In the midst of Hong Kong art week, widely known as the city’s busiest time of the year, I opted to jet to the other side of the world to experience the Budapest Central European Fashion Week. As this marked my first time visiting the beautiful city of Budapest, I was very keen on exploring everything about the historic capital. Here is a list of my best finds.
Best Shows
Amongst the collections I saw throughout the week, I particularly enjoyed the playful use of polka dots from a brand called Sentiments. I’m especially obsessed with their polka dot hat. I also love the effortless style of Nanushka. Their cream tone leather is simply sublime and this Autumn/Winter 2019 season saw the launch of their first menswear line. I was lucky enough to wear one of the looks during the trip.
Best Hang Out Spot: Nanushka Store & Café
Like any other tourist with an interest in fashion, I have a weakness for gorgeous, Instagrammable locations. Nanushka, the top fashion brand export from Hungary, has a super sleek flagship store and café located in the heart of the city. I enjoyed flipping through a few magazines while sipping a matcha latte and their specialized matcha soda. As a longtime customer of the brand, I can vouch for their best-known products — the vegan leather pieces, which are super soft, humanely produced, and, best of all, machine-washable. They also have some beauty and lifestyle products. I’m obsessed with the jade Gua Sha tool.
Nanushka Store & Café, Budapest, Bécsi u. 3, 1052 Hungary
Best Emerging Brand: Fabian Kis-Juhasz
During the 3-day fashion show program, the one thing that really stimulated me was Fabian Kis-Juhasz’s presentation. Kis-Juhasz is a Budapest-born fashion designer who graduated with a master’s degree from London Royal College of Arts and did a presentation in London in February. Backstage, Kis-Juhasz explained to me his motivation of exploring the idea of a monstrous, almost demonised form of femininity. I am a firm supporter of anyone trying to challenge confined forms of femininity, so I’m looking forward to what he is to create next.
Best Beauty Treat: Omorovicza
This beauty brand is definitely one of my best discoveries from this trip. Omorovicza is another internationally-known export from Budapest, available everywhere from Liberty in London and Bergdorf Goodman in New York, to net-a-porter.com. I was treated to a one-hour facial at their flagship spa centre, which left my skin totally revitalized and hydrated. It’s a total skin reboot and after many recommendations from my friends in Hong Kong and Singapore, I purchased one Omorovicza’s hero products, the Gold Hydralifting Mask. Trust me, it’s magical.
Omorovicza Boutique & Spa, Budapest, Andrássy út 2, 1061 Hungary
Best Instagram photo spots
Okay, let’s not fool ourselves, we all want to know where the best spots are for the ‘gram. At the top of my list of recommendations is the Budapest Eye, which is the big Ferris wheel in the park at the city centre; then there’s the Aria Hotel, which has an amazing rooftop bar for a picture of the city skyline; and last but not least, the Buda Castle and its surrounding churches, which is basically like a real-life Disney castle.
Budapest Eye, Budapest, 1051 Hungary
Aria Hotel Budapest, Budapest, Hercegprímás u. 5, 1051 Hungary
Buda Castle, Budapest, Szent György tér 2, 1014 Hungary
Editor
Declan Chan Contributing Editor
