Mooning Everyone, Part III

​One of the other ancient Chinese traditions surrounding the Mid Autumn Festival is for mooncake gift boxes to be totally extra AF.  Seriously, Louis Vuitton, Lamborghini, and even Durex have gotten in on this. So, I decided that it simply wasn't enough to just mail my family some of my homemade mooncakes. I had to design an over-the-top gift set that somehow incorporated my, uh... signature flavor. It had be something that says "Kimmie S'amore"... the same way that Sexy Colonel Sanders and the Glamburglar do. You didn't think I was going to send them something as straightforward as a box with the words "Tasty Treat" and a picture of food on it, did you now? Tsk tsk.

But did Virgil Abloh design this?

Mercy

How come these mooncakes aren't extra large tho?

I remembered the brand of mooncake we used to eat when I was growing up. It was Sheng Kee Bakery. I remember every year they came out with gift bags and boxes featuring the same impossibly pretty girl, playing her pipa to show off to everyone that she made her Chinese parents proud by achieving a concert-level proficiency in an obscure classical instrument, no doubt as a hobby to decompress from studying for the MCATs. ​

Her parents are definitely proud of her.

Well I ain't her. 
But maybe I can rep all the kids that didn't grow up to do exactly what society has told us is supposed to make our parents proud? After all, I dance on a pole dressed like a sexy fast food mascot for fun. And I've never been happier with my life choices... which I think that the end of the day is what really makes my mom the most proud.
So... I present to you, the original artwork for the mooncake gift  boxes from my very own home bakery, Skang Kee Bakery. The name needs no explanation... I think my facial expression and the frying pan says it all. Astute Cantonese viewers might notice that I even made a new logo with the characters "ham sup" which translate literally to "salty and damp"... and when combined with the word "lo," which means "man," is Cantonese slang for "dirty old man." There's never been a description for "greasy" so perfect you can taste it.

Obviously playing "Freebird."

These things come with some nice packaging!

Anyway, I boxed up my delicious mooncakes in some ridiculous handmade packaging I cobbled together from gold paper, spray glue,  and a couple nice magnetic gift boxes from a set of bicycle lights and a butt plug (you know, whatever I could find around my boyfriend's house. Recycle, reduce, reuse, amirite?). I sent one of these Skang Kee gift packs to my mom, and texted her some assorted mush later that day about how I missed her when I saw the paper lanterns, and how important that part of my childhood was to me. She'll probably be really happy to hear about how much those paper lanterns meant to me, and that I was inspired by them to create art & eventually a collection for Tasty Treat, all to comfort myself because I haven't been able to see my family for quite a while (everyone, please wear your damn masks so I can go TF home!). I tell you what she's not going to be happy with, though, and that's finding out that I have a giant tattoo on the side of my left leg that's prominently featured in one of the Mooncake promo shots. Good thing she's not on Instagram! I guess there are still some things that I feel external pressure about when it comes to my own personal style... *sigh*. It's not easy to always embrace everything about your own personal style when there's pressure to conform coming from all around. The only thing you can do is keep reminding yourself that no one can be you, except for you!

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So what's the moral of this rambling 3-part story? Well, it's... a lot of things, I guess. How about this? Fashion is a lot like food:
- Don't consume it just because it's there and you feel like you're supposed to, or because you're being peer-pressured to.
- Treats are nice... sometimes. But moderation is for the long haul. Don't get something else if you already have enough. Try working with what you've got first.
- Don't get something if it makes you uncomfortable or otherwise doesn't work for your body. Take the time to find something that does your body right and incorporates what you want. You will be much happier in the long run.
- Don't waste it. Someone had to make it - if it wasn't you, think about if it had been you going through all that trouble.
- Read the label and think about where all the ingredients come from. Do you think that everyone in the production chain was paid fairly, or the ingredients were all produced in a way that doesn't make you upset to think about?  If not... maybe don't buy it if you don't need it.
- Learn how to make it yourself/become an active participant in creating it, and you're much more likely to get exactly what you want and really love it
- Your tastes are allowed to change, but it doesn't really matter what other people's tastes are, since they're not the ones who are consuming your fashion for you!

I hope you enjoyed our 3-part Mid Autumn Festival blog series, and some of the thoughts behind our latest collection! Leave me a comment, lemme know what you think, or maybe let me know what you love about *your own* style, and what makes *your* style unique! 
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xoxo,
Kimmie