#JJStyle: Yo JJ, Where Are Your Glasses From?

Everyday I get asked, “JJ, where are you glasses from?”. And I mean everyday. By friends, work colleagues, followers on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook…and if I did allow questions to be asked on Tumblr, I’m sure I would get asked then too. And just yesterday during an intense meeting with a corporate developer client (everyone over 45 years old), one guy closed out the meeting asking me where my glasses were from. He really loved it. It was quite random.

Me. I love my glasses.

They’re so versatile. They go with everything. And they go with all kinds of looks I can put together. 

This look below wearing my glasses with a Zal Paleri Jacket, Club Monaco Shirt, Gap Chinos, and Puma Black Label Mirayasuhiro loafers for Blue Carreon’s dinner.

And then this look below with a Suit from TCNY and a pocket square from Jim Thompson.

They even go with my schleppy airport look.

The glasses were actually purchased in Beijing at WUHAO as I’ve mentioned in an earlier post. And they were actually Sunglasses originally. They were an investment then, but today… it’s a gift that keeps on giving.

The glasses are under the Thierry Lasry brand from Paris, but a collaboration with Garrett Leight based in Los Angeles aka Paris meets Los Angeles Collection.

Born in 1984 in Venice Beach, Garrett Leight (below right) is actually the son of Larry Leight and Cindy Lieght, founders of the famous eyeglasses brand, Oliver Peoples. So he pretty much grew up surrounded by eyewear.

GLCO or the Garrett Leight California Optical was created in 2010 and is defined not only by Garrett’s iconic silhouette which aims for strong long lines as compared to Oliver People’s unique round shapes, but the plastic frames of Garrett Leight glasses are produced from custom made cellulose acetate, and handmade at the Mazzuchelli factory in Italy, or sourced from vintage acetate in Japan.

My glasses, titled “The Harding”, is actually part of a first batch of prototypes for his recently released Garrett Leight Icons collection and was inspired by prominent American playwright and essayist, Arthur Miller.

Check out this video below on the process of the design:

“The Harding’s” unique profile is characterized by its flat top bar, wide keyhole bridge, and smoothly rounded rims, to achieve the clean and modern look according to GQ Online.

Thierry Lasry, like Garrett Leight, was also surrounded by eyewear. His father was an optician and his mother, a designer. The brand, based in Paris, was launched in 2006, and is defined by the concept of “Futuristic Vintage” and goes more for the “avant-garde” approach to things. The metal on the sides of my glasses are a signature of the Thierry Lasry look.

(image via HENNYANDMYBLOG)

Some of my other favorite glasses I own… this one by Warby Parker. (Paired with a shirt from COS, and a tailored tux jacket.)

Purchased at their pop-up in New York last year.

And I also own these glasses from Robert Geller from a few years ago. (Paired with PUMA Black Label Hussein Chalayan)

I can go on and on… because for those who have been to my flat… there’s a whole glass bowl of glasses and sunglasses. Some cost 5 USD and other cost 600USD all thrown in and mixed together.

As long as the style is right. You’re good to go! 

Above: Carrera x Lane Crawford BLITZ

WEAR Garrett Leight / WEAR Thierry Lasry / WEAR Warby Parker / WEAR Robert Geller

JJ.

#JJStyleExclusive: Lorenzo Boglione Takes 100 Year Old Superga To Asia

Tonight Italy descendes upon Hong Kong with a celebration for the world’s first “Rubber Shoes”, and I mean this literally, when Superga launches it’s first flagship store at Harbour City with a harbour side party… where you can see this unusually large Superga shoe.

In 1911, The Superga brand was launched withen a company in Turin started producing waterproof rubber-soled boots for agriculture, and vulcanized rubber-soled footwear. And by 1934, Superga models expanded for use in sports activities like tennis, basketball, yachting, and fitness training, for example.

I got my first pair this past Christmas, when the folks at Superga HK sent me my first ever in this blue color. (via theW+ Instagram)

Safe to say… i’ve pretty much been hooked since then.

That said this week we were able to have a quick 5 minute chat with Lorenzo Boglione (pictured above), Business Developer for the brand, and son of Marco Boglione, whose company, BasicNet Group, owns Superga and other brands like Kappa, Robe di Kappa, Jesus Jeans, Lanzera, K-Way, Anzi Besson, and Sabelt. We discussed his thoughts on Superga, the lifestyle, his expansion to Asia, and being 27 years old.

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theWanderlister+ and Lorenzo Boglione, April 2013

theW+: Lorenzo, congrats on opening a store in Hong Kong! So what excites you the most about Superga?

Lorenzo Boglione: That it’s a brand with more then 100 years of glorious history… but that in the next 5 years we are ready to write the best pages of this wonderful story. Superga with its typical Italian classic and stylish vibe can become the real alternative to the American sneakers.. (it’s so real and genuine that can compete - and beat! – any other shoe brand).

theW:  The Superga brand and shoe has had a very long history and has had a great influence on leisure and sport fashion for more than a century, yet it is still quite fairly new and unknown in Asia. How do you see this brand expanding in the East?

LB: The brand changed hands few times in the 90’s… and the international expansion started a little bit late compared with other Italian Brands. Now it’s in our hands… and after a successful repositioning in Europe, It’s ready to expand globally. The Italian DNA of the brand, together with the taste of the designers will make the difference in the Asian market. I see the brand first gaining a strong position in the coolest/ younger part of the market and after that, expanding to a broader public. 

theW+: You are fairly young, at 27 years old, representing the further growth of a 100 year old fashion brand. How did you get to where you are now and what motivates you and your work?

LB: I started 3 years ago.. in the Business Development at BasicNet just after graduating in a French University. The Superga team is a very young and dynamic and I was immediately given great opportunities. The motivations are huge when you see such a great potential and you have in your hands all the tools to exploit it. I just see fantastic opportunities in front of me and I can’t wait to grab them all! The fact that my family is the main shareholder of the company adds even more motivations to my job… if needed!

theW+: Not to mention the pressure! So the Superga lifestyle… how do you define it?

LB: Yes indeed! I do live and love the Superga lifestyle because at the end it’s the Italian lifestyle! Italian lifestyle means work hard and have a lot of fun! And that is what we do out there.

theW+: Hong Kong needs more of that fun haha… Do you wear Superga’s and what is your favorite style?

LB: I always wear Superga’s and for sure my favorite style is THE Superga.. the 2750 Cotu Classic.. The question should be what is my favorite color! For Summer white with no doubt.. And I would say Full black in winter.

theW+: The Superga look is quite iconic, will we see more of the same style or will we see different designs in the future?

LB: For sure today Superga is recognizable with one style, but Superga back in the 70’s was a proper tennis shoe and in general a sport shoe, today we already have in our collections many different kind of sneakers together with some Italian style and sailing moccasins.

 theW+:What are your favorite places in the world to travel to? Any place in Asia you dream to visit?

LB:I like to say the one I will visit the next! But if I had to chose a few, I would say South America first. All of it, every time I go I discover something new, people are friendly and positive and obviously the nature is amazing. Asia… I am really looking forward to better know the South-Eastern part of Asia… Indonesia and Philippines are places I never had the chance to visit and they are at the top of my wish list!

theW+: Well i’m from the Philippines, and I’d definitely love to give you a few notes on where to go! So anyway, in your opinion, what is the one thing a man can’t live without?

LB:I think that man can’t live without loving and knowing! We can’t live alone, so we need somebody to love that lives this life with us and we can’t live in ignorance, so we must have access to information, culture, education.

theW+ Thanks so much Lorenzo. See you more in Asia we hope!

So Italian…

Music’s latest sensation, Rita Ora, is now the spokes model for Superga.

Check out these ones for kids I saw at Lane Crawford last year.

WEAR Superga / Shop 2607, Level 2, Gateway Arcade, Harbour City, Kowloon, 2175 0228, Open Daily 10am-10pm

JJ.

Lucky Loubie

It was a hot night yet again on Wyndham Street in Hong Kong as the historic shopfront and flagship of Christian Louboutin, celebrated a whisky tasting night for Men Only.

Below, DJ Angus in one of his many Loubies and Shanghai Tang’s designer of menswear, Armele Barbier.

The brand which was created in 1992, and made popular by TV character Carrie Bradshaw’s obsession in the HBO hit series, Sex in the City, is not a bastion of shoes for women only. Speaking with Louboutin press reps that evening, the invite for the party was for MEN ONLY, and that all ladies in attendance were actually “Plus Ones”.

It’s a testament to how far the brand has gone to achieve a certain profile and status as the man’s luxury party shoes of choice.

Loubies don’t come cheap, but worn well, they do make a great statement. Guys can pick from classic hi-top styles to loafers. Either way, they’ll make you fit right at home at whatever bar, club, or restaurant you’d like to check out over the weekend.

Roni Hiranand showing off his Loubie look.

Now debuting in Hong Kong especially for men* is a bespoke embroidery service simply called, Men’s Tattoo Service. 

*Okay there is also a similar service for ladies with a choice of four classic Louboutin styles.

The Tattoo Service allows you to custom make a your own shoe based on your own tattoos, and if you have no tattoos, an ideal tattoo design you would like. You pick your shoe styles, color, thread color, beadwork elements, etc. The bespoke order is then sent to Paris to be created by Louboutin’s artisans. The whole process takes about 3 months from the time of order and prices range between 1060-4000 euros depending on materials, technique of embroidery, and size of the tattoos ordered.

The rest of the night was pretty fun. It was a like a Hiranand/Harilela family reunion there. They LOOOOVE their Loubies.

Raje Hiranand in flowy beige with a spikey Loubie bag.

I met Riva for the first time. She’s fluent in about 500 languages. And she introduced herself to me in Tagalog, which I thought was pretty cool.

The gorgeousness, her Highness Shirley Hiranand and Reyna Harilela, just hanging out with French lingerie designer, Chantal Thomass.

Then it was lucky draw time, Shirley went up to pick a business card from the box to win a Louboutin Men’s Briefcase as the only prize/swag of the evening! By this time I was concentrating, definitely using the Law of Attraction and the Power of the Secret to get my hands on that prize!

As Shirley was jokingly telling me that I should win that briefcase… guess what!!???

The Law of Attraction really works! :)

Thanks so much for a great night at at the Hiranand Family Reunion Christian Louboutin Men’s Whisky Tasting Evening!

We all had a great time. I love my bag! Thank you!

Last Call!

Christian Loboutin’s Men’s Tattoo Service ONLY AVAILABLE at Mount Steet Boutique London, Rue Jean Jacques Rousseau Paris, Washington Street New York, Robertson Street LA, Sanlitun Village Beijing, and Wyhndam Street Hong Kong. Fancy.

WEAR Christian Louboutin Men’s Boutique Hong Kong, 10-12 Wyhdnam Street, Hong Kong, 852.2530-2198 

JJ.

A Thom Browne Black Fleece Birthday

Sure Lehmann Maupin had their gallery opening at the Pedder Building on my birthday, but alas, I ended up choosing to celebrate the day with Thom Browne at the new Black Fleece Flagship Store instead. 

Okay… so Thom Browne wasn’t there, but after New York, San Fransisco, and Tokyo, the Hong Kong flagship for the Brooks Brothers label is the 4th and only stand alone store for the brand in the world. I couldn’t miss this.   So apologies to Lehmann Maupin, a Black Fleece Flagship in Hong Kong has been a birthday wish of mine for some time now.

The collection couldn’t have arrived at a better time. Menswear in Hong Kong is very hot at the moment. Guys in the city have been bold with their style choices lately, and for the most part, have been doing a great job styling themselves. The latest S/S 2013 collection by Thom Browne for Black Fleece allows men to be adventurous with prints, colors, and fabrics.

The bright prints, which could be found on jackets, trousers, and accessories, play with a pattern’s scale, making new motifs from classic madras for example, thus giving off a very iconic and resortique feel.

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#JJSTYLE: Moonwalkin’ With Cole Haan Saddle LunarGrand Spring 2013

Cole Haan recently sent me a pair of these fantastic Saddle LunarGrands for Spring 2013 in my colors, a Tanned Leather in Brown and Navy Blue Suede. The neon green base kind of caught me off guard at first, and I was afraid that I wouldn’t be able to match these shoes with anything I had… but I was proven wrong when I realized these babies pretty much go with everything.

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#JJStyle: SEBAGO Springs Forward Into 2013

American Heritage brand, Sebago, a brand built on the reputation of its classic and traditional nautical footwear, has opened its first Hong Kong store at the new Mira Mall in Tsim Sha Tsui.

The store’s design reflect the brand’s iconic past, an expression of New England past times such as beach getaways, sailing trips, and overnights in cottages.

We were recently invited to take a look at the Mira Mall Flagship store, located in Level 2 of The Mira Hotel’s podium.

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Dee Poon Explores The Perfect Men’s Shirt With PYE

When it comes to getting dressed, it used to be that men could care less about fashion or style. Additionally, most men probably used to think that anything sold at G2000 or Banana Republic would have been acceptable uniform from Monday to Friday. Thankfully these days, it’s clear, Men’s fashion and shopping habits have been on the rise globally, and has even contributed to a large percentage, 55% to be precise in China, and 40% globally, of the overall luxury market. Not that price has anything to do with style and taste, to the contrary, style and taste should reflect personality while still being best dressed for any occasion whether it be the board room or the bar… at any price point.

Enter the new label PYE, brought on by Hong Kong’s savvy entrepreneur and socialite Dee Poon, her one-stop-shop solution to menswear woes. Before PYE launched last November, we were able to visit Dee at her R&D studio in Wanchai to have a chat about the label which took two years to build, as well as her and her team’s general process to creating the perfect shirt.

The front end of the studio where PYE is based is actually an elegant and subdued reception area, which at the time doubled as the brand’s main show room. (This was before the HK opening in Pacific Place.) At the meet up, I was able to meet Dee, her team, Dee’s PR Fed Tan, as well as menswear guru, Alan See, of The Armoury.

PYE offers styles both ready to wear as well as a made-to-order system for that basic everyday work shirt. For RTW white shirts, PYE had about 11 styles, with the range of detail from the collar’s height and spread to the reveal of the main placket, as well as sleeve and cuff styles.

While introducing us to the range of shirts, she stressed how important it was for her brand to guarantee everything from the cotton’s quality blend, engineering, and easy care stylings as well as knowing the source of the cotton itself. She can vouch for the source of her cotton, because her main company, the Esquel Group, a leading global apparel and textile manufacturer, owns the the cotton farms that produce the material for all her shirts.

The one thing that Harvard-Educated Dee is proud of, is her Chinese roots. A board member of several pro-Chinese cultural foundations, like the China Arts Foundation, Teach for China, and the Harvard University Asia Center, Dee is quick to defend Chinese craftsmanship, know-how, creativity, and resourcefulness, and how all these elements embody the spirit of PYE.

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#JJStyle: the Eli Holdall Tote Takes You Away, Thanks to Seventy Eight Percent

For those of you guys who look back at Christmas and realize that the one thing you wanted for yourself you still don’t have can stop wondering when you check out the latest line from Shai Levy’s HK-based bags brand, Seventy Eight Percent, which by the way, is a hit best seller in Lane Crawford here in Hong Kong and boutiques in New York as I have reported before. I bumped into Shai before Christmas at the MISCHA anniversary when he updated me on the new collections for the Spring-Summer season, some which are in collaboration with Lane Crawford like a few from the Back to Old School collection seen above. You can shop these new/old briefcase styles at Lane Crawford or direct from the Seventy Eight Percent online store.

However, for Spring-Summer 2013, my new bag pick from Seventy Eight Percent is this modern classic Eli Holdall Tote, a lightweight travel and resort over-nighter, made of Japanese Wax Coated Canvas and Vegetable Tanned Italian Leather.

The great thing about the bag is the perfect proportion for a guy to carry, about 50cm x 22cm, and all the mesh pockets in the interior to fit everything from wallets, keys, smartphones, travel guides, shades, flip flops, cameras, and iPods. Basically everything I attempt to wear in my jeans. :/

Colors in the collection; Mustard, Pewter, Olive, and Mushroom.

The bag retails for about 400USD. Check it out and happy travels!

WEAR Seventy Eight Percent

JJ.

#JJStyle: Harris Tweed x URBANEARS

Here is something new for the season… and the cold weather, last month, Stockholm’s Urbanears (a very popular brand in Hong Kong) shipped me a special limited edition pair from their Plattan line…  in a special Harris Tweed that according to the website, is now retired. As now a proud owner of the Plattan in the Harris Tweed, I have to tell you that its really nice, really luxurious, really warm, and most importantly, sounds great! The list price is about 110USD on the website, so may be a bit more expensive in HK than the 600-700HKD list price of the general Plattan range. Here’s some photos below of my unboxing of the Urbanears in Harris Tweed.

This is a photo of my friend, Jason, wearing a Harris Tweed Blazer find at the MIDWEST shop in Tin Hau.

Harris Tweed is a centuries old UK-manufactured wool product whose process and production is governed carefully by the Harris Tweed Authority. To spread the word about the material and fabric to a new generation of consumers, Harris has been actively collaborating with independent street brands big and small. The HYPEBEAST blog has a pretty good overview of Harris Tweed’s limited collaborations.

North Face x Harris Tweed (via HYPEBEAST)

Harris Tweed x BEAMS (via HYPEBEAST)

Harris Tweed x SUPREME (via HYPEBEAST)

Check out this product video below:

WEAR Urbanears / WEAR Harris Tweed

JJ.