Miss SONG blog

2011-10-13T09:17:00.000+07:00

This purple SAROUEL OVERALL from SONG’s new yoga range is uber comfortable and I’m definitely going to wear it as much practising yoga, and doing my downward dogs as I will glaming it up with a pair of heels for whizzing around Saigon, beep beep!

www.ValerieGregoriMcKenzie.com

2011-09-29T13:31:00.000+07:00

Back in Ho Chi Minh, and I’ve been invited to the English National Ballet at the city’s Opera House. It’s the first time performance the English National Ballet has performed in Vietnam and I’m on point to watch it. Hardly a tutu in site replaced with simplistic leotards with oozing muscles, the raw and delicate first half namely called ‘Vue de L’autre’ has me in tears, its all about the exploration of human relationship and the joy of sharing it, my broken heart is fixing but the Ludovico Einaudi’s profound music is definitely tearing at the harp strings. I want a big hug from SONG’s soft LACE SHAWL; it makes me feel a lot better as I head out to ‘Dose’ after the performance, and go from classical to house all in a spin of a pirouette.

www.ValerieGregoriMcKenzie.com

2011-09-21T09:51:00.000+07:00

Back in London, and I’m currently in the midst of Vogue’sFashion night out. A global celebration of fashion, the after-hours shoppingextravaganza is now in its third successful year. I’m wearing SONG’s BELTED MESH FADED DENIM BLOUSE a casualtouch of femininity with my skinny J Brand jeans and Wondaland blue studded boots. I’ve opted for a ‘cool’ blue theme ce soir. Miss S doesn’t knowwhere to start; designers and stores are enticing customers in with everythingfrom exhibitions, discounts, prize drawers and special DJ sets. So what’s itgoing to be? A roller disco at Rupert Sanderson, or watching Vivienne Westwood showcase her secondcollection from the Ethical Fashion Africa Program, the ecologically-friendlyrange is produced from recycled materials, as well as seeing exclusive footagefrom her trip to Kenya. I’ve also been invited to the Agnes B store to seean exhibition of works by Martin Parr depicting a floral theme and consideringits on Floral Street it all seems very apt. Criticism, seduction and humor areall themes within his work, and I do love the irony that Parr himself wouldmost probably like to be here with his lens for a series of fashion folk do Vogue’sfashion night out!!

www.ValerieGregoriMcKenzie.com

2011-09-09T09:12:00.000+07:00

Miss S has set sail across the Tryyhenian sea to the Aeolian islands, a group of volcanic islands north of Sicily, named after the demigod of the winds Aeolus. I’d be grateful if he could cough now, as it is feels like I’ve entered the volcanic lava of Stromboli itself. Factor 50 Miss S. it’s HOT. First stop Panerea, the playgound for the Milanese fashionista. The town itself surrounded by lemon trees and olive groves is called Contrada San Pietro, which has some rather trendy crafty boutiques. On my hunt for ‘Ecologie de luxe’ I stumble upon Boutique Raya. Its owned by Myriam, wife of Paolo who set up Hotel Raya the uber hip hotel in the 1960’s, which has undoubtedly still kept its cool as I find out later that night. The shop sells beautiful items that use the batik technique of painting on fabric inspired by the traditional patterns of the Sunda Islands printed onto silks where the other half of the year is spent (Sicily and Bali, now that’s an inspirational combination.) Further along the white washed ally I stumble across another little gem called Pucci Poggi where the yarns are spun and weaved before my eyes, Aeolus has yet to change the temperature so the heavier silk jumpers and scarves are out of the question for now.

In the end it’s the bright batik wedges that win from A’biddikkia they’ll look shipshape for the boat hop to Lipiri that I team with SONG’S cream silk POCKET DRESS, its so light and comfortable, a ‘must have’ to throw on over a bikini, and hide the pasta paunch from Pollini’s (the best pasta I’ve ever eaten in my life home cooked by the craziest owner I’ve ever met in my life) and the countless cocktails from Bridge sushi bar, where rumor has it Roman Abramovich got turned down and relegated from the premier league! We arrive to disco dancing on White Beach (an ancient old ruin on the hillside overlooking the sea) where I join the synchronised Latino dancing, and with me I carry my hold all essential Meli Melo bag, the designer Melsissa Del Bono is actually from the island itself and Mr. and Miss S’s tiptop advice would be stay at her family run hotel called Carasco Hotel. Italy is certainly winning over my heart.

Links

www.hotelraya.it

www.guardian.co.uk/travel/2008/mar/30/italy.europe

www.melimelo.it

www.abbiddikkia.com

www.carasco.org

2011-08-31T10:34:00.003+07:00

Ciao……today Miss S stands for Sicily. I'm here in ForzaD'agro, a rustic 12th century medieval village perched high up on a mountain crag where the Godfather was filmed. Al Pacino has roamed these

cobbled streets and following in his footsteps Miss S is taking up an offer "she can't refuse” – sights, scenery, shopping, history, nature, beaches – it’s got the lot. I'm staying at the highest house in the village, which is built into the rock with an incredible labyrinth of secret terraces cascading through the Garden of Eden bursting with exotic colours and delicate fragrances. In a fitting tribute to la dolce vita, Miss S. feels molto Mediterranean in a gorgeous blood orange CAYENNE KEYHOLE DRESS - the perfect number for the chic La Caravella beach club, where a sea of spray-on white speedo's emerge from battered Fiats and a fleet of Lavin vintage sunglasses row ashore for linguine allagamberi and lashings of tiramisu washed down with a crisp Sicilian prosecco. Buonissimo. Sun down, moon up and Miss S heads for a gelato and passagata in Taormina. Love is definitely in the air and i don't just mean the hordes of gushing couples strolling by hand in hand. I soon discover ‘Taormina Mood’ – a dinky boutique run by ‘Prince Paulo’ with shoes to die for and super sexy Gedebe faux coral bracelet.Dinner done and digestivo’s drunk, Miss S skips the long line at La Giara discothèque thanks to a little help from her mafia friends, top table please, before stopping by at Morgana for a quick nightcap and marvel at the deep tans, coffered hair and lashings of black eyeliner on show…..Arrivederci X

Links

www.taorminamood.com

http://www.lagiarataormina.it/

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Forza_d'Agrò

2011-08-18T10:02:00.004+07:00

Miss S has been soaking up the music scene at Farr Fest, a small boutique music festival in the south of England. It hosts an eclectic mix of progressive house and break beat acts. Miss S takes a ride in a micro-light stunt plane and on stage Alphabet Pony get smaller and smaller OK I’ve failed at the Opticians but pass my hearing test listening to the likes of Osky and J-Phip spin out the tunes. Deep in the forest before the sun goes down I choose SONG’s purple print SLIP DRESS, nothing like being a little whimsical in fairyland.

Links -www.farrfestival.co.uk

Miss S is loving Homeage, a new little furniture, decors and gift shop in London. Mixing vintage with modern and classic with contemporary, products are aspirationally showcased to inspire their customers to personalise their home.   The product range includes eye catching metal swan chairs and an impressive reclaimed boat wood sideboard from Indonesia, retro style coffee tables and tableware from France, on trend Danish Industrial chests and one-off vintage jewellery and glassware pieces sourced from auction. Look out for soft furnishings and artwork from local designers based in Hackney and Brighton.

Links – www.homageonline.co.uk

2011-08-12T10:01:00.000+07:00

Miss S has just nipped down to Najac market in the Aveyron region of France. I'm here on a confiture (jam) mission, to source the finest jam for our croissants and baguettes in the morning. All

sounds terribly French doesn't it! I find a wonderful little store with beautiful handwritten labels selling every type of fruit imaginable. Miss S chooses the confiture de figue et prune(fig and plum) but suddenly I'm drawn back to purchase the confiture de fruit de la passion after waking past a picturesque house, typical of many of the bastide villages, which has a maze of passion fruits enticingly hanging from the front. Another jam = Another croissant. I need a slimming colour so I choose SONG's black cotton SLIP DRESS, it looks chic with my new customary market basket and gold flats as I bump into many of the characters found in Jean-Henri Meunier's film La Vie Comme Elle Va. It profiles the droll residents of Najac and its a fantastically unique and oddly representative of suburban and rural France as a whole, I don't think they'll be joining me on the train to St. Raphael later that week, but they may pop by for a jam sandwich!

2011-08-04T09:42:00.002+07:00

"Moment in the Yew Tree" by Lucy Ravert is currently being exhibited at the Francis Kyle Gallery (London) as part of their show bringing together contemporary artists to celebrate T S Eliot's Four Quartets. Lucy has employed geometric and semi-abstract motifs painted with her customary energy and feeling for texture to render pivotal moments in the poem.

Sundial +0033 Miss S est en France, where the hollyhocks aim too high, but will the sunflowers turn to us? On a summer midnight, you can hear the music from the valleys surrounding Villefranche. Around the large oak table sit Tiger Woods, Rumpelstiltskin, and Pamela Anderson in amongst the family reunion of parents, siblings, aunties, the great uncle, the grandfather who is great, the cousins, the second cousins once removed, upside down, back flip in the pool, turn around and star jump on the trampoline. Lavender pouches on beds, a few drops more rose, whiskers on KL kittens… these a few of my favorite things. Too much roquefort cheese GG? I’ve opted for the moon struck double collar LACEY EMBROIDERY dress, and having arrived from a little too much excess, I have face that looks like I haven’t shared my last smartie.

Links:

T.S. Eliot – Four Quartets - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Four_Quartets

2011-07-27T15:30:00.000+07:00

Miss S has been hunting for Truvia, taking the lift to the 5 3/4 floor of Selfridges roof in London. Not open since the Second World War the eccentric team at Bompas & Parr had masterminded a journey of low fat discovery to find a calorie-free, great tasting sweetener that comes straight from nature. Don't believe me its Tru via, and it comes from the leaf of the stevia plant found in the magnificent falls in South America. A very sweet old friend has invited me to climb on board a boat and row across a neon green lake, he's given me a giant rock in exchange for cocktails conjured up from the Experimental Cocktail Club, on an island bar over the roof tops of London. Miss S stands for surreal, its like I'm playing bumper boats in Halong bay with Man Ray. Anyway I still need an outfit for my trip, so I choose SONG's algierrs blue CONTRAST TANK to juxtapose against the lake, and keep on my high waisted black shorts. Welcome back to summer in London Miss S.

Links:

www.truvia.com

http://experimentalcocktailclublondon.com

www.selfridges.com

2011-07-20T15:46:00.000+07:00

Miss S is loving Mango Rooms in Hoi An. The name may give it away but this little gem of a restaurant, chops, dices and slices their organic mango into everything on the menu. The whole experience is colourful from the blueberry blue walls and tomato red chairs, through to the exciting palette of colour that arrives on my plate. I spy mango in my free range chicken salad. I'm keen to mix textures myself so I opt for SONG's purple print COVER UP top with the girly BOXER SHORTS and inject a bright banana yellow SILK LACE NECKLACE to finish the look. I've come on a girly weekend to detox, cleanse and rejuvenate. We're doing a dryathlon, which means no drinking, running through rice paddy fields, biking through the cobbled streets of Hoi An and swimming the sea at 6am. Lets not forget Miss S has come with a fellow Gemini, so there's a twinkle in the eye as we pick up our leather hot pants we've had made up ready for festival shenanigans back in the UK. The mango may have just been tangoed.

Links

www.themangomango.com

2011-07-14T10:04:00.000+07:00

Miss S has nipped across to Singapore, a country so clean they must use Detox and Dysons to clean the streets. The sprawling metropolis of shops mean I’m drawn into Temptation Mall – keep walking Miss S! I’m doing an interior design job for a new apartment in an old converted warehouse; Philippe Starck and Quasar Khanh are going to hit it off around the District8 dining table. That evening I’m taken to the opening of William Hogan’s art exhibition before cocktails on Dempsey Road, which makes us late for an important date at the White Rabbit restaurant where I call Alice from Wondaland to tell her, I love her shoes. I want to rock the ‘get out of bed’ look Singapore style so it’s got to be crisp and clean. I sling on SONG’S white TUX SHIRT for men, which adds a sexy twist when wrapped around with a skinny leather belt. I keep on the GIRLY BOXER SHORTS and team the outfit with my super stylish WONDALAND shoes. I’m ready to descend upon Sentosa Beach Club day rave and even squeeze in a sky dive, which is actually like going for an industrial blow dry. The reputation of Singabore is no longer, I want Singamore.

Links:

www.wondaland.co.uk

www.gayavietnam.com

districteightdesign.com

www.philippe-starck.com

www.wegmanworld.com

www.thewhiterabbit.com.sg

www.iflysingapore.com

2011-07-06T09:04:00.000+07:00

One of Miss S’s favorite restaurants in town is ‘The Deck’ …….the food, the setting, the ambience; the list is longer than the drive back from Mui Ne on a Sunday night! So how exciting when the invitation came to arrive by boat. Obviously the look had to be nautical but not too OTT that I want to throw the Captain overboard. I have been invited by the Belgium, a handsome dish of eye candy that should be put on the desert menu. I opt for SONG’s black and white port/starboard CONTRAST SLIT BACK TANK and tuck it into the high waisted white cotton SIDE FASTENING WIDE PANTS, injecting a little bit of St. Tropez to Saigon. Gym palaces and P Diddy (envisage his gold plated Vietnamese hat) have not ventured up the Mekong yet, but the ‘Vieto’ business flex are fast approaching the ‘Euro’ jet set. For now though the river is tranquil with water hyacinth meandering by. As the sun sets through my PAPER HAT I realise one thing is for sure that when they do arrive, they will be heading straight for a lychee martini at the Deck.

Links:

www.thedecksaigon.com

2011-06-29T16:57:00.000+07:00

This week Miss S. has been to Esperantopolos, a cultural event set in the former Colette French School of Saigon. The evening is a hub of creativity with art installations and exhibitions put together by French artists living and working in

Vietnam

. Electro beats echo throughout the courtyard that make Sandrine Liouqet’s work come to life, models enter backstage past Nadege David’s powerful illustration and strut their stuff on stage in the latest creations from Kui, All, Tsafari and Kuijeans. I get chatting to “Seth” the infamous French graffiti artist who has been especially invited to bring his cans of colour over from Paris. We share a cheese platter from ‘Les Trois Gourmands’, which conveniently has a little pop up restaurant for the evening. Mini Michelin stars light up the sky. I’ve dressed casually in Song's CUT OFF LEGGINGS and DRAPED BACK TUNIC, which I pimp up with the SINGLE STRAND BRACELET and LOU ESPADRILLES WEDGE SANDALS. A couple of Malbec’s later I am invited to attend Too Many Dj’s at Le Fenetre Soleil. Time for a change so I slip into the COLUMN DRESS and SHADOW HAT WITH EMB try and hitch a ride on a Piaggio customized Vespa. Alex Zander and Crazy Monkey battle it out on the decks and a film director directs me on a date next week under the condition I have my nails done which I have to admit look like the graffiti spray ran out of paint…. Quick give me the number of Q Spa pronto.

Links

http://www.globepainter.com

http://everyonesadjvietnam.wordpress.com/

https://www.facebook.com/QSpaandSalon

http://www.behance.net/khidai

2011-06-22T15:20:00.002+07:00

Here comes the Vietnamese bride. Envisage dry ice, neon décor, diamante flowers, glitter bombs, and a sound system so loud that it makes the cream cake tremble. I've entered a Martin Parr image, Tim Walker would spend millions to create a set like this. The base kicks in when the helium balloons are released to hit a bed of nails in the ceiling. It’s quite literally banging. Small talk has been erased, hurray! Fags hang out of waiter’s mouths as they hand out cans of tiger, which certainly aren’t going extinct and nor are the beers. People’s kind spirits are at max %vol, ‘Mot hai ba’ & Chandon. I’ve been invited by John Reeves, furniture designer extraordinaire who has just come back from showing in New York, check out his kissing bench! I want to look a little NYC as well so I keep on my converse, I still manage to tower above the men in their Dr. Martin wedge sandals and cant compete with the women’s multi colour Ao dai’s so I keep it simple with SONG’s burnt orange RUFFLE DRESS. Its practical for the dirt bike trip a friend’s incredibly stylish house on the river where we help save more tiger (cans) and watch water-skiers on the Saigon river whizz by, forget the bike John this is the way I want to get home.

Links:
www.reevesd.com/product.aspx?id=21
www.martinparr.com
www.timwalkerphotography.com

2011-06-15T13:34:00.004+07:00

Right! Miss S. needs an outfit for party hopping, when musical chairs doesn’t stop at midnight with Cinderella loosing her slipper, instead Cinders becomes an all night cocktail sipper. First stop on the train of fun a white mischief party in Thao Dien. Furniture chatted with Food, Finance flirted with Fashion, Yoga put her legs in the air, Music danced with Nightclub and Pizza put his head in the freezer. The pumpkin turned into a Mai Linh taxi and the motley crew descended upon Nightclub’s nightclub. The bearded Prince Charmings jetted in from Singapore and Hong Kong and left the ‘honey badger’ eating poisonous snakes somewhere. Thank goodness the SONG fairy godmother was bang on trend when she cast her spell; there was no sparkle-tastic pink marshmallow prom dress from Go Vap district in sight. I asked her for an outfit that could go straight from a rose-fuelled lunch whilst we listened to Scarlett’s new album, to later on evening festivities where the boys wore the latest Meandher men’s shoes, this seasons new hip label from Australia. She delivered with SONG’s super cool block colour pink and black SUNKIST CONTRAST CAMISOLE TOP and DAHLIA MAUVE RUFFLED SKIRT. In hand was the gorgeous beige Camenae Aphrodite bag to stuff in all the essentials and match the ANNA ESPADRILLES. Miss S. may not have been to bed for a couple of days but at least my bright SONG outfit kept me awake and fresh, I want to bottle it up and make it into a rejuvenating eye serum, thanks FG (fairy godmother) now magic up another bloody mary.

Links:

www.camenae-group.com
www.meandher.com.au
www.youtube.com/Scarlettlapidus
www.youtube.com/watch?v=4r7wHMg5Yjg

2011-06-08T13:27:00.000+07:00

Miss S. has jetted off to the Fusion Maia a new concept hotel in Danang with unlimited spa treatments. Heaven has landed. The uber cool layout and private pools make it an excellent retreat for the W.E. My eyes are much bigger than my stomach at breakfast. I start of with a healthy fruit salad and smoothie, OK that went down quickly onto bigger and better things…..my next plate can only be described as ‘Fusion Indecision’ I pile on mini chocolate croissants, banana muffins, wholemeal toast with a selection of jams, 2 fried eggs sunny side up, 3 rashes of bacon, a small bowl of Vietnamese pho (yes we are still on the same plate!) and finish with a couple of passion fruits perched on the peak of Everest trying to conceal the damage. I am nervous guests will be mistaking my table for the buffet itself. Time to escape into Hoi An, an ancient old Chinese trading town that is a world heritage site which both parties agreed not to bomb in the war. Its charming streets are lined with numerous tailors and fabric shops. You enter feeling like Vivienne Westwood, Karl Lagerfeld or Jane Birkin when in reality my Chanel kaftan makes me look I’ve still hired the wedding marquee I am not getting married in this year and rolled myself up in it to resemble a fresh spring roll served at the breakfast buffet! Luckily there is a SONG shop there to save the day. I still want to wear white as I angelically walse around the Fusion Maia, I opt for the BACKLESS JUMP SUIT, its light and comfortable et un petit peu transparent. The black WOODEN WAVE BANGLE with its jagged edge adds a little attitude to the monochrome look. Hard v. soft, time to get a room……………

Links:
http://www.fusionmaiadanang.com
SONG Hoi An is at 76 Nguyen Thai Hoc

2011-06-01T13:55:00.001+07:00

It’s my Birthday and Miss. S is going to celebrate in style. Time to brighten up, time to turn up the colour volume, time to have a glass half full of champagne! I am invited to the Elle Fashion show by Valerie Gregori McKenzie founder of SONG at the Hyatt. It’s bustling with the new Vietnamese fashionista; a little bit of East London has literally touched down in Saigon. My crazy days when I looked like a walking haberdashery are behind me especially now I am the ripe old age of 28. Troi Oi. I need something punchy; I opt for the red (colour of a boxing glove!) GROOVE TANK DRESS, a Miss. S exy backless number. The soft cotton adds sophistication and stops me from looking like a Ginger 60 girl. I keep with the bright theme and go for the violet LOU ESPADRILLE WEDGES and complete the rose silk FLOWER HEAD BAND with ribbon detail, lets just say the haberdashery shop has grown up. I blow out my birthday candles later that evening and make a wish…………

Links :

http://www.valeriegregorimckenzie.com/

http://www.saigon.park.hyatt.com/

2011-05-30T16:16:00.000+07:00

……..Tamzin I take on board your points, but for the moment Miss S. is still in mourning. The Ex has left and suddenly the streets of Saigon feel somewhat empty without his presence. Queen Victoria only wore black after the death of Prince Albert, OK he’s not dead I’ve been dumped but I still feel that black is the only colour that can highlight my mood. Black never the less is tres chic, and if Chanel invented the LBB (little black dress) then SONG has invented the LBHT (Lovely black harem trousers) These super cool DROP SAROUEL trousers look great with the black DRAPED DOUBLE top. I finish off the look with the black ANKLE BOOT SANDAL and keep it fresh with a neon $5 pedi. Tamzin I will endeavor to lighten my mood so watch this space, but for now at least Queen Victoria would be proud!

2011-05-30T16:12:00.000+07:00

……..Maybe I should also throw ‘love’ in the cocktail mix this week. Tonight Miss S. has been invited to the last supper of an ex boyfriend who is moving to Bali. What to wear? I want to look sexy but effortless. Too short and he’s going to think I’m desperate, too dowdy and he will be thanking his lucky stars he is not with me! I opt for SONG’s light blue jersey COLUMN dress, its below the knee but figure hugging. I team the dress with the black MULTI rope necklace, FYI I am not about to hang myself! The big dilemma heels or flats, I choose the ANA espadrille wedge sandals as a compromise, remember E for Effortless and nothing like a little Elevation to make him realise what he’s missing!