Innholdsfortegnelse for August 2022 i Tatler Malaysia

“Happy birthday, mama!” Came the sudden chirps of Roshan Valiram’s sons. Although I couldn’t see them from where I sat, the love and affection the family had for one another was loud and clear in just the way they spoke to each other. This intimate atmosphere persisted at her birthday party held at Four Seasons Kuala Lumpur, as friends and family from all over the globe poured into the hall. Roshan, dressed beautifully in a pink, form-fitting evening gown designed by local label Ivan Young, was beaming from ear-to-ear as she greeted each and every one of her guests. Fast-forward a couple of days after her birthday weekend extravaganza, we were having tea at Huckleberry café when she suddenly spoke to the waiter in fluent Tagalog, ordering a cheesecake to…

No matter the genre, we listen to music according to how we feel or how we want to feel—whether it’s the thrumming of heavy bass, a rhythmic tempo, the rise and fall of a melody or even the narrative resonance of lyrics, listening to music can be a singular experience unique to every individual. For classical pianist Hii Mei Lin, the word ‘experience’ is one she heavily emphasises, especially when it comes to elevating the accessibility of classical music. Since it isn’t as ingrained into our culture as it is in western societies, Hii observes that the lack of public interest is due to its inaccessibility, which limits one’s curiosity towards classical music and their active discovery towards it. While the genre came with prestige, that very prestige, alongside its…

“In a way, it’s tantamount to the craft beer of the wine industry; that’s a relatively simple way to put it...” Our crash course on natural wines begins with Hsiao Tung Wei opening a bottle of natural wine for us to try, while explaining more about the topic. “Everyone wants better produce, healthier options, and the same goes for wines.” “Think about how wines were made thousands of years ago, there’s little to no technology involved, it’s basically just fermenting the grapes, bottling them and that’s basically it. In recent years however, a lot has changed, technology has made things a lot easier, but also relatively different. Yield is a big factor; there’s a lot of money to be made within the wine industry—you would want to make as much…

We could start this article with the definition of third culture kids (TCKs) and cross-cultural kids (CCKs), but let’s begin with the following statement instead: Malaysia, years prior to being colonised by foreign powers, was already a multicultural melting pot that practised several phenomena we know today as ‘internationalism’, ‘globalisation’, ‘cross-culturalism’, ‘multiculturalism’ and even ‘transnationalism’. These phenomena have left an indelible impact on the infrastructure of our society. As interconnectivity across the globe increases, our world has become both at once bigger and smaller. While complicated to describe, the textbook definition describes globalisation as the “economic, cultural, social, and political changes that have shaped the world” over the past half-century. It is this phenomena listed above that created our emblematic trait as a nation. Despite the supposed multicultural aspect, however,…

After three years of refinement, Clé de Peau Beauté is reintroducing The Foundation. The Foundation is now the ultimate combination of makeup and skincare technology to give the skin an instant perfect finish today while preparing your future-best skin for tomorrow. The newly innovative Blur Perfection Technology optimises the effect of light to diffuse the appearance of imperfections while retaining seamless translucency, leaving the skin with a lustrous, firm and radiant glow. From the Blur Perfection Technology and undertone research, 25 carefully crafted shades have emerged to match a wide range of skin tones. After searching the natural world for the perfect botanical ingredients to further enhance The Foundation, Clé de Peau Beauté researchers landed upon the Lakesis Extract from the Greek island of Chios, a resinous sap found inside…

Rolex has always been an ardent supporter of film and the cinema and encourages the preservation as well as progress of the field via numerous initiatives, such as the brand’s Testimonees—including the likes of Martin Scorsese and James Cameron—its partnership with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (the institution, the awards and the Academy Museum in Los Angeles) and the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. Here’s how the watchmaker supports the industry. Firstly, many actors and directors make Rolex their timepiece of choice, both on and off the silver screen. Plus, there are many parallels between the brand and the industry. For example, in 1926, the founder of Rolex, Hans Wilsdorf, invented a revolutionary waterproof wristwatch which made headlines, the Oyster. Just months later, audiences marvelled at…

Swiss artist Pipilotti Rist had a revelation during quarantine about her workout habits. “I’m going to train naked; that’s my thing for the future. I hate the feeling of sweat sticking to my skin; why do we need clothes? There’s less to wash this way too.” This won’t be the last time we talk about nudity. While some people were driven to distraction during their three weeks of Hong Kong government-mandated quarantine, Rist found it to be oddly valuable. “I thought I would just be jumping around like a wild dog waiting to be let out, but I’ve actually learnt some good things,” the artist tells Tatler over video chat from her hotel room on her last day of quarantine. That didn’t stop her from heading straight from quarantine to…

While the pandemic was a difficult time for many, there were some positives that came from it. For one, a lot of people had the time to ponder and reflect on situations and people in their lives, and this was true for Tengku Alana Iman Shahirah, who realised that Faiz Dhiyaulhaq was always there for her. “Back then I guess she was distracted a lot, there was so much going on in her life, that she didn’t notice me the right way,” joked Faiz. The joke however had some truth behind it, as Tengku Alana agreed with his point, “Prior to the pandemic, there was just a lot to do, there were many places to be, many faces to see,” she laughingly adds. Having first met way back in 2008…

Car aficionados would likely already know the name Bufori, and the various models the carmaker produces, but for those still in the dark would be delightfully surprised to learn about this Malaysian company that has set its roots in Malaysia since 1994, and has operated out of Kepong, to deliver custom-made luxurious cars and more, since 1998. The company initially started out in Sydney, Australia, with its founder Gerry Khouri building his first car out of his garage in 1986. The Bufori Madison made its debut in 1987—the same year that he opened a small factory, in Merrylands, Sydney, with the intention to make a couple of cars for his brothers. The only problem was that the cars he produced kept getting snapped up by others. “Each time I built…

Could you tell us about the inspiration behind Super Secret Social? Jonathan Sebastian (JS): Super Secret Social started off as our little project during the pandemic as we needed to make some extra cash during a pretty strapped period. We had this elaborate dream of opening our own restaurant somewhere in the world as our retirement plan, so conceptually we had an idea of what we wanted. Over the years, we would have these amazing chats about what we would do if we ever opened a restaurant, and when the pandemic hit we realised that we had to put everything we chatted about to life. What is the concept behind it? JS: Super Secret Social is an experience designed for eight people. We function by season, changing our menu and…

For the first time ever, Tatler Malaysia will host In The Mood For Food, a three-day food festival offering exclusive culinary creations created for the event. Celebrating the love Malaysians have for street food, the event will be held at Kuala Lumpur Golf & Country Club (KLGCC) situated within KLGCC Resort, developed by Sime Darby Property. The resort was chosen for the food festival as it is one of the most coveted addresses for luxury living, providing a unique balance between leisure, culture, nature and sustainability. The event will feature a line-up of local talent and restaurants, including Beta KL, Bijan Bar & Restaurant, Concubine KL, Jawi House, The Chow Kit Kitchen & Bar, Aliyaa, The Regent Chinese Cuisine and Siti Li Dining who will be reimagining versions of beloved…

The chronicling of history takes many forms: from literary mediums and visual imagery to the tangible traces left behind in architectural marvels and human innovation itself, it is through this evolutionary record that we can track human progression. We gain the invaluable ability to shape our own perspectives as we navigate through the gray of varying historical narratives. Regardless of the many interpretations of history and the ever-changing roles of its players, one medium can be said to have retained its own unique brand of honesty—and that is art. It bears saying however that we use the word ‘honesty’ with utmost care here, as it is just as subjective as truth and fiction are. Affected by its environment and affecting it in turn, the bottom line here is that the…

CHRISTINA CHUNG Hong Kong Christina Chung signed up for catwalk training and was ready to become a model in her twenties, before deciding that working in banking would offer a more sustainable career. She only started to pick up freelance modelling jobs a few years ago in her fifties but is now making waves in the local fashion scene as a silver model whose elegance defies time. Chung’s journey has come full circle: just as she has started a second career and is loving the self-expression and artistic side of the job, her daughters are also now working as models in the city. “In my [youth], models had to be young to be beautiful and sexy. However, I see the gradual transition from the old concepts to a more open-minded…

Despite celebrating multiculturalism, Malaysia and Malaysians sometimes neglect to see a subtle yet dangerous form of discrimination: the lack of visibility and access for dark-skinned people, particularly Malaysian Indians. Be it their appearance in commercials or television shows, or trying to rent properties, this segment of society has it tougher than most in the country. Of course, that doesn’t mean that they can’t make it big in their respective fields, as our cover stars Vanizha Vasanthanathan and Sonya Danita Charles have proven. Both have learnt to embrace their beauty against the odds, and gained recognition for themselves and their community, thanks to their success on various catwalks, billboards and campaigns. Vasanthanathan has been open about her low self-esteem and the bullying she received growing up, based on the colour of…

The rise of the metaverse means boundaries between physical and virtual realities continue to blur—something that has inspired architects, who are well versed in the design and construction of buildings, to take their talents to the digital sphere. For George Bileca, the CEO of virtual reality specialist Voxel Architects, which is based on the Portuguese-administered island of Madeira, constructing in the metaverse “feels like reinventing the wheel”. “The challenge is in switching architects’ and designers’ mentality,” he says. “This is something completely new.” The firm made a splash in the crypto world in February when it announced it was creating a 1:1 virtual replica of an 11,000 sq ft, seven-bedroom, nine-bedroom luxury mansion being built by Meta Residence, founded by luxury home builder and NFT collector Gabe Sierra. The virtual…

LIVE PERFORMANCES RexKL From rock ‘n’ roll to disco, August is looking to be real exciting for the local music scene at RexKL; head on over to their Instagram to discover the talented artists showcasing various performances this month. Don’t forget to find further details from their website on the events that are only admissible with tickets, including Rock ‘N’ Roll Sampai Mati and Diskoria. rexkl.com The Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra On August 6, experience the queen of Malaysian pop, Aishah, showcase her powerhouse vocals on Aishah & MPO: A Symphonic Rendezvous. Aishah will be performing her beloved tunes together with the Malaysian Philharmonic Orchestra, including Janji Manismu and Camar Yang Pulang. Tickets can be found on their official website, with Meet and Greet tickets also exclusively available through the DFP…

The mere mention of the name Chopard may immediately conjure scenes of dripping diamonds, seas of coloured gemstones and red carpet glamour. While it is beloved by stylish women from celebrities to CEOs around the world, the Chopard universe is not limited to the feminine. Far from it, in fact. Founded in 1860 by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in Switzerland, it actually gained fame first for its beautifully crafted ultra-thin pocket watches. The current owners of Chopard, the Scheufele family, acquired Chopard in 1963, in the desire to have their own Swiss movement manufacture. Under the Scheufeles, Chopard gradually expanded and enhanced its watch production capability; in 1996, it established the Fleurier manufacture dedicated to haute horology. Its first task? Develop an entirely new movement that would drive the creativity of its…

SATURATED SMILE Tom Ford is synonymous with elegance. The latest lipstick from its make-up range, Lip Color Matte Extension, is a series of three warm-toned shades of tomato red, brownish nude and dusky rose, all with a velvet matte finish. The hydrating formula includes antioxidant-rich chamomile flower oil; apply straight from the bullet or with a lip brush for a fade-resistant pigment that promises to last for up to 10 hours. S’EAU FRESH It’s an old trick but a good one: maximise the longevity of your fragrance by layering the perfume over the matching scented body wash. Serge Lutens’s new Matin Lutens collection offers, for the first time, a range of eau de parfums with complementary hand and body washes. Choose from the signature L’Eau Serge Lutens that combines clean…

Mind, body, soul … money? When it comes to self-care, the focus has always been on physical and mental health. But in the ongoing pursuit of holistic wellness, the intersection of psychology and money—and the effect that this has on our overall well-being—is an increasingly hot topic. Financial wellness is the ability to meet current and future financial obligations, while having the security to deal with unexpected emergencies and staying on track to meet long-term goals. Having a healthy relationship with our finances reduces preoccupation with money concerns, ultimately improving mental and therefore physical well-being. While money can’t buy happiness—and you’re hearing this from us at Tatler—it can certainly save a lot of stress which has, time and again, been found to contribute to health issues including obesity, heart disease,…

One of the biggest travel trends since the world started reopening and Covid-19 restrictions ease is to take longer, more meaningful trips, and fewer weekend dashes to nearby destinations. Alternative modes of transport are getting their share of the spotlight as travellers embrace the romance of slow travel, be it by luxury sleeper train, on leisurely private charters aboard luxury yachts. “In the [era] of post-pandemic travel, and as demand for greener alternatives to flying is on the rise, we expect interest in long-distance train journeys will continue to grow,” says Arnaud Champenois, senior vice president and global head of brand, marketing and communications for luxury hotel group Belmond. Here are a few of our top picks. AMANDIRA, INDONESIA Island-hopping, but make it Aman with Amandira, the luxury hotel brand’s…

TIGER It’s a competitive month for you, particularly where your career is concerned. If you’re not careful, monetary loss could be in store for you. If you’re travelling, be extra mindful of your belongings and personal safety. Accidents cost money so avoid trouble from the get-go. RABBIT It’s not recommended for you to do any travelling this month. For Rabbits, another thing you should take note of is your interaction with the opposite gender. Try not to get too close too fast with people as there’s a high likelihood for you to be involved in drama. DRAGON Workload in the office is expected to increase so be mentally prepared for that. It could be a shift of responsibility, or you might take on another team member’s duty. This could affect…