Category Archive for Hong Kong + Macau
Cover model for Dark Beauty Magazine! Hong Kong Gothic Lolita photoshoot: Spider fashion line, Mongkok modeling.
“Dark Beauty Magazine strikes again… Get to know La Carmina as she adorns our first issue of 2013!”
What can I say? It’s an incredible honor to be on the cover of this much-loved, dark fashion magazine. I can’t thank the Dark Beauty enough, and my team for creating these glorious images.
You’ll have to get a copy of Dark Beauty Magazine to see the full photoshoot, but here are two alternate images to whet your appetite.
John Skeleton modeled with me, in the streets of Hong Kong.
Gigantic thank yous to…
Photographer: Ken Yuen
Assistant Photographer: Jacqueline Kwok (noircorner)
Photo manipulations: Kanae Hamatsuka
Hair: Emma Woodall of Toni & Guy Hong Kong
Wardrobe: Spider by Natalie Lam, Hong Kong (pictured below)
Let’s take a behind-the-scenes peek at how the shoot took place.
We started the day in Soho, at the Toni & Guy Hong Kong hair salon. A magazine photoshoot is the perfect excuse to wear dramatic, crimped hair.
Emma Woodall did this masterful hair styling. She also created my spray-painted locks for Hong Kong Social Media week (fashion bloggers panel).
Onwards to Mongkok. I wanted to shoot in the streets, under the famous neon signs, to capture the energy and color of Hong Kong.
We reunited with Natalie Lam of Spider, a Hong Kong Gothic Lolita designer. (Remember when Seby and I visited her store last year?) I adore her designs: elegant frills, corset lacing, Victorian accessories.
John and I wore her clothing for the shoot. We thought it’d be a nice departure from the usual Japanese Gothic & Lolita brands that you see in magazines.
I did some shopping at the same time… bought this Pirate Rum shirt, and studded dress (I ended up wearing it on TV: CBS The Doctors).
If you visit Spider, you absolutely must stop by Spider (say hi for me). The shop is in Mongkok; address, maps and directions here.
What do you think of our photos? To see all the images and read my interview, grab a copy of Dark Beauty Magazine: Jan 2013 street-style issue, with La Carmina on the cover (it comes in digital, print, and both). Thank you everyone — what a dream!
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Cute kawaii characters in Hong Kong: Kuromi cake, Rilakkuma bear toys. Miami, Florida for Art Deco Weekend!
This is a cute and happy post. First, I’m thrilled to announce I’ll be in Miami Florida… for Art Deco Weekend (Jan 18-20)!
As you can tell from this site’s design, I’m obsessed with Art Nouveau and Deco design. The Miami Tourism Board is generously flying me in and hosting my trip, so that I can report on the annual celebration of all things Deco.
Get ready for flapper dresses, Bettie Page fashion show, 1920s VIP gala, and South Beach architecture. Videos and photos to come, on La Carmina blog and Huffington Post. (Above photos by Shannon Cottrell, from my LA batcave shoot with Seby.)
Since we’re talking art, let me share some of the kawaii designs I spotted in Hong Kong.
Adorably-decorated food is still big in Asia (remember my book, Cute Yummy Time?). This bakery was selling a $20 US cake in the shape of Kuromi, the rival of My Melody.
On “Women’s Street,” you can buy cute accessories for ridiculously low prices. However, you can tell these are knock-offs… Doraemon and Hello Kitty are a tad deformed.
My beloved New Town Mall in Mongkok has entire stores dedicated to Rilakkuma bear and friends.
Sogo, the Japanese department store that carries the Hello Kitty fashion collection, also has a brand for dog-lovers.
Cute-faces are as popular here as in Japan. A giant smiley is not an uncommon sight.
Panda bears are a Chinese national treasure.
You can purchase the very same Japanese brands in Hong Kong for lower prices. That’s my justification for going shopping-crazy here…
Hong Kong’s a great place to pick up gifts for friends. The quality and design are outstanding for the price (these items are probably $10-20 US each).
Don’t forget home decor. In K-11 art mall (Tsim Tsa Tsui), you can get an elephant stool…
Or a wah-faced cat lantern.
Bookstores carry adorable DIY craft guides. Since there are step-by-step photo instructions, it’s ok if you can’t read Chinese.
Um. Sad robot pandas. Cutest recycling bin ever?
If the makeup packaging isn’t cute enough, the store added happy Post-It notes. (My favorite cosmetics chain is SaSa; their pink signs are everywhere.)
I bought Basil Farrow a rubber ducky from this Causeway Bay shop.
Basically, if you’re into kawaii characters, you’ll go bankrupt in Hong Kong… they’re everywhere you go.
I leave you with a peek inside the Bros Products boutique.
For more cuteness, check out my Hong Kong, China and Macau posts.
Are you a fan of kawaii character design? Who’s your favorite cute character? I’d love to hear your Florida tips in the comments and on my Facebook — it’ll be my first time in Miami!
LA CARMINA
