Innholdsfortegnelse for December 2016 i Tatler Hong Kong

PHILIPPINE TATLER FAIRY-TALE WEDDING On the cover of this festive issue are Justin Pitt and Cristalle Belo, who talk about their fairy-tale romance and beautiful Italian wedding. This issue also celebrates the lives of eight standout men and women who reveal how their experiences have shaped them. And in the spirit of giving, the magazine presents the ultimate Christmas gift guide, which features some of the country’s top purveyors of fashion and home furnishings. SHANGLIU TATLER ART OF FASHION Jewellery designer Bao Bao Wan graces the cover this month, revealing how a passion for design, high fashion and gems shapes her wearable works. Elsewhere, the chairwoman of the Fosun Foundation, Wang Jinyuan (pictured), elaborates on the development of Shanghai’s new cultural centre. THAILAND TATLER ROYAL REGATTA This issue honours the…

“I wanted to create a place where guests don’t need to shout in order to have a conversation,” Adrian Cheung says of Stellar House, his first foray into hospitality. The restaurant, which opened in Wan Chai late last month, serves traditional Cantonese food prepared by a local chef in a modern and sophisticated setting. Adrian is also launching a food truck called Crunch Munch. His BBQ Pork Crunch—a sandwich version of the Hong Kong classic BBQ pork rice—won him one of the 16 licences available under the government’s food truck pilot scheme (against a field of 192). It should be on the road by the end of the month or early next year.…

FIONA KOTUR MARIN “Now I’m not one to look a gift horse in the mouth—I never complain about receiving a thoughtful gift or gesture. However, I was surprised when a dear friend of mine unknowingly regifted the Marni necklace to me that I had given her the previous Christmas. In fact, I actually loved it and was happy to see it again and I still wear it to this day with fondness and amusement.” ANNABELLE BOND “Without a doubt the worst Christmas present I have ever received was from my grandmother. Earlier that year I had made the fatal mistake of telling her how good she looked in a particularly awful sweater she was wearing. Obviously I was trying to boost her confidence and be polite, but the sweater was…

Every year, the team behind the Hong Kong Tatler Best Restaurants guide chews over the standout dining experiences of the previous 12 months and decides who is worthy of the title Best New Chef. The 2016 winner has just been announced as Xavier Boyer, the French chef who took the helm at Gaddi’s this year, breathing new life into the historic restaurant at The Peninsula and securing its place on our Top 20 list after a two-year absence. Boyer did an apprenticeship at Joël Robuchon’s L’Astor in Paris before making his mark in four cities at Robuchon restaurants—in Paris, London, New York and Taipei. His dishes may bear the hallmarks of Robuchon’s refined style, but Boyer’s “modern classic” cooking is even more pared back, allowing seasonal ingredients to bask in…

If Karolina Kurkova hadn’t become a supermodel, she might have been a terribly attractive archaeologist, chemist or philosopher. “I never thought modelling was going to be my career. beginning was a way me to learn English and travel, but at school I was amazing at chemistry and very artistic. I had big plans to study music or philosophy or archaeology, but you never know where life will take you and the best things in life sometimes happen unexpectedly. My work has been the most amazing school. I’ve learned about everything from photography and styling to business and marketing.” Raised in a small town in the Czech Republic, Kurkova was “discovered” at 15 when a friend sent her picture to a modelling agency in Prague. She graced the cover of American…

Eyes—Make ‘em Pop Nothing says “party” more than a shimmering, well-defined eye. Start with an opaque cream or beige shade as a base, then use metallic brown or grey shades on the outer corners of your eyelids to create depth. For a more precise tip to your winged liner, draw the flick towards your eye instead of away from it. YOUTH BOOSTERS 1 The History of Whoo’s bestselling product, Bichup Ja Saeng essence, features an upgraded formula that works to create flawless skin 2 L’Occitane’s Divine Harmony serum focuses on diminishing lines and wrinkles and improving facial contours 3 Jurlique’s Nutri-Define Restorative Hydrating Emulsion is a luxurious yet lightweight revitalising day cream…

“When deciding which pieces to sell, I choose to hold on to the most sentimental and sell the others to CIRCA” – Lelia Chow Lelia Chow is an entrepreneur of beauty pageant fame. In recent years she has come to like wearing all sorts of different jewellery. From large ornate pieces to simple accessories, she likes to mix and match these with various trendy outfits. Lelia says, “A small piece of jewellery can lift an entire outfit. A watch, a necklace or a ring can easily make an outfit more stylish and trendy. I am currently in the process of moving houses and discovered a collection of chunky jewellery. I have large gemstone rings and floral diamond necklaces from the 80s and 90s. Due to the change in fashion trend,…

The Boghossian story begins in the narrow alleyways of an ancient hilltop town overlooking the Mesopotamian plains. It was here in the cultural and religious melting pot of Mardin, Turkey, that the first Boghossian jewellery atelier opened in 1868. With part of the international trade transiting through Mardin, the family quickly becomes gem traders, adding the exchange of natural pearls and diamonds to their operations. At the break of the first World War, Ohaness Boghossian, the third generation, establishes itself in the ancient city of Aleppo and opens his first shop in 1919. The family business is thriving and the customers acquainted with the Boghossian name is growing from Aleppo to Jerusalem, Tripoli and even Turkey. In 1937, Robert Boghossian joins force with his father and looks after the boutique…

Gübelin has always been inspired by nature. The Swiss brand is particularly moved by the individual depth and soul of each gem it works with, which is why the complex blue hues of the sapphire are at the heart of the Drops of Water line. This collection came about not only because of a fascination with the swell and movement of the sea but because of the flawless sapphires Gübelin has been able to work with. The line started taking shape when Gübelin gemmologists decided to create pieces of jewellery based on microphotographs of a sapphire. This technique allowed them to enlarge the complex shapes and colour swirls inside the apatite crystal, which they used as inspiration for how they cut the stones. As a result they made oval, drop…

BACKGROUND Dutchman Peter Stas, 53, studied business economics at Erasmus University and Harvard University. Before diving into the world of watchmaking, he consulted for Loyens & Volkmaars, and was product marketing manager at Royal Philips Electronics. But in 1988, with his wife Aletta, he went out on a limb, starting the watch company Frédérique Constant. They acquired Alpina Watches in 2002 to diversify the business, and seven years later co-founded Ateliers de Monaco, a high-end watch manufacturer based in Monaco. It’s fair to say watches are his life; Stas co-wrote a book in 2013, Living Your Passion: Building a Watch Manufacturer. He is also a keen yachtsman. SMART THINKING Stas was ahead of the curve when he introduced the first “horological smartwatch” in 2015. It’s essentially an electronic smartwatch but…

For the Planet Ocean, each case is carved out of a single block of ceramic—an ideal material for black watches because it’s inherently black Omega has spent the past few years addressing some of the most fundamental issues facing watchmakers, from countering magnetic fields to developing innovative materials that are not only durable, but aesthetically and ergonomically pleasing. No detail has been too small to consider. Specific advances have been employed individually in different collections, but now Omega has brought them all together in its newest range of dive watches, the Omega Seamaster Planet Ocean Deep Black line. While many will be familiar with the Speedmaster collection, and in particular Omega’s moon watches, which Nasa selected for the Apollo missions, the brand has been no less obsessed with planet Earth…

ELSENHAM WATER Bottled in Essex, England, Elsenham has friends in illustrious places—it’s the most popular water for shoppers at Colette in Paris and was the only water available at Spain’s famed El Bulli restaurant until it closed its doors. FILLICO Bottled in the mountains that overlook Osaka, Japan, and topped with a small golden crown, Fillico is the water of choice for a number of celebrities. ROI The Slovenian brand has long been used as a health water because it has the highest concentration of magnesium of any water in the world. VICHY CATALAN Vichy’s high mineral content gives it a very salty taste, which means it pairs well with rich foods. GIZE From Spa Springs in Nova Scotia, Canada, Gize water passes through layers of rock that formed more…

21 Nettleton Views of the Atlantic Ocean, Table Mountain and the Twelve Apostles are complemented by lavish furnishings and beautiful grounds at this boutique hotel. Located on Cape Town’s most exclusive (and expensive) street, Nettleton Road, it offers just four suites, so privacy is guaranteed. La Residence Opulence meets rustic charm at this estate in the heart of Franschhoek in Cape Town’s winelands. Expect high ceilings, chandeliers, burgundy velvet and bathrooms reminiscent of Versailles’ Hall of Mirrors. Request a room on the ground floor so you can throw open the French doors of your suite and walk directly into the vineyard. Tintswalo Atlantic This oceanfront lodge in Table Mountain National Park provides a complete retreat from the urban hubbub. Each of the plush, beachfront suites is uniquely decorated, so be…

JOYCE PRIVATE DINNER AND EXHIBITION Joyce celebrated the revamp of its flagship boutique in Central with a three-day interactive fashion exhibition. The Golden Needle was a journey through the mind of fictional Joyce alter ego The Tailor, who led visitors through a series of rooms offering a glimpse into her past, present and future. The theatrical show also celebrated the designers and artisans who have been involved in Joyce over the past 46 years. It was overseen by production designer Joseph Bennett, whose previous work includes the Alexander McQueen: Savage Beauty exhibition, theatre director James Seager, of British theatre troupe Les Enfants Terribles, and fashion stylist Olivier Châtenet. Fashion figures, celebrities and VIPs attended a lively cocktail party to launch the exhibition. Overseas guests who flew in for the occasion…

LÉGENDE VIP DINNER A group of VIPs raised their glasses at Pierre in the Mandarin Oriental to toast the launch of redesigned labels for the Légende line of wines from Domaines Barons de Rothschild (Lafite). Guests at the dinner, hosted by ASC Fine Wines, had the chance to sample the five appellations in the collection—Bordeaux Rouge, Bordeaux Blanc, Médoc, Saint-Emilion and Pauillac, with the last proving to be the favourite. THE INSIDER Many of the guests enjoyed hamming it up with the props that were provided at the photo booth…

Miami, Florida, is a very special place for me, not least because it’s where I opened my first retail boutique (we now have four across the US). The city’s energy is unbeatable; it always feels positive, upbeat and optimistic. The combination of the incredible weather and art deco architecture always puts a smile on my face. I generally try to catch the sunrise and start my day with an ocean swim, after which I grab an organic juice from Jugofresh or Manna Life and head to my South Beach boutique to spend time with the team and meet clients. Once lunchtime arrives, we’re spoilt for choice. One of my favourite restaurants, if in the mood for Cuban, is Cafe Versailles in Little Havana. The Mandolin Aegean Bistro and Joe’s Stone…

“It’s the kind of place where you can eat a pizza in bed, you leave towels on the floor and you come back and they’re magically gone,” Adrian says, describing the suspended reality of a hotel room. “It’s supposed to be this utopian area where everything has its use and everything has its place, but in reality, when you’re jetlagged and scrambling to get from meeting to meeting, it becomes a place where the normal world kind of falls apart.” It didn’t take long for Adrian and Joyce, who both travel regularly, to agree on the theme of hotel rooms—and what they don’t like about them. “We shared a lot of negativity about hotel rooms and why they feel absurd. We discussed the really odd pieces of furniture hotels have,”…

DECORATION 1. Noel Fir Tree Mille Nuits by Baccarat 2. Christmas ornament by Christofle 3. Printed porcelain bauble by Lanvin 4. Mobile Magnolia Wreath by Georg Jensen 5. Chêne Christmas ornament by Lalique 6. Advent Calendar by Jo Malone 7. Baubles by Alessi 8. Scented candle by Tory Burch 9. Bandsman ornament by Fortnum & Mason 10. Crystal Christmas tree ornament by Shishi AS BABIES AND TODDLERS BABY LOVE 1. Sunglasses by Stella McCartney 2. Mink hat by Tory Burch 3. Jacket by Gusella 4. Frozen-themed boots by Moon Boot 5. Jumper by Marc Jacobs 6. Rabbit fur earmuffs by MCM 7. Make a Mini Foosball Table kit by Seedling 8. Parka by Armani Junior 9. Dress by Fendi 10. Cardigan by Ralph Lauren 11. Girls’ glitter pizza slice bag…

To celebrate the joy of Christmas in the most lasting way possible, luxury jeweller Chow Tai Fook has teamed up with Forevermark to create an array of collections featuring Forevermark diamonds. It is a natural fit, given that Chow Tai Fook’s philosophy revolves around two words: sincerity and eternity. The Hong Kong brand also aims to combine sophisticated design and exquisite craftsmanship to create precious jewellery that will last from generation to generation. It’s a similar brand ethos to that of Forevermark, and the new collection from the two houses offers pieces that will make ideal gifts if you’re planning to surprise that special someone you hope will be in your life for many Christmases to come. They have chosen the swan, a bird that famously mates for life, as…

PLASTIC FANTASTIC Which power couple from an elite family were so keen to look their best at an event they hosted recently that they both went MIA for a few weeks beforehand? Friends assumed they were on a detox holiday, when really they were in Bangkok getting nipped and tucked. DADDY’S GIRL She goes through marriages like most go through Birkins and yet she’s hopeful that fiancé number five is The One. Well, it can’t hurt that he’s the heir to the organisation that currently employs her. Careful dear, it’s not the first time you’ve played with fire and ended up being burnt. BODY OF WORK She tells the world she has struggled to get pregnant and has tried everything from IVF to traditional Chinese medicine. The truth is, she…

We all know what happened when Dorothy went to visit the Wizard of Oz, but what about the witches who were spooking around town? Wicked, the Broadway and West End musical phenomenon that tells the untold story of the Witches of Oz, is set to cast its magical spell over the city when it debuts at the Academy for Performing Arts on December 8. Demand for the blockbuster musical, which has routinely played to sold-out audiences around the world, has been so overwhelming that the run has been extended to January 22. Featuring technical wizardry, stunning costumes and showstopping songs by three-time Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz, it has been performed in 100 cities and 14 countries and been translated into six languages. It also won three Tony awards on…

1 STREET EATS MOI MOI Australian-Vietnamese celebrity chef Luke Nguyen has opened his first Hong Kong restaurant, a casual eatery in Central celebrating the best of Vietnamese street food. facebook.com/ moimoibylukenguyen 2 ACCESS ALL AREAS KEE CLUB German chef Bjoern Alexander, previously of Twenty Six, brings his European-meets-Japanese cuisine to Kee Club. Non-members can dine at the club by citing the one-time access code “Key to Kee” when booking until January. keeclub.com 3 SURF’S UP COMMISSARY Love the fresh flavours of the US West Coast? Yenn Wong has partnered with chefs Morgan McGlone and Adam Shoebridge to open this Southern Californian restaurant in Pacific Place. facebook.com/commissaryhk 4 FRESH LOOK BO INNOVATION Self-proclaimed “demon chef” Alvin Leung has moved his Ship Street restaurant down the road to larger premises, and promises…

ALEXANDER MCQUEEN A statement dress like Ming’s is best teamed with subtle accessories, such as these Bulgari earrings ALICE MCCALL Follow Feiping’s lead and add a pop of colour to your outfit with a bold accessory, like this apricot handbag by Dior SHANGHAI TANG Jaime knows how to stand above the crowd. Walk tall in a pair of red Gianvito Rossi stilettos For more trendsetters, visit hongkongtatler.com/oct16…

Hair bling is back! We’re not talking those diamanté spirals you twisted into your hair mascara-d locks in the ’90s. We’re talking serious, proper hair jewellery. Sonia Rykiel fastened twists of hair with sparkling clips at both sides, Dolce & Gabbana sent big, bold and bejewelled Alice bands glittering down the runway, while Alexander McQueen’s mad mass of brooches and clips kept updos beautifully dishevelled. Daytime tiaras are now also officially legit. Style with bed hair and leather jackets to avoid looking too Princess Diaries. Feeling the pinch? A single Margot Tenenbaum barrette is oh-so of-the-minute.…

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Glowing Jellyfish is not a name you would immediately associate with an exquisite, high-end jewellery line. But Gübelin is full of surprises, and in its quest to explore all aspects of marine life the Swiss jeweller has shifted focus from ocean currents and found inspiration in the fluid, graceful movements of this mysterious sea creature. And the more you think about it, the more it makes sense. Anyone who has been scuba diving will have admired the way jellyfish float and bloom in the water. Made almost entirely of water, their bell-shaped bodies gently billow to and fro and their long tentacles can seem like trails of light in the shallow seas. Having barely changed in the last 500 million years, jellyfish are also reminders of ancient earth—much like sapphires,…

1 Go for Gold The Nautilus Chronograph Ref. 5976/1G 40th Anniversary Limited Edition has an automatic movement with a 21-karat gold rotor 2 Worthy Successor Its predecessor, the Ref. 5980, was the first chronograph in the Nautilus line. It was released in 2006 to mark the model’s 30th anniversary 3 Bigger and Better The case is 30mm in diameter—3.6mm wider than the Ref. 5980. It’s also more robust and easier to read with a bigger date window, hour and minute counters 4 Out of the Box It comes in a box made from brown cork—an exact replica of the one the first Nautilus came in when it was released in 1976 5 Power Play Its impressive power reserve of up to 55 hours, or more than two days, is guaranteed…

1 MINERALS FIRST, PACKAGING SECOND “The main factors that contribute to the taste of water are its mineral composition and its packaging. A water with higher minerality will typically have a more noticeable taste, and quality glass packaging will help keep the taste unaltered and true to its original form.” 2 WATER CAN AGE LIKE WINE “Some spring waters take many years to get from rainwater to the actual spring—I have drunk 15,000-year-old water and it was incredible. But when you open a bottle of water, you should drink it immediately. Water reacts to air like any other beverage and will change in taste if you have it open too long.” 3 CHILL IT TO 15C “Just cold enough to be refreshing but not so cold that it will give…

It rains, then it shines, the weather playing a fanciful game in the picturesque Tuscan countryside as the waning summer slides reluctantly towards autumn. The unpredictable atmospherics only enhance the charm of Il Borro, a village dating back to 1039, as an impeccably dressed Ferruccio Ferragamo and his equally dapper son Salvatore greet me. The famous family founded by Salvatore’s eponymous grandfather owns this gorgeous medieval hamlet, set in a picturesque floodplain carved by the Arno River and bordered by the Pratomagno ridge, the Apennines and the hills of Chianti. Ferruccio, the eldest son of the humble shoemaker who started the family business, discovered Il Borro during a hunting trip in 1985, but it was a broken, derelict version of what exists today and its hardscrabble inhabitants were struggling to…

I’d always wanted to visit the US state of Oregon but could never find the time. Winemakers in its Willamette Valley, about 40 kilometres southwest of Portland, have been producing excellent pinot noir for more than three decades, and at bargain prices relative to the outstanding quality, especially compared to the likes of red Burgundy. I finally found the time to visit in October and tasted my way through almost 300 pinot noirs and a few dozen chardonnays from the valley’s best producers. Both the reds and whites were outstanding, with about 90 per cent scoring 90 points or more and about 12 per cent, or 36 wines, 95 points or above. Oregon’s pinot noir is close in profile to Burgundy’s, and less dense and fruity than, say, those of…

The Pink Ball is always a fun evening for a worthy cause that my family and I have supported and will continue to support for many years to come—Vena Cheng PINK BALL This year’s Pink Ball at the Grand Hyatt was an evening of cocktails, fundraising and dancing—lots of it. Even better, it raised HK$6 million for the Hong Kong Hereditary Breast Cancer Family Registry, which provides free genetic screening and consultations for underprivileged families at risk of breast, ovarian and prostate cancer. Its chairman, Ava Kwong, welcomed guests with an update on the registry’s progress and highlighted its success stories. The live band had guests on the dance floor early on, and indeed into the early hours, with crowd-pleasers like I Will Survive. Patrick Wang, meanwhile, got flowers and…

APINARA OPENING PARTY For her latest venture, restaurateur Pearl Shek wanted to bring authentic spicy Thai flavours to the city. She’s teamed up with Narawadee (Yuki) Srikarnchana of the acclaimed Nara Thai Cuisine in Bangkok to open Apinara in Pacific Place. Typhoon Haima may have been lashing the city on opening night but it didn’t stop a large crowd of family and friends turning out for drinks, dinner and a traditional Thai puppet show to celebrate.…

“The pictures tell an intimate story of Kevin’s loves, his family, his relationships and the things that have shaped his universe,” says Anais, of the collection of photos Kevin took with a film camera on recent travels to New York, Los Angeles, Thailand and Paris. The photos will be printed in a large hardback book. “It’s a very instinctive, very linear method of collecting what’s important to him.” Kevin began shooting on film a year ago, and enjoys the mystery and anticipation involved when developing his reels. “I’ve been using some films that are discontinued or expired, so it’s a lottery how they will come out. It’s like having 100,000 filters on your Instagram and you don’t really know which one it’s going to use.” He has also written short…

“It’s a love story. A love story between a van and a doll,” says Flora of the short film she is creating with Wong. The protagonist is a mobile love motel—an old ice-cream truck that will be given a tawdry makeover—that drives around Hong Kong allowing lovers to sate their sexual appetites outside the confines of their tiny, overpopulated apartments. Wong hasn’t decided on the vehicle’s gender yet but its name is Love Vehicle and it will narrate the film in the first person. Its clients are played by life-sized dolls created by Wong in the style of his signature, often explicit, animated characters. Love Vehicle is going about its days as a love motel, looked down upon by vehicles with “higher” purposes, when it finds itself falling in love…

While kissing under the mistletoe, singing carols at the top of your lungs and arranging presents under the tree are all essential Christmas traditions, nothing really beats the feeling of sitting down with your family and friends to polish off a turkey with all the trimmings. But if your Christmas tableware and decorations are a hotchpotch of worn-out ornaments and chipped plates, it might take some of the shine off that festive dinner you’ve been anticipating all year. Happily, help is at hand for those of us sifting through boxes of broken baubles. Heather & March, an upmarket homeware store in the Prince’s Building, sells some of the prettiest festive decorations, tableware, silverware and glasses in Hong Kong. From centrepieces with sprigs of holly that will make any table look…

The story of how Stephen and Margaret de Heinrich de Omorovicza started their award-winning skincare line sounds as though it was torn from the pages of a romance novel. The couple met in Budapest while Margaret was working as chief of staff for the US ambassador to Hungary. On their first date, Stephen took her on a tour of the city, including a famous spa that his ancestors had built more than a century earlier—and in one evening both love and her skin tone blossomed. Margaret was impressed by the effect the spa waters had on her complexion and, after the pair married, they decided to share their secret to great skin with the world. Budapest has more thermal baths than any other city in the world due to the…

Tell us a little about your Cartier project? My collaboration with Cartier is a special one. We kicked off the partnership with an intimate dinner that I co-hosted with them last month at Sevva. You know, the world is changing; no one really wants huge, mass events any more. And Sevva was the perfect setting for what they were looking for. They invited friends of their brand and I invited some of my friends for a beautiful dinner and a really fun evening. For Christmas I will create a bespoke cake in partnership with Cartier, which they will be sending to friends of the brand as a nice Christmas gift. I can’t give you too many details as it will be a surprise and I don’t want to ruin it.…

It is taking a cast of thousands, so to speak, to bring the LV Uncharted Territories project to fruition. The stars of this creative extravaganza are the eight artists—Flora Lau and Wong Ping, Wing Shya and Angela Su, Joyce Wang and Adrian Wong, and Kevin Poon and Anais Mak. In these pairs, they are creating works that muse on the concept of the journey. Behind the scenes are teams of videographers, photographers and journalists who visit the artists at regular intervals to document their progress. It has taken many months, multiple shoots and interviews, and great flexibility from everyone involved to bring this multiplatform spectacle close to fruition—and it hasn’t been without a few hitches. Logistical challenges have required the artists to reassess concepts and tweak projects more than a…

WATCH IT DFS Group will launch its eighth annual Masters of Time exhibition on December 3 with a gala event at T Galleria by DFS Macau in partnership with Shoppes at Four Seasons. More than 400 watches from 27 brands will be on display at T Galleria by DFS and available for purchase until February 28. CREATIVE PROCESS To celebrate its 35th anniversary, Alisan Fine Arts is publishing a 300-page monograph detailing its history and the development of Chinese contemporary art in Hong Kong. It will be launched on December 2, when the gallery will also open an exhibition highlighting 35 artists it has worked with closely over the years. EYE FOR TALENT Casting director Nina Gold, whose credits include Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Theory of Everything and…

For Victoria, the highlight was seeing Ne-Yo perform his 2005 hit “So Sick”—and checking out his dance moves. Laurinda isn’t afraid to make fun of herself and she loved the look of this “staff” T-shirt—perhaps it was part of her plan to go incognito over the weekend? There were plenty of big names on the line-up, but Nancy was most excited about Chaelin Lee, better known as CL. Music aside, Nancy wanted to see what she was wearing! Yen was dressed to kill in a crop top and leather pants while her partner in crime, Murong Yang, rocked a red bandage dress. Their favourite set? Nicky Romero’s, especially when he played “What A Feeling.” Thierry is no shrinking violet so naturally he didn’t hold back when it came to showing…

dec 2 STARRING PRINCIPALS OF YOUR HK PHIL Five players in a spectacular show: from a world premiere percussion piece to Haydn’s Sinfonia Concertante and Dvorák’s Seventh Symphony. At the Cultural Centre until December 3. urbtix.hk ZUNI ICOSAHEDRON: RED ROSE, WHITE ROSE A theatrical multimedia musical take on acclaimed author Eileen Chang’s famed novella on the challenge of finding love in 1940s Shanghai. At the Cultural Centre until December 3. urbtix.hk 8 UBS HONG KONG OPEN The city’s longest-running professional sporting event, with a prize purse of HK$15.5 million, attracts the world’s top golfers. At the HK Golf Club until December 11. ticketflap.com 9 MAHLER’S MIGHTY THIRD Maestro Jaap van Zweden leads the HK Phil, the Chorus, the Children’s Choir and mezzo-soprano Kelley O’Connor in Mahler’s masterpiece. At the Cultural…

Arriving at Havana’s open-air Paseo del Prado in a fleet of multicoloured convertibles, guests at Chanel’s Cruise show found themselves in a beautiful and vibrant location at a historic turning point in international relations. Everything about Karl Largerfeld’s collection screamed French-Cuban entente cordiale, and what better symbol of this than the beret? Intrinsically Gallic yet inescapably Che Guevara. Lagerfeld sent pearl-studded versions shimmying down the runway alongside floral-trim fedoras and spectator shoes. The 1950s cars of Cuba appeared as prints on several pieces, while denim jackets came with clusters of Chanel-themed pins. In lieu of a traditional finale, the show ended with a lively conga line of dancing models and musicians. All in all, a real coup. DARE TO WEAR This Fair Isle poncho by Chloé is perfect for days…

When it comes to nailing personal style, expressing your individuality is key. And what better way to start than with your very own customised Salvatore Ferragamo brogues? Celebrating a century of making some of the world’s best loafers, boots and brogues, Salvatore Ferragamo has this season launched made-to-order Tramezza shoes. Whether it’s a pair of oxfords, double monkstraps or monkstrap boots, customers can take creative control of the finishing touches of their handmade Tramezzas, the premium style in Salvatore Ferragamo’s range. The service allows for customisation of the material, colour and buckle finish, along with personalised lettering on the sole. Made-to-order Tramezzas start at about HK$11,600 for a pair of black cap-toe calfskin oxfords, while the crocodile double monkstraps will set you back about HK$104,600. A fair price given that…

Holiday make-up and nail colours for the ultimate party look…

“NEVER GIVE UP AND ALWAYS STAY TRUE TO YOURSELF” What’s your go-to colour for lipstick? Aino: I love Make Up For Ever’s bold blue shade (C-603). It adds a splash of colour to my style and it’s great to wear on stage since it’s so long lasting. Caroline: My favourite is an edgy red, like Make Up For Ever’s M-401. Works every hour of the day. What are your eating habits? We eat a lot of fish and vegetarian food, and when we’re on the road we stay away from gluten. Where do you work out? We love running because it’s the perfect way to see a city. We also like our TRX Suspension Trainers because we can bring them everywhere we go. Where would you like to go…

BACKGROUND Moussaieff just might be the jewellery world’s best-kept secret. Known only to a few deep-pocketed collectors and connoisseurs, the jewellery house began life in the 1850s in Bukhara, Uzbekistan, where a merchant by the name of Shlomo Moussaieff started trading natural pearls from the Persian Gulf for incredible gemstones from India. His son, Remo, expanded the business in Paris in the 1920s, becoming known as a leading dealer in natural pearls. When it was the turn of Remo’s son, Shlomo Jr, to take over, he moved to London where he continued to grow the Moussaieff brand with his wife, Alisa. A WOMAN’S TOUCH Though well into her 80s, Alisa has not slowed down and is known as the “driving force” of the company. She took the reins of the…

“ EVERYTHING FROM MINERAL DEFICIENCIES TO OVEREATING TO HEADACHES CAN BE LINKED TO DEHYDRATION AND POOR WATER CHOICES” Martin Riese will only drink tap water if he is in Alaska, British Columbia or the German town of Flensburg. If he’s in one of the less H2 0-enlightened parts of the world, he’ll sip on Iskilde bottled water from Denmark, Vichy Catalan from Spain or Roi from Slovenia. This unusually specific approach to thirst quenching is the result of many years of research into the different variations of H2 0 for his role as a water sommelier at Ray’s and Stark Bar, a high-end restaurant in Los Angeles. And while that last sentence may be the most Californian thing you’ve ever read, Riese is in fact a savvy German expat who…

When a giant of the whisky world teams up with the Spanish brothers behind one of the world’s best restaurants you know you’re in for a treat. Single malt Scotch whisky distiller The Macallan decided to try something new when it came to choosing the casks that would shape the flavour of its Edition No. 2. Master whisky maker Bob Dalgarno collaborated with the Rocas—Joan, Josep and Jordi, of famed restaurant El Celler de Can Roca—to choose the seven cask types that would be used to make the latest release in The Macallan’s Edition Series. El Celler de Can Roca, who topped the World’s 50 Best Restaurants list in 2015, is located in Spain—the source of the whisky distiller’s casks. These casks are particularly important to the Edition Series, which…

The Academy Ball always delivers glitz and glamour, but it’s also one of the most important philanthropic events on the city’s social calendar. Every year the academy, which was established in 1984 and has since become one of Asia’s premier arts institutions, transforms one of the stages at its Wan Chai campus into a grand dining room. As guests imbibe champagne and feast on a banquet, they are treated to a live performance by students created especially for the occasion. The purpose of the evening is to raise cash to fund the granting of scholarships to worthy students. The scholarship campaign is driven by the Society of the Academy for Performing Arts (SAPA), the academy’s fundraising arm, which has raised more than HK$70 million and supported around 1,000 scholarships since…

LOUVRE MUSEUM GALA DINNER The Louvre hosted a gala dinner for more than 500 government representatives, business leaders and VIPs at the Wynn Palace Cotai, Macau, ahead of the opening this month of a major exhibition at the National Museum of China in Beijing, Invention of the Louvre: Eight Centuries of French History Through the Museum’s Collections. The exhibition—which features more than 130 paintings, sculptures, prints and artefacts recording key moments in the history of the museum and its premises’ previous incarnation as a royal palace—will move to Hong Kong’s Heritage Museum in April as part of Le French May and 20th anniversary celebrations of the Hong Kong SAR. The sumptuous menu was created by Michelin-starred chef Guy Martin. François Curiel, chairman of Christie’s Asia-Pacific, presided over an auction of…

CLÉ DE PEAU BEAUTÉ ANNIVERSARY PARTY This was a party that was sure to get glowing reviews. To celebrate its 15th anniversary in Hong Kong, Clé de Peau Beauté put on a show in the atrium of IFC Mall. The theme was inner radiance, ably demonstrated by its six stars: Anita Yuen, Emily Lam Ho, Colleen Fung, Chelsea Chau, Vivian Luk and Lisa Selesner. All have worked with the Make-A-Wish Foundation and their stories of helping seriously ill children were told in holographic videos and a photo exhibition. Guests at the evening cocktail event included Olivia Lee-Davies, Audry Ai-Morrow, Yolanda Choy-Tang, Leigh Tung-Chou and Michele Li. For more photos, visit hongkongtatler.com/dec16…

LE FRENCH MAY PREVIEW PARTY Francophiles got a sneak preview of next year’s Le French May arts festival at a cocktail party at the Asia Society, where the 2017 theme was revealed: Celebrating Art and Life, the French Way. Fitting really, since next year is the 25th anniversary of the event organised by the French consulate. Designers Christopher Owen and his wife Victoria Tang-Owen also unveiled the creative concept and visuals for the festival. For more photos, visit hongkongtatler.com/dec16…

Eight months ago, Hong Kong Tatler and Louis Vuitton came together to forge a platform that would celebrate collaboration and creativity. The resulting project, entitled Uncharted Territories, saw eight of the city’s most interesting and influential artists and creatives—chosen for their impact and relevance in their respective fields—work together in pairs to produce expressions on a theme: the spirit of travel. The participants were motivated not only by the rare opportunity to work in unlikely couplings but also by the chance to inspire and energise fellow artists in the city’s burgeoning scene. Uncharted Territories also presented them with the chance to build an artistic dialogue with Louis Vuitton. The brand’s long association with art was built through ambitious events, ranging from the expertly curated exhibitions at the Espace Louis Vuitton…

JANICE CHAN-CHOY Hong Kong Ballet Guild board member “I love getting tickets for my friends to see the Hong Kong Ballet’s annual performance of The Nutcracker at the Cultural Centre. It’s something you can experience together and, let’s face it, it doesn’t get more festive than that!” RENÉ CHU Founder of sunglasses brand Revé by René “With all the parties and late-night festivities over the holidays, a pair of sunglasses to cover up your eye bags is actually the best thing you can give a friend.” SAMUEL LEE Executive director at an investment bank “These Bang & Olufsen speakers are a music lover’s dream come true. The sound is amazing and they look cool. Whether you put them in your home or in the office, they are bound to be…

Forever is a profoundly important word in any relationship. Uttering it signifies the moment when you move from being partners to soulmates; the moment when you acknowledge that this is the person you want to share your life with. To celebrate this moment, Forevermark is bringing back its legendary slogan, “A diamond is forever,” for the launch of the new Endlea collection. Fittingly, the motif for this exquisite line of jewellery is a ribbon bow. This symbol of nobility and luxury in Europe throughout the Middle Ages is also important in traditional Chinese dance, in which ribbons are made to float through the air and represent longevity, bliss and the cycle of life. Today the ribbon continues to represent a sense of permanence and eternity, which is why it is…