Famous Five

My famous friends. Who I would call and bother at odd hours if I was bored. And bored. And they'd cheer me up on whatsapp. David Oshry, Rosemary Vandenbroucke, Yana Vilkina, Mia Kang, Abhinav Shukla.

Stars in the Galaxy: Celebrities featured in the magazine, Miss Universe, Coco Lee and Michael Learns to Rock in Macau

Stars in the Galaxy: Celebrities featured in the magazine, 

Miss Universe, Coco Lee and Michael Learns to Rock all in Macau!

 

KAREN & ME & A DOG NAMED DEE

The Prestige fashion squad arrived for our cover shoot with Karen Mok prepped with so many voluminous designer-label-embossed garment bags it would make a sartorial savant squeal. Our dashing photographer Paul Tsang (to Mok’s right) and his crew were on set prior to that, as lighting tests and background colours were being honed to perfection. Then the men in black, armed bodyguards carrying boxes of jewels, arrived in uniform. And yes, we were told they could outrun us no matter how potentially malfeasant our intentions may be, as trays of treasures emerged from puzzling locked-and-stocked containers. Finally, the star herself (and her entourage!) as she dashed straight into hair and make-up. Between shots, we were all mesmerised by the fast changes, the myriad moods and the on-camera ease Karen Mok displayed. It could have been a stressful shoot – timelines and deadlines – but Dee Dee was our blissfully ignorant, bright eyed and bushy tailed mascot, who elevated the mood at every turn. Puppies make everything better. Including this behind-the-scenes shot.


Read the full cover story and see the gallery of pictures here!

FIRST PERSON: Pirate

Portrait by Olivier Yoan

Constant run ins with the ever-affable “Pirate” (not her baptismal name – that would be Tanya Bennett) at fashionable events have finally led us to her studio. There’s a glorious dichotomy to this young lady; glamazon in pretty ensembles at a corner of a designer label event versus sweaty marathoner, in well-used trainers passing lesser athletes by in a flash of neon and Nike.

“Well, in Hong Kong, you can be both; anything and everything. No judgement,” she says. “Well, maybe a little.” We laugh.

Since graduating in 2007 with a degree in clothing design and manufacture (specialising in illustration and fashion advertising), she’s been working in the field of art, design for years. Her sketches have a whimsy and personal stamp that’s unique and so lovely, even the biggest brands have taken note and hired her for collaborations.

The paths of corporate guidelines and creative enterprise often bifurcate, but as luck would have it, she’s had few bumps on the road, “I’ve been fortunate to work with a number of incredible brands, such as Christian Louboutin, Fendi and Cartier, among others. Each of which have granted me the creative freedom to interpret their brief, allowing us to deliver a beautiful visual that best represents the brand. Being able to use my paintbrush to collaborate with these fashion juggernauts is a dream come true. The only downside is that lead-times are notoriously tight, especially in a fast paced city such as Hong Kong. I have had to pull several all-nighters and work through creative blocks in order to reach a deadline. “

With her Lamma apartment as gloriously quaint and colourful as one would expect from an artist of her calibre, with the most precocious trio of rescued cats included, the trail runner has a long map of goals she’s set herself. “I am keen to finally find time to draw a series of influential women I admire, both in my personal life and in a broader sense. Plus, I am intensely passionate about being in the mountains and running. Personal or professional, this year, I plan to climb every mountain.”

For so much more, log on to PrestigeOnline

This Monday has been...

...ugh. Just No.

Downtown Flair: Mathew T hits Kennedy Town

Roaming in the 'Kong. Shot around Kennedy Town in Hong Kong, 

Mathew T, photographer https://www.instagram.com/tamihito_yoshida/

Click to enlarge

Sweater: Cos

Trousers: Burberry

Belt: Model's Own

Briefs: Calvin Klein 

Click to enlarge

Top: Cos

Pants: Burberry 

Click to enlarge

Sweater: Cos

Trousers: Burberry

Belt: Model's Own

Briefs: Calvin Klein 

Click to enlarge

Tank top: Calvin Klein Jeans

Belt: Model's Own

Jeans: American vintage 

First Person: More Fine Folks of Hong Kong!

Doing the portrait, chatting and writing up for the column First Person is easily the best part of my job. Was great to meet and shoot the breeze with these fine folks of Hong Kong. Most of the portraits are done by Olivier Yoan and Dino Busch. 

 

Read up on Pearl Shek here. 

 

Read up on Orlando Ho here.

 

Read up on Payal Shah here.

 

Read up on Mayao here. 

 

Read up on Jessica Jann here.

Previous First Person peeps here.