Innholdsfortegnelse for March 2016 i Tatler Hong Kong

MALAYSIA TATLER GIRL POWER AMIRA GENEID is on the cover of an issue that celebrates the accomplishments of women. Geneid is the founder and CEO of Zahara, a Singapore start-up focused on the beauty needs of Muslim women. She shares her global dream for Zahara and talks about her coming wedding this month to fiancé and fellow entrepreneur Cameron Priest. Elsewhere, social butterfly Annie Chin-Lim explains how she champions women’s rights. SINGAPORE TATLER MEN AT WORK Filmmaker Eric Khoo, businessman Richard Wiluan and architect Mike Lim (pictured) have one thing in common—a love of dogs. They talk of the bonds they share with their four-legged friends. Elsewhere, there’s a profile on Banyan Tree’s Ho Ren Hua, who was recently appointed to the executive committee of the Singapore Committee for UN…

Love Glee? Consider yourself a barbershop buff? If so, you’ll want to head down to the Grand Ballroom at the Conrad on March 17 for a musical dinner that will delight not only the palate but also the ears, with performances by some of the world’s best youth a cappella groups. The Hong Kong Federation of Youth Groups’ (HKFYG) own Melody Makers will take the stage alongside California’s SoCal VoCals, France’s Ommm and Japan’s Hamojin. “A cappella is one of the most unique and enchanting forms of singing,” says HKFYG executive director Rosanna Wong. Funds raised will help provide services and counselling for youth at risk.…

1 BREW ANEW COFFEE AND TALES This new coffee subscription service delivers a box of freshly roasted beans from a new local craft roaster every month, helping connoisseurs discover new brews. coffeeandtales.com 2 VIPSTER VITTLES VANIMAL With unique dishes such as Jerusalem artichoke chips, and butternut squash soup with chestnut and cinnamon foam, this hipster herbivore hangout in Kennedy Town proves that eating veggie needn’t be a boring experience. facebook.com/vanimalhk 3 COLD COMFORTS ARTISAN ROOM The towering, cathedral-like Gothicism machine from South Korea (the only one in Hong Kong) serves up cold brew to perfection. Pair a cup of Italy’s Costadoro Coffee with sweet and savoury eclairs in this hip Shek Tong Tsui hangout. artisanroomhk.com 4 SOHO DÉLICIEUSE BELON Black Sheep’s seventh Soho locale presents classic Parisian fare in a…

WEAVING TALES BONHAMS NEW YORK MARCH 14 This sale of Himalayan and South Asian art includes a selection of ancient tapestries and sculptures. Highlights include a gilt copper figure of a seated Buddha from the 7th or 8th century (US$80,000–120,000) and a silk mandala from central Tibet (circa 1500) that depicts Ushnishavijaya, the goddess of longevity. The piece has an estimate of US$400,000–600,000. bonhams.com KEEN ON JOAQUIN BONHAMS LONDON MARCH 2 A portrait by one of Spain’s leading artists, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, leads this sale of 19th century European and British impressionist art from the 19th century. Un Hebreo (estimate £300,000–510,000) has not been seen in public for more than a century. bonhams.com GOURD-GEOUS SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK MARCH 16 This sale of important Chinese art includes ceramics, jade, furniture…

ARCHITECT WILLIAM LIM has worn a lot of hats. As well as heading his firm CL3, he’s probably the world’s leading collector of Hong Kong contemporary art and is a successful artist in his own right. He has twice represented his city at the Venice Biennale’s International Architecture Exhibition, in 2006 and 2010, with large installations. He himself was the subject of a retrospective exhibition last year at Artistree, William Lim/Fundamental. His art collection was immortalised in 2014 with the publishing of The No Colors, a beautiful book of photos of selected works with commentary by art-world luminaries. And he’s been an enthusiastic patron of a range of organisations that promote the appreciation of art, including the Asia Art Archive, Para Site, the Tate and the Asia Society. Now all…

WORTH THE HYPE STRIPES  LOOK HOT TO TROT WITH THESE ZIPPY ZEBRA-INSPIRED BAGS AND SHOES FROM TOD’S LABEL LOVER ISA ARFEN Following stints working at Marni, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs and Chloé, Central Saint Martins graduate Serafina Sama founded her womenswear label in late 2011. Named after her grandmother and an anagram of her own name, Isa Arfen has an irreverent, eccentric design ethos inspired by the strong, female figures Sama observed growing up in Italy—think a delectable melange of Italian irreverence and Sama’s own Notting Hill girl cool. “To me, fashion is about desire, beauty and fun. It’s not about dressing up in a costume. Isa Arfen is about a real woman dressing for her real life and really enjoying it.” And this sense of fun permeated her Creole-inflected spring-summer…

Nail art: the two words conjure images of ’80s-style neon graffiti on long talons, or the crystals and glitter favoured by 14-year-olds prepping for the school dance. But it doesn’t have to be that way. This season, the runways were awash with some seriously chic nail designs. Fresh colour combos—think pale pink and burgundy, orange and beige—as well as spikier shapes gave the tired French manicure a distinct edge, while perfect little dots placed dead centre or randomly scattered across nails spelled effortlessly offbeat. Elsewhere, cool metallic stripes and tonal chequerboards looked playful yet polished. So when you book in for your next mani, why not forgo your usual claret or nude, and express yourself with a daring design.…

HIGH COMPLICATION, accuracy, precision—these common expressions of the watchmaking world take a back seat when it comes to timepieces created primarily for aesthetic appreciation. Grand feu enamel, filigree, champlevé, granulation and engraving—decorative techniques often collectively referred to as métiers d’art—come to the fore in describing such pieces, breathtaking not so much for their mind-bending complications and high frequencies but for their compelling craftsmanship. These timepieces give watchmakers the chance to demonstrate a different skillset, one more to do with artistic flair than technical dexterity. Hermès has always kept the decorative arts within arm’s reach when making watches. It presents 12 unique timepieces bearing the work of Japanese painter Buzan Fukushima, one of a handful of masters of the 19th-century craft of Aka-e painting. Fukushima’s hand-painted interpretations of Japan’s traditional Koma…

TASSELS MADE QUITE a fashion comeback last year, showing up on jeans and jackets, designer bags, preppy loafers and flirty heels. The fringe obsession has worked its way into the jewellery world as well and with just the same fervour, showing up frequently on the red carpet. Offering vibrant interpretations of the tassel are Chopard with its Imperiale necklace, in which amethyst beads hang loosely from a diamond-encrusted pendant, and Chanel with the Cruise white-gold necklace set and laced with aquamarine beads, diamonds and black spinels. Tiffany & Co offers a more accessible and subdued tassel piece with its Fringe earrings in 18K yellow gold. Inspired by Middle Eastern talismans, David Morris creates earrings with a combination of emeralds and diamonds, while we see an opulent take on the tassel…

By her own definition, Tamara Comolli is “very much an accessories girl.” The German-born fine jewellery designer says she can resist buying clothes but not shoes, handbags or stunning gems, and she believes jewellery can “add the right amount of glamour to any outfit for any occasion.” Her admiration for gorgeous gems is rooted in her childhood, when she would gaze with fascination at the elegant women bedecked in their finest at her father’s casino. Later, throughout her time at university in Munich, where she studied business administration and advertising, and during the subsequent five years working in related industries, Comolli nurtured a desire to start her own brand. She travelled the world to learn all she could about gems and precious metals, and how to source such beauties as…

LESS THAN AN HOUR AWAY from Hong Kong, in the megalopolis of Shenzhen, most of the planet’s digital devices are assembled. Millions of these electronic goods are produced by companies such as Foxconn and ZTE, but millions more are produced by factories rooted in the Chinese culture of shanzhai, which translates as “mountain stronghold.” The term was once used as a pejorative description for pirated accessories, but today shanzhai mobile phones, digital cameras, flat screen televisions and cars now offer some of the most interesting examples of creativity found in China. Unsurprisingly, then, shanzhai culture is also finding its way into the art world. One of the most recent examples is Hack Space, an exhibition jointly presented by Hong Kong’s K11 Art Foundation (KAF) and London’s Serpentine Galleries. The show,…

IT ALL STARTED WITH A strawberry. After biting into the freshly plucked fruit on an Australian farm, Singaporean Janice Wong had an epiphany, one that ultimately led the young economics student in a new direction. “It was so different from anything I had tried in Singapore. It wasn’t green and full of water. My palate was very sensitive to that, and I suddenly thought to myself that I wanted to curate amazing ingredients from farmers. I wanted to be that middle person between the producer and the rest of the world. I wanted to be a chef.” However, she knew that wouldn’t be simple. “As a young woman, I needed to find a niche, something that would make a statement and get my voice heard. I decided I wanted to…

THE NAPA VALLEY is releasing some of the world’s most exciting wines at the moment. I have a slight preference for 2013 over 2012. It’s hard to believe the Napa Valley made better wines in 2013, but it did. The best 2013s show terrific form and tension, giving an impressive freshness to their richness and power. This character illustrates a new classicism for the great wines of the region. “This is the vintage of my career,” says Nicolas Morlet, the winemaker at Peter Michael Winery. “The 2013 was the dream vintage for a winemaker. It was when you have balance and beauty in all your wines. The wines can be powerful and elegant at the same time. They are very gastronomic. They have a natural balance in a neoclassic style.”…

Kim Kardashian strikes again. The woman with the most photographed derrière in the world and global fashionistas like Victoria Beckham are the latest in a long line of stylish celebrities who have helped the high-end, high-price luxury handbag keep its iconic status—and, it has emerged, its status as an absolute, dead-cert investment opportunity. Researchers at luxury online marketplace Baghunter recently set out to compare the performance of three popular forms of investment: gold, the S&P 500 Index and Hermès Birkin bags. Between 1980 and 2015, the S&P 500 returned an average of 11.66 per cent a year, while gold managed just 1.9 per cent. But Birkin handbags’ increase averaged 14.2 per cent, say Baghunter number crunchers. And they point out that unlike the S&P 500 and gold markets, which have…

CHECKING IN PACK YOUR TRUNK The King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament comes to Anantara Riverside Bangkok this month, gathering teams from around the world to raise money for elephant charities in Thailand. DNA DETOX Really slick resorts are upping their game by taking personalisation to a whole new level. Ibiza’s 38 Degrees North uses pre-arrival DNA analysis to tailor fitness programmes for each guest’s specific needs. SLEEP WITH THE ARTIST Art lovers can now rent Vincent van Gogh’s bedroom —well, a replica—for US$10 a night. The Art Institute of Chicago has created a life-sized rendition of his painting Bedroom in Arles and it’s available through Airbnb. CHECKING OUT STYLISH WHEELS Business travellers to London may prefer Uber over taxis, but those in the know plump for HR Owen’s service. Its…

WHEN I FIRST STARTED going to Los Angeles, I used to get frustrated because it’s so spread out and the time zone makes it pretty tough to interact with Europe. Now, however, there are some things I really like about it. I went over in July to design the new collection and, actually, the time zone compared to London means I can just get up in the morning and get all of my emails done by about 10 o’clock. I can then get out to start researching and designing. Los Angeles has become a real creative centre—a lot of designers are moving their studios to the city and the art scene is becoming much more prevalent. Also, being around sunshine every day is quite inspiring for me. An ideal day…

WORKING ON THIS special Art Issue of Hong Kong Tatler, my first edition as editor-in-chief, has been an exciting affirmation that Hong Kong’s affinity for collaborative initiatives, along with its interest, investment and love for art, shows no sign of abating. Of course, art is by definition the expression or application of human creative skill and imagination, yet can really only be gauged in the public domain; it needs to be visible and palpable to us all if we are to believe in its existence. To that end, Hong Kong’s leading developers must be commended for their commitment in supporting the staging of some world-class public art. From last year’s Event Horizon to the unveiling this month of the artist-decorated hoardings of Henderson Land’s HQ building, these powerful collaborations have…

YES Only when an artist dies can we truly comprehend the full extent of what they have achieved. We are forced to view them in the context of their entire life’s practice, not simply what they are producing at a specific moment. Through this we discover the truth of their work in the context of their entire oeuvre. The greatest artists or movements were often dramatically unsuccessful in their lifetime; the impressionists were seen as blasphemous in the 19th and 20th centuries, yet now their movement is one of the most coveted and recognised. The rebels of their time, who no one understood, are now considered to be the greats. After the death of a great artist, the art world goes wild. Museums and galleries hold retrospectives that are compelling…

VICKY LAM “I would love Chuck Close to do a portrait of me. Chuck is one of the most influential American contemporary artists and is now 75 years old. He suffered a seizure in the 1980s that left him paralysed from the neck down, therefore influencing the way he paints and recalls faces. It would be an honour to have him paint me.” DIANA D’ARENBERG PARMANAND “I would have loved my portrait to be painted by the 20th century artist Tamara de Lempicka. Although underrated and too often dismissed as banal by the art establishment, she was a pioneering female artist of the 1920s and a fascinating woman herself.” YUDA CHAN “My choice of artist would be Modigliani as I would love to be immortalised as tall and skinny with…

1 DEATH CAB FOR CUTIE The renowned US indie rockers, together for nearly 20 years, make their Hong Kong debut at Mong Kok’s MacPherson Stadium. ticketflap.com 4 KING AND COUNTRY Britain’s Royal Shakespeare Company commemorates the 400th anniversary of the bard’s death with new productions of his “history plays”— including Henry IV Parts I & II and Henry V. At the Lyric Theatre until March 13. hkartsfestival.org 8 BON IVER Justin Vernon’s acclaimed indie-folk band, famous for their 2011 track Skinny Love, play the MacPherson Stadium as part of their first tour of Asia. ticketflap.com 9 MICHAEL LAU The artist contemplates the digital age in his exhibition What? We: Want! At Times Square Living Room Museum until March 31. timessquare.com.hk MARGARET CHO The unapologetically outspoken Korean-American comic takes to the…

FOLLOWING THE SUCCESSFUL launch of Taste festivals in 22 destinations around the world—including Paris, London, Rome, Dubai, Sydney and Cape Town—Hong Kong joins the roster this year, hosting the first Taste festival in Asia. This fine-dining extravaganza will see 13 of Hong Kong’s most celebrated restaurants—with eight Michelin stars among them—and a London gem occupy the Central Harbourfront from March 10 to 13 to serve a selection of their most popular “signature” dishes on small plates, as well as one exclusive “icon dish” created especially for the event. Festivalgoers will be able to create their dream menu of dainty dishes from Aberdeen Street Social, Serge et Le Phoque, Chino, Tosca, Arcane, Amber, Yardbird, Ronin, Duddell’s, The Ocean, Cafe Grey and Tin Lung Heen. “Taste is,” says Heston Blumenthal, whose restaurants…

Every year the attendees of The Nutcracker Benefit are dazzled by the children performing on stage. They tell a great story, and delight the audience with every move and expression —Janice Chan-Choy THE INSIDER Every year a number of children participate in a live ballet performance with the Hong Kong Ballet’s principal dancers to experience first-hand what it takes to be a part of a production The Hong Kong Ballet Guild kicked the 2015 festive season into high gear with its annual Christmas benefit, which had the Island Shangri-La ringing with the laughter of children and the cooing of proud parents for the seventh consecutive year. The highlight, of course, was a ballet performance by 46 of the committee members’ children dressed in miniature versions of the costumes featured in…

The Lane Crawford store in IFC Mall was abuzz with a glamorous crowd of eagerly waiting fashionistas when British socialite Poppy Delevingne arrived with Aquazzura founder Edgardo Osorio to celebrate the launch of her capsule shoe collection for the luxury Florentine brand. The photogenic duo happily posed for photos and autographed pairs of shoes, which were eagerly snapped up on the night. Then they made their way to the China Club to host an intimate private dinner. Edgardo couldn’t resist posing with a larger-than-life shoe sculpture while a giggly Poppy snapped photos of him on her phone. The colourful dining room decor blended East and West, summing up the spirit of the city, and the duo were suitably impressed by the spectacular view that served as a backdrop. Kim Bui-Kollar,…

A rare Patek Philippe watch was the highlight of a preview cocktail party held in the lead-up to the inaugural Hong Kong watch sale by the auction house Phillips in association with the consulting firm Bacs & Russo. The watch—a Reference 3450 manufactured in 1985 and believed to be one of only two made in white gold—was one of 350 vintage and modern timepieces by some of the world’s top brands, including Audemars Piguet, Vacheron Constantin and Cartier, that went under the hammer. It sold for HK$12.04 million.…

Is the sum total of your denim wardrobe a pair of scruffy jeans you wear on weekends? Are you the sort that wouldn’t dream of donning denim for a dinner date? Well, you may just have to think again. This season the humble fabric has been plucked from the street and reimagined in hues of cornflower and indigo, zippered and edged and reworked into trenches, tunics and utilitarian shirts. No longer the preserve of scruffbags and scoundrels, new-look denim is art gallery-appropriate and boardroom-ready. With denim this svelte, the days of the suit are well and truly numbered. TOP 5 Turquoise DARE TO WEAR Much maligned and mistrusted, the mandal—or man’s sandal—is now officially A Thing. Mega metro? Sure! But also mega airy and could just maybe be cool…

She may be the only brunette from the next generation of the Clarins beauty empire, but along with her sister Jenna and cousins Claire and Virginie, Prisca Courtin-Clarins is the not-so-secret weapon driving the business forward. Whether developing hotel partnerships for the brand or partnering with Lauren Bush Lauren for Clarins x Feed, there is no stopping this chic businesswoman. With a beauty routine that features plenty of Clarins (natch), cold water and red lips, it’s no wonder we’re all falling for her classic elegance. “BEAUTY COMES FROM THE INSIDE AND OUT. MY GRANDFATHER USED TO SAY, ‘WELL-BEING CONTRIBUTES TO BEAUTY, AND BEAUTY TO HAPPINESS’” What’s your guilty pleasure? Having a spa treatment every week. What’s your top beauty tip? I try to sleep early—before 11pm—and wake up around 6…

THE ORLOVS SURE know how to throw a good party. From a lavish One Thousand and One Nights-themed bash at a private villa on Monaco’s Cap-Martin, complete with fortune tellers, drummers and belly dancers, to a more intimate formal dinner in the Royal Suite of Dubai’s Burj Al Arab, the couple spare no expense in providing their top clients with an experience to match their sparkling, multimillion-dollar wares. “One of our realisations when we started,” says Christian Orlov, “was that private trunk shows were the best way into the business.” By private trunk shows, the CEO of Orlov Jewelry means a travelling exhibition of the brand’s latest pieces, combined with unique experiences organised for a select guest list. For clients, acquiring their first piece from the brand is an induction…

CONTINUUM NAPA VALLEY 2013 Impressive purity of fruit and definition, with blackcurrant, oyster shell, blueberry, slate and graphite. Very complex yet subtle. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful yet polished and gorgeous. Muscular, well-formed tannins. Electric style. Drink in 2020. 99 points PAUL HOBBS CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA VALLEY OAKVILLE BECKSTOFFER TO KALON VINEYARD 2013 This is incredible, with blackberry, oyster shell, iodine, stone and graphite. Perfect nose. A full body yet so balanced and dense, with terrific subtle fruit and a salty, savoury finish. Like sea salt with raw Wagyu beef. Better in 2020 but amazing to taste now. 100 points PETER MICHAEL WINERY NAPA VALLEY OAKVILLE AU PARADIS 2013 The complex aromas are amazing, with hot stone, blackcurrant, meat and iron. Turns to porcini and wet earth. Cassis leaf too. A…

EVERYONE WELL VERSED in the luxury lifestyle as lived in Asia knows of André Fu. The Hong Kong-born, Cambridge-educated architect is the darling of the high-end hospitality industry, the creative mind behind some of the most stunning hotels and restaurants in the region—and beyond. He recently launched his own lifestyle brand, André Fu Living, to complement AFSO, the boutique design studio he founded in 2000. Added to his long list of accolades was his crowning this year as Designer of the Year by Maison & Objet Asia, whose March 8-11 trade fair at Singapore’s Marina Bay Sands Expo and Convention Centre will see Fu launch a line of luxury bathroom accessories under André Fu Living. I first met Fu at the opening of a Singapore restaurant he designed, the Clifford…

FOUNTAIN OF YOUTH 1 Black is back with the Black Tea Age-Delay Firming Serum by Fresh; it uses a proprietary blend of ingredients (black tea, blackberry and honeysuckle leaves, and lychee seed) for better elasticity. 2 Use the force—the Helena Rubinstein Force C booster fluid, which employs three types of vitamin C for firming and radiance. 3 Harnessing the power of Pu’er tea, the Cha Ling Eye Serum helps reduce wrinkles and fine lines. 4/5 Get some proper beauty sleep tonight with the Natura Bissé Diamond Extreme Dual Night Treatment—the Diamond Extreme Oil contains chia, amaranth and calendula oils, while the Diamond Extreme Mask includes retinol and hyaluronic acid. 6 Sulwhasoo delivers anti-ageing benefits with DAA, an ingredient extracted from red pine, in its Timetreasure Renovating Serum Ex. 7 La…

Miracle Glow Want firmer skin without going under the knife or needle? The Spa at Four Seasons Hotel Hong Kong now offers French company Biologique Recherche’s new Seconde Peau (“Second Skin”) treatment. Using an “electrospun” machine, which is similar to a 3D printer, the machine generates nano-fibres out of hyaluronic acid; these fibres are then turned into patches that can be cut into smaller sizes and applied onto certain contours of the face. The innovative treatment starts with the brand’s cleansing milk, coupled with lymphatic drainage massage techniques, to clear away make-up and prep the skin for Biologique Recherche’s signature product: the Lotion P50. The micro-exfoliating lotion feels a little prickly upon application, but is formulated to be gentler to the skin’s pH levels and is said to be less…

THE TOP MAKE-UP TRENDS from the spring/summer 2016 catwalks were a study in contrasts—blue eyeshadow made a strong comeback this year, while bold red lipstick remains a firm favourite. On the other end of the spectrum is the move away from contouring and towards foundation that enhances your skin instead of covering it, along with a variety of glow-enhancing products for dewy, luminous skin. Rhapsody in Blue If you thought bright blue eyeshadow was only fit for 1980s flashbacks, think again. It’s time to channel your inner mermaid via all shades oceanic. Whether it was the iridescent all-over sweeps of butterfly-inspired shadow seen at Diane von Furstenberg or the bold graphical slashes of liner at Monique Lhuillier, it’s all coming up aqua this season. For a “graffiti-like urban twist” on…

Alternatives to: Botox and Fillers Product: Labo Suisse Fillerina Dermo-Cosmetic Filler is a treatment set that includes the Gel Filler and the Nourishing Film, with two precision applicators that look like syringes. Unlike regular dermal fillers, Fillerina doesn’t need to be injected into the skin. The hyaluronic acid-rich Gel Filler is applied onto facial lines and creases, and is designed to attract moisture to the area, making wrinkled skin appear smoother and plumper. The Nourishing Film is applied on top to moisturise the skin and to seal the effects of the gel. The brand promises visible improvement in skin texture, tone and density after completion of the 14-day treatment. labosuisse.com Product: Elemis Pro-Collagen Hydra-Gel Eye Masks are 20-minute wonders. These bean-shaped mini-masks promise to instantly reduce the appearance of fine…

The red pine is an evergreen conifer with an extremely long lifespan—and according to clinical studies, its stems and sap can reduce aged cells by 55 per cent. Recognising the majestic power of this tree of life, Sulwhasoo has released Timetreasure Ex. The line uses the South Korean brand’s patented DAA, an ingredient with anti-ageing properties that is extracted from red pine trees and pine mushrooms through proprietary methods. The Timetreasure Renovating Eye Cream Ex combines anti-ageing and whitening properties to rejuvenate the skin and promote collagen regeneration, and also incorporates the ginseng metabolite compound K and white ginseng saponin. Eye see what you did there……

#ParisFashionWeek #LouisVuittonExhibit Nobody likes climbing stairs, but a photo like this proves it’s worth it. With an exclusive VIP pass to Louis Vuitton’s new exhibit, and getting to rub shoulders with Nick Wooster—well, Kevin’s trip has us green with envy. #DolceGabbana #VivaLaItalia Whether she’s wrapped in fur or wigging out, Deborah is the epitome of cool. Hell, we would carb-load too if Domenico Dolce was feeding us pasta! #RalphnRusso #Valentino #HauteCouture2016 Never one to wear anything twice, Yvette was spoiled for choice at Ralph & Russo’s showroom. As if that wasn’t enough, she even had the chance to chat with Valentino backstage at his show. Find more photos at hongkongtatler.com/mar16…

INSPIRED BY THE URBAN ENVIRONMENT, Portuguese artist Alexandre Farto, widely known as Vhils, uses cities as his canvas. Known for large-scale portraits carved into walls, he gained international attention when he created a work alongside a piece by Banksy at the 2008 Cans Festival in London, which was organised by the British graffiti artist. Since then, his murals have appeared on walls in cities around the globe, including Lisbon, London, Paris, Rio de Janeiro, Las Vegas and Shanghai. By carving out walls, drilling into concrete or cutting into billboards, Vhils reflects on the relationship between places and people. The artist, who recently established a studio in Hong Kong, will be taking the city by storm this month. The Sheung Wan restaurant Bibo will be hosting a series of exclusive dinners…

Whether knitted mink, classic sable or an electric-blue pelt, the flashes of fur embellishing the ensembles of A-listers added to the luxurious glamour that the Hong Kong Fur Design Competition brought to the InterContinental’s ballroom. Organised by the Young Executive Committee of the Hong Kong Fur Federation, the evening’s theme was Light Infinity, which was evident in the distinctly stark runway lighting. The spectacular show featured three dynamic presentations pitting the competing entries against each other in scenes titled Flash Lights, Exquisite Illuminations and Flamboyant Shine. Our favourite was the final scene, when a variety of colourful dresses featuring intricate fur embellishments graced the runway. Also, in what has become an annual tradition jointly presented with the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association, seven local fashion designers created pieces for the…

The new year started on a high note for Wendy Law and Will Lam when they tied the knot at a lavish wedding reception at the Grand Hyatt. Planned with the help of Wendy’s good friend Amanda Lui, everything was perfect during the celebration. The modern-day Cinderella theme saw the opulent venue decorated like the fairy tale, from the castle atop the wedding cake to the carriage that decorated the entranceway and the performance from The Nutcracker. Will’s father, Lam Foo-wah, designed the menu, which featured a range of Chinese delicacies, and guests sipped on Château Lynch-Bages from the private collection of Wendy’s father, Law Kar-po. Long before they became romantically involved, it was apparent that Wendy and Will, who dated for about 18 months before the wedding, were destined…

CHANEL A simple black clutch from Roger Vivier gets a makeover with tassels strung with pearls CAROLINA HERRERA If you’re dressing to impress, then this Chanel choker is the only piece of jewellery you’ll ever need DOLCE & GABBANA Less is more when it comes to accessories. This cocktail ring by Sophie Bille Brahe makes a subtle statement For more photos, visit hongkongtatler.com/mar16…

An exclusive group gathered at the Pottinger Hotel’s Gradini restaurant for a private dinner to toast the debut of the resort collection of Iris & Ink, the in-house label of online retailer The Outnet. Fashion director Eve Thomas said, “Our customers shop year-round from all over the globe. With that in mind, we’ve decided to add a resort collection, offering pieces for every occasion and every climate.” The collection was praised for its classic pieces with a twist.…

The crème de la crème of the city’s Indian community donned their 1920s best for the annual gala dinner of the Young Executive Group, which was held at the JW Marriott Hotel. More than 200 guests joined the Great Gatsby-themed extravaganza to celebrate the Hindu festival Diwali. The highlight was a performance by Bollywood singers Kanika Kapoor, Vishal Dadlani and Shekhar Ravjiani, who were specially flown in for the affair and had everyone on their feet dancing.…

The late, great David Bowie’s influences on fashion were as myriad as the list of characters he channelled. However, of all his personas, Ziggy Stardust provided the richest inspiration for stylists and designers the world over. This flame-haired, eye-patched showman, with his sexually ambiguous, glam androgeny, is perhaps one of the most enduring and iconic images of popular culture. Ziggy-inspired getups are not only magical and theatrical; they’re damn good fun. So what are you waiting for? Slip into that star-spangled silk shirt and tie that neckerchief, saunter in an oversized tweed coat and trilby or slither into that naughty silver catsuit and some glittery purple platform boots—eye patch optional—and Let’s Dance! ZIGGY ZIG AH! DARE TO WEAR Bum bag. Belt bag. Fanny pack. Whatever you wish to call it,…

COASTING IN NEUTRAL  LOATHE NEON? HAVE NIGHTMARES ABOUT COLOUR CLASHING? RELAX, THE FEELING’S NEUTRAL LABEL LOVER UMIT BENAN Turkish-born and educated in Switzerland, Umit Benan launched his eponymous label in 2009 and won Pitti Uomo’s prestigious Who is on Next award in 2010. As well as running his own critically acclaimed menswear line, Benan (inset) took the helm as creative director of Italian fashion house Trussardi’s menswear and womenswear from 2011 to 2013. He now focuses on making his signature Ottoman-influenced bold tailoring and sportswear for men, and recently opened a store in Japan that created much buzz. Benan’s spring/summer 2016 collection, Comandante, which he showed in a Peruvian restaurant on the outskirts of Paris, imagines Fidel Castro and Che Guevara celebrating their victory over the dictator Fulgencio Batista in…

1986 Dolce & Gabbana reveals its first women’s collection in a show titled Real Women 1989 The brand enters an agreement with the Kashiyama group to open its first boutique in Japan 1990 The first men’s collection is shown for the Italian label 1993 Dolce & Gabbana designs 1,500 costumes for Madonna’s 1993 The Girlie Show World Tour 1994 D&G, the contemporary line for men and women, is launched 1996 The brand seals a deal with the Japanese group Misaki Shoji to manage all Dolce & Gabbana and D&G shops in Japan 2001 Childrenswear is introduced under the label D&G Junior 2005 The brand becomes the first Italian fashion company to operate in China without a local partner, opening its first flagship store in Hangzhou 2012 Dolce & Gabbana closes…

RADIANCE RELOADED Impatient skin that demands instant perfection can find flawlessness in La Prairie Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold and Lancôme Absolue Sublime Radiance Smoothing Loose Powder. La Praire’s perfecting fluid comes in a gel-cream emulsion which utilises the photo-reflecting, anti-redness properties of gold to immediately enhance the skin’s appearance, while collagen-boosting peptides deliver deep dermal benefits over time. Lock in radiance and zap any areas of unwanted shine with Lancôme’s loose powder, infused with precious oils and gold pigments that diffuse light to blur pores and imperfections. BLACK OUT Concealing and controlling dark spots has never been so easy with the latest products to camouflage and treat imperfections Green Getaway Spritz a hint of spring into your scent with a selection of fragrances that offer an escape from…

WHEN YOU THINK OF blue eyeshadow, unfortunate memories can spring to mind. Cyndi Lauper. Toddlers & Tiaras. Your first failed attempt to do your make-up at the age of 13. Because that’s the thing with blue eye make-up—when it’s done badly, it’s an ’80s horror show. But when it’s done well, it’s sexy and cool with that touch of daring insouciance we all want to perfect. And because it’s one of the biggest beauty trends of the season, we’ve put together this foolproof guide for doing blue the high-fashion way—and not a shoulder-pad or shimmer lip in sight. The Colours Find the blue that matches your style and personality NAVY Pencil is better than shadow if you’re going for the chicest blue of all. Models at Jonathan Saunders went down…

ONE OF THE first things a watch enthusiast learns to ask is whether the model being examined has an in-house movement. While an affirmative answer doesn’t automatically guarantee better performance and precision than a timepiece without such a movement, the knowledge that the watchmaker has put time, research and capital into the development of its product certainly implies a high degree of commitment to the craft. These companies are also able to play around with design and function, having freed themselves from the limitations of using ébauches, movements sourced from outside suppliers. This was high in the mind of Chopard co-president Karl-Friedrich Scheufele when he reestablished the company’s own watchmaking factory in Fleurier, Switzerland, two decades ago. Its first in-house movement, the automatic winding Calibre 1.96, was created under the…

“THIS SUDDEN INTEREST IN AFRICA IS CONNECTED TO THE DYNAMICS OF THE ART WORLD AND THE HUNGER TO FIND THE NEXT BIG THING. IT WAS ASIA, NOW IT’S AFRICA—IT ALL FALLS UNDER THE QUEST FOR SOMETHING NEW” “THERE’S A SCRAMBLE FOR Africa happening right now. The contemporary art market is going crazy for us and the thing is, I can’t decide if it’s the answer to all our prayers or if it’s almost distasteful,” says Jonathan Garnham, founder of Blank Projects, a collective and gallery space in Cape Town for southern Africa’s emerging artists. It all happened so quickly. When asked about African art five years ago, people could possibly name Ghanaian sculptor El Anatsui, and then they just pictured a jumble of masks and wooden statues. Certainly nothing worth…

MIRACLE WORKERS 1 The gold-infused Cellular Radiance Perfecting Fluide Pure Gold by La Prairie is your ticket to perfection. 2 Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Âge by Sisley takes genetic, environmental and behavioural ageing into account. 3 Charm In Cell is here to help you whiten and brighten with its Day Essence, and regenerate cells with Night Essence. 4 Affirm and confirm smooth, supple and bouncy skin with the Re:Firm face treatment by Perricone MD, available at Joyce Beauty. 5 Defy gravity with Dior Capture Totale Multi-Perfection Crème, which has regenerative properties from a complex derived from the longoza flower. 6 The modern classic Clé de Peau Beauté La Crème now includes the Illuminating Complex Ex, the brand’s special blend of moisturising and retexturising ingredients based on its “intuitive skin theory.” 7 For…

“I really enjoy Charm In Cell’s products. One of my favourites is the face cream—it’s very high-quality and highly moisturising. My skin looks so smooth after applying it. The BB cream is also the best I have ever used—extremely even and natural, perfect for Asian skin. I use it daily for work for a naturally made-up look.” –Angie Ting “I love how the serum and cream are light and very moisturising. It goes on smoothly, tightens pores and smoothes my skin, making it feel rested and refreshed.” –Jennifer Cheng “I look forward to using Charm In Cell every morning, as it brightens and rehydrates my skin greatly. My skin has significantly improved, revitalised and has a glow even after working long hours at night. Using the experience set is an…

Real Gems Think Marie Antoinette at Coachella and you’ll get an insight into the glittering, glamorous trend that dominated the catwalks this season. From jewelled brooches and ruby-encrusted mini crowns to oversized emerald hair clips and multi-strands of gold and silver, baubles have migrated north from your neck. Dolce & Gabbana embellished simple black headbands with art deco brooches, while Alberta Ferretti wove gold thread through tousled locks. Models wore prom queen tiaras at Marc Jacobs and Grecian gold headpieces at Rodarte. And don’t make the mistake of thinking this is a look just for after dark—it works just as well with jeans and an Alexander Wang T-shirt by day as it does with a Marchesa evening gown by night. But there’s one hard-and-fast rule: hair needs to look tousled…