Is that Gisele?

Wow look how Esprit has grown up. When I saw the billboard in Central a few weeks ago I had to put my glasses on. Is that really Gisele? My second favourite photographer is at it again, David Sims, working with ultra-stylish-stylist Camille Bidault-Waddington. Add a touch of Tom Brady's wife (showing 3 jackets) and I guess you can't go wrong. Esprit's new target customer is "a woman who's forever 30". I'm a buyer of that.

David Sims for Esprit

sidewalk

I'm not much of an off-piste shopper, but when my friend Mandy comes to town I bring out the big guns. Where to take her when she's just flown in from London, has done IFC, knows Pacific Place and Princes Building like the back of her hand and half the stores in Hong Kong seem to be in a state of flux. I'm sorry, what happened this summer?

Well there was one bit of good news that's for sure. Gaye Gibson opened Sidewalk. Dilemma solved. Despite heading out that morning with promises of no spending I'm afraid Mandy and I both left Sidewalk rather heavy of hand.... but what's a girl to do? It's like a confectionery store for adults. The COLOUR! (that old chestnut again for me...) The collection is so well edited, a little like being on the ninth floor of Barneys, or in your favourite resort shop - Sandy Lane? Amanpulo? Well funny that cos Gaye is about to open in the Mandarin Oriental Resort in Sanya.

After an hour of pottering the gorgeous barista made me a pitch-perfect mocha and managed the ultimate task: a "weak latte" for Mandy. You would be amazed how many baristas around the world can't get that right. We didn't stop for lunch but the takeaway sandwiches were like something you could grab in Australia (why is there a dearth of decent Hong Kong food-to-go?), and my friend Karen tells me she ordered the best Waldorf Salad she's ever had. One-stop-shopping never looked this good.

Sidewalk: 4-6 Gough St, Central, Hong Kong

JDCamicetta - the "Fi dress"

One of our favourite JDCamicetta shapes is the silk "Fi dress", named for our dear friend and fab client Fi (original, I know). It is the easiest shape to wear - a simple shift, pair it with jeans or leggings, tights/bare legs, either belted or loose, turtleneck underneath, blazer? To be honest it's the most forgiving dress I own as the shape covers up any semblance of a "fat day". Oh you don't think I have a fat day? You bet I do I'm just often wearing a Fi dress and you don't notice! FYI, we have only done a couple in each fabric, so you won't be wearing the same dress as your girlfriends!

Check out one of our "house models" Cosima, showing them in the colours we have available. While you're at it, become a friend of JDCamicetta's facebook page and follow the travels of Margo and Cosima. Those girls have a BALL!

Price: HKD1,600

ps, sorry about the lighting, Greg Delves I ain't!

Stella obviously thinks it's a fabulous shape as she has also done it this season (did she see JDCamicetta's last season?) Here is the Stella McCartney "Penelope Printed Silk Shift Dress" which you could buy on Net-a-Porter for GBP711.14 (HKD8,630).

Rules of Civility

Believe the hype, this book lives up to its sterling reviews. Manhattan sparkles in the late 1930s in this tale of friendship, decadence and morality. David Nicholls has called it "a witty, charming dry-martini of a novel" (which reminds me, I saw "One Day" yesterday and am now in love with Jim Sturgess, but I digress).

The author, Amor Towles is an investment banker with a serious education pedigree, who just happened to write a proper work of fiction on the side I guess. One of those types who remembered to be an over-achiever. A superb book which is sure to grace our screens in the next few years. It transports you to a time and place when ice clinked in your glass, Rolls Royces purred as they awaited you at the curb and young adults had "a frolicking good time". I'm not sure they really do that any more, or at least I know they wouldn't use those words in a sentence. Find it on Amazon, naturally.

I love the Chloe fall/winter 2011-2012 ad campaign

It features on a huge billboard as you drive up Magazine Gap Rd towards the Peak in Hong Kong. Causes my driving to come into question.

The campaign was shot by David Sims, that roguishly handsome British fashion photographer. It reminds me of "The Virgin Suicides" (one of my favourite movies), very ethereal and lovely. If only the Lisbon girls had grown up....

suzanne and christopher sharp

We are building a house and this is the inspiration for the living room. It's from the home of the incredible Suzanne and Christopher Sharp, who founded The Rug Company in 1997. Aside from being one of the most divine producers of rugs and cushions and "stuff", with a great roster of contributing designers (Paul Smith, DvF, Sam Taylor-Wood, Vivienne Westwood, etc) the company also carries the GoodWeave label. This means that only adult artisans, not children, produce the products. It is surprising in this day and age how many labels do not carry this certification -- you really shouldn't buy a rug without it, knowing what we now know about the industry.

Francois Halard for Vogue

Actually on reflection I think it's what my current living room wants to be when it grows up...

The Laurens

I love the cover of this month's Town & Country. There are so few "power couples" these days... well, few with a real sense of romance. I think Lauren Bush is inspirational - one of those "debutante types" who could have easily remained just that. However, she created FEED Projects, initially selling bags but now also a range of accessories to raise funds to combat world hunger. Feed Projects has so far sold 551,186 bags and provided 64,522,665 meals in 87 countries through the UN World Food Programme. I have just bought my "Feed 1 Bag"! It will provide one child in Africa school lunch for an entire year.