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This post is sponsored by Maybelline. All opinions expressed are my own.

Hutch dress

Dailylook cardigan

Chanel bucket bag

Hi everyone! Sorry it's taking me a bit long to get all my travel guides up but here's one for Hong Kong! I'm actually pretty native to Hong Kong so a lot of the recommendations will be local recs, but I'll definitely include some of the highlights of the touristy things I've done. 

Tips:

1. Download the Trip Advisor app and then download the map of the city you are visiting. If you don't have service or wifi it'll be really helpful to have a map of the city and be able to look up where you want to go. It also keeps track of your location to help you get where you want to go. 

Hotels:

1. Hotel Icon - Hong Kong is pretty much separated into two areas: Kowloon and Hong Kong Island. In my opinion, there is way more to do in Hong Kong Island and I usually prefer being in that part more but there are certain parts of Kowloon that I love--one being Tsim Tsa Tsui (where this hotel is located). Hotel Icon is a bit further out from one of the more central subway lines (~10-15 min walk), but I think it's 100% worth it. It's super modern and cheaper and in my opinion, better than any other hotel I've stayed at so far. They have some pretty great perks that I'm kind of obsessed with..here's a few to name: the mini bar is stocked everyday and is all free, there is a pillow menu (you can choose the different kinds you want, ex. lavender scented, memory foam, etc.), they provide a cellphone in every room for you to take around Hong Kong which you can use internet, domestic + international calling, and use as a wifi hotspot for free, and their breakfast buffet is bomb (best selection of western + cantonese food. ever.)..also it was included for us!

2. Ritz Carlton - Unfortunately it is a bit far, or else I would recommend this more. It is beautiful and also is home to the highest bar in the world (Ozone Bar). If you have a big budget for hotels, they also provide a telescope in each room for you to look out into the Hong Kong skyline!

Food:

Lunch/Dinner:

1. Man Fai (Causeway Bay) - Super small local spot in the middle of Causeway Bay which has THE best cuttlefish seaweed noodles. Their beef tripe is also really good. It's always my must go to spot every time I go to HK. I'd avoid going during rush hours though, and be prepared to sit with strangers at a table--everyone's there to grab some quick tasty food.

2. Kau Kee (Sheung Wan) - Amazing beef brisket noodles with a long wait so avoid the rush of peak hours. 

3. Le Persil Fleur - We had originally wanted to go to another restaurant but it closed earlier than expected. We jumped onto trip advisor and chose this quaint little restaurant, and boy was I surprised by how much I loved it. We ordered a crab and avocado tartare for an appetizer, and then the duck and lamb for entrees which were equally as good (although I'd recommend the duck over the lamb if you had to choose). We were a bit full to order dessert but they gave us these caramel crisps (shaped as potato chips) that I wish I could bring a bag back with me.

4. Mott 32 (Central) - We went for lunch and the dim sum was definitely different from what we've ever had--mostly because all the ingredients used were very high end. Instead of a shrimp har gow, they used lobster. We also ordered diced seafood convoy soup dumplings, siu man with soft quail egg, iberico pork and black truffle, wagyu cheek, spring roll with abalone and shredded peking duck, sliced group with black truffle, squab, their famous cha siew, and some cocktails. Needless to say we definitely ordered too much for two people, but it was all delicious. It was also the most expensive dim sum we've ever had, but definitely worth the experience if you haven't gone before. 

5. Tsui Wah Restaurant (Tsim Tsa Tsui) - A tea cafe nearby our hotel which we loved so much we went twice. The tea cafes in HK have a TON of options for good food and they're all so cheap. For less than $20, we got an iced lemon tea, cuttlefish  ball and fishball noodles, veggies, baked pork chop over rice, and soy sauce chicken wings.

6. Yung Kee (Central) - Famous restaurant known for their roasted goose. My favorite was their preserved century egg--it was done so well we ordered a second order to eat. 

Desserts/Cafes:

1. Cheese Tart by Kinotoya (Causeway Bay) - Probably should've gotten this in Japan, since it's from Hokkaido, but loved this cheese tart that I got from the Sogo department store (in Causeway Bay)

2. Hui Lau Shan - My favorite drink place--they specialize in different mango drink combinations (my favorite is the mango pomelo with sago). It's a chain store and they have them in many different locations around HK, although I've found that it's cheaper in less prominent areas in HK (ex. Mong Kok is way cheaper than the one in Causeway Bay or Central). They also have a bunch of different desserts/savory snacks you can have at the cafe.

3. Tai Cheong Bakery (Central) - Famous bakery in HK for their egg tarts--they were pretty good but I'm more a fan of Portuguese tarts so I wasn't that into them but there was a really long line of people raving about them. 

4. Oddies Foodies (Central) - Egg waffles with gelato and toppings--I didn't get a chance to try it but heard great things!

5. Lee Keung Kee (North Point) - Best egg waffles ever. Haven't found anything else in the world that could compete. Tons of celebrities go for the egg waffles and there's always a long line so

Coffee Shops:

1. Elephant Grounds (Wan Chai)  - Australian cafe with really good ice cream and smoked milk affogato. There's also small sharing plates like fried chicken, taro chip nachos, and poke in case you're hungry. 

2. Cupping Room  - There are a few locations but their coffee is on point.

3. Veygo Coffee (Wan Chai)  - Great coffee here, and they have amazing latte art. I ordered 2 cappuccinos, which I requested to have Totoro and Hello Kitty drawn in..they came out super cute!

Sights:

Shopping:

1. Sogo and Times Square (Causeway Bay) - Causeway Bay is great for shopping and you'll find tons of stores everywhere but the two department stores I usually go to are Sogo and Times Square for more luxury brands. 

2. (Central) - Central is full of work buildings but it also has a bunch of luxury stores. Good place to do some retail therapy if you're stressed ;)

3. Ladies Market (Mong Kok) - Go to Mong Kok if you want a bargain. Ladies Market includes a bunch of small shops that take up approximately 5 blocks. It's filled with tons of knock-offs of luxury brand goods (especially bags and Fendi look-alike bag bugs), or of little souvenirs you can buy to bring home for friends or for yourself to keep. The one tip is to always bargain. You'll get the price knocked down at least a little! 

There is also a lot of other shops around Mong Kok that sell trendy clothing for cheap. It's usually fun to take a look  and get some things you normally wouldn't splurge on. 

Views:

1. Victoria Peak (Central) - Probably the best view of Hong Kong. Take the tram up and head up to the Sky Terrace 428 for photos. I actually really loved the Madame Tussaud's in the building as well. 

2. Sai Wan Swimming Shed (Kennedy Town)- A bit out of the way but really pretty views of the water and photogenic. A bit of a hike to get there and got bit by two mosquitos in the dead of winter but still glad I went. 

3. Big Buddha (Lantau Island) - A bit far and a pretty long walk up, but it's one of the 5 large buddhas in China. 

Chicwish Fur Coat

Chicwish Sweater

J Brand Jeans

Valentino Rocklock

Postcards from Paris! Not the best time to take photos..(notice the puddles of rain), but the entire week we were at Paris, the Eiffel Tower was on strike. First of all, we didn't even know that could happen. Second of all, we waited hoping that they would get off strike and it just so happens that the night before the last day we were there, it rained.. :( Oh well, this just means I'll have to take another trip to Paris right..? Haha

During our stay, it was actually pretty cold and dreary so I did my best to stay warm without looking like a huge marshmallow fluff. Thanks to Chicwish, I was able to do just that! This white sweater is definitely thicker than it looks, and has the cutest ties on the sleeves and kept me warm throughout the cold weather. 

xx

Maje Bocelui Leather Jacket

Chicwish Sweater

J Brand Jeans

Stan Smith Sneakers

Proenza Schouler PS11 Mini

Hey y'all! I've been traveling a lot and thought that it'd be a nice addition to the blog if I start putting up guides to the different cities/countries that I go to.

Last month, I spent a few days in Paris for my birthday as a stop over before heading to Asia. We flew AirFrance from New York direct to Paris in a nonstop which took ~7 hours which after taking a direct 16 hour flight to South Africa the month before, seems pretty damn quick haha.

Tips:

1. Download the Trip Advisor app and then download the map of the city you are visiting. If you don't have service or wifi it'll be really helpful to have a map of the city and be able to look up where you want to go. It also keeps track of your location to help you get where you want to go. 

Hotels:

1. The Westin Paris – Vendôme - We ended up staying there which was super convenient. The location was perfect for all of the luxury shopping nearby. Within a few blocks away, there was a Gucci, Chanel, Hermes, YSL, etc..pretty much everything you can name you will find. It was also close to both of my favorite macaron shops (Laduree, Pierre Herme). However, I found that the hotel was a bit older than I had liked, and that the bath tub was a bit small and high up (I don't consider myself really short, but it was difficult to get in the bathtub). We did however get a suite, and it had a small balcony with a beautiful view of the Eiffel Tower and Ferris Wheel which was nice. 

2. Four Seasons Hotel George V - Just off the Champs-Elysées, it's definitely a more expensive option but we went to the restaurant Le Cinq and was enamored. 

3. Plaza Athénée and Mandarin Oriental - Also at pretty prime locations, both are also expensive options but from what I've seen, have one of the best views of the Eiffel Tower.

Food:

Lunch/Dinner:

1. Flottes - A brewpub nearby, I loved it for lunch. We ordered a glass of champagne each, with a french onion soup, escargot, foie gras, and ceviche to share. Everything was pretty good, and the atmosphere was super cute. 

2. L'Arôme - This was actually a recommendation from our concierge, but let me tell you how amazing it was. We opted for the Menu Carte Blanche with the wine pairing, which gives the chef the power to give you whatever he thinks is good. They gave us these breadsticks with an amazing crab dip to start, followed by a corn curry with marscapone amuse bouche, a beautifully cooked bonito, scallops with watercrest, sea bass with shrimp and red wine sauce, truffle with chicken (one of my favorite dishes of the trip), a plate of cheese selections, some kind passionfruit ice cream served on top of dry ice, finished off with a cherry pistachio tartlet and chocolate tart. I was incredibly impressed by the wine tasting and how well it was paired with each course. 

3. Le Persil Fleur - We had originally wanted to go to another restaurant but it closed earlier than expected. We jumped onto trip advisor and chose this quaint little restaurant, and boy was I surprised by how much I loved it. We ordered a crab and avocado tartare for an appetizer, and then the duck and lamb for entrees which were equally as good (although I'd recommend the duck over the lamb if you had to choose). We were a bit full to order dessert but they gave us these caramel crisps (shaped as potato chips) that I wish I could bring a bag back with me.

Desserts/Cafes:

1. Pierre Herme - As a New Yorker, I've been dying to try Pierre Herme, and I actually loved it. It's probably on my favorite macaron list on par with Lette. They had less macaron options than Laduree but their shell was softer, and their ganache was thicker. They also had more interesting options during the time I went (holiday season), with macarons that had foie gras or truffle in them--definitely more savory than the typical macaron I'm used to.

2. Laduree - Laduree is everywhere in Paris. My favorite part was the Laduree cafe they had close to where I stayed. I loved going in the mornings to grab a cup of cappuccino (which they make with some foam and chocolate), and a croissant or eggs before starting my day. Their macarons are also good, but since I can get them any time I want in New York, it wasn't a huge pull for me.

Sights:

1. Eiffel Tower - I wish i could say that I went but it was on strike the entire week we were there..but it was beautiful seeing it from the Gardens still and taking photos of it from different areas

2. Arc de Triumphe - I went to take photos and honestly it was a bit scary because you're standing in the middle of the intersection trying to take a cute photo in front of the Arc hoping that you get a photo without trucks in the background, at the same time trying to avoid getting hit by cars

3. The Louvre - If you love museum or art or history, you would love the Louvre. Apparently you can spend a year there and not be able to see it all. It's also home to the Mona Lisa which all tourists hover in front for a photo..haha yes I was one of them.

4. Champs-Élysées - A whole lot of shopping. It has a good mix of mid-tiered brands and luxury brands for you to shop plus a 7 floor Louis Vuitton flagship store for all of you who love LV!

5. Palais Garnier - Super pretty opera house