An article in the October issue of fashion magazine Grazia was food for thought. A recent survey conducted in Britain’s tough economic climate revealed that “one in three women forgo food to spend cash on clothes and make-up”. The term “fashiorexic” was used to describe a fashionista who would rather cut her food budget – eating out less frequently, physically eating less and purchasing at inexpensive grocery stores – than her fashion allowance.

Forgoing nutrition for fashion is scary and certainly not acceptable, but the article does raise an interesting question about the lengths to which people will go to keep their existing shopping habits alive. Eating out at restaurants as a couple or family can be expensive. Once you’ve slapped on a tip, paid for parking and possibly a babysitter, you’re out of pocket the same amount of money you could have spent on a premium pair of jeans. A restaurant experience is short lived, whereas an item for your wardrobe is not.

I’d love to hear how you feel. Would you give up your food lifestyle to keep the fashion dollars flowing? Would you happily curb spending on other luxuries like vacations, spa treatments, gym memberships and entertainment to fund your fashion fix? How far would you go balance your style budget?

I’m giving wide waist-cinching belts a rest and wearing my skinny belt collection more frequently at the moment (I needed a change). Skinny belts are less bulky to wear under jackets and coats at this time of year, and easy to adjust if the length is too long.

Adding a skinny belt to an outfit creates texture, layering interest, added waist-definition and if you like, a pop of colour. They are particularly effective when worn over the following items:

• cardigan (both short and longer lengths)
• jacket, or coat
• soft, silky knit or woven blouse
• tailored button-down shirt
• dress, or tunic
• high-waisted pants and skirts

I’ve found that positioning the belt fairly high on the natural waist is key. This prevents the “blouson effect” thereby keeping the torso streamlined (few women get away with blouson-ing their tops with a skinny belt). The silhouette is flop proof if you keep the look sleek on top.

Wearing a skinny belt a little lower and looser when you’re short-waisted is in theory the right thing to do. But I haven’t minded short-waisted gals wearing skinny belts on their natural waist. It resembles an empire cut, which looks adorable. Bustier gals should try skinny belts too, because they are usually a better option than wider waist belts. The look can work with the right top or dress (low neck, ample length and tailored torso).

You’ll find skinny belts everywhere and at every price. They are a creative and cost-effective way of adding variety to your existing ensemble mix. Trust me, you don’t need to be skinny to wear a skinny belt.

(1) Boyfriend cardigan worn closed with skinny belt, (2) Cropped cardigan worn open with skinny belt, (3) Knitted top with double skinny belt, (4) Knitwear with bowed skinny belt (nice for fancier occasions), (5) Skirt and tucked-in top, (6) Pants and tucked-in blouse, (7) Dress and skinny belt, (8) Tunic and skinny belt.

Have you ever wondered why black shoes can look blah when you don’t have black hair? Or why cream shoes look fab when you have blonde, blonde hair. It may sound silly, but in some situations it is very effective to “book-end” your look by matching the colours of your footwear and your hair.

A repeated ensemble colour pulls an outfit together. Similarly, matching one of your natural colours can complement your look. This is why people suggest wearing a shade that brings out the colour in your eyes. The effect is especially powerful when the top and bottom part of “the whole of you” are a similar colour. It creates balance and frames your outfit.

Sometimes the matching is subtle. Here are a few examples:

Obviously, a pair of yellow, green, pink or cobalt shoes adds flair to an outfit because bright shoes are a statement (and hopefully you don’t have green or pink hair).

This is by no means a hard and fast rule, but it might come in handy if you get stuck with an outfit that doesn’t quite pop. It’s the reason I own several pairs of cream shoes and boots. They always seem to be my personal answer to a boring outfit.

Sweats get a lot of wear in my lifestyle because I pop them on in the morning and at night instead of a robe. I love, love, love cute and comfy loungewear and it’s important that I feel as good in my sweats as I do in daily outfits. I therefore take considerable care in selecting this part of my wardrobe so that I’m not caught off guard when someone unexpectedly knocks on our door.

I prefer extremely soft, roomy, cozy, stretchy loungewear in vibrant colours. I am not a fan of yoga wear or active wear as a lounging option. I personally find that type of gear less comfortable and not as cheerful. Year after year, American Eagle is my go-to place for sweats. I’ve also purchased sweats at Victoria Secret, but American Eagle remains a favourite. I know that I should not be shopping at a teenage store but I can’t help it. They have exactly what I’m after, the price is right and I fancy the collegiate sweat suit look.

Every season, I try to find a more refined and age appropriate sweat suit option, but still no luck. Alternatives are either less soft, ill-fitting, boring in style and gloomy in colour selection. So my loungewear is unsophisticated and high-school. Rightly or wrongly, I feel put together in my juvenile sweats. That’s okay. I don’t have teenagers or babysitters wearing the same look at home. I’m happy hanging onto this youthful look in my late 30’s.

These are the sweats I purchased a few days ago. They are as soft as a baby’s bottom. The hoodies are on special (buy one and get half off the second one).

Flat oxford shoes, or “brogues”, are a fringe trend in ladies footwear this season. These peds remind me of roaring jazz 20’s and the good old 80’s.

Flat oxfords are supposed to be worn with jeans (any hem width), dress pants or slouchy wide legged-slacks as a dressier alternative to the fashion sneaker. I’ve even seen taller gals wear them with walk shorts, skirts and dresses. Both slip-on and lace-up versions are available in various colours, leather treatments and stitch interests.

This trend appealed to me because I like flats and oxford shoe styling. I had a pair of chestnut brogues 18 years ago, so I set out to give the funky jazz shoe another go. But I couldn’t get them to work with my style this time around. I tried them with different outfit options, but felt they made me look masculine, short limbed and flat-footed. Right now, I prefer the look of a ballet flat, bootie or heeled oxford for my style.

It’s a shame because I actually found a sassy pair that was comfortable. Oh well, at least I tried. Do you like the look of boyish flat oxford shoes and have you managed to successfully incorporate the trend into your look?

An assortment of masculine, flat oxford shoes for ladies. I wouldn’t be surprised if the look becomes mainstream next season. If I haven’t figured out how to wear them by then, I’ll be bypassing the trend.

Our wardrobe is one of the first places to be affected by the worldwide downturn, which makes super savvy, cost saving purchasing decisions a must. Here are 10 ways to stretch your style budget:

1. Create new outfit combinations with existing clothes: What we need is sufficient change to feel that we’ve added seasonal luster to our wardrobe. Often, this change can be achieved by mixing and matching new combinations with our current clothing and footwear inventory.
2. Have a clothes swap party: gather your friends and swap clothes, footwear and accessories for free. Make it a potluck and have girly occasion.
3. Borrow and lend accessories: I lend costume jewelry, accessories and handbags to friends to complete an outfit for an occasion to save them the extra expense. If you and your friends are comfortable with this arrangement, it can be fun and thrifty.
4. Browse through consignment stores: These purchases are either hit or miss. But the more you frequent second-hand clothing stores, the higher your chances are of bringing home treasures that are as cheap as chips.
5. Purchase the cherry on top: Shoes, handbags, scarves, belts and costume jewelry do wonders to refresh a look. If you have the basics covered, you’ll look current by adding only these items to your wardrobe mix.
6. Search for discount codes and printable store discount coupons: these are available online if you do a search.
7. Shop at off-price sites: bluefly (I’ve become an addict), smart bargains, 6pm and eBay are great sites for bargains.
8. Wait for items to go on sale: retailers will markdown merchandise more frequently when store business is soft. You’ll score if you can hold out untill an item is reduced.
9. Shop at The Rack: Nordstrom owns its own discounted retail outlet called “the Nordstrom Rack”. Same season Nordstrom merchandise finds its way to the Rack marked down 60% or more (designer merchandise included).
10. Buy one statement piece and wear it all season: this is my favourite budget stretching strategy. There’s nothing like a dramatic new jacket, coat, skirt, scarf, pair of boots, shoes, earrings, brooch or necklace to make you feel your best. Blow your budget on one fabulous item and sport it till the cows come home.

There are many other ways to expand our wardrobe budgets and I’m sure that you are brimming with ideas. Let’s hear them in the comments.

Shanghai Tang is an upscale Hong Kong store that epitomizes fusion. Its offerings combine ancient Chinese designs with a contemporary and often humourous Western flavour. Other than ready-made and tailor-made apparel for men, women and children, Shanghai Tang also offers a wide selection of trendy home furnishings and gifts. With gleaming antique wooden furniture, modern artwork and pristinely presented sales staff, it’s a beautiful and very colourful store that’s well worth a visit just for its aesthetic integrity.

On our recent trip to my favourite city, Phoebe and I went to Shanghai Tang and perused their racks of exquisitely embroidered and superbly made, embellished clothing. We gasped at knitwear and handbags that were trimmed with jade and dresses that were sewn with gold thread (quite the laundry challenge). Their homeware area was rich with handmade silk-covered photo albums, silver plated dim-sum baskets, ornate chopsticks, vibrant picture frames and arty porcelain jewelry boxes. Shanghai Tang also offers a revolutionary line of watches and accessories with Chairman Mao’s image. Super funky.

As much as I’d like to have come home with a luxurious statement Shanghai Tang piece, it wasn’t on the cards. But their menswear range was fab and a lot more affordable. Greg came home with a hip top that he’s already worn several times. My gift was the cheerful pink and green shopping bag it was packaged in. The colours match our site.

That’s all for the Hong Kong series folks. We thoroughly enjoyed presenting these posts and hope that you enjoyed traveling with us. Stay tuned for the next global encounter.

Shanghai Tang was founded in 1994 by a Hong Kong businessman and now also has stores in Shanghai, New York, Paris, London and Singapore.

The current economic downturn means that we need to stretch our fashion dollar further. One of the most cost effective ways to update and refresh a seasonal look is through the addition of shoes, handbags and accessories.

Flat totes continue to be a practical and fashionable win. If you’re into faux patent leather and enjoy the look of a slouchy oversized tote, this Gap carryall is for you. They are available in purple, grey, cream, camel and black in stores (fewer colours are available online). The bag is sturdy and 100% plastic without looking cheap and “plastic-y”. It’s a vegan-friendly steal at $49.50 (full price). Add a discount coupon, or wait for the sale and you’ve scored an even better deal.

One of my clients pointed out this tote to me last week and I was impressed. I bought the grey and she came home with the cream and purple. The canvas strap is a little useless, so you can either cut it off or tuck it away. This comfy, casual shoulder tote will stylishly hold the kitchen sink. Thanks Joanna! I can see these totes becoming our travel favourites.

Dr. Martens, or “docs” as I know them, were a hip footwear option in the 80’s and early 90’s. My American friends say that docs weren’t as popular in the US as they were in Europe and British colonies at that time. Nike hi-tops were the American “it” shoe instead. An American friend tells the story this way: she went to London in the 80’s wearing hi-tops, but came back to the US wearing docs.

After an 80’s explosion the Dr. Martens brand lost popularity and became fringe fashion for 20 years thereafter. But docs have made a comeback along with the resurgence of 80’s looks this year. Their footwear range embraces both vintage and updated styling and is well worth a look if you fancy a tough edge to your style.

We recently stumbled upon a brand new Dr. Martens shop in Hong Kong and I was like a kid in a candy store. I had my eye on a pair of cream, patent calf-length docs (like the one on the right), but realized their impracticality for our rainy Winters. My black 20 eyelets would have to satiate my renewed Dr. Martens appetite. But we did come home with a hot pair of ankle boots for Greg. The men’s assortment was killer.

Understandably, docs aren’t everyone’s cup of tea. The vintage boot style can look masculine and bulky. But it’s precisely this contrasting effect that I find appealing. Adding a rugged element like a pair of funky Dr. Marten boots to an outfit can be stylish if you stick to wearing one rugged item at a time. I wouldn’t wear my biker jacket with docs. I’d match them up with a pretty piece of knitwear, soft scarf and tailored jacket instead. I love mixing an ultra feminine outfit with a tough biker edge. We saw lots of HK ladies matching biker boots with pretty skirt and dress ensembles.

One of my European clients (late 40’s) bought a pair of docs after seeing the pair I showed in my post on grey footwear. We’ve subsequently created exciting feminine combinations with blouses, scarves, jeans, knitwear, skirts and dresses incorporating the edgy look of the boot. I was impressed with her grace, spunk and confidence in this look. Very fab.

Dr. Martens has a much wider range these days. In addition to more refined styles like the cream boot I had my eye on, there are the vintage boots in new colours…

…and with an expanded range of interesting hardware.

The Hong Kong store was bustling with younger Dr. Martens newcomers and veterans like us rekindling their relationship with the brand.

I suffer from tight, dry facial skin that often flakes around my nose and cheek area. Indoor heating and the dry Seattle air don’t help, which is why a recent trip to humid Hong Kong did wonders for my skin. It looked and felt great.

Now that I’m back, the change of weather has made my skin flake more than ever. The eight hour a day cream that I usually use to combat this problem has not helped, and neither has a facial, regular exfoliation, an alpha hydroxyl peel and super rich hydrating moisturizers.

Having reached the height of desperation, I’ve taken to using pure, extra-virgin olive oil on my nose and cheek area twice a day for the last week. I may smell like a Greek buffet, but it has worked beautifully. My skin finally feels hydrated and adequately moisturized (no more flaking). Am I crazy to apply the same olive oil that I use for cooking to my face? Is this risk-free? I’d love your input.