Monday, October 4, 2010

Shanghai Tang!

One of the things I adore about Hong Kong, other than the craziness and the food, is the huge number of shopping opportunities available. Three are shops everywhere selling everything you can think of. Shopping really is the local sport. Unfortunately for me, being a size 14 (on a very good day) and having a size 41 foot, those shopping opportunities are somewhat... limited. Not that I didn't already do a heap of shopping on this trip already, but that's for other posts...

While in Hong Kong I was on the search for enamel bangles. I have a gorgeous one from Coach that I bought in the US, but when I checked out the Coach store in Times Square I didn't see any that I liked and the ones in Kate Spade at Ocean Terminal were nice but ridiculously overpriced. Like double the price you can get them for in the US. I really don't like paying above the odds for things. I like bargains.


How wonderful is this packaging?

On our last day in Hong Kong we decided to head over to Central and the first stop on my list (after checking out the Armani Florist and chocolate shop - they always makes me laugh) was some serious browsing time in Shanghai Tang. It's a shop decorated with wonderful trinkets and decorative arts, with gorgeous shawls and clothes and bags. The clothes, in particular, are beautiful - they hand make many things and can tailor to fit and their designs are gorgeously classic. The interiors of the store hark back to Shanghai in the 1920's to a more fabulous and frivolous time. And in one of the display cabinets was a beautiful display of enamel bangles, just waiting for me. How lucky am I?


It was a hard choice but I ended up deciding on the green and the pink - one thick, one thin. They are gorgeous and so individual. I also like the fact that because I bought them overseas it's unlikely that anyone else will have them.


As an aside - if anyone knows what the symbols on the bangles mean, I would love to know! The sales assistant was somewhat vague about the meanings...

So if you are in Hong Kong and you are looking for something special as a remembrance of you trip, you'd be hard pressed to do better than a wander through Shanghai Tang!


Shanghai Tang
www.shanghaitang.com
Pedder Building, 12 Pedder Street
Central, Hong Kong
(There are other locations both in HK and internationally - please check the website)

Kitty

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

The pattern on the green bangle doesn't have any meaning AFAIK. The pink one on the other hand - that's the Chinese character for "love". Very pretty!

Miss Kitty-Cat said...

Thanks Ms Curious! Maybe that's while the sales assistant was a bit vague about the green bangle!

Amy said...

Good work Kitty, love these. Shanghai Tang is on my list of places to visit upon my next HK trip - hubby bought some great ties and cufflinks there last time. I deliberated over a few things and ulimately came away empty handed. Not this time, that's for sure!

Miss Kitty-Cat said...

They had some really lovely things Amy. It was hard to leave with only these!

Not Quite Nigella said...

So pretty! It's been too long since I visited HK! They remind me of the Hermes bangles :)

Miss Kitty-Cat said...

Yes, they do look like the Hermes bangles but they are an awful lot cheaper! Doesn't make me want an Hermes bangle any less, though. Mr Kitty - are you reading this??

Blighty said...

love love love those bangles, very classy!

Unknown said...

What a fabulous blog!
Can you remember how much you paid for the bangle above, I have one exactly the same except in red and I want to sell it! Hope you can help