Molly Bloom knows style

Another new column is up at KOIT radio. You could read it.

I wrote a new style column for KOIT radio. It’s about the best necklines for certain body types. You should read it.

Update:

This column was originally written for KOIT radio in San Francisco. They don’t archive content so now I can share it with you.

Fashion is all over the place right now. Some necklines are high and tied, with a nod to the 1940s while others are how-low-can-you-go daring. French-inspired nautical knits whisper opposite flowing, dipping tunics. We’re going back, to all different decades. One of the most important components to staying current is an appropriate and body-concsious neckline.

I thought boat neck (or “bateau neck”) looked great on everyone, until a petite friend with a slim build complained about the glut of such tops on the market. These tops emphasize her narrow shoulders rather than create an hourglass shape as they do on average and busty figure types. But for most women, boat neck is easy to wear. Look for fine wool boatneck sweaters and even dresses. Regardless of how you’re feeling in your body that day, you’ll be comfortable showing off your shoulders.

This year’s flashiest look is the low scooped neckline. These deep plunging shirts and dresses are difficult for most women to carry well. The more endowed woman looks a bit too racy or eye-popping, and more athletic builds will find the low scoop gaps open to the sides and midriff. Women with more average figure types will find their bustline is enhanced by a plunging neckline. If you’re going to brave a low-scooped bodice, be sure to use a safety pin so your bra doesn’t show, or opt for one of the specially made bras which dip between the cups.

The prim, tie-neck blouse is transitioning into fall. These 1940s-inspired tops add a bit of sophistication. Women with round faces may find the look is too claustrophobic for them, so tie-front blouses that knot below the clavicle work best. Be sure to chose a color that works well with your skin tone, since the fabric is so close to the face. Solid colors and small prints are best.

Another retro look is the high, round neckline. The neckline is reminiscent of a T-shirt but without the knit band. It looks good on some people but not all. There are a lot of wool and crepe shift-type dresses for fall which feature this simple neckline. High necklines are surprisingly flattering on a larger bust and can even be minimizing if the sleeves are the right length, such as three-quarters. The simple sophistication of high neckline dresses are great for accesorizing with brooches and scarves.

My latest style column is up at KOIT radio. Pop on over and read it if you have a chance.

This column was originally written for KOIT radio in San Francisco. They don’t archive content so now I can share it with you.

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If you’re thinking of shopping in Hong Kong, be ready for sticker shock. There are plenty of high-end boutiques catering to jet-set tourists and the large number of local millionaires. High-rise luxury malls offer well-known brands such as Dior, Dolce & Gabanna and Gucci. If sterling silver rice bowls and brocade opera coats are your thing, local luxury brand Shanghai Tang has four locations in Hong Kong, and offers couture clothing and homewares with Chinese themes.

Hong Kong is all about the malls. Brightly lit and severely air-conditioned, the malls offer many of the stores found here or in Europe. Hong Kongese department store Lane Crawford is well-appointed. Their selection is vast, and includes several nods to novelty. One noteworthy feature was a do-it-yourself decorating bar for HavaianasTale brand plastic flip-flops. In another area, sneakers moved on a conveyer belt across the storefront windows as a DJ spun records.

While Hong Kong does have counterfeit knock-off stalls selling conscpicuously logo’d bags, it’s not at the same volume as other cities. The quality of imposter bags and accessories is very low due to the inexpensive materials and labor used. Better buys are genuine leather, in classic styles or trendy colors. Open the bags to study the linings and test zippers. You can buy quality handbags styled in the same shapes as luxury brands that don’t pretend to be something they aren’t. Shopping in Hong Kong is the perfect time to buy a flashy evening clutch at a fraction of what you’d pay at an American department store. Asian-inspired purses made of brocade and silk are abundant and more interesting than what can be found back at home, and the hand-beading and other detailing is exquisite.

For adventurous bargain-hunters, sellers lure sidewalk shoppers to follow them to back rooms and private shops (read: homes) to see wares. Sometimes these are counterfeit goods, other times the goods are seemingly well-made products at low prices. After hearing the story of a traveler en route to such a shopping spree who was stuck in a rickety elevator for two hours, this writer decided to stick to the well-lit streets. Such shopping excursions come with a very large Buyer Beware sticker.

The Soho area of Hong Kong is home to boutiques with local flair. This is the neighborhood to visit if independently designed clothes are your bag. Small stores in the hillside neighborhood are more approachable than the slick, brightly lit malls. You may even see someone working a needle and thread, creating the wares sold in the stores. The Soho area has a trendy, slightly upscale feel that is reflected in its restaurants and shops.

Nathan Road in Kowloon, a quick ferry ride across the harbor from Hong Kong, is lined with some familiar names as well as European brands. If your luggage was lost, this is the place to stock up for the next few days. Fairly average casual wear and shoes at bargain prices and an inexplicable number of jewelry stores line the area.

There are plenty of sidewalk stalls where prices are more of a starting point than a final rate. Anything from children’s-size silk pajamas to dish towels and inexpensive watches can be haggled down to a song.