Decorations are everywhere as Hong Kong prepares for the lunar new year, and this includes shopping malls and window displays. Although most references are to the year of the “goat”, the sheep and the ram also represent this animal in the Chinese zodiac. It is fun to see how different brands interpret the symbols in ways that are aligned with their aesthetic. Some displays are literal, others are more abstract, and many are works of art. From huge plush toys and realistic statues, to wooden sculptures, origami and animals made of glass and cardboard. Some displays are colourful, while others are neutral and monotone. 

Pantone announces its top colours for Fall 2015, Old Navy teams up with Current/Elliott, Inditex stops selling angora wool products, and more news from the style trenches this week.

• This week, Lucky launched its new website, Lucky Shops, which combines editorial content with e-commerce.
• Old Navy teams up with the founders of demin line Current/Elliott, who will serve as the brand’s “Style Ambassadors”. 
• Inditex, the parent company of Zara and Massimo Dutti, will stop selling products made with angora wool.
• Pantone’s top colours for Fall 2015 are a nod back to the seventies.
• Karl Lagerfeld is branching out into childrenswear. 
• A new exhibition in Paris examines the history of the button.
• Barneys turns its blog The Window into a printed magazine that will be mailed to the store’s “best customers”. 

Fun Fashion Fact

Did you know that Prada has put its entire fashion archive online. The Future Archive contains runway images, advertising campaigns and catwalk videos going back all the way to 1987. 

Angie introduced me to dim sum on our very first trip to Hong Kong together in 1998. There are many different varieties of dim sum, but most are some sort of steamed bun or dumpling. Our Chinese friends talk about going for “yum cha”, which can be loosely translated as having morning or afternoon tea. Except here the tea is accompanied by delicious dim sum. 

This particular restaurant is One Dim Sum in the Prince Edward neighbourhood of Kowloon. The modest exterior would never have you guessing that the place has a Michelin star, but indeed it does, having first made it into the Michelin guide in 2011. To avoid the rush associated with its popularity, we arrived just before the quietest time of the day and our wait on the chairs outside wasn’t more than 20 minutes.

Dim sum itself is quite unique, but so is the restaurant experience. Traditionally, ready-made dim sum is wheeled around the restaurant on carts and restaurant goers take what they want from the cart as it comes past. This was the case at the famous Luk Yu Tea House, where I had my first dim sum experience. But here at One Dim Sum we noted our choices on a list and they arrived when ready.

We were eager to see whether One Dim Sum lived up to the star and to the rave reviews it received from several of our foodie friends. In short, it did. I can’t remember enjoying dim sum this much. Top to bottom, left to right, we had Siu Mai (pork dumpling), Choy Miu Gau (vegetable shrimp dumpling), Cha Siu Bao (barbecued pork bun), Har Gao (shrimp dumpling), Law Mai Gai (chicken and sticky rice wrapped in a lotus leaf). Angie doesn’t eat pork, so those were all me, but she had an extra order of the Har Gao, her favourite.

For dessert, it was all we could do to squeeze in some Lui Sha Jin Dui (fried mini sesame balls).

Unbelievably, our total bill for this one star Michelin feast was $20.

This ensemble was inspired by Greg, who has added lots of ink blue to his black and charcoal wardrobe over the last few years. He doesn’t wear ink from top to bottom often (usually with black or grey footwear), but it looks great when he does. 

Two points upfront: 

• Creating textural interest when wearing a dark colour from top to toe gives the outfit depth, thereby making it look less flat and more attractive.
• Strengthening make-up when you wear dark colours prevents you from looking washed out. Extra eyebrow definition, mascara, blush and lipstick go a long way. 

There’s a casual and lighter version of ink-out on the left with denim, and dressier outfits with trousers and a skirt on the right. I’ve used ink blue and black footwear because they work equally well. 

Casual Ink-Out

Combine a dark blue pair of jeans with a dark denim tunic or shirt. I used a tunic to showcase an alternative set of proportions, but a regular length denim shirt is fab too. Leaving the tunic untucked is not leg shortening because of the column of colour. Feel free to substitute the denim shirt for another ink blue top like a sweater, shirt or blouse. 

Top it off with an ink blue jacket like a moto, tweed moto, blazer, wool trapeze jacket or cocoon coat. Layering short over long here creates flattering proportions because of the column of colour. 

Finish off the look with ink footwear, like booties, loafers, pumps or oxfords. Keep the bag in the palette with ink blue and black. Alternatively, throw in a pattern or another colour to break up the ink a little. Adding a scarf in colours other than ink further breaks up the palette, and might be just what you need to feel more alive in the combination. 

Dressy Ink-Out

Combine a pair of ink blue trousers, culottes or a skirt with a texture-rich ink blue top. Or alternatively, wear a textured bottom (like a lace skirt) and add a smooth top. Textures can be distinctive or subtle. A little lace trim or sparkle goes a long way to create outfit interest in a dark tonal outfit. Wearing an ink blue dress with a dark blue denim jacket is another option.

Finish off the look with black footwear that works with the bottoms, and add sheer black hose for extra insulation. I like the look of ink-out with a patterned or grey bag, but choose the option that’s most suited to your taste. Any colour coat will work over dressy ink-out. Add jewellery, watch and eyewear as desired. 

Don’t worry too much about matching the ink blues. The tonal palette works as effectively when lighter shades of navy are combined with very dark ink blue.