Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2019 i Tatler Malaysia

On the cover is jewellery artist Cindy Chao, who is celebrating 15 years in the business. She reflects on the hardships of her journey, her success and the person who inspires her fierce determination. The Fashion Issue also features the best of the fall/winter runway shows and profiles designer Huishan Zhang. Former model Maricris Zobel appears on the cover with her four beautiful daughters. She shares her thoughts on family, faith and finding happiness. Also featured is the Cultural Centre of the Philippines, a venerable art institute that is celebrating its 50th anniversary. Touted as one of the most romantic events of the year, the Bali wedding of Amrit Punjabi and Sanjana Hiranandani was held over four days and nights, with 10 different celebrations that were attended by hundreds of…

Kevin Woo The founder of Centro Hair Salon had his best stylists at work on the young leaders in our cover story Name your favourite hair product. Savage; it gives hair just the right amount of volume. If you can only eat the same food for the rest of the year, what would it be? Pok mee noodles—it’s a Teochew dish. Name three things on your bucket list. To grow my team, then conduct a hair show in a stadium, and also to travel for a whole month. What is your favourite outdoor activity? Swimming; it’s one of the best forms of exercise too. Andrea Kee A former fashion editor, this stylist picks trendy and sophisticated looks for our cover personalities What’s your signature dance move? None, I’m the worst…

Having just stepped out of a plane from the US a day before our scheduled photo shoot, Diana Nasimuddin caught a bug from her travels and lost her voice. Despite this, she assured our team that she was still game for the session. Described by her younger sister Nadia as ‘tough’ and ‘disciplined’, backing out of commitments isn’t an option for the director of Naza Group. “Diana gets things done. That’s the type of person she is,” says Nadia. The middle child of Tan Sri SM Nasimuddin and Puan Sri Zaleha Ismail, Diana joined the family’s corporate entity by way of the company’s F&B division. She chose business management as a field of study, which suited her perfectly. “My parents had always been a big advocate of education. They strove…

Dancesteps Studio hosted an exciting and colourful charity gala concert for its 20th anniversary at klpac. The evening featured award-winning ballet, modern, tap, and musical theatre pieces by students and alumni. In attendance were VIPs, including HRH Tengku Permaisuri Selangor, who graced the milestone performance choreographed by founder Shirena Hamzah. The INSIDER The show saw over 100 dancers from ages 6 to 50, tapping their way into the Malaysia Book of Records…

Animal prints will always be timeless, no matter the season. Bring out your feline tendencies with Roger Vivier’s I Love Vivier Leopard heels or Louis Vuitton’s bucket bag and cap it off with a dash of Chanel. Button up in Dior’s jungle print shirt with a trendy ‘French tuck’ and step out in style with a pair of Gucci sneakers embossed with golden bees.…

YSL BEAUTÉ ILLUMINATING POWERS THAT CREATE A NATURAL-LOOKING COVER The iconic Touche Eclat High Cover concealer reduces dark circles and enhances your look in a matter of a click. For over 25 years, the concealer has been loved by many and there’s no secret as to why. Luxuriously packaged, it provides a natural and buildable weightless coverage that has you looking refreshed in a matter of minutes. La Mer A MIRACLE WORKER THAT’S QUICK TO REVITALISE To keep up with your skincare regime while travelling, the easiest thing you can do is apply serums! The Le Concentrate is a super concentrated miracle worker that helps strengthen, soothe and stabilise dehydrated skin. A couple of drops goes a long way in keeping your skin hydrated. Estée Lauder AN OVERNIGHT TREATMENT PERFECT…

Microbiome may sound like a term from the pages of a science fiction novel, but it actually lives in us! In fact, it is akin to DNA, as a groundbreaking study found that it’s unique to each individual. Skin microbiome is a valuable ecosystem of microorganisms that live on your epidermis—its balance is essential to skin’s health and appearance. Such is its importance that Lancôme hosted its first Skincare Symposium dedicated to the science of microbiome. By inviting some of the world’s leading experts in microbiome research, like Richard Gallo of the University of California, and Dr Véronique Delvigne, Lancôme’s scientific director, revelations of their most-scientifically-accredited serum, the Advanced Génifique Youth Activating Concentrate were presented in Paris to 250 guests including entrepreneur Neelofa. Françoise Lehmann, global brand president of Lancôme…

Cartier has a knack for taking something uncommon and turning it into a classic. For instance the Santos, which was not only one of the earliest wristwatches created for men but also featured an unconventional square-shaped case, a concept unheard of when it was first released in the early 20th century. Today, the Santos is one of the flagship models for the French house. Louis Cartier, the grandson of Cartier’s founder Louis-Francois, was the brainchild behind Santos’ groundbreaking design. The highly creative scion didn’t stop there—a few years after the release of Santos, in 1912 to be exact, he experimented with the conventional round case, stretching it sideways to create a shape that was dubbed baignoire (or ‘bathtub’ in French). It comprises two parallel lines connected by two curves. The…

1 Your diamond makes its first appearance as a rough in a mine in Russia, Namibia, Botswana, South Africa or Canada—countries that Tiffany & Co buys its gems from, guided by high standards of ethical sourcing. 2 Your rough then travels to the brand’s facility in Antwerp, Belgium, where it is put through no less than four tests to confirm its eligibility to be a Tiffany diamond. Assuming it passes all the tests, the rough then gets marked, meaning an industry professional would determine the ideal cut for it. 3 Depending on the size of the rough, smaller stones get flown to the diamond-polishing facility in Vietnam or Cambodia, while larger ones go to Mauritius or Botswana. At these facilities, your diamond gets polished into that final sparkling gemstone. 4…

On an airless day in raub, pahang, we learn the first rule of fermentation: to always follow your nose. “Pay attention when visiting any fermenting farm, especially if things smell foul,” warns Ong Ning Geng. The chocolatier scrunches his face ever so slightly. “If it doesn’t evoke food, it’s not good.” Fruity or vegetal aromas are a positive thing, it would seem. Rot is not. The moment of truth arrives: pausing before one of 20 whisky barrels in his fermentation shack, Ning lifts a corner of the burlap sack. A sticky-sweet scent spills forth, drifting towards us in wafts and tendrils, penetrating our nostrils. Inside each barrel is neither sauerkraut nor soy sauce, but cocoa beans, some still coated in placenta. Closing his eyes momentarily, Ning waves one hand in…

Joseph Drouhin Beaune Premier Cru Clos des Mouches Blanc 2016 Arguably Drouhin’s most famous vineyard, it often performs like a grand cru. 2016’s bottling came out taut, energetic and bright with an adolescent nose like biscuits, white blossoms and fresh linens. Clean, lean 2017 is looking more promising still. Gianni Gagliardo Barolo Lazzarito Vigna Preve 2015 Quietly toiling away for years to convert its proprietary blends into more prestigious single-vineyard crus, Gagliardo is finally releasing the (excuse the pun) fruits of its labour. 2015 was a glorious year and this Lazzarito has the muscular prowess and austerity to be a long ager, but the less patient might scoop up their fragrant charmer, Mosconi. Dom Pérignon 2008 Obvious, perhaps, but truly spectacular: acid and mineral like an electric jolt from a…

1 TUNKU: HIS LIFE AND TIMES This book by author Mubin Sheppard published in 1995 tells the story of the founder of our nation and his aspiration for Malaysia. Tunku dreamed of Malaya as a place where people live happily in harmony and peace. His message and the Merdeka spirit that founded Malaya should not be forgotten and I think our generation should continue to champion his vision for Malaysia. 2 THE CITY OF A HUNDRED SPIRES This phenomenal eastern European city completely stole my heart and I have fallen in love with it. Prague, the historical capital of Bohemia entails romanticism and love. I made a wish a year ago at one of the most beautiful bridges in Europe, Charles Bridge, and my wish actually came true this year!…

Keeping up with the family’s legacy, Dexter Lau has already had his mind set on expanding the family business locally and in Brunei. Founded by his late grandfather, Datuk Lau Yeong Ching, it is now East Malaysia’s largest consumer packed goods distributor and a public listed company that started out as a mini retail business in Sabah. Today, the driven successor is breaking barriers by restructuring the company to keep its blood pumping and remain sustainable. Everything comes in a package. I had the privilege to be exposed to many disciplines and many departments of a business at an early stage. Thus I was able to try out different aspects of the business and develop my skills at a faster rate. But these perks don’t come easy. Working for a…

In the relatively new field of medical physics in Malaysia, few rivals can come close to University of Malaya’s Professor Ng Kwan Hoong. Ng turned heads in the international medical community in 2018 when he became the first scientist from a developing nation to receive the prestigious Marie Sklodowska-Curie Award. Presented by the International Organisation For Medical Physics, the award honours scientists who have contributed significantly to the education of medical physicists and elevated the standards of research in their profession. It’s a complex bit of news to internalise. But if you think Ng’s work doesn’t impact the average Malaysian, sit down for a chat with the man himself and you’ll walk away pondering ‘big picture’ issues that didn’t seem important before. And if there’s one thing that over 30…

Suitably themed A Celebration of Food, Love & Hope, the private party was Datuk Mohd Omar Mustapha and Dato’ Sri Rozita Ramelan’s way of spending quality time with their friends and loved ones while celebrating their soon-to-be-born child. Keeping the ambiance festive was a traditional Malay band using the kompang, guitar and accordion. There’s also a kids’ play area complete with a sand art station. The INSIDER Dishes made use of Dato’ Sri Rozita’s own stock brand called Ratu Tumis Rasa Rosz…

After an exciting two-day filled schedule, the Wild Digital Southeast Asia 2019 conference ended with a grand finale at the Wetdeck, in W Kuala Lumpur. Patrick Grove, the serial entrepreneur and founder of Wild Digital, hosted the exciting after-party which saw some of the region’s brightest minds winding down and having fun. Many were spotted celebrating new friendships over drinks against the backdrop of the city’s skyline.…

Although it was shown to selected eyes at Baselworld in March, the all-new BR05 watch has essentially been kept under wraps—in this digital age, it means no posting on social media—until now. The secrecy is such that when the Only Watch charity auction announced its list of watches last month, Bell & Ross’s contribution, a unique rendition of the BR05, was conspicuously missing. The full collection was officially unveiled to the media two months ago and the reaction was generally positive. A name long associated with the universe of aviation, this time Bell & Ross shifts its attention to the vibrant character of cities with a watch designed to appeal to its sophisticated dwellers. Comprising three models and six references, the BRO5 is a more refined interpretation of the watchmaker’s…

It’s not every day you have Hugh Jackman greet you at the door, offer a chair and pour you a glass of water—and not before asking if you’d rather still or sparkling. If only this rather surreal scene were on the patio of the Australian actor’s sprawling wood cabin in New York state’s East Hampton on a beautiful summer day, but it is winter and we’re in Montblanc’s booth at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie Genève (SIHH). No matter. Right from our introduction I know this is going to be an encounter I will be replaying in my head for years to come. “Oh, I know who you are,” I say with a nervous laugh as he introduces himself and asks my name. He then goes on to…

MAKING A SCENE At an intimate gathering-cum-charity drive, a guest was throwing a fit, and demanding to be properly waited on while the host was giving a toast to the generous attendees. A fleeting dread was seen on the host’s face and obvious glances were exchanged among others present, as the guest loudly complained about the lack of seats, and the size of the venue. BUT FIRST... A man was left baffled at a wedding when he was abandoned in the middle of a catchup with a long-known friend. His companion was constantly being pulled away by his socialite girlfriend who wanted to take a picture for her essential social media update while ignoring her partner’s many, “Not now!” requests. How inconsiderate of her to make her inconsequential needs an…

1 SHORT + SWEET FESTIVAL Returning for its 12th season, the festival will run from September 6th to November 16th, and showcases performances across seven different categories including theatre and film. klpac.org 3 JOKER Joaquin Phoenix is the latest actor to helm the role of the maniacal comic book villain, the Joker in this dark and much-awaited adaptation brought to us by director Todd Philips. 4 HANDS: TAKSU Hands Percussion aims to preserve and reinvent the Malaysian traditional music and art. This time around they present Taksu, a gamelan theatre performance which also incorporates the use of Chinese drums. klpac.org 5 STAND TALL, DARLING: PINK RIBBON DAY EVENT In conjunction with breast cancer awareness, Signature Market is hosting this event at Slate @ The Row. Programmes include a health talk…

In the company of dear family and lifelong friends from around the world, Tunku Dara Naquiah and Tunku Datuk Mudzaffar Mustapha celebrated their golden anniversary with a grand Hawaiian luau in an ode to their honeymoon days in Hawaii. The grand ballroom of the Shangri-La Kuala Lumpur was decked out in palm trees, fairy lights and frangipani flowers aplenty, as guests turned up in their snazziest Hawaiian-inspired get-ups. Following dance performances, song dedications and touching speeches by Tunku Eddy Nasruan Adil, Tunku Datin Myra Madihah, Tunku Danny Nasaifuddin and Dato’ James Iskandar Jaafar-Greaves honouring ‘Nikki’ and ‘Atuk’, a spectacular traditional dance was performed by dancers who flew in all the way from Hawaii. After a cake-cutting ceremony, Tunku Dara and Tunku Datuk Mudzaffar serenaded the crowd with Olivia Newton-John’s Let…

FOR HIS FIRST TASK ON THE JOB, a young Karl-Friedrich Scheufele designed and developed a new watch collection inspired by his passion for sports. A motor-racing enthusiast and an avid skier, Karl-Friedrich has just joined the family business. To prove his mettle, he proposed to his father Karl to produce a sports model in steel. As a luxury maison specialising in precious metals, it took some convincing on the part of Karl-Friedrich to push this project through. His father finally gave in, and St Moritz, Chopard’s first sports collection, was launched in 1980. History repeats itself almost 50 years later when Karl-Friedrich’s son, Karl-Fritz, suggested taking another look at St Moritz and refreshing it for a new generation. Now co-president of Chopard, Karl-Friedrich was reluctant at first but was moved…

The Dior Beach Club launched an exciting summer party at Suria KLCC mall. The feel-good event was an immersive experience unlike any other, as signature Dior perfumes, skincare and makeup collections took centre stage. Guests had fun with a slew of activities like a ball pit for photo opportunities and personalised gifting booths. Fashionistas like Rubini Sambanthan, girl group DeFam and more were spotted posing amid the excitement. The INSIDER Guests were seen dressed in their brightest and most summery outfits to match the beach party theme…

Growing older doesn’t always mean toning things down, or at least not for the chairman of Ambank Group, Tan Sri Azman Hashim. The happy-go-lucky man gathered friends and family at the Diamond Ballroom of Equatorial Plaza to celebrate his lively 80th birthday. Loved ones showered him with lots of gratitude and well wishes through their heartfelt speeches, a video presentation plus entertaining performances—including one from his wife, Tunku Arishah Tunku Maamor with The Singing Shop. The INSIDER The man of the hour coincidentally launched his two albums and kept the crowd entertained with his lively performance, graced by The Big Band…

Envision waking up every morning, and looking out towards 2.7 acres of gorgeous greenery from your bedroom window; it is your very own private abode. A place for you to enjoy the serenity of being on your own or to connect with loved ones. It also houses a myriad of amenities that are made available to homeowners. Sounds too good to be true? Well, this slice of heaven does exist and can be found up in the hills of Melawati. After the successful launch of its award-wining 16 Quartz, Mitraland focuses its attention at this upscale locale yet again, by delivering another exciting development; it is aimed at urbanites looking for the conveniences of living in the city but still want the experience of being close to nature. Upperville at…

Nars Cosmetics threw a party to commemorate its 25th anniversary, at the centre court of Pavilion, Kuala Lumpur. Partly also to show gratitude to loyal fans of the brand, the memorable night also saw the launch of a new lipstick collection that has over 60 lip-smacking hues in matte, satin and sheer finish. Amelia Henderson, Carmen Soo, Sazzy Falak and Dynas Mokhtar were among the 300-plus guests who had fun that night in good company, and indulged in fine canapes and upbeat music. The INSIDER This collection is to pay homage to the Nars founder and creative director, François Nars, who started the line with 12 luscious shades…

No, we don’t mean we’re feeling down, rather the opposite in fact. Be it navy, teal or even cerulean, the blue hue will always be cool and in style. And here the ever-modern menswear by Ermenegildo Zegna brings on true blue fever with its dark ensemble while Blancpain draws subtlety with the pastel blue details in its Fifty Fathoms Barakuda watch, and more.…

MODERN CINDERELLA We’re adding a twist to the ethereal and grand gowns with subdued silhouetted dresses. Feathers and sequins will never go out of fashion (and can be a conversation starter.) Hence, we suggest taking notes from Atelier Versace’s turquoise form-fitting dress with a daring, plunging neckline. Find yourself inspired by your beau’s wardrobe? Tailored suits can be ladylike too, as seen with the elegant pink blazer by Alexander McQueen or the unconventional belted wrap blazer from Max Mara. CLUTCH YOUR HEART We adore the lovely touch of Coco Chanel’s signature on the sophisticated white box bag in plexiglass with strass. The mini gold bag from Dior’s Lady Art collection is simply a masterpiece, designed by South American abstract artist, Olga De Amaral. Fendi invites you to spread your wings,…

PATEK PHILIPPE The exceptional Grandmaster Chime with 20 complications —the first Patek Philippe wristwatch to feature a grand sonnerie —comes with a double dial in rose gold and black ebony created specially for the Only Watch. LOUIS VUITTON The Escale Spin Time is elevated with a tattoo rose art in grand feu champlevé enamel by Anita Porchet. The white gold minute hand doubles as the rose’s stem, while the rotating hour cylinders are set with diamonds. HUBLOT The Classic Fusion Tourbillon Sapphire Orlinski is a vision in cerulean blue thanks to 54 baguette topazes set on the white gold bezel. The transparent rubber strap also echoes the shade of the gemstones. AUDEMARS PIGUET The skeletonised movement of the Code 11.59 Tourbillon Openworked is framed by an 18k pink gold case…

The tourbillon is arguably Abraham-Louis Breguet’s most famous invention that continues to enthrall today with its spellbinding pirouette on the face of a watch The tourbillon is a grand complication designed to correct the gravitational effects that would otherwise interfere with the chronometric accuracy of a watch. Its creation was due to the fact that the pocket watch, the common time-telling instrument way back when, spent most of its time either in a vertical position in the pocket or horizontally on the table. Being in the same position for long periods of time made the watch vulnerable to the influences of gravity. In 1795, Abraham-Louis Breguet started working on a solution based on the idea of incorporating the balance wheel, spring and escapement in a mobile cage that makes one…

The luxury buyer of today is a tough nut to crack. Not only does she have global access to products and information that informs her every purchase, she is also a distrusting consumer who expects full transparency across the value chain. The fashion industry suffers most from this trust deficit, but the jewellery industry comes in a close second. Most of us have been led to believe that you can’t ask a jeweller for the provenance of its jewellery. It’s a trade secret, they say. The truth is, your jeweller probably doesn’t even know the answer. When a jeweller makes an order of polished diamonds from a supplier in Antwerp, Belgium, for instance, it’s usually a mixed bag of stones that are mined from a few countries. Little accounting is…

Dato’ Tristan is fond of history, his daughter and the CEO of Boh Plantations, Caroline Russell shares with us. Going through the autobiography that’s appended with scanned documents and family photos, it’s difficult not to be fascinated by this remarkable compilation, with history dating as far back as the 1800s. “We weren’t supposed to be given the surname, Russell. It should have been Dearie,” Dato’ Tristan Russell revealed of his family’s history as if explaining how he takes his tea. This astonishing discovery was based on the extensive research conducted by Dato’ Tristan during writing the autobiography entitled Making Their Mark On Three Continents: The Story of the Dearie-Russell Family by Claire Grey. A sought-after file, the birth certificate of John Russell (Dato’ Tristan’s grandfather) registered that his father was…

Two frequent questions flit through Datin Dr Norella Kong’s thoughts: “Will the new generation of healthcare workers be as dedicated as those of our generation; and when we are old and infirmly, will they look at us with as much love and care as we’ve shown our patients?” These are the kind of questions that stem from her being a natural caregiver at heart, and by profession, as for the longest years—if not most of her life—she has fought relentlessly to change the lives of underprivileged patients who were diagnosed with Endstage Kidney Disease (ESKD). In the 1980s, seeing as there was a dire lack of kidney replacement treatments, Dr Norella, as part of a group of pioneer workers who had just returned from their studies abroad, had to work…