Bollywood singer Shreya in town for one-off concert

Celebrations for Diwali will begin early this year for Hong Kong’s Indian community, when they gather tomorrow (Sat/Oct 1) night to hear the angelic voice of Shreya Ghoshal, who will be performing a one-off concert in the Jockey Club Auditorium at Polytechnic University. Indian New Year falls on October 26 this year.

As one of Bollywood’s most recognised singers – having won an incredible 46 popular awards won over the past 10 years for songs in numerous languages – Ghoshal is also a judge on India’s X Factor, a role that beams her into the homes of potentially a billion Indians.

“Judging the show has been great fun,” said Ghoshal, 27, who herself was a reality show contestant as a teenager. “I was never confident contestant as a child, and felt so shy getting up on stage, but kids today – they dance, wink at the audience, they work the cameras. I’m amazed by them!”

Just 16 when she started singing for Bollywood films (she won her first National Award, handed to her by India’s president, at 17), she has found fame and fortune in her work.

“I’m an ol’ pro. I feel so old! I think working in Mumbai has aged me,” she said

Though she’s only been in Hong Kong before en route to other destinations, she says she’s looking forward to hitting the tourist attractions – and some recommendations she got on Facebook. Ghoshal has a whopping 3.1 million followers on the social networking site and fans have recommended a few hot spots for her to check out.

“But I’d like to do it in peace with my family and friends, so am not letting you know when and where I’m hitting Hong Kong.”

P. Ramakrishnan
ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com

The Stars at Van Cleef and Arpels...

Had the great pleasure to hit the Van Cleef mega-bash and the gorgeous Peter Cheung and the gorgeous Jeannie Guo were spectacular hosts, made us (went with my plus one Reem) feel so welcome.

The crowds at the shop opening were so intense, we went straight up to the after party in Sevva, really didn't want to be a sweat-patch in front of Cate Blanchette.

What a night!

I didn't write the first half of the feature, just the bit about the after-party ergo my bit:





"...The evening moved upward to Sevva after the official ribbon-cutting. From every corner of the rooftop venue, lights with the Van Cleef logo and a flying pixie were projected on neighbouring buildings, creating a surreal effect on the skyline.

Sevva owner and fashion icon Bonnie Gokson took the dress code to heart, sparkling in a mini-dress studded with sequins, while socialite Lumen Kinoshita arrived in a bouffant skirt that highlighted her tiny waist. Claudia Shaw, in an all-white ensemble looked stunning as always, while Claire Hsu Man-kai was in all black. Lane Crawford's Jennifer Woo, Aaron Harilela and Peter Cheung were suave and sophisticated in black jackets with discreet diamond accessories (tie pins, studs, cufflinks). Local supermodel Jocelyn Luko arrived husbandless (model husband Anthony Sandstrom was away DJ-ing) but floated around in a flowing black gown.


Though Lisa Stansfield - nearly unrecognisable from her '80s avatar with her chestnut curled hair and plunging neckline - took the stage and regaled the audience with half-a-dozen of her '80s pop hits, its safe to say the star of the night at the after-party was Van Cleef's very own Peter Cheung, who pumped up the audience with his wit and verbal dexterity. Even the president of Van Cleef, Stanislas de Quercize, concurred. "How can I follow up after that? Peter's a star."

http://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gif
Event on September 16, 2011.
Feature on September 20, 2011, in South China Morning Post, in the Cityseen column.


See earlier post Christian Dior in Mumbai.

See earlier post Two Nights in Peking.

See earlier post Society.

Rooms with a View: Fashion shoot with Sharun Sadhwani and Kristine E

Rooms with a View

Photography: Lucy McNally 

Styling and Art Direction: Ann Tsang 

Wardrobe: Ann Tsang, Rama 

Assistant: Nickey K 

Hair and make-up: Megumi Sekine 

Assistant: Jacqueline Tan 

Models: Kristine E at Models International and Sharun S 

Location: The Intercontinental, Hong Kong 

On him:
Alexander Wang net T-shirt and Versus black pants from Harvey Nichols, silk scarf from Shanghai Tang and shoes from Tods.

On her:
Red Cheongsam from Shanghai Tang, hat by Gucci, crystal earrings by Chànjebel, bracelets by Fine'n'Rhine, shoes, model's own

On her:
Head-to-toe ensemble by Christian Dior, shoes, model's own.

On him:
Suit, shirt and tie, Boss Selection by Hugo boss, watch by Masterpiece by king fook, shoes by Gucci,

On him:
Boss selection by Hugo Boss, watch by Masterpiece by king fook, shoes by Gucci.
On her: Gucci dress, watch and all jewellery by Masterpiece by king fook, shoe, model’s own.

On him:
Full-sleeve top by Missoni from Harvey Nichols, black pants by Givenchy from Harvey Nichols, watch by Masterpiece by king fook.

On her:
Crystal studded kaftaan by Fine'n'rhine, earrings by Chànjebel, ring and bracelet by Masterpiece by king fook.

On him:
Entire ensemble by Dior Homme, shoes by Gucci, glasses by Dior, watch by Patek Philippe.

On him:
White shirt and dinner jacket by Givenchy from Harvey Nichols, black pants by Versus from Harvey Nichols, shoes by Gucci and watch from Masterpiece by king fook.

On her:
Cocktail dress by Red Valentino from Harvey Nichols, ring, earrings and necklace by Masterpiece by king fook, shoes, model's own.

On him:
Shirt by Peter Jensen from Harvey Nichols, dinner jacket by Givenchy, black pants by Gucci and shoes by J.M.Weston.

On her:
Cocktail dress by Carolina Herrera from Harvey Nichols, crystal earrings by Chànjebel, ring by Masterpiece by king fook, shoes, model’s own.

On her:
Gown by Christian Dior, glassed by Dior, all jewellery by Masterpiece by king fook.

On him:
Entire ensemble by Dior Homme, glassed by Dior, belt by Hugo Boss, shoes by Gucci, watch by Masterpiece by king fook.

On him:
Entire look by Hugo Boss, shoes by Gucci and watch by Masterpiece by king fook.

On him:
Belt, jacket and pants by Hugo Boss, t-shirt model’s own, red suede shoes by Tods, glasses by Dior, watch by Patek Philippe.

On her:
Dress by Gucci, watch by Patek Philippe, necklace and ring by Masterpiece by king fook.

The Goods

Scents and sensibility

Though renowned for footwear, leather goods and a rather remarkable womenswear line last season, Salvatore Ferragamo's getting a whiff of the multibillion-dollar perfume market, with the launch of Attimo pour Homme (right; HK$780 for a 100ml eau de toilette spray). The cologne is infused with "aromatic notes of marjoram, effervescent cardamom and sparkling mandarin. Heart notes have a spiciness of saffron together with a modern touch of pimento". Which translates to a rather pleasant and non-cloying aroma. The Attimo pour Homme collection is available at Sogo in Causeway Bay, tel: 2833 8338 and, from October 1, at Lane Crawford, Times Square, Causeway Bay, tel: 2157 0729.

V the people

V-neck patterns, V-necked tops, V-necked sweaters - a pattern appears to have developed in Prada's latest menswear line. For the devilishly fashionable, it's a return to colour as shown in the glistening green lurex top (HK$6,900) with an embellished print, paired with true-blue trousers (both left; HK$7,400). For the more modest, the brown knitted V-necked top (HK$7,880) and grey slacks (both far left; HK$5,800) have just the right quota of conservative fashion fluidity. Prada is in the IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2234 7211.

Take it as red

Bally's iconic red and white stripe is making a guest appearance on many of the brand's leather goods and accessories this season. The Trainspotting range uses the pattern as trims on bags, iPad and laptop carriers, shoes and other leather goods. For the man on the move, check out the long leather wallet (left; HK$3,590) and the leather belt (below left; HK$1,790). Bally is in IFC Mall, tel: 3586 2899.

Heir and graces

As Evan Yurman, heir apparent to his designer father David's eponymous jewellery company, assumes the role of design director of the men's collection, the young Yurman's passion for history is evidenced on a series of signet rings. The rings (below), worn in ancient Egypt as symbols of power and nobility, are in sterling-silver and mounted with a choice of three stones: black onyx; cinnamon quartz; and Garnet. The collection is available at David Yurman, IFC Mall, tel: 2295 0005.

September 18, 2011
P. Ramakrishnan

Mix and Match

G.O.D co-founder Douglas Young put the kitsch back into our kitchens. He talks to Crave about dining culture, stew and the trouble with rhubarb.

Text: P.Ramakrishnan

June 2011 issue of Crave magazine.

The Most Beautiful Bling

It may look like a movie prop; the kind of over-the-top, multi-diamond studded watch that might be stolen in The Pink Panther in order to be recovered by bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau. But at 160 carats, this is no chunk of costume paste, it's the real thing.

The exorbitantly expensive Kallania timepiece arrived in Hong Kong this month. Studded with 186 emerald-cut diamonds, Vacheron Constantin, one of the world's oldest watchmakers, has created it as a worthy successor to the renowned Kallista ("most beautiful" in Greek), which was designed in 1977 by artist Raymond Moretti and featured 118 diamonds, weighing 130 carats, with a US$9 million price tag.
Thirty-plus years later comes Kallania, the long-awaited sequel. This dazzling dilettante has already made waves in the watchmaking world and retail price this time around is HK$76.8m.

But is it a watch or a jewel? A shiny bracelet that tells time? It's debatable, especially since it won the Best Jewellery Watch award at the Vogue Jewels Awards 2009 in Madrid, Spain. The Kallania made its debut in January 2009 at the Salon International de la Haute Horlogerie (SIHH) exhibition, crafted entirely from 18-carat white gold and set with 32 emerald-cut diamonds. The bracelet alone is 18-carat white gold, set with 136 emerald-cut diamonds.

For all its glamour and aesthetic appeal, this timepiece is technically exquisite as well. Water-resistant and mechanical, the manual-winding watch establishes a new world benchmark in the number of carats that have been perfectly aligned and facets meticulously polished to achieve a maximum clarity of reflected light. Apart from the bling factor, this piece is also driven by the world's thinnest mechanical movement, the 1003 calibre, developed by Vacheron Constantin, and stamped with the prestigious Hallmark of Geneva.

By P.Ramakrishnan
(ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)

Not such a Wild Bunch

Hong Kong's twenty and thirty-somethings have an eye on their financial future, as P.Ramakrishnan discovers.


Is the younger generation in the workforce, with its disposable income, transferring funds at a share market near you? Are seaside property prices being hiked by those who participate in keggers and beach barbecues? To find out what the younglings and their fledgling accounts are up to, we gate-crashed Bisous in Lan Kwai Fong.

A watering hole that pays a generous homage to the art of burlesque, Bisous' crowd usually isn't that young. But, as Anthony Zameczkowski, the new Head of YouTube Partnerships for Asia, was a guest speaker at the Web Wednesday Hong Kong social mixer, the clientele's age bracket dropped several notches.

While most in the audience were interested in YouTube's migration from UGC (user-generated content) to professional content and the value of localisation, we asked a few of them about money matters instead.

The questions

1) Aside from the MPF, do you save money each month?

If yes, how much?

What do you put the savings into?

If you don't save, why not?

2) Do you have any investments, such as stocks and shares or property?

If yes, what are they?

If not, why not?

3) How much do you spend on entertainment, clothes and going out each month?

What percentage is that of your income?

Their answers:

Casey Sullivan (24):

1) Yes, I save about 20 per cent of my income. It's auto transfer and I don't look at it. It's purely for saving so I don't worry about it.

2) I do not own property or stocks but I did. I sold all my stocks as I saw the market crashing. If I was going to invest, I would do stocks and bonds. I'd look at emerging markets. Or large companies and corporations that inspire trust.

3) If I had unlimited funds, a lot of my money would go into property, especially in developing markets.

Jason Ho (23):

1) Yes, I do save about 10 per cent of my income in my bank.

2) I have stocks in the Hong Kong share market. I've invested in company names I trust.

3) I spend at least HK$3,000 every month.

Shefali F (30):

1) No, at the moment, I'm not saving a lot as I've got my own company which I've just launched and have moved all my savings and funds into it. It's investing in my own company and self really.

2) I used to have shares and stocks but again, I cashed them all out to invest into my company. I'm married and my husband has investments and property.

3) I spend about US$2,000 but that's including a lot of travel, as well as food, clothes, entertainment.

Nickey Khem (23):

1) At least 30 per cent of my salary goes to savings, on in a good month, 40 percent - when I'm being really careful.

2) I own a percentage of a company I work for. I get good returns from it. I'm saving up to own property in the next two years. I plan to take a mortgage, if possible a double mortgage.

3) I spend too much. HK$10-12,000. Life in Hong Kong is expensive. Drinking and eating out, and cab rides, clothes... I'd like to curb my expenditure but prices never go down, do they?

Lisa Werner (28):

1) Yes I do save but not much right now as I'm a freelancer so there isn't a steady income but roughly five to 10 per cent goes into my savings account.

2) Yes, I have stocks and shares but back in the US. I have financial advisers who take care of the whole thing. I have no property investment but one day, I'd like to when I can afford it.

3) I spend about $4,000 a month? It's like HK$1,000 a week. Maybe a little more.

Chris Lam (35):

1) Yes, I save about 30 per cent of my income. Its important to save.

2) Yes, I have stocks in mutual funds, stock market shares and property. A diversified portfolio is sensible and important.

3) I think I spend about HK$10,000.

Jessica Hefes (33):

1) Yes, I do save my income, about five per cent goes into a savings account.

2) No, I have no stocks or shares. I want to understand it fully, I'm not that invested in the local share market so I don't want to put my money into anything, unless I know it really well. I used to be a lawyer so I want all the literature before transferring any money to anyone or any corp.

3) I spend about HK$3,000-4,000 a month I think. Around that much. Its easy to spend at least a grand a week.

Melissa C (27):

1) I do save my money, but only about two per cent. Its hard to save in Hong Kong as its an expensive city.

2) I have stocks in tech companies, particularly in the US. I grew up in Silicon Valley. My father is in the tech industry. Its a mixture of knowledge and trust for me as I grew up with this information around me. It's so important to have stocks and I think more and more women are investing wisely.

3) Because of travel, my leisure expenses would be around US$3,000 per month, that's including shopping, gifts, food. Airline tickets aren't cheap.

Behind the Label: Quoddy

Who started it? Quoddy founder Harry Smith Shorey started making shoes in Maine, New England, in 1909, inspired by the traditions of the Passamaquoddy tribe. Located on the shores of Passamaquoddy Bay, at the easternmost point of the United States, on the border with Canada, the family-run firm still produces hand-sewn moccasins and shoes made from natural materials such as latex crepe rubber. The overall style is masculine and rustic, and signals a return to a more outdoorsy look.

Why we love it: the comfort factor. The moccasins conform to the shape of the foot, allowing the muscles, bones and tendons to perform in the way nature intended. The firm doesn't use glue, staples, plastic molding or other "advanced" processes- all of its shoes are completely sewn by hand. Plus it promises to repair any defects and even fix wear and tear- a policy we'd love other brands to adopt.


What we'd pick: for its craftsmanship and casual coolness, the Quoddy Grizzly Boot (above; HK$3,800) gets our vote. The versatile Wabanaki mushroom suede moccasin (below; HK$3,100) would go with jeans or slacks, and for a dash of warm colour in winter there's the burnt-orange Takabuk Cavalier (bottom; HK$2,760).

Where can you get it? Quoddy is available at Lane Crawford, IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2118 3388, and online at www.quoddy.com



By P.Ramakrishnan
(ramakrishnanp@hotmail.com)

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."

Flash it, cash it, or stash it: Hong Kong residents get HK $6,000 each!

On a rain-drenched evening, under Times Square’s sheltered entrance, we grabbed quotes from Hong Kong residents who were not only eligible but ready and eager to get their HK$6,000 tax rebate from the government. 

Even those who weren’t going to benefit had a sense of the excitement for friends and relatives who were eligible. Hong Kong’s permanent residents are to receive HK$40.5 billion (the cost to the government, including cash handouts and tax rebates, according to spokesman Patrick Wong). 

Early in March, Financial Secretary John Tsang Chun-wah opted to hand out the cash and tax rebates instead of, for example, infusing the pension fund accounts. 

The scheme has been received with much skepticism and criticism. But as the random sampling of opinion below demonstrates, people are delighted that the government is refunding part of an enormous surplus back to the citizens. 

Lam Kwok-yiu, 23 

I heard about the HK$6,000 online, then I read about it in magazines and newspapers, and of course, all my friends were talking about it. It's not yet time for me to get the application papers, but I've already started thinking about what to do with the money - travel, I think. It's nice to get away for a holiday. I've never heard of a government handout like this - it's great. I hadn't heard about the HK$200 bonus if we wait 'til next year. But I don't think I will wait. 

David Mok, 46 

I was very happy to hear permanent residents would receive HK$6,000. I read it about in newspapers first and then followed up online. I'm glad to know I'm eligible. I'm not sure what I'll do with it right now - maybe shop for sporting goods. I have friends and know people who got the money. It went very fast; people spent it almost immediately. No one I know has the patience to wait for an extra HK$200 by applying for it next year. With senior citizens, I heard a man joke on TV that he might not be alive next year, so he wants to get it as soon as possible! 

Lam Hin-tung, 21 

As soon as I can apply for the forms for my HK$6,000 rebate, I will. I was so excited to hear about it. I heard about it first on the news on TV. Then, in the following days, we kept the paper that had the information on how to apply, where to get the forms and how to do it. That's a lot of money to get, and I'm going to go shopping, I think, or travel. It's not enough for a long trip away, but maybe some place close ... I'd like to go to Singapore or something. 

Greg Wong Lok-tin, 21 

As a student, I'm not sure if I'm yet eligible for the HK$6,000 rebate; I've never paid any income tax. But my family has, and they are all very excited about the rebate, especially my cousins. I've been hearing about it more than talking about it as I'm not getting any money. I'm going away to study in the US, so this doesn't apply to me at the moment. But it's nice to think about what you can do if someone just gave you HK$6,000. 

Merylyn Li, 45 

When I first heard the news that we were eligible to get HK$6,000, I was thrilled. I haven't got the money yet - not even the forms. I think we'll get them much later in the year - probably around Christmas - so I'm torn between saving it and buying presents for my family, like my daughter Rioielle. I think it's a wonderful thing the government has done. I've never heard of any other government giving back money to their citizens. It's great to be in Hong Kong! 

Phyllis Chow, 35 

I was very happy to hear the news of the HK$6,000 rebate. I heard about it first online, I saw it on a newsbyte when I logged onto my bank page. I got all the information I needed, how to fill in the forms and when to send them. At first I thought I'd spend it on buying clothes or something for my young son, but after some thought, I've decided to give it to a local food fund. As a mother, I thought of other children who might be hungry somewhere out there. This is a better use. 

Martine Frieser, 27 

I have a work visa in Hong Kong and haven't lived here long enough to receive the HK$6,000, but I heard it about it from all my colleagues and on the news. I wish I were eligible for it. If I did get it, I'd probably invest it or save it. I'm from the Netherlands, and similar benefits aren't unheard of, but it's definitely new to Asia, isn't it? I'm not sure if it's the right thing; there must be a better way to benefit society at large, raising the minimum wage, for example.

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

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