BR4 On the Move

Just as the high-speed rail trains look like they're about to get moving, look what's happening. The new Sogo BR4 on top of the Chunghsiao-Fuhsing MRT station in Taipei is holding its first open "test" day this coming Friday, December 29, just in time for the long New Year weekend.
They waited so late that many clothing items will immediately go into sales, with discounts of up to 50 percent. For some brands, it doesn't matter the department store took such a long time to get off the ground. Chanel and Hermes won't open their boutiques until March, though the latter will do that with the launch of a Birkin bag with diamonds.
More down-to-earth brands at the new green giant Sogo - the United Daily News writes it's 50 bigger than the old white one - include Burberry, Versace, Martin Margiela, Dolce & Gabbana, and Hogan, part of the Tod's group. Yohji Yamamoto will sell two types of exclusive T-shirts at 6,280 NT dollars each, and there are only 50 of each available, the newspaper says. So you know from my little adventure at the Breeze Center's Marc Jacobs store what that means, don't you.
And I won't be there for the Sogo's glorious first day, because I'm off to another Southeast Asian shopping paradise: Bangkok. Guess what the inspiration was for the new Sogo, according to the United Daily News? The Siam Paragon.

Leaving Black Behind

Those of you who have been passing Prada shopwindows in Taipei recently will have noticed a fundamental philosophical shift. The Milan fashion house once known for putting black first and everywhere has betrayed its main principle.
To be honest, they've been abandoning black for a while, introducing lighter colors and a more classic logo than the upside down triangle. But now, you can't help but notice they've gone completely in the other direction.
And guess what? I'm not complaining, because it works. The Prada shopwindows at Taipei 101 and in the Regent Galleria are a riot of colors. Prada now sells handbags in orange, green, white, blue, pink, you name an outrageous color, and they seem to have it, all in one window together. The bags have the name Prada, the place of origin Milano, and the date 'dal 1913' - which simply means 'from 1913.' And with the bags, there are smaller purses and shoes to match. Those shoes are taking things even further, with not just one color per shoe, but two. The light green shoe will have slightly darker green tips, and so on.
I researched the web site to get more information about the new philosophy and the new products, but to no avail. Either my browser is acting up, or the site is really as lame as the new bags are enthusiastic.
Anyway, Prada has exploded. Into color. I'm all for it.