Innholdsfortegnelse for October 2025 i Tatler Malaysia

PERANAKAN: A MUSICAL LEGACY OCTOBER 4-5 Peranakan: A Musical Legacy, directed by Joanne Poh and held at DPAC is an enchanting celebration of Southeast Asia’s Peranakan heritage through music and storytelling. Featuring the Nasom Maestros choir, comprising many singers with special needs, in authentic Peranakan attire, the concert weaves traditional folk melodies like Rasa Sayang and Bengawan Solo. Beyond artistry, it is a meaningful fundraiser supporting The National Autism Society of Malaysia (NASOM) and World Vision Malaysia, highlighting advocacy and community care. Supported by partners Nusantara Performing Arts Research Centre (NusPARC), Acre Works and Giddy Nyonyas, this event encapsulates cultural pride, inclusivity and charitable purpose, promising an immersive, uplifting experience for all ages. Location: Damansara Performing Arts Centre (DPAC) AIR MATA AIR: A SOLO EXHIBITION BY NADIRAH ZAKARIYA UNTIL…

Over ten years ago, Zen Cho put out her first book: Spirits Abroad, a tender, humorous collection of short stories that explored the fascinating world of Southeast Asian myth and folklore. Since then, Cho has created fantasy realms that crash disparate worlds together in the most joyful way: Regency England, sorcery and Malaysian magic; The Malayan Emergency, nuns and thieves. Now she has turned her signature thoughtful, effervescent style to romance, with her second romance novel Behind Frenemy Lines out this year. Congratulations on your new novel! How did it feel going into your second romance? Stressful, mainly! With The Friendzone Experiment, I wrote it in the course of maybe a year-and-a-half, but that was broken up by having a baby in between. Whereas with Behind Frenemy Lines, I knew…

It’s evening here in Malaysia when a text from Carolyn Lai lights up my phone screen. “I’ve since started my orientation week at Yale!” she says enthusiastically, referring to her acceptance into Yale Divinity School this year to pursue a Master of Divinity. It’s an unconventional educational path, to say the least, for someone who moved to Austria at the age of 13 to train in music. “I would say that I learned a lot of discipline sitting in choir practices for six hours every week for four years,” she tells Tatler, fondly recalling her school days at the Vienna Boys’ Choir senior high school. It has been said that a third of the students who attend the prestigious co-ed school go on to pursue professional careers in music. “I…

I did not begin with a business plan, but a problem. A scientific instrument in my care kept forming a layer of oxidation on its lens. Cleaning it was not risky but it was a waste of time. Remove the build-up, spend hours recalibrating, repeat. High-effort, low-value. As an engineer, that kind of repetition felt like an insult. If a task steals time with little gain, design it out. I developed a surface solution that slowed the oxidation dramatically. It worked, but was rejected because it threatened parts and service revenue. That stung. I took the idea home and tested it on my car. Water sheeted off the windscreen, visibility improved and unlike anything I had tried, the effect lasted for months. I listed a few bottles online to recover…

A BOLD NEW CHAPTER Chanel parfumer Olivier Polge has introduced an intense new character in the beloved universe of Bleu de Chanel. Users (and lovers) of Bleu de Chanel over the years will recognise its distinctive woody, aromatic world, but Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif introduces a whole new element. The new men’s fragrance created by Olivier Polge is powerful and intense, centring around the depth of sandalwood, complemented by notes of leather and resin. It’s a creation as intentional as it is fascinating. The sandalwood that forms the beating heart of Bleu de Chanel L’Exclusif comes from an integrated supply chain on the island of Maré, in New Caledonia. This means the material is sourced ethically and sustainably, treading lightly on its environment and respecting local populations. Only the sandalwood’s…

In the past year, Eyka Farhana has been everywhere—lighting up screens with her acting roles, commanding attention in the fashion scene and building a reputation as one of Malaysia’s most versatile young talents. Her career, which began in her teens, has only deepened with time, marked by a growing maturity both on and off screen. Yet behind the accolades and appearances, Eyka is embracing something far more personal: a new season of life. At 30, Eyka Farhana finds herself standing at the intersection of love, growth and self-discovery. Fresh from stepping into a new chapter of life, the actress speaks with quiet confidence about embracing change, redefining strength and living with intention. To Eyka, marriage is something that has truly grounded her. “It’s a beautiful reminder that love and companionship…

Flowers have been a mainstay of jewellery since time immemorial. They’ve been a steady, beautiful presence in Van Cleef & Arpels, from the bold blooms of Rose de Noël to the sleek, stylised petals of Frivole. This year, alongside the exuberant colour of Fleurs d’Hawaï, the maison presents an entirely new floral interpretation. With Flowerlace, form takes the forefront. Where other collections have focused on recreating the vibrancy of floral colour, or the delicacy of a ruffled petal, Flowerlace is all about elegant linework that conjures up the shape of a flower. It’s a collection that seems deceptively simple at first glance: sweeping, swooping lines clustered together to form a naive, almost child-like figure of a flower. “For Flowerlace, it’s totally different,” says Catherine Rénier, CEO of Van Cleef &…

A Rolex Testimonee since 2001, for many horologists and Federer fans, the 20-time Grand Slam champion’s tennis career has also been a showcase of the watches that have graced his wrist after his most significant victories. “What sets Switzerland apart is its commitment to quality. Switzerland is recognised for its high standards and [its] unique blend of tradition and innovation,” says Federer. Some of his most iconic timepieces include a Rolex Datejust II rhodium, blue Arabic, worn at Wimbledon in 2009 during the trophy ceremony when he defeated Andy Roddick to win his 15th Grand Slam title—marking the moment he cemented his place in history as the most successful male Grand Slam singles player of all time. At the 2017 Australian Open, Federer made a stunning return to the top,…

Gstaad, St Moritz, Verbier: these names that even those who have never hit the slopes will immediately recognise as long-established ski resorts and areas. Perhaps less generally known—though beloved by winter sport aficionados—is Laax, styled LAAX, perhaps to differentiate it from the municipality of the same name in which it is located. Aside from offering world-class slopes and the world’s largest halfpipe for snowboarders, Laax is renowned for its sustainable approach to an often-indulgent pastime. The company’s founder and chairman Reto Gurtner speaks to Tatler about the vision and the Swiss spirit that runs through everything the company does. Tell us about Laax Laax is a product of the Swiss spirit. Although Switzerland is not a large country, it is inclusive and diverse. It brings together four completely different cultures,…

Nobody embodies the pursuit of excellence the way Roger Federer does. His personal brand of controlled power, understated elegance and quiet charisma have made him a star the world over, and we couldn’t be happier to have him on our October cover, fronting an issue packed with stories of Swiss excellence. Against an idyllic Swiss backdrop, we got an insight into the profound strength of Federer’s connection with his homeland (p.118). The tennis star’s love of his country started with a beatific childhood and has extended well into his working life, as a collaborator with Swiss brands, and an ambassador for Swiss Tourism. In our cover story, Federer shares how he finds balance after hanging up his racquet and leaving the organised chaos of professional tennis life behind. His story…

THE BEAT GOES ON First Louis Vuitton turned to Pharrell Williams, then Ray-Ban appointed A$AP Rocky—and now Vans has announced a multi-year partnership with SZA as its new artistic director. Known for her genre-defying sound and fearless self-expression, the five-time Grammy winner will reimagine campaigns and co-create product drops, beginning with a brand anthem celebrating the reintroduction of the Knu Skool sneaker in black and white. If the early-2000s fashion era was defined by musicians as muses, today they are collaborators, reshaping brands from the inside out. BEAUTIFULLY UNDONE Move into Autumn with an ease and lightness of spirit. The Dior Toujours Intreccio with Fringes is a modern boho dream, crafted in intreccio weave, detailed with cascading leather tassels that bring movement and dynamism to every step. The rich leather…

On court, multiple Grand Slam champion Rafael Nadal’s every movement is charged with precision, agility, and power. These qualities find mechanical parallel in Richard Mille’s RM 35-03 Automatic Rafael Nadal, the fourth addition to the “baby Nadal” line. The watch introduces an innovation that reflects the brand’s performance-driven philosophy: the patented butterfly rotor. Three years in development, the butterfly rotor reimagines the relationship between the wearer and the watch. Traditionally, modifying a rotor’s geometry required a skilled watchmaker; Richard Mille has placed control directly into the hands of the wearer. By pressing the pusher at 7 o’clock, the two grade 5 titanium arms of the rotor—weighted for maximum efficiency—spread apart to a 180-degree angle, suspending the winding mechanism. In its standard position, the rotor harvests kinetic energy from every wrist…

When a jeweller with nearly two centuries of history decides to stage an exhibition, it risks either resting too heavily on nostalgia or leaning too far into spectacle. Tiffany & Co.’s Legendary Legacy exhibition in Bangkok manages to avoid both. Instead, it creates a conversation between heritage and modernity, inviting visitors to reflect on the artistry of one of the 20th century’s most imaginative designers, Jean Schlumberger, while reconsidering what Tiffany’s legacy means in Asia today. Spread across five rooms at One Bangkok, the exhibition is designed as a journey through Schlumberger’s mind. The opening room, Guadeloupe: An Island of Inspiration, sets the tone by highlighting the designer’s attachment to his Caribbean retreat, where the colours and forms of nature informed his vocabulary. From there, Garden of Imagination and Depths of…

It’s been nearly a century since clinician Dr Paul Niehans first applied the revolutionary medical technology that would lead to the birth of La Prairie. The world-renowned Swiss luxury skincare brand had its first beginnings in Clinique La Prairie in Montreux, Switzerland—in 1931, it was here that Dr Niehans introduced cellular therapy to the world, a groundbreaking procedure that would lay the foundations for La Prairie skincare. The brand launched in 1978, built upon a groundbreaking, proprietary technology: the Exclusive Cellular Complex. This closely guarded, age-defying formula remains at the heart of nearly every La Prairie product, working to energise skin cells and target the essential processes of renewal. Today, La Prairie’s mission is to offer the most effective path to ageless skin by fusing Swiss precision with the world’s…

A few days before we were scheduled to meet Martin Hoffmann, chief executive of Swiss sportswear brand On, a TikTok clip began circulating among the art world set. Captured at the Art Basel Preview in June, the camera panned across the fair’s VIP crowd, before tilting down to land on a now-familiar silhouette: the On Cloud sneaker, worn by a well-heeled—or well-soled—cohort of collectors, curators and creatives who move fluidly between blue-chip auctions and biodynamic vineyards. On has become something of a status symbol—more accessible price-wise than a sneaker from a luxury house, perhaps, but still loaded with cultural cachet. To wear On is to signal a preference for high performance and clean design. With its unmistakable silhouette—an outsole punctuated with hollowed “Cloud pods” engineered for soft landings—On’s design delivers…

CELINE SHERIDAN Celine Sheridan is an American-born fashion stylist and image consultant. She has styled editorials for Harper’s Bazaar, Hunger, Elle and more. Her portfolio includes collaborations with Adidas, Freya and De Beers. Sheridan has also worked with a variety of notable talents, including Florence Welch and Naomie Harris. Her work is driven by a profound love for storytelling and a distinctive sense of femininity. She styled this month’s fashion shoot. (p.78) ISSAC LAM Hong Kong photographer and director Issac Lam’s work is characteristised by his nostalgic colour palette and poetic elements that highlight the individuality of his subjects or the overlooked features of the city. His works have been featured in a variety of publications, such as Elle, GQ and Marie Claire and has photographed stars including Carina Lau,…

Nostalgia is the sense you’ll find evoked the moment you step into the new, sleek, sophisticated Yen in W Kuala Lumpur. Tradition is steeped in the walls and the food of the newly reimagined space, only reopened mid 2025. The newly refurbished space sees intricate woodwork, symbolic motifs, and artisanal textures. A red hue accompanies the whole space, with pops of colour throughout that seem extra vibrant with the natural light. Yen is redefining the Cantonese dining experience by embracing the richness of Chinese culinary heritage, whilst quenching the thirst for modern sophistication in a location as prime as W Kuala Lumpur. At the heart of this evolution is the visionary chef Tan Kim Weng, who introduces a new menu that harmoniously fuses flavours of the past with innovative techniques…

Paris has always carried an allure that defies simple definition. Its elegance is never forced, but something lived—natural, instinctive and effortlessly present in the rhythm of the city itself. It lingers in a glance across a quiet street, in the way a silhouette moves from day into night, in gestures that speak louder than words. For Autumn 2025, Roger Vivier captures this essence in ‘La Vie Parisienne’, a campaign that reimagines what it truly means to embody the Parisian spirit. Conceived by creative director Gherardo Felloni, it pays homage to the maison’s heritage while provoking a modern conversation about style, intimacy and character. Set within the walls of a hôtel particulier and framed against the streets of the city, the campaign unfolds like a private narrative. The Vivier woman at…

Every glance at an iPhone interface is a reminder of the enduring influence of International Typographic Style, better known as Swiss Style—a graphic design movement born in 1950s Switzerland. Conceived with clarity and universal communication in mind, it is a visual language stripped of decorative excess. Take Helvetica, one of the world’s most familiar typefaces and the movement’s most recognisable legacy. From airlines to tech and car companies, global brands have embraced the font’s neutral yet versatile appeal in their logos—among them IBM, Toyota, Oral-B, Lufthansa and Panasonic. We have also used it in the features section of Tatler this month. But it goes beyond sans serif typography; our October fashion shoot for this Swiss issue pays tribute to the lesser-known hallmarks of Swiss Style: geometric forms, rigorous grid systems,…

Stop and start in style with these chronographs MERRY GO ROUND The RM 33-03 Automatic injects Richard Mille’s usual audacity into a round case that’s anything but conventional. At just 9.7mm thick, this 41.7mm watch case manages to hide serious mechanical firepower: a skeletonised automatic calibre powered by a platinum microrotor, visible through its architectural, open-worked design. A small seconds at six o’clock adds a rare touch of tradition, while sharp lines and futuristic materials—full Grade 5 titanium or Carbon TPT with red gold—remind you this is modern horology at its boldest. It’s not round for nostalgia’s sake; it’s round with purpose. COUTURE TIME With the Première Galon, Chanel reimagines one of its most iconic signatures—the couture braid—on a wrist. Today, the braid is reborn as an 18-karat yellow gold…

Cocktail rings sparkling enough to get you tipsy PURE GENIUS In August, at Louis Vuitton’s showcase of high jewellery and watchmaking creations in South Korea, ambassador Felix wore the Pure V collection with characteristic ease. The Pure V Ring is made in white gold and diamonds, while the Pure V Three‑Row Bracelet builds quiet rhythm in light and metal, and the Pure V Necklace introduces onyx into the mix. The pieces reject excess in favour of clarity and proportion. On the K‑pop star, they read as modern armour—precise, sculptural and unmistakably Louis Vuitton. AFFECTIONATELY YOURS Cartier reimagines its most iconic symbol of love with a fluid touch. The new Love Unlimited bracelet transforms the rigid oval into a supple, second‑skin creation—crafted from over 200 miniaturised components and secured by a…

At Tatler, we have the pleasure of meeting some truly remarkable people whose excellence shines through, even if that meeting takes place in the less than remarkable setting of a hotel conference room, for example. But when we’re able to meet these people on their home turf, in their element, there’s an added touch of magic. We meet Swiss tennis legend Roger Federer in one of the most breathtaking settings imaginable—Emmetten, a picturesque mountain village in the Swiss canton of Nidwalden, on a sunny terrace overlooking the crystal waters of Lake Lucerne. He’s cool, calm and confident as though welcoming us to his home. Which, in some ways, he is. “Some of my fondest childhood memories are of hiking with my family through Switzerland’s incredible landscapes,” says Federer, adding that…