Island Beverly

Since this is such a famous shopping centre already, I wasn't sure if I should still write about Island Beverly. It's not like it's hard to find, either. It's across the street from Sogo Department Store in Causeway Bay. (Use Exit D at Causeway Bay MTR Station.)

However, I guess some people might not know about it, so here is my entry. Now, my caveat for Island Beverly is this: you're not going to find bargains here. I've only bought 2 items my entire life from Island Beverly, and the second item I only bought when I visited today.

If anything, visit the place to get a feel for what's being sold right now, check prices and then go to the shopping centres in Mong Kok, Tsim Sha Tsui, Kwai Fong, and other places. The items will usually be cheaper there. If not, then just go back to Island Beverly, right?

Er, I totally forgot to take a picture of the outside of Island Beverly. But anyway, you have to take the escalators to go in.

There are 3 floors full of shops in Island Beverly. You'll find pretty much every style represented here. I probably only took pictures of 30% of the shops. A good reason to visit Island Beverly is to learn some styling tips because some of those kids there have serious steez going on.

Liking these two outfits!

Haha, dig these shoes. They're kind of awesome.

I ended up buying the belt off the mannequin on the left. I'd seen it before in another shop for about HKD400, and it was on sale for just above HKD300 in the shop. Ah, fuck me, I still shouldn't have bought it, but oh well. I'll just have to wear the hell out of it.

I was almost tempted to buy the dress, too, but I'd just come from Retrostone, so fortunately, my guilt stopped me. The girl working here is super helpful and not pushy at all, by the way.

The belt doesn't have to be tied in a bow.

That's her with the long brown hair.

Socks that were just too cute. But I'll be damned if I'm paying HKD59 for a pair of socks.

One of the coolest pair of slouchy black boots I've seen on the bottom right.

You know, I do like peep-toe shoes, but I think this trend is really going to far now. Look at this! Combat boot peep-toes! It's just not right!

Perfect for my post-apocalyptic summer theme...too bad I've sworn not to buy anything more this year.

This dress made me think of DL.

McQueen knockoffs. I really like them a lot, but the style is so distinctive, I'd rather just buy the originals, which I can't afford, so I'm not going to buy them at all then.

The reason I went to Island Beverly was to help the Other Dude look for a pair of wedges. I wasn't sure if I actually found them, but this shop, Coup de Foudre, is one of the better shops at Island Beverly. They do made-to-order shoes and also do custom work (within reason). They have 8 shops all over the city: Tsim Sha Tsui, Mong Kok, Hung Hom, and Sha Tin. You can call them to find out where the other shops are at 3428 2655.

Really dug these. A bootie version of Alexander Wang's knee-high boots, right?

Now, the other item I bought at Island Beverly 5 years ago (or maybe more) was this denim jacket. It was made by a local designer, Made in the Earth, and you know I have a hard-on for supporting them. The great thing about this jacket is that it's worn upside down.

See?

As you can see, the jacket buttons up almost like a shrug. Yikes, I look pregnant in this picture. Isn't it so 90s, though? A babydoll dress and a cropped denim jacket?

From the back. If you're at Island Beverly or any of the other shopping centres like this, please do support young designers!

Fasio, Part 3

I know, it seems like I'm just not going to let go of Fasio. I've finally gotten the knack of combining the Shu Uemura mascara wand with the Fasio comb, and my lashes finally look somewhat natural.

I swear to you, the Fasio formula is just so nice, it's really too bad about the comb! My lashes look really lush in real life, I don't think the photos are doing them any justice. I'm even considering buying it again, isn't that silly?

Fasio, Part 2

Well, it turns out that I've started using Fasio sooner than I expected, and the verdict is...not good. Oh, MatsuJun! How can you disappoint me so?

Now, Fasio has a fantastic formula. It lives up to the Hyper Stay label completely. After twelve hours, the mascara hadn't run, no horrible black marks under the eyes like with Heroine, and even after I cried after chopping onions, it stayed put.

The main problem is the mascara wand. Instead of the brush that you normally get, Fasio comes with a comb-style tip that deposits way too much product on your lashes. Like so. I look like my eye took a poo!

In the end, I had to start using a Shu Uemura mascara wand to comb the lashes out after using the Fasio wand. Still a bit gunky in this picture but better.

Now, I apply the mascara first with the Shu Uemura wand and then top up with the Fasio wand and the result is a lot better than any of the previous pictures. However, will I buy this mascara again? It pains me to say so, but no. I actually prefer a Japanese brand called 24 Hours, but I couldn't find it in SaSa last time. Next time they have it in stock, I'll probably hoard a few.

Fasio

I forgot to include these television commercials that Matsumoto Jun did for Fasio. I don't know what it is about him that makes him so unbelievably sexy. He's not classically handsome, but all you have to do is watch him in any performance for five minutes.

SaSa

I know, I know, I'm cheating with SaSa as an entry since it's a big regional franchise. However, please bear with me because this entry isn't just about SaSa but what I recommend buying there.

SaSa can be found all over Hong Kong. It's more ubiquitous than McDonald's, even. I find a lot of tourists tend to go there to purchase skincare products from Switzerland or Europe with really dodgy names and claims.

Honestly, kids, as long as you moisturize with a decent (not necessarily expensive) moisturizer and put sunscreen on everyday, it almost doesn't matter whether or not your cream is made from the eggs of virgin sturgeons who swim only in Evian.

I would recommend SaSa if you're looking for commercial perfumes, but mostly, I would recommend this place for cheap Japanese drugstore cosmetics.

I wear mascara almost every day, so I don't really want to spend a lot of money on it when I throw it out every three months.

This is my usual brand: Heroine. I like the lengthening formula better than the volumizing one. I think the mascara itself is the same, but the lengthening one has a better applicator. It's only HKD60 and really worth the price.

However, today, I thought I would try out Fasio. I've seen the ads with Matsumoto Jun (Good Lawd, is that boy SO SEXY!), and I'm such a sucker for advertisements. I got the Hyperstay Magne Plus Curl Long. It's HKD98, so a bit more than my usual, but hopefully, it's worth it. Don't fail me, Matsumoto Jun! I'm due to change out my mascara by the end of December, so I will let you all know how Fasio works out for me.

Ah, crap, I just now realize that I forgot to photograph Kate, as well. I don't really wear makeup aside from mascara and lip gloss or lipstick, but I've heard from friends that they quite like Majolica Majorca. The truth is, the colours are a bit young for me. I don't really do pastel colours because they make me look like I woke up with bluebirds singing in my windows and mice coming in to help me put my socks on. It just doesn't work for me, you know? However, I do like that there are little charts on this (and on the Kate display, as well) showing you how to put on and blend the eyeshadows and blushes. Really excellent idea and makes purchasing so much easier.

Now this is what I'm talking about. Don't scoff at the name because Giovanni simply makes the best hair conditioner ever. Their 50:50 Balanced Hydrating Calming Conditioner is the best conditioner I've ever used. I have waist-length hair, and I wash and condition every night and never get split ends. My hair is disgustingly healthy and soft, so smooth that ponytail ties often slip off, and I really have to thank Giovanni for it.

If I may, I would like to say how important I think washing your hair every day is. You may not think your unwashed hair smells, but good GOD, it fucking does! People are just too polite to tell you! And really, do you want to sleep in your own hairy filth?! Hair attracts a lot of bacteria, germs and viruses. If you're on the bus or subway train and someone sneezes, those airborne viruses can end up living in your hair until you wash them out. Ugh, I'm shuddering right now.

Anyway, to the right of Giovanni in this picture is the Natural Source, another decent haircare line. I use their hair conditioning mask once a month. I also like this multi-use body and hair oil that they have. You put a little bit on your hair to keep it shiny and soft. I use it before I go swimming or on days when I have to style my hair with a curling iron. I don't blow dry my hair (so damaging!), but I did, I would also use this oil before doing so.

This is such a useless picture, sorry. This is my Fasio, and I also bought a white eyeliner pencil from Kate. It was HKD44 -- what a scary number!

So this is me with the Heroine mascara on. Sorry for the scary picture! I tried to widen my eyes to compensate for the flash. It looks sort of <i>Ringu</i>, I know. For such a cheap mascara, Heroine is still looking good, considering at the time of the photograph, I'd had it on for twelve hours. I have to say, though my lashes really got thicker since I started using L'Oreal's Renewal Serum for eyelashes. It really works.

Sorry, I had to get rid of the flash in order to photograph the white eyeliner properly. It's very nice. The colour is very opaque and not too sparkly. I wish SaSa had the Kate gel eyeliner, but I couldn't find it. Kate is owned by Kanebo, one of the biggest Japanese conglomerates, by the way.

World Wide House

World Wide House in Central is mostly known as a place where Filipina domestic helpers go to stock up on products from the Philippines. This means that there are a lot of shops here that sell Filipino snacks, beauty products -- including those ever-present and dangerous skin bleaching kits. Tsk!

However, World Wide House has a lot more things than just snack food and colonial mentality products. There are the usual shops selling clothing, jewellery and shoes, lots of tailors -- two of the best used to be housed here -- and even electronics shops. There are also lots of money remittance and foreign exchange places here with really good rates. Do have a look around, you'll find that they're very competitive. There are also a ton of door-to-door freight forwarders here.

You can also buy all sorts of phone cards for international calls.

World Wide House is also home to Chaip Coin, where you can buy almost any magazine you desire at a discounted price. Japanese, Korean, European...all kinds of magazines that you've never heard of talking about stuff you didn't think people would publish magazines about.

World Wide House also has this watch shop. This guy is quite famous for his hand-crafted watches. He's got some kind of special tourbillon technique. A fellow artisan! I hope to master my craft the way he has his.

And finally, World Wide House has lots of these little eateries with delicious Filipino food, a cuisine that I cannot believe most people have not tried. Filipino food is just plain fantastic. These eateries don't have the best kind, but they're a decent enough introduction. For HKD25, you get a scoop of rice and two viands of your choice.