Van Guard, Lantau
Well, if a 40-year-old can't pull off her own shoes then she should be looking for a personal trainer, not a different style. That was a joke. Get it? Anyway, a frumpy 40-something might look like they're trying too hard but the shoes will be just as comfortable as their mom jeans and un-exercised exercise pants. A fashionable, young-minded 40-something can absolutely add platform plimsolls to her wardrobe. Head-to-toe black and white goes well with, say, the Opening Ceremony "flatforms" in solid black stretch twill (HK$1,990; Lane Crawford). Alternatively, try the new eccentric prints that reflect ready-to-wear for spring-summer. For example, MSGM has them in bright florals and other patterns on canvas with the thick, white lug soles (HK$3,499 to HK$3,899; I.T). We love the neutral-but-not look of metallics, such as the silver ones by Studio Pollini (HK$3,990; Harvey Nichols) and the cheaper metallic ones by Steve Madden (HK$1,190; Times Square) - perfect for anyone feeling the pinch after handing out too many lai see packets. Ash has an elevated skater shoe in a variety of patterned or perforated leather styles (HK$1,200 to HK$1,800; Times Square). Now that you've opened your eyes to them, you'll be seeing platform slip-ons everywhere.
Stripe Tease, Sai Ying Pun
Wait. Let me summon my psychic powers. Oh yeah, I don't have any, so I can only use my superior powers of observation to try to divine what you saw. Anyone who follows fashion will tell you about the tutti-frutti, rainbow-striped pieces in Valentino's 1973 collection for spring. They include horizontal- and chevron-striped shorts, tops and dresses in cotton/silk blends and even neoprene (HK$6,900 to HK$27,500). Dries Van Noten also has multicoloured stripes this season, in muted hues and varying widths. Choose from trousers, dresses, coats, tops and skirts (HK$5,200 to HK$20,000). Emma Cook featured stripes in both her latest resort and spring-summer collections. In stores now from the resort line are blouses and dresses (HK$4,295 to HK$4,795; The Swank) that create stripes with strips of different fabrics. Diane von Furstenberg has also embraced stripes this season, presenting a series of dresses in a preppy palette of blues and white with splashes of coral, hot pink and red (HK$4,900 to HK$5,300).
