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SCMP Reporter

Beady eye

I am looking for a particular cone-shaped crystal bead to match one that fell off my favourite evening bag, a vintage 1930s clutch from Portobello Market in London. Where should I look?

Amanda Moore, Mid-Levels

The Dictator rules: Unless it turns up under your bed, you may have to start your search in Britain. Vintage beads are difficult to find and, as any bead fetishist will tell you, vary greatly from place to place, culture to culture. The Bead Shop in London (21A Tower Street, Covent Garden, tel: 44-20 7240-0931) stocks the largest selection in Europe. Have a catalogue posted to you, or order one online at www.beadworks.co.uk. It costs #7.95 (HK$90) and features more than 5,000 beads at actual size. Or you can buy the latest styles online at its US sister site at www.beadworks.com.

Once you find a replacement, take it to Top Shoe Repair (Central Commercial House, Queen's Road Central, tel: 2830-0978), reputed to be the best bag and shoe repair shop in town and recommended by Gucci, Christian Dior and Seibu. Prevent snags in future by storing delicate vintage treasures in a drawstring satin bag.

A wrinkly hide

My leather jacket is so wrinkled it's unwearable. Is there a way to fix it for less than the price of a new one?

Wrinkled subject, Central.

The Dictator: Haven't you ever heard of a hanger? Whether wrinkled from being dumped on the floor or from being worn in the rain, your jacket will visibly improve on a good wooden - never plastic - hanger. Under no circumstances should you iron it.

And how about this for an obscure concept: take it to a dry-cleaners. British Dry Cleaners (5 Kennedy Road, Mid Levels, tel: 2524-3905) will take care of the problem for upwards of $310. Or you could try Robinson Cleaners (73B Caine Road, Mid-Levels, tel: 2523-8317; leather items cost from $250), Kleaners (1/F, International Finance Centre, Central; tel: 2295-0088; from $450), and Martinizing Dry Cleaning (Room 118, World Wide House, Central; tel: 2526-9643; from $480). And don't forget to hang it up properly next time.

Denim blues

I love Levi's 501 jeans but I can't find any to fit me in Hong Kong. I take a 32-inch inside leg, but the closest I can find are men's 34in. Are there any stores out there with 501s for the less leggy?

Cut to fit, Mid-Levels

The Dictator: The, er, short answer seems to be no. Levi's doesn't stock jeans with a 32in inseam regularly in Hong Kong. 'Waist sizes come from 27in to 40in, depending on different finishes, and most are 34in at inseam,' explains Levi's marketing manager Eliza Kwong. The good news is the straight-cut 501 design allows for length alteration without affecting the overall look of the jeans. Even better, Levi's stores provide a same-day alteration service and can hem the 501s with the brand's signature edge. And it's free. For more information, call Levi's Raymond Au on 2412-8074.

Or try shopping around for a different style. At Calvin Klein Jeans (locations include Harbour City, Tsim Sha Tsui; tel: 2117-0070) all women's styles come with a 32in inseam ($590 to $890). They worked for Brooke ...

For rainy days

I recently graduated from a folding black umbrella to a more fashionable Shanghai Tang number. I stepped out into the rain only to collide with exactly the same umbrella. Could you suggest a stylish, non-designer alternative?

Raining-on-my-parade, Central

The Dictator: There is nothing worse than feeling like a style commoner, but unfortunately those beautiful Shanghai Tang umbrellas have become rather common. For excellent alternatives, go to the B1 of Mitsukoshi Department Store (Causeway Bay; tel: 2504 0069) for a wide selection of mostly Japanese umbrellas. My favourite brand, Gold Rush, makes well-crafted umbrellas in subtle colours and patterns. Perfectly reasonable ($90 to $190), these hot accessories are sleek but sturdy, and many come with smooth leather handles. Two favourites on a recent visit included a pastel pinstripe confection and a cream umbrella with elegant black trim. Wan Chai market offers cheap but creative alternatives. Stall 108 (in front of Tai Hing Piece Goods & Uniform Co., 25 Tai Yuen Street), for example, sells everything from folding umbrellas that open at the press of a button ($85), to kitsch children's umbrellas emblazoned with Hello Kitty, Betty Boop and Winnie the Pooh (from $25 to $45). For something vintage check out the weekend junk stalls that stretch down Peel Street from Hollywood Road. I once picked up an Ocean Park umbrella circa 1985 for $8 there.

Got a question for The Dictator? E-mail her at: dictator@scmp.com.



The Dictator On style, she rules