Dandy & Dapper

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Published: 12:00am, 10 Oct 2010

I need new specs (I'm thinking thick-ish black frames, sort of like Wayfarers) but everything I've seen has a big brand name or metal or even diamantes down the side. Where can I find something cool without being a walking billboard?

Mr Dapper: What? You don't want every item you wear to scream how expensive it was? You don't need the security of a label to legitimise your style? That's not very Hong Kong of you. And we like that. We have just the place for you. It's so wonderful, in fact, that we'd rather not publish it in case everyone visits and cleans it out, but here goes: Woo Ping Optical (278 King's Road, North Point Centre, North Point, tel: 2571 7810). A long-time favourite among celebrities and fashion insiders, the store stocks unbranded and designer frames, for anywhere between HK$200 and HK$2,000. Choose from the vast selection, then take your purchase to Lenscrafters (450 King's Road, tel: 2565 7570; more locations at www.lenscrafters.com.hk), which will do the lenses for about HK$950. It doesn't even add a surcharge for frames bought elsewhere.

Mr Dandy: What's wrong with a bit of branding? Oh, never mind. It looks like Mr Dapper has you covered. We would recommend though, after you get your eyes checked, that you have another look around. For example, Lenscrafters carries the super-luxe but understated French brand Gold & Wood, including its amazing black ebony and horn range (about HK$6,000; www.gold-and-wood. com). Then, of course, Alain Mikli's glasses are recognisable by their design rather than the overt branding (Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2523 0086; www. mikli.com). They are out there; you just have to open your eyes and your wallet.

Where can one buy those fashionable lace-up or hiking boots for autumn or winter and how should one wear them?

Mr Dandy: My, my, don't we sound formal? We recommend you take it down a notch and, while you're at it, make sure you take a casual approach to dressing with lace-up boots, too. To answer your first question, the retail world is your oyster since almost everyone's done their interpretation of the trend. We'd like to see you mix it up a bit. At Brunello Cucinelli, take a look at the lace-up oxford boot (HK$6,695; IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2311 3068). Or make a fashion statement with Phillip Lim's black boots featuring a strip of fur (HK$6,900; Lane Crawford, IFC Mall, tel: 2118 7777). They have them for women, too, in case you want to play twins with a female friend. That was a joke. Other brands tied to this trend: Dolce & Gabbana, Burberry, Giorgio Armani, Tod's, Bally and, uh, Dr Martens.

Mr Dapper: It doesn't have to be that complicated. We like the reliable quality of Cole Haan, where you can find great hiking-boot styles in standard brown or black and in either low or normal ankle height (HK$5,990 to HK$6,990; IFC Mall, tel: 2234 7679). If you want to get funky, Moncler, of the luxury puffer jacket fame, has some cool trainer/boot hybrids in suede (HK$3,400; IFC Mall, tel: 2524 7779). Don't wear them with a traditional suit or shorts and you'll be just fine.