Innholdsfortegnelse for November 2021 i Tatler Malaysia

TATLER HONG KONG Twenty years in the making, the ambitious M+ museum for art, architecture and design, and moving images finally opens its doors in Hong Kong. Museum director Suhanya Raffel takes us on an exclusive tour of the Herzog & de Meurondesigned campus. TATLER INDONESIA Calligraphy artist and painter Guo Peng goes deep into the art of traditional Chinese ink painting and discusses how each work he creates is imbued with the heritage of high artistry. TATLER MALAYSIA Korean American actor Ma Dong-seok, also known as Don Lee, is marking milestones with his first all-English-language film as a featured superhero, the beefy Gilgamesh, in this month’s Marvel Cinematic Universe release of Eternals. TATLER PHILIPPINES Fashion designer Monique Lhuillier celebrates her 25th anniversary in business with the release of Rizzoli…

CHRISTINE DE LASSUS Christine de Lassus is an internationally renowned fashion stylist and creative consultant who has collaborated with photographers including Irving Penn, Steven Klein and Patrick Demarchelier. Her work has been featured in publications such as Vogue, Harper’s Bazaar and L’Officiel. In this issue, she styled the fashion shoot (p.96) LAURE JOLIET Born in California and raised between LA and Paris, Laure Joliet is a photographer with an eye for architectural detail and the subtlety and warmth of interior spaces. She studied at CalArts and the Ecole des Beaux Arts, and has spent the past decade shooting for a range of architects and designers, as well as commercial and editorial clients. For Tatler, she photographed artist Jonas Wood (p.176) ALEX MAELAND Creative director, designer and photographer Alex Maeland splits…

For years, Malaysians have been entertained by the antics of legendary chef and television personality Gordon Ramsay. We’ve been riveted, watching him train other chefs to their fullest potential in MasterChef and Hell’s Kitchen. We’ve delighted in watching him verbally tear apart hopeless restaurant owners on Kitchen Nightmares. We’ve laughed at the countless jokes and memes highlighting his quick temper and talent for memorable insults. Now, we’ll finally be able to try this British chef’s gourmet cooking for ourselves. This year, Ramsay will be opening his first Malaysian restaurant, the Gordon Ramsay Bar & Grill, in Kuala Lumpur. “It will have all the hallmarks of a Gordon Ramsay restaurant. Great service as well as obviously the great food that has a touch of Britain in it, that you would expect…

DR KULDIP KAUR, SUNGAI BULOH HOSPITAL Dr Kuldip Kaur is a dedicated medical professional who comes with a wealth of experience having previously served as Kuala Lumpur Hospital’s deputy director. When she was appointed to act as the hospital director of Sungai Buloh Hospital (HSB) in 2019, it was a huge step forward for her. Stepping into this role was something she had always envisioned taking on, and she has done well leading HSB during the Covid-19 pandemic. The hospital has been at the forefront of Malaysia’s fight against Covid-19 which has stricken the world since early 2020 and serves as the country’s main dedicated pandemic centre. “With great power comes great responsibility, and I took on this challenge in my stride,” the 59-year-old director says. According to her, she…

THE LUCKY NUMBER Max Mara celebrates its 70th anniversary, marking seven decades since the brand emerged as the trailblazer of prêt-à-porter. Placing special significance on the number seven, its 7 Special Edition T-shirts feature seven renowned artists. The collection pays homage to the past, present and future—ranging from photographs of elegant Weimaraner dogs by William Wegman, to graphic prints that appeared in exclusive runway shows plus photography inspired by the Italian Renaissance. Each design carries the essence of Max Mara and the artists, gently crafted from fresh cotton jersey and stunning appliqué panels. According to Dennis Nothdruft, head of the Fashion and Textile Museum in London, “The T-shirt is a really simple way to tell the world who and what you truly are.” PUNK PRINCESS Pierpaolo Piccioli debuts a new…

TIGHT KNIT It’s officially sweater weather. Take it up a notch by wrapping yourself in the cosy textile from top to toe. ONE OF THE BOYS According to the most practical trend this fall, everything you need can be found in Dad’s closet. SILVER LININGS When worn with white and beige, grey becomes anything but dreary. BOOT BOOST The humble boot gets a lift with the help of spongey, platform soles that offer height without sacrificing comfort. GONE SHOPPING Grocery shopping has never looked chicer with the help of these splashy designer tote bags. TALL ORDER If your long boots need an upgrade this season, consider one of these showstoppers, meant to steal the spotlight as you pound the pavement. THE FUTURE IS BRIGHT In splashes of neon and a…

SNAKE EYES Frédéric Boucheron, founder of French jewellery maison Boucheron, first thought up the Serpent Bohème collection in 1888 for his beloved wife Gabrielle as a symbol of protection. The romantic line endures to this day and, whether you prefer pendant earrings set with slivers of carnelian or standout rings carved out of solid gold, Serpent Bohème continues to be the perfect token of love for that special someone. DARE TO BLOOM It has been over 20 years since Victoire de Castellane arrived at Dior to create fine jewellery for the luxury fashion house and, this year, the artistic director has drawn inspiration from Christian Dior’s favourite flower, the rose. The resulting 116-piece high jewellery collection, titled Dior Rose, was unveiled in Chengdu during a gala dinner earlier this year,…

ROYAL OAK OFFSHORE SELFWINDING CHRONOGRAPH The new line boasts five redesigned timepieces, exquisitely crafted from titanium, 18-carat pink gold and stainless steel in 43mm. A bolder, more refined collection, the case includes larger, polished chamfers on the edges, titanium and ceramic bezels, and the latest self-winding flyback chronograph: the Calibre 4401. A variety of elegant shades is further enhanced by the bolder criss-cross Méga Tapisserie pattern adorning the dial. ROYAL OAK This 34mm timepiece is carved from black ceramic and fashioned into sleek-cut armour for smaller wrists. Truly a standout piece of work, ceramic components are light as a feather, made ultra-resistant and scratch-proof. The model is hand-finished with Audemars Piguet’s trademark satin-brushing and polished chamfers. Featuring subtle accents of 18-carat pink-gold, the model reveals a meticulously engraved Guilloché pattern…

“They are all a bit unique—watches and women both,” says Cécile Guenat, the creative and development director of Richard Mille. As if a testament to how strongly this sentiment is held in the hallowed halls of the brand’s workshop, Richard Mille’s creations for the ladies have always been in a league of their own. One may call them ostentatious, extravagant, or experimental, but one can never accuse them of being staid. Upholding this tradition of irreverence are two of this year’s additions to the brand’s iconic RM 07-01 ladies’ collection, the RM 07-01 Automatic Starry Night, and an RM 07-01 Automatic with an open-link red gold and carbon TPT bracelet. The “TPT” in carbon TPT stands for thin ply technology and the material is prized for its strength, weightlessness, damascene…

The nights were hectic with dinners and cocktail events. In early July, as Paris celebrated the return to in-person fashion shows at its semi-annual couture event, Giorgio Armani, who had been among the first Italian designers to cancel his show in February 2020 as the pandemic first surfaced in Milan, staged an intimate runway show and gathering at the Italian Embassy. One guest remarked on Instagram what a thrill it was to catch a glimpse of the designer up close. Even as a dinner took place outside on the grand hotel particulier’s grounds, images from inside showed a packed staircase full of guests and crew members overlooking a crowded entryway full of unmasked models. Elsewhere, Mick Jagger mixed with models in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower. Dior, Chanel and…

The wine world has a funny relationship with the idea of signature wines. On the one hand, regions or even countries seem to benefit heavily when able to carve out a clear niche (think Napa cabernet or New Zealand sauvignon blanc); but what at first seems like a blessing can sour on the vine when producers find themselves unable to escape that narrowly defined box. This is particularly pertinent when it applies to entire countries. Too often, a diverse portfolio of specific and sensitively made wines gets brutally overshadowed by the “signature” behemoth. Australia, for example, can struggle to raise awareness internationally of even its most deeply historical wine styles because its name is inextricably linked with shiraz. A subset of Australian wines that seems to have got lost in…

Action, historical, comedy, time travel, romance, biopic, melodrama, sports, horror, thriller, crime, fantasy—you name it, he’s done it. Korean American actor Ma Dong-seok (also known as Don Lee) is by no measure a stranger to the entertainment circuit on his home ground. In 2016’s zombie hit Train to Busan, Ma played the supporting role of Yoon Sang-hwa, a man who valiantly sacrifices himself for the greater good. The breakout performance propelled him to international popularity and cemented his status as one of the most successful actors in South Korea. Perhaps it was this display of heroism, coupled with his ‘tough guy’ persona, that landed him in Hollywood’s radar. In 2019, Ma was handpicked to join the cast of Marvel Cinematic Universe’s (MCU) Eternals alongside a star-studded lineup of actors including…

Nur Amalina Che Bakri always knew that she wanted to become a doctor. When she was a teen, Amalina would often read books about anatomy and about being a physician. She had decided then that she would dedicate her life to help others. A brilliant student, she held the record of most 1As scored in the Sijil Pelajaran Malaysia 2004 scoring 17 straight A’s. She was awarded the Kijang Emas Scholarship from Bank Negara Malaysia and completed her studies in the United Kingdom where she graduated from the University of Edinburgh with a Bachelor of Medical Sciences (Pharmacology). After completing her master’s at Cambridge University, Amalina specialised in general surgery and worked at several hospitals across the UK. She is currently a general surgery registrar and clinical research fellow at…

Hong Kong-born, New York City-based designer Sarah Law founded her cult accessories label Kara (derived from the word “karaoke”) in 2013 and has since found fans around the world. The Parsons School of Design graduate is now best known for her bling bags, and the occasional unexpected accessory, like a bucket hat that morphs into a mini tote. Law also often invites emerging artists to collaborate on her work in the hope of sparking conversations about topics such as community and identity. Most recently, she partnered with retailer IT on a series of pop-ups created with artists Esmay Wagemans and Vini Nascimento that will be presented in Hong Kong and mainland China this fall. Kara can be found at Lane Crawford, Farfetch and Ssense. When did you first realise you…

SIMPLY LIVING WELL Ready to implement changes to create a more sustainable household? Simply Living Well by Julia Watkins, the creator of popular Instagram page @simply.living.well, is filled with thoughtful tips and recipes. There is advice on how to eliminate packaging, choose more sustainable household swaps and embark on at-home DIY projects to make essentials such as homemade nut milk, kitchen bowl covers, herbal balms and more. SUSTAINABLE BEAUTY Set for release on November 16, Sustainable Beauty is by Justine Jenkins, a professional make-up artist with 23 years of experience under her belt. After making a switch to become more sustainable 10 years ago, Jenkins has since become a cruelty-free cosmetics pioneer, using solely ethical and sustainable beauty products on her clients. “Becoming more sustainable is a universal issue, and…

The term “vegan skincare” tends to raise a few eyebrows; after all, we’re aware when we put animal products or animal-derived ingredients in our food, but it isn’t as obvious when we’re applying them to our skin. But it turns out the appearance of the leaping bunny logo on skincare and make-up packaging doesn’t necessarily mean animals weren’t impacted in the making of the product. While beauty brands have been moving away from animal testing for years, many still make and sell products that contain animal-derived ingredients. Some companies are making moves to change that. “In 2017, we re-examined what it meant to be truly cruelty-free,” says Carisa Janes, founder of make-up brand Hourglass Cosmetics. “If we were really committed to this mission, we shouldn’t have any animal-derived ingredients in…

Fashion influencer Chiara Ferragni has become the latest global ambassador for Italian jewellery house Bulgari. In photographs shot by photographer Giulio Rustichelli in Milan, the mother of two, who launched her fashion blog, The Blonde Salad, way back in the pre-Instagram days of 2009, is photographed wearing white- and yellow-gold diamond-decked sparklers from the brand’s famous Serpenti line.…

STOP AND START The semi-transparent enamelling that coats the elaborate dial of the new Cabaret Tourbillon Handwerkskunst really sets this timepiece apart. Limited to just 30 pieces worldwide, this ticker is inspired by the very first tourbillon watch that came with a stop seconds function. Presented by A Lange & Söhne in 2008, the watch allowed the wearer to stop the balance wheel inside the rotating cage and restart it again simply by pushing the crown. COLOUR WHEEL One of Franck Muller s bestselling models, the Vanguard is easily recognised by the watchmaker’s distinctive Cintrée Curvex case, which is arched and often houses highly complex movements. The latest model to be added to Franck Muller’s Vanguard line, the pictured Skeleton Sapphire watch features a skeletonised dial that’s visible through sheets…

Which is your favourite Bulgari watch for women? When it comes to our ladies’ watches, I’ve for sure been seduced by the evolution of our Serpenti Tubogas timepiece and its Spiga construction, which straps it onto the wrist with a wavy-patterned wraparound bracelet. What do you love about these watches? Because of the Spiga construction, we can set the diamond onto the whole body of the snake in a really impactful way. If I were looking for a gift for my wife, fiancée or daughter, the Serpenti Tubogas is perfect. What if you were buying for yourself? My professional background is in chronographs, so I’m really happy that our Octo Finissimo watches now come not only in titanium but in brushed and polished steel. Steel is better for the mainstream…

At the risk of sounding cliché, Scha Alyahya and Awal Ashaari are meant to be together. They met when they co-hosted a reality show together, but Awal was already into Scha before that, when he first saw her at the Dewi Remaja beauty pageant finals—he was the host and she was one of the contestants (she was crowned the winner). He was so smitten that after learning that other male celebrities were interested in Scha, his competitive spirit was ignited. He even had to pull some strings so he can end up in the same shoot as her. Such was his determination to pursue the woman of his dreams. After dating for three years, he popped the question on live TV, stunning a surprised Scha that she was moved to…

When Louise Wong got the call from Edko Film executive director Bill Kong that she had been chosen, out of thousands of candidates, to portray Cantopop icon Anita Mui in her biopic, she bought a ticket to Thailand immediately. But it wasn’t to celebrate: she was overwhelmed. “My hands were shaking. I was very scared,” Wong says. “I stayed in the hotel for one week and spent the first two days crying. I didn’t know what to do.” That she looks the part is without question. The fashion model, who is the only Hongkonger to have won the Elite Model Look Asia Pacific regional contest, which she took in 2006, and who has since been a favourite among brands including Shanghai Tang, Louis Vuitton and Giorgio Armani, has facial features—the…

OPHELIA BAKES Speciality: Vintage cakes with dark or floral aesthetics Instagram: @opheliabakes_my Ophelia, the beautiful but tragic noblewoman in William Shakespeare’s Hamlet, plays muse to Nabila Asyiqin and Aiman Asyraf of Ophelia Bakes. “It is such a beautiful name that represents our feminine, romantic cakes,” say the spouses. “Our whole aesthetic evokes the Elizabethan and Victorian eras, hence we love experimenting with vintage elements from old paintings and ornaments; even the simplest everyday objects were crafted with a different level of intricacy then.” Romantics at heart, Nabila and Aiman particularly enjoy taking engagement and wedding cake requests. “It is a sentimental feeling, knowing you are a part of someone’s special day, and that our creations will be preserved in their photographs and memories for years to come—it is such an…

It’s nearly the end of 2021. With vaccination rates on an upward trend, businesses have already begun reopening, invigorating the economy once again. And yet the Covid-19 virus still continues to reap its victims, a grim reminder that we are still not over this pandemic that has caught the world in its grip for nearly the past two years. During these trying times, medical frontliners have been hailed as heroes for their life-saving work and courage in facing this unprecedented health emergency. But labelling them as “heroes” has made us forget that they are victims of this plague too. Like us, they have families to go home to, and a fear of dying. Every day, they risk their lives while being overcome by fatigue and trauma and sacrificing their wellbeing.…

BETTY’S MIDWEST KITCHEN This little family restaurant tucked away in a tiny corner of Aman Suria proudly professes to offer the American Midwest on a plate. Try one of their delectable Thanksgiving specials and pair it with selections from their regular menu for an extra satisfying festive meal. Betty’s burgers are highly recommended, with the Juicy Lucy being a perennial crowd-pleaser. The biggest surprise on the menu, however, is the quirkilynamed DogFood—oven-cooked fries drenched in gravy and covered with cheese. It’s guilty pleasure food of the highest order! www.midwestkitchen.com.my/ LAS CARRETAS This Mexican restaurant famously prepares turkey take-outs every Thanksgiving, and this year is no different. Las Carretas, which means ‘The Wagon’ in Spanish, brings diners a selection of great Mexican food, ribs, wines and steaks, all best enjoyed with…

1921 The year Martell Centenary 1921 was born in the Grande Champagne terroir of Cognac, France. ALL IN THE CHALK One of the many ‘not-secrets’ of quality cognac lies within a terroir’s chalk. Apparently, the high chalk content of the Grande Champagne terroir is accredited to small marine fossils that date back millions of years ago. THE BACCARAT CRYSTAL One of the oldest and finest crystal-makers in France since 1764, Baccarat is a long-time friend of Maison Martell’s. The two French houses are heavyweights in their respective industries, and share similar dedication to their craft that is second to none. 300 Three centuries since Maison Martell’s inception, only nine individuals were anointed as cellar master, with Christophe Valtaud being the ninth.…

1 NIKE HYPERADAPT 1.0 Technology and streetwear clash with the Nike HyperAdapt 1.0, a super innovative pair of sneakers created by legendary sneaker designer Tinker Hatfield. These sneakers feature self-lacing technology that electronically adjust themselves to the wearer’s foot. Before Nike released a more “affordable” version of the HyperAdapt, the first model with adaptive lacing was priced at US$720 per pair. 2 BALENCIAGA X-PANDER SNEAKERS Balenciaga is best known for making chunky sneakers trendy and demand for them at the time, went through the roof. Although this phase has long since passed, there are many fans who are loyal to the brand and continue to still rock one of the brand’s most expensive sneakers. Never ones to give up, the French fashion house has its most expensive sneaker to date…

With countries getting sent into lockdowns and lives being pulled to a standstill, Covid-19 has forced the world and its communities to hit the reset button and reevaluate life as we know it. While millions have been irrevocably affected by its impact on human lives and livelihoods, for every low, there’s always a high. As life slowed down, three KTJ alumni and four current KTJ-ers took it upon themselves to thread a silver lining around a desolate world ridden by an aggressive virus. The pandemic struck major industries hard, and the fashion retail and manufacturing fields were not spared. But KTJ alumni (class of '96) and Malaysian Bumiputra Designers Association (MBDA) secretary and fashion designer Azrene Ahmad pivoted to make good of a bad situation. She transformed her fashion label,…

Kim Jones is constantly zipping around. He’s just zipped in from holidaying with friends in Kenya—a destination he has frequented since he was a child and loves for its remoteness and abundance of animals—leaving him with freckles floating above a fresh tan. Throughout our conversation at the Dior Men headquarters in Paris, where he has served as artistic director since 2018, the British fashion designer zips from thoughts about Baby Yoda to ideas about elephants. Tomorrow he zips to Milan to work on his second womenswear show with Fendi, where he has also served as artistic director since September 2020—and a surprise, now-viral crossover with Versace—before zipping to the Dolomites for his birthday weekend. One gets the sense that Jones is not someone used to standing still. “I had this…

After spending a few years working in South Korea, Charlotte Cho and her husband returned to the United States and decided to launch Soko Glam, an online platform and retail site that brings K-beauty products to America. Since the 2012 launch, Cho has racked up an impressive list of achievements. She’s earned her beautician licence, developed her own skincare brand, Then I Met You, and written two books, discussing both skincare and her own experiences as an entrepreneur. Here, Cho talks Korean beauty, motherhood and the Korean concept of jeong. Tell me about your new book, The Little Book of Jeong While I was working and living in Seoul, there were two things that I had learnt and adopted into my life. The first was Korean beauty, and the second…

HOURGLASS COSMETICS Proving luxury and sustainability can indeed go hand-in-hand, cruelty-free make-up and eco-friendly packaging solutions have played a starring role in Hourglass Cosmetics’ brand identity since it was founded in 2004. As of 2021, the brand is 100 per cent vegan. MAULI NATURALS Husband-and-wife team Anita and Bittu Kaushal made a pilgrimage to India, where they were inspired by the healing power of the country’s holistic traditions. They went on to study Ayurvedic health and founded Mauli Rituals, which creates “all-natural and organic sensorial blends inspired by science-led Ayurvedic principles and a sense of British refinement”. RAHUA New York hairstylist Fabian Lliguin collaborated with indigenous groups in the Amazon to develop this organic, vegan line of hair care products. The brand is named after rahua, a nut oil used…

Multi-award-winning actor Josh O’Connor is now a brand ambassador for Bulgari and has been photographed with the watchmaker’s Octo Finissimo, a version of which is the slimmest tourbillon watch ever made. According to the brand, O’Connor, a Golden Globe-winning actor best known for his portrayal of Prince Charles in The Crown, regularly wears the sporty Octo Finissimo S watch, which comes in stainless steel with a moody black dial.…

While some travellers have their hearts set on revisiting favourite destinations, the desire to go somewhere completely new is driving the “trip stacking” trend—the practice of planning several trips in the same time period in case something falls through—reported by The New York Times. Instead of booking a return to Italy or the Maldives, perhaps it’s time to add a less-trodden place to your trip stacking list. One destination on the rise is Romania, which is still largely overlooked when it comes to a European holiday. The country has long had a fan in Britain’s Prince Charles, who has owned a farmhouse in the remote Viscri village since 2006. “Romania gives travellers a sensation of travelling back in time,” says Raluca Spiac, managing partner of bespoke tour company Beyond Dracula.…

SHEN-TEL LEE Co-founder of Bowerhaus and Sereni & Shentel If the ability to throw exceptional parties were a gene, then Shen-Tel Lee has inherited plenty of them from the ultimate hostess—her mother, Dame Betty Lee. “Make lists of everything! From the table arrangements, cutlery, crockery, glassware, to the food menu, beverages, party favours, it’s important to know your guests and know what would make them feel at home,” she says. A lover of all things retro, vintage, kitschy and thrifty, Shen-Tel has a natural knack for turning the old and impossible into something new and interesting. She insists that her aesthetic is, in fact, not having an aesthetic. “I am known for throwing very colourful, elegant yet tacky parties. It’s my look. I love novelty plates and placemats that you…

LIGHT BODY, CLEAN FLAVOURS Ruinart: Constantin Brancusi Ruinart wines are heavily built on chardonnay, some of them 100 per cent, and strike the palate like beams of pure light, their taut, soaring energy beautifully epitomised by Brancusi’s bronze Bird in Space sculptures. Like those space-age plumes, the wines leave the impression that they will outlive us all. Perrier-Jouët: Georgia O’Keeffe The swooning art nouveau anemones gracing Perrier-Jouët’s Belle Epoque lead virtually everyone to pick up white flowers in their wines, so perhaps picking O’Keeffe is a bit on the nose. However, these wines share the focus and formal discipline of the New Mexico painter’s close-ups of white roses, calla lilies and irises. A fine balance of fanciful and pure, the wines, like the paintings, are quietly luminous. Cristal: Sandro Botticelli…

For almost a millennia, people have sought ways to understand the power of smell. Scent is elusive; it dodges, dances, and lingers ever so briefly before disappearing. It doesn’t present you information like your eyes would, but evokes emotion and memory in odd places. It might be the comforting scent of the sweater you found under your bed, or the smell of jasmine that reminds you of tea-filled sessions with your friends. Walk down the street, and the aroma of roast coffee nearby will have your brain playing a montage of your days in the sunny, cobblestone-lined streets of Rome. In essence, fragrance has the power of travelling you back in time. We’re all in the constant process of phases in identity, never staying the same. Opting for different fragrances…