one last shop on Nam Cheong Street and luck would finally be on my side. This shop not only had circular and diamond rings but also rings with crystals already put together. Woohoo!

One by one, I inserted the crystals into their appropriately sized rings and crimped the tiny teeth to secure everything together. I was happy to finally put my jewelry tools that I received as a gift two years ago to good use.

A rainbow of crystals

I found a pair of very similar black suede pumps on ASOS.com that would be perfect for this project. As soon as the pair arrived in the mail I began the final step of gluing all the crystals, being careful not to to have any excess glue showing on the shoe surface. I was a bit unsure about the look after I had attached the first ten crystals onto the shoe. I thought the shoe looked more like it had a bad case of chicken pox than anything remotely as elegant as what I was trying to emulate. But as I added more crystals, the shoe began to come to life.

Glue,
Glue,
Glue!

The final product is more beautiful than I could have imagined, having a very striking resemblence to the Miu Miu original. I just hope that I can walk in these uber high heels for an upcoming party and the crystals will not fall off. Note to self: remember to put super glue in one's purse as a precautionary measure. But all in all, what a successful and fun DIY project!

“You put high heels on and you change.”

— Manolo Blahnik

Cloudy Umbrella

On a rainy day while staring out the bus window at a sea of dull black umbrellas I was inspired to DIY my own. I wanted to create something that would make me smile even on the gloomist of days. After toying with several ideas I settled on clouds. But not just any kind of clouds...GOLDEN clouds. I bought an plain umbrella in a deep forest green and eagerly began this simple yet fun DIY project.

I began by drawing the clouds in Illustrator. Once I was happy with the shape and size, I printed them out and placed them, one by one unto the umbrella.

After a couple hours of sticking on, repositioning and adjusting I was finally satisfied with the placement of the clouds and was ready to move onto the next step.

Now for the fun part - painting! Each cloud was outlined in gold while some received a dusty of tiny dots that added a bit of sparkle to the overall look.

Painting, one sun-kissed cloud at a time.

The complete look

Cloudy with a chance of golden paint.

I cannot wait until the next rainy day to use this!

Chanel Macarons

I began this project to answer a simple question: What would Chanel macarons look like? After all, combining this delectable French confection with the iconic French fashion house sounded like a marriage made in heaven. As I began my research, most of the Chanel-inspired macarons I found online incorporated the brand's interlocking C logo or pearls, two elements synonymous with the brand. But I wanted to delve deeper and see what other symbols and motifs could be used. What I did not expect was to be taken on an educational journey into the world of Chanel and its designer Gabrielle “Coco.”

I, like many women around the world, have been an admirer of the brand but could never really articulate why until now. The answer is: Chanel is not just about an iconic handbag or perfume but also about the hypnotizing stories and allure the designer conveyed in all the impeccable things she created.

In the end, eleven jasmine-infused macarons were made, marked with something quintessentially Chanel. Interestingly jasmine is a key ingredient in the Chanel No. 5 perfume. Anyways, I would love to share with you how they turned out and what each represents if you do not know already.

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Now for the educational part.

Interlocking C's

Coco Chanel designed the fashion house's logo in 1925, simply interlocking two opposing C's and as a result birthing one of the world's most recognizable symbols. It is commonly believed that the C's represent the designer's initials, inspired by the geometric shapes created on the stain glass windows in the Chapel of Aubazine convent orphanage where Coco stayed for nearly seven years of her childhood.

Two queens are also noted for using the interlocking C's, which begs the question if Coco was inspired by something other than the convent windows. Queen Claude of France (1499 – 1524), credited to be the first person thought to use the interlocking C's surrounded herself with her emblem. It can be found at her home, the Château Royal de Blois, where the symbol was carved in white. Interesting the C's served as a personal motto of candidior candidis meaning "the fairest of the fair.”

Queen Claude's daughter-in-law Catherine de Medici (1519 – 1589) adopted the symbol soon after her marriage to Henri II. In 2012 a small hairpin owned by the Italian-born Queen of France was discovered that has a striking resemblance to the Chanel logo. Both Catherine and Chanel shared a love for jewelry and had many of their pieces stolen upon their deaths.

It is also said that while visiting one of her friend, Irène Bretz's Château Crémat in Nice, Coco Chanel was inspired by interlocking C's peppered throughout the home.

The last and most romantic interpretation of the Chanel logo is that it symbolizes Coco herself and her lover Boy Capel, an wealthy Englishman who played an integral part in Chanel's life both personally and professionally. He fueled her curiosity in literature and art and financially invested in the beginnings of her business endeavors, including her first boutiques. It is said that the more masculine and simple Chanel Look was inspired by Capel's very own clothing style. The relationship abruptly ended in 1919 when Capel died in a motor accident and Coco created the logo soon after to forever interlock their love.

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The Number Five

Five was Chanel's lucky number - she was known to present her collections on the fifth day of the fifth month to bring her good luck. This somewhat superstitious association with the number started as a child during her days at the orphanage. Everyday she would see circular patterns repeating in the number five along the pathway to the cathedral where she did her daily prayers. The hillsides of the convent where Chanel frequented were covered with cistus flowers, five-petal roses that would later be an ingredient in her No.5 perfume.    

Chanel was also well-versed in the "Golden Ratio of Pythagoras," which after all this reading I am still not completely sure what it is. I gather it is a mathematical formula that compromises of five intersecting lines that form a perfect star and was the architectural basis of historical buildings like the Parthenon as well as the cathedrals and abbeys Chanel was surrounded by.

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No. 5: The Perfume

As the story goes, in 1920 the Russian-French master perfumer Ernest Beaux lined up several glass vials of scents numbered 1-5 and 20-24 for Chanel to sample and she unequivocally chose the fifth one. The perfume was released, of course, on the fifth day of the fifth month in 1922 and was an instant hit and still to this day is the bestselling perfume in the world.

Chanel No.5 was revolutionary for its time, both in scent and bottle. Beaux used 80 notes including the never-before-used aldehydes to create this uniquely modern yet clean scent, contrary to the popular single-flower scents favored by “respectable” women and more heavy animal musk scents favored by the more daring. Likewise, unlike the extremely ornate perfume bottles of the time, Chanel No.5’s bottle was extremely minimalist, believed to be inspired by the rectangular lines of Charvet toiletry bottles and possibly even Place Vendôme as you can see below. The later theory I find completely ingenious!

“What do I wear to bed? Why, Chanel No.5, of course.”

— Marilyn Monroe

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Four-Leaf Clover

Chanel loved to surround herself with lucky charms, her favorite being the four-leaf clover both rare and symmetrical in design. Each leaf represents faith, hope, love and luck. It is very rare that you see a four-leaf clover as most only have three leaves. I know this very well as I remember combing through a field for hours as a child while my brothers played tag. I was indeed lucky and found one, still pressed into an old book. But I digress.

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Leo

Chanel once said, “August 19th is my birthday. I was born under the sign of Leo. I am a Leo and, like a lion, I use my claws to prevent people from doing me harm, but, believe me, I suffer more from scratching than from being scratched.” Chanel saw herself in these lions – strong, wise and filled with justice. As a result, she surrounded herself with models of lions in her apartment at 31 rue Cambon and wove them into many of her jewelry and clothing pieces. Even after her death, she is protected by five lion heads that overlook her burial grounds, as you can see in the below.

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Constellations and Shooting Stars

Chanel not only loved her horoscope sign but anything related to constellations and stars and wanted to cover women in them. So deep was her affinity for the evening lights that Chanel's first jewelry collection in 1932 was inspired by them. She created beautiful pieces that featured the Leo constellation, starbursts and comets that symbolize dreams of happiness and freedom and wishes coming true.

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Tweed Jacket

In 1954 the prevailing fashion was flamboyant and over the top. Chanel, sensing the changing times, created a men’s-inspired jacket that singlehanded changed the course of fashion. The jacket was shocking minimalist and nonchalant but more importantly easy for women to move in with its straight, non-restricting lines. Made of tweed, the jacket had four matching pockets with buttons stamped with Chanel’s iconic logo and lined at the based with a thin chain to ensure that the jacket laid perfectly. A revolutionary success, the Chanel tweed jacket continues to be reinvented and admired today.

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The 2.55 Bag

The 2.55 bag is one of the most iconic and desirable bags in the world. I would like to call it the holy grail of handbags. It is named after the month and year it was launched - February 1955 and was the first hands-free bag that was meant to be functional yet extremely stylish. The strap, inspired by the chain waist belt that the caretakers at Chanel’s orphanage would hang their keys on, was easily adjustable. Again Chanel pulled from her days at the orphanage - her childhood uniform color inspired the burgundy lining. The bag had multiple pockets, a secret compartment where Chanel supposedly hid her love letters and another back pocket where extra money was kept. The original bag was made out of jersey fabric and had a rectangular-style lock but today many different interpretations of the bag continue to swoon Chanel lovers’ hearts including me.

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Camellia

The camellia was Chanel's favorite flower, loved for its pure simplicity and symmetrically perfect shape. The white bloom, the symbol of eternal youth in Japanese tradition, was a strong and hearty flower, just like Chanel herself. Similarly, the camellia was reflective of the work that Chanel was creating, a bit understated and demure yet extremely beautiful and complex. It is a favorite motif among ladies who love all things feminine. 

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Karl Lagerfeld

Karl Lagerfeld, with his iconic white hair, black sunglasses and striking black and white outfits, is the creative force behind the House of Chanel. When Lagerfeld joined in 1983, at which point Coco Chanel had passed for over ten years, the brand was a weak force in the fashion world with its primary sales coming from its Chanel No.5 perfume. Lagerfeld took to the Chanel archives, reintroducing classic brand motifs mentioned throughout this page but reinterpreted for the modern times. At 80 years young, Lagerfeld, who amazingly does not have a cellphone, still births works of art that solidify Chanel as one of the most desirable brands in the world.

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Pearls

And last but not least the perfectly round pearl. Pearls, elegant and illuminous, were a favorite of Chanel. It is said she first fell in love with them after seeing the Byzantine mosaics of Ravenna and the works of Renaissance painters. She was captivated by the natural gem’s opulent glowing color and was famously known for wearing multiple strands of pearls, a look that is still seen on today’s favorite celebrities. Rihanna's look below is just breathtaking.

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Well, there you have it. After all that research, drawing and writing, I think it is time for me to enjoy some macarons. You should definitely do the same.

Japanese Afternoon Tea

I brought back several beautifully made snacks from my last visit to Tokyo. Feeling guilty for eating them so unceremoniously while watching an episode of 'The Walking Dead' I thought why not do a Japanese style afternoon tea that would showcase the fine artistry of these treats. I never formally had Japanese afternoon tea but drew from inspirations online as well as from the time I had tea and sweets at New York's charming Cha-An Tea House.

This project also gave me the opportunity to put to good use several colorful dishes I bought in Tokyo in an area called Kappabashi. Also known as Kitchen Town, Kappabashi is lined with shop after shop selling everything from plates, cups, knives, and decorations to plastic display food and ramen lanterns. My biggest regret is that I did not buy more to cook and eat with but also to store jewelry. Next time.

Back in Hong Kong I happened to be at FrancFranc, a Japanese contemporary home furnishing shop, and discovered these lovely plates that would be an perfect addition to my afternoon tea. They are by Mio Matsumoto, an talented illustrator whose work is simple and delicate but infectiously fun and free-spirited.

Preliminary sketch mapping out where all the treats would be

Instead of real flowers, I thought that a couple of nature-inspired origami decorations would be a nice touch. Not having any traditional origami paper on hand, I took old paper samples and folded this carambola flower and butterfly following the expert instructions of two origami masters on Youtube.

Kirei desu ne? (Pretty, isn't it?)

After picking up a few additional snacks and ingredients for some mini tea sandwiches all that was left to do was assembling everything together.

Yatta! (Hooray, I did it!)

Knapsack of Hope

I came across this charming photo while browsing online and decided that I would do my interpretation of it in the form of a shadow box frame for an upcoming Secret Santa gift.

Amidst our busy and hectic lives, it is always nice and sometimes necessary to be reminded of the simple things in life.