Japan / Hong Kong Shopping

[Fade to Black]

Times Square is the worst shopping destination I can think of in Hong Kong.

I don't even know why that mall exists, other than the cinema and the food court. What a waste of space.

 

[Pinky*]

agree. they could do better for a space smack middle of causeway..
its more of a gathering space than anything.. esp during holidays when all the expat kids return..

and random celebrity performances..

 

[jaymee]

yeah big brand names are everywhere in HK. as Pinky said Pacific Place, Tsim Sha Tsui Harbour City Mall, Canton Rd, Peking Rd, IFC Mall, Landmark and Lee Garden. Remember check out Lee Garden's Maria Luisa and Causeway Bay Peterson Street/Great George St's D-Mop, Marie, Shine and I.T. Also Shine@Central and Joyce@Central. D-Mop, Marie and Shine are selling European designer clothes.

 

[jennifer716]

I think they're reinventing Times Square slowly though. I know Swire is reinventing the face of Pacific Place, which is why they got rid of the big M&S cause they wanted a younger audience.. replaced it with Zara, i.t., Coach, Bottega... I think theyr'e doing the same with TS. Last time I was there, Zara and Club Monaco had opened up but I rarely go there.

Lane Crawford is slowly changing as well. I went to a press conference the other day for their cosmetics, and they're trying to bring in younger and trendier brands like benefit and bond no. 9.

If you want designer stuff, go to IFC. That's probably the best place. What they dont have in individual boutiques, they'll make up for in the giant Lane Crawford.

 

[Curious]

Merged with pre-existing thread for reference

 

[aris]

I'm back. Unfortunately I was too busy with meetings. In Singapore I didn't go to any shops.
In Hong Kong I had 2 hours free which I spent in the Peninsula arcade, as I was staying there. For some reason I got the impression that the goods are more expensive than Europe. For example the new Mademoiselle big Chanel tote http://www.chanel.com/fashion/en-gb/index.php?start=true&fullscreen=0&goto= was about 1400 EURO, while in Munich it was 1200 Euro, maybe it was more expensive as the shop was in the Peninsula hotel. I was near IFC but I didn't have time to visit.
The airport shopping was great - I have never ever seen anything that huge and I have been to may airports. They had a Chanel shop and I bought this bag, which I was told was on sale 30% off
I bought some nice Japanese cosmetics.

 

[Pinky*]

but you don't have to pay VAT so it would be almost the same.. 60 euros more (VAT is 10% right?) maybe bc it was a hotel boutique? glad you got some nice stuff though

 

[aris]

Actually in Munich the price was 1200 and if you get your VAT back it would be 1080 euro.
Maybe it was because the shop was in the hotel.
Do you like this bag?
I have the classic black 2.55 and the multi pocket cambon in white, so for me this is a different style and more wintery. The problem is that it leaves some small hairs on my black clothes and maybe I'll spoil it very fast.

 

[helena]

CHANEL LIGHTS UP HONG KONG

MARC JACOBS' new Louis Vuitton flagship wasn't the only thing to see in Hong Kong this week. Chanel expertly combined fashion, art and architecture with the re-opening of its own Asian store. In a fittingly prime location, the boutique opens onto the only remaining open space in the forest of striking skyscrapers that forms the city's Central district and continues a long relationship that was initiated by Gabrielle Chanel herself, who was patron to leading artists and musicians including Picasso, Horst and Stravinsky. The five-floor façade looks like the iconic box of Chanel's No 5 perfume by day, but at night transforms into a giant glittering screen, visible throughout the centre of town and across the harbour. Made with over 200,000 computer-controlled LEDs, the display shows ultra-high resolution images of a 'human fabric' expressed through the continual motion of thousands of pedestrians moving through the image. The installation is the creation of Israeli artist Michal Rovner, and is designed to resemble the house's famous trademark tweed. In the coming months, the work is destined to tour through Chanel's flagship boutiques in Tokyo, New York and Paris. Inside the store, which is inspired by Mademoiselle's Paris apartment, the collection of specially-commissioned pieces includes a endearing cast bronze doe sculpted by Francois- Xavier Lalanne, a 32-meter three-storey strand of Murano glass pearls by Jean-Michel Othoniel (which weighs 500 kilos and necessited a reinforcement of the supporting structure of the building), a huge, but delicate Conte-crayon Camellia drawing by Joseph Stashkevetch, and a diamond-dust portrait of Chanel by Vik Muniz, all from the outside too. "This is a significant turning point [in architecture,]" explains architect Peter Marino. "Never before has Chanel, or any other brand, put art outside their boutiques and projected it to the entire city. It's a gift to the inhabitants and tourists visiting Hong Kong." (December 14 2005, AM)

From Marie Créac'h, in Hong Kong

^www.vogue.co.uk

 

[unmetro]

I haven't been back in several years, but will likely return in the coming months...just curious whether I should expect most boutiques/stores to now carry sizes for a person 190cm (6'3")? thanks.

 

[maraschin0]

Hey, can someone help me out and tell me where the Balenciaga boutique in Hong Kong is located? I remember hearing about one opening a while ago, but I'm not sure. If there is no boutique...Can someone point me the way to which HK stores carry the Balenciaga bags? =) I'm hunting for a Balenciaga bordeaux

 

[jennifer716]

^^There is a balenciaga store in the Entertainment Building in Central, just at the bottom of the hill up to Lan Kwai... it's near Jil Sander and I think balenciaga they sell at Joyce cause that Balenciaga store is owned by Joyce

 

[maraschin0]

^ Thanks Jennifer =) Do you know if they have any Balenciaga bags in bordeaux anywhere in HK? Have you seen any recently? It's just a wine-red (purply) colour....I'm trying to get a friend who is going to HK during Christmas to pick one up for me....

 

[kettlin]

DEFINATELY go to HARBOUR CITY in Tsim Sha Tui.... it is the biggest mall in hong kong and there's every shop you can think of. You even need a map to get around!!

and if you want really good bargains and lots of vintage/original pieces of clothing go to Fa Yuen Street in Prince Edward. A really long street packed with shops and stalls selling really cute bags and clothes.There are even outlet stores there which sell Abercrombie/Express/Juicy/Rocawear for really cheap prices.

I dont know whether you're after good bargains or designer stores but for designer stores go to IFC and Landmark in Central. I hope you like Hong Kong!

 

[purexelegance]

the thing about japan is...

everything is super expensive and when you think you have a great deal/sale, you're actually not.

for example, this summer i bought a marc by mj bag and it cost me 35000 yen and it was literally 25 percent off, so i assumed i had an amazing deal, but it was actually a little more expensive than the price in america.... it's pretty depressing actually.

 

[sleazie ninja]

I miss Hong Kong very much, it's like one big island dedicated to shopping (even at the airport there is great shopping). My favourites are IFC, Pacific Place, the lane crawford (best luxury dept store ever!), harvey nic, I.T. (i think that was in Causway Bay), ahhh, soo many places!!! If you spend enough money, places give you discount cards, usually 10 to 15 percent...not bad.

I need to go back...

 

[Pinky*]

anyone know any great hair salons in HK? i'm 'shopping' for extensions.. to save a bad bad haircut

 

[kettlin]

anyone know any great hair salons in HK? i'm 'shopping' for extensions.. to save a bad bad haircut

theres a well known salon called The Hairdressers: http://www.thehairdressers.com.hk/newsite/thd_aboutus.htm

Im not sure if they have hair extensions but you could always ask....

 

[kare2711]

I miss Hong Kong very much, it's like one big island dedicated to shopping (even at the airport there is great shopping). My favourites are IFC, Pacific Place, the lane crawford (best luxury dept store ever!), harvey nic, I.T. (i think that was in Causway Bay), ahhh, soo many places!!! If you spend enough money, places give you discount cards, usually 10 to 15 percent...not bad.

I need to go back...

I was expecting some kind of catch in your post. I must be daft or what, but I read none.

Anyway, I miss HK too!!! I want to go back too. And totally unrelated (fashion-wise) but I miss lantau island, with the fantastic vegetarian food, and the big buddha.

 

[Fade to Black]

Well I'm in Hong Kong now and I have to say the shopping selection has improved since the summer...dare I say I think Joyce has a better selection than Barney's now (except in footwear).