Spotlight On Armani...

Giorgio Armani Pictorial With the Leaf Motif as seen on their Flagship Building in Ginza

First of all, my apologies. No one (at least not within sight) actually brought a camera to the Giorgio Armani fashion show. Everyone's nonchalant manner made moi chickened out and my camera never see the light of day. Here is a photo of the invitation card and an Armani pictorial, least that I can do...sumimasen...

Now, back to the action. Ah, what pleasant reminiscences! The lavish spread served in the Armani restaurant on the 10th floor of the Armani Ginza Tower was simply deliziosi with prosecco to kick start the luncheon proper.

First up was the hors d'oeuvres consisting of foie gras terrine and smoked salmon on a wafer-thin cracker with sour cream and OMG, Beluga Caviar! Talk about indulgence...hmmm yumyum!!!

Next, was the inevitable pasta course (afterall, we are talking Italian here) with three different assortments: Lasagna, Linguine with beef ragout and Spaghetti Arrabiata. The chef, Signore Derflingher, had cooked for President Bush and the late Princess Di. So, you know you are getting simple fare with a touch of class. Moreover, the simple and basic stuff are usually the toughest to get them right and in this case, they showcase the chef's skills to perfection.

Roast beef and fish course follow next. I am not going to lavish superlatives on them now that you know the credentials of the Chef. I must add though, nothing short of magnificent.

The finale, naturally are the sweets. There was a wide selection to take your pick from. I went with the classic Tiramisu and custard tart with fresh strawberries. They are again, lip smacking winners!

After a scrumptious meal, the guests adjourned to the much anticipated Giorgio Armani Fashion show for a sneak preview of the 2008/09 Autumn Winter Collection. The seating was pre-assigned but we were all able to sit along the runway. Lights dimmed and we were treated to a fashion extravaganza that befits the eye.

The collection debuted with the must-have winter ski wear for the St Moritz crowd, stylish yet functional enough to keep the cold at bay. High waisted pants and skirts mostly in luxe velvet paired with the trademark cropped collarless jackets followed. Personally, I feel collarless jackets can look quite severe and I much prefer the traditional cropped ones for the versatility. Evening wear, as always, is a dazzling myriad of sequins and bling affair. As for footwear, ballerina pumps, surprisingly, seems to continue its successful run with the classic stilettoes also featured strongly. Sexy yet subdued, simple yet elegant, in line with the tradition of Signor Giorgio Armani. And, of course, totally unaffordable.

To digress, I was informed by a little bird that the Armani Restaurant, with an impressive panoramic view of Tokyo, is one of their biggest money spinners. For those of you women of leisure, here goes...

Armani Restaurant
Armani Ginza Tower 10th Floor
5-5-4 Ginza, Chuo-ku
Tokyo 104-0061
Phone: +81-3-6274-7005

Kawaii...Or???

Kawaii Hello Kitty Flower Arrangement: Strictly for fans of this popular Sanrio "star"!

I chanced upon this saccharinely sweet flower arrangement at a florist in Ginza. You really got to hand it to the Japanese for all these cutesy creations. The tendency is always to go for the overkill with a very kitschy feel. I must admit though that I am not a fan of these "sugar overdoses" but then again if the flowers come with the infamous interlocking CCs, ahem, I might just turn a blind eye...heeheehee

Special Bouquets for that very special "man" in your life

As you can see from the small tag at the bottom, these bouquets are specially created for Father's Day. Can you imagine come St Valentine's day? EEEeeeeewwwwww.......

Chocoholic...

Simply heavenly chocolate croissant from Choco Cro

This to-die-for chocolate croissant from Choco Cro by St Marc's Cafe has all the elements of a sure-winner. Flaky and light, checked. Chocolate oozing from every bite till the very last bit, checked. Not over-buttery, checked. Fresh and piping hot from the oven, checked.

It is sooo sinfully delicious that it is enough to make the staunchest dieter consider making an exception. And the good news is that it comes in a mini size, so rest assured that it cannot do much damage to your waistline, i.e if you can stop at one! But be warned, you do need some serious self-restraint though.

Choco Cro cafes are located in most of the popular districts in Tokyo; Shinjuku, Ginza, Akasaka, Harajuku and the list goes on. I did try a couple of their other confections but the rest are disappointingly forgettable. So if you ever visit Tokyo, go for it! I am sure that memory of its taste will still linger long after you leave Tokyo...

Lights, Cameras, Runway...

Yipppyyy!!! I am going to my very first fashion show, thanks to my dear, dear other half! Guess who the designer is...heeheehee

Though he is not on my absolute favourite list of designers, I am still looking forward to rubbing shoulders with the chi-chi crowd and will of course try my best not to look too "suah ku" and control my ogling urges and also not to stuff myself silly with the buffet spread...hope my other half is not getting cold feet;)

I will certainly try to take photos and share with you folks with what will be hopefully, a most memorable experience for moi...the all-important question to ponder now: What shalt thou wear??? Decisions, decisions, decisions...