Innholdsfortegnelse for September 2023 i Tatler Singapore

TATLER HONG KONG Mixologist Lorenzo Antinori left his role as beverage manager at the Four Seasons Hong Kong earlier this year to open a bar similar to those found his hometown. He told Tatler why a Rome-inspired hotspot is right for Hong Kong, and what he hopes it will teach customers about the beauty of simplicity and la dolce vita. TATLER MALAYSIA He’s only 22, but actor Meerqeen is already a household name and beloved by luxury brands. The rising star told Tatler about starring in a hit TV series and dealing with the unexpected struggles of his journey so far. TATLER PHILIPPINES The winner of the inaugural season of Drag Race Philippines, 2023 Gen.T honouree Precious Paula Nicole sat down with Tatler to talk about the Precious Foundation, which…

AZIMIN SAINI Paris‑based Singaporean journalist Azimin Saini has more than a decade of experience in lifestyle journalism, covering everything from food to fashion, travel and personalities in a range of publications, including The Peak, Michelin Guide Digital and Lifestyle Asia. This month, he shines the spotlight on Paris’s antiques industry, ranging from modest flea markets to grand expos with objets d’art procured from old royal families. JUNE LEE Currently an independent writer, editor and consultant, June Lee’s raison d’être is to document Asia’s burgeoning drinks scene. She completed her Certified Specialist of Wine and Wine & Spirit Education Trust Level 3 certifications, and deepened her appreciation of wine, whisky and gin in particular as Epicure magazine’s wine editor for seven years. In this issue, she meets the new generation of…

HONG KONG It’s not easy to land on a description for Federico Tan—tastemaker, fashion insider, marketing whiz, entrepreneur, cultural connector—or all of the above. The founder of marketing and communications agency The Advisory Council has worked with galleries and artists to launch exhibits and collaborate on projects, and with musicians like Pharrell Williams and Ciara. But it was in fashion that he got his start—he helped launch Diesel in China, as the brand’s head of marketing in Asia, before striking out on his own—and here he remains, working with leading brands that include Miu Miu, Loewe, Gucci, Adidas and Sacai . Tan has also been actively involved with Belowground at the Landmark Atrium in Hong Kong, a space that serves as a bridge to connect luxury retail with contemporary culture.…

There are artists who work from home, and there are those who keep a separate studio, whether on its own or within a collective space together with those of other artists. And then there is sculptor Ong Si Hui, whose studio—where Tatler shot her for this story—takes up a section of a shipping container measuring 2 metres by 2 metres and located within a container park in the western part of Singapore. “The outdoor area changes quite frequently,” the artist offers this curious piece of information, referring to the surrounding areas, where one can see stacks upon stacks of shipping containers as well as a storage yard of hardware and building materials. This is somewhat a reflection of Ong’s artistic practice. Trained as a sculptor at the Nanyang Academy of…

Dawn Koh is not your typical artist. A self‑professed “nerd” who excelled academically as a student in CHIJ St Nicholas Girls’ School, Koh had dropped art as a subject to better cope in the highly competitive learning environment. “I was so miserable,” she recalls, as she chats with Tatler in her cosy attic studio housed on the third storey of her new family home in the Thomson area. The irony is not lost on her. Koh recounts how, from the age of three, she had been “obsessed” with fashioning objects from paper—roses, animals and fantasy characters from her imagination—to the point that a second classroom had to be opened to display all her works of art during her primary school annual art exhibition. “I later realised that art was my…

It is almost impossible to talk about style in Singapore without her name coming up. For more than four decades, the always impeccably dressed Tina Tan Leo has helped Singaporeans, and those in the region, to dress better and live more elegantly. Hers is a story of luck and privilege, but also one built on a foundation of trust, tenacity and good taste. Looking back on her career—which is far from over—you cannot help but marvel at all the firsts she has accomplished and all the doors she opened for international brands that are now global household names. Over the past four decades, Tan Leo has helped more than 70 brands enter Singapore and Southeast Asia. These include Versace, Vera Wang, Roberto Cavalli, Hervé Léger, Christian Louboutin, Jimmy Choo, Dolce…

Its iconic cobalt blue jar needs no introduction: since its inception 25 years ago, La Prairie’s Skin Caviar collection has been coveted by discerning beauty connoisseurs worldwide. Over the years, the Swiss brand continues to draw on its expertise, harnessing the regenerative powers of caviar to reinvigorate tired and ageing skin. Today, the undisputed leader in caviar science celebrates 25 years of its cult classic, the Skin Caviar Luxe Cream, by unveiling an improved version. At its heart are two active ingredients exclusive to La Prairie: the Caviar Premier and the new Caviar Micro‑Nutrients, which work synergistically to help restore the skin’s youthful structure by stimulating and supporting its metabolic activities. As Daniel Stangl, the director of innovation at La Prairie, shares, the metabolic activities in question are the conversion…

ART COLLECTORS Both men’s and women’s looks are embracing artsy prints—or giant paintings that could be art pieces of their own. A statement piece could be perfect for your coming gallery visits or art fair trips. EXECUTIVE SUITE “Smart is sexy” is the message we received loud and clear from the most wearable looks on the autumn-winter 2023 runways. Bottega Veneta, Miu Miu and Gucci were just three of the houses that demonstrated a masterclass in casual yet directional dressing: roomy suits; jumpers over shirts with tailored jeans. Time to apply this corporate-cool formula to your wardrobe. BLOW UP THE LOGO Logo-less apparel might be the quiet-luxury approach, but designers are not giving up on house signatures. Whether it’s Chanel’s camellia or Fendi’s baguette, autumn-winter 2023 collections offer blown-up versions…

EDITOR’S PICK Harry Winston’s Duchess Necklace celebrates The King of Diamonds’ mastery of rare yellow diamonds and royal jewels. With a flawless 40-carat fancy intense yellow radiant-cut diamond at its centre, and with even colour distribution across all its golden-hued stones, the necklace is inspired by the Duchess of Windsor Wallis Simpson’s passion for yellow diamonds. It recalls the brand’s history of creating bespoke jewels for royalty, including the famed Duchess of Windsor Heart diamond. Treasures of the sea: Corals and Pearls GOLDEN ROPES The Summer Lariat Necklace by De Beers features a double rope of twisted yellow gold finished with precious rough-cut diamonds encrusting pear-shaped drops at the end of the rope. The sliding clasp and sculptural curves of white diamonds cinch the yellow gold bands, lending the piece…

I love Bangkok because … in less than three hours, I can bring myself to this buzzy and vibrant land of smiles with good food and excellent service. My favourite hotels are … Capella Bangkok for the peace and tranquillity afforded by the Chao Phraya River, and Siam Kempinski for the convenience of food and shopping. A few tips: at the former, be sure to wind down with drinks on the verandah of your suite. At the latter, start the day by having its signature Sun Rise breakfast, a delicious bowl of yoghurt with mango and coconut, against the backdrop of the rising sun. The first thing I do when I arrive in the city is … order a glass of refreshing Thai iced tea. My favourite breakfast spot is…

I have been to Mongolia 14 times, experienced every season, alongwith the challenges that come with working in a climate that shifts so wildly. The first time I travelled to Mongolia was in the summer of 2001. I was working as an assistant in New York to a fashion photographer. I had saved enough money to take a month off from work and organised a trip to practise photography. I had long had it in mind to go to Mongolia, as that country is intricately entwined with my family’s history. My grandfather fought in the French army during World War II and was caught and jailed by the Germans. A faction of Mongol soldiers under Soviet command freed him, along with other British, American and French soldiers, from a prisoner-of-war…

“The winter evening settles down. With smell of steaks in passageways. Six o’clock. The burnt‑out ends of smoky days.” These lines, from T S Eliot’s Preludes, inspired the words etched on the door of modern barbecue restaurant Burnt Ends at Dempsey—a lyrical, subtle way of heralding the entrance to the Michelin‑starred establishment by chef Dave Pynt. “I think of the poet observing the people we see on the streets rushing home to their dinner. It signals to our guests: your day’s work is over and it’s time to be nourished at Burnt Ends,” says the restaurant’s interior designer Emma Maxwell. The timber door with cast bronze handles that speckle in the sunlight (by which Maxwell is photographed for this story) is “big and heavy, and that’s very much on purpose”,…

Sensible. Dependable. Premium. That is the vibe you get when driving the Audi Q8 e‑tron. The German carmaker has not gone too crazy with electro‑everything on its new SUV flagship—sitting at the top of its eight‑model electric vehicle (EV) portfolio—that comes four years after the launch of its first e‑tron model. “Stay classy” appears to be the design brief and there is nothing gimmicky to signal the dawn of an electric era; the transition is as smooth as the regenerative braking and recuperation (more on this later) on this model. Save for one element that makes its debut on the Q8 e‑tron. Ushering a new corporate identity for Audi’s electric era, its iconic four‑ring chrome badge on the front grill has been replaced with a flatter, two‑dimensional unit that can…

CALI-CASHMERE Several years in the making, the Zegna x The Elder Statesman collab is finally in stores. First teased at Milan Fashion Week in January, the new partnership sees creative directors Alessandro Sartori and Greg Chait working together to blend SoCal flavour into understated pieces made from refined fibres—in other words, a free-spirited version of quiet luxury. Known for its relaxed aesthetic, the Californian label’s psychedelic tie-dye patterns and vibrant palette impart a playful feel to the Italian brand’s impeccably soft Oasi Cashmere; Zegna has committed to the fibres that go into this fabric being fully traceable by 2024. Cashmere and craftsmanship serve as the common language between the two fibre-obsessed partners, resulting in a collection of colours, prints and youthful silhouettes suitable for day and night. SEASONED COLOURS If…

CELINE KWAN Hong Kong “If you don’t feel beautiful, how are you supposed to create beautiful things?” asks Celine Kwan, the Hong Kong-born, London-based designer who graduated from Central Saint Martins, customised pieces for singer Lizzo and staged her work in the Love of Couture: Artisanship In Fashion Beyond Time exhibition in Hong Kong—all within the past two years. You can feel the infectious enthusiasm emanating from the young designer when she speaks and also of course, from her energetic, made-to-be-seen, often dramatically floral designs. Her work is the result of her upbringing in both the east and the west. Kwan left Hong Kong to attend a boarding school in the UK when she was 12, and there found her passion for fine arts and design. “Humour is a very…

EDITOR’S PICK The new, slimmer Tambour watch elevates Louis Vuitton’s design through exceptional finishing and sculpting. The 40mm model features the calibre LFT023, a mechanical movement with automatic winding. Contrasting brushed and polished surfaces enhance the look and feel of the bracelet, while golden appliqué markers pop against a micro-blasted dial emblazoned with “Louis Vuitton Paris”. Created by La Fabrique du Temps in Switzerland, this neo-vintage watch elevates the Tambour’s 21-year-old design by combining the maison’s blend of Parisian elegance and technical Swiss watchmaking prowess, scaled for a new generation. Digging up skeletons: openworked timepieces are making hearts race WEB DESIGN Roger Dubuis pushes design boundaries yet again with the Excalibur Spider Flyback Chronograph’s patent-pending flyback movement and lightweight 45mm carbon case; the column wheel, rotating minute counter and winged…

FEATURE It is often said that good things take time. Precious gemstones are a great illustration of this adage, as they typically require millions to billions of years to form naturally—hence their rarity and value. While we can easily appreciate the beauty of these masterpieces of nature, Louis Vuitton is diving deeper by tracing the profound journey of gemstones in its latest high jewellery collection, starting from the birth of planet Earth to the creation of life and its evolution. Named Deep Time, this is the fifth high jewellery collection by Francesca Amfitheatrof, Louis Vuitton’s artistic director for watches and jewellery, and the maison’s largest one yet. Comprising more than 170 unique pieces and a record number of precious stones, Deep Time is being unveiled in two chapters. The first…

Walk down any street in Paris and it would be impossible not to be struck by the gauze of history that careens across the city. Mascarons sit above the arches of heavy wooden doors, gargoyles snarl from stone turrets, and wrought iron railings twist and turn across beige terraces with the arabesque of grapevines. Much of this is centuries old—a reflection of the design language that stems from France’s deep‑rooted appreciation of art, culture and history. It is little wonder that the city is a magnet for buyers, purveyors and connoisseurs of antiques and vintage objects looking to decorate their living spaces. Indeed, the country’s proclivity for aged beauty stands as an antidote to these fast times, when everything can be purchased through an app and even coveted designer furnishings…

For some, travel is a means to escape. But increasingly, the way we travel is becoming less about escape than it is about immersion. As much as we love quick weekend getaway—especially in this part of the world, where destinations like Bali, Bangkok and Ho Chi Minh City are just a stone’s throw away—more travellers than ever are looking to go further: to connect with local communities, to learn the stories that connect a place with its people, to discover new perspectives, or to simply marvel at something beautiful. No longer looking for a quick change of scenery, we want to travel and come back changed. And that’s what this inaugural Tatler Travel supplement is all about. We speak with a new generation of hoteliers and designers who merge the…

SOME LIKE IT HAUTE If you’re chasing the sun to warmer destinations this time of year—whether that’s sitting poolside in Koh Samui, restaurant and bar hopping in Melbourne, or chartering a private yacht in the Indonesian archipelago—we suggest keeping things light and lush. Think accessories in soft, summer tones and seductive scents. A COOL CHANGE Escaping the Singaporean heat? We love an opportunity to indulge in moody hues and luxurious layers. Don’t forget that a quality cashmere scarf is every traveller’s best friend, and perhaps most important of all, invest in sumptuous skincare to keep your skin supple in even the harshest weather conditions.…

Soaring, dramatic white sails create an ethereal presence as Vela gently navigates the calm waters of the Indonesian archipelago. Co-owners Dimitri Tran and Adrien Portier had a vision of building a spectacular vessel that bridges the gap between a traditional boat and a superyacht. On the outside, Vela is a traditional Indonesian sailing ship, or phinisi. On the inside, she is a celebration of the nation’s exceptional creative talent—from an art collection curated by a contemporary Indonesian gallery to custom ceramics by Balinese artisans, complemented by world-class finishings, including Hermès furniture and bathroom fittings by Philippe Starck. Vela is available for private charter throughout the year, with all itineraries tailor-made to groups’ preferences and interests. “A journey to Komodo National Park will surprise guests with plunging savannas, arid in the…

With citrus-hued parasols and Seventies-inspired decor, Palm Heights in Grand Cayman is the coolest hotel you’ve probably never heard of. Just ask Hollywood’s most stylish set. Chloë Sevigny’s friends threw her a hen party there last year. Emily Ratajkowski and musician Moses Sumney rang in the New Year, kicking off 2023 with a party and impromptu photo shoot on the beach. Shortly after, Bella Hadid enjoyed a romantic retreat with then-boyfriend Marc Kalman in January, and sister Gigi chose Palm Heights for a summer getaway with friends in July. Yet despite the steady flow of A-list guests, Palm Heights is more intimate and understated than one would expect. Think of it as a Beverly Hills Hotel or Chateau Marmont for a new generation —only here, it’s on a stretch of…

At the Fife Arms in the village of Braemar in the heart of the Scottish Highlands, you can eat breakfast under a Brueghel or enjoy a pot of tea under a Picasso. This may sound serious-minded, perhaps even staid, but when it comes to the Fife Arms, nothing is quite as you expect. The work by Pieter Brueghel The Younger (1564-1636) is in the dining room, where the walls have been painted in multicoloured, abstract, “cubistoid” shapes by Argentinian artist Guillermo Kuitca. Pablo Picasso’s Femme Assise dans un Fauteuil (Woman Seated in an Armchair) from 1953 is backed by green tartan wallpaper below a ceiling swirling with lines by Chinese artist Zhang Enli, who was inspired by cross-sections of Scottish agate stones. And that’s just the start of the thrillingly…

The Hallyu wave—the proliferation of Korean pop culture around the world—might have changed the face of the global cultural landscape as we know it, with BTS, Blackpink and Squid Game becoming shorthand for the proliferation of K-pop and K-dramas outside South Korea’s borders, so it’s certainly no stretch to imagine a world in the near future in which Korean cuisine attains the same astronomical levels of popularity. At the leading edge of this charge are Korean fine-dining establishments dotted around the world that are shaping and remoulding the cuisine into something altogether different, retaining the spirit of the peninsula’s gastronomy while incorporating local ingredients and customs into the fold. Here, we spotlight four restaurants around the world that provide a glimpse of the directions that K-cuisine could take in the…

1 THE SHOES Step out in Tod’s take on the hottest shoes of 2023: the ballet flats. The Bubble Ballerina shoes are crafted from supple leather for extreme comfort, with rubber pebbles giving extra grip. Tod’s also added metal charms that are sure to make your ballet flats stand out. En pointe! 2 THE NECKLACE Channel the majesty of the Manhattanhenge phenomenon—where the sun rises or sets in perfect alignment with Manhattan streets running east‑west in New York City, bathing them in radiant beams of rosy light—with this Harry Winston Manhattanhenge high jewellery necklace, where the enchanting orange glow of pear‑shaped spessartites interspersed with diamonds echo the magic of the biannual event after which it is named. 3 THE CAMERA There is no denying the fun factor of instant cameras.…

The human psyche has long fascinated Rachel Lim. “All of us are on this journey to discover ourselves, and how we can express ourselves in the highest, truest and most authentic form,” says the co-founder of Love, Bonito. This is important to her work, for Lim considers Love, Bonito as “not just in the business of fashion, but ultimately in the business of women”. She explains, “We want to understand the different types of women and their psychographics. For example, how they express themselves, be it at home, at work, or when hanging out with friends.” Love, Bonito has come a long way from its early beginnings as a blog shop more than a decade ago to become the omnichannel fashion retailer that it is today, with presence in key…

With a collective 3.2 million followers on his Instagram and TikTok accounts at press time, it is safe to say that Lee Yik Keat—or YK, as he is known to his community—is one of Singapore’s most successful street photographers and content creators. Admirers relish his arty snaps of urban landscapes, while his video tutorials that detail photography hacks keep his audience coming back for more. Armed with just an iPhone 4 and a healthy dose of curiosity when he started in 2014, the self‑taught lensman has since gone on to work with the likes of Adidas, Burberry, Louis Vuitton, OCBC Bank and Porsche, and bagged plenty of cred along the way. Lee was also a judge for Apple’s Shot on iPhone Challenge in 2022. Not bad for an aerospace engineering…

SMALL TALK Korean fashion is having far more than a moment: with South Korean celebrities taking luxury houses by storm and fascination with K-culture reaching new heights, consumers the world over are lusting over idol-approved names such as Miss Sohee and Minjukim. That’s not to say there wasn’t a global presence before the advent of Squid Game and Blackpink: Rejina Pyo and Rokh are two brands which have been regulars at European fashion weeks for several years. One of the most exciting names to know right now is Recto, a Seoul-based ready-to-wear label. Founded in 2014 by award-winning designer Ji Yeon Jung, Recto is part of a new wave of Korean fashion that’s defining the contemporary fashion uniform. Stocked physically in Hong Kong’s Lane Crawford and globally on e-commerce sites…

“I remember when Abercrombie & Fitch first opened its flagship in Hong Kong [in July 2012]: at the time, it seemed like 99 per cent of men were into streetwear and masculine looks. If you were looking for something gender-neutral, or with a softer aesthetic, which we were into, there wasn’t anything,” says Mite Chan, co-founder of Hong Kong-based fashion brand Demo. “The market was pretty dominated by that [overtly masculine looks], and we wanted to start a brand to fill the gap.” Chan and his business partner Derek Chan were inspired to launch their gender-fluid label in 2013. The past decade has been one of rapid change in this respect: just think of Jaden Smith sporting a skirt for Louis Vuitton’s womenswear campaign in 2016, or MM6 Maison Margiela…

PATEK PHILIPPE Travel in style with Patek Philippe’s first chronograph model in its Pilot line: the Calatrava Pilot Time Travel Chronograph, which boasts a Travel Time function in addition to displaying the date and local time, and has a khaki green lacquered dial and an olive green strap in a vintage finish that add a rugged sense of adventure. CARTIER Santos de Cartier has seen several iterations since it first launched in 1978, and this year sees a lustrous deep green option being added to the line-up. The Smoky Green dial on this medium steel model has a gradient effect that plays with the light, complementing the watch’s polished and satin-brushed finishing. PANERAI A soft pastel green lends a modern touch to the Panerai Luminor Due. The sandwich dial is…

HOWARD CHANG, 28 67 PALL MALL SINGAPORE Tasting wine for the first time during his hospitality studies in the US, Howard Chang’s interest in the sommelier profession was piqued by the documentary Somm, which depicted the journey of four Master Sommelier candidates taking on the most difficult wine exam in the world. Always one for a challenge, Chang grabbed a book and studied. “From knowing nothing, I passed my Introductory Sommelier Certificate three months later,” shares the Sopexa Best Sommelier in French Wines Singapore 2022 champion. He landed an assistant sommelier job at Taïrroir in his native Taiwan, where he picked up the basics of the trade. He later moved to Japan to work at Signature in Mandarin Oriental, Tokyo, before joining 67 Pall Mall Singapore’s opening team in 2022.…

SEOUL CITY GUIDE As Frieze Seoul kicks off the art fair circuit this autumn with its second edition, collectors, gallerists and visitors are descending upon the city to discover all its cultural offerings. The fair’s director Patrick Lee calls Seoul home, and has over 15 years of experience in the art world; he previously served as the executive director of Seoul-based galleries Gallery Hyundai, and One and J. Lee recommends his favourite places to visit in the city—from a hole-in-the-wall bar to all the cafés and bookstores frequented by the creative crowd when they take a break from the fair. What are you most looking forward to most at this year’s edition of Frieze Seoul? A highlight of this year’s programming will be Frieze Film, co-curated by Serena Sungah Choo…

FRÉDÉRIC LAGRANGE Frédéric Lagrange is more than a photographer, he is an explorer and visual storyteller whose evocative images tell real stories about people and humanity through expression, emotion, and body language. Although Frédéric is best known for his images of South, South East, and Central Asia, he is also recognized worldwide for his travel, lifestyle, and portraiture work. KISSA CASTAÑEDA Kissa Castañeda is an editor and lifestyle journalist currently dividing her time between Ireland and Singapore. She has worked on key content projects with luxury brands and is also regularly invited to speak at and moderate panel discussions on media, creativity, and the future of the travel and lifestyle industry. In this issue, she explores destination hotels in Asia that offer a unique sense of place. GAVIN YEUNG Gavin…

For those who have truly been there and done that, The GR8 Experience offers unprecedented access to some of the most coveted events and venues, providing even the most discerning of travellers with once-in-a-lifetime experiences they won’t soon forget. “By far the best part of our job is seeing people’s dreams or passions fulfilled,” says Barnabas Carrega, founder of The GR8 Experience. “We really try to create rewarding experiences for our clients, from bonding family getaways to moments of peace for those who rarely get them.” A “global experience agency” that caters to the world’s elite, The GR8 Experience prides itself in making the inaccessible accessible and the impossible possible for its clients, whether that’s sitting courtside at a sold-out NBA game, attending sought-after fashion shows and parties like a…