Beauty & Youth: A treasure trove of things you'll want.

I was browsing through the Beauty & Youth online shop last night and stumbled upon these items. Do I really need a teacup with a bird inside? What about orange Superga sneakers? And really, another tote? No, I don't need them. But do I want them? Hell yes.

welovekaoru Bird Mug

Superga X Beauty & Youth

Beauty & Youth Logo Tote

Every Night I Say A Prayer by Little Boots

I have seen into the future
I want you to take me there
I have seen into the future
Every night I say a prayer

Club Street Social

The problem with being too familiar with a city is that you eventually end up jaded. You quickly walk from point A to point B, mentally pushing tourists out of your way; you sneer at the familiarity of your surroundings; and worst of all, you entertain the thought of being a hermit since you've already been there, done that.

In a country as miniscule as Singapore, this is bound to happen. What was once a cool hole-in-the-wall hang out is now infested with throngs of people that getting a seat is next to impossible. A hidden boutique that only a select few knew about is now being featured in every other publication.

In order to save yourself from becoming a disciple of hikikomori, you have to take it upon yourself to get out of your comfort zone and discover hidden gems that will keep the sparks between you and your beloved city alive. That's exactly what I did during the weekend.

Sick of the all too familiar places along Orchard Road, I trooped down to Club Street to check out Club Street Social - literally the new kid on the block. This hip 4-month old hangout, reminiscent of tiny cafes that are common in places like Manhattan and Hong Kong, boasts a well-curated menu of mostly Italian food that include paninis, tramezzinis, humble breakfast fare and desserts, as well as inspired cocktail concoctions. If you're looking for a heavy meal, this isn't the place for you. But if you're looking for small bites, great drinks and a beautiful atmosphere perfect for catching up with friends, then come on down.

Club Street Social's exterior. It's hard not to appreciate the exposed brick wall, the brushed concrete floor, old-school light fixtures and the glass sliding doors.

The tiles that spell out the establishment's name is a personal favourite. It gives the place an extra touch of old world class.

I ordered the Breakfast Panini, which consisted of grilled pancetta, eggs and maple butter. It had touches of maple syrup here and there to accentuate the butter's flavour further. The portions were not bad at all and every crunchy bite left me with a gluttonous smile on my face. I washed this down with a glass of prosecco. 

As you can see, it was a quiet Sunday night - just the way I like it. Be warned though. If you plan on visiting the place between Wednesday and Friday evening, come early. The staff said that the place gets packed with the after-work crowd.

A view of the long bar. If you're feeling adventurous, order the #7. It's a cocktail that consists of cognac, bacon, date and walnut.

Club Street Social
5 Gemmill Lane, Singapore
+65 6225 5043

Kitsuné Polo Parisien

100% cotton. Made in France.

Buy it here.

Snapshots #7

Vacation by Alphabeat

Danish pop band Alphabeat is back with their latest single, "Vacation". This fun tune screams, "Summer's here!" and will make you want to pack your bags and get on the next flight out to paradise.

Whirlwind Weekend Trip to Hong Kong

I found myself panicking two weeks ago because one Thursday morning, I received a text message from my mother saying, "Do you want to spend the weekend in Hong Kong? Please let me know and book a ticket soon." How do you say no to that?

After scouring the internet for the best flight deals and schedules, I purchased my ticket that afternoon and started ironing and packing that evening. I took the first flight out of Singapore on Saturday morning (7AM), feeling very groggy since I only got three hours of sleep the night before because I made reservations for Singapore Restaurant Week with friends and ended up drinking past midnight. Talk about stressful.


Everything was a blur the moment I arrived in Hong Kong. Here I am getting ready for dinner with the family.


If you didn't know by know, Hong Kong is very photogenic at night.




Dinner hosted by my mother at Ye Shanghai at the Marco Polo Hong Kong Hotel.


Rushing back to the hotel to get ready for the night's activities.


Met up with my friend Damon at 10pm who was also staying at the same hotel - what a coincidence! We then made our way to Dandy at Lyndhurst Terrace to celebrate JJ of the Wanderlister's birthday, and what a party it was.


The next day was spent going around Hong Kong island. First stop was A.P.C. You know what went down here.


After shopping pretty much the entire day, we parked ourselves at Fuel at the Landmark.








On the third day, it was pretty much just me and my mother since my brother and his fiance already flew out. I took the chance to show her around my favourite part of Hong Kong - Wan Chai. The photos above were taken at St. Francis Yard and Star Street.


A trip to Hong Kong wouldn't be complete without stopping by the Monocle shop.


And that concludes my whirlwind weekend trip to Hong Kong. Will definitely be back soon!

A Closer Look: Mismo M/S Shopper

Mismo describes itself as "the ultimate personal companion for the urban sophisticate", and they're not lying. The brand's founder, Adam Alexander Bach, believes his brand sits "somewhere in between Head Porter and Louis Vuitton" - an apt position given that the products integrate Porter's durability with Louis Vuitton's luxuriousness (sans the ubiquitous monogram).

I recently picked up the M/S Shopper tote and I have to say that it's hitting all the right notes. It sports a distinct yet understated design (it turned a few heads the first time I used it); has the ability to hold a multitude of items even though it sports a slim silhouette; it's easy to carry and the full-grain leather handles comfortably sit in my hands.

Here's a closer look at the Mismo M/S Shopper:

An American in London

From its humble beginnings in 1997, Jack Spade is now a respected American brand, loved the world over. Today, Jack Spade is found across the globe, with the latest standalone store recently set up on Brewer Street in London's historic Soho.





According to Cuan Hanly, VP and Brand Director of Jack Spade, "We are excited about coming to London and adding this new store to the Jack Spade family, bringing the total to nine standalone stores for the brand."



The 1,000 square foot retail space will house a carefully curated selection of bags, wallets, clothing, ties and accessories. The store's interior, which is characterised by an assortment of idosyncratic furnishings and knick-knacks, was conceived by renowned designer Steven Scarloff and reflects the brand's reputation of producing timeless collections with a unique point of view and sense of humour.

Selima for Jack Spade

"JACK SPADE was our first collaboration ever, and it has always been an extreme pleasure to work with the company. We share the same vision of luxury accessories, so it has always been a great match. For me, JACK SPADE is timeless, whimsical and easy to wear." - Selima Salaun, Selima Optique Founder


Henry


Robert


Ludovic