Innholdsfortegnelse for Mar 2016 i Tatler Singapore

MALAYSIA TATLER GIRL POWER AMIRA GENEID IS ON THE COVER OF AN issue that celebrates the accomplishments of women. Geneid is the founder and CEO of Zahara, a Singapore start-up focused on the beauty needs of Muslim women. She shares her global dream for Zahara and talks about her upcoming wedding this month to fiance and fellow entrepreneur Cameron Priest. Elsewhere, social butterfly Annie Chin-Lim explains how she champions women’s rights. THAILAND TATLER CELEBRATING WOMEN This issue marks International Women’s Day by highlighting the lives of four women who have made names for themselves in sport. Nualphan Lamsam, chairwoman of Thailand’s Port Football Club, graces the cover. Her story—and those of Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul, Nunthinee Tanner and Pariyakorn Ratanasuban—is told inside. INDONESIA TATLER LAW AND ORDER Nadia Saphira (pictured) tells…

The Singapore Council of Women’s Organisations (SCWO), the national coordinating body of women’s organisations, will honour women who define their own path at its gala dinner at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore on March 18. “The most successful women are those who choose to march to their own beat, tap on their own strengths and face up to their weaknesses,” says SCWO president Malathi Das. “Feminism really stands for is parity and equality,” she says, going on to quote Mahatma Gandhi: “Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will. I like to think that feminism represents the indomitable will of women.”…

IT HAS BEEN SAID THAT WITHOUT MUSIC, LIFE WOULD be a mistake. This March leaves no room for error as the 2016 Singapore International Jazz Festival, or Sing Jazz, returns for its third successive year of music for the soul. Set at the Marina Bay Sands Event Plaza from March 4 to 6, the Music for All festival will feature a variety of music genres from both international and local acts. Headlining the three nights of festivities are neo-soul band Hiatus Kaiyote, Grammy Award winner Joss Stone, and the legendary Buena Vista Social Club, which is making its final tour. Homegrown talents including popular singer-songwriter Charlie Lim and Singaporean jazz pioneer Jeremy Monteiro will add local flavour to the line-up. To expand the star-studded list, Sing Jazz has collaborated with…

The Hong Kong Tatler Ball is renowned for kicking off the annual party season with a bang—and the 2015 edition was no exception. On arrival at the Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, guests traversed a dramatic hall of mirrors to a cocktail reception humming with the expectant chatter and laughter of friends old and new. The city’s loveliest luminaries, bedecked in their finest frocks and rocks, filled the room. After much champagne, caviar and chatter, the doors opened to reveal a lavishly decorated ballroom. The magazine’s highly anticipated annual awards included Most Promising Young Lady, which went to Candy Chuang. Claudia Shaw, the buyer and regional style adviser for Chanel, was named Most Stylish Woman. Most Stylish Man went to the dapper Peter Cheung, a veteran of the luxury industry who…

“Both my parents always believed that men and women are equal and should have equal opportunity and access. Just watching them as a couple, as a team and as colleagues building a partnership has been very inspiring” MANY MEN MIGHT FIND it awkward, even unsettling, to be in a boardroom surrounded by a group of formidable intellectual women. Not so for Ho Ren Hua. The first and only man on the executive committee of the Singapore Committee for UN Women says, “If you truly believe in gender equality and the idea of diversity and inclusion, there shouldn’t be any awkward moments. While I had never been on an all-women board before this, I find the dynamics and energy level refreshing.” He was already a supporter of UN Women’s initiatives when…

Bringing the fine art of Italian jewellery-making to Singapore, Flower Diamond Boutique’s Belinda Chua recently introduced the spellbinding jewels and watches by Palmiero Jewellery Design to a host of ladies here. Over a gastronomic treat at Les Amis, guests gushed over the Art collection inspired by grand masters and discovered Palmiero’s mastery of the craft with the Captured Stone collection.…

Cocktail hour with Christmas-themed canapes in the Berluti store at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands was the perfect way to kick off a merry night in December. A small group of top clients, hosted by Yves Coppin, Berluti’s managing director of Asia Pacific and China, enjoyed a seven-course meal prepared by chef Justin Quek of Sky on 57. In true Berluti tradition, the men later sat around the table to polish their shoes in the glacage technique (trainer Moses Tan lent a guiding hand along the way), with a final rub-down using Krug Champagne for a perfect finish. The gentlemen then convened for whisky and cigars on the balcony. IN GOOD HANDS After dinner, Dariusz Olszyna and Harry Setiawan kick off and polish their own Berluti shoes…

“I hate trying on clothes. I don’t have the time to waste” MOST OF US REMEMBER OUR FIRST LOVES better than our first pair of high heels. Vashty Soegomo is able to recall the latter explicitly. It was a pair of orange wedges, bought in Italy when she was 13 during a summer vacation with her family. “My father wouldn’t approve of them, so I wore these tight black flare pants to cover them up,” she says, laughing at the memory. These days, the mother of three doesn’t always have the time to trot about in heels (“I’m wearing more sandals and sneakers post-kids, that’s for sure”) or be fussy with her clothes. When she’s not in her uniform of white shirts, faded jeans and aviator sunglasses, she has a…

1. POWDER PUFF GIRL Tatcha Gentle Rice Enzyme Powder is so soft and gentle, it’s suitable even for dry skin. The exfoliating power of the papaya and rice bran enzyme powder is activated on contact with water—add less if you need a stronger buff to rid dull skin. Prior make-up removal is required, but fresh faces can get away with just one wash and rinse. Available at tatcha.com 2. FAIR CLAY What can’t this cleanser do? Besides unclogging pores, African Botanics’ Marula Baobab Clay Oxygenating Cleanser promises the world. The African clay aids the healing of pimples, soaks up excess oil and minimises the appearance of pores, while superfruit baobab, packed with vitamin C and antioxidants, oxygenates and brightens skin, leaving it with a squeaky clean matte finish. Find it…

WHAT’S BEAUTIFUL ON THE outside should be beautiful on the inside. This philosophy is best orchestrated with timepieces that come within sapphire cases, putting the movement on full display. Traditionally, part of the movement could only be viewed from the back (if it had an open caseback), but recent developments in the manufacturing and cutting of sapphire glass (notoriously hard to machine) have enabled these maverick watchmakers to fully showcase their hearts and souls. MB&F’s HM6 Space Pirate might be one of the brand’s most polarising pieces, but the movement within is without a doubt one of its most spectacular. It consists of five domes: two for time-telling purposes, two turbines connected to the winding system, and one in the centre housing the flying tourbillon. As if its biomorphic shape…

THE VERY NOTION OF MECHANICAL watchmaking stems from a noble dictum: to perpetuate the traditions that have served to ensure punctuality for the longest time. Sure, hand-regulated watches are an anachronism in this age of atomic clocks, but keeping the craft alive is virtuous and challenging at the same time. It is no surprise that it is in this industry that reveres age-old craftsmanship that the dying metiers d’art have found a new lease of life—these are esoteric crafts that had floundered in the 20th century as machines and lasers took over painstaking handcraftsmanship. Franck Touzeau, the international watch marketing and creation director for Piaget, emphasises, “A true luxury brand has to keep in mind that we need to continue to capitalise on the best know-how. In the beginning of…

BACKGROUND Suzanne Syz was born in Zurich and educated in Paris. A designer known for her colourful, nontraditional style, she spent most the ’80s in New York in an artists’ circle that included Andy Warhol, Jean-Michel Basquiat, Julian Schnabel and Jeff Koons. Being around such creative spirits inspired her to start collecting contemporary art and to begin a career in jewellery design. DESIGN SIGNATURE Syz’s compositions are inspired by nature and pop culture, and incorporate a bold mix of colours and unusual cuts for gemstones. Her trademark everyday collections include life-like recreations of Life Savers and Smarties candies in earrings, rings and bracelets created with enamel and set with precious stones. LATEST PROJECT In December, Syz launched her first timepiece, Her Ben, which features a self-winding mechanical movement by Swiss…

IF A BRAND’S BEST AMBASSADOR is the designer herself, then Diah Djojonegoro perfectly fits the bill. Her interest in fashion and her personal style, honed by years in the industry, remain the backbone of her jewellery line, Diah D. The designer cut her teeth in New York pursuing her passion for fashion in companies such as Derek Lam and Edun before being enticed by the sparkle of precious stones. Following a course at the Gemological Institute of America, she returned to Singapore in 2010 and set up her eponymous jewellery brand. Today, she designs with the contemporary woman in mind—one who treats jewellery as an extension of her ready-to-wear, and opts for pieces versatile enough to be worn as both daily and evening wear, and edgy enough to stand out…

THE NAPA VALLEY IS releasing some of the world’s most exciting wines at the moment. I have a slight preference for 2013 over 2012. It’s hard to believe the Napa Valley made better wines in 2013, but it did. The best 2013s show terrific form and tension, giving an impressive freshness to their richness and power. This character illustrates a new classicism for the great wines of the region. “This is the vintage of my career,” says Nicolas Morlet, the winemaker at Peter Michael Winery. “The 2013 was the dream vintage for a winemaker. It was when you have balance and beauty in all your wines. The wines can be powerful and elegant at the same time. They are very gastronomic. They have a natural balance in a neoclassical style.”…

SECOND NATURE There’s beauty in simplicity. Perfect to pair with stools and other small tables, the Banjooli low table by German designer Sebastian Herkner for Moroso is inspired by male ostriches’ courting dance and made from the colourful threads of fishing nets used by Senegalese fishermen. African weavers interlace the threads around the table’s steel frame by hand to create a range of striking colour combinations. Available at Moroso (tel: 6836 0288) A BUG’S LIFE Blossoming flowers may be the stars of spring, but let’s not forget those working behind the scenes. From butterflies to beetles, insects are the unlikely heroes of this Labyrinth chair by Studio Job for Moooi. They form a distinctive pattern in monochrome that adds to the playful personality of the chubby armchair and is a…

KIM KARDASHIAN strikes again. The woman with the most photographed derriere in the world and global fashionistas like Victoria Beckham are the latest in a long line of stylish celebrities who have helped the high-end, high-price luxury handbag keep its iconic status—and, it has emerged, its status as an absolute, dead-cert investment opportunity. Researchers at luxury online marketplace Baghunter recently set out to compare the performance of three popular forms of investment: gold, the S&P 500 Index and Hermès Birkin bags. Between 1980 and 2015, the S&P 500 returned an average of 11.66 per cent a year, while gold managed just 1.9 per cent. But Birkin handbags’ increase averaged 14.2 per cent, say Baghunter number crunchers. And they point out that unlike the S&P 500 and gold markets, which have…

YES CHAN KOK WENG Why not? It’s like giving braces or earrings—a reward for being good or doing well in their studies, so why stop at just braces and earrings? Minimally invasive aesthetic procedures such as contouring using botulinum toxin injections can help to reduce square jaws, while fillers can help with nose or chin augmentation. If such procedures can boost a teenager’s self-confidence and self-esteem, I say go for it. For more invasive procedures, I am open to nose jobs to correct crooked or hooked noses, which can potentially cause insecurities among teenagers. However, I will draw the line at boob jobs as they are purely for beautification purposes. Liposuction to fight obesity? I think that would be excessive, and would prefer these young people to address such concerns…

DOUBLETONS & SINGLETONS “Hurry, go find a second Mr Right. I’ll sponsor your whole wedding if you remarry,” declared one matron to a good friend. Came the good spirited reply: “Deal! But you’re such a pro at the cards table, you’ve obviously calculated the odds and are betting that I’ll never remarry!” PLASTIC POWER She’s gracious, well liked, and is increasingly invited to key events—this lady seems to check the boxes of what it means to be high society. But is she using her credit card-wielding prowess as an EIC of a clutch of luxury brands to wrangle for various magazine covers? Discuss. EAT YOUR WORDS When a social stalwart met a restaurateur at a dinner party, she professed her passion for gastronomy but later left him stunned when she…

mar 4 CRAFT SINGAPORE Love artisanal beers? Get your fix of micro, home and specialty brews, with gourmet food and live music on the side, at Singapore’s first-ever craft beer and cider festival. Till March 6, at Marina Bay Waterfront. craftsingapore.com 5 MARGARET CHO: THE PSYCHO TOUR Comedian extraordinaire Margaret Cho makes her Asian debut with two shows that touch on everything that drives her crazy, from racism to violence against women, along with tributes to the late Robin Williams and Joan Rivers. At Kallang Theatre. la-comedylive.com 10 DON QUIXOTE If you missed Singapore Dance Theatre’s premiere of this ballet masterpiece of love, betrayal and eternal devotion—named Dance Europe’s Best Premiere of 2014—make sure you catch its restaging, which opens the company’s 2016 season. Till March 13, at Esplanade Theatre.…

WEAVING TALES BONHAMS NEW YORK MARCH 14 This sale of Himalayan and South Asian art includes a selection of ancient tapestries and sculptures. Highlights include a gilt copper figure of a seated Buddha from the 7th or 8th century (US$80,000–120,000) and a silk mandala from central Tibet (circa 1500) that depicts Ushnishavijaya, the goddess of longevity. The piece has an estimate of US$400,000–600,000. bonhams.com KEEN ON JOAQUIN BONHAMS LONDON MARCH 2 A portrait by one of Spain’s leading artists, Joaquín Sorolla y Bastida, leads this sale of 19th-century European and British impressionist art. Un Hebreo (estimate £300,000–510,000) has not been seen in public for more than a century. bonhams.com GOURD-GEOUS SOTHEBY’S NEW YORK MARCH 16 This sale of important Chinese art includes ceramics, jade, furniture and bronzes from the Neolithic…

With the theme Universe of Elegance, over 400 socialites ccreated their own glamour-packed galaxy at the Grand Hyatt Erawan Bangkok. A gourmet dinner, enjoyable entertainment and the presentation of the annual awards capped Thailand Tatler’s 24th anniversary ball.…

Surrounded by deep shades of blue, friends and family alike gathered at the Ocean Restaurant by Cat Cora to celebrate Sharel Ho’s underwater-themed birthday party. In like spirit, the restaurant was decorated with aquatic-themed balloons but dining alongside the live fish, sharks, and other marine life as they swam around the tank within the restaurant really added to the ambience and made for a magnificent view. After dinner and cake-cutting, the birthday girl and her guests explored the S.E.A. Aquarium for a fun photo op with the fishes. BIRTHDAY BELLE Sharel’s mermaidesque top was made by Heng Nam Nam and her tulle skirt by Lula Rock…

There was no doubt spring was in the air judging from the pops of pinks, reds and gorgeous blooms that dominated at the Chinese New Year luncheon hosted by the Ikebana International Singapore Chapter 135. Even the mood at Shisen Hanten by Chen Kentaro, the event venue, couldn’t have been more vibrant as guests eagerly anticipated the floral art demonstration by Sogetsu teacher Lim Bin Chu. A tea appreciation session continued the afternoon’s calm and zen mood before things turned downright boisterous during the yu sheng prosperity toss where guests offered auspicious wishes for the Year of the Monkey. THE ART OF TEA Tea art master Kang Chee Theng impressed guests during a Teochewstyle tea ceremony…

It was a colourful and intimate affair as friends gathered for mother-to-be Marilyn Lum’s baby shower at Kite restaurant. The tropical theme saw the ladies livening up the heritage shophouse in floral frocks and vibrant hues. The party was put together by Serene Chua, Stephanie Lee and Tan Min-Li, with a three-course menu featuring modern bites such as somen in lup cheong oil. As a highlight, guests had fun pairing up to put their creativity to work by designing and putting their own personal touches on the plain white bibs as advanced gifts for baby Philip Tay.…

The late, great David Bowie’s influences on fashion were as myriad as the list of characters he channelled. However, of all his personas, Ziggy Stardust provided the richest inspiration for stylists and designers the world over. This flame-haired, eye-patched showman, with his sexually ambiguous, glam androgyny, is perhaps one of the most enduring and iconic images of popular culture. Ziggy-inspired get-ups are not only magical and theatrical; they’re damn good fun. So what are you waiting for? Slip into that star-spangled silk shirt and tie that neckerchief, saunter in an oversized tweed coat and trilby or slither into that naughty silver catsuit and some glittery purple platform boots—eye patch optional —and Let’s Dance! RUN THE WRIST While nothing will take the place of a classic chronograph, these Chanel Première Rock…

SCROLLING through her Instagram page, you’ll find a few hints pointing to Gisele Bündchen’s supermodel day job. Mostly, you’ll be treated to snapshot after snapshot of the biggest loves of her life; her family, her dogs and her adventures outdoors. It’s the sights and smells of nature and the fond memories they evoke that captivate her, they way she captivates her over 7.7 million followers. The face of Chanel No. 5 shares how scents evoke some of her favourite memories in life. Growing up, did you spend a lot of time outside? I’ve felt very connected to the earth since I was a little girl because I grew up in a small village. I was always barefoot, and my grandparents from my mum’s side were farmers. What do you love…

“Cambridge Therapeutics helps me to upkeep my silhouette and youthful look. It is also a meeting place for me and my girlfriends to chat about the latest wellness treatments” Nina Ng wears many different faces. A doting mum of three and loving wife, she’s also a woman of faith. Strong values are at the core of Nina’s life. And what gives her life colour comes from her impeccable taste, from her fashion choices to her food preferences. Many on the social circuit also know her as Miss Congeniality, as the effervescent woman adds sparkle to every occasion. A typical day could see Nina having breakfast with her family before seeing her kids off to school, then ticking off items on her to-do list. A frequent traveller who loves shopping in…

BACKGROUND With a degree in psychology and a few years spent as an archivist, Émilie Moutard-Martin, some would say, took quite the detour before settling into a trade that’s given her an immense source of inspiration and brought her worldwide acclaim: feather artistry. Drawn to the unique aesthetic of feathers, she dabbled in millinery until she established her atelier in 2012. DESIGN SIGNATURE Her process involves first understanding the nature and complexities of the materials she’s working with, all the while maintaining utmost respect for the birds that enable the art form. Her pieces provide a multisensory experience. While she uses other materials such as pearls, sequins and threads as complements, she always makes sure to bring the characteristics of the feathers to the fore. BRANCHING OUT Moutard-Martin has lent…

“I start with a drawing, and then choose the different materials including the woods (maple and sycamore) and mother-of-pearl. The wood veneers are extremely thin, measuring a mere 0.6mm. Each element is then cut by hand to complement the blueprint—it’s like a complicated puzzle where I have to slot in pieces of varying shapes and sizes to produce the image of a rose. They are then sanded down, polished and placed on the dial. It takes me about 25 hours to finish one dial. My speciality lies in mixing different materials, and I decided to combine wood and mother-of-pearl for this dial. Using mother-of-pearl is quite challenging, as it is extremely delicate. Wood marquetry is an ancient technique that was revived during the reign of Louis XIV, but today, it…

“I think that the secret of talent is, most of the time, the ability of anticipation—and that is definitely what Coco Chanel had. And, yes, when you see the Bijoux de Diamants jewels, it is quite amazing because you could think it was done today. It is so modern” —French actress Isabelle Huppert “Karl is such a powerful, imaginative, curious, creative force. Whatever he is going to do, every single time that he mounts a show, it’s something spectacular and different” —Julianne Moore (right, in a portrait shot by Karl Lagerfeld) “ADVENTURES WITH CHANEL ARE always unique and playful.” Vanessa Paradis, actress-singer and longtime Chanel muse, probably spoke for the whole cast of famous faces—muses and friends of Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld—who were gathered in Gabrielle Chanel’s apartment one…

Coffee aficionados know that there’s more to coffee than just black or white. Quality cups require a lot of attention; where the beans are grown, how they are farmed and roasted are vital in contributing to the flavour and aroma. Nespresso has worked with two small but advanced coffee-growing communities in Lake Kivu of Rwanda and Chiapas in Mexico to create two limited-edition flavours: Umutima wa Lake Kivu and Tanim de Chiapas. Both flavours’ names mean “heart” in their respective native languages, paying homage to the care and effort each community has put into growing the coffee beans. Rwanda produces some of the sweetest, most flavourful East African coffees, and in Lake Kivu, growers use modern post-harvest practices and handpick the beans to ensure quality coffee. In Chiapas, one of…

MULTIMEDIA ARTIST Li Zhenhua, who has curated the film sector at Art Basel in Hong Kong since it was introduced in 2014, promises a line-up of “incredibly new” and “very beautiful” works this year. Specific details, however, are being kept under wraps. Among the programme’s highlights last year were films by Taiwanese and Chinese artists such as Yu Cheng-ta, Yao Jui-chung, Liu Xinyi and Liu Shiyuan. The quality and variety of nominations for his 2016 programme have “developed amazingly” compared to previous editions, says Li, who is the founder and director of Beijing Art Lab. The curator’s selection includes 60 works, of which more than half were made in 2015 and two were not finished until earlier this year. He is thrilled by the influx of new entries, many of…

WHEN I FIRST STARTED going to Los Angeles, I used to get frustrated because it’s so spread out and the time zone makes it pretty tough to interact with Europe. Now, however, there are some things I really like about it. I went over last July to design the new collection and, actually, the time zone compared to London means I can just get up in the morning and get all of my emails done by about 10 o’clock. I can then get out to start researching and designing. Los Angeles has become a real creative centre—a lot of designers are moving their studios to the city and the art scene is becoming much more prevalent. Also, being around sunshine every day is quite inspiring for me. An ideal day…

MARY KATRANTZOU We doubt glam babe Elaine would be able to resist these Trinity Ruban de Cartier sunnies PRADA Colour-block like a champ with a striking Max Mara bag slung over a colourful frock. Matching shoes optional MARY KATRANTZOU These Paul Andrew pastel pumps are an ideal alternative for those who daren’t step out with Carmen’s neon delight…

IT’S A START Following stints working at Marni, Lanvin, Marc Jacobs and Chloé, Central Saint Martins graduate Serafina Sama founded her womenswear label in late 2011. Named after her grandmother and an anagram of her own name, Isa Arfen has an irreverent, eccentric design ethos inspired by the strong, female figures Sama observed growing up in Italy—think a delectable melange of Italian irreverence and Sama’s own Notting Hill girl cool. “To me, fashion is about desire, beauty and fun. It’s not about dressing up in a costume. Isa Arfen is about a real woman dressing for her real life and really enjoying it.” SUNNY SIDE UP This sense of fun permeated her Creole-inflected spring/summer 2016 collection—a holiday wardrobe of oversized white shirts, boxy lace jackets and big, bold ruffles in…

An exclusive ingredient, the Illuminating Complex EX developed in the laboratories of Clé de Peau Beauté is responsible for the intense anti-ageing properties of the new La Crème. Inositol, rosemary extract and citrus unshiu peel extract are new ingredients aimed to improve the skin’s ability to renew tissues. The result? Translucent, bright, firm and moisturised skin. The Orchidée Impériale skincare range has company. Guerlain releases the more gentle The Gel Cream. It delivers the same power of the original Gold Orchid Technology, which is responsible for doubling skin cells’ capacity for renewal, giving the reduction of pores, fine lines, dull complexion and signs of tiredness a more refreshing experience. New active ingredients breathe life into Sisley’s improved formula of Sisleÿa L’Intégral Anti-Age cream. Lindera extract resynchronises the skin’s natural biorhythms,…

SLICK TRICKS Because there’s more to looking fab than feeling fab… • Brown lipsticks may have yellow undertones that will wash you out. Counteract this with a few dabs of cream blush for a subtle flush • Leave your contouring skills for the galas. Strobing, aka highlighting, will draw eyes to your best features under the sunlight • Protect yourself from UV rays on the face, body, hair, even nails. Butter London’s topcoat looks good alone or layered on your favourite spring shade. Psst… it’s chip-resistant, too…

TASSELS MADE QUITE A FASHION COMEBACK last year, showing up on jeans and jackets, designer bags, preppy loafers and flirty heels. The fringe obsession has worked its way into the jewellery world as well and with just the same fervour, showing up frequently on the red carpet. Offering vibrant interpretations of the tassel are Chopard with its Imperiale necklace, in which amethyst beads hang loosely from a diamond-encrusted pendant, and Chanel with the Cruise white-gold necklace set and laced with aquamarine beads, diamonds and black spinels. Tiffany & Co offers a more accessible and subdued tassel piece with its Fringe earrings in 18K yellow gold. Inspired by Middle Eastern talismans, David Morris creates earrings with a combination of emeralds and diamonds, while we see an opulent take on the tassel…

THE HEADQUARTERS OF TOD’S are as sleek as they come. The all-white office block and factory gleam among the rolling hills of central Italy, more reminiscent of a successful Silicon Valley start-up than a European luxury leather goods label. Inside the Le Marche-based building, bright sunshine floods through glass walls and a vast, royal-blue oil painting of the famous Gommino shoe is the only flash of colour in an otherwise uniformly white interior. Beautiful men and women in crisp shirts, jeans and loafers (Tod’s, of course) chat and flirt by the Ron Arad-designed stainless steel staircase. The complex radiates a sense of money and power—and that elusive Italian glamour the rest of us try so hard to recreate. At the centre of all this modern European chicness is Diego Della…

PAUL HOBBS CABERNET SAUVIGNON NAPA VALLEY OAKVILLE BECKSTOFFER TO KALON VINEYARD 2013 This is incredible, with blackberry, oyster shell, iodine, stone and graphite. Perfect nose. A full body yet so balanced and dense, with terrific subtle fruit and a salty, savoury finish. Like sea salt with raw Wagyu beef. Better in 2020 but amazing to taste now. 100 points CONTINUUM NAPA VALLEY 2013 Impressive purity of fruit and definition, with blackcurrant, oyster shell, blueberry, slate and graphite. Very complex yet subtle. Full-bodied, chewy and powerful, yet polished and gorgeous. Muscular, well-formed tannins. Electric style. Drink in 2020. 99 points PETER MICHAEL WINERY NAPA VALLEY OAKVILLE AU PARADIS 2013 The complex aromas are amazing, with hot stone, blackcurrant, meat and iron. Turns to porcini and wet earth. Cassis leaf too. A…

CHECKING IN PACK YOUR TRUNK The King’s Cup Elephant Polo Tournament comes to Anantara Riverside Bangkok this month, gathering teams from around the world to raise money for elephant charities in Thailand. DNA DETOX Wellness retreats are stepping up their game. The latest trend is tailored programmes for weight loss, rejuvenation and recovery based on an analysis of your DNA before you arrive. JURASSIC JAUNTS One of the lesser-known gems of the Hawaiian islands, Kauai, is set for a busy year, with airlines adding extra daily flights from Honolulu. That means it’s easier than ever to visit the “garden isle” where Jurassic Park and Raiders of the Lost Ark were filmed. CHECKING OUT STYLISH WHEELS Statistics show business travellers prefer car-hailing apps such as Uber over local taxis. But don’t…