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Interview with Mia – Part One

Hello again from Paris! I am  super excited to share this week’s interview with you. I saved my interview with Mia for this week while I am in Europe because this is a two part interview – there is just an incredible amount of eye candy and delicious material to share with you all. Mia is an incredibly kind, gracious fashionista and super mom with one of the most fabulous closets I have ever seen (and I have seen some pretty aggressive closets!). Please enjoy meeting the amazing Mia

Lovely Mia

Who are you? What do you do, and where do you live?

My name is Mia.  I am a full time stay-at-home mom.  I live in Hong Kong.

You have an amazing collection of designer goods. Which brands do you prefer to collect the most?

Thank you very much!  I am quite a collector of different things, as a matter of fact, think of all the things women love to wear (be it clothes, shoes, bags, costume jewelry, scarves, perfume, cosmetics etc), I collect and of course use them!  For designer brands, I love Hermes, Chanel, Celine, YSL, Lanvin, Givenchy, Christian Louboutin, Tsumori Chisato, Missoni, Marni…just to name a few.  I only venture into designer items when it comes to bags, shoes and jewelry.  I adore RTW (ready to wear), but then I get bored easily with my clothes so I tend NOT to go way too far in designer’s RTW.



I am willing to spend money on designer coats, but not on designer blouses or pants.  I am an avid Chanel fan, and started with Chanel bags.  I still love Chanel, but now more in terms of their jewelry, shoes and RTW.

Now, my favorite brand which I collect most is Hermes. Especially for bags, it’s all Hermes for me now for leather goods (and scarves).  I just love the fact that Hermes is a family-run business and that they stay true to the essence of their family business –  that is tradition, quality and innovation, not the word “luxury” which is associated to arrogance.  According to the late Jean-Louis Dumas, Hermes is an industrial company which designs, makes and retails its products, and they are not a holding company.  They will continue to make things the way the grandfathers of their grandfathers did.  

I love the fact that Hermes does not use any celebrities in advertising because I am one who does not care about what celebrities are wearing, and that, Hermes is all about understated elegance that does not boast.  People always associate Hermes with Birkin and Kelly bags.  But Hermes is so much more than that.  It’s not at all about these two bags if you truly love the brand.  I started my Hermes passion not because of the Birkin/Kelly, but because of their scarves.

Out of everything….what is your favorite item that you own?

This is really a hard question because everything I own has a story to tell.  But if you’re talking about #1 holy grail, it must be my Hermes Soleil (yellow color) Lindy shoulder bag.  It is my 1st Hermes bag and I bought it last year in Paris.  At the time I bought it, I know that the color Soleil has been discontinued already.  So, you must imagine how ecstatic I was when the SA told me that they do have a Soleil color available in at the store!!!  The one and only in Paris!


As for Chanel, my #1 holy grail that I own will be the 09A Paris-Moscou Gold Lace Effect 2.55 Reissue with the bird cage charm with pearls.    The workmanship of this bag is just exquisite.  I looked for it in Paris but was sold out as it was only produced in limited pieces.  I finally got it from the USA after asking several SAs to find the bag for me!

What items do you wear the most?

Since I am with my son most of the time, my daily outfit must be comfortable and fuss-free as I need to run around chasing after my son who is really active and a fast runner!  You will not be seeing me with my Birkin or my python bags or my heels when I am with my son. 😛
I am a “cardigan” person, so my outfit always have a cardigan on top.  Usually, for spring/summer, my daytime outfit consists of the following items:
– bottom layer: a tank top
– middle layer: a tunic or loose top
– top layer: a cardigan of different length
– jeans or slacks
– a pair of comfortable flats (usually Chanel or Lanvin)
– a Hermes scarf (depends on the weather)
– a Chanel flap of suitable color or a Hermes shoulder bag like Lindy or Marwari
– a pair of Chanel earrings

As for autumn/winter, it’s almost the same as my spring/summer outfit, except I wear a turtle neck for the bottom layer and a wool coat on top instead.  And booties or boots is a must for me.

What makes my outfit different each day is the color, the prints and the fabric textures I choose to mix and match for the best outcome.  I love doing layering because it makes a plain top more interesting and gives more “depth” to the total look.  I must say, I am never a minimalist in fashion. 🙂

You might ask what I wear when I go out alone for lunch/dinner with my friends or husband?  Well, I always wear my heels and I tend to choose softer fabrics like chiffon, lace, silks etc.  I also make sure that I have a piece of statement jewelery on me to jazz up the whole look.  Of course, this is the time that I will use my “higher profile” bags like Hermes Birkins or clutches or Chanel python flaps.

When did you get started buying these goods, and what got you started on them?

I actually started buying designer’s goods back in year 2000 when I was still working.  The first brand that I bought was LV.  But I was never a crazy collector during my “LV stage”. I just buy 2 or 3 bags a year and that’s it.  What got me started to be as crazy as now?  My hubby and the Purse Forum!  LOL!

I started my love for Chanel in March 2008. It was actually by “accident”. My husband was going to Paris for his business trip at that time, and asked me what I would like him to bring back from Paris. I initially thought of Louis Vuitton (which used to be my “go-to” brand for bags). But then, my husband said, “Why don’t you buy a Chanel? It’s classic and timeless.”. So, this was when everything (aka. addiction) started. 😀 (Little did my husband know that this will lead to my current Chanel bags/costume jeweleries/shoes collection hahahahaha!!)

My first Chanel was a limited edition bag from the 2008 Spring Summer Collection. It was what my husband has chosen for me. It was a patent leather “Coco Puzzle” black 2.55 reissue flap in medium size. The quilting is not the classic “diamond shape” quilting, instead, Chanel used a puzzle quilting and the leather was patent crackled calfskin with some texture on it. The hardware used was a vintage-feel aged/matte gold metal for the “Mademoiselle” lock and reissue chain.

This bag was really special to me firstly because it’s my 1st Chanel bag, but most important of all, my husband secretly put a “love letter” inside one of the zippered pockets in the bag.  It was where Coco Chanel used to hide her love letters too from her lovers, and I was so surprised that my husband remembered this story I told him before!  I was very touched when I saw his love letter written in Chinese, it says “Finding this bag is a destiny, just like you becoming part of my life is meant to be.  2 destinies are both with us now…..” (dated March 17, 2008 in Paris). It brought tears to my eyes. This 1st Chanel encounter has been a very memorable experience with sentimental value.

Shots of the book…isn’t her husband so sweet and creative?

Since then, my love for Chanel grew by minute, esp. with the “massive enabling” from the Purse Forum!  My husband even surprised me on my birthday and made me a coffee-table album with my modeling pictures and Chanel bags in it!:P  After collecting Chanel bags for 1.5 years, my hubby said to me one day, “maybe you should try Hermes now that you have a nice Chanel collection. Try something different.  Hermes has such high quality leather goods and it’s got men’s collection too!  Next time we can shop at Hermes together!”  And with that “go-signal”, my Hermes craze started.  LOL!  (So, now he can’t complain why I’m so addicted to these 2 brands as he was the one who started it.  Haha!

Anybody with a closet as lovely as yours has to have a beautiful home. Can you share any photographs of decor, your favorite items, etc?

Hong Kong is a very dense and small city with a population of over 7 million.  That is why we have lots of skyscrapers and the apartments are very small but super expensive.  We don’t have the luxury of space in our apartment (although it is already considered “big” in Hong Kong with over 1000 sq. feet), so my home is actually very simple with lots of cabinets and shelves for storage (we have 4 rooms in total and 2 rooms are for my shoes, clothes and bags).

We specifically make sure that we don’t have any fancy decors in our home since we have a toddler who is super active, so we are scared that fancy decors are too fragile with a toddler in the apartment (though I personally fancy paintings by Gustav Klimt and Salvador Dali, and some famous Chinese paintings which our family has collected over the years).  Hence, while my son is still young, we just decorate our home with lots of family pictures.

My father-in-law is a professional photographer with all the gadgets you can think of, so that explains why we have a lot of family pictures around the house.  As for my favorite items, well, it must be all the artwork my 3.5 year old son has done which we put up on the wall or shelves for decoration.  I always want to remind my son that he is the one who did the artwork and he should be proud of what he has achieved.  🙂

 

Okay, all – did I not tell you that this woman has one of the most amazing closets, ever? I hope you enjoyed meeting Mia – stay tuned for part two, tomorrow! In the meanwhile, check out Mia’s blog, here.

32 Comments

  • Reply
    Lilian Harlow
    June 15, 2011 at 12:12 pm

    What a fantastic interview! I found Mia's blog a long time ago via TPF and I always thought she seemed like a sweetheart with THE most amazing collection I'd ever seen. Your interview just proves she really is as sweet as I thought her to be and I thoroughly enjoyed it.

  • Reply
    Tangled In Texas
    June 15, 2011 at 1:13 pm

    Wow. I am (almost) speechless. This is one of the most fabulous interviews we've read yet. Her answers are sincere and heartfelt. Mia is so cute, but also has such an interesting style and an incredible wardrobe collection. I loooove the part about the Chanel bag from her husband in Paris. So sweet!

    I think this interview really hit home with me because I am also a full time SAHM. I can't exactly wear couture (or even office-y clothes!) while I'm chasing a toddler.

    I would *love* to have a red Chanel flap. I think I recently saw it in an advertisement with Blake Lively.

    Again, Kat – lovely interview! Keep 'em coming and have an amazing time in Europe! 🙂

  • Reply
    homestilo
    June 15, 2011 at 1:17 pm

    Most amazing bag collection ever, this is impressive!

  • Reply
    Mindy♥
    June 15, 2011 at 1:35 pm

    Mia is so adorable!! I loved all the pictures and her bag collection is to die for! <3

  • Reply
    Lydia
    June 15, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    Wow, I'm drooling over her Chanel collection. To die for! What a sweet story too about her husband. Another great interview. Thanks for sharing.

  • Reply
    Melissa
    June 15, 2011 at 1:59 pm

    Wow, you find people with the best collections and the coolest views on fashion!! Congrats on another fantastic interview. Hope you're having tooooo much fun abroad!

    xxMelissa

  • Reply
    Melissa
    June 15, 2011 at 2:01 pm

    PS the love note part made me get goosebumps on the tops of my arms!! SO romantic, what a catch!

    xxMelissa

  • Reply
    Annette
    June 15, 2011 at 2:18 pm

    I would love to find a husband who would enable a purse addiction! Lovely interview, can't wait for pt 2.

  • Reply
    breakingrumours
    June 15, 2011 at 2:25 pm

    this is such an awesome interview,CHANEL OVERDOSE. And the HErmes!!!! MY GOSH. I want to be like that one day.

  • Reply
    K
    June 15, 2011 at 3:07 pm

    Oh, I love Mia, and was wondering if/when you would interview her. 🙂 The love letter from her husband was so sweet – not going to lie, I might have gotten a little misty-eyed. Of course, I also felt like I shouldn't read it … But then I did, he he, traditional characters notwithstanding.

    I think her husband must be the first purse-enabling husband I have ever heard of. Can we clone him, please?

  • Reply
    Corina
    June 15, 2011 at 3:39 pm

    fantastic bags and great looks!!

  • Reply
    DSK Steph
    June 15, 2011 at 4:30 pm

    I'm so happy to see an interview with Mia! She has the most bad ass purse collection I've ever seen!

  • Reply
    Ella Pretty Blog
    June 15, 2011 at 4:56 pm

    Love her Chanel and Hermes bags…but the thing Mia is really lucky to have is her husband…that letter was SO sweet!!! He sounds really supportive and loving 🙂

  • Reply
    Chocolate, Cookies & Candies
    June 15, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    This has got to be one of the most incredible collection I've ever "seen". Aww…and the story about the love letter… what a wonderful hubby!

  • Reply
    Chocolate, Cookies & Candies
    June 15, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    This has got to be one of the most incredible collection I've ever "seen". Aww…and the story about the love letter… what a wonderful hubby!

  • Reply
    Chocolate, Cookies & Candies
    June 15, 2011 at 7:27 pm

    This has got to be one of the most incredible collection I've ever "seen". Aww…and the story about the love letter… what a wonderful hubby!

  • Reply
    Tara @ Haute Lunch
    June 15, 2011 at 9:02 pm

    Wow- what a fabulous collection! I don't know what her husband does for a living, but she sure it lucky he is so supportive of her collections!

  • Reply
    BeTwin Us
    June 15, 2011 at 9:16 pm

    OMG! I havent seen such a collection before awesome, I'm speechless :)) Mia's really sincere, I enjoyed reading her interview and it was amazing to check her collection photos!

    http://betwinus.blogspot.com/

  • Reply
    Katherine
    June 15, 2011 at 9:22 pm

    Mia is fantastic…so glad you all enjoyed her interview, and yes her husband is a GEM!

  • Reply
    Pretty in Pink
    June 16, 2011 at 12:02 am

    i love mia! i have been eying her goods for years on TPF 🙂 great interview!

  • Reply
    Angelica Ng
    June 16, 2011 at 4:11 am

    She is a mom?!?! :O She's breaking the stereotypical "mom" image! She is so cute, but her style is beyond anything I've seen! And that Chanel handbag collection….am I in heaven?

    http://red-soledfashionista.blogspot.com/

  • Reply
    LCT
    June 16, 2011 at 8:14 am

    Does Mia have an amazing husband or what? That love letter is so sweet!!!
    Back to fashion I'm totally in awe of her Chanel collection and I love that she doesn't just pick the mainstream ones. That said, her remark on Hermes being an honest family company is so true!
    Amazing interview and thanks for sharing another great blog with us!

    Bisous!
    Le Choix Trois

    Fashion is all about choices. What will you choose?
    http://www.lechoixtrois.tumblr.com

  • Reply
    Kate L.
    June 16, 2011 at 9:43 am

    Great interview!! She really have an amazing designer collections. I Love Chanel and Hermes!!

    Fashion Cat
    http://www.firstlookbook.blogspot.com

  • Reply
    district5
    June 16, 2011 at 11:50 am

    Great interview! I like what she said about Hermes and their advertising philosophy…

    Christine
    http://district5-fashion.blogspot.com/

  • Reply
    audrinajulia
    June 17, 2011 at 1:20 pm

    Gasp! This post makes me speechless! Well done with the interview and can't wait to read the second part.:)

  • Reply
    fifi
    June 19, 2011 at 7:17 am

    omg! unbelievable what a collection!… just amazing… great interview!!

  • Reply
    Pick Up Lines
    July 12, 2011 at 6:54 am

    The collection which you have provided is really appreciated. It all are very attractive.

  • Reply
    Anonymous
    November 15, 2011 at 1:12 am

    This interview brightened up my boring day! I admire the interviewee and the interviewer for their terrific efforts to both inform and entertain the reader. Oh, and did I mention this great blog with it's great articles is inspirational! This is better than reading a commercial magazine because it is so real.

  • Reply
    Interview with Mia – Part 2 » Feather Factor
    June 9, 2013 at 7:37 pm

    […] hope you all enjoyed yesterday’s interview with Mia! ! We have a lot more amazing material to get through today – […]

  • Reply
    Alice
    August 13, 2013 at 2:28 pm

    Oh my god

    To have all that money for luxury goods, with that hideous taste

    • Reply
      Stephanine
      December 29, 2014 at 11:13 am

      I agree! It was hard to look at this post because it seemed like she thought the more bags she owned the more stylish she looked but her taste is quite hideous, and collecting so many bags in two years is a shame.

  • Reply
    mouni
    January 4, 2016 at 2:24 pm

    I find this to be really sad! super mom? how is she a super mom? Super mindless consumer is more like it. And just because she can afford all that expensive crap doesn’t mean she is stylish and it doesn’t make her any more special than the rest of us. Lots of expensive things with a ghastly sense of style.

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