Brands I like 2/5 – Alexander Wang and T by Alexander Wang

I felt like introducing Alexander Wang as a ‘new’ designer because of his age and the years he is in fashion industry. However his achievements and fame make me feel it’s certainly inappropriate. Alexander Wang launched his first collection in 2007 when he was 24 and within five years the young designer has made his way to being a star. He is praised for his tailoring skill and edgy designs. Personally I am always impressed with the way Wang makes simple lines and cuttings look bold, unique and chic.    

Alexander Wang是個時尚圈的新銳設計師，但就他的成就與名氣，說他“新“實在不太恰當。Alexander Wang在2007年時發表了他第一個時裝秀，那時的他才24歲。在短短的五年內，這位年輕的設計師已在競爭激烈的時尚圈中殺出重圍，成為一位以剪裁和前衛設計聞名的新星。

Even though I love Alexander Wang’s designs, I do find it difficult to pull off most of his clothes – the chunky masculine designs only work on super model type of body. 

縱使我很喜歡Alexander Wang的設計，他的衣服對一般老百姓來說很難撐的起來。大膽不修邊幅而帶中性剪裁只有超級模特兒才穿得出衣服應有的味道。

Pre-Fall 2012

Fall 2012

Resort 2013

The Spring 2013 collection is even more impossible to wear on street.

2013年的春裝更是大部分都穿不上街。

Spring 2013

No doubt it’s ashame that Alexander Wang’s ‘ready-to-wear’ collections are not that wearable yet it’s no need to be too disappointed. The other label of Wang – T by Alexander Wang – is very wearable but still edgy and at more affordable prices.
雖說遺憾的Alexander Wang的時裝不太實穿，但也不必太失望。因為Alexander Wang的另一品牌T by Alexander Wang保有Alexander Wang的設計感卻非常時穿且價格也更具親和力。

Pre-Fall 2012

Fall 2012

Resort 2013

Spring 2013

Also, Alexander Wang’s classic bags are always seen in models and celebrities’ hands. 

另外，Alexander Wang的經典包款也是模特兒與名人手中常見的單品。

Alexander Wang’s design is always full of surprises.  Black and white doesn’t have to be boring – Alexander Wang shows this to people.   

Alexander Wang的設計總是充滿了驚喜。黑與白不見得無聊 - Alexander Wang清楚地告訴了我們。

Alexander Wang Official Website

Picture Source - Style.com; Alexander Wang

Brands I like 1/5 – Helmut Lang

Brands I like 3/5 – Acne (Coming soon)

Brands I like 4/5 – Kooples (Coming soon)

Brands I like 5/5 – All Saints (Coming soon)

Restaurant Review - Bill's, Cardiff (Breakfast)

Richard Caring brought the first Bill’s to Wales in October 2012. It’s a restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner with a decent collection of groceries like jam, biscuits, olive oil and balsamic.  

2012年十月，Richard Caring將他的連鎖餐廳Bill’s帶進威爾斯。Bill’s供應早餐、午餐和晚餐外，更有一系列的食品雜貨像是果醬、餅乾、橄欖油和甜醋。

The interior of Bill’s had attracted Dr. T and me before it was opened - we peeked into their windows a couple of times before the decorations were done and had been looking forward to visiting Bill’s. Even though it is a chain like most of the restaurants in Cardiff centre (shame), it isn’t a large chain and doesn’t feel too generic and mass produced. However, it seems to be trying a bit too hard to be urban – as Dr. T describes, unlike Kate Moss who looks effortless chic, Bill’s is like Vitoria Beckham who works her arse off to be fashionable.
餐廳的裝潢在未完工前就吸引了我和Dr. T的注意。在餐廳施工期間，我們從窗外窺探了好多次，期待它快點開幕。Bill’s和大部分卡地夫市中心的餐廳一樣是連鎖店，但它感覺不似一般連鎖餐廳那麼大眾化。只是它的裝潢最後令人有點失望的太過繁鎖 – 過分用地的想裝時尚。Dr. T給了一個有趣的比喻，Bill’s不像Kate Moss給人隨意的時尚感，倒像Victoria Beckham施盡吃奶力想讓人覺得她很時尚。

We visited Bill’s for breakfast/brunch two weekends in a row because the French Toast and Smoked Salmon amazed us and completed our weekend when we first visited.

第一次到Bill’s吃早餐時，我們深深地被它的法國吐司和煙薰鮭魚炒蛋吸引。

The Smoked Salmon is probably the best smoke salmon we have had in Cardiff. The scrambled eggs were just right – moist but not too runny, creamy but not to greasy. The quality and quantity of smoked salmon was also generous. The toast did not go soggy from the moisture from the egg or salmon - it was pleasantly crunchy. We could not think of any way to make the smoked salmon with scrambled eggs better.

煙薰鮭魚炒蛋可能是我們在卡地夫吃過最好吃的煙薰鮭魚炒蛋。炒蛋的熟度剛剛好，濕軟但不會太生且帶著淡淡的奶油味而不油膩。鮭魚的值感與份量都值得讓人贊賞。吐司烤的香脆完全沒有因為炒蛋和鮭魚而變得濕軟。我們實在想不出怎樣可以讓這道早餐更好吃了。

The French Toast was just lovely. The toast was crispy on the edge but soft on the inside. The combination of flavours – savoury egg, sweet banana and maple syrup with sour strawberries and blueberries – was just amazing. It was made more delightful with the added mint – what a refreshing way to start a Sunday.

法國吐司也非常令人滿意。吐司外邊香脆而內部鬆軟，口感極佳。法國吐司的蛋香味配上酸甜交融的香蕉、楓糖漿、草莓和藍莓滋味層出不窮，配上一口鮮薄荷味道更是清爽 - 再也沒有更好的方式開始一個美好的週末了。

The second visit we had French Toast again and Dr. T’s all time favourite Eggs Florentine. However, the Eggs Florentine was not as remarkable as either the French Toast or Smoked Salmon. The toast was a little soggy, the spinach was too wet and plain and the sauce was not creamy enough. The eggs were well cooked though – yolk was perfectly runny.

因為這樣的美好經驗，第二個週末我們又到了Bill’s吃早餐。我們一樣點了法國吐司，不同的是Dr. T點了Eggs Florentine。Eggs Florentine不像法果吐司和煙薰鮭魚炒蛋那樣深得我們的喜愛。土司太過濕軟，菠菜太溼、味道太淡，醬汁也不夠濃郁。值得稱讚的是蛋的熟度，切開時金黃色蛋黃緩緩流出實在讓人無法抵擋。

Dr. T and I have been looking for a place to do breakfast/brunch in city centre for a long time. Even though the second visit wasn’t as good as our first experience at Bill’s, we are more than happy that we have Bill’s in city centre and probably it will be our first choice for weekend breakfast for a long time.     

我和Dr.T 一直希望卡地夫市中心能有一個讓我們享受悠閒週末早餐的好去處。雖然說第二次到Bill’s沒有第一次的驚艷，但我們還是很開心卡地夫市中心現在有了Bill’s。可能有很長一段時間它都會是我們週末早餐的第一選擇。

  

My scores for Bill’s breakfast:

Food – 8

Atmosphere – 7

Services – 7

Value – 7.5

Dr. T scores for Bill’s breakfast:

Food – 8

Atmosphere – 7.5

Services – 6.5 (It’s good, but I’m not mad when four waiters ask during a meal whether everything is fine with the meal – please leave me to eat my food!)

Value – 7

Restaurant Website

餐廳網址

Other reviews on Bill's Cardiff:

GourmetGorro

Love to Dine