Mama Mia! My feature (and shoot!) is up at The New Moon

Felt back in form working on this shoot and feature - out now in its entirety at The New Moon - read up here.

I wanna give a shout out to Kaye Dong for creating The New Moon; which has been embraced by so many. When I started the pitch to these ladies, I sent them a link to the page and everyone said yes immediately after seeing it. Most people are suspicious of yet another online magazine but there definitely is an aura and... vibe and flavour to this enterprise that is so vastly appealing. 
 

Planned and plotted with my most frequent collaborator this year - photographer Ruby Law - as my previous editor Christina Ko  (an eternal fav - no one tell her) commissioned me (yay) to write this feature and pull together this shoot. 

Originally we were going to shoot near Blend & Grind in Wan Chai but of course HK weather being what it is, it poured. 

The fine folks at The Upper House provided gorgeous venue and it was smooth sailin' then on. 

It was great to see some familiar faces and meet new ones. Check out the feature at The New Moon - subscribe. Tots worth it. 

Video interview: Chat with Lifestyle Cafe owner Joanna Lui

 Video interview: Chat with Lifestyle Cafe owner Joanna Lui 

Thirst Post: On set with actor and model (and personal trainer) James Wong: Hong Kong Celeb

On set with James Wong for First Person feature/column. 

The interview and shoot is on the magazine's official site.  

Ralph Lauren and ladies of Hong Kong: Style Star: Angie Ting

 

 

Ralph Lauren and ladies of Hong Kong: Style Star: Angie Ting. 

For a special edition of Prestige magazine, we collaborated with Ralph Lauren (well, their Hong Kong team!) and invited three of the most stylish and elegant ladies to pose in the store and discuss all things in fashion and style. Lovely Angie Ting was one of the few who remains effortlessly elegant. 

The 'it' Gals of Hong Kong, 2019

YSL Beauté unveiled a leather version of its Le Cushion Encre de Peau at ifc mall, where we found a gaggle of celebrities and socialites – all dressed in black – at the YSL Beauté counter, sampling the compact, gorgeously packaged in black crocodile-patterned leather.

Who was invited, just the current crop of Hong Kong's 'it' gals. Have interviewed just about all these gals at some point or another... check 'em out at PrestigeOnline.com

Laurinda Ho

Elly Lam

Antonia Li

Feiping Chang

Alison Chan El Azar

Ashley Lam

Jude Tsang

Stephnie Shek

Esther Sham

Pearl Shek

Natalie Kwan

My chat with Bonnae Gokson

Bonnae Gokson on her new book, beautiful weddings and success!

The businesswoman, entrepreneur and style icon adds author to her list of titles. 

Following the success of Bonnae Gokson’s first book, its sequel, Weddings, Butterflies & The Sweetest Dreams, is out this month at all leading stockists. Gokson, the mastermind behind Sevva, C’est La B cafés, and Ms B’s Cakery, is renowned for her exquisite taste — so the book is, unsurprisingly, stunning. The new tome is a visual feast, depicting exquisite weddings around the world, complemented by bespoke cakes selected and designed by Gokson for each occasion. We sat down with the always glamorous Gokson at her impeccable and iconic restaurant Sevva to go over this new chapter in her life.

Always good chat, was great to catch up with Ms Gokson on the eve of her book launch for a Q&A session for Prestige (and PrestigeOnline.com). Check out the full feature here. 

Artem Ansheles

This Russian export shows us what hard work really is!

Check out my chat with the most famous Russian in Hong Kong here. 

Portraits by Yana Vilkina.

First Person: My column in Prestige Hong Kong

One of the great pleasures of the gig at Prestige Hong Kong is the column First Person.

We launched this a year ago as we buried instaglam - a logistic headache to curate - and replaced it with this snap and chat. It's been a genuine thrill to talk to and do the portraiture of the bright young sparks that illuminate Hong Kong society in their own unique way.

In no particular order, I've had the pleasure of spending a day with these fine folks, get to know them a little better and figure out what makes them tick; Harris Chan, Pearl Shek, Ning Lau, Kayla Wong, Arthur de Villepin, Pirate! (Tanya B), Jess Jann (new bff!), Mayao, Payal Shah, Orlando Ho and most recently, Lucia Tate Tolani.

You can read up on all of them at PrestigeOnline.

Now even I, with the size of my (alter-) ego, am fully aware, the reason this column has been such a big hit is because of the two people I collaborate with the most; photographers Olivier Yoan and Dino Busch (and on occasion Ruby Law). 

The 20-something talents have helped me raise my game - the words have had to measure up to their picture perfect portraits.  It has led to so many rewrites and edits. I'll change my words, but won't snip their pic to make room for the verbal calisthenics I like to exercise. See what I did there?! yeah.

I bitterly resent the fact they no longer live in the 'Kong and I juggle my timetable incessantly to suit their mercurial jet-setting ones. 

My most frequent collaborators; Olivier Yoan, Dino Busch. 

Behind the scenes - and camera, Olivier Yoan

Behind the scenes - and camera, Dino Busch

At the Chow Tai Fook gala cocktails at The Grand Hyatt.Hong Kong

Lenka Korbova, Teresa Teague and Gordon Lam at the Chow Tai Fook gala cocktails at The Grand Hyatt.Hong Kong.

June 2014

I did the Society pages - I would never put myself in - the above went to print, below, for keepsakes! ;0)

Playlist: David Oshry: South African diver and Model Tells All: My Favourite Things

Photographer: Florent Petitfrere www.florentpetitfrere.com

South African model based in Hong Kong, David Oshry lists some of his favourite things:

What I'm Listening to: Nirvana. The albums Nevermind and Unplugged were the soundtrack to my more "interesting" teen years. You also can't go wrong with a bit of Hoobastank and Soundgarden.

What I'm reading: The Only Three Questions that Still Count by Ken Fisher (an investor and investment expert) and Daniel Kahneman's Thinking Fast and Slow, a book on the differences between the conscious and subconscious mind.

What I'm watching: 30 Rock (I love Tina Fey). Mythbusters and Saturday Night Live. I also love The Daily Show and South Park.

What artists I'm following: an Aussie friend introduced me to a blues singer from the outback called Shaun Kirk. He plays a full electro drum set with his feet, blows on a harmonica, plays the guitar and sings, all at the same time.

What I'm surfing: ibike.com.hk (for bike porn), store.apple.com/hk (for tech porn) and valueline.com (for investment porn).

As told to P. Ramakrishnan
Follow David Oshry on instagram at https://www.instagram.com/davidoshry/?hl=en

Crave Plus: Defining Taste: Amanda Strang poses for Crave magazine

Crave plus! Get it now!


Cover shoot with Amanda S.

Photography: Jonas Lillie
Stylist: Jolene Lin
Hair & Makeup: Karen Yiu

Producer: P.Ramakrishnan

Akon in Macau 11 11 11: Singer booked for Indian millionaire's epic 50th party

One Night Only 

As Sanjeev Mahtani, Chairman of Must Garments, celebrated his 50th birthday, he threw a party that was out of this world – well, out of Hong Kong most certainly. 

200 plus guests were whisked off to Macau at the Lotus Ballroom at the Four Seasons, a heady night filled with Turkish belly dancers, scantily-clad ladies from St Tropez, circus acts, jugglers and a nine-course meal interrupted with copious Cristal champagne ensued. 

Just when you thought la dolce vita couldn’t get any more decadent, just after midnight, multiple Grammy-nominee and American Music Award winner Akon hit the stage for a medley of hits. 

“I’ve been to a lot of parties, birthdays, award shows in my life,” said the Senegal-born R&B superstar, who enthralled the VIP audience of a select few. 

“But this something else!” 

Among a sea CEOs from the business community and captains of industry, in the audience we spotted Faye Ho (Stanley Ho’s grand-daughter), champion jockey Douglas Whyte, owner of Cubic, Paco Chan, celebrity chef Harlan Goldstein and his wife Helen, the gorgeous Alyscia Mak with husband architect Jon Pan while noted French photographer Jean Gorguet was taking snaps of the guests. 

“There are a lot of fine lookin’ ladies in the house – and it isn’t easy to impress me – but y’all take care of yerself,” said Akon as he indulged many by posing with them for a keepsake snapshot.  "I like that. I like that a lot!” 

 While the party progressed till the wee-hours of morn, when asked to speak, the usually reticent Sanjeev grabbed his Pucci-clad wife, the lovely Manisha, and said, “You know she’s my HMV – His Masters Voice – what do you want me to say honey?” Said a guest, “It’s always the quiet ones that throw the best bashes!” 

Indeed. 

P.Ramakrishnan (e-mail: ramakrishnanp@Hotmail.com) 

NOTES: Akon in Macau, 2011. What an incredible party! Sanjeev and Manisha Mahtani hosted one of the best parties I've EVER been to. And Akon - what a performer! Sanj turned 50 and proved life begins after it. Had a great time, and even better one writing up about it for SCMP's Cityseen column. Such gracious hosts and lovely people. The one thing I got out of the event was how much his close friends and family loved the couple - there were so many toasts in celebration of the awesome twosome.