Innholdsfortegnelse for May 2019 i Tatler Singapore

Sonia Cheng, CEO of Rosewood Hotel Group, graces the cover with her team in Hong Kong as they celebrate the opening of the city’s first Rosewood property. She shares some of the fascinating stories behind her biggest project yet. The Regal Issue features Negeri Sembilan’s very own royal couple, Tunku Mohamed Alauddin Naquiyddin and Puteri Badrinise Zakuan-Alauddin, who discusses parenting and the importance of bringing up their daughters with a sense of normalcy. The cover story features award-winning newscaster Korina Sanchez-Roxas, who talks about her journey into motherhood late in life—and with twins, no less. A special men’s section features an updated list of the Philippines’ most eligible bachelors. Haidan Lin, Wei Han, Rongrong Ye, Yihui Zhang, Yue Shang and Chenzhao Gao are members of F Lady, an interactive business…

It’s a foregone conclusion that every Louis Vuitton creation is a fashionable work of art, but the French maison takes it one level up with its exotic leather bags, implementing a rigorous 350-step process that starts from the sourcing and selection of premium skins to the final quality check of the finished product. The result? Stylish arm candies that instantly add a touch of sophistication to your ensembles. Flip to page 68 to find out more about the brand’s latest collection of exotic leather goods…

With the surge of streetwear designers vying for market share, Edward Crutchley’s men’s tailoring brand is a breath of fresh air. The British designer, who launched his label in 2015, took home the 2019 International Woolmark Prize in both the menswear and innovation categories for his successful application of the Japanese shibori technique and American tie-dye on wool. Drawing inspiration from different cultures’ uses of textiles and reinventing them into modern, luxurious pieces has always been Crutchley’s forte, and has resulted in collaborations with the likes of Kanye West and, most recently, Louis Vuitton. His autumn/winter 2019 collection is, characteristically, another trip around the world, featuring 1980s Japanese tailoring with details from Kopenhagen Fur, and Cuban shirts with Balinese prints. Edward Crutchley is available at Matches Fashion.…

Although the effect of round-the-clock reapplications of, say, a classic red lip outweighs the inconvenience, saturated shades that pack a punch are a far cry from the freshness of spring. Enter the just-bitten lip, a trend that was first popularised in South Korea and has since dominated runways from New York to Milan. It’s easy to achieve with minimal effort. Smear the edges of your lips or daub a dose of pink at the centre for an ultra-feminine bee-stung effect. Apply lip balm to ensure lips are moisturised for that subtle just-kissed look or, if using bolder hues, block the outer portion of lips with concealer. Then, dab on a velvety plum or rich maroon shade with a stiff brush until you sport a subtle gradient. Finish with gloss on…

SINCE TAKING THE HELM at Givenchy in 2017, following her move from Chloé, Clare Waight Keller has introduced an understated elegant sensibility to the French luxury fashion house, catching critics and consumers by surprise—but in a good way. More importantly, her talent for designing accessories has not gone unnoticed, with her tenure resulting in one hit item after another. Following the success of her GV3 and Whip bags, Waight Keller has launched the Mystic, a slightly structured bag with a top handle, V-shaped flap top and tab closure with a snap, for pre-fall 2019. Its simple but strong silhouette symbolises power and restraint—elements commonly associated with Givenchy’s haute couture offerings over the years. A closer look at the Mystic bag reveals the high level of craftsmanship that goes into its…

ZEENA TAN 27 This corporate lawyer at an investment holding company is the daughter of society fundraiser and ikebana proponent Linda Soo-Tan. She enjoys photography and never leaves for a holiday without her trusty Leica Q camera. Cotton vest, T-shirt and trousers, and Hydrus leather sandals, all by Salvatore Ferragamo; 8°0 bangle in pink gold with diamonds by Fred DAWN KOH, 30 BRYAN KOH 35 Le Cordon Bleu-trained Dawn and award-winning cookbook author and self-taught chef Bryan run cake companies Chalk Farm and Milk Moons together with mum Ginny Ng, a retired stalwart in luxury retail. Bryan wears wool jacket, wool-blend knit top, denim jeans and Alpes suede chukka boots, all by Salvatore Ferragamo. Dawn wears twill silk slip dress with cashmere suede strips in trimmed macrame style, leather belt…

NLESS YOU HAVE BEEN LIVING under a rock for the past decade, you would have likely seen at least one of Dev Patel’s movies, which include such hits as Slumdog Millionaire (2008), The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel (2011) and Lion (2016). Given his current level of success, it might surprise you to know that the British actor fell into acting almost by accident. As the story goes, Patel’s mother, Anita, spotted an ad for the British television comedy-drama Skins in a London newspaper and dragged her son to the audition, despite the fact that he had his GCSE [Britain’s equivalent of the O levels in Singapore] science examination the day after. When asked on the sidelines of the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) watch fair in January, the…

IT IS PERHAPS SURPRISING THAT Bvlgari, a brand with such affection for Roman opulence—think the saffron-coloured silk, oversized chandeliers and stacks of marble slabs in its glistening flagship store in Via dei Condotti in Rome—should create starkly architectural and futuristic watches. Watch connoisseurs would be pleased to know that the Italian brand is continuing its quest for discreet modernism through extra-thin mechanical movements, which were launched at this year’s Baselworld watch fair in March. The Finissima, an evolved version of the Finissimo Minute Repeater movement first presented for men at Baselworld 2016, is given a facelift this year with the Divas’ Dream Finissima Minute Repeater. Limited to 10 pieces, the ladies’ watch comes in a 37mm case of 18K white gold snow-set with round-cut diamonds. The world’s thinnest minute repeater,…

SUPERSIZED STYLE Heavy-duty earrings steal the show when it comes to championing colour. Wear them to inject a playful edge into an otherwise modest look STANDOUT SUITE More is more on the jewellery front this season CONTRASTING COLOURS Harry Winston’s latest line, Winston Candy, abandons the brand’s usual monochromatic palette in favour of brightly coloured stones and cocktail rings in contrasting colours GARDEN VARIETY Be influenced by something that’s both nature-inspired and playful, like these pieces, which give the magpies among us plenty of reason to rejoice…

WE MEET KISHIN RK ON a weekday morning at InterContinental Singapore Robertson Quay, and one of the first things he does as we settle in for this interview is to lower the window shade to temper the glare of the sunlight streaming in through the windows of the conference room we are in. “I only had two hours’ sleep last night,” he tells us. He orders a coffee, but actually, caffeine is no match for talking shop when it comes to invigorating the founder and CEO of property developer RB Capital. Once he starts laying out his plans for 2019 and beyond, it’s easy to understand why there may just not be enough hours in the day for everything he wants to accomplish. The action-packed years that lay ahead come…

The Internet of Things (IoT) and blockchain are pervading modern businesses, and companies are jumping on the bandwagon for fear of getting left behind by the digital transformation. Being the forward-thinking businessman that he is, Malaysian entrepreneur Christien New has already laid out plans, which have been in the works since 2017, to use these modern technologies for his energy company. PT Bintan Power Plant, which he founded in 2002 and currently chairs, is a leading energy provider in Indonesia that reportedly generates 13,000MW of electricity to power nearly 15 million households across Southeast Asia. Earlier this year, New revealed plans to provide more affordable and sustainable energy to consumers using IoT and blockchain technology. “There’s always a disassociation between the actual power generated and what’s being transmitted and distributed…

FOR THE ONE WHO ...BOASTS A FRAMED PORTRAIT WITH ZUCK PALMAZ VINEYARDS NAPA VALLEY CABERNET SAUVIGNON 2015 (PICTURED OPPOSITE) From innovators of another kind (Dr Julio Palmaz invented a coronary stent), this cabernet is the realisation of a belief that everything can be improved through technology. Building on an 1881 winery, Palmaz dug 18 storeys into the rock of Mount George for a gravity-flow facility aimed at capturing the quintessential black fruit, sweet spice and unmarred velvetiness of Napa Valley cab. ...IS ON EVERY 30 UNDER 30 LIST DOMAINE COMTE GEORGES DE VOGÜÉ BOURGOGNE BLANC 2014 Pick this insider gem to earn respect from the savvy entrepreneur. Despite the excellence of the 2014 white burgundy, De Vogüé upgraded its white in 2015 to its Musigny Blanc label (aka the rarest…

Few have mastered the art of ugly chic like Miuccia Prada. While her Italian fashion counterparts are renowned for their predilection for high glamour and sex appeal, the Prada creative director is known to go against convention, exploring ideas such as feminism and art in her collections. Prada’s spring/ summer 2019 collection is no different, with the myriad fashion-forward pieces such as duchess satin bicycle shorts and tie-dye shirts. Singapore Tatler friends had the opportunity to preview the collection, alongside the season’s key denim pieces, at a special presentation held at the house’s Paragon boutique. Tatler fashion director Desmond Lim also presented a masterclass on the art of layering. PLASTIC FANTASTIC One source of amusement at the event came in the form of the Verner Panton inflatable stools flown in…

LEGACY IS SOMETHING WE OFTEN TALK about at Singapore Tatler. It comes up when we speak to leaders such as Binod Chaudhary, Nepal’s sole billionaire, who shares his life journey with Asia Tatler on page 120. It also arises when we meet the brains behind coveted luxury brands, who talk about how their decades-long heritage continues to shape their collections today. As the publication turns 37 this year, legacy is also particularly relevant to us as we innovate in face of incessant change while keeping true to the values that have allowed us such longevity. This much we know is true: inheriting a legacy puts one in a better position but it also comes with great responsibility. This sentiment is shared by entrepreneur Kishin RK, founder and CEO of RB…

THERE IS A SUPERHERO IN ALL OF US, and the Australian and New Zealand Association’s (Anza) SuperBall is just the occasion to don that cape. Presented by the Australian International School, the superhero-themed Annual Anza Black-Tie Charity Ball, which takes place on May 11 at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore, is the association’s biggest fundraiser of the year. Guests can look forward to a sumptuous three-course dinner, along with a power-packed entertainment line-up featuring British emcee and vocalist Rob Collins as well as homegrown acts Jive Talkin’ and DJ Malcolm X. And what is a party without tipples? There are three pop-up bars serving up everything from scotch whisky to the world’s first vodka made entirely from cow’s milk. More than just a glamorous party, the proceeds from the evening’s travel…

I JW360° Japanese fusion restaurant JW360° (01-223 to 225, tel: 6423 2466) endeavours to serve the best of what the four seasons have to offer, and who better to do that than head chef Atsushi Yamakawa. A master of yoshoku or western-influenced Japanese cuisine, Yamakawa serves up signatures such as hamburger with miso demi-glace sauce and beef steak seasoned with soy sauce and mirin. The latter is best savoured with miso-seasoned rice, which is cooked in a traditional Japanese claypot. 2 EL FUEGO BY COLLIN’S As its name suggests, El Fuego (02-216, tel: 6513 0715), which means “fire” in Spanish, serves up an extensive menu of European dishes cooked on a charcoal grill. Decadent eats await including the 100-day grain-fed Angus tomahawk steak marinated in a concoction of herbs, and…

Since Phoebe Philo’s departure from Celine, spotlights have been roaming in search of her successor as fashion’s mistress of avant-garde minimalism. New York-based designer Peter Do is a hot contender. After graduating from the city’s Fashion Institute of Technology, the winner of the LVMH Prize for Graduates in 2014 was recruited to join Celine under Philo’s tutelage. Do even collaborated with celebrated architect Zaha Hadid and worked under US designer Derek Lam before launching his eponymous label in January 2018. His spring/summer 2019 collection inspired by Irving Penn’s portraits of people in uniform was a roaring success. Do focused on construction and tailoring—a voluminous, sheer shirt would sit over an asymmetrically pleated skirt, a printed button-up shirt would have floor-length sleeves, and knits and jackets would have shoulders slashed open.…

FEELING LIKE YOU HAVE absolutely nothing to wear even though the reality is quite the opposite—it’s a conundrum that fashion entrepreneur Tresor Anne Tan knows only too well. Together with co-founder Carolyn Tan, Tresor runs The Treasure Collective, Singapore’s first subscription-based peer-to-peer designer clothing rental platform that offers you access into other members’ wardrobes. Launched in November last year, with only womenswear in its collection, the company is looking to expand into menswear, while building a collection of streetwear. Tresor may be running a fashion business, while amassing an impressive wardrobe filled with contemporary and luxury designer clothing, but there was a time when she didn’t have a firm sense of her own personal style. “A lot of people find this hard to believe, but I was a really late…

PLUM BLOSSOMS BLOOMING IN the snow paint a pretty picture, but more than that, it sends a message of strength and resilience. The delicate flower blooms vibrantly to mark the arrival of spring, after enduring the harsh winter snow. It is this tenacity that inspired South Korea’s leading beauty brand Sulwhasoo when it first came into being in 1987. Sulwha, in Korean, means “blooming as a beautiful snow blossom on the skin”, while Soo is “exceptionally beautiful”. “We selected plum blossoms as part of our identity because it signifies vitality and a strong spirit,” says Mina Kim, senior vice president of Sulwhasoo. “Ever since we started using ‘Sulwha’ in our brand name, we wanted to use plum blossoms as a key ingredient in our products.” So it is fair to…

NADA JUMABHOY 31, LAWYER My style in three words… Classic, feminine and comfortable. My favourite gift from my family… A pair of jade bangles that were given to me by my maternal grandmother at age four. My style icon… My mum. She’s effortlessly elegant. My favourite piece from the out›t I’m wearing… The lace booties from Christian Louboutin, because they are killer stilettos that elevate an outfit. PRIYA ANAND 23, STRATEGIC CONSULTANT Traits I inherited from myãparents… My father’s positivity and my mother’s practicality. Last thing I bought… A watch for my father—it may not have been the last thing I got him, but it has been by far the most memorable. My style icon… Audrey Hepburn. I adore her effortless style and how she didn’t conform to trends. My…

WHEN NEIL ARMSTRONG STEPPED out of the lunar module on July 20, 1969, hundreds of millions of people around the world were squinting at the grainy black-and-white images on their television screens. Once the 38-year-old commander of the historic Apollo 11 mission had descended the ladder and set the first human foot on the moon, they heard him radio back to mission control on Earth, “One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” After 19min of tentative tests, which included assessing the firmness of the lunar surface and his ability to move about in his bulky spacesuit in the weak lunar gravity, Armstrong’s co-pilot, Edwin “Buzz” Aldrin, joined him. They set up a television camera, planted an American flag and scooped up rock samples during a moonwalk that…

SCOOCH OVER, MILLENNIALS. FOR THE past decade, the last generation to straddle the analogue age and our digital present has enthralled pundits and trendspotters with their sharing economy start-ups and avocado toasts. But a new generation is about to steal the spotlight. The first members of Generation Z were born in the mid-1990s, which means that the oldest of this lot are now coming of age. This much we know. Everything else, though, is still in flux—and that includes whether the name Gen Z sticks. Remember how millennials were first called Gen Y before getting their snappier moniker? Shifting nomenclature likely won’t be the only thing Gen Z has in common with millennials. In fact, their shared traits are something wealth management institutions are paying close attention to as they…

ANDRÉ FU WAS SO STRUCK BY a friend’s Hong Kong apartment when he visited a decade ago that he eventually made his own home in the same building. And it’s no wonder. Upon entering the designer’s Deep Water Bay apartment, you are immediately drawn to the double-height, floor-to-ceiling windows directly ahead. They preside over a vista that spans almost 270 degrees, from Deep Water Bay in the west, across Ocean Park and Middle Island, all the way to South Bay and Repulse Bay in the east. Perched high in the slim, high-rise tower, it’s like you are on the side of a cliff, looking down and out over Hong Kong’s ocean, beaches and beauty. “I thought that if my home can physically evoke that sense of retreat, or just an…

TUST MINUTES AFTER THE HAMMER CAME down on the winning bid of £1.04m at a Sotheby’s auction in London last October, British street artist Banksy remotely sent his Girl with Balloon painting through a shredder concealed within the frame. As far as pranks go—even by the elusive artist’s standards—this surprise intervention will go down in the annals of art history. The buyer of “the first piece of live performance art sold at auction” (later renamed Love is in the Bin) went ahead with the purchase, calling it her “own piece of art history”. Such is the creative audacity of street art, which has steadily gained mainstream influence and rising interest in the commercial market among collectors in recent years. “Street art is gaining momentum and attention as a serious collecting…

The opening of the seventh annual edition of Art Basel in Hong Kong had the crowd of art lovers at the Convention and Exhibition Centre abuzz. With a stellar line-up of 242 galleries and an ambitious programme of powerful films and hard-hitting talks, there was plenty to keep visitors of all persuasions enthralled. The fair was divided into seven sectors—Galleries, Discoveries, Insights, Kabinett, Encounters, Film and Conversations. Twenty-one of the galleries were participating for the first time, including powerful operators from the US and Europe such as Richard Nagy, Galerie Max Hetzler, Paula Cooper Gallery and Galerie Greta Meert. Highlights among the installations included Lee Bul’s 10m-long zeppelin hanging above visitors’ heads, and Chiharu Shiota’s fleet of life-sized rowing boats woven from yarn that descended from the ceiling. Asia Tatler…

With a mission to create original Singapore musicals and empower the disadvantaged, arts charity Musical Theatre Limited (MTL) showed its mettle at its annual gala in March. The MINDS Taiko Drum Troupe opened the evening, before the visually handicapped leads of MTL’s 2016 musical My Love is Blind sang a medley of songs. Guests also witnessed an installation ceremony of new chairman and president, Sean Wong, who takes over from co-founder Stella Kon. The renowned playwright will now concentrate on writing MTL’s next production, Lim Boon Keng, The Musical.…

Ten trailblazers across various industries including social entrepreneurship and arts and culture were honoured at the second edition of the Women of the Future (WOF) Southeast Asia Awards in March at Hilton Singapore. The winners were selected for their exceptional work, while displaying courage and kindness. In her opening speech, WOF founder Pinky Lilani, who is also a renowned author and motivational speaker, highlighted the importance of the awards, which she founded in the UK in 2006: “Despite the remarkable stories we’ve heard, we’re also constantly reminded how important it is to highlight inspirational female leadership. Far too often, a lack of gender equality in our own echo chambers limit our self-belief and prevent critical voices from being heard.” FLY HIGH AirAsia Group CEO Tony Fernandes received the night’s special…

1 MONACO We moved to Monaco when I was two years old. So the south of France, where I spent most of my childhood, has been a big influence when I was developing my brand in the past two years. I’m beach-mad and love spending time in warm weather and exotic tropical destinations such as Barbados in the Caribbean. ANYONE WHO KNOWS ME KNOWS HOW MUCH I LOVE TO BE AT THE SEASIDE MORE THAN ANYTHING 2 THE DUOMO I travel a lot, collecting ideas from all the cities I visit. I’m fascinated by Roman history, so religious vestments like papal robes and big churches like the Duomo in Florence inspire me with their colours and patterns. 3 SANT AMBROEUS Not a lot of people know about Sant Ambroeus in…

WE LAST MET PROPERTY developer Kishin RK about a year ago, to talk about Quayside at Robertson Quay. Then newly completed, the development’s clever mix of casual dining options, private members’ club 1880 and an InterContinental hotel was about three years in the making. It was also the first large-scale realisation of the entrepreneur’s belief that careful curation and a deep understanding of target consumers are crucial to making a property project successful today. After all, in a world where late-night nosh can be summoned with a tap on a smartphone screen, a physical space needs, more than ever, to make a compelling case that your presence on its premises will yield a special experience. Cut to a year later and Kishin hasn’t stopped thinking about this interplay between the…

DUBIOUS DUD Did he or did he not? Many were in two minds about whether this society offspring really graduated from medical school—or so he claimed—after rumours started swirling that he was kicked out in his last semester, thanks to his partying ways. He’s now apparently doing administrative work at a friend’s aesthetic clinic, still wearing a lab coat no less. STICKY FINGERS “Don’t worry, I’m sure we can take them home! I do it all the time. The host probably won’t even notice that they’re gone,” said one society cheapskate to her mortified tablemates at a recent charity gala, as she slipped into her purse one of the ceramic figurines used as table decor.…

OUND AND MUSIC MAY FORM THE BASIS OF HIS ART TODAY, but for Singaporean contemporary artist Song-Ming Ang, one of his first musical encounters, which involved learning to play the recorder, was less of an enjoyable experience. “Like almost every child, I first encountered the recorder during music lessons in primary school. It’s probably fair to say that many of us didn’t enjoy the learning process, as 40 children simultaneously blowing hard into their recorders can sound very uncoordinated and dissonant.” Despite this, the musical instrument left an indelible note on him for it led to the making of a three-channel film installation, Recorder Rewrite—the centrepiece of his presentation, Music for Everyone: Variations on a Theme, at the 58th International Art Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia. Inspired by the…

LEONARDO DA VINCI: A LIFE IN DRAWING THE QUEEN’S GALLERY, BUCKINGHAM PALACE, LONDON MAY 24 TO OCTOBER 13 The exhibition of the Renaissance master’s work, the largest in 65 years, marks the 500th anniversary of his death. It will showcase more than 200 of his greatest drawings from the Royal Collection. rct.uk MANGA EXHIBITION THE BRITISH MUSEUM, LONDON MAY 23 TO AUGUST 26 The largest exhibition of manga ever to take place outside Japan charts the visual narrative art form’s origins and meteoric rise in popularity across the globe, examining its cultural influence and how it inspired other media. britishmuseum.org VENICE BIENNALE VENICE MAY 11 TO NOVEMBER 24 This year’s central exhibition, May You Live in Interesting Times, is curated by Ralph Rugoff, director of the Hayward Gallery in London.…

Graphite caps from Louis Vuitton, graphic tees from Loewe and high-top sneakers from Gucci—what do they all have in common? In the tradition of fashion’s penchant for drawing inspiration from bygone decades, summer sees a return to skate culture. Popularised in the 1980s, the trend has returned to global status thanks to the industry’s new-found love of streetwear and all things Supreme. The sport is even making its Olympic debut at next year’s Tokyo Games. Brands are now collectively hopping on the 28-inch board, with neon parkas at Dsquared2, drawstring bags at Prada and blinged-out pins at Celine.…

CAROLINA HERRERA GOOD GIRL VELVET FATALE A new collector’s edition in a stiletto-shaped bottle, this offers the provocative scent of jasmine and tuberose mixed with tonka bean and cacao. ATELIER COLOGNE JOIE DE VIVRE PACIFIC LIME The star ingredients of this fresh, tangy scent are limes from Mexico and oranges from Sicily. IL PROFUMO FLEUR DE CERISIER This is an evanescent composition of rose, freesia and white musk reminiscent of Japanese sakura in full bloom. GIVENCHY LIVE IRRESISTIBLE ROSY CRUSH This feminine fragrance’s subtly spicy notes come from a combination of rose, pink pepper, goji berries and patchouli. GUCCI BLOOM GOCCE DI FIORI A lighter version of the original Gucci Bloom fragrance, Gocce di Fiori is a heady concoction of jasmine, tuberose and Chinese honeysuckle. GUERLAIN AQUA ALLEGORIA GINGER PICANTE…

ENGRAVING Whether you re getting your own initials inscribed or gifting a watch as a loving gesture, engraving is a tradition that’s enjoying a new lease of life STYLISH STRAPS Switch between bracelets to easily transform your watch’s appearance ENAMELLING A centuries-old technique, hand-painted enamel makes the unobtainable attainable MADE TO MEASURE Customise your timepiece using a digital platform…

HISTORY ALWAYS REPEATS itself. Watchmaking brands have taken the phrase to heart over the past few years, releasing countless new models that pay homage to their historical pieces. And while some may say that such a move lacks creativity, the fact is, the resulting pieces can be very impressive—if done right. And Tag Heuer has certainly ticked all the right boxes with its newly revived Autavia collection. The original Autavia (whose name is a portmanteau of the words “automobile” and “aviation”) began life as a dashboard instrument in racing cars and propeller aircrafts between 1933 and 1957. When production ceased, then-CEO Jack Heuer decided that it deserved a second life and turned it into a chronograph wristwatch in 1962. The watch proved enormously successful and was popular among watch enthusiasts…

IF WALLS COULD TALK, THOSE AT 26 Place Vendôme would have a distinctly aristocratic accent. Originally called Hôtel de Nocé, this beautiful building was constructed in 1717 when the regal-looking square was populated by France’s grandest men and women. Over the years, Hôtel de Nocé was home to the Crozat and La Tour d’Auvergne families (think tiaras and lots of titles) and the Countess of Castiglione, Napoleon’s badly behaved mistress. By 1893, jeweller Frédéric Boucheron’s business was growing and he moved into Hôtel de Nocé, thereby becoming one of the first of the great jewellers to open a boutique on Place Vendôme, a square that is now one of the gem hubs of Europe. The building’s name was later changed to 26 Place Vendôme and it became the flagship of…

FORTY YEARS AGO, I BOUGHT a second-hand Volkswagen van and, with my wife, drove out of Switzerland. We crossed the unstable and at times dangerous lands of Turkey, Iran and Afghanistan. Our destination was Nepal. This relatively small country has always drawn the attention of the world, whether for the majesty of the Himalayas, the fascinating story of Edmund Hillary and Sherpa Tenzing Norgay, the first men to reach the top of the world, or the legacy of the Gurkhas, soldiers known as the bravest of the brave. In the 1970s, the Kathmandu Valley was a favourite destination for Western backpackers and an iconic place for the hippie movement. Ravi Shankar’s music, yoga and meditation, along with fresh air and free marijuana were part of a magical cocktail. Walking through…

AS A MILLENNIAL IN THE WINE world, much of it can leave me feeling like a sapling in an old-growth forest. However, Asia’s wine scene (especially China’s and India’s) is throbbing with young blood. Known for their technophilia and willingness to embrace a new, personalised style of luxury, Asian millennials are in some ways the dream market that the wine industry has been waiting for. Here, we dig into factors driving the youthful embrace of wine in Asia and suggest some wines to share with your favourite under-40s. WINE IS HEALTHY—WELL, KIND OF Though doubtlessly overplayed in the media, the wine-health link dovetails nicely with millennials’ well-documented wellness fixation. Some studies show health is still the primary reason for wine consumption in China among both younger and older generations. Of…

A force to be reckoned with, Betty Chen, who at age 92 is the oldest person on the Tatler 300 list, shows no signs of slowing down. Most recently, she hosted a group of 18 friends from California, taking them on a Crazy Rich Asians-inspired tour of Singapore and Malaysia. They are fans of the Kevin Kwan trilogy—some of them even know film director Jon M Chu’s father who lives in California. So Betty gathered her closest friends, including Selena Tan (who plays Alix Young, the youngest aunt to main character Nick), Peggy Jeffs, Celeste Basapa and Maniza Jumabhoy, to show the guests the best of Singapore. This included a hearty brunch at Violet Oon Singapore with, of course, a popiah wrapping session. The guests lapped up the delectable spread,…