Best of the Best 2024: Robb Report Hong Kong is out NOW!

Best of the Best 2024: Robb Report Hong Kong is out NOW! 

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The Best in Style, From Brunello Cucinelli and Stefano Ricci to Louis Vuitton

Quiet luxury is making headlines, shining a light on exquisite craftsmanship and bespoke excellence.

Read the full feature here.

The Best in Jewellery, From Cartier and Van Cleef & Arpels to Chanel and Anna Hu

Fashion houses are stepping up their game with bold and beautiful high jewellery, going toe-to-toe with heritage brands.

Read the full feature here.

The Best in Gear, From Bang & Olufsen and Samsung to Devialet and KEF

Data-savvy companies are already using AI to help shape the products you buy—not by talking, but by listening.

Read the full feature here. 

 

Decorator to the stars Martyn Lawrence Bullard on making small look big

A really good interior is something that's curated and makes a cultured blend of things, says the interior designer and reality TV celebrity. 

View of singer Cher’s bedroom seating area. The sofas, covered in raw silk were designed by Martyn Lawrence Bullard. The wall hanging is a Burmese late 19th-century tapestry woven with pure gold thread.
Photo: Martyn Lawrence Bullard

Martyn Lawrence Bullard's 250-page glossy interior design tome, Live, Love and Decorate, with a foreword by singer Elton John, provides a peek into the domestic lifestyle of the rich and famous.

It features the glitzy homes of celebrities such as singer Cher and former Jimmy Choo chief executive Tamara Mellon, as well as the tastefully appointed homes of Hollywood stars Edward Norton and William H. Macy. Bullard has also created earthy and stylish mansions for singer Kid Rock, actress Pamela Anderson and Ozzy Osbourne.

"Most of my clients end up becoming friends - it's about having a connection. You have to have a connection with your client from the start, to get a good result," says Bullard, who was in Hong Kong recently.

"If the feeling isn't there, I don't think you can understand each other and create a beautiful space. I don't have a signature in my design style. I want my design style to be your design style. I want it to be what you love because I'm decorating for you. So it's really about understanding your clients, you have to get into their heads, work out their design dreams and become the implementer; make it happen."

Cher's Indian-inspired bathroom.
Photo: Martyn Lawrence Bullard

The debonair British-born designer, with his signature tucked scarves, manicured salt-and-pepper stubble and designer jackets, is a celebrity in his own right (Bullard is part of the cast of US reality TV shows Million Dollar Decorators and Hollywood Me) catering to wealthy clients with velvet-gloved ease and brass-knuckled get-the-job-done spirit.

The decorator to the stars didn't aspire to or study for the role he now performs. He went to Hollywood 23 years ago for the same reason millions of others do - in the hope of becoming a star. "I was going to follow my father's footsteps - he had been an actor and an opera singer - so I put myself through drama school, buying and selling antiques and objects on the side, for theatre stage sets. Then I thought, right, I'm going to go to Hollywood and become a movie star. So I moved to Hollywood … I didn't become a superstar. I sort of flailed around, trying to get bit parts here and there, and eventually I got cast in a movie - a very small part, but it was ever so meaningful at the time."
It's a blend of cultures that makes any space - a room, a house, a city, a country - interesting
Martyn Lawrence Bullard

I proffer the old adage that there are no small parts, just small actors. "Well, I was a very small actor then, my dear," he says with a notable English accent he's not shaken off despite living in LA for more than two decades.

"I became friends with the producer and his girlfriend (I think she was, at the time) and they ended up coming to my little flat one night. They loved what I had done. I didn't have any money then, so when they asked me to do their house - of course, I said yes. It was kind of a Casablanca, Moroccan vibe."

It's a vibe that he continues to spread with his homes dotted with 18th century Tibetan monk sculptures, antique French apothecary jars, mother-of-pearl inlaid trays, garden sofas upholstered in Zanzibar from his fabric collection, glass lanterns from the Grand Bazaar of Istanbul and Tibetan tapestries woven in pure gold thread.

Singer Kid Rock’s Malibu home featurs a lot of Indonesian-style woodwork. Photo: Martyn Lawrence Bullard


But can most residents in Hong Kong, with flats the size of Eva Mendes' closet, relate to this?

"I love small spaces - there's something cosy and wonderful about them. One should never be restricted by space; it's all about dreaming big. Just because you have a small apartment doesn't mean you have to live in a white box with a couple of chairs. It's about being inventive."

And invention means bringing elements of the outside inside. "Colour is a really important tool and can turn a small space from a white box into an amazing jewel. I always tell people to experiment. It changes a space. A great trick with a small space is rather than just painting the walls, paint the whole thing. If you put [the same] colour on the ceiling and the walls, you create this extraordinary cocoon effect. It makes everything feel bigger."

Bullard says he's lucky that his work both for television and for his international clients often takes him overseas in search of antiques.

"I've kind of got out of the tourist traps and discovered amazing new worlds. Little villages in Jaipur, off-the-beaten paths in Istanbul, deep in the arteries of Europe and Asia you find these little gems."

In Hong Kong, he found similar treasures in Hollywood Road.

"The antiques stores, those little streets with a fish market and then there was a trendy pop-up store, and then there was a deserted former restaurant I think where people were getting tattoos. It was mad but amazing. I mean, what a fabulous feel of life."

The Los Angeles home of Martyn Lawrence Bullard (above and below) has a well-travelled vibe: Indian lanterns, 19th-century Turkish tables, Peruvian mirrors, and vintage Indian textiles, all spun with a 1920s-style glamour. Photos: Martyn Lawrence Bullard

He was also struck by the city's mixture of very modern and ancient.

"Being in Hong Kong, I've seen everybody wants everything to be very new. There's no room for vintage here, it's all about brand new and sparkling. But the reality is a really good interior, or really good space, is something that's curated and makes a cultured blend of things. And I think more so than ever it's a blend of cultures that makes any space - a room, a house, a city, a country - interesting."

PUBLISHED : Thursday, 04 June, 2015, 1:56pm

P. Ramakrishnan

Bags behind the baubles: Marcello de Cartier: Interview with Marlin Yuson, Creative Director for Cartier leather goods

Marcello de Cartier is a roomy accessory from a brand that's quietly into leather, writes P.Ramakrishnan.

Later this month, the glittering baubles and watches that line cases in Cartier's boutiques will be competing for the spotlight with Marcello de Cartier bags.

Marlin Yuson, creative director for Cartier leather goods, admits jewellery and watches are always going to be the main event. 'The bags are the supporting cast but an important character,' says the designer, who has worked with Ferragamo, Polo Ralph Lauren and Calvin Klein, and spends her time between Florence and Paris.

The fact that the brand is not known for its leather goods has long represented a challenge for Yuson. 'In a way we are battling a common perception of the brand. Most people don't realise that Cartier does leather bags,' she says. 'If you weren't part of a generation that knew that Cartier did leather products, then the Marcello bags would come as a surprise. I still get that, even after 10 years with the brand. There's no bag campaign and there won't be. The leather goods are part of the family, but they'll never be independent products.'

Yuson says Cartier bags were considered 'it' bags in the '70s and '80s, modelled by celebrities such as Tina Turner. 'Then it stopped. Cartier did other dressy bags but very, very classic bags. And then the whole handbag accessories craze took over.'

When designing the Marcello, Yuson knew what a contemporary bag should - or rather, shouldn't - be. 'I really don't see it as an 'it' bag, not something as ephemeral as what's in trend,' she says. 'I didn't want it to be too old-fashioned and seem like a relic, either. I didn't want to stick a panther or leopard on it; that would be too easy. I haven't put in animal prints, either, yet. And it's really not for 'ladies who lunch'.'

Yuson decided to maintain the hard corner of Cartier's earlier bags. 'I wanted to keep that iconic bookend sort of arch. The bags needed volume and pockets to be practical for the woman on the go.'

Yuson says that she doesn't have a particular muse but she'd love to see Alexa Chung or IMF chief Christine Lagarde carrying her bags. 'Strong, confident, influential women who didn't sacrifice their femininity in their business,' she says. 'Women on the move, who have children, or are working ... they're the ones I hope will embrace the bag, for its practical purposes.'

The Marcello is a large bag with the interlocking Cs logo that will be joined in stores with a series of evening clutches in September.

Cartier's first evening bag came out in 1906. 'Initially, the evening bags were very much about jewellery,' says Yuson. 'The finishings on the bags were precious, and the bags themselves were one-off pieces for royalty and unique order customers.'

She says that when she was creating the designs, she carried the bags around during her travels to observe their functionality.

'Translating the Cartier bag to the present and keeping that identity - that luxury feel to it - is hard, especially where there are so many fashion brands around,' she says. 'I stuck to a family of colours to keep it coherent: red and black, tobacco or cognac.'

The primary inspiration for the bags came from the materials, she says.

'Looking at the quality, texture and colours, concepts come to mind,' says Yuson. 'Even something as trifling as a buckle becomes a starting point. Texture is really important. We don't have too many prints, so the material has to resonate.'

P. Ramakrishnan
Jul 06, 2012

P. RAMAKRISHNAN

Published: 12:00am, 6 Jul, 2012

He's the Boss: Gerrit Ruetzel: Head of Hugo Boss in Hong Kong

As one of the youngest heads of one of the oldest brands, Gerrit Ruetzel looks to the east in his ever-rising career, writes P.Ramakrishnan.

Portrait by Douglas Pieterse.


WITH HIGH-END luxury brands, instant recognition is key. One look at the multi-hue prints on a silken shirt of a man reeks of Versace. The interlocking C's are of course Chanel, and every fashionista can read the monogram print of Louis Vuitton a mile off. But Hugo Boss, with its long history of subtle sophistication, how do you stamp an imprint on the teeming masses? A sophisticated suit, with a conservative...

"No, I wouldn't call it conservative," corrects Dr Gerrit Ruetzel, 37, the newly appointed president and chief executive Asia-Pacific of Hugo Boss. "I think we're everything but conservative. When I think of the word conservative, I think of an older generation, I don't think of a young brand. We've been around for decades, but it's a modern brand. We're not the brand that your grandpa wears."

Indeed, as a series of images from their campaigns, featuring actor Ryan Reynolds and professional racer Lewis Hamilton, unfold, there's nothing octogenarian about the look from this centennial German brand.

"There are a lot of brands that can make a nice suit, but very few that give you a modern look," he says. "With Hugo, we are more fashion forward, so I wouldn't call it a classic either. We want to give our customers options, to let them know they're perfectly dressed for any occasion. We give them a sense of security that you won't stick out in a bad way; at the same time, you're in vogue, you're modern, you are safe in what you're wearing."

Easy to concur with the good doctor (Ruetzel has a PhD in International Management) as the notably young CEO moved to Hong Kong just a few months ago, after a two-year tenure in New York with the brand. Though the brand has been in Asia for years, there are some seismic ripples being made in the Asia-Pacific region.

With a grand re-opening of its signature store in Central's IFC Mall in the coming weeks, a strong presence of Asian models leading its new campaign (Japanese model/actress Devon Aoki having already modelled for them in the past, and Philip Huang appearing in the F/W 2011 campaign), as well as further inroads into China as more stores are expected to open within the next 18 months, there seems to be a heavy Asian focus in Boss' future.

But Ruetzel offers to clear up the notion of China being a new market in their economic strategy: "We've always had a presence in China, so this isn't anything new. And as for using an Asian model, we didn't think of it as a specific strategy to encroach into the region. The casting of Huang was done a long time ago; he came in, we liked his look, he became the model for the global campaign - the same images will be projected in South America, Americas, Europe - the model doesn't change according to the region."

The lifestyle of a young chief executive isn't all about jet-setting across the globe and hobnobbing with celebrities like Sienna Miller (a past brand ambassador). "The best and the worst parts of the job are the same," says Ruetzel. "I get to travel a lot. It can be quite stressful as you're in meetings around the world, but I have the happy position to combine work and pleasure. The glamorous part of the job is hosting grand events and parties, but there's a tough business side too."

The dwindling economy and its volatile share market hit luxury brands hard. But even in difficult times, there was the sweet smell of success. "We had a meeting with our license partner, Proctor and Gamble, not long ago and the fragrances from our company have been amongst the top five brands actually. The perfume business has not developed as much in China as other countries, but we see a steady growth."

Wonder if it's the heroic efforts of the Green Lantern's (actor Ryan Reynolds) new campaign that's creating a whiff in all the right circles? Ruetzel won't say, but he waxes eloquent on the current crop of faces that are creating brand awareness to a new generation.

"Working with successful, confident personalities has been a key factor," he says. "When we first dressed Philip Seymour Hoffman, we had no idea whether he would win the Oscar. We saw this man with great talent; he may not be the image of the Boss man, but we support the talent.

"There is no one prototype man that we're aiming for. It's anyone who's successful and confident."

Cool season calls for a lighter touch

Make-up artist for the stars James Molloy might work with a palette of vibrant colours but he's all for a natural look, writes P.Ramakrishnan.


With a dash of powder, a splash of colour, a swipe of lip gloss that makes the model pout and glisten, a transformation is unfolding before an audience of 800 as James Molloy, regional director of make-up artistry for M.A.C Cosmetics, gets to work.

"I'm all about a lash and an eyebrow - always," he says later backstage, over a cacophony of highly enthused models, make-up artists and M.A.C people hovering around our table.

"Well curled lashes, with the right amount of mascara straight after, with a fuller brow, especially on an Asian face, gives a beautiful frame. We're slowly coming out of that pencil-thin brow, the bald-eye look with an artificial pencil stroke."

The London native is in Hong Kong for the launch of the "M.A.C Me Over!" collection, so we ask for an insider's preview of make-up trends to look out for this autumn-winter.

"I'm seeing a lot of jewel tones, and a slightly burnished copper tone," he says. "Autumn-winter might just be about pop colour. Lips don't have to be stained with red any more; it could be a fuchsia, raspberry or violet."

There are trays of multihued paraphernalia littering make-up boxes, but Molloy says his personal aesthetic is almost bare skin, moist, subtly enhanced lips and groomed brows. "But of course, I also love the rock 'n' roll atmosphere of fashion week and the dramatic looks; the decade-inspired looks - 50s elegance, 60s chic, 70s discotheque - are all great fun to work with."

In the world of fashion, Molloy has worked with big names such as Alexander McQueen, Moschino, Balenciaga, Balmain and Chloe, as well as celebrities like Katherine Jenkins, Dita Von Teese and Poppy Delevigne.

"One of the most intense experiences was backstage at McQueen. This was a few seasons ago, one of the biggest shows in Paris. It was a manic environment. There were 40 girls, and two girls would walk up 15 minutes before the show and, at the time, I felt I was being crucified," he says. "It was a baptism of fire. But I wouldn't change that for anything as I learned so much."

Molloy says that now and in the near future, make-up will essentially be more about skincare. "A bit goes a long way, and you no longer have to really pile it on. Especially in a warm climate like Hong Kong, because of the heat and humidity, people have to be very clever with make-up, so it doesn't just slide off by midday," he says.

"It's about intelligent priming and prepping of the skin. Instead of heavy moisturiser or heavy foundation, it has to be about light layering if you want your skin to look perfect.

"Apply a spot of blush in a sweeping motion, then a layer of sheer powder to lock it in, and then another shot of blush, which makes it look like it's part of the skin rather than sitting on top of it. Get rid of that Amazonian vibe."

Convincing people to change their signature look can be hard. Harder still when you're working with iconic women. "Working with [American burlesque performer] Dita Von Teese was great. She knows make-up inside out and that's a challenge because I had to gain her trust. But she knew what she wanted and she let me into her environment and her world of make-up," Molloy says.

"She did step out of her comfort zone every now and again as we experimented with a futuristic look, but always with the classic vibe she's famous for."

When asked about his stand on how Photoshopped images create false or unrealistic expectations of what beautiful people look like, Molloy replies that today you'd have to be naive not to realise the polished images we see in magazines and ads are touched up.

"I don't agree with too much work, but Photoshop can also create a fantastic story when we're not expecting reality. It's fantasy; in that respect, we use technology as a tool for a storyboard pictorial that can be surreal."

Despite orbiting a world of celebrities and top models, Molloy says it's the idea of transforming a girl who's a little shy and lacking in confidence that he enjoys most.

"I get a great satisfaction from that because you make them feel like a million dollars. That's the greatest reward," he says. "I like to bring out the beauty in girls who don't know that they are beautiful. Perhaps that's why I like the nude look so much; you're enhancing what they already have."

Wine Feature: Label of Love

Kavita Devi Faiella followed her passion, and her nose, into the wine industry and she hasn't looked back, writes P.Ramakrishnan.


KAVITA DEVI Faiella weaves her way through a busy Press Room in Quarry Bay, pulling out her favourite vintages and describing them like most people describe their idols.

"Alvaro Palacios is the rock star of Spanish wine. Not only has he made one of Spain's most iconic wines, L'Ermita, but he also makes great value wines from a number of indigenous varieties and regions," she says. "This wine is elegant and refined, and has some of the most powerful yet silky tannins I've tasted."

Faiella is one of the region's most savvy sommeliers. The intimacy with which she describes a bottle, the notes she pulls while describing a region: her passion for the job is obvious. "As a young female, new world sommelier, it's my responsibility to remove the stuffiness of understanding wine," she says of her role as wine director of the Press Room Group.

Having worked with influential chefs such as Steve Manfredi and Neil Perry, been head sommelier of the Hilton property in the Maldives, regional Cellar Master for Aman Resorts working with Miami-based wine consultant Alejandro Ortiz, in the Oenological world, she's a sparkling infusion in the mix of heavy hitters.

Faiella recently passed the theory component of her final Master Sommelier exam in London, and will sit the practical and tasting component at the end of the year, which will make her both Asia and Australia's first female Master Sommelier. "My dad, for the longest time thought I was a professional waitress. I had to explain that there was a lot more to it than serving fine wine by the bottle.

"It's a male-dominated industry and 15 years ago, it was mostly men," she says. "Why, I don't know, it's not like a manually or physically labour intensive. It's understandable that when it comes to wine makers, there's more male than female. But now, even that's changing as there are some female winemakers too."

Where women are leading the pack in wine country however, is at the table. "I've noticed this often in Asian countries that while most men seem to prefer their whiskeys and cognacs, women are a leading demographic when it comes to the selection of wine. You'd be surprised at how important women in Hong Kong in particular are to the wine market." she says. "And oddly, I just read a study that said women will buy a bottle according to the outfit they're wearing. How it's packaged and presented is just as key as the year and region. And I find women who are educated about their wine know what they want when they glance at a menu - maybe they didn't at first, but there are some informed decisions being made."

It's easy to spot the non-wine connoisseurs; they don't buy the cheapest or the most expensive bottle listed. "Yes, so many buy the second or third most expensive wine," Faiella says. "And if there's one thing that I've learned during my stay in Italy, is that if you know what you're doing, you can get an excellent wine that's reasonably priced."

But if reading a wine review has ever boggled your mind with their esoteric references and jargon, then being offered eight pages listing endless bottles from all around the planet can be equally disconcerting.

"When you read a breakfast menu, you know what you want by skimming through it: eggs, toast, croissants - there are no surprises," she says. "Similarly, when you look at a wine menu, with time, you can skim through it and know quickly whether you are up for a light white wine, a musky deep red. You can look at the region and think: yes, it's had a good season and make an informed selection - without being pompous about it. I see my role as a translator of sorts."

Which makes her last two destinations rather odd - now living in Hong Kong (there's no Chateux de Sheung Wan) and having lived in New Delhi for years, both places are not known for their corkage. "Well, I was mostly based in North India, which had a great interest in consuming whiskey more than wine," she says quoting The International Wine and Spirits Record report stating 137.4 million nine-litre cases were sold in India in 2010. "And although countries like China and India are not known for their vintages, it's there, slowly being developed. I hope to find a great Chinese wine during my travels, as it's unexplored territory."

Before we end our conversation, it begs to be asked: as a former medical student turned sommelier, from a professional point of view, what is the best hangover cure? "Lots of water and bitters, it will calm your stomach and flush out the toxins," she says.

Men of Mumbai: Shoot and Interview with Three Aspiring Actors in Bollywood: Aanaahad, Dushyant Yadav and supermodel Inder Bajwa

In a city where dreams are born and die each day, millions – and we do mean millions – head to Mumbai with stars in their eyes as they come from all over India, to set their eyes on the silver-screen of Bollywood – the largest film industry in the known world. Hoping against hope that a ticket to Mumbai’s magical movie screen shall ignite them into the stratosphere of fame, wealth and unimaginable adulation. It’s a tough ring to get into, in an industry where nepotism rules and luck favours few. The contenders are…

Aanaahad
Aanaahad has the gait and presence of a supermodel, tall, buff with chiseled features and near-perfect diction. With an award-winning film already released last year (Lahore, a blood, sweat and tears tale of the life of a struggling kick-boxer), we met and shot the actor while he was rehearsing a play. With a film now out on DVD, he’s already ahead of the game. Having just signed a sci-fi film under production as we go to publication, he’s a leg up on the newcomers that litter the streets. On screen, he appears ruthless, his tendons tearing up his opponents as his unflinching gaze never loses focus. In his love scenes, you’re never sure if he’s going to kick or kiss the girls and make ‘em cry. It’s all an act of course, the soft-spoken actor came down from Haryana (northern region of India) to “make it in Mumbai”, a mantra we heard often.

Dushyant
Like Hollywood or any of the western counterparts that is besieged with reality TV, India has its own brand of mind-numbing reality-TV stars and lingo. As a former journalist who found easy fame on Indian MTV, on a reality show called Splitsvilla - which he won - Dushyant is the young newcomer on the block, still in awe of the fame and fortune that’s so visible in the affluent parts of Mumbai, where the super-rich and the impoverished live next door to each other. He’s hoping to sign an ad-campaign, a TV show, a movie, anything to take him from the newcomer status to a more gilded status-quo.


Inder Bajwa
If there is such a thing as a supermodel in Mumbai, the uncrowned king of the catwalk would be Inder Bajwa. His posters stare out of many a campaign that stream across Mumbai city and he’s strutted his stuff on so many catwalks, he can’t remember how many shows he’s done over the past six years. He came from a village in Punjab, where his family still is, and soon was on speed-dial with every major designer in India (a booming fashion industry that’s bound to make global waves in the near future). Bajwa’s already jaded with the glitz and glam of the industry that genuflects to him. Having represented India at the Mr World competition held earlier this year in Korea, he stands on the precipice of Bollywood, waiting to sign a film to take him into another league. As one of the highest paid male models, he’s already in a league of his own, but the bumpy road to film fame, lies ahead.

Words: P.Ramakrishnan
All photography: Sayan Sur Roy

An Open Secret: Carlotta Danti's exclusive interview in Hong Kong: Italian lingerie brand Rosamosario

Carlotta Danti unveils sensual luxury for women with all the right curves, writes P.Ramakrishnan.


With the tacit approval of Kate Moss, Lucinda Chambers, Natalia Vodianova, Vanessa Paradis and other fashionable femmes, the Italian lingerie brand Rosamosario, with its signature rosette motif, answers the oft-asked question: what lies beneath?

Petticoats, culottes, bustiers, night robes, corsets, virginal white laces, bold shades of blood-red ribbons, coquettish contours covered in diaphanous damasks that just barely hold the girls in. Rosamosario isn't just haute, it's hot.

"I want to bring to the world the historical heritage of Italian craftsmanship, where hands move to develop the most unthinkable and desirable luxury," says founder Carlotta Danti.

Rosamosario is made in central Milan, where the doors to its boutique and workshop are open daily to customers, "So they can breathe the air of hand-making, like in the old times," Danti says. "Silks and cottons come from Italy, bought rough and hand washed. The lace that is key to our product range is imported from Calais in France, from the main couture houses."

Danti says she likes sensual women, and created Rosamosario for them. Years after Madonna famously brought underwear out, Rosamosario has honed the conical bra concept to a sophisticated sheen. When asked how it came about that her six-year-old brand has enraptured women around the world, she replies: "Being at the right place, Saks Fifth Avenue in New York where we kicked off back in 2005. Having the right product: elegant lingerie and 'lightwear', with just the right girls."

And what girls they are. Their official website can satiate any idoliser of models, with pixel after pixel of near-nude supermodels shot by photographers such as Bruce Weber, Juergen Teller, Paolo Roversi and Mario Testino.

"I remember the day of the shoot with Bruce Weber. He shot just before the sun rose, and then again when the sun went down," says Danti. "His best works are influenced by his great sensibility for natural light. He has this incredible connection with nature, so he shows nudity in a gentle, natural way. I think his pictures can be considered a page of history, and the portraits he made with Kate [Moss] and other supermodels, are an important page of my life."

Inside the company's brochure, there are layers of tulle curved as petals for a bouquet made of fabric. It's centred on a lacy panty worn by Moss. There's another striking image of her in a black lace ensemble next to a ballgown. There's a distinctly cheeky corset, and a topless Moss in a red lace rosette-patterned undergarment, wearing nothing more than patent red leather stilettos and a smile.

Yet amid the fragile beauty and flashes of flesh, there's a distinct lack of vulgarity. "The philosophy behind my lingerie and what I call a 'lightwear' collection of dresses was developed unconsciously from my family, my attention to beauty, female bodies and their movements," says Danti. "I think of the curves of my beautiful young mother, and I always remember her as an Italian Ursula Andress. I wanted to dress women with independent dreams, full of courage and with huge personalities."

In an industry that otherwise pays obeisance to reed-thin girls and teenage whims, Danti looks to real women with curves. Women like a particular Italian actress. "Monica Bellucci has never interpreted the passage of time, her ageing, as a case of abandoning her beauty," Danti says. "Instead, her strong seductive point is her maturing beauty. Italian women are famous for being beautiful as they mature. Women like Monica Bellucci, Gina Lollobrigida and Sophia Loren."

Rosamosario's rose-print shoes will be worn by Bellucci in the film Manual Of Love 3, where she stars opposite Robert De Niro, and the screen siren has commissioned Rosamosario to make her lingerie outfits for her seductress role.

"What I like about Monica Bellucci is her interpretation of freedom. She understands that a woman can be sensual and seduce, rather than just being seduced." Danti tried to interpret Bellucci's curves for the shoes. "I created my first ever high-heeled sandals with printed chiffon and satin silks. Since then we have begun looking into shoes and have partnered with our Sicilian partners to create a new page in the history of Italian shoes."

On July 16, Rosamosario opened the doors of its new Hong Kong boutique - its first in Asia. As the brand steps into the East, Danti has been keeping a watchful eye on the region. "The powders, the colours, the flowers, petals and lightness of our materials conceived in our products embody the fragile beauty and purity of Asian women," she says.

If it's all too clear what lies beneath, the inevitable question is, what lies ahead? "We will be launching an exclusive, made-to-measure service for lingerie, for weddings and special occasions, which I will personally oversee," says Danti.

"Ladies will also be able to personalise and custom-make their look, head to toe, from their lingerie to their shoes. Rosamosario is a world, not just a product."

Rosamosario

UG/F, Manrich Court,
33 St Francis Street, Wan Chai

Black, White and Read all Over

Within the labyrinth walls of the Hong Kong Heritage Museum, the exhibition 'Cameras Inside-out' reveals some of the best work done by legendary artists and hot shot photographers in Hong Kong.

The Write Angle

Does it matter which pen William Faulkner used to write the words that led him to win the Nobel Prize for literature? John Steinbeck, for one, used pencils, a stack of which he sharpened each morning before he hand wrote his intense sagas. And whatever happened to the quill that Shakespeare dipped into his copious inkwell? Would the quality of writing have been any different?

Great Escapes: Travel like a movie star to these resorts, private islands and luxury vacation hot spots

Cast yourself in a role of the lifestyles of the rich and famous courtesy of these holidays from heaven, writes P.Ramakrishnan. 

When Tom Cruise landed in Hong Kong for the premier of Mission: Impossible II he arrived on a private jet that he piloted. From the airport, he was whisked by chopper to the rooftop of The Peninsula where a private elevator delivered him down to a press conference. Sound tempting? 

If you want a movie star experience then drop a line to Alan Rogers, of Red Carpet Enterprises (redcarpet.co.uk). The company specialises in holiday experiences that rival Hollywood jaunts. There is in fact a "Tom Cruise" package where you can fly to Cape Town, take private flight training lessons, choose a route before getting fitted for your own signature flight suit. With a pass to a military airspace in a Hawker Hunter fighter jet to thrust yourself skyward at speeds of 960km/h just 20m above the ground, you can grab the controls and try out all sorts of stomach-churning stunts. A weekend's high flying costs about HK$160,000. But that's the tip of the ice-berg. 

"A 10th birthday celebration saw us hiring a battleship where the inside was themed like a football pitch," says Rogers. "An ex-England footballer played five-a-side with the boys' friends, who then finally presented him with a signed shirt and ball from his favourite team. We choose very carefully the appropriate venues and hotels for each occasion. Our travels find us in some of the best villas, venues and hotels in the world, sometimes rubbing shoulders with the rich and famous." 

For a more children-centric experience, Red Carpet can provide a trip to Lapland. A visit to a reindeer farm, sled rides, races with huskies, snowmobile rides across frozen lakes and a stay in a private lodge. Let's call this the Marlon Brando experience. 

For the last quarter of his life, the actor lived on a private island and rarely appeared beyond the confines of his tropical paradise. Before the terms "organic", and "going green" entered the vernacular, Brando was doing it all. For a private island fantasy, head to Ratua in Vanuatu (you can rent the island), a self-sufficient retreat with postcard views and luxurious villas. Dotted with a dozen Indonesian-style villas, made with 200-year-old teakwood, the private houses are furnished with natural material - the island has a no plastic policy. 

The former coconut plantation gets all its consumables purchased in Indonesia and then shipped to Ratua. Most of the food is produced on the island or purchased locally, the goal of this resort is to leave a minimum carbon footprint. Spend afternoons horseback riding or canoeing, or snorkeling in the azure blue waters. 

Having eaten, prayed and loved on screen for more than two decades, Julia Roberts has had many reasons to grin through an admirable career with hefty paycheques. She traipsed through Italy, India and Bali for her last film but it's hard to imagine Pretty Woman slumming it in Calcutta. Despite Roberts' legendary down-to-earth vibe, it seems impossible to envision that she stayed in a hut with nominal access to tap water. 

Sher Bagh in India would be the sort of earth-friendly, animal-reserve-meets-glamorous-getaway that would suit the highest-paid actress in the world - and for those of her ilk. It's got all the ingredients the film had, but in a capsule of bug-free comfort. Tented camps at Sher Bagh are as legendary as some of its VIP guests. Impeccable service, incredible food, a communal feel and one-ness with nature loom large. The tents are fitted with air-conditioning, a 24/7 butler service (fancy a gin-and-tonic at 4am?) and the sort of plush surroundings that reek of Passage to India cinematic charms and regalia. Early morning scheduled safari rides to see the magnificent creatures that roam about - there are indeed tigers lurking in the distance, as the name suggests ("tiger garden" is the literal translation to Sher Bagh). As the tiger population decreases with each passing year, this reserve is the last of its kind in Asia. Conspicuous consumption meets conservation, the moment your Canon catches a yawning tiger at sunset, it'll be the experience you'll bore proceeding generations with. Cantor and jeep rides that ferry guests to and from the resort run like clockwork. The running joke of 'IST' (Indian standard time, where things happen at their own pace) doesn't fit the whopping bill (this isn't a location for backpackers), as everything runs to precision. A cocoon of extreme comfort and luxury awaits upon your return from the safari rides in the otherwise sweltering heat of Rajasthan. 

Campfire meals and drinks, tales and folklore of prince and princes, epic love stories between Mughal Kings and a Rajput princess, it's live theatre with a Bollywood twist. Sunrise and sunsets in nearby parks (in particular the expansive Ranthambhore), it's all a bucolic and beautiful adventure. There are few people Oprah Winfrey would envy. With more than a billion dollars to spare, what could she possibly covet? 

Gwyneth Paltrow's holiday, apparently. When the Oscar winner last appeared on Oprah, she relayed her trip across Spain with celebrity chef Mario Batali as she ate her way through the country. "I would love to do that," said the talk-show host. And here's how you can. Foodies looking for an experience in Spain should head to La Maroma. Set on a private hilltop in Andalucia, La Maroma (akvillas.com) enjoys grand views over almond and olive groves and the estate's private vineyard. 

Expectedly, fresh olives, nuts and wine from the panoramic views that you see from your own rooms are brought in. The cortijo (a Spanish farmstead) has fused the rustic-chic style to provide modern luxuries (wi-fi, broadband, sub-terrain heating and air-conditioning) and comfort, but still maintains the traditional Andalusian architecture of its heritage (Spanish antiques and locally made hand-crafted furnishings litter the grounds). Hand-stitched Suzani tapestries above the beds, private indoor and outdoor lounges, terraces and pool that face different vistas that encircle the villa, it's the sort of place a star would seek respite from the paparazzi. But it's not just the scenic location that makes La Maroma stand out in a city teaming with grandiose holiday possibilities. It's the food. As you watch Batali and Paltrow go through an ever-changing and colourful menu, you can taste the sumptuous food shown on screen - but instead of schlepping from one location to another in the fetid heat, you can have it delivered to your table. 

Guests staying at La Maroma can enjoy the "Instant Unwind" package, which includes organic produce, including an immense fruit and vegetable box delivered to your doorstep, shopping service for any additional provisions, fresh flower arrangements and wine tasting and tapas on arrival. Private four-course gourmet dinners, by villa chef David Palacios, alongside welcome hampers with local Spanish delicacies and basic provisions, are included. 

The markets of Andalucia - Marbella, Fuengirola, Coin - are all nearby, as is the village of El Rampido where the protected reserve called the Paraje Natural Marismas del Rio Piedras y Flecha del Rompido lies. With the onsite wine bodega stocked with local wines, it's a festival of fresh food and drink. As Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and her brood found solace in Africa to escape far from the madding crowd, they hit various parts of the continent, before culminating in Namibia where Jolie gave birth to their child. For some bush luxury, head to Camp Jabulani (akvillas.com). As a matter of extreme privacy, it has only six suites and its own herd of elephants. 

Accredited by the Relais & Chateaux, Camp Jabulani is a family-owned and managed private luxury safari lodge within the Kapama Game Reserve in Hoedspruit, South Africa (in close proximity to the Kruger National Park, and scenic Mpumalanga region). The best part is a herd of trained elephants rescued by the local endangered species centre that roam the camp. Watching the animals in their natural, protected habitat as they swim and play is the National Geographic moment aspiring photographers dream of. And to further lift your spirits, there are hot-air balloon excursions. 

With never more than a dozen guests at any given time, the exclusive Zindoga Villa is suited for the family traveller. Daily elephant safaris, safari drives in the Big Five private Kapama Reserve, indulgent treatments in the outdoor Therapy Lapa, culinary delights at the hands of the masterful chefs, with all the accoutrements of a luxury holiday with an elephant stamp of approval, this one's not to be missed.

Published in Style magazine, May 6, 2011 

This Time with Zing: Interview with Hong Kong's Makeup Artist to the Stars: 2011

Celebrity make-up artist Zing works on canvases that double as the most beautiful faces in Asia, writes P.Ramakrishnan.

If Zing hasn't created a signature look when it comes to fashion, perhaps he does adhere to one: tall, slim, his ears studded with mini-marble size diamonds, large-framed glasses and a Chanel jacket. "I love to wear Chanel," he says. His private studio is littered with Chanel bags choking with other designer embroidered jackets. "They fit my frame. I don't wear make-up ever, I really don't care for it on my skin, but I do love Chanel."

His make-up school is in the heart of Central, long corridors festooned with frames of the famed and the fortuned, coated with distinctive make-up styles that vary from the exotic to the quixotic - yet each unmistakably gorgeous. Zing, 41, the one-named man and brand has been touching-up the faces of Asia's most beautiful women - and men - for the past two decades, their visages providing a remarkable canvas for his creative bent.

"Like all faces, the beautiful ones I can enhance, the plain ones provide a blank canvas," he says. "I have no preference between a celebrity or a model. With models, I choose the subject as they have faces of a certain proportion, symmetrical faces I can work with to create whatever's on my mind. When it comes to singers or actresses, they choose me; they ring me to do their make-up and I get to work with them to enhance their looks. Working with singers is interesting as you have to enhance the persona, keeping in mind their image."

When he started in the 1980s, Zing was not following in the footsteps of any particular role model. "I had no idea why I wanted to get into make-up. I knew nothing about it," he says. "I just knew I had to do it. I learnt through trial and error. There was no one to train me, no school to educate me."

Zing says he would go to discos and clubs and ask models and other beautiful girls if he could do their make-up. "They all said yes; there were no divas back then," he says. "We'd do test shoots, and the models would introduce me to photographers. One thing led to another and I'd keep on working."

Although Zing came to Hong Kong from Singapore in 1989, there was another connection with the island that elevated him from the flock, a project he distinctly remembers. "There was a quarterly, high-end magazine in Singapore that every model wanted to be in, every photographer wanted to shoot for," he recollects. "They flew in the gorgeous Janet Ma from Hong Kong. She was the `it' girl on the scene. That shoot got me noticed.

"In Hong Kong, people do the work for the money. In Singapore, the pay wasn't great, but the credit was. Your name in print meant something - like it does in Paris or London. I always tell aspiring make-up artists to do their job, put blinders on and focus purely on the work; the money and fame would follow."

Zing refuses pinpoint a favourite face from his vast list of high-profile artists he's worked with, such as Carina Lau, Faye Wong, Kelly Chen, Sammi Cheng, Shu Qi and Zhang Ziyi (not to forget French actress Sophie Marceau, business tycoon Pansy Ho or Hong Kong socialite Claudia Shaw). "I've enjoyed working with every one. The only time I've thrown down my brushes and walked away is when someone won't sit still, is busy talking on the phone, or chatting with others around, when I'm trying to do the work. But with age I've mellowed; I used to be much more prima donna," he confesses with a toothy grin.

And, of course, there are the men he's worked with. He mentions that there are actors and male singers who feel that they can get anyone to do their stage make-up and don't want to pay extra for a good make-up artist. "They always looked caked-up and over-powdered. You can see that their cheeks are one colour, neck a different colour and hands a different colour! They don't understand the value of a good make-up artist who can make them look like they have no make-up on. `Nude' make-up is an art."

Like seasons of fashion, there are trends in make-up that come and go. "I foresee a lot of metallic this year," says Zing. "Bronze, gold, silver or gun-metal shades. In the '70s and '80s, the times influenced make-up and psychedelic colours were all the rage. When the health and gym rage started, people wanted to look in the pink of health, so the make-up was more natural and nude."

Zing says that everything can influence the look he creates for a person, whether it's the outfit they're wearing, their hairstyle, the season, or the event they're going to. "Everything informs the work I do."

A comprehensive collection of the looks Zing has created can be seen in the book that was released last November, The Most Beautiful Women in Hong Kong Wear Zing, in which a bevy of Asian beauties made their presence felt. "The main reason I came to Hong Kong - and didn't go to Paris or Japan - was that I wanted to engender a culture of recognising Asian beauty. I wanted to work here with Asian faces. I'm not overawed by Western celebrities and their Hollywood glamour," he says. "When people say, `I want an Audrey Hepburn look' or a `Marilyn Monroe look', you understand that vocabulary and immediately have a reference point. Similarly, when I say, a `Sammy Cheng look' or a `Faye Wong look', I want people to get it instantly."



An adage says one learns more from one's mistakes than one's successes. Zing nods emphatically. "I made a mistake. I learnt from it. I used to do faces with what I considered a lip or an eye should look like. Finally, I learnt to step back, look at each individual and recognise what works and doesn't work for that face. Sometimes a disproportioned lip works - they shouldn't all be perfect `M' shapes. Perhaps the eye should look a little less dramatic, because it suits their personality. There is no one mould of what beauty is," he says.

"I can see people are being creative for the sake of being creative and really, making the person look bizarre. The essence of make-up to me is to make someone look beautiful with touches of creativity. Return to beauty."


Apr 01, 2011
STYLE
South China Morning Post

Tech mate

Gadgets are a man's new best friend in fashion.


P. Ramakrishnan
Mar 11, 2011

It's no longer the high-fibre thread count but the high fibre-optic thread count that's revolutionising the world of fashion.


Take the iWallet. It's a biometric, carbon-fibre piece that comes with a thumbprint scanner so only the owner can open this pocket Alcatraz. Potential pilferers can try to grab the cash inside, but as they swipe their finger-tips on the thumbprint scanner, the wallet will merely flash a red light and stay shut. Extra protection comes in the form of the wallet's Bluetooth connectivity - link it up to your mobile phone and if either prized pocket possession is more than 1.21 metres away from the other, an alarm will sound and the thief will be caught red-handed. To top all this magnificence, the company is adding a GPS tracker later this year, giving you another way to find back your pint-sized stronghold. The polycarbonate iWallet starts at US$299. (iwalletusa.com)



If there's a gadget that won't compress your bank balance, but your shirt, would you be up for it? The Under Armour E39 ("E" for electric) compression shirt is for the geek with an athletic proclivity. The T-shirt has a removable "bug" sensor that can measure the wearer's heart rate and breathing and records data of one's movement and performance in real terms, by tracking heart-rate, muscle movement, breathing rate and so on. Information that sports scouts, A-list coaches and trainers would love to have as they go hunting for the next big sports star. Sounds hyperbolic? Well, the American National Football League (NFL) has gifted its wanna-shine star athletes and players with the E39 shirts. In the not-so distant future, the results of T-shirt's recordings could potentially replace under-performing players on the spot, as the stressed-out coaches see what the players' hearts are doing in real-time. (underarmour.com)

Zegna Sport was the first in the market with its Ecotech Solar Jacket, a stylish windbreaker made from recycled plastic with detachable solar cells, but California-based fashion company Silvrlining has gone that extra mile.

The technology-embracing company recently launched its GO Collection, with a selection of rugged outdoor wear. The range features specially designed, extra-large pockets which each house independent solar panels. Stick the device in your pocket and let the healing power of the sun do all the work. The collection includes a variety of clothes for every fashion type, from a hip-length director's jacket to urban cargo pants, each patterned in an appropriate cell-print design. (silvrlining.com)

For those on the move, the SportVue from the Motion Research Corporation is a heads-up display that can be attached to most helmets and visors; the device provides critical data, including speed, distance and location. (motionresearch.com)

Similarly, from Zeal Optics and Recon Instruments comes the world's first GPS-enabled skiing goggles - made specifically for snow-based sports, it stands out from other display technology by essentially being a mini-computer embedded inside the eyewear. While tiny on the goggles itself, when attached the virtual projection micro-LCD blows up to appear as large as 1.8 metres to the viewer, displaying such essential information as speed, altitude, temperature, distance, location. It's enough to make a man want to take up a death-defying sport. (zealoptics.com)

Classy Acts: The 6 Most Stylist Men in Hong Kong.

Six men, six looks: in a city teeming with uniforms and uniformity, we find six gentlemen who dare to colour outside the box, as they take their innate style into their realm of work and pleasure. Some had great spousal support (behind every successful man…), others turned to film and music icons for inspiration and then there are those who’ve studied the art of sartorial significance and found a space in its infinite possibilities.

Text: P.Ramakrishnan
All images by Hyvis Tong

Photo and lighting assistant: Acid Fong
Art Direction Hyvis Tong, Rama and Reema Khanna
Locations courtesy: Kee club, Hyde, Barney Cheng studio, Joseph Li studio and G.O.D Central.

ALEXIS KWONG ALVAREZ


Having recently jumped ship from the music business to television, Alexis Kwong Alvarez has managed to retain his hybrid look of casual elegance that fits him as well as his ‘pencil fit’ Levi’s.

“I am lucky that I don’t have to suit up for work every day,” he says between shots at the stylish new club Hyde, his suit jacket and casual denims perfectly combining form and function. Not a fan of monogrammed brands, he favors a more independent streak. “I prefer European designers who are different and creative. As I can't travel to Paris all the time, I do a lot of my clothes shopping from Kapok, on Sun Street in Wan Chai. They are very good at selecting European designers like the young French designer Berangere Claire. They pick people who are great at what they do – but aren’t ubiquitously famous.”

For style inspiration, he doesn’t look at the screens at work, but archival films. A huge Hitchcock fan, his fashion-savvy screen idols include Cary Grant and James Stewart. “But there are some modern style icons, like Neil Barrett and Jil Sander. Both are functional, understated and fitted; and quite timeless.”

It hasn’t always been a flawless repertoire he assures. Biggest fashion faux pas? “Blond highlights and not that long ago. What was I thinking?”


Five Favourite Accessories
1) Watch - VOID
2) Belt - 20 year old Replay
3) Shoes - Manhattan based Common Projects, bought from Kapok
4) Cologne - Eau Sauvage Extreme by Christian Dior
5) Sunglasses - Vintage Wings by Bausch and Lomb


GLENN ROOT



Businessman Glenn Root tries to explain what he does for a living, something that includes importing and exporting rubber and tyres. There was also mention of a family business, but what we really want to know about was where he got his shoes from. "Prada," his wife Marina chimes in. Root doesn't really care about the nitty-gritty of brands he sports - he just looks good in them. "And most of the accessories are from Lane Crawford,” she adds.

“Style to me is looking good in a manner which suits your personality and, importantly, being absolutely comfortable in it," says the affable root. "I'm actually quite classic in my signature look. While I love blue jeans at home and at weekends, during the week I prefer to wear a suit or at least a jacket."

The man was built to wear a suit – he’s modeled for television and print, and looks as if he just stepped out of a Ralph Lauren campaign. “I don’t believe in trying to emulate anyone in particular as one’s style has to reflect your identity," says Root. "But stylish men on screen include George Clooney - he always looks good whether in casuals or suits; Marcello Mastrioani - I love his look in La Dolce Vita; and Bryan Ferry - cool but well dressed. And I like the way Johnny Depp always looks cool and comfortable whether in ripped jeans, a quirky hat or a tuxedo.”

For a man who goes for classic brands that suit his classic all-American look - Giorgio Armani, Gianfranco Ferre, Canali, Hugo Boss, Prada - he’s made a few fashion faux-pas too. “I wore all denim to a dinner years ago which I thought was super casual and others turned up in suits. Had I worn a crisp white shirt instead it would have saved me some embarrassment.”

His biggest tip for men of a certain age, “Dress your age – don’t try to be a young fashionista. And if you’re unsure about the dress code, it's always better to be slightly overdressed than under-dressed.”

Five Favourite Accessories
1) Pocket watch, family heirloom
2) Scarf from Paul Smith
3) Cologne DKNY
4) Tie from Canali
5) Sunglasses by Prada



DOUGLAS YOUNG




As the enterprising name behind the quirky Goods of Desire (G.O.D.), Douglas Young has hit headlines in Hong Kong for his sartorial selection. Not exactly a crime of fashion, but selling t-shirts bearing an emblem associated with a notorious triad group did land Young in a kerfuffle, and he wears a sample of a scarf soon to be sold at G.O.D with a casual confidence that suits him well.

“I like things that are artistic, interesting and mean a bit more than the obvious,” says Young as we snake around G.O.D in Central, sitting ourselves in a picture-perfect faux dining room as customers mill around. “One of the benefits, if you can call it that, about working in G.O.D. is that I get to be the test dummy for many of the products. I’m the guinea pig to try out things like the new laptop bag or scarves that we want to launch in the clothing section – the pajamas and shorts and bed sheets with photographs of vintage Hong Kong buildings and skyline have done well.”

Young’s signature look rings casual chic; China-chic in fact, with many homages and odes to vintage Hong Kong, a celebration of Chinese colours and prints. “My house is a mishmash of modern and old, things I inherited from my grandparents, things I bought from Europe when I was a student, and my style is a mixture of modern and vintage, East and the West. I like jeans that look ‘lived in’, I like my shoes to be well-worn, or at least look like that, even if they're brand new.

“Fashion should have a sense of style," he concludes. "But more importantly, a sense of fun.”

Five Favourite Accessories
1) Shoes by Dr Martens
2) Scarf, by G.O.D.
3) Evil eye bracelet from Italy
4) Bracelet watch, streets of Hawaii
5) Laptop bag by G.O.D.


BARNEY CHENG



It’s unfair to enlist Hong Kong’s most recognizable fashion exports, but of all the teeming designers that clomp the streets of Hollywood Road, Barney Cheng can be distinguished for his body of work and, well, body. The the tight-fitted tops, the dark-rimmed signature glasses, it’s easy to spot the designer to the stars as he struts to his office above Lan Kwai Fong.

“Well I guess I’ve always been interested in fashion – I used to watch my aunts get dressed up and be fascinated by the ritual – and the transformation,” says Cheng.

“Getting into the business has been educational, you find out what things really cost. The alligator jackets I’ve been wearing for a while now are of my own design – elsewhere, it's really hard to get it at a reasonable price. I’ve seen one that was half a million US dollars. When I started designing with alligator, or diamonds for accessories, I started going directly to the source and I realised how much the brands are marking up their prices.”

Though Cheng says he doesn't live solely for one brand, he does believe in investing in some pieces from Bottega Veneta, Hermes and other vintage fashion houses. "I'm happy to buy something that’s inexpensive, knowing its not going to last me long, and then chuck it later. But there are some things like a good winter jacket or a timeless scarf that should last for years.”

His advice for the modern man? “I think men should be a bit brave enough to sport a few bits of bling,” he says, pointing to his own diamond-studded ear. “Be it an earring or a jewel encrusted cuff link or even a thin, diamond studded bracelet that peeks out from the cuff. I wouldn’t recommend you wear that 24/7 though.”

When asked about the biggest fashion mishap he's seen in town, Cheng bursts out laughing. "I'm not telling you his name as he’s a friend, but this star is sporting a lot of leopard print. It may be in fashion but if it doesn’t suit you, you shouldn’t wear it," he says. "We all make these mistakes, when I was younger, I dressed older – I always wanted to look more mature. Now when I look back on those photos, I groan.”

Five Favourite Accessories
1) Scarf by Hermes
2) Earring, an investment piece
3) Diamond ropes by Barney Cheng
4) Ring, cufflink, necklace all by Celebration by Barney Cheng
5) Ski shades by Kris Van Assche


WY CHAN



That unmistakable hair, the all-black wardrobe, the extraordinarily sharp metallic accessories, Wy Chan, director at Yamanyamo - and graphic artist, music-video director, designer, art director - is a sartorial force to be reckoned with.

“I really don’t like colour on my skin and body,” he says. “Nearly 99 per cent of my entire wardrobe is black. Other colours just don’t suit me. I go for texture, the cut, the fabric," he says. "But I have no issues with other people wearing colour.” Japanese trends are clearly a source of inspiration for this artist. Yohji Yamamoto’s name is sprinkled into conversation, as are the harem pants that have somehow leapt from the music videos of the last decade, onto today's catwalks.

“Japan is a great and unpredictable style destination. You think you’re going to find something, and when you get there it's completely different," says Chan. "I always look forward to exploring Japan. I find nameless, brand-less items during my trips and things that are beyond the ordinary – like this,” he unfurls a hair band from his head. A hairclip with a black scorpion in striking position, cubed in plastic is handed over. “I don’t know if that’s a real scorpion that’s been embalmed, but it’s different.”

Five Favourite Accessories
1) Shoes by Dior Homme
2) Hair-band from the streets of Japan
3) Watch by Isaac Mizrahi
4) I-pad rib-cage cover, Hong Kong streets
5) Coin purse by Riz


JOSEPH LI




Most noted for his creative womenswear, designer Joseph Li’s stints at Parisian fashion house Lanvin and Hong Kong’s most recognised brand Shanghai Tang, have made headlines in fashion press around the world. Now with his eponymous label at hand, fashion is serious business for him, albeit with a touch of whimsy. We’ve seen his signature style spill into his own wardrobe on more than one occasion too.

“My style is classic - whatever that means,” he says with a toothy grin. “Style should feel both in the moment and timeless.” The unexpected can be expected from Li, who has been seen in an electric blue suit - more Broadway star blue than banker blue.

For this shoot, he braved the denim-on-denim trend oft seen in the early ‘80s and yet managed to pull it off with panache. “My influences are too numerous and varied to pin down. It's never one dimensional.” He picks L'Uomo Vogue fashion editor Robert Rabensteiner as a style icon, adding that he's a fan of late American artist Jean-Michel Basquuait: "I really appreciate the energy that comes out of his work.”

His fashion advice to men in Hong Kong? “Less is more.”


Five Favourite Accessories
1) Byredo Parfum
2) Vintage weave belt
3) Persol sunglasses
4) Paper Mate pen
5) Vintage tie clip