Words by Grace Sun, shots by Shirley Hwang

With the 4-story H&M store still drawing in the crowds, cult hits Zara and Mango next door, and a plethora of other great brands like Jessica Simpson shoes and Steve Madden, it’s no wonder that Myeongdong’s Noon Square has quickly become the hottest new destination in the area.
But a hidden gem is buried a little higher up in the building. Visitors to level 5 will unearth a trove of great little boutiques that rival the noisy shops on the street below. Just imagine Dongdaemun without the crowds and Garosu-gil without the premium prices.

TOP SHOPS

Touch A great selection of maxi dresses, spring dresses, pretty prints and girly basics.

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Hempel by Le Queen Everything you need this season for your wardrobe. Cardigans, dresses, jackets, tanks, pants and skirts, as well a stylish mix of accessories makes for some interesting standout pieces.

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Lupe If you love kitsch, cute T-shirts and accessories, then this is the shop for you. All T-shirts W35,000.

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Farmer Bows, frills, flowers, and more for the seasoned accessorizer – a piece for any occasion.

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Bluewash Industry Jeans in every shape and color. Cropped, ripped, faded – a fantastic selection. Watch out, as the sizes can run a little small.

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Every Sunday Nice little homey store with basics and simple pieces (pieces shown above from W16,000 – W36,000).

Words and shots by Kyle Burton

Imagine a place where you can sip on a pint of freshly brewed beer while shopping to your heart’s desire. Once a month, Platoon Kunsthalle (a German word meaning “a place that hosts art exhibitions”), an unusual container-construction in Gangnam, hosts a night flea market that caters to Seoul’s artistically edgy crowd looking for their next bad and bold fashion statement.

The Platoon Kunsthalle concept, an aesthetic compound that has its flagship in Germany, is a place of artistic experimentation and subcultural socializing. Platoon Kunsthalle hosts art for patrons who are interested in creating and displaying their work, from urban art and contemporary photography to funky music and modish dance. It is an ideal place for people to find an outlet for artistic expression.

Even if you don’t want to shop, the flea market can be your monthly go-to place for the best subcultural party in town. A collaboration between Bling Magazine and Platoon Kunsthalle, this is your chance to shop, eat, drink, dance and mingle all at the same time. Sip on a stout, chow down a German sausage and take advantage of some beatnik bargains. DJs spin hot beats as bartenders pour fresh Bavaria-brewed beer in this club-like space that evokes an underground soiree.

If you are interested in reserving a spot and selling your stuff at the flea market than you can sign up on the Bling website (Korean language) thebling.co.kr or contact Platoon Kunsthalle for an English sign-up form (mail@kunsthalle.com). The registration fee is W10,000.

The flea market is usually held the first Saturday of every month from 8 pm – 12 am. kunsthalle.com 02-3447-1191

Directions: Come out of Hakdong Stn. (line 7, ex. 10) and head toward Dosan Park. Platoon is a 10-minute walk away, just across from Nanumi Hospital.

Here’s a review of my complimentary stay at the brand new Banyan Tree Club & Spa in Seoul for my bday (how lovely).

Two things I want to note here before I go on: 1) the primary purpose of this establishment is to be a private club for people who can afford the high  annual fees, but there is also a hotel with 50 rooms within the premises which is where we stayed and 2) the hotel is still in its soft-opening period, which means many restaurants & bars were not open, with the hard-opening set for early July.

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Arrival – the grounds are quite large, with separate buildings for the Hotel, Club, and Festa (a dining building with restuarants, terrace and outdoor pool). The hotel building is not so impressive from the outside, but very nice with a boutique feel on the inside.

Valentino, Missoni & Vivienne Westwood getting the attention they deserve

The first (most traumatic) thing happened when we were in the lift. Soft openings can be a headache for both the hotel and guests… the power stops and we are stuck in the lift!! Thank goodness we had the front desk girl with us and she was tirelessly apologetic, and when she heard I was pregnant she continuously fanned me with her folder cos it was so hot in there. It wasn’t too long before someone came around and fixed it (probably the front desk manager, judging from his suit, perplexed expression and sweat dripping all the way down his body – poor thing), and we were promptly led out to our room, a thousand apologies in tow. Drama!!

Picwhoring in the lift while we were waiting – making good use of time!

As per usual, I fell asleep by 10pm due to pregnancy fatigue, and Steve snuck out to the downstairs bar to watch the Korea vs Uraguay match with the rest of the hotel. They served free beer and fries, so I guess he had a grand time, even though Korea lost.

Award-winning photographer Fulvio Bonavia has put two of the things we love the most together in his work – fashion & food.

Especially handbags.

This post was cross-blogged from the Dress Me Pretty blog. Check it out and become a fan on facebook!

The Return of the Treacy Hat (in a Good Way)

We thought she wasn’t going to do it again, but SJP turns up again with another (much nicer and subtler) Philip Treacy hat and Alexander McQueen gown to the London SATC 2 premiere.

Oh, and the other girls wore Narciso Rodriguez, Norman Norell, and Thierry Mugler (in that order) but who really cares what they had on anyway?

Good work missy!!

This post was cross-blogged from the Dress Me Pretty blog. Check it out and become a fan on facebook!

Not much to say about the fashion at the MTV Movie Awards last night – a whole lot of B-grade celebs attending a casual event for the masses *yawn*…

Overall, rather ho-hum fashion but hey, its not bad for MTV.

A big shout out and congrats to Rain, who won the “Biggest Badass Star” award for his role in Ninja Assassin. His acceptance speech fell super flat though; very cute attempt, but we suggest he continue to take those English lessons. Click here to watch.

This post was cross-blogged from the Dress Me Pretty blog. Check it out and become a fan on facebook!

This is a gown from the Spring 2010 Couture Collection by Valentino and it is just gorgeous! Neon yellow is hard to pull off but she does the asymmetrical chiffon look flawlessly.
The only thing that completely ruins this outfit are the silver Ferragamo pumps. Boring, heavy, and no toe showing! What happened to the queen of strappy sandals?? Boooo…

Understated and chic, Cynthia stays true to her personal style with what works best for her. Never the most fabulous or sparkly, but always the most put-together and tasteful. She never puts a foot wrong, our Miranda!

love…

We’ll leave you with some stills from the movie… just LOVE the scene from the souk in Morocco

This post was cross-blogged from the Dress Me Pretty blog.  Check it out and become a fan on facebook!

Words by Grace Sun, shots by Michael Hurt

It was hard work prying winter’s cold grasp away from the dear spring, but it finally arrived!
10 Fashion Editor Grace and Photographer Michael Hurt took to the streets of Hongdae, Myeongdong and Sookmyeong Women’s University this past May to discover the looks that we’re channeling this season.

Ankle socks with heels & shorts with tights.
This is a trend that I’m totally loving and is so hot for the season! It looks great on everyone, no matter what your size. Just make sure you keep the socks at the ankles and no higher to avoid chopping the length off your legs. This is a look that is definitely set to stay for the whole of 2010 so get on it and make sure you keep those heels high and strappy!

Tailored jackets with dresses
This is the look you’ll find everywhere this season, from the high-end designers to the chain stores. Jackets should be tailored with gold or silver hardware and worn open over your dress.

Demure prints and high hemlines
Do whatever you like with spring’s skirts and dresses, as long as you keep it printed, girly, and with great accessories.

Bright pops of color
This is so ON for Spring! The key words here are sexy, short and eye-popping.
My favorite spring shade at the moment is lemon, but these girls fare pretty well in
their luscious shades of red too!

Mismatched colours
A little different from the 2-toned tights we saw on the runway, this is a much quirkier adaptation of the look.

One for the boys
Bright jackets, loafers, and a soft drink coiff? Daring and avant-garde – love it!

Printed tights
From animal prints to floral, it’s all about the printed tights. Not
much time left to wear them now with summer nearly here, but do it anyway for the
sake of fashion!

Words by Grace Sun and shots by Michael Hurt

Seoul Fashion Week – a whirlwind few days of undeniably fabulous fashion, and a gathering of the hippest trendsetters in the country and beyond. 10 Magazine’s fashion editor Gracie shares her shortlist of the best collections for F/W 2010.

First Place
Lee Doii

Designer Lee Doii

Hands down my favorite designer, Doii’s first gig was with the great John Galliano. Not long after, she was collaborating with Christian Dior before being handpicked by Antonio Marras to work at Kenzo. We can see these influences peek through in her own label “Doii Paris,” which epitomizes the meaning of romanticism. Her collection this year was no exception – we just cannot get enough of these gorgeous couture gowns. “Superstar” is an understatement, and this year she wins first prize by a landslide for truly outstanding designs.

Second Place
Gee Choon-Hee & Miss Gee

Once again, this veteran proves her status as the designer most worn by Korean celebrities. Sexy and feminine, her show-stopping collection this year has a distinct 40’s theme. Oh so glamorous, the epitome of class.

Third Place
Im Seon-oc

Ever pushing the boundaries, this avant-garde designer tells a story with every new season – each bearing little resemblance to the last. This year, her dreamy collection is no exception. Trained in Japan and citing Yohji Yamamoto and Rei Kawakubo as her main influences, her designs are a fashion paradox – minimalist yet complex. A true artist.

HIGHLY COMMENDED

1 Jung Hun Jong

Oriental prints and bright eye-popping colours in sophisticated shapes

2 Yang Hee Deuk

Retro designs and lots of fur give this season’s bold look a whiff of attitude

INTRODUCING:
D-Style by Dorothy Nam
For her debut at Seoul Fashion Week, Korean-American Nam’s collection featured works that included an eclectic mix of silk prints and funky scarves, all inspired by the artwork of Lim Chae-wook, and rooted in traditional hanbok colours and shapes.

For more pictures, check out feetmanseoul.com

Words and shots by Joe McPherson, Paul Matthews and Brian Dye

Korea has been spending decades catching up with what it perceives as the modern world. It has made it and then some. The great can-do Korean spirit has been going full octane for so long that the concept of leisure time is something new. The Wall Street Journal recently speculated on the vacation dearth on the peninsula. One leisure activity that has picked up in the past couple of years has been brunch. With the five-day work week starting to catch on, Koreans are finding ways to enjoy their hard-earned wealth. Brunch here combines notions of wealth and leisure, and it has gone through its own evolution from a pricey exclusive novelty to a more common outlet for coffee with friends.
A few beloved watering holes started serving eggs-and-bacon breakfasts in the mid-2000s, but the brunch trend truly got started when Suji’s introduced pancakes and attached the “brunch” moniker to them. That’s when the Korean public started paying notice. It was also around this time that Sex and the City had infected the culture, and nouveau riche ladies and their admirers wanted to have that upscale New York experience in Seoul. That also explains why you won’t see a gaggle of ajosshis sipping coffee and sharing pancakes on a Sunday morning.
Here are 10’s picks for the ten best brunch spots in Korea (along with a few honorable mentions). We’ve jotted down notes on the aspects we most care about: outdoor seating and coffee service. What better way than brunch to enjoy a well-deserved spring?

10. Mignon
Best Outdoor Dining
Outdoor seating: lovely patio
Coffee: W5,000 (refills are regular price)
Address: 116-14 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan, Seoul
Phone: 02-792-7280

Prices are a little steep and portions are a little sparing, but the Belgian fare is excellent, and there’s one unbeatable aspect to Mignon that should have you sprinting there on one of Korea’s glorious Sundays mornings–its beautiful outdoor patio seating. Yes, you’re surrounded by buildings, but it’s a quiet little corner of Itaewon with beautiful wooden trim and plenty of vegetation. The eggs benedict is superb, as they know how to poach an egg and the hollandaise is spot on, although they do sub toast for the English muffin. The side salads that come with the omelets are a delicious healthy alternative to hash browns as well.

9. Gecko’s
Best Omelet
Outdoor seating: small terrace
Coffee: W2,000 per cup withbrunch
Address:
• 128-5 Itaewong-dong, Yongsan, Seoul. (02-749-9425)
• Uyeong Plaza, 1266-2 Bojeon-dong Giheung-gu, Yongin (031-262-9974)
• 2156-3 Saekdal-dong Seoguipo, Jeju (064-739-0845)

Gecko’s was one of the progenitors of Sunday breakfast. Way back when the news got out that Gecko’s was serving breakfast (something only hotels used to do), people would make the journey from the far reaches of Seoul’s spider web subway network to have that familiar taste of scrambled eggs and coffee. Now it serves breakfast every day. It’s now rare to find an Itaewon pub that doesn’t have some type of breakfast item. Yet Gecko’s continues to be a favorite. Their strawberry French toast piles on the sweet morsels. The omelet is hands down the best in town, loaded to dangerous levels with cheddar cheese. And for brunch, you can’t beat the price of their robust coffee.

8. A Story
Best Buffet
Outdoor seating: patio.
Coffee: Included with buffet
Address: 534-5 Garosu-gil, Sinsa-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-511-6179

A Story is the spot to satisfy your brunch cravings. The menagerie of pastas, risottos, soups, salads, pizza, omelets, bacon, ribs as well as a bevy of fruits and cakes at their buffet brunch will have you savoring each and every dish multiple times. Yes, the W25,000 price tag is steep, but when you can eat to your heart’s content, it’s totally worth it. Did we also mention the sparkling wine and the chef who cooks your eggs to order?

7. Indigo
Best English Fry Up
Outdoor seating: small rear patio
Coffee: W3,000 with W1,000 refills
Address: 46 Yongsan-dong 2-ga 1st floor, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-749-0508

The brunch menu hits all the bases just shy of a homerun. Pass on the quiche and head towards the more everyday offerings like the English breakfast and omelets. The portions are spot on as well as the service. It’s a friendly, laid-back kind of place, and the food comes quickly despite the sizable crowd.

6. Neal’s Yard
Best Coffee
Outdoor seating: small terrace
Coffee: included with brunch (refills are W1,000 each)
Address: 119-19 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-794-7278

Street signs, lamp posts, and awnings used for interior decoration give you the illusion of being outside, and it’s particularly nice on a day when the weather’s fine and the front windows are wide open. It’s the perfect Korean young lady’s hangout, with portions to match. The prices are reasonable, however, with a nice brunch going for W14,000, which includes a good-sized coffee. Waffles are good and they have some nice quiches as well. Be sure to add on W1,000 for an extra egg if you happen to eat more than your average 40 kg size 2.

5. The Holy Grill
Best Breakfast Burrito
Outdoor seating: none
Coffee: W2,750 (free refills)
Address: 61-5 Gongpyeong-dong, Jung-gu, Daegu
Phone: 053-423-4048

This Daegu institution is known for its Tex-Mex and burgers, but it also has a whopping brunch menu, served all day every day. Yet it’s the perfect spot for post-revelry recovery on Sunday mornings in the 2nd floor restaurant or the 3rd floor sports lounge, dubbed “The Recovery Room.” They serve pancakes, full breakfasts and a super breakfast burrito packed with guacamole and smoky Canadian-style hashbrowns. They are also one of the few places in Korea to indulge in granola and yogurt. Despite its name, don’t expect any spam at the Holy Grill.

4. Butterfinger Pancakes
Trendiest Hipster Joint
Outdoor seating: none, Coffee: W5,390 (free refills)
Addresses :
• 9 Jeongja-1-dong Bundang-gu Seongnam (031-785-9994)
• 85-6 Cheongdam-dong Gangnam-gu Seoul (02-3448-1070)
• 1317 Seocho-dong Seocho-gu Seoul (02-532-5740)

Opened in 2006, Butterfinger Pancakes still has a line in the lobby of young Korean hipsters and Westerners waiting for tables. This is one of the priciest of the bunch and has a reputation for Soup Nazi service, but it specializes in comfort foods in a middle-American diner atmosphere. The menu is daunting, but favorites include the blueberry pancakes, meatloaf, and macaroni and cheese. Or try The Big Fat Special (W14,900): pancakes, breakfast sausage, white sausage, grilled ham steak, hash browns, choice of egg, choice of butter and choice of syrup. It’s a great place to satisfy one’s sweet tooth.

3. Flying Pan Blue
Most Creative Menu
Outdoor seating: none
Coffee: W4,500 with W2,000 refills
Address:
• 540-22 Sinsa-dong Gangnam-gu , Seoul (02-514-5585)
• 123-7 Itaewon-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul (02 793-5285)

Flying Pan Blue playfully brings the whimsy to brunch with unique ingredients and original flavors. Their fluffy perfect pancakes will have you dreaming, topped with caramelized figs, walnuts, bananas and ricotta cheese. Another favorite ride on their playground is the sautéed mushrooms topped with a poached egg served with toast, roasted potatoes,
hummus and a grilled tomato.

2. Suji’s
Queen of Brunch
Outdoor seating: rooftop terrace
Coffee: W4,000 (free refills)
Address: 4 locations in
• Samsung,
• Apgujeong-Hyundai Department Stores,
• Itaewon,
• Bundang-gu (visit sujis.net for details)
Phone: 02-797-3698(Iteawon)

Suji’s takes credit for starting the brunch trend in Korea. Headed by the dynamic and legendary Park Su-ji, the grande dame of brunch has come a long way from its pricey beginnings. The transformation comes complete with specialty cocktails for W8,000, helping you wash down brunch selections such as the french toast-themed Jack and Jill, the more traditional lumberjack pancakes, Mexican-influenced breakfast burritos, Denver omelets and New York bagels with smoked salmon. Choices can be made á la carte and are best enjoyed on the rooftop terrace.

1. Pancake Original Story
Best Overall
Outdoor seating: small patio
Coffee: W3,000
(refills are regular price)
Address: 261-6 1st Floor,
Seoul Building, Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul
Phone: 02-794-0508

We have talked about Pancake Original Story in a previous issue and are still raving about it. POS showed that you can have a decent brunch in Korea without the exorbitant price tag. They serve twangy buttermilk pancakes with a wide range of syrups. They make their own perfectly spiced sage patty sausages, and if you order an extra sausage on the side it comes out in hamburger proportions. They also have a killer cloudlike veggie omelet with blue cheese and possibly the most affordable eggs benedict on the peninsula. They have felt the pressure to Koreanize their menu items by adding vegetables to their dishes, and they can suffer from bouts of inconsistency. But they have always been solid on their staples. Be prepared for cramped quarters. The sign jokingly says they can’t seat more than 8,000 when they really can only squeeze three tables inside the dining room. They have a patio out front that can seat a few more.

There you have it, 10 Magazine’s top ten brunch spots in Korea. It’s a sign of how rapidly the restaurant industry and the Korean public’s tastes have been changing. Not too long ago, a “Western” breakfast meant a half-cooked egg, spam and untoasted white bread. Then it exploded as an expensive novelty. If it had been a fad, we’d already be witnessing it fading. Instead, it’s adapting. More affordable places are venturing onto the scene while quality improves so that brunch can move from the realm of wanna-be Sarah Jessica Parkers to any young Park who wants a decent, filling breakfast with an honest cup of Joe.