Singapore Tatler February 2018

L I F E .
E X T R A O R D I N A R Y
February 2018
KINGS OF
THE RING
SAURABH MITTAL AND CHATRI SITYODTONG’S
TRIUMPH IN THE MMA ARENA
$8.00
ASIA’S MOST ELIGIBLE

WWW.SINGAPORETATLER.COM
AROUND ASIA
PARTY
HEARTY
From realised
dreams to love
and anniversaries,
our regional
editions find plenty
to celebrate
HONG KONG TATLER
DREAM COME TRUE
Cover star Peter Woo, the
seasoned entrepreneur
behind property developer
Wharf Holdings, discusses the
reopening of the Murray Building
as the city’s latest and most
PHILIPPINE TATLER
exciting hotel, a project that
HAVE A BALL saw a long-term dream become
reality. Elsewhere, a travel
he splendid spectacle that was the feature reveals Lisbon’s
Philippine Tatler Ball takes centre stage, numerous attractions.
with exclusive insights into the glamorous
SHANGLIU TATLER evening. Gracing the cover are five award
BIRTHDAY recipients—most stylish lady Elvira
Echauz-Angara, philanthropist David Bradley, senator
CANDLES Loren Legarda, designer Cary Santiago and queen of
On the cover is well-known luxury retail, Zenaida Tantoco.
actor and rising philanthropist
Wu Chun.This month’s issue
also takes readers inside the
glamorous Shangliu Tatler Ball,
held at the Rosewood Beijing.
Elsewhere, entrepreneurs
and celebrities gather with
their families for a very candid
photo shoot.
MALAYSIA TATLER
THAILAND TATLER LOVE AT
JUST A NUMBER FIRST SIGHT
On the cover of this Valentine’s Serial entrepreneur Roen Cian
Day-themed issue are Nagapan and his wife, former
newlyweds Pimdao Sukhahuta Miss Universe Malaysia,
and Pierre-Alexandre Darbois. Carey Ng, share the cover as
Pimdao, one of the three sisters they celebrate their first wedding
behind fashion brand Sretsis, anniversary. Their baby daughter,
reveals what brought them Shaelyn Rey Cian, steals the
together and their plans for the spotlight, and they also tell us
TAIWAN TATLER
future. Elsewhere, the magazine how they first met. Elsewhere,
tells the love stories of five GONG XI FA CAI five adorable pooches feature in
couples whose age gaps are Ben Lin, his wife Emily Wang, and their children are this month’s a story celebrating the year of the
10 years or more, proving that cover stars. Familiar Tatler faces, the couple share the secrets dog, and art collectors Aliya and
age is no barrier to a happy and of marital success after 25 years together. Elsewhere, celebrities Farouk Khan (pictured) discuss
healthy marriage. share their new year wishes ahead of the Lunar New Year. their passion.
8 singapor e tatler . february 2018

FEBRUARY L I F E . E X T R A O R D I N A R Y
94 102
ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS 108

88 Fight Club
Saurabh Mittal and Chatri Sityodtong’s
friendship has sustained them through
good times and bad. Now, it is the
secret weapon they are wielding to
make One Championship Asia’s largest
sports league
94 Asia’s Most Eligible

Here is a new, updated list of the
most charming, witty, good-looking,
successful, savvy and, most
importantly, unmarried men and
women of the continent
102 Society Girls

Go behind the scenes as 21 privileged
young women prepare for their big
night at Le Bal des Débutantes
108 Double Act

88 Tennis doubles pair, Martina Hingis and
Latisha Chan, talks about friendship,
building relationships and the future
singapor e tatler . february 2018 . vol 36 . no 4 25 11

CONTENTS
30
CONCIERGE
28 Inbox 38 Art Agenda
Orbis Singapore is one step closer towards From Brazilian modernism to British
eradicating avoidable blindness pop art and the latest new media, this
month’s shows explore a lot of artistic
29 Small Talk territory
Mixologist Kamil Foltan shares his passion
for flavour and respect for culture UPFRONT
30 Hot Ticket 42 Close-Up
Have a feast for the soul Hong Kong architect and art collector
this Lunar New Year William Lim on his love for art
31 What’s On 44 Philanthropy
From jazz-age divas to Shakespeare on How BloomBack’s Hazel Kweh empowers
bicycles, this month is a carnival of talents women with flowers
32 Tatlerscope 46 The Invitation

The Great Room’s Jaelle Ang on the power The stars were out in full force at the
of design and the appeal of teleportation opening of the new Bulgari Resort Dubai
34 Tatlergraph 48 Leading Ladies

A how-to guide to hitting Ditch monochrome, and say hello to bold
the entrepreneurial jackpot hues in 2018
36 Feast 49 It Girl
New and noteworthy restaurants on
Singapore’s gastronomic map
Paulina Böhm cuts a striking figure with
her bold and versatile style
49
CONTENTS
68
STYLE
60
SECRET
52 News CODE
Logo fever goes manic with
the latest trend for text
Fashion meets horology
54 Profile in Chanel’s Code Coco
Every man needs a good suit, says Re:erth
CEO Shinji Yamasaki
55 Beauty WATCHES &

A look at brands committed to ensuring
their ranges are free of animal testing and JEWELLERY
by-products. 56 British make-up artist
Charlotte Tilbury talks inspirations and 76 Watches
icons. 57 Set hearts aflutter with the most Take romance to a new level with his and
romantic hue of them all hers timepieces. 78 FP Journe watches are
as impressive on the outside as they are on
58 Fashion the inside. 82 Watch, jewellery or fashion
Business casual takes on a whole new accessory? Chanel blurs the lines with
meaning for Fendi this spring/summer. the Code Coco
60 Seems like the 1990s are back, as
sportswear undergoes a street style remix. 84 Jewellery
68 Headbands and veils coupled with Vibrant statement pieces showcasing
high-impact embellished dresses lend
a royal flavour to the new season 82 amethysts, sapphires, rubellite
and tanzanite
CONTENTS
134
116
142
LIFE
116 Wine
A Dom Pérignon P2 2000 dinner
in Beijing with Alain Ducasse.
120 James Suckling’s list of 10 of the best
New Zealand wines of 2017
122 Travel
The new Bulgari Resort Dubai makes
the perfect island retreat for sun, sea
and city. 126 Lisbon is now enjoying a
well-deserved renaissance fuelled by the
creativity and self-reliance forged during
the recent hard times
130 Art
Ten creative talents to seek out
at Art Basel in Hong Kong
134 Cars
Does the audacious styling of the latest
Lexus LC 500 coupe reflect a bold
driving experience? FACES
138 Showjumping 152 Soiree
Ten showjumpers to watch on the Animals lovers come together at the
international equestrian circuit SPCA’s Tux for Tails inaugural gala
142 Yachts 154 Onlooker

As Phuket becomes a prominent yachting The who, what and where of society
destination, luxury resorts such as
Kata Rocks are hosting exclusive social
events that connect the elite yachting DEPARTMENTS
community. 144 SUTL Enterprise, Around Asia 8
the driving force behind the One°15 Editor’s Note 22
Marina brand, rolls out modern Behind the Scenes 24
integrated waterfront properties with Objet d’Art 25
unique personalities Tatler Takes Five 160
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Edipresse Media Asia

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L I F E . E X T R AO R D I NA RY
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Editor Terence Lim
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Editorial Services Manager Ethel Lee
Fashion Director Desmond Lim

Contributing Features Editor Hong Xinyi
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EDITOR’S NOTE
BALL OF A TIME The women who made their society debuts at the 2017 edition of Paris’ famed Le Bal des
Débutantes came from famous families. Ava Phillippe (standing, second from left), the daughter of Hollywood actors
Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe, was one of the young beautiful faces there. The story on p.102
True Passion
ebruary is the month of love, Chatri Sityodtong and his best friend,
but truth be told, shouldn’t we be Saurabh Mittal of Mission Holdings.
CHEERS! Dining
content director
celebrating love all year round? When The Harvard Business School graduates have
Don Mendoza, flanked we discussed this issue’s theme, one well-oiled finance backgrounds and are savvy
by Dom Pérignon’s word kept cropping up: passion. Not in investors. When Chatri decided to invest time and
Richard Geoffroy the conventional sense, but the other definition: money into a combat sports venture, which was
(left), and chef Alain that strong feeling of enthusiasm for a subject such born as a start-up fuelled by pure passion, his
Ducasse (right), clearly
found his passion at
as sports, food or helping the needy. buddy Saurabh was there from the start,
the Dom Pérignon My personal passion lies in modern design. I supporting him not just financially, but by believing
P2 2000 dinner in appreciate the strong structural lines on buildings in his dream. Today, One Championship is Asia’s
Beijing, p.116 and sculptures, and enjoy deciphering the hidden undisputed mixed martial arts leader with bouts
messages—political, humorous or beamed to one billion homes across the continent.
otherwise—artists hide in their One Championship’s ascent to the top is nothing
pieces. That interest in design but meteoric—in merely seven years, at that. But
pushed me and two friends to start the journey hasn’t been all rosy throughout, as the
a small project during our duo tells us in our cover story (p.88). In a personal
university days. We offered T-shirt blog post at the end of 2017, Chatri said: “I went
customisation services at flea through so many dark days over the course of my
markets on campus. The process life. It definitely hasn’t been wine and roses for me.
was fairly simple: bring a I’ve had many failures, heartbreaks,
customer’s concept into design disappointments, setbacks, and tears.”
reality. It was hard work, but Disappointments are part of the package. What
passion drove us along. separates the boys from the men is the ability to
Such is the premise of passion rise from the ashes and move on to bigger things.
projects, typically side gigs that Chatri and Saurabh clearly have.
people pursue outside of work or My T-shirt business obviously didn’t take off the
study. It may not be lucrative or way One Championship did. But the learning
successful but holds a deeper process was fulfilling. Maybe when the time is
meaning for those involved. On right, I will revive the venture—this time fuelled
the other end of the spectrum are by even more passion and a proper business plan.
individuals who turn passion into
profession—and even hit big time.
Case in point: our cover —Terence Lim
personalities, One Championship’s Editor

BEHIND THE SCENES WHY SO SERIOUS?
The cover boys and the
Singapore Tatler team
lavished each image with
grave attention at this
Boys to Men testosterone-heavy shoot
One Championship’s
Chatri Sityodtong and
Saurabh Mittal’s friendship
has stood the test of time
f you’d told me back when we

were in school together that I’d be
posing for a Singapore Tatler shoot with
him one day, I wouldn’t have believed
you,” says billionaire entrepreneur
Saurabh Mittal with a laugh in between shots
with his buddy Chatri Sityodtong.
The two met as MBA students at Harvard
L I F E . E X T R A O R D I N A R Y
Business School, and went on to manage
Wall Street hedge funds. Today, Chatri is the
founder and chairman of mixed martial arts
sports league One Championship, and Saurabh
was one of his earliest investors and advisers FEBRUARY 2018
for the venture, and sits on the company’s February 2018
board of directors. PHOTOGRAPHY

Coming from humble backgrounds, “both Darren Gabriel Leow,
of us used to think money was the answer to assisted by Eric Tan
success”, says Chatri. “But I think we discovered FASHION DIRECTION
during our Wall Street days that after a certain Desmond Lim,
threshold, money really doesn’t mean anything. assisted by Joey Tan
This second journey now is much more about GROOMING
leading meaningful lives, and having fun while Grego/Indigo Artisans,
doing it. We’re inspiring people through heroes
KINGS OF using Keune Haircosmetics
Singapore and Parfums
THE RING
and celebrating martial arts, Asia’s greatest Christian Dior
cultural treasure.” WATCHES
Chatri, a frequent motivational speaker, has SAURABH MITTAL AND CHATRI SITYODTONG’S
TRIUMPH IN THE MMA ARENA Hublot
an energetic cadence, while Saurabh has a more ASIA’S MOST ELIGIBLE OUTFITS
measured air. But according to the both of Ermenegildo Zegna
them, their 20-year friendship has seen its fair
share of heated arguments. “We used to fight
like crazy in business school, to the point where
he once challenged me to a fight. But that was
before he found out that I knew
martial arts,” Chatri quips. “Even
now, we can have yelling matches.
But when the emotions die down,
there’s no ego. We always allow the
best idea to win.”
And that is exactly how they are
WORDS AND IMAGES: HONG XINYI
planning to win this business battle,

all while having a blast of course.
PULLING NO PUNCHES
Chatri Sityodtong and
Sporty Hublot Saurabh Mittal autographed
HANGIN’ watches added One Championship gloves
TOUGH a touch of cool for the Singapore Tatler crew
to their looks

OBJET D’ART
RIDE IN WHEELS IN MOTION
STYLE 70
The number of bikes Dior Homme and French BMX
specialist Bogarde will produce for the first of a series
ondering how else you can do your part of three exclusive designs
to tackle climate change? Consider swopping
your petrol-guzzling car for a greener mode
WORDS: CHONG SEOW WEI; IMAGE: DIOR HOMME
of transportation: a bicycle. And it is not just

any bike we are talking about. Dior Homme has
recently collaborated with Parisian bicycle label Bogarde,
which specialises in BMX bikes, to create a limited-edition
set of wheels.
11.9KG
The weight of each bike, which resembles a classic BMX bike
but with a Dior Homme-style chrome finish, black and
Sure, it will be hard to get your hands on one of these red accents and a bee design engraved on its handles
all-terrain two-wheelers as Dior lovers and fervent Bogarde
collectors will be scrambling to get first dibs. But hey, what
is important is that you will stand out and ride in serious
high-fashion style, while doing your part for the planet. And
once you are done for the day, the Dior Homme BMX bike can
double up as a centrepiece in your home—parked in the living
room, a private room of rarities or otherwise.
US$3,200
The price tag on the limited-edition bike, which takes
about six months to make
25
28 29 32 34 36
INBOX SMALL TALK TATLERSCOPE TATLERGRAPH FEAST
Orbis Singapore Mixologist Kamil Foltan The Great Room’s A how-to guide New and noteworthy
moves one step closer shares his passion for Jaelle Ang on the power to hitting the restaurants on
towards eradicating flavour and respect of design and the entrepreneurial Singapore’s
avoidable blindness for culture appeal of teleportation jackpot gastronomic map
CONCIERGE
This month’s must-do list
PAGE
30
TOP GUN
The Republic of Korea Air Force
Black Eagles soar into town once
again with breathtaking aerobatic
flying displays at the
Singapore Airshow 2018
IMAGE: SINGAPORE AIRSHOW
CONCIERGE | INBOX
RUMOUR Straight from

MILL the underbelly
GIVE THEM WINGS of high society!
The Orbis Singapore Charity Gala 2018 brings the non-profit

one step closer towards eradicating avoidable blindness
eld during the singapore airshow on

February 8, at the Shangri-La Hotel, Singapore,
READY FOR
the Orbis Singapore Charity Gala brings aviation TAKEOFF Guests
and ophthalmology together to work towards a explore the cockpit of
RIP OFF
common goal: eradicating avoidable blindness. the Flying Eye Hospital
Fashion tends to be
Themed Asean Odyssey, derivative, but a lady
the event will showcase took it too far when she
the visionary programmes turned up at an event
that the charity has in a Gucci-lookalike
initiated around the world, gown. She might have
especially in Southeast Asia. even gotten away with
Of note is its Flying Eye it, but it became a case
Hospital, an ex-cargo plane of who wore it better, as
converted into a state-of- everyone recognised that
the art teaching facility, the outfit had previously
been worn by Gigi Hadid.
where staff and volunteer
No prizes for guessing
medical professionals who won that round.
educate and engage with
communities around
OPEN SECRET
the world. sgp.orbis.org Imagine our surprise
when we bumped into
a very married society
fellow at a popular
nightclub in the wee
Go for Gold hours of the morning.

Our eyes skimmed the
room for his wife, but all
Legendary British choral group, we saw were his hands
The King’s Singers, will perform on the backside of a lady
who was certainly not
two concerts on February 23 and 24, his missus.
at the Victoria Concert Hall as part NOT
of its Gold 50th Anniversary Season. SAFE FOR
WHAT A CIRCUS! WORK
Dance the night On February 24, the choir collaborates Serious
IMAGE: MARCO BORGGREVE (THE KING’S SINGERS); 123RF
away at the American
Association of
with the Singapore Symphony mistakes
at work
Singapore’s 85th Children’s Choir in an unforgettable mix can cost you your job,
George Washington but for this one industry
Ball, which will
of vocal virtuosity and youthful energy. professional, she was
see the ballroom kingssingers.com simply asked to take time
of W Singapore off and recharge. Nice,
Sentosa Cove right? Not good enough,
transformed into a as the lady refused
Cirque Spectacular. to admit her mistake,
The grand affair, which vehemently scorned her
includes a four-course boss’ direct order and
dinner and tipples was back in the office the
galore, will raise funds next day. Our question
for the Singapore is: why would anyone
Children’s Society. voluntarily choose work
aasingapore.com over a holiday?
28
SMALL TALK | CONCIERGE
IN GOOD
SPIRITS
Mixologist Kamil Foltan shares his
passion for flavour and respect for
culture as The Indigenous Bartender
e has shaken up the cocktail

menus of the Tippling Club as well as
establishments under the Potato Head
Family. But no matter where he is behind
the bar, Kamil Foltan’s calling card has How did the idea it in a whisky sour
always been his passion for flavours, often infusing drinks with for The Indigenous as a syrup or in an
local ingredients. “Asia has been my base for the last five years Bartender Old Fashioned as
and has offered up a lot of exotic flavours that I’d never heard come about? a spirit infusion. I
of before. I’ve always endeavoured to share different flavours The Indigenous love to showcase
Bartender was one ingredient
with everyone,” says Foltan, who now runs Sunday Fun Day,
created out of in as many ways
an F&B creative consultancy he co-founded. respect to local as possible to
So passionate is the Czech Republic native about sharing cultures and history. cocktail lovers. HAPPY
this knowledge that he started The Indigenous Bartender We are all about HOUR
(indigenousbartender.com), a platform for like-minded understanding each What is a recent
bartenders, cocktail enthusiasts included, seeking to ingredient we work ingredient
explore locally sourced ingredients. On the website, Foltan with, and hope discovery?
shares his research notes on locally grown fruits, spices and that our readers It’d definitely be CHIKU FROZEN
and industry friends the sapodilla, also MARGARITA
herbs, with insights on regional customs, as well as his own
cocktails recipes. get inspired to try known as chiku. The Ingredients
The Indigenous Bartender has also taken over various local fruits, dishes mild and refreshing • 1 chiku, deseeded
and beverages when flavour of cinnamon • 2 whole dried dates
locations such as Operation Dagger with monthly pop-ups, and
they travel. and pear is amazing, • a pinch of salt
its next one is at Bob’s Bar in Capella Singapore on March 17.
and it pairs well with • 2tsp of good-quality
Foltan explains, “Every pop-up has a different theme, but all of How do you go any brown and white honey (add more
them are based on ingredients we’ve discovered. We introduce about discovering spirit, depending on as you like)
them through homemade ingredients such as syrups, cordials, new flavours? your preference. • 50ml of 100 per
bitters, tinctures, infusion and spirits, and build a menu of five Without giving away cent agave tequila
cocktails and several mocktails based on them.” all my secrets, I What is your top (Cabeza, Código,
Foltan tells us how he goes about discovering new flavours. love to visit street tip when matching Don Julio or
markets, taste different flavour Olmeca Altos)
WORDS: HASHIRIN NURIN HASHIMI
different cuisines, profiles together? • 15ml fresh lime juice

LIQUID DREAMS and travel to There’s no formula • 5ml fresh
Known for his different countries. to get the perfect orange juice
innovative drinks It makes for great balance, so Directions
such as the
family vacations. experimenting is key. 1. Combine all the
Ume Gimlet (below),
Kamil Foltan (top) I use a centuries- ingredients in a blender
showcases his What is your old ratio: two parts and blitz to a puree.
expertise with a favourite local strong (spirit), one 2. Then add three
series of monthly ingredient? part sour (citrus), to four ice cubes,
pop-ups as The I love pandan, one part sweet and blend again to a
Indigenous Bartender Thai coconut, (such as sugars smooth frozen texture.
persimmon, Kaffir and honey), two 3. Pour into a margarita
lime leaf and cassia, parts weak (such as glass, and enjoy.
to name a few. juices and water), Tip You can also
For example with and from there experiment with
pandan, we use I experiment. aged tequilas
29
CONCIERGE | HOT TICKET
DRUM UP Move to
the beat of the drum
with Taiwanese group
Ju Percussion Group’s
striking mix of virtuosity
and showmanship
SOUL FOOD an needs food and water for physical

sustenance. But of equal importance is
sustenance for the soul and the spirit through
Have a feast for the soul this arts and culture,” states Delvin Lee, producer at
Lunar New Year at the Huayi – The Esplanade Co. This is the ethos behind this
year’s edition of the Huayi – Chinese Festival of Arts, which celebrates
Chinese Festival of Arts Lunar New Year with a diverse and delightful programme of arts, music
and culture. Highlights include the newly-commissioned Mandarin
play I Came at Last to the Seas; site-specific operatic work Einstein in
the Carpark; and dance theatre piece Cut Kafka! Expect creativity,
innovation and celebration from Chinese artists based around the
region, from Taiwan to Hong Kong. From February 23 to March 4, at
the Esplanade – Theatres on the Bay. esplanade.com
WORDS: PHOEBE TAYLOR; IMAGES: ESPLANADE—THEATRES ON THE BAY (HUAYI –

SKY THEATRE POWER WOMAN
Asia’s largest aerospace Smash hit musical Evita arrives at the
and defence event, the Mastercard Theatres from February 23 to
CHINESE FESTIVAL OF ARTS) AND PAT BROMILOW-DOWNING (EVITA)

Singapore Airshow March 11. Based on the real-life story of
soars into town from Eva Perón, the play follows the remarkable
February 6 to 11, at journey from he er humble beginnings
the Changi Exhibition to become e the wife of former
Centre. Running alongside Argentine dictator Juan Perón,
the trade and industry and later “spiritual leader”
events, the public of Argentina,
A before her
programme on February 10 ntimely death at age 33.
un
and 11 includes aerial Helmed
H by legendary
flying demonstrations from Broadway
B director
internationally acclaimed Hal
H Prince, the production
teams such as the Republic of eatures the music of
fe
Singapore Air Force, the Republic Andrew
A Lloyd Webber
of Korea Air Force and the US Air Force. annd the lyrics of Tim Rice,
Visitors can also look forward to the static cluding hits such as
inc
aircrafts on display, and attend meet-the-pilot On this Night of a Thousand
sessions where there will be opportunities to hear Stars,, Oh What a Circus and
from and take photographs with flying aces from far Don’t Crry for Me Argentina.
and wide. singaporeairshow.com baseenterttainmentasia.com

WHAT’S ON | CONCIERGE
feb
From jazz-age divas to
Shakespeare on bicycles,
this month is a carnival
of talents
2 TWILIGHT: FLEA & FEAST

Inspired by the popular
hawkers’ markets in Australia,
this festival returns for its
second edition bringing
together street food from
9 BRILLIANT HUES:
THE POWER
OF RED AND GOLD
Festival colours blaze bright
at Opera Gallery Singapore,
where a curated selection
Gold Tree (2017) by Jean-Francois Larrieu
around the world, along

with retail booths and
activities such as movie
of artworks highlights the
colours of prosperity and
good fortune, for an art-filled
22 AS YOU LIKE IT
The world’s first
cycling theatre company
screenings and live and street and auspicious Lunar New
pedals to Singapore with an
performances. Till February 4, Year. Till February 25.
all-female cast performing a
at the Suntec Singapore operagallery.com
rip-roaring—and environmentally
Convention & Exhibition
sustainable—version of this
Centre. twilight.com.sg
Shakespeare classic. Till
MORE THAN MUSIC February 25, at the Sota Drama
This unique, multisensory Theatre. handlebards.com
DIVA TO THE DEATH experience pairs wine
This immersive, supper musical with classical music. The
party experience at Monti
transports guests
back to the roaring,
roistering jazz age as
performers share their
musical tasting notes as you
imbibe complex fine wines that
26 CHRIS BOTTI
A giant of the
American jazz world who has
complement lush harmonies worked with celebrities from
two dazzling divas and sparkling melodies from Yo-Yo Ma to Lady Gaga,
battle for supremacy. the likes of Ravel and Strauss. Grammy Award-winning
Who will you side Till February 10, at the trumpeter Chris Botti returns
with? Till March 2. Arts House. morethanmusic to the Esplanade Concert
monti.sg concerts.com Hall with an imaginative
8
and uniquely expressive
programme. esplanade.com
SINGAPORE
INTERNATIONAL 22 BORIS
BEREZOVSKY:
VIOLIN COMPETITION
GRAND FINAL 2018
Witness some of the world’s
TITAN OF THE PIANO
Russian virtuoso pianist, Boris
Berezovsky, a gold medal
28 KUMAR 50
Singapore’s Queen of
Stand-Up Comedy celebrates
WORDS: PHOEBE TAYLOR
best young violinists battle winner of the International “her” golden jubilee, looking
it out over nine days of Tchaikovsky Competition, back on the early years. The
intense live rounds. This presents a programme of comedian serves up bon mots
showcase of classical music Beethoven, Chopin, Scarlatti, on growing older, both physically
at its finest will culminate in Bartok and Stravinsky, at and spiritually, and dishes out
a spectacular Grand Final, at the Esplanade Concert tips on how to age fabulously.
the Esplanade Concert Hall. Hall. facebook.com/ Till March 11, at the Capitol
singaporeviolincompetition.com aureusproductions Theatre. dreamacademy.com.sg
ST MORITZ VIENNA RIO DE JANEIRO PYEONGCHANG

FEBRUARY 4–18 FEBRUARY 8 FEBRUARY 9–17 FEBRUARY 9–25
The White Turf races draw Join celebrities from the worlds The annual spectacle of street The snow-clad South Korean
35,000 spectators to a frozen of culture, business, politics, parties and samba parades county sets the stage for the
lake in the Engadin valley for academia and sport along with will see more than a million 2018 Winter Olympics, with
a fortnight of gourmet treats, 150 debutantes waltzing the revellers bring some real heat some 3,000 athletes from
entertainment and nail-biting night away at the Vienna Opera to the streets for the legendary 90 nations competing across
horse racing on ice. whiteturf.ch Ball. wiener-staatsoper.at Rio Carnival. riocarnaval.org 15 disciplines. olympic.org
singapor e tatler . february 2018 31

CONCIERGE | TATLERSCOPE
“When I was
developing luxury
hotels with Country Group
Development, I noticed that people “Life, to me,
loved meeting and working in hotels. is about going all
Perhaps it was due to the possibility in, always. I’m willing
of meeting someone interesting and to outwork, out-think,
unexpected, but it got me thinking outperform and outcharm
about how we can shake up the everyone. And if I’m willing
workspaces of today by adding to do all these, I believe I’ll
layers of service and design. eventually succeed in what
This idea now underpins I want to do. It’s just a
The Great Room.” matter of how long
it’ll take me.”
R INK WIT
H…
“When I
was 14, my
AD “With
co-working spaces,
it’s really about creating
parents had to move to a physical social network.
China for work. They didn’t The high-value part of the
want to uproot me, so they business is when you put the
enrolled me in the Hwa Chong right people in the same space,
Institution Boarding School where because that’s when you
I was the only local. I learned open the doors for them to
how to be adaptable and how connect, create ideas
to get along with different and collaborate.”
kinds of people, and also
developed grit.”
THE DREAM ROOM

“I would love to live in
a well-designed hotel
WORDS: CHONG SEOW WEI; PHOTOGRAPHY: LONG FEI/MUNSTER+LONG FEI; HAIR AND MAKE-UP: BENEDICT CHOO,
room with a luxurious
onsen; a machine that
can upload books and the
latest news into my brain
as I soak in the tub; and a
teleportation machine that
can bring me anywhere
JA E G
I want, and bring others
such as my four kids to
L LE A N me whenever.”
USING MARC JACOBS BEAUTY; IMAGES: 123RF AND FREDERICK ARDLEY

The savvy entrepreneur behind co-working space The Great Room
on the power of design and the appeal of teleportation
Onsen
o-working spaces have happen”, whether it is at the coffee machine
become mainstream thanks or the desks. Her strategy has worked, and
to their flexible leases The Great Room has a fully-occupied floor at
and hospitality-centric One George Street and a growing wait list to
environments. So it is no prove it. Favoured by technology, finance and
wonder that it is not just the start-ups that creative firms that Jaelle calls “grown-ups with Data downloader
are flocking towards them, even mid-sized a start-up spirit”, it has two more locations on
enterprises are starting to see their benefits. the way: one opens at the Centennial Tower
At the forefront of Asia’s co-working scene is this month, and the next at Ngee Ann City in
Jaelle Ang, who is behind The Great Room. May. The Great Room will also be opening
Harnessing her training in architecture and in Bangkok, Hong Kong and Jakarta this
hospitality, the plucky former banker dreamed year. After all, like her choice of drink—the
up a design-led co-working space that Old Fashioned—Jaelle’s philosophy in life is to Teleportation machine
“creates opportunities for casual collisions to go strong or not at all.

CONCIERGE | TATLERGRAPH
BUSINESS SENSE
Want to be the next Elon Musk and skyrocket to worldwide fame?
Here’s a comprehensive guide to hitting the entrepreneurial jackpot
DIFFICULT
3 3
1 COLLABORATE COLLUDE 1
BE AN INNOVATIVE WITH YOUR PEERS WITH HACKERS MAKE INNOVATIVE EXCUSES
TRENDSETTER: TO BUILD TO TAKE DOWN WHEN CALLED OUT
BEYONCÉ CIRCA 2013 YOUR BUSINESS YOUR PEERS FOR BEING A COPYCAT:
KIM KARDASHIAN CIRCA 2017
2 4 4 2
USE YOUR NETWORK CONVINCE CONVINCE USE YOUR NETWORK
TO SUPPORT YOUR TYCOON DADDY YOUR FRENEMY TO SUPPORT
ENTREPRENEURIAL TO INVEST CAPITAL TO INVEST YOUR SPOUSE’S DREAM
DREAM THEIR
LIFE SAVINGS
DON’T
DO
WORDS: CHONG SEOW WEI; IMAGES: 123RF AND HARRY LANGDON

5 6 6 5
POST MEANINGFUL CONTENT SOURCE FOR RARE SOURCE FOR “NEW” POST A SELFIE A DAY
ON YOUR COMPANY’S COLLECTIBLES CLOTHES AT ON YOUR COMPANY’S
SOCIAL MEDIA TO SELL THE SALVATION ARMY SOCIAL MEDIA
THRIFT STORE TO RESELL
7 8 8 7
CREATE SOMETHING BELIEVE IN YOURSELF BELIEVE NAYSAYERS CREATE SOMETHING
YOU’LL USE YOURSELF. —UNLESS EVEN FRAUDSTER —UNLESS THEY’RE YOU’D NEVER USE.
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32 MAXWELL ROAD
#01-02/03 MAXWELL CHAMBERS
069115 SINGAPORE
TEL: 62276819 EMAIL: INFO@OTTORISTORANTE.COM.SG WWW.OTTORISTORANTE.COM.SG

CONCIERGE | FEAST
HOT ON
THE SCENE
There is no reason to ever go hungry
with the latest infusion of new and
noteworthy restaurants in our vibrant
1
gastronomic landscape
KING OF FLAVOURS
RESTAURANT LEROUY
2
Chef Christophe Lerouy is back with
his eponymous restaurant (tel:
6221 3639) on Stanley Street. The ITALIAN FLARE
degustation menu showcases his
PUBLICO RISTORANTE
mastery of French fare enhanced
with surprising Asian accents. For The Quayside’s gourmet offerings are now
example, he may pair a pan-seared complete with the addition of Publico
Bluefin tuna with a coconut milk- Ristorante (tel: 6826 5040), serving Italian classics by
based curry, or chocolate truffle with executive chef Marco Turatti. Of note is the risotto
an unexpected rasher of bacon. “alla Milanese” with saffron, pecorino cheese and red
wine reduction, and the Baci e Ricotto pizza, lathered
3
in tomato sauce and mozzarella, topped with smoked
ALL FIRED UP scamorza, pork belly shavings and ricotta, and baked
to a crisp in a wood-fired oven.
665°F
4
The menu at
Andaz Singapore’s MEAT OF THE MATTER
665°F grillhouse
ORIGIN GRILL & BAR
(tel: 6408 1255)
is centred around At the refreshed Tower Wing
its Pira oven, of Shangri-La Hotel,
which sous chef Singapore, Origin Grill
Josephine Loke fires & Bar (tel: 6213 4595) serves up
up to grill halal-certified local-inspired cocktails such as the
meats and sustainable seafood. Perfect for Buona Vista, an invigorating blend of
the whole family is the 1.2kg Margaret River coffee, fig, chocolate and Campari, and
Wagyu tomahawk, with equal parts fat and has a grill helmed by chef de cuisine
meat, cooked with just enough smokiness. Heidi Flanagan. The bespoke beef selection stands
Also try the Patagonian toothfish fillet, out with the heavily marbled Shiro Kin wagyu,
seasoned lightly with lemon and dill. and the A4 snow-aged full blood Wagyu.
5
EAST MEETS WEST
TEPPAN BY CHEF YONEMURA

Chef Masayasu Yonemura’s teppanyaki
restaurant (tel: 6577 6688) at
Resorts World Sentosa offers a kaiseki
menu that showcases his expertise in
WORDS: DUDI AUREUS
blending Japanese and French influences—think

mussel canapes alongside flounder cured in kelp
and wrapped in Parma ham. The highlight is
the Japanese Wagyu beef fillet, presented with
much flair (and fire), and cooked medium rare to
accentuate its umami flavour.

Rejuvenating
Traditonal
Cantonese
Classics
Scan Here
VRoast Suckling Pig stuffed

with Glutinous Rice
For more inforamation
TungLok Signatures’ new menus showcase everyday

heartwarming dishes for a wholesome and casual
dining experience; as well as celebration dishes that
feature over 50 premium selections suited for
celebrations and events of sorts. Ardent fans can
expect rejuvenated all-time classics such as ‘TungLok
Soya Chicken’ and ‘Steamed Boneless Chicken with
V Steamed Boneless Chicken with VGaroupa prepared in Two Ways Ham, Mushroom and Greens’, both of which are
Ham, Mushroom and Greens
dishes that have been with TungLok since it opened.
Orchard Parade Hotel VivoCity

#02-18 #01-57
Tel: 6834 0660 Tel: 6376 9555
The Central Changi City Point

VDouble-boiled Abalone with Seafood, V Braised Vermicelli with Hairy Gourd #02-88/89 #01-26/27
Sliced Ham and Cream of Pumpkin and Dried Shrimp served in Claypot Tel: 6336 6022 Tel: 6636 0606
served in Mini Pumpkin
Like us on @TungLokGroup I #tungloksignatures

CONCIERGE | ART AGENDA
Breadth and Depth

From Brazilian modernism to British
pop art and the latest new media, this month’s
WORDS: MARIANNA CERINI; IMAGES: FN SOUZA, TWO SAINTS IN A LANDSCAPE, 1961, COURTESY OF THE ESTATE OF FN SOUZA; RB KITAJ, THE WEDDING,1989-93, COURTESY OF THE ESTATE OF RB KITAJ;
shows explore a lot of creative territory
JANIVA ELLIS, THE OKIEST DOKE, 2017, COURTESY OF THE ARTIST AND 47 CANAL, NEW YORK, PHOTO: JOERG LOHSE; TARSILA DO AMARAL. ABAPORU, 1928, COLLECTION MALBA, MUSEO DE ARTE
LATINOAMERICANO DE BUENOS AIRES, COURTESY OF TARSILA DO AMARAL LICENCIAMENTOS; JASPER JOHNS, FLAG, 1967, COURTESY OF JASPER JOHNS/LICENSED BY VAGA, NEW YORK, NY
ALL TOO HUMAN: BACON, FREUD
AND A CENTURY OF PAINTING LIFE
TATE, LONDON
FEBRUARY 28 TO AUGUST 27
Featuring works by
Lucian Freud, Paula
Rego and Francis Bacon,
among others, the
exhibition shines light on
past and contemporary
painters in Britain
whose oeuvres focused
on human figures, their
relationships and intimate
environments. Three
pivotal works by Bacon will
be shown in the UK for the
first time in at least three
decades. tate.org.uk
2018 TRIENNIAL:
SONGS FOR SABOTAGE
NEW MUSEUM, NEW YORK
FEBRUARY 13 TO MAY 27
The fourth edition of the New Museum’s Triennial
invites artists to engage with new and traditional media
under the theme “Songs for Sabotage” in a call for
action within the current sociopolitical environment.
JASPER JOHNS: It features the work of more than 30 artists from
SOMETHING 19 countries, most exhibiting in the US for the first time.
newmuseum.org
RESEMBLING TRUTH
THE BROAD, LOS ANGELES
FEBRUARY 10 TO MAY 13
With more than 100 iconic works
TARSILA DO AMARAL:
by the pop art master, Jasper Johns, INVENTING MODERN ART
this major survey traces his six- IN BRAZIL
decade career. Spanning paintings, MUSEUM OF MODERN ART, NEW YORK
sculptures, prints and drawings FEBRUARY 11 TO JUNE 3
grouped under different thematic On display in this extensive retrospective of a key
chapters, the exhibition covers Johns’ figure in Latin American modernism are some
experimental use of traditional media, 130 artworks, as well as sketchbooks, drawings,
materials and techniques, while photos and documents. The focus is on Tarsila
juxtaposing early and later works in Do Amaral’s artistic practice in Paris in the 1920s
a radical departure from a traditional and the socially-driven canvases she produced in
retrospective approach. thebroad.org Brazil in the early 1930s. moma.org

Photograph taken at Artistree
Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre
Premier Pass to Vernissage March 28 and Public Days
March 29 – 30, priority bookings for special film
screenings and tours. Access to the Show during
VIP hour× on Public Days, and more...
Limited availability prior to the Show at
hkticketing.com, or by calling +852 31 288 288.
artbasel.com
Media Partner: Lead Partner:

42 44 48 49
CLOSE-UP PHILANTHROPY LEADING LADIES IT GIRL
Hong Kong architect How BloomBack’s Ditch monochrome, Paulina Böhm cuts a striking
and art collector William Lim Hazel Kweh is empowering and say hello to figure with her bold and
on his love for art women with flowers bold hues in 2018 versatile style
UPFRONT
Talk of the town
IMAGE: DAVID ATLAN/BVLGARI
WHEN STARS ALIGN Bulgari brand ambassadors

(from far left) Jasmine Sanders, Bella Hadid,
Jon Kortajarena and Alicia Vikander were among
the international celebrities who attended the opening
gala of the Italian jeweller’s fifth and newest property,
Bulgari Resort Dubai. Singapore Tatler joined in the
celebrations. pg.46
UPFRONT | CLOSE-UP
“In the last 20 years,

people here have
started to realise that
we have a heritage
we need to preserve.
For an urban context to
be interesting, you need
both the old and the new”

Urban Splendours
In town to speak at Art Stage Singapore’s Southeast Asia
Forum 2018 in January, Hong Kong architect and art collector
William Lim tells Hong Xinyi how his love for art has
influenced his career and pursuits
s former british colonies Hong Kong growing from strength to strength

turned Asian hubs, and more museums and galleries sprouting up
Singapore and Hong Kong in the city, things have changed a great deal.
share many affinities, and it “It’s a very exciting time for Hong Kong.
seems that it even extends Art is a very essential part of life, and I
to the cities’ arts-loving hope this interest can be sustained.” This
architects. In Singapore, year marks the opening of a CL3-designed
there is William S W Lim, a pioneer architect project that means a lot to him—the
who is also known as an urban theorist and 24-storey H Queen’s building that will house
ardent patron of the arts. In Hong Kong, major international art galleries such as the
there is William Lim, the founder and David Zwirner Gallery and Pace Gallery.
managing director of architecture and interior “The design is very transparent, very pure,
design firm CL3 and an early supporter of almost like a crystal structure,” William says.
Hong Kong contemporary art. “It’s like a dialogue between the architecture
Singapore’s William is in his 80s, more than and the occupants inside, and it lets me
20 years older than Hong Kong’s William, who look at architecture from a more artistic
has actually been hearing about the former point of view.”
since he was a student at Cornell University Beginning in 2008, he actually devoted
in the US. “I would go back to school from about three years to fully exploring his artistic
my holidays, and people would tell me, ‘I saw side, seeking inspiration from everyday
your project’. I think they were confusing me objects such as paper bags, lunchboxes
with him,” he recalls. “About eight years ago, and bamboo scaffolding, producing about
he invited me to an event in Singapore, and it 100 paintings in the process. “I wanted
was really great to finally meet him. He’s very to have this parallel identity as a painter,
passionate about urbanism in Asia, and I find and it was a struggle. I was trying to find
that very admirable.” myself through this series of works.” In the
The vitality of Asian cities is also a subject end, he came to the conclusion that there
that is close to his own heart, particularly was no need to demarcate his passions so
when it comes to Hong Kong. “In the last clearly. These days, he views his architectural
20 years, people here have started to realise sketches as part of his art making, and
that we have a heritage we need to preserve,” integrates experimental ideas more strongly in
he notes, citing neighbourhoods such as his architectural designs.
the Hollywood Road area as an example of With an art collection that includes
Hong Kong’s singular urban personality. “For Hong Kong artists such as Samson Young
an urban context to be interesting, you need and Wong Ping, as well as ethnically Chinese
both the old and the new. In Hong Kong, it’s artists in the diaspora, including Singapore’s
all mixed together, with high-rise buildings Heman Chong and Ming Wong, William’s
next to old temples and traditional shops. exploratory phase also influenced the way
That, mixed with our street life and the buzz he approached collecting. “I’m glad I went
of the city, is the character Hong Kong needs through that period. I found an answer at
PHOTOGRAPHY: MOSES NG
to preserve.” the end of it—that art is not just about the

He is also heartened by the city’s growing end product, it is also a process,” he says
support for the arts, a development he has reflectively. “I often tend to follow the
helped to shape. “I started my art collection careers of the artists I collect, instead of just
about eight years ago, when there was no collecting one work. It’s a more interesting
attention given to Hong Kong artists at all. way to collect comprehensively. When there
I felt a little sad about that, so I started to is a time element involved, an art collection
support them.” These days, with Art Basel tells a story.”

FLOWERS IN BLOOM
Ten per cent of each purchase
made on BloomBack’s
e-commerce platform goes
towards a specific cause or its
academy’s programmes to help
marginalised women
Hope Blossoms
COORDINATION: HASHIRIN NURIN HASHIMI; PHOTOGRAPHY: JENSON LEE;
ART DIRECTION: JANA TAN; HAIR AND MAKE-UP: BENEDICT CHOO;
BloomBack’s co-founder Hazel Kweh shares with Grace Ma
how the social tech enterprise empowers marginalised women LOCATION: GG FRESH FLOWER; FLOWER IMAGE: BLOOMBACK
to gain confidence and financial independence
ocial tech enterprise bloomback suggested that I take home flowers after the wedding
has been sowing seeds of goodwill, to make them into something useful,” recalls Hazel,
but running an e-commerce business who previously worked as a Singapore Airlines stewardess
was never on Hazel Kweh’s radar. and later, a financial planner.
The company started off as a volunteer The sisters repurposed the flowers into smaller
project by Hazel and her elder sister bouquets and went from door to door distributing them
Faith, who was battling retinitis to seniors living alone in the Beach Road area. This
pigmentosa, a group of rare genetic disorders that further inspired Hazel to start social enterprise BloomBack as
deteriorated her already limited eye sight and hearing. a one-stop e-commerce platform in February last year
“I was wondering what else I could do to encourage with co-founder and chief technology officer Zech Ng.
my sister when a girlfriend who was getting married Essentially, BloomBack works with vendors such as

PHILANTHROPY | UPFRONT
florists and corporate gift suppliers, and is also the exclusive says, “I’ve learnt how to sell flowers, and also how they can
distributor of long-lasting preserved flowers using patented be used to make the less fortunate happy. I hope to sell and
technology from Japan. earn more for my family.”
The company, which is a member of the Singapore Centre BloomBack continues to collect flowers donated by
for Social Enterprise (raiSE), also seeks to empower women wedding couples and repurpose them into bouquets to be
from abusive or disadvantaged backgrounds, and works distributed through charities. Each couple pays at least $100
with non-profit organisations such as YWCA of Singapore, to cover the transport and material costs incurred to collect,
Breast Cancer Foundation and Daughters of Tomorrow. package and deliver the flowers. Hazel says, “We’re thankful
Hazel says, “We don’t guarantee that they’ll get a job from that couples are very supportive of us and don’t mind paying
us, but we train them in making floral arrangements. They the fee. Even wedding planners sometimes split the cost with
also gain a holistic set of skills needed for running a florist them. These like-minded partners have helped BloomBack
business.” Beneficiaries are trained under the company’s grow at such a fast pace within a few short months.”
BloomBack Academy, where they are assigned to courses that Right now, the biggest challenge for BloomBack is
include floral arrangement or administration such as handling managing the business operations and charity programmes
orders and e-mails, or running an event booth. while raising funds to expand the team. “We are a lean team,
and juggling the business operations and finding suitable
SOCIAL CONSCIENCE people to train the women are key concerns for us. We are
Besides Hazel, BloomBack has four other full-time staff, talking to NUS Enterprise and raiSE for help in crafting a
including Faith who heads the operations and volunteers more structured training programme and looking for people
team. There are also four “Queen Bees”, beneficiaries who are who can volunteer a few hours a week to be trainers. It also
employed as sales staff on a commission basis. Each of them is takes time to build up our communication with the women
assigned a code that they can share with customers who make so that they would trust us and open up to share how we
a purchase with them. “While 10 per cent of every purchase can better help them.”
on BloomBack’s website goes towards a specific cause or the Hazel’s goal is to successfully train 40 women by this
academy’s programmes, a Queen Bee receives the 10 per cent year and make BloomBack a game-changing gift portal
straightaway into her account,” says Hazel. “I want the women that disrupts the traditional gift industry with advanced
to have a passive income. This motivates them to find their technology such as augmented reality, where customers
own customers and follow up with them on future purchases.” can see how their floral choices fit into a particular venue.
One of the Queen Bees, Yvonne Ng, linked up with “Many people perceive social enterprise products and
BloomBack in August last year when her husband was services to be old-fashioned and old school. We want
retrenched. Despite her little education and limited skill sets, to provide a fun, convenient and personalised gifting
the mother of two is now able to supplement her family’s experience where consumers can shop with ease while
income, thanks to the company’s training in direct sales. knowing that each gift contributes back to society. For
When she completes her training at the academy, she will the women, we hope to be known as a trusted community
have the option of listing her own floral creations for sale on for them to unleash their creativity and build their dream
the BloomBack platform for additional income. Yvonne online business sustainably.”
“We want to provide a fun,

convenient and personalised gifting
experience where consumers can shop
with ease while knowing that each
gift contributes back to society”
BUDDING BUSINESS
Social tech entrepreneur
Hazel Kweh hopes to empower
women through flowers
UPFRONT | THE INVITATION
Jewel in
the Crown
From film celebrities to fashion
Jasmine Sanders, Elena Perminova,
It girls and Emirati VIPs, the stars Jon Kortajarena, Alicia Vikander, Bella Hadid,
were out in full force at the Isabella Ferrari and Nadine Nassib Njeim
opening of the new Bulgari Resort
Dubai. Hashirin Nurin Hashimi
joins the party
vlgari brought a piece

of Rome to Dubai when it
unveiled its fifth and latest
property, the Bulgari Resort
Dubai last December. Brand
ambassadors and VIPs including model
Bella Hadid, Oscar-winning actress Alicia
Vikander, and model and actor Jon Kortajarena
were in attendance, and joined by regional
Saba Mubarak
celebrities as well as Emirati dignitaries.
As if a nod to the iconic Dubai Frame,
one of the city’s newest landmarks, as well
as the entrance doors of Bulgari’s flagship
Via dei Condotti boutique in Rome, the star- Italian jazz crooner
Matteo Brancaleoni
studded arrivals were ushered in through twin STAR performed a repertoire of
arches bathed in gold as they walked down LIGHT
10 classics including Volare
the red carpet to the flashes of camera lights. and O Sole Mio on a special
They made their way to the resort’s beach club stage featuring Bulgari’s
for cocktails and a warm welcome by Bulgari signature eight-pointed star
CEO Jean-Christophe Babin.
Guests were invited to discover the resort
at four different locations where an array of Jean-Christophe Babin
dance, music and light spectaculars awaited, and Abdulla Al Habbai
along with a delectable Italian dinner by
three Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito, the
curator of Bulgari’s Il Ristorante. Italian jazz
crooner Matteo Brancaleoni later brought many
to the dance floor, and his spectacular repertoire
of international and Italian classics was matched
by a stunning scenographic light show as
the backdrop.
As the night was still young, everyone
adjourned to the Bulgari Yacht Club for a
chocolate party, and more dancing under the
stars to the dance tunes spun by Italian DJ Mokai,
marking the arrival of this Bulgari jewel to the
heart of the Middle East, which Babin hopes will
be “one of the city’s most iconic destinations”.
46
Jon Kortajarena
and Bella Hadid B
BVLGARI
RESORT
R
DUBAI
D
OPENING
O
GALA
G
W
WHEN
December 5, 2017
D
WHERE
W
Bulgari Resort Dubai
B
HIGHLIGHT
H
The Bulgari Marina
T
and Yacht Club, along
a
with the yet-to-open
w
Antonio Citterio, Patricia Viel Bulgari Residences,
B
and Silvio Ursini
awash in light projections
a
against the spectacular
a
Alicia Vikander
Dubai skyline
D
Isabella Ferrari
Murad and Nataly Osmann Diala Makki Tara Emad
Wissam Breidy
and Rym Saidi
UPFRONT | LEADING LADIES
Block it Like it’s Hot

Ditch monochrome, and say hello to bold hues in 2018.
The best way to wear colour? All at once, of course
Marilyn Lum Trina Liang-Lin Grace Wong
ROLAND MOURET
ANTONIO BERARDI AND VICTORIA BECKHAM MARC JACOBS AND MARNI
A vibrant, Trina’s ensemble What’s bold,
colour-clashing hits the bullseye whimsical
cocktail dress like with its vivid colour and a sure-fire
Marilyn’s needs palette—a daring head-turner?
WORDS: ANNIKA PARK
only the simplest combination of red Grace’s

of accessories. and fuchsia—just rainbow-hued
These Valentino like this graphic outfit and this
Rockstud heels add knit corset belt showstopping
just the right punch by Tibi Balenciaga cuff
of attitude
IT GIRL | UPFRONT
PAUL & JOE

Atomic
Blonde
Statuesque frame and glossy
locks aside, Paulina Böhm
cuts a striking figure with
her bold and versatile style
CUTTING
EDGE
While most would

shy away from
edgy and over-
the-top accessories
such as this
DRIES VAN NOTEN dramatic Miu Miu
metallic fringe belt
and this pair of
Maison Margiela
cut-out booties,
only a style maven
as experimental as
Paulina can pull
them off with flair
WORDS: ANNIKA PARK
BALMAIN AND
FLEUR DU MAL
PAULINA’S OWN DESIGN MAX MARA

STYLE Beautiful things to have and hold
52 54 56 58 60
NEWS PROFILE BEAUTY FASHION FASHION
Logo fever Every man needs British make-up Business casual Seems like the
goes manic with a good suit, says artist Charlotte Tilbury takes on a whole new 1990s are back, as
the latest trend Re:erth CEO talks inspirations meaning at Fendi sportswear undergoes
for text Shinji Yamasaki and icons this season a street style remix
HIGH AND DRY Amongst
glamorous tents and hot air balloons,
Dior wowed guests during its
Resort 2018 show with an array of
printed frocks and bead-embellished
numbers all reminiscent of the
desert-esque landscapes the collection
drew inspiration from
IMAGE: JOYCE KIM/DIOR
STYLE | NEWS
NEW
Sacai
WEA
VE
Botte
ga V
eneta
Salva
tore F
errag
amo
Ralph
Laure
n
Not just for the bohemian dresser,

the woven belt gives the city dweller
a dose of island cool
More is more seems to be

DARE the sartorial motto right now.
TO Rather than pick just one
striped sweater, layer them
WEAR
Dior Homme
for maximum effect
WORD ON
THE STREET
PHOTOGRAPHY: JASON LLOYD-EVANS (BACKSTAGE, RUNWAY AND STREET STYLE)

Logo fever goes manic with
the latest trend for text
Recent seasons have seen designers slapping
logos and slogans on tees and ties alike.
Now the trend takes on a quieter spin with
printed words forming patterns on fabric.
Chitose Abe of Sacai sent models down the
runway in outfits with repeating lines of text
stating “Stasis as to Vector All in Due Course”.
WORDS: ROSANA LAI AND CHERYL CHAN;
The creation of artist Lawrence Weiner, the

print was on separates and jumpsuits for her
spring/summer 2018 collection. With a subtler
take on the trend, Dior Homme wrote the
address of its Paris flagship store on ribbons
to create makeshift ties, while Palm Angels
incorporated words into its surf riot-inspired
pieces, printing “Black Sun”, the name of
Palm Angels
the collection, onto utilitarian harness belts.

Whatever the message designers are trying to
send, these clothes certainly make a statement.

Gucci
Prada
David Koma LABEL MANISH

LOVER MALHOTRA
Unapologetically glamorous, and
ultra-feminine and extravagant
are just a few phrases that could easily sum up
Manish Malhotra’s eponymous label. Malhotra
made his first foray into fashion as a model while
GY M W E A R he was studying at the Elphinstone College in
Mumbai. Although he didn’t have any formal
ANYWHERE training in design, his passion for
have good news.

cinema and clothes quickly saw him
u r le g g in g s, w e
If you live in yo
pursue a very successful career as
les
tt e d so m e st yl is h sporty ensemb a Bollywood costume
We have spo e in fo r the rest of the ye
ar designer as well as gain
a b o u t liv
you can just an impressive international
clientele including the
likes of Kylie Minogue and
Valentino
JW Anderson
Michael Jackson. The

dapper designer is known
for his high-fashion take on
traditional Indian attire and
impressive use of colour
and texture, boasting
luxurious fabrics such as
brocade, silk and velvet
filled with embroidery
and embellishments.
With his use of superior
Indian craftsmanship, we
say his title of India’s top
couturier is one that is
rightfully deserved.
53
STYLE | PROFILE
Ralph Lauren
satchel
Crockett & Jones

shoes
Audemars
Piguet watch
Suit Yourself
If there is one style commandment that
Re:erth CEO Shinji Yamasaki lives by,
it is that every man needs a good suit
instripes, pinwale corduroy and a good

tailor are Re:erth CEO Shinji Yamasaki’s
I grew up in an environment must-haves and the secrets to his well-fitted
wardrobe. While these are the remains from his
where you never left New York banker days, Shinji’s love for suits goes
the house looking anything much further back.
The value of dressing well was instilled in him by his parents
WORDS: CHERYL CHAN AND ANNIKA PARK; PHOTOGRAPHY: LIONEL LAI/ACEPIX;

less than presentable. when he was a young lad, and he bought his first suit with his
father at the age of 18—an off-the-rack option from a Japanese
My parents were always men’s fashion warehouse, in pinstripes obviously.
Naturally, this old-school approach to style remains
dressed properly, no matter ingrained in Shinji even to this day. The 33-year-old understands
the occasion that being stylish isn’t about having an excess of options.
At least half of his wardrobe has been handed down to him
by his father, with the only exceptions being the occasional
investment pieces that he purchases such as his luxury men’s
dress shoes from Crockett & Jones and JM Weston. He says,
“These shoes last and never go out of style. I still have and wear
Theo Fennell
bracelet
the shoes I bought in my first year of university.”
An avid traveller, Shinji regularly shuttles between Singapore
LOCATION: SPACE FURNITURE
and his native Japan for business. While he has his travel
David Yurman ring wardrobe whittled down to a science, he does make it a point
to bring a fresh suit for every meeting he attends. “I don’t like
wearing the same suits when I’m meeting people, even if it’s a
completely different group. Mentally, it just doesn’t feel right.
So, if I have two meetings, I’ll bring two suits. If it’s three
Peter Millar scarf meetings, I might bring two suits, a blazer and a pair of slacks
to change it up.”

BEAUTY | STYLE
HYYDRATING FLORAL ESSENCE

BYY TATA HARPER
Onne of the brand’s purely
veggan products, this toner has
VEGAN LOVE 21 moisture-boosting natural
gredients, including hyaluronic
ing
aciid, gotu kola for firmer skin, and
Feel as good as you look rosse and lavender hydrosols to
commbat redness.
by using products from
brands committed to ensuring
their ranges are free of animal
testing and by-products
WRINKLE WARRIOR EYE GEL

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This well-reviewed eye gel from the cruelty-
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dark circles, so it looks like you have had
twice as much beauty sleep.
TATTOO LINER
BY KAT VON D
A cult favourite from the
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up brand, this liquid
eyeliner has a uniquely
shaped brush tip for
ORGANIC GLOBAL precise application.
BABY SENSITIVE
SERUM BY
LINA HANSON
With Kalahari melon
NATURAL ORGANIC
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LIPSTICK IN IDENTITY BY
this multipurpose
AXIOLOGY
serum from the MIDAS TOUCH BY BEAUTY BLENDER The brand’s 100 per cent
cruelty-free and Still one of the best products when it comes to vegan lipsticks support
organic skincare flawless make-up application, this limited-edition set women artisans in Bali, are
brand soothes and from the vegan brand includes one Beauty Blender and made of organic, non-GMO
nourishes sensitive a solid mini Blender Cleanser. ingredients and provide a
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Having a bad hair day?
This pink sea salt-based
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AMBIENT LIGHTING PALETTE BY HOURGLASS

YouTube’s top beauty bloggers swear by this palette.
It has three universally flattering finishing powders that
To see a complete list of filter out harsh light and bring a glow back to the skin
vegan and cruelty-free beauty after you have applied foundation. It is also one of the
brands, visit peta.org brand’s vegan products.

STYLE | BEAUTY
My Beaut y P icks
C H A R LOT T E
T I L B U RY
The trailblazing British make-up artist
talks inspirations and icons ahead of
her eponymous brand’s launch in Asia
What are your

beauty travel tips?
My airplane essential for fresh
and dewy skin is my Instant Magic
Facial Dry Sheet Mask, plus drinking
tons of water and taking vitamin drops
to boost the immune system.
Where do you
find inspiration?
Sometimes it’s as
simple as when
someone writes to
me on Instagram, What is the best beauty advice
getting obsessed you have ever received?
with different eras, I once received a letter from a
or sunsets in Ibiza. beauty editor in which she wrote,
Life informs my “Knock it to them Charlotte, you’ll
What is a must-have
in your make-up routine?
Ibiza ideas constantly. be a star!” This really gave me
motivation when I was cold-calling
A lipstick, of course. I call it for jobs and struggling. It made
happiness in a tube. It boosts me realise I just had to believe in
your confidence, brightens myself. Because of this you will
your complexion and adds What music do
find a hand-drawn star all over my
instant glamour to any outfit. you listen to when
product packaging.
getting ready?
You’ve Got The
Love by Candi
Staton—it’s mine
and Kate’s [Moss]
favourite song.
d
What is your Give a woman the right make-up an
she can conquer the world. If you look
skincare regimen? Who are your
Skincare is so important. beauty icons?
IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK
You can’t have a beautiful

orld From a young age I had
painting without a beautiful
canvas. First thing in the good, you feel good, and the whole w Marilyn Monroe posters
up on my wall. I also
ay
responds to you in a more positive w
morning I cleanse with my love screen icons such
Multi-Miracle Glow Balm as Audrey Hepburn,
and prep my skin with Elizabeth Taylor and
Magic Cream. Marlene Dietrich.

BEAUTY | STYLE
obbi Brow Sunrise

Brock
Collection
in
n
g Powder
r
Glitte
lt ic o loured ver
u
Highlightin
E
Glow by B
Pink Mke Up For
b y M a
Ryan Lo
Rouge Rouge
Lipstick
by Shiseido
Brush
rs Contour
Goal Gette
by Tarte
ngles in Ballet
Eye Shadow Si erly Hills
Bev
by Anastasia
E D P I N K
TICKL , set hearts a
e to c o
flutter
me knocking
id d u
With cup m a n ti c h u e of them all
t ro
with the mos Jacquemus
Just Peachy Velvet Matte
Eyeshadow Palette by Too Faced
Be mine, sweet Valentine?

Magenta, dusty rose, shimmery
champagne... You name it,
there’s no shade that screams
Le Marc Liquid Lip Crayon romance—or just a jolly good
by Marc Jacobs Beauty time—louder than a good dash
of pink. With the year’s most
WORDS: CHERRY LAI; IMAGES: JASON LLOYD-EVANS
romantic occasion around the

corner, set the mood for love
with a feminine-yet-flirtatious
rosy make-up look, but don’t
limit the candy colour to your cheeks and pout. Make-up
artist Gucci Westman at Brock Collection has us rethinking
Phyto-Lip pink eyeshadows with a smudged-up bubblegum eye, sans
Twist Mat lush
n t a sy B ut eyeliner, using berry-tinged bronze powders under fuchsia
by Sisley Fa lC
Sex the Fina Nars shadows that is just short of looking too dolled-up. If you
r o m b y
f ction are feeling bold, go all-out with Ryan Lo’s feline lashes
Colle
Velvet Lust coated with multihued pink glitter, or load up on the
Lipstick mauve creme blush on the apple of your cheeks as seen
by Three at Jacquemus. The finishing touch? A swipe of rose-tinted
lippie and you are oh-so-ready for your smooch.
57
STYLE | FASHION
Office Hours
Business casual takes on a whole new meaning for spring/summer 2018 as
Fendi declares formal office attire as a thing of the past, Cheryl Chan discovers
hat does skype have And the piece de resistance of the
to do with Fendi’s collection? The illustrations of “Big Sue”
spring/summer 2018 Tilley, artist, muse of British artist
menswear collection? Lucian Freud, and friend of the late
Everything, according performance artist Leigh Bowery. Tilley’s
to creative director drawings reflected banal everyday objects—
Silvia Venturini Fendi. an actual banana that Fendi herself was
With video conferencing becoming a vital having for lunch, a left-behind cheap and
tool in our daily lives, Fendi plays on the nasty lamp from her new apartment, a rotary
reality of what modern-day communication telephone, a cup of tea—transformed into
looks like, where our many interactions take witty and charming prints that peppered the
place behind multiple screens, and physical collection, and the perfect complement to the
contact is minimal at best. natural colour palette. Logomania was also
The Italian fashion house makes a prevalent throughout as evidenced by the
compelling case for the “Skype Look”, office iconic double F emblazoned across jackets
attire that emphasises on what can only and hidden away in geometric prints that
be seen above the horizontal line of your reveal themselves upon closer look.
office desktop—that is if you even adhere It was a collection designed to change
to a traditional workspace at all. As office up the uniform of the male executive and
culture starts to become more relaxed and challenge the rigidness of corporate wear.
temporary—hot-desking, open-plan spaces, Traditionalists, consider yourself warned.
co-sharing and project-based employment—
shouldn’t our attire evolve as well? Why
should we be restricted to the confines of a
traditional button-down shirt and suit? Silicon
Valley technopreneurs are rolling into offices
looking like first-year college students, not
employees of multimillion dollar empires.
And the poster child for this look: Facebook STYLE INFLUENCE Clockwise
co-founder and CEO Mark Zuckerberg with from above: American Psycho’s
his hoodie-and-jeans uniform. Patrick Bateman was a key
influence for Fendi’s spring/
Fendi subscribes to the notion that every summer 2018 menswear
day should be casual Friday, championing collection from the suspenders
the wearing of athleisure, even in the office. right down to the logo-riddled
Silvia creates her version of a fashion mullet, raincoats; Fendi interprets
only this time she means business at the top logomania in a subtle manner by
disguising the F motif in cleverly
and relaxed and comfortable at the bottom created prints; the illustrations
as evidenced by one of the star looks of the of Sue Tilley can be seen
collection—a mink blazer paired with tan throughout the collection, from
shorts and leather slingbacks. ready-to-wear to accessories;
Fendi attempts to blur the lines between Opposite: the mood board that
inspired the design process
formal and informal by mixing up pieces that
aren’t regularly paired together. Track jackets
are styled with shirts and ties, whereas suits
are given the laissez-faire treatment—soft,
slouchy, decked out in prints and worn
together with knit polo tees and pool slides.
Because why bother with the agony of stiff
wool slacks and dress shoes when no one can
see them anyway?
Yet, for all of its desire to escape the
sartorial trappings of corporate culture,
there was one ironic key influence that
stood out: Patrick Bateman, the well-dressed
main character of American Psycho.
Yuppie fashion is alive and well with bold
suspenders and wide printed ties, and not
IMAGES: FENDI
to mention sheer plaid ponchos that could

easily be used in a modern-day remake
of the infamous raincoat scene in the
2000 film.
GRAPHIC CONTENT
Shirt, jacket and trousers,
all by Prada; cap by Nike
SM EL L S
LIK E T E E N
SP I R I T
Seems like the 1990s are back, as sportswear undergoes a street style remix
with graphic sweatshirts, bold logos and lightweight parkas. Game on
Photography ERIC SEOW Fashion Direction DESMOND LIM
HOOD LIFE T-shirt and
FASHION | STYLE
trousers, both by Givenchy;
ACG fleece jacket
by NikeLab DSM SGP
SUIT UP Hoodie by Sacai,
at Dover Street Market
Singapore; jacket and
trousers, both by Loewe;
socks by Gucci; Classic
Cortez trainers by Nike
CHECK PLEASE Shirt by
Burberry; turtleneck sweater
by Ermenegildo Zegna;
Dri-Fit hoodie by Nike
GOOD SPORT Turtleneck,
shirt, jacket and trousers,
all by Louis Vuitton; Superfast
Chrono Porsche 919
Black Edition watch
in titanium by Chopard
SHIRT HAPPENS
Shirt by Sacai, at Dover
Street Market Singapore;
jacket and trousers, both
by Fendi; Classic Cortez
trainers by Nike
TRACK & FIELD
Top, jacket and
trousers, all by
Dior Homme
GROOMING: GREGO/INDIGO ARTISANS, USING KEUNE HAIRCOSMETICS SINGAPORE AND PARFUMS CHRISTIAN DIOR;
PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT: TANG KIN YEE; STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: JOEY TAN; MODEL: MATT CORRIAS/AVE
NikeLab DSM SGP

Air Force 1 trainers by
by Nike; blouson, jacket
Mille Miglia GTS watch in

BLAZER GLORY T-shirt
stainless steel by Chopard;

and trousers, all by Hermès;
CROWNING GLORY
Headbands and veils coupled with high-impact embellished dresses
lend a royal flavour to the new season
Photography ERIC MICHAEL ROY
Fashion Editor AMY LU

REGAL BEARING Dress by Gucci; ring by Anabela Chan; headband and boots,
all vintage. Opposite page: Dress by Naeem Khan; veil, choker and shoes, all vintage

HAIR AND MAKE-UP: JACKIE GIDEON/WILHELMINA; MODEL: RICHIE HINES/FREEDOM MODELS
FIT FOR A QUEEN Dress and heels, both by Marchesa; necklace, vintage.
Opposite page: Robe and dress, both by Maria Lucia Hohan; rings by Le Vian;
crown, earrings, choker and shoes, all vintage

76 78 82 84
WATCHES WATCHES WATCHES JEWELLERY
Take romance to FP Journe timepieces Watch, jewellery or fashion Make a vibrant statement
a new level with are as impressive on the accessory? Chanel blurs the with amethysts, sapphires,
matching time tickers outside as they are inside lines with the Code Coco rubellite and tanzanite
IT’S A MAD, MAD WORLD Want to lose track of time?
IMAGES: FRANCK MULLER
Simply strap on the Franck Muller Crazy Hours timepiece,

where the hour numerals are scattered at random across
the dial. The manufacture celebrates a milestone this year
with the commemorative Crazy Hours 15th Anniversary
Asia Exclusive, available in 40 different case, dial and
bracelet combinations
STYLE | WATCHES
Partners in Time
Take romance up a notch with matching watches. Charlene Co
rounds up some of the most appealing his and hers timepieces—a selection
of elegant classics and intriguing sporty versions
Cartier IWC Schaffhausen Chanel

Tank Louis Cartier Da Vinci J12
His You can’t go His Packed with His The J12 Moonphase
wrong with the sleek complications placed is crafted in black high-
Tank Louis Cartier. The symmetrically on tech ceramic and matched
large model comes the dial, the Da Vinci with a black satin-finished
with a pink gold case Perpetual Calendar dial with an aventurine
and a manual- Chronograph moonphase counter.
winding movement. is a stunning
talking piece.
Hers The
moonphase aperture
is given pride of place
Hers The small ladies on the otherwise Hers The delicate 19mm
clean dial of the J12 XS is also made with
model also has a pink Da Vinci Automatic black high-tech ceramic,
gold case and gets a Moon Phase, making but its steel flange and
sparkling touch with it such an elegant bracelet are set with
diamonds on the bezel. piece to wear. brilliant-cut white diamonds.
Chopard Franck Muller

Mille Miglia Classic Chronograph Vanguard
His The open-worked design
of the Vanguard 7 Days Power
Reserve Skeleton offers a view
of the watch’s spectacular
manufacture movement.
His A sporty
piece with a touch
of vintage, the Hers A 39mm
Mille Miglia Classic version of the
Chronograph comes
in a 42mm case and
watch comes with
a diamond-studded
Hers The robust Cintrée
Curvex case of the Vanguard Lady
a black dial with large bezel and a white Moonphase is softened with diamonds
hour markers. mother-of-pearl dial. and a sunburst-finished dial.
76
Omega Vacheron Constantin
Speedmaster Overseas
His The Speedmaster Racing Master His Crafted in a 41mm case in

Chronometer comes with a matte black steel and pink gold, the Overseas
dial, a ceramic bezel with a Liquidmetal Chronograph comes with a translucent
tachymeter scale and, of course, the silver-toned lacquered dial and an
distinctive Speedmaster logo. automatic manufacture movement.
Hers The iconic Hers Among the attractive features

Speedmaster is rendered in a of the new Overseas line is its easily
smaller 38mm, diamond-set interchangeable straps. Each model,
case, giving the sporty watch including this 37mm, diamond-set
a more refined touch. version, comes with two straps.
Hublot Jaquet Droz

Big Bang Grande Seconde Off-Centered
His Bolder couples His For an elegant pairing,

you can’t go past the Grande
can opt for a Hublot.
Seconde. The men’s version has
For the men, the
a pristine onyx dial and a perfectly
tonneau case of the
polished white gold case.
Spirit of Big Bang
Moonphase King
Gold model is set
with baguette-cut
diamonds.
Hers The ladies version of

Hers The Hublot Spirit of Big Bang the Grande Seconde comes with
an aventurine dial framed by a
King Gold Jewellery watch for women
is just as striking with its diamond-set bezel.
brilliant-cut diamonds.
Officine Panerai Piaget

Luminor Due 3 Days Altiplano 60th Anniversary Collection
His The Luminor Hers The striking

Due 3 Days
Automatic Acciaio finish of the blue dial
comes with an is complemented
anthracite sun- by a bezel set with
brushed dial and diamonds.
luminous hour
markers.
His The clean dial
and svelte profile of
the Altiplano makes it
Hers With its light blue a versatile and simply
stunning piece to have
strap, the Luminor Due
3 Days Oro Rosso is a on your wrist.
fun watch to wear.

Dial it Up
Much has been said about FP Journe’s
maverick movements, but the perfectionism
of its eponymous founder means that
its watches are as impressive on the
outside as they are on the inside,
writes Nicolette Wong
rançois-paul journe is a man of strong

opinions and singular determination. He
decides what he wants, and sets out to do
exactly that—no matter the obstacle. This
is, after all, the man who started building his
own mechanical tourbillon during the height
of the quartz crisis, and who later conversely
constructed the groundbreaking Élegante quartz movement.
And then, of course, there is the fact that FP Journe’s
movements are almost entirely made out of gold—a feat of
precision engineering as much as it is a luxury. While much
has been said about the impeccable finishing and construction
of FP Journe’s movements, less has been mentioned about
Journe’s efforts to perfect his watches’ exteriors.
For one, FP Journe has its own case and dial manufactures,
separately called Les Boîtiers de Genève and Les Cadraniers
de Genève (which is co-owned by Vacheron Constantin).
Just to give you some context on why this is a big deal, most
of the larger watchmakers outsource the making of their
cases and dials, so this is highly unusual for a brand that only
makes some 900 watches a year. Today, Les Cadraniers de
Genève makes some spectacular FP Journe dials that might known to different cultures, beginning with the Vikings in
not have existed otherwise. The Damascus steel dial that 600AD, and then through the Japanese and Indians in later
takes pride of place in the recently launched Chronomètre centuries. And while Holland & Holland managed to construct
Holland & Holland is one example. the two aforementioned guns in the late 1800s, the technology
The watch was created in partnership with luxury to forge Damascus steel has since been lost to the ravages of
gunmaker Holland & Holland, which like FP Journe holds time. Nobody in the world, including Holland & Holland,
traditional handcrafting in high regard. Holland & Holland knows how to make it anymore.
sacrificed the barrels of two of its historic Damascus steel guns “There’ll never be any others. It’s a story that begins and
to construct the dials of the watches. In theory, Damascus ends, like an instant photograph,” says Journe about the
steel, sometimes called wootz steel, is made using two or more Chronomètre Holland & Holland. And like a Polaroid, each
types of steel, twisted, hammered, and forged together into a dial is unique. Because of the use of different metals and the
single piece of metal that is incredibly tough, shatter-resistant, twisting techniques in its forging, each piece of Damascus
and capable of being honed to a sharp, resilient edge on a steel has a characteristic swirled pattern that makes it
blade—important in the pre-gun age. This steel was separately instantly recognisable. To make the dials in the Chronomètre

WATCHES | STYLE
RIGHT ON TARGET The dials

of the FP Journe Chronomètre
Holland & Holland watches
were crafted from two antique
Damascus steel gun barrels
dating back to the late 1800s
Holland & Holland, the antique gun barrels first had to be

sliced lengthways and rolled flat before being sliced into
strips and further flattened to the correct thickness. The
dialmakers at Les Cadraniers de Genève then cut out the
dials to the correct specifications, before the dials were sent
back to Holland & Holland to be “browned”. Browning is a
traditional gun-making process that protects the metal and
highlights the beautiful swirling patterns of the Damascus
steel. The two barrels yielded a total of only 66 dials, which
IMAGES: FP JOURNE
Journe deliberately paired with the solid gold calibre 1304.

The watch also only has two hands, because a seconds hand
would, according to Journe, have prevented the watchmaker
from orienting the dial to bring out its unique texture. Its
case, naturally, is made of steel.

FA C E
OFF
1
OLD IS GOLD
The Labyrinthe dial first made an appearance
2
BLUE IN THE FACE
FP Journe enthusiasts have been known
at an exhibition in 2000, but was so to wax lyrical about the superb blue dial
The Chronomètre well-received that FP Journe decided to of the Chronomètre Bleu. The gleaming
Holland & Holland create a second engraved dial, the Régence. chrome finish catches the light astonishingly
is only the latest The Régence dial had antecedents in the form well, thanks to the multiple layers of blue
of FP Journe’s of standing clocks from the 18th century, lacquer. Each layer is applied by hand, and
spectacular dials. which Journe then reduced to wristwatch polished to a shining mirror finish before
Here are a few more size. Today, the Labyrinthe and Régence the next layer can be applied. The layers
dials are only available on special order, of lacquer allow the dial an extraordinary
that are worthy of painstakingly hand-carved by a single level of complexity. At some angles, it looks
a second (or third, engraver at Les Cadraniers de Genève. Each nearly black, but transforms to a vivid blue
or tenth) look dial can take anywhere from three days to a chrome under sunlight. Apparently, this is
week to produce, and is only available in gold, an incredibly complicated and difficult dial
although previous versions have been crafted to make, with only a 30 per cent success
from platinum. rate. The Chronomètre Bleu, by the way,
is what passes as an entry-level watch
for FP Journe.

WATCHES | STYLE
GOING GREEN The jade dial,
as seen on the FP Journe
Tourbillon Souverain,
is a stunning combination FACE THE MUSIC
of beauty and subtlety Exquisite dials come in many forms
JAQUET DROZ
Jaquet Droz’s beloved automaton watches achieve maximum
impact thanks to the metiers d’art experts in the brand’s
manufacture. This particular Tropical Bird Repeater was created
by the hands of master engravers and miniature painters, who
managed to create incredible depth in a tiny space. Of course, the
automaton that allows the hummingbird’s wings to beat 40 times
a second also helps bring the watch to life.
3
GREEN WITH ENVY
The FP Journe jade dials are a stunning
combination of beauty and subtlety. Each dial
is extremely thin, “like silk paper”, according
to the manufacture, and extremely fragile.
Although crafted with utmost precision and
care, about one out of every three dials break.
The thinness of the dial is essential, however,
in bringing out the prized translucence of
high-quality jade. The translucence of the dial HUBLOT
is best seen on the France-China 50 Élegante, Hublot takes its Art of Fusion philosophy extremely seriously,
which was made in 2014 to celebrate 50 years combining materials to create pieces that would never otherwise
of good relations between France and China. exist. The dial on this Spirit of Big Bang Moonphase King Gold
Only one of these were made at the time, and Pink, for example, is created from silicon dioxide and aluminium
FP Journe typically only makes these jade oxide melted together at a high temperature to form extremely
dials to order. The jade dials can also be found hard quartz that has a beautiful translucence. The pink hue
on other FP Journe models, including the comes from the addition of various rare earth elements.
Tourbillon Souverain.

Secret Code
Watch, jewellery or fashion accessory? Chanel blurs the lines
with Code Coco, the 21st-century version of the secret watch.
Karishma Tulsidas reports from Seoul
he impact that chanel has with items that fit in the contemporary

had on the world of fashion woman’s lifestyle, essentially giving women
is unparalleled—from its not what they want, but what they didn’t
founder Gabrielle Chanel’s know they needed. The maison’s latest
flouting of gender boundaries timepiece, the Code Coco, is a perfect
to current creative director example. While Chanel has successfully
and designer Karl Lagerfeld’s established its name in the revered
irreverent take on couture, the maison horological circles with its own Swiss
sets (and breaks) the style rules season manufacture and serious mechanical watches
after season. with technical acumen, it recognises that
This influence is not just limited to its most women (and men) pick a timepiece
fashion offerings. Chanel has consistently because it simply looks good on the wrist and
had a finger on the pulse of the zeitgeist fits in perfectly with their style aesthetic.

WATCHES | STYLE
Chanel can meld fashion and horology

with flair, eloquence and harmony,
without sacrificing one for the other
The Code Coco watch may be is engraved with a quilting pattern that is
equipped with a quartz movement, but it reminiscent of the texture of the iconic 2.55
immediately captures our attention with flap bag that first made its debut in 1955.
its unconventional, yet handsome design. From the same bag inspiration comes the
It is something out of the norm in the Mademoiselle Lock, which finds itself on the
current climate of safe, classic timepieces, sapphire glass covering the dial, so the time
and reminds us that while Chanel can do of the day is a secret to the wearer. It serves a
a “serious” watch such as the Monsieur de dual purpose as well, as turning the lock will
Chanel, it can meld fashion and horology in open the bracelet, just as it would the flap of
one item with flair, eloquence and harmony, the 2.55. A princess-cut diamond on the dial
without sacrificing one for the other. adds a touch of glam, but also pays tribute to
Essentially a secret watch, Code Coco is a Gabrielle’s love for the precious stone.
culmination of all the elements that Chanel Like most of Chanel’s collections, the
ALL STAR The
full-diamond version holds dear. Like how an abstract painting Code Coco is not beautiful in a conventional
of the Chanel Code has an instant visual impact but features or classic sense; but in its edgy blend of
Coco watch comes details that uncover themselves progressively, signature Chanel motifs, incredible aesthetic
in a limited edition of Code Coco is stunning at first glance, but savoir faire and whimsical elements, the
IMAGES: CHANEL
five pieces (above); further examination reveals that it has maison has crafted an accessory that speaks to
real women, including
celebs and Chanel been imbued with motifs and elements that the woman of the 21st century, and gives her
staff, were featured have played a big part in the Chanel legacy. something she didn’t even know she needed.
in the campaign Designed as a cuff, the bracelet of the watch Now that is true luxury.

STYLE | JEWELLERY
Purple Reign 1
With Pantone declaring
Ultra Violet as its Colour of the Year,
the jewellery world gets in sync
with these vibrant statement
pieces showcasing amethysts,
sapphires, rubellite and tanzanite
1 Imperiale ring in white gold set

with an amethyst and diamonds
by Chopard
5
2 Dior VIII Christal 33mm watch
with purple sapphire crystal inserts
and a dial set with diamonds
by Dior
3 Ama earrings in white gold set

with amethysts and diamonds by
Boucheron
4 Flora earrings in yellow gold set

with amethysts, coloured sapphires
and pave diamonds by Bulgari
5 Le Secret necklace in white

gold set with diamonds, pink
sapphires, emeralds and amethysts
by Van Cleef & Arpels
6 Ring in rose gold set with an

amethyst and surrounded by
diamonds by Annoushka
7 Ballerina ring set with an oval

8.38-carat violet sapphire and
diamonds by Graff
7
8 Rhapsodie Transatlantique
ring in white and yellow gold set
with a violet sapphire, a yellow-
green sapphire, a Padparadscha
sapphire, round garnets, and pear-
shaped and brilliant-cut diamonds
by Chaumet
11 An outfit in Pantone’s Ultra Violet at Versace’s 2018
spring/summer ready-to-wear show in Milan
12 11 Broderie de Camélia ring in
13
white gold set with brilliant-cut
diamonds, fancy-cut multicoloured
sapphires and brilliant-cut black
spinels by Chanel
12 Icaro brooch in yellow and white

gold set with round faceted rubies,
emeralds and tanzanites, and rose-
15 cut diamonds by Buccellati
13 Ritratto Persian Mystery ring in

rose gold set with an amethyst
by Pomellato
9 Drops of Water earrings in white
gold set with brilliant diamonds 14 Earrings in rose-gold vermeil set
and two oval purple sapphires with violet and lilac amethysts, pink
by Gübelin sapphires and white diamonds by
Anabela Chan
10 Quetzal necklace in white gold
14
set with a 68.82-carat cushion- 15 Limelight secret watch cuff in
shaped, cabochon-cut rubellite, white gold set with brilliant-cut
black lacquer and brilliant-cut diamonds, and a cover set with a
diamonds by Cartier carved amethyst by Piaget

FEATURES
IMPRESSIVE DEBUT Lily Webster

(second from left), the daughter of
American businessman William
Mendenhall Webster IV, had a ball of
a time at Le Bal des Débutantes, p.102
PAGE
88
Fight Club
Chatri Sityodtong
and Saurabh Mittal’s friendship
has sustained them through good
times and bad. Now, it is the secret
weapon they are wielding to make
One Championship Asia’s largest
sports league
PAGE
94
Asia’s Most
Eligible
Here is a new, updated list
of the most charming, witty,
good-looking, successful, savvy and,
most importantly, unmarried men
and women of the continent
PAGE
102
Society Girls
Go behind the scenes as 21 privileged
young women prepare for their big
night at Le Bal des Débutantes
PAGE
108
PHOTOGRAPHY: TIM GRIFFITHS
Double Act
Tennis doubles pair Martina Hingis
and Latisha Chan talks about
friendship, building relationships
and the future
Saurabh Mittal and Chatri Sityodtong’s friendship has sustained them
through good times and bad. Now, it is the secret weapon they are wielding
to make One Championship Asia’s largest sports league, says Hong Xinyi
Photography DARREN GABRIEL LEOW Fashion Direction DESMOND LIM
ROUND 1
JUST KIDS
In most photographs that accompany articles about Saurabh had been a top student in his cohort at Delhi’s
One Championship founder, chairman and CEO Indian Institute of Technology, and had worked on oil rigs
Chatri Sityodtong, the lifelong martial arts practitioner to save money for Harvard. “My mum taught in a university,
looks dead serious. Often his arms are folded, sometimes my dad was a government doctor. At that time, India was
his fists are clenched, and he is almost always not smiling. a socialist country, and honest people who worked for the
That intensity befits a man who started learning muay thai government made no money,” he says. When he arrived in the
at age 13, still trains every day, and now heads a company US at the age of 23, “I was completely fresh off the boat”.
whose mixed martial arts (MMA) matches are broadcast to Chatri, born and raised in Thailand, was the eldest of two
1.7 billion viewers in 128 countries and counting. boys whose architect turned property broker father went
Today, however, we are shooting Chatri together with bankrupt during the Asian financial crisis and abandoned his
his close friend and business partner Saurabh Mittal, who wife and children soon after. Going to Harvard for his MBA
sits on One Championship’s board of directors and has been was a gamble Chatri’s Japanese mother was willing to roll
instrumental in helping Chatri with key decisions since he the dice on, because the opportunity might give her son the
first dreamed up the idea of creating a major Asian sports chance to lift the family out of their dire straits. He survived
league in 2011. And it is hard not to smile when you are those tough years by taking out loans and working jobs such
horsing around with your buddy for the camera. The two as delivering food and teaching muay thai.
first met in their 20s, during orientation at Harvard Business The two soon became fast friends, along with a third
School. “But we really became friends in the cafeteria a few study group member, Soon Loo, who is now the CEO of
days later, when I asked him to join me in a study group,” Brunei Economic Development Board. “We were some of
Chatri remembers. “I don’t know why I asked him. He was the poorest kids at that school,” Chatri says. “We had no
just walking with a tray of food. I didn’t even know if he was reason to be friends other than the fact that we liked one
a smart person or not, he could have been an idiot.” They another. The three of us hung out 24/7, not just to study,
both laugh, before Saurabh calmly counters with a wisecrack but for meals…,” he starts, before Saurabh chimes in, “…
of his own: “The others had all run away. I was the only and finding the cheapest places to eat.” (Yes, they often
gullible guy left.” finish each other’s sentences). In hole-in-the-wall Asian
All jokes aside, it turned out to be a great ask. Saurabh, eateries, over pocket-friendly Korean buffets and Vietnamese
trained in electrical engineering in India, was new to the noodle soups, the boys forged the enduring foundation of
world of business. “In the first month or so, it was very their friendship.
apparent that my business knowledge was far ahead of his,” Ask them to reveal things about each other (that is fit
says Chatri, who had studied economics as an undergraduate for print), and you see more evidence of their camaraderie.
at Tufts University in the US. “But it also became clear that “Chatri comes across as a complete hard-ass when you first
he was the smartest guy I’d ever met in my life, full stop.” meet him, but he’s actually very loyal and relationship-

BAND OF BROTHERS
Saurabh Mittal (left)
and Chatri Sityodtong
have been fast friends
since they bonded at
Harvard Business School
20 years ago
Saurabh wears turtleneck

sweater, packable parka,
jacket and trousers, all
by Ermenegildo Zegna
Chatri wears knitted

hoodie, jacket and
trousers, all by
Ermenegildo Zegna;
Big Bang Unico Sapphire
by Hublot
BOUT CARD
CHATRI
SITYODTONG
Asia’s King of Martial Arts
AGE 46
STATUS Married
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN Thailand
WEIGHTAGE Founder, chairman

and CEO of One Championship
and Evolve MMA; formerly set
up internet software company
NextDoor Networks
ACCOLADE Asia’s Third Most

Powerful Person in Sports
by FOX Sports
ALUMNI Tufts University;

Harvard Business School
PASSION Martial arts, dogs,

travel, street food, skiing,
documentaries
SIGNATURE MOVES Low

roundhouse leg kick, the flying
knee, the uppercut
PUNCHING ABOVE
HIS WEIGHT In addition DREAM To make One
to One Championship, Championship the biggest
Chatri also founded sporting event in Asia
Evolve MMA, a chain of
martial arts academies
driven,” says Saurabh. “He’s been known to cry—tears of The discipline and grit his teacher instilled in him helped
joy, not unhappiness.” Probe gently for more details, and he him through the stress of juggling schoolwork while saving
makes sure to protect his friend’s privacy. “The context is every spare cent to help out with family expenses. His passion
not relevant. It’s the emotional vulnerability which is unique, for martial arts was infectious, even among their somewhat
and that’s not obvious to 99.9 per cent of the people who jaded classmates, Saurabh remembers. “Harvard Business
know him, only to the inner circle.” School is a hard-ass place, nobody has time for anything. You
In a neat inversion, Chatri says the normally reserved can have the best speaker in the world come, and very few
Saurabh can be boisterous in the company of close friends. people in class would show up. But Chatri used to run regular
“A lot of people think he’s this billionaire entrepreneur who’s martial arts sessions for our classmates, and a significant
very tough, which he is. But they don’t know he has a heart number of people would show up regularly for it. It was
of gold,” he adds. “He’s actually very soft inside, very kind unprecedented.”
and gentle-hearted. Whether it’s his family or friends, he’s the When Chatri broached the idea of One Championship in
guy people go to when they want help, and he’s always the 2011, Saurabh was the only person in his life who thought the
one to extend the help, sometimes to his own detriment.” business would work. Everyone else felt it was insane to give
Their friendship has been an emotional ballast as up a successful hedge fund career to do it. It was a difficult
they both emerged from those early conversation to have with his mother
years of struggle and carved out “WE’VE GONE in particular. “She’s a very conservative
successful careers. After Harvard,
Chatri co-founded an internet software
THROUGH SO MANY lady who really cares a lot about what
typical Asian society cares about.
company and made his first million UPS AND DOWNS Harvard, Wall Street, prestige, status—
when he sold it. They both also managed TOGETHER, AND my mum was really into that, and she
Wall Street hedge funds. Today, Saurabh WE GENUINELY DON’T still is,” Chatri explains. “The American
is the founder and chairman of his view of the world is ‘do what you love’.
private global investment holding
JUDGE EACH OTHER In Asia, you don’t really get that. It’s ‘go
company, Mission Holdings, which ON ANY OF THAT. be a doctor, an engineer, an accountant’,
has One Championship as part of its THAT’S THE BEAUTY even if you don’t care about it.” But he
portfolio. “It doesn’t matter what our
successes and failures were. When
OF HAVING FRIENDS felt strongly that it was time to pursue
his real passion. “I just did it. I didn’t get
we see each other, it’s like back when BEFORE YOU MAKE IT” a blessing from anybody.”
we were kids,” says Chatri. “We’ve – CHATRI SITYODTONG Saurabh was not being blindly
gone through so many ups and downs supportive. “Chatri is passionate about
together over the last 20 years, and we genuinely don’t judge the business, so the ups and downs are things he will power
each other on any of that. That’s the beauty of having friends through. He’s extremely competent, both in the sport, and
before you make it.” also as a businessman. He has the ability to attract the assets
and people needed,” he enumerates in his measured way.
“That leadership and rare combination of skills are not easy
ROUND 2 to find. I would back that horse any day.”
Since then, as Chatri puts it, Saurabh has been his
PASSION AND PURPOSE partner in every critical decision for the Singapore-based
“When we were really poor, money was a big attraction,” One Championship. In fact, whether in life or in business,
Saurabh says thoughtfully when we ask how their definitions “we are probably each other’s first call”, he says. “If I have a
of success have changed since their Harvard years. “Later, major strategic problem I can’t solve, he’s the guy I go to. We
we learned that money is a means to give you the freedom don’t let our egos get in the way, we let the best idea win.
to do what you really enjoy. When you build on that and do That’s the way it was when we were kids, and now, because
meaningful things, that’s when you find the most happiness.” this project is so huge in magnitude, it requires all of our
For Chatri, there has never been any doubt that he felt strengths collaboratively.”
happiest in the world of martial arts. When he was nine, For instance, to scale the business, Saurabh suggested
his father took him to Bangkok’s Lumpinee Boxing Stadium expanding broadcast matches from cable channels to free-
to watch his very first muay thai fight. Just like that, he to-air channels, so that they could reach a mass audience.
was hooked. “It was just one of those things. I always say, “That literally changed the trajectory of the company,” says
you don’t choose the people or things you love. In life, love Chatri. At the same time, he became an early adopter of social
chooses you. I just loved muay thai from that moment on.” media, making these platforms a key branding engine for the
It took a few years before he was able to start learning the company. “So he saw this other opportunity,” says Saurabh.
sport, however, because there was no such thing as classes “We were able to do both, and that together has made One’s
for amateurs in those days—all the training was meant for growth a lot more powerful.”
professional fighters and his parents thought it would be too It has also made their lives a lot more fun—so much fun,
dangerous. Finally, at age 13, his father relented, and Chatri in fact, that when we ask Chatri in jest if he would give up
joined the Sityodtong Camp to learn from legendary trainer the business in return for becoming the world’s greatest muay
Kru Yodtong Senanan. “He taught me a lot; he made me a thai fighter, Chatri hesitates for only the briefest of moments.
warrior in and out of the ring.” “That’s a tough one,” he finally replies with a laugh. “But to

be completely honest, I love what I do now. I’m living the
life of my dreams. I wake up sometimes and I think, how
can this be my life? I thought you were supposed to have
a serious career instead of having fun everyday. I still can’t
believe it.”
ROUND 3
THE AGE OF HEROES
Happily, Chatri’s mother has since become more supportive
of his business venture. “She used to think I was doing it to
espouse violence, but now she understands the beauty of
it.” Now in her 70s, she particularly enjoys the videos that
highlight the life stories of One Championship’s athletes,
many of whom come from impoverished backgrounds
and had to conquer incredible hurdles on the way to
athletic glory.
Saurabh’s three young children love these videos as well,
and appealing to little kids and little old ladies alike is
actually a key strategy for One Championship’s expansion—
the company is betting that MMA can become a mainstream
sport in Asia if they effectively communicate the resilience
and drive of its athletes. “Every person from every walk of
life can be inspired by their stories,” Chatri believes. “When
you tell these stories, watching the match is no longer about Saurabh supplies the knockout punch: “And heroes
one person beating up another. It’s about someone achieving are mainstream.”
their dreams.” So far, things are going well. In 2017, the views for One
In 2018, One Championship will launch Rich Franklin’s Championship’s online videos crossed the 2.5 billion mark,
One Warrior Series, which sees the retired martial arts an exponential increase from 300,000 views just three years
legend searching for Asia’s next martial ago. In 2018, it will hold 24 events,
arts superstar while taking in the continuing its push into China and
sights and sounds of different Asian “WE HAVE THE entering new markets South Korea and
countries. The idea was inspired by CHANCE TO BUILD Japan. Over the next three years, the
singing competition The Voice, as well as SOMETHING THAT’LL company plans to work up to 52 events
Anthony Bourdain’s travelogues, Chatri a year, and get its matches broadcast in
reveals. By placing MMA in the cultural
TRULY RESONATE 190 countries. It already bills itself as
contexts of Asia, they are hoping WITH ASIANS, AT A the largest global sports media property
to underline the values of integrity, SCALE THAT’S in Asian history and the global leader in
humility, compassion, and resilience
that gird all schools of martial arts in
UNPRECEDENTED” martial arts in Asia.
With economic growth now
the region. “If there’s anything that – SAURABH MITTAL propelling the region into a new
unifies the continent, it would be Asian phase of intellectual property-based
values and martial arts,” Chatri declares. “There’s nothing entrepreneurship, the two are driven by the ambition of
else that’s so entrenched in society and culture here, and One building an Asian sports brand that can stand with the
Championship is a celebration of that.” likes of Formula One, the English Premier League and the
The stakes are high: the large Asian market is a coveted National Basketball Association. “It isn’t a coincidence that
one among sports properties. American MMA league so many highly scalable global businesses are starting to
Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC), for instance, tried come out of Asia. One Championship is a part of that,” says
to establish a presence in the region in 2014, and again in Chatri, citing examples such as Alibaba and Grab. Saurabh
2017. One Championship has a bigger roster of homegrown agrees: “We have the chance to build something that’ll
fighters, however, and while it doesn’t rule out making truly resonate with Asians, at a scale that’s unprecedented.
inroads into Western markets, it has its sights firmly fixed on Entertainment is shifting very rapidly to digital. Sports
triumphing on its own turf. “UFC is addressing an audience media is dominating all of media. The axis of consumption is
of 350 million in the US. Our audience in Asia is 4.4 billion,” changing, Asia’s GDP is exploding. We’re riding megatrends
says Chatri. “The runway for us is far longer, and the payoff that are colliding in our favour. The universe is conspiring to
is bigger. That’s why we are focused on Asia. Our Western make One Championship the biggest phenomenon. It’s our
counterparts sell blood sports and violence, we sell heroes.” job to make sure we execute this well.”

BOUT CARD
SAURABH
MITTAL
Self-made Entrepreneur
and Investor
AGE 44
STATUS Married
COUNTRY OF ORIGIN India
WEIGHTAGE Founder and

chairman of Mission Holdings;
formerly founded Indiabulls;
self-made billionaire; No 44 on
Forbes Singapore’s 50 Richest
list; Baker Scholar at Harvard
Business School
ALUMNI Indian Institute of

Technology Delhi; Harvard
Business School
PORTFOLIO One Championship,

Incendo, Selfscore, BSI
Financial Services... Need we
go on?
PET CAUSES Paarivar, an India-

based charity for destitute
children, and Avasara Academy,
a leadership development
school for girls
GROOMING: GREGO/INDIGO ARTISANS, USING KEUNE HAIRCOSMETICS SINGAPORE AND PARFUMS CHRISTIAN DIOR;
PHOTOGRAPHER’S ASSISTANT: ERIC TAN; STYLIST’S ASSISTANT: JOEY TAN
SUNNY DAYS AHEAD

Saurabh believes the
future is bright for
One Championship in
Asia; One Championship
Welterweight title holder
Ben Askren (opposite, left)
claimed the final victory
of his career over Shinya
Aoki at the One: Immortal
Pursuit event in Singapore
Saurabh wears
sunglasses by Prada
ASIA’S
M ST
ELIGIBLE
Our round-up of Asia’s most alluring singles proved to be
the most popular feature in all eight Asia Tatler regions last
year. So we thought we’d treat you to a new, updated list.
Meet the most charming, witty, good-looking, successful,
savvy and, most importantly, unmarried men and women
of the continent
Words by MARIANNA CERINI, OLIVER GILES AND CHERRY LAI
HONG KONG LOUI LIM
WHY HIM? Besides his
GREG incredible good looks,
MCNAMARA you mean? Well, let’s
see: Loui is the vice-
WHY HIM? The art
president for brand
collector and professional is
strategy, marketing
only 28 but already boasts
and communications of
a successful art consultancy
his family’s company,
under his name, McNamara
Dream Cruises, an
Art Projects, as well as
architect by training and
a new gallery in Wong
an enthusiastic art lover.
Chuk Hang in Hong Kong.
Check, check, check.
SIGNATURE STYLE A
EXTRA PERK Given
fedora or panama hat. He
his family’s business
collects them and never
interests, it should come
leaves home without one.
as no surprise that he
loves to travel.
YEN KUOK
WHY HER? The founder
and CEO of luxury
consignment company
Guiltless, Stanford
graduate Yen is the
youngest daughter of RUTH CHAO
Shangri-La and Kerry WHY HER? This boho-artsy
Group founder Robert influencer is the co-founder
Kuok. Smart and with of Indicube, one of the city’s
swanky digs to boot. most dynamic digital creative
LOVES Skincare—and agencies. You’ll never get
it shows. She’s pretty bored with her. THAT’S
flawless (plus you can NOT ALL Ruth is passionate
probably raid her about travel, loves to socialise
beauty cabinet for the and doesn’t take herself too
best products). seriously. Perfect match?
PEARL SHEK
WHY HER? Pearl Shek might be petite, but
her sassy attitude and entrepreneurial spirit are
both forces to be reckoned with. A graduate
IMAGES: CRAZY ROUGE; MOSES NG; PJ LAM/FAST MANAGEMENT; RICKY LO
of London’s Imperial Business School, she’s

the beauty and brains behind popular Thai
restaurant Apinara Hong Kong and one of
the city’s smartest young businesswomen.
MAJOR PLUS Her 11-year-old pug Yogi.
He’s so cool he even has his own Instagram
account with more than 1,000 followers at the
time of writing.
MARIO HO
A graduate of MIT, Mario is one
of Stanley Ho’s younger sons.
His mum is businesswoman
Angela Leong. He runs his own
tech venture out of Shanghai.
A European football fan, Mario
travels around the world to
watch games, pose with
players and hang out with
his siblings.

MALAYSIA
JOE FLIZZOW
WHY HIM? Joe has put Malaysian hip-hop on
the global map. As well as his success as a
solo artist and as a member of hip-hop
duo Too Phat, Joe is the founder of Kartel
Records, one of the biggest record labels in
Asia. Among many other successful artists,
Kartel now represents Malaysian rapper Altimet
and singer SonaOne. But he isn’t just a one-
trick pony. The guy also runs a successful salon
called Joe’s Barbershop. PERKS You’ll get front-
row seats at every gig in town.
DEVAN LINUS
RAJADURAI
WHY HIM? A financial whizz, Devan co-
founded Malayan Traders Capital (MTC), the
first hedge fund in Malaysia with two of his
closest friends, Aaron Yew and Donovan Ng. TENGKU FAHD
He’s also close friends with fitness guru Aidil
Azman. PSSST Being good with numbers
MU’ADZAM SHAH
runs in the family. In the 1960s, Devan’s WHY HIM? Now that Prince Harry is off
grandfather became the first Malaysian to the market, single royals are few and far
be appointed chairman of the then Stock between. The young prince of Pahang state
Exchange of Malaysia and Singapore. (he’s only in his early 20s) recently returned
home to Malaysia after completing his studies
in the UK and the US. Now’s your chance.
NATURAL HABITAT Outdoors. Fahd loves
sports and is a passionate advocate for
PANDELELA RINONG conservation and the environment.
WHY HER? Pandelela is a national
treasure. She first exploded into the public’s
consciousness when she won a bronze
medal at the 2012 Olympics for 10m platform
diving. She’s since added to her medal haul
at various international competitions, including
the World Championships. THAT’S NOT
ALL On top of her demanding
training schedule, she’s
currently studying for a
sports science degree
at the University of
Malaya. GUILTY
PLEASURE K-pop.
Especially
LIM MAY SHEN boy band
WHY HER? The co-founder Big Bang.
of the Nail Parlour chain of
salons, which now number
11 outlets around the Klang
Valley, Lim May Shen is as
smart as she is stylish. When
she’s not building her business
empire, you can find her treating
SARAH LIAN
herself to weekends away at WHY HER? Smart, funny, athletic and incredibly
luxurious resorts around the beautiful, model and TV personality Sarah Lian splits
world. CAVEAT She’s incredibly her time between Canada and Malaysia. CAVEAT
close to her sister, May Jian, She loves durian, so you better be able to put up
with whom she co-founded the with the fruit’s pungent smell. PSSST Judging from
chain of salons. If you want to her weekly Instagram post, #hotmalemondays,
win May Shen’s heart, you’ll Sarah’s type is muscly male models. If that’s not
have to impress her sister too. you, it’s time to hit the gym.

THAILAND
VARIT HONGSANANDA
WHY HIM? If you’ve seen his face before, then
you wouldn’t bother asking this question. The son
of Sakchai Leesavan and former Giggle hair salon
owner Visaka Hongsananda, Varit is a model, actor
and one of Thailand’s best-looking men. But don’t
let his good looks fool you—Varit has plenty of
brain power too. On top of his acting work,
he’s currently leading the expansion of
his family’s business, FAW Supreme
Truck Thailand, which makes vehicles
for the local market. He also holds a
degree in interior design from London’s
prestigious Chelsea College of Arts.
CAVEAT If you win his heart, be
prepared to receive some hate
mail from his more than
200,000 Instagram followers.
KANACHAI
BENCHARONGKUL
WHY HIM? A man of many talents, Kanachai
is a highly successful photographer and a
ARDHAWADEE keen amateur cook and surfer. PERKS As
his other half, you’ll get to accompany him
JIRAMANEEKUL on adventures around the world. Recent trips
WHY HER? You may know include partying with Paris Hilton in Phuket, a
Ardhawadee as an award- dreamy safari in Kenya, and a trip to Myanmar to
winning singer (she’s released photograph refugees for the United Nations High
four albums with GMM Grammy Commissioner for Refugees. GUILTY PLEASURE
and Sony), but she’s now He’s a big collector of Swatch watches.
stepped out of the spotlight to
work as PR director for Minor YANIN VIRAVAIDYA
International, the hospitality
group that operates resorts
WHY HER? The daughter of doctor and CHAKRIT BENEDETTI
businessman Sunya Viravaidya, Yanin helps her
under the Anantara, Four WHY HIM? Love food and wine? Then Chakrit is
father manage Pattaya International Hospital,
Seasons and St Regis brands, the man for you. The scion of the Italasia Group,
which he founded in 1974. She also manages
among others. PERKS Free which imports food, wine and
the successful Sugar Hut resort in Pattaya,
stays in resorts around Asia kitchen equipment from
which was established by her family. PSSST
managed by Minor. Think of all Europe, Chakrit is a
If you really want to impress her, you’ll have to
those romantic beach moments. fun-loving bon vivant.
know your way around the kitchen. Yanin is
THAT’S NOT ALL
an avid cook and has worked in the kitchen of
He’s also the secretary
Hélène Darroze at The Connaught in London,
for the Thai-Italian
the two Michelin-starred restaurant. She also
Chamber of Commerce
collects cookbooks from around the world.
and runs four of his own
restaurants “on the side”.
NATAPREE
PICHAIRONARONGSONGKRAM
WHY HER? Natapree comes from a long line of
impressive women. Her grandmother, Khunying
Supatra Singholka, founded the Chao Phraya Express
Boat company, which shuttles tourists and locals up
and down Bangkok’s main waterway. Over time, the
family’s business empire has expanded to include the
Riva Surya boutique hotel, the Tha Maharaj riverside
mall and restaurants in Bangkok and Hua Hin. Natapree
now works for the family business as managing director
of Supatra Real Estate. NATURAL HABITAT Around
horses. Natapree was an avid rider as a child and
teenager and rekindled her passion for the sport when
she moved back to Thailand after graduating from
university in the US.

SINGAPORE MAE TAN
WHY HER? Like her brother, this 2017
BRYAN TAN Gen.T lister is part of the genius curatorial
WHY HIM? Bryan is the brother of ultra-eligible Mae (see mix behind local multi-label store Surrender,
her bio to the right; hotness runs in the family) and a for which she does creative marketing.
member of the 2017 class of Generation T as well. This She’s also made it big on her own terms.
25-year-old handles the operations and management The fashionable influencer hosted her own
of cult multi-label fashion store Surrender, known reality show in South Korea and is one of
for bringing alternative and street-leaning apparel Singapore’s most famous It girls. THAT’S
brands to Singapore. PERKS Dapper style for days. NOT ALL Not only does she handle the
Unsurprisingly, Bryan has the fashion chops to match his marketing direction of a gazillion fashion
job and regularly finds himself on best-dressed lists. brands, she also jostles her online presence
like a real pro. Her account, @marxmae, has
70,000 followers and counting.
PATRICIA
CHEONG
WHY HER? The medical doctor
is the daughter of society couple
Dolly and Bernard Cheong. She
only recently returned home to ANDREW LI
Singapore after eight years of WHY HIM? This outgoing Hong Kong native is
studying and living in the UK. the boss behind one of Singapore’s most iconic
PERKS Free medical check-ups. brands, Zouk, and has been taking it to greater
heights since he became CEO in January 2017.
Business-savvy and stylish. What else could you
want? THAT’S NOT ALL Andrew likes to train
for and compete in triathlons, often alongside
his two brothers. PSSST He knows his way
around spaghetti bolognese—whether it’s
cooking it himself or knowing which restaurants
make it superbly.
ZEENA TAN
WHY HER? The daughter RAJ DATWANI
of society couple Linda This Singapore-based
Soo-Tan and Tan Bock New Yorker describes himself
Seng, this lawyer is not as a “serial entrepreneur”,
afraid of hard work and and with good reason. For
she’s a seriously smart one, he and his business
cookie. WIN HER HEART partner brought the electronic
The 27-year-old graduate of dance music festival Ultra
University College London to the city. He also owns
enjoys reading, writing, The Kitchen at Bacchanalia,
photography, the theatre which has a Michelin star,
and travelling. Pick one of and is the founder of private
those things or, better still, club Madison Rooms.
all of them to wow her.

PHILIPPINES DEREK ARTHUR RAMSAY
WHY HIM? You mean, besides the fact
that he’s an award-winning actor, a
consummate golfer, a master at
CAMILLE TANTOCO Beach Ultimate Frisbee, a coveted
WHY HER? One of a matched brand ambassador and an incredibly
pair—she has a twin sister, good-looking fellow? PERKS He owns
Nicole—Camille belongs to a a Ferrari and is an enthusiastic road-
family that has long made its tripper. CAVEAT He’s dated quite a few
name in the Philippine luxury- models, athletes and TV personalities, so
retail sector. Consistently only confident people need apply.
ranked among Manila’s
most stylish, this graduate of
Enderun Colleges works as a
PETER ANGELO
marketing assistant for Royal RODRIGUEZ
Duty Free. CAVEAT She has WHY HIM? Known as Paj, the
a serious penchant for clothes, 30-year-old is the executive vice-
so you’d better be ready president of Asian Aerospace
for lots of shopping. Corporation, which owns the
private jets venture AirTaxi.PH.
Date him and you’ll be able to fly
anywhere you want. FAVOURITE
HOBBY Travelling, of course. And
learning stuff about planes.
PIOLO PASCUAL
WHY HIM? Actor, singer and producer,
Piolo is idolised by millions for his looks,
talent and showbiz accomplishments. No
pressure, but snatch him and you’ll feel
pretty chuffed about yourself. NATURAL
HABITAT On the road, running. THAT’S
NOT ALL He even founded a running
CHERYL TIU and cycling event that incorporates his
WHY HER? A seasoned and name, the annual SunPiology race.
brilliant writer, Cheryl is an editor-
at-large for Lifestyle Asia and a
INDONESIA
columnist for the Philippine Star
and Forbes Asia. She always
has the inside scoop. THAT’S
NOT ALL A passionate foodie,
Cheryl has been a critic for the
World’s 50 Best Restaurants,
CINDY
and a judge on Eat List Star, a ANGELINA
reality TV cooking competition WHY HER? A fashion maven
on Singaporean television. and beauty enthusiast, Cindy
NATURAL HABITAT Top co-founded ESQA Cosmetics,
restaurants around the globe. Indonesia’s first local vegan
cosmetics brand, with her best
friend, Kezia Toemion.
PIA WURTZBACH Gorgeous, innovative and
WHY HER? Miss Universe 2015, eco-conscious, she’s the
Pia is hot. Smoking hot. She’s also perfect 21st-century
incredibly talented, and has been entrepreneur. THAT’S
acting and modelling since a young NOT ALL The
age. She’s also a stylist and beauty Pepperdine University
writer. The queen of looking good, graduate is also an
basically. ADDED BONUS Pia is avid traveller.
involved in raising awareness about
HIV/Aids. CAVEAT She’s been
stepping out with racing car driver
Marlon Stockinger.
SAMUEL WONGSO
The 27-year-old manages
his family’s long-standing
business, Wong Hang
Distinguished Tailor, which
specialises in high-end
formal suits for men. His
loyal customers are high-
profile celebrities and public
figures. Get him to expand his
horizons a little further and start
designing for women, too, and
you’ll have a personal tailor and
designer at your fingertips.
FITRIA YUSUF
The entrepreneurial former
model works with her
family’s business, the TAIWAN
investment management RALINE SHAH
company PT Citra Marga
WHY HER? The holder of
Nusaphala Persada, as
degrees in political science and
CHIA YING SIEH
vice-president director.
new media and communications WHY HER? A passionate
Fitria is an adventurous
from the National University of historian, Chia is a published
type and loves travelling
Singapore, Raline is an incredibly author (albeit under the
to locations such as the
popular model and actress. pseudonym Hsieh Jinyu)
Galapagos Islands, Bhutan
THAT’S NOT ALL She also and the founder of Gushi.tw,
and various countries
volunteers at Rumah Harapan Taiwan’s largest educational
in Africa.
Indonesia, an organisation that online platform for history and
provides support for critically literature. Lots of intellectual
ill children from low-income conversations to be had.
families. She’s basically the WIN HER HEART Take her
woman we all want to be. And to the opera. She’s a huge
we’re speaking for men, too. fan and never misses
a performance.
MAXIM LIN
WHY HIM? Don’t be fooled by
the chiselled looks and boy band-
worthy grin. The 10th-generation
scion of the Wufeng Lin family is an
INDRA PRIAWAN art curator with business acumen to
boot. He’s chairman of art auction
DJOKOSOETONO house JSL. WIN HIS HEART You’d
WHY HIM? Indra is an better love the ocean—he once said
operational manager with his he would like to propose to his future
family’s business, Blue Bird wife underwater or during a seaside
Group, one of Indonesia’s candlelit dinner. DANNY WEN
largest taxi companies. He
graduated with the highest
RIKI KONO WHY HIM? The suave
globetrotter is constantly
distinction from the University of BASMELEH on the move and has
Indonesia and then obtained his WHY HIM? This half- lived in seven countries.
master’s degree from the Hult Japanese, half-Indonesian The co-founder of luxury
International Business School in hottie is making his mark in travel and private jet
the US. NATURAL HABITAT the F&B industry as the CEO chartering agency Le
He’s a globetrotter and is often of Omiyage Inc Indonesia, Mont Travel, Danny is
on the road in different countries. a company specialising in an adrenaline junkie who
GUILTY PLEASURE He souvenir confectionery that loves mountaineering
collects cars and has a portfolio he founded with two friends. and skiing. PERKS
that includes BMW, Ferrari and One of its projects is to bring The world—at least the
Mercedes-Benz, to name a few. popular Japanese cheesecake private jets that whisk
PERKS Between his job and his brand Doré by LeTAO to you around it—at your
collecting, you’ll never have to Jakarta. GUILTY PLEASURE fingertips. CAVEAT
wait for an Uber again. Unsurprisingly, sweet treats. A nomadic lifestyle.
100
ANGELA SHAO
WHY HER? This University of CHARLES
British Columbia graduate is no TONG
wallflower: the daughter of Xue
You Shao, the founder of WHY HIM? The
luxury homeware dealership handsome son of
Danese & Lealty (known legendary Taiwanese
for bringing Rolf Benz actress Hsu Feng is the
and Bang & Olufsen to vice-chairman of luxury
Taiwan), she’s worked her property investment
way up to become CEO of holding company
the company. NATURAL Tomson Group. WIN HIS
HABITAT Wine-tasting at the HEART Brush up on your
world’s top wineries, as she’s art. He’s an avid collector
somewhat of an oenophile. of works by Zeng Fanzhi
and Zhou Chunya.
CHINA
NI WANG
WHY HER? The 29-year-old is a
ALEX HUA TIAN
multihyphenate, so there’s no risk of WHY HIM? China’s first and
getting bored with her. She runs her only Olympic equestrian (he took
own retail trading company, which eighth place in eventing at
imports Italian brands, is studying to the 2016 Rio Olympics), this
become a chartered financial analyst, dapper Etonian sportsman
and is constantly on the move with has a good seat on and off
a demanding travel schedule every the course. CAVEAT Good luck
month. PSSST She loves a good being the eye-catcher if you’re
party and has a thing for house on his arm. Alex was named
music, though a childhood spent “one of the 10 most handsome
studying the flute means she also equestrians on the planet” in
appreciates a good old classical The Horse Rider’s Journal.
concert. Take her to the theatre, then
out to dance. LAN YU
WHY HER? Hailed as the Vera
Wang of China, Lan is the creative
mind behind her eponymous haute
couture label, which specialises in
wedding dresses and evening wear.
She has dressed a good number of
the country’s celebrities, including
Fan Bingbing and Angelababy, and
recently branched into ready-to-
wear. CAVEAT Business-driven,
her main focus is her brand, so
don’t expect lots of playtime.
JEN HAU
WHY HER? A health and wellness
enthusiast, Jen is the co-founder of
Jova Health, a holistic lifestyle brand
d
that does detox juices, scented
candles and the like. Hen nce the
glowing complexion, ultra-slim
LANG LANG figure and aspirational atttitude.
WHY HIM? Flamboyant showmanship meets THAT’S NOT ALL Jen is also
astonishing talent in the Shenyang-born piano a trained fitness instructo or
virtuoso, who has embraced technology to bring in barre, piloxing and yog ga.
classical music into the 21st century. PSSST CAVEAT You gotta like
He’s got a heart of gold. As well as his Lang Lang fitness and healthy eating g.
International Music Foundation, he serves as a WIN HER HEART Bring g
United Nations Messenger for Peace and a Unicef her a juice, but make
Goodwill Ambassador. sure it’s from Jova.

GIRLS JUST WANNA HAVE FUN Clockwise
from left: Paris McCaw in Oscar de la Renta,
Laila Blavatnik in Ralph & Russo, Cecily Lasnet in
Chanel, Costanza Diaz della Vittoria Pallavicini in
Valentino, Ananya Panday in Jean-Paul Gaultier,
Lori Harvey in Elie Saab and Ava Phillippe in
Giambattista Valli
SOCIETY
GIRLS
As she shares
the preparations
of 21 privileged young
women for their big night
at Le Bal des Débutantes,
Marianna Cerini discovers
a reservoir of positivity,
personal development
and philanthropic thinking
Photography TIM GRIFFITHS
IF YOU LOOK UP DEBUTANTE IN THE OXFORD

dictionary, you will find it defined as “an upper-class young
woman making her first appearance in fashionable society”.
But it is much more than that, I find after spending four days
with 21 such women in Paris for Le Bal des Débutantes. From
the moment we meet to their gathering on the grand staircase
of the Peninsula for a group photo before the ball, the debs are
constantly in the limelight. Rather than the polite young women
of yore introduced to a genteel high-society marriage market
in search of a suitable mate, they conjure in my mind images
from Hollywood. They give numerous interviews, run to fittings
across town, sit for hours of hair and make-up, then even longer
hours in photo sessions—not just for the Asia Tatler titles, but
also for Vanity Fair, Grazia China, Vogue India and Paris Match.
“It’s kind of a dreamy weekend. It’s about gorgeous,
smart young women having a great time and looking amazing”
As the cameras flash at the glamorous group on the “It’s not a rented crowd,” says Renouard of those who
staircase, paparazzi and curious passers-by outside crane their attend, “and that makes all the difference. The girls feel
necks for a glimpse. Make-up artists and hairstylists watch privileged to be chosen and to wear world-famous designers,
vigilantly from a corner, ready to run to the rescue should often for the first time. What’s more, they get to be shot by
lipstick smudge or tresses lose their shine. On the other side, illustrious publications. It’s a well-heeled tradition woven with
debs’ mums—and entire entourages in some cases—angle fashion, media and glamour.”
their smartphones for pictures and videos. The scene screams While some might think that the concept of a debutante
Oscars red carpet more than genteel high-society event. But ball is old-fashioned and outdated, “it’s actually a really
this is the 21st century, and this is what a cotillion looks like cool event”, says Lily Webster, 17, the daughter of American
in our media-centric era. “This is the ball everyone wants to businessman William Mendenhall Webster IV. “I’m having
come to,” says 16-year-old Spanish deb Amina Martinez de a wonderful time. I’m really into fashion, so seeing all the
Irujo y Casanova between shoots. “My friend Daniela [Figo, dresses is great. Not to mention the opportunity to meet girls
the daughter of footballer Luis Figo] participated last year, from all over the world. We all have different perspectives, all
and she told me how great it was. I’ve been dying to attend come from different backgrounds, and it’s really interesting
ever since.” to experience that.”
The hype is real. Since Le Bal des Débutantes was launched Indeed, Le Bal’s pedigree is international. Besides Europe
in 1992 by PR maven Ophélie Renouard, it has become the and the US, China, Vietnam and the Philippines have all been
most coveted gala of its kind among both European aristocrats represented in recent years, as have Egypt and India. This 2017
and American business and showbiz types. A number of edition, the 25th, numbers a princess from Rajasthan, Gauravi
debutante balls take place around the world, particularly Kumari of Jaipur, and Bollywood actress Ananya Panday
in the US, and let us not forget the famous Vienna Opera among its debutantes. Alice Ho, the youngest daughter of
Ball, but Le Bal is the pinnacle. That is because it is the only tycoon Stanley, is here from Hong Kong via Boston, where she
ball that is strictly by invitation only, and the only one that is enrolled at MIT. “I live in a bit of a nerd world—I’m very
requires its debutantes to don couture gowns, paired with much passionate about maths and computer science myself—
jewellery by Payal New York. Add to that the old-world and Le Bal is the complete opposite of that,” she says. “It’s this
glamour of Paris and you have got the perfect formula for a glitzy, fun, fabulous thing, and I’m honoured to be here, but
bash to remember—and to yearn to be part of among today’s I’m also having a blast. Plus, I’m wearing a gown by Dior that’s
upper echelons. just phenomenal.”

BRIGHT YOUNG THINGS Clockwise from left: Natasha d’Arenberg, Maria Pia de Jong d’Orléans et Bragança and Charlotte de Nassau
strike a pose in the hotel’s foyer; Ava Phillippe, Lori Harvey, Alice Ho and Laila Blavatnik; Ananya Panday, Lily Webster, Ava, Paris McCaw
and Laila with a Peninsula bellboy; Laila snaps the other debs; Alice dances with her cavalier; Cecily Lasnet, the daughter of former British
model Stella Tennant and French photographer David Lasnet, with her cavalier, Antoine Dwernicki

A NIGHT TO REMEMBER Above: Four of the debs—Costanza Diaz della Vittoria Pallavicini, Maria Pia de Jong, Princess Charlotte de Nassau
and Donna Giacinta dei Marchesi Brivio Sforza on the staircase of the Peninsula. Below, from left: Ava Phillippe waltzes with Padmanabh Singh of
Jaipur; Jeanne Malle makes an entrance with her brother and cavalier, Lucien; Alice de Séjournet de Rameignies on the arm of Bollywood actor
Ahaan Panday, Ananya Panday’s cousin

“Le Bal is a special way to celebrate womanhood.
And a unique bonding experience, too. We girls need
more of this, whether in ball form or not”
The mix of heiresses, aristocrats and celebrities’ offspring

is nothing new for Le Bal. Past editions have welcomed
Olympia Taittinger, scion of the champagne family, Princess
Lorenza of Liechtenstein, and Ella Beatty, daughter of
Warren Beatty and Annette Bening. There have been other
Hollywood A-listers too: a Stallone, an Eastwood and a
Willis. This time, the big name is Ava Phillippe, the 18-year-
old daughter of Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe. Lori
Harvey, another American, also has celebrity cred; she’s the
step-daughter of TV show host and comedian Steve Harvey,
and is a social media star and model on the rise. Ava and Lori
have around 500,000 followers each on Instagram. In the age
of digital sharing, presences like theirs add to the aura of the
event, along with the many Insta stories and photos they and
the other debs will post after Le Bal (Renouard forbids any
sharing during the event, which no doubt further enhances
the mystique).
“This is totally different from anything else I have ever with the world. They are switched on, as a ARRIVING
done,” says Lori, who at 20 is one of the seniors. “And I’ve lot of young women are today. They come IN STYLE
modelled for D&G. It’s kind of a dreamy weekend. Princess- from excellent backgrounds, yes, but they Alice de
Séjournet de
like.” She pauses. “Okay, the word does sounds a little naff, aren’t brats.” Rameignies,
but what I mean is, it’s about gorgeous, smart young women During my time with them, I’ve seen Costanza Diaz
having a great time and looking amazing.” nothing but positive energy. Three hours into della Vittoria
“And waltzing,” laughs Ananya, 19, the daughter of their first hair and make-up session, a group Pallavicini,
Bollywood actor Chunky Panday. “I’m actually slightly chat is created on Whatsapp to exchange Alice Ho and
Jeanne Malle
worried about dancing with my dad because I know he’ll put tips, info on where the next shoot is, and pose with Le
his own twist to it, but I loved taking dance lessons. It also group selfies. The sentence I hear most often Bal’s custom
helped with my career,” she adds, referring to her leading role as I pass the debs in the hallways is, “I can’t Renault
in an upcoming film. wait to see us all together in our dresses”.
For most of the young women I talk to, Le Bal is also an There’s incessant chatter about which
opportunity to engage with serious issues afflicting the world’s university everyone is applying to, and words of advice from
less privileged. The ball raises funds for two charities— those already there. “It’s empowering, this,” says Alice. “A
the New York-based Seleni Institute, which supports the special way to celebrate womanhood. And a unique bonding
reproductive and mental health of teen mothers, and Enfants experience, too. We girls need more of this, whether in ball
d’Asie, which promotes education for girls in Southeast Asia. form or not.”
“The charity element of Le Bal was the main draw for me,” Their big night finally arrives and the young women are
says Helena Alesi, the daughter of former French Formula radiant in their gowns, accompanied by their cavaliers, as they
One driver Jean Alesi and Japanese actress Kumiko Goto. “As are announced to a room full of flashing cameras. With cooing
young women—as wealthy, lucky, advantaged women—we parents and society figures from around the world, they enjoy
have to get involved with the many, many things that are a lavish four-course dinner during which their comradeship is
wrong with our world today. It’s our duty.” ever more palpable. It grows even stronger as the party moves
“It’s an opportunity to make a difference,” agrees 18-year- to the Peninsula’s Etoile Ballroom, where fathers and cavaliers
old Laila Blavatnik, the daughter of billionaire British- lead the debutantes into their first waltzes. Much later in the
American businessman Len Blavatnik, the owner of Warner night, with couture off and regular clothes back on, and with
Music Group. “The fact that all the fun and gloss stand for parents tucked up back in their rooms, they sing in unison at
something makes the event inspirational.” the nightclub Arc until hoarse.
“All the debs I select reflect a certain profile,” says “This is just a great weekend,” says Alice. “A really
Renouard. “They share strong values. They are very concerned wonderful weekend.”

PERFECT PAIR
Martina Hingis wears a
blouse by Dior, a skirt by
Michael Kors and a ring
and earrings, all by Cindy
Chao The Art Jewel.
Latisha Chan wears
her own dress and a
necklace by Cindy Chao
The Art Jewel
DOUBLE
ACT
They have had a wildly successful year as doubles partners,
including winning the US Open, but Martina Hingis
is retiring and Latisha Chan is looking for a new partner.
The dynamic duo talk to Tracy Huang about friendship,
building relationships and the future
Words OLIVER GILES Photography PINHE WEI
I
t should have been a long, drawn-out won her first Grand Slam title at the age
battle. Legendary Swiss tennis player of 15, is now 37 and about to retire. With
Martina Hingis and her doubles partner, 25 major titles under her belt and cabinets
Taiwanese star Latisha Chan, were up bursting with trophies, she has decided to call
against Czech duo Katerina Siniakova and it a day. “I think it’s perfect timing [to retire],”
Lucie Hradecka in the final of the US Open in she announced during the WTA Finals
September last year. Both pairs had performed Singapore last October. “You know, you want
consistently well all season and were desperate to stop on top.”
to win the prestigious title. And Hingis knows what it feels like to be
But Hingis and Chan made it look easy. on top. She has won more than 500 matches
They won the first set 6-3, then triumphed as a singles player, taken home a silver medal
6-2 in the second. It was all over in an hour from the Rio Olympics, and been inducted
and five minutes. into the World Tennis Association Hall of
That was only one of the duo’s victories in Fame. Over the course of her career, she has
2017. They have won nine tournaments since defeated Serena Williams, Maria Sharapova,
the season began, including the China Open Martina Navratilova (after whom she
and the Mutua Madrid Open. It has been an was named) and plenty of other leading
astonishing run for the pair, who only began professional players.
playing together in February. “We quickly Before Hingis puts her racquet away
found we had very good chemistry,” Chan for good, we meet her and Chan in Taiwan
explains. “We’ve spent a lot of time together to discuss her plans and find out how
both on and off court.” Chan intends to continue the winning
But just as suddenly as their partnership streak she enjoyed with her retiring
began, it is coming to an end. Hingis, who doubles partner.

MARTINA HINGIS
When did you decide you would retire school. The hour with my mum was hard
after this season? because it was a lot of drills and discipline,
This whole year I’ve been saying to Latisha, but for three to four hours I played a lot of
“This probably will be my last year [playing doubles with other kids. It was mostly half-
professionally].” I went into the season court matches—that’s why today I’m such a
knowing it would be the last time I’m going to good doubles player, because I played a lot of
play professionally. doubles against amateurs. It’s not like the six
hours of drilling that you see at the academies
You have retired twice before. Is it for today. My mum never did that; she knew I
real this time? wouldn’t play like that. I wanted to play with
Right now I’m retiring and that’s my plan the kids. I had good friends who were older
[laughs]. But tennis will always stay part of and better than me. We played girls against
me. As a past Wimbledon champion, I get the boys—I was fighting for my spot to play
tickets and I may go in the future to just and if a spot opened up I was happy to jump
watch tennis and play the Legends Circuit. on the court. There were five tennis courts
I’ve already been invited to Saint Petersburg and 40 kids. You had to fight for your place.
by my great friend Iva Majoli in February,
and in April we have the Swiss WTA women’s
tennis tournament in Lugano. I’m the
ambassador, so I’ll be there for the week. My
mum has a tennis school, so I can join her
for a bit and play with the children. I have
my horses—I have plenty of things to do. I
definitely won’t be sitting on the couch just
doing nothing.
You started in tennis at the age of 12.

How do you feel when you look back on
your career?
I’m very proud, obviously, to have reached
where I’ve reached. I was the youngest world’s
number one and stayed there for four years.
That was the same time that the Williams
sisters were playing, and we played each
other at least 25 times. It was a great time and
we pushed each other to get better and to
play those great matches. I’m happy with the MARTINA HINGIS’
way things went and I don’t think I would do
anything differently. I don’t want to be CAREER IN NUMBERS
12 again, though; I’m happy with where and
Age: 37
who I am. I think this is a great time of my
Consecutive weeks ranked world singles
life, whether professionally or privately. number one: 209
Doubles partners: 40
How much of your success comes Singles titles: 43
from natural talent and how much Grand Slam singles titles: 5
from hard work? Doubles titles: 64
I do think it’s mostly hard work. I played five Grand Slam doubles titles: 13
to six hours per day as a kid. My mum was Grand Slam mixed doubles titles: 7
a professional tennis player and has a tennis

LIVING LEGEND
Martina Hingis wears
her own dress,
and bracelets and
earrings, all by Cindy
Chao The Art Jewel

RISING STAR
Latisha Chan wears her
own dress and shoes, and
a ring and earrings, all by
Cindy Chao The Art Jewel

LATISHA CHAN
How did it feel when you won the US Open last year?
It was my first Grand Slam victory. What surprises me is that although I have
reached the Grand Slam finals several times in the past, I have never won.
I was actually very relaxed in this year’s final, and I enjoyed the match very
much. I was surprised that I could ever enjoy myself in the final of such a
big tournament.
Are you disappointed that Martina Hingis is retiring?

I just feel honoured and blessed to have been her partner. She’s been my idol
since I was little. A few years ago, when I was still playing doubles with my
sister, Angel, we had matches with Martina. When the announcement was
made that I’d be her partner, I tried very hard to be professional. But after two
days, it suddenly hit me, I thought, “OMG, it’s Martina Hingis! I’m teaming up
with my idol. I better get myself together and always give the best I can.”
“I just feel so honoured and blessed to have

been Martina Hingis’ partner. She’s been my
idol since I was little”
Who will be your next partner?

We have several names on the list, but it’s not been decided yet. When
choosing a partner, I consider them both tactically and physically. It’s also
important to think: when facing the critical moment in a match, how would
this person react? Would we be on the same page? If two players are equally
talented but one insists on her way of playing, that would lead to a bad
performance. I want to have consistency and communication, which is key for
success in doubles matches.
How do you build a relationship with a doubles partner?

It’s hard. When you want to get to know someone you need to spend time with
them, but it’s important to understand that some people need some space. In
HAIR: JINGWO/EROS HAIR STYLING; MAKE-UP: HANYA HAN; IMAGES: AFP PHOTO
Martina’s case, she texts me all the time, asking me where I am, if we should
have dinner together and what I’m up to after training. After training, we
usually eat dinner together and chat until 9 o’clock. Even after we part, we’ll
often keep texting. She’s like a good friend, and having a good friend as your
partner is an extra bonus.
POWER SISTERS
Before she partnered with
Martina Hingis, Latisha Chan
played doubles with her younger
sister, Angel. At the 2014 Aegon
International tennis tournament in
Eastbourne, England, the Chan
sisters defeated Hingis and her
doubles partner at the time, Flavia
Pennetta, to clinch the title. That
was one of more than 20 titles
that the sisters have won together,
and they plan to reunite for the
Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

LIFE Wine, food, culture and travel
116 122 134 138 142

WINE TRAVEL CARS SHOWJUMPING YACHTS
Dom Pérignon Bulgari Resort Dubai Does the audacious Ten showjumpers The Kata Rocks
P2 2000 dinner is the perfect island styling of the Lexus to watch on the Superyacht
in Beijing with retreat for sun, sea LC 500 coupe reflect international Rendezvous
Alain Ducasse and city a bold driving experience? equestrian circuit in Phuket
STATE OF THE ART Heading to
Art Basel Hong Kong in March? We highlight
10 creative talents not to be missed at the
three-day fair, and they include Taiwan’s
Wu Chi-Tsung, who will showcase his
bewitching Cyano-Collage series, p.130
IMAGE: WU CHI-TSUNG/SUTTON PR
Bubbly om pérignon’s vintage-only champagne
has earned unquestionable prestige and
iconic status for its ability to evolve while
by Nature “resting on the lees”—this lets the champagne

develop better textures and flavours, so the
next batch of the same vintage is even more intense. These
privileged points in time have been dubbed “plenitudes”,
A Dom Pérignon P2 2000 dinner and in the case of its P2 2000—the second plenitude of its
in Beijing with Alain Ducasse affirms vintage 2000—can take as long as 16 years to show.
It is certainly a deeper, more complex articulation of the
what Don Mendoza has always enjoyed vintage 2000, which was released in 2008. From what I can
most about the notable champagne recall, this more matured showing is achieved without any

WINE | LIFE
loss of freshness and the ripe fruit flavours third dimension.” Ducasse upholds that while
the vintage first displayed. The champagne’s each dish flaunts its own qualities, each also
signature creamy mouthfeel is also more expresses different facets of the wine, and its
pronounced, as are the aromatics. unique universality.
That said, some of a great champagne’s It is all about harmony, Geoffroy declares,
finer moments are often the result of clever which he expounds is also about the wine’s
pairings—that could refer to the company, ability to adjust to the situation. “Many wines
but more often than not, it is food. Imagine are in the power game and I’m not critical at
my excitement when a recent opportunity all—I respect that,” he shares. “I’m only saying
to savour its P2 2000 at Beijing’s Chao Hotel that Dom Pérignon is about harmony—and
was presented as part of a collaboration with that’s more intense than power. Power is rigid
culinary genius Alain Ducasse, and hosted and rigid breaks; Dom Pérignon’s harmony
by Dom Pérignon’s chef de cave, the affable is flexible and adaptable.” It is a remarkable
Richard Geoffroy. feat since only two varietals—pinot noir and
The experience began with a “private” first chardonnay—were used.
taste of the P2 2000 at the hotel’s Art Center, Clearly, Ducasse, Geoffroy and Dom
where each guest was allotted a pedestal on Pérignon champagne share a delectably
which stood a bottle of the wine and a glass. fruitful relationship. “We’re unique together;
The lights were dimmed, the ambient music we have a lot a fun together,” Ducasse asserts.
poignant but not morose, and for the first five It is also a perspective Geoffroy upholds.
minutes, the moment was intimate. “Alain’s asset is his agility. If there’s playfulness
In contrast, the dinner on the third floor at in the making, there’s a good chance there’s
the Glasshouse that followed proffered a more playfulness in sampling the experience,” he
playful homage to seasonal and local produce, says about their complementary relationship.
flaunting a more collective appeal. “It’s Geoffroy mentions that the wine he is
always a different experience,” says Ducasse, working on now will only be released in
explaining how proper sourcing and respect around 10 years, and the second plenitude,
for the wine’s unique qualities are key. 15 to 20 years after that. Hence, he reminds
“The P2 2000 is the second expression us that ripeness is key to a good vintage. In
of the vintage. It represents a privileged fact, the extreme ripeness of the vintage 2003
moment, when the wine reaches its peak harvest, which he describes as “insane and out
intensity, energy and vibrancy—intensity and of balance”, was too much for many but not
precision make the wine so penetrating,” Dom Pérignon, which saw opportunity in the
says Geoffroy. challenge and eventually declared it a vintage
Ducasse adds, “We remain faithful to our year. “It was the mother of all hot vintages,”
ethos, but at the same time, faithful to what he exclaims. “We coped and we played around
Richard has put into this champagne—its to redefine harmony.”
elegance and harmony.” Geoffroy affirms: This is perhaps one of the great CLASSIC UPDATE
“Working with local ingredients is also a examples of the mastery Geoffroy feels is Alain Ducasse’s (opposite) dish
of sea scallops with lettuce and
constraint. And I like this.” required to make Dom Pérignon champagne. tartufi di Alba matches beautifully
Science, he eloquently puts, is crucial “but with the Dom Pérignon P2
BEAUTIFUL RESILIENCE not enough”. 2000 vintage
Casting local ingredients in leading roles is a
risk for any visiting chef. But the well-paired
dishes speak to Ducasse’s ability to adapt. The
sea scallops, for example, are not from Japan
or France, but China. They are meatier but
less of an umami bomb. “They are definitely
different from the ones we usually cook with,
but they appeal to us,” Ducasse says about his
recent discovery of the local giants, served
over what appeared to be a version of his
classic lettuce cream with freshly shaved Alba
IMAGES: DOM PÉRIGNON
white truffle.
The P2 2000 also boasts uniquely
adaptable qualities. “There’s one expression
of the wine but there are so many facets that
food can address,” Geoffroy shares. “The
dinner revolves around the wine and offers
as many perspectives as possible—to give a
TATLER FOCUS | LONG BEACH SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
From Strength
to Strength LO HEI! Make wishes
come true with Long Beach
Seafood Restaurant’s
mouth-watering yusheng
Long Beach Seafood Restaurant opens a new (below); the must-try classic
restaurant on Stevens Road just in time white pepper live Alaskan king
crab with succulent flesh and
for your Chinese New Year celebrations a unique spice blend (bottom)
W
ell-loved
restaurant
Long Beach
Seafood
Restaurant has served up
Chinese classics since the
1980s. Its famous black
pepper crab alone has won
accolades both local and
international, including praise
from The New York Times
and Courvoisier’s Book of
the Best. To celebrate the
launch of its fifth restaurant in
Singapore, here are five things
you should know about the
famous foodie haunt.
1 If you think Long Beach

is proud of its famous black
pepper crab, it deserves to makes for a refreshing end
be: the recipe was created to the meal, or for something
by a chef from Long Beach’s uniquely Singaporean, plump
very own kitchen in the 1980s, for the premier mao shan
making the restaurant the durian pudding.
original creator of the dish.
4 Long Beach recently opened
2 While you can’t miss out a new branch in Stevens Road,
on the aforementioned famous conveniently located at
black pepper crab, other Mercure Singapore on Stevens,
dishes that tantalise the taste making it a prime location for all
buds include sashimi (choose your reunion dinners, and family
between geoduck or Australian or company celebrations.
lobster) with superior stock
steamboat, the sweet and 5 What would a Chinese
crunchy golden strip live lobster, New Year celebration be
and steamed live Scottish royal without yusheng? As part
razor clam with minced garlic of its opening celebrations,
and vermicelli. Long Beach will be giving away LONG BEACH SEAFOOD RESTAURANT
a complimentary prosperity • Dempsey (25 Dempsey Road), tel: 6323 2222
3 It is not just seafood that round lacquer platter (while • IMM (03-07 Jurong East Street 21), tel: 6566 9933
Long Beach has mastered— stocks last) with every order of • UDMC (01-04 East Coast Seafood Centre), tel: 6448 3636
• King (220 Stadium Boulevard, next to Kallang Park KFC
its desserts, too, deserve a its special Chinese New Year or McDonald’s along Mountbatten Road), tel: 6344 7722
special mention. The classic or Reunion set menu during the • Stevens (01-10, 30 Stevens Road) tel: 6445 8833
mango sago with coconut jelly festive period. Q longbeachseafood.com.sg
LIFE | WINE
Top 10 1 TRINITY HILL SYRAH HAWKES

BAY HOMAGE 2015
A superb wine. Possibly the
greatest expression of syrah that New
New Zealand Zealand has produced. The level of

complexity and concentration, the
layering of flavours and textures, the
Wines of 2017 length of tannins—there is so much to

admire. Fruits are in the raspberry, red
plum and blackberry spectrum, doused
in pepper and every imaginable woody
spice. Hints of chocolate, too. A thrilling
It was oceans of sauvignon blanc and vibrant syrah. 99 points
that first put New Zealand on the
world wine map. But after tasting
more than 500 wines on a week-
long trip to the island nation,
James Suckling and his team found
great depth across a wide range
2 FELTON ROAD PINOT NOIR
CENTRAL OTAGO BLOCK 5 2016
A powerhouse with grand cru-like
poise, this edition has plenty of charm.
Aromas of red cherry, nori, forest wood and
herbs, as well as a stony edge. The palate
of styles, marking a significant has a smooth surface layer of fine, plush
diversification of interest for tannins across a deeper inner core, and a
collectors and drinkers. long serve of fresh, ripe red berry and cherry
fruit. A magnificent, long and precise finish.
Here are the 10 wines they A seamless wine. Drink now and for some
judged the best of 2017 years to come. Screw cap. 98 points
4 RIPPON PINOT NOIR

CENTRAL OTAGO
3 BELL HILL PINOT NOIR TINKER’S FIELD 2014

WAIKARI 2014 A spicier, more fragrant and more
The sense of majesty is irresistible. graphite-infused pinot noir that
A wealth of beautifully interwoven ripe has impressive deep dark cherry
red cherry, redcurrant, blueberry and red and plum that sit in a very pure,
plum is dressed in cooler herbal accents fresh and powerful stance. The
and framed in spicy, well-chosen oak. tannins are commanding—they
The palate has almost unending length clutch long and hold firm. The
delivered in an elegant, flawless run of fine dark cherry and plum flavours are
tannins. The purity of fruit shines through. striking—so long, fresh and pure.
Brilliant wine. Drink now and for some This is profound pinot noir.
years to come. Screw cap. 98 points 98 points

6 FROMM WINERY PINOT
NOIR MARLBOROUGH
CLAYVIN VINEYARD 2015
5 ATA RANGI PINOT NOIR

MARTINBOROUGH 2016
This has all the cherry, spice and perfume that
define a consistently stunning pinot noir, as well as a
sense of immense freshness. The palate has deceptive
The darker hue heralds pristine ripe
purple cherry, raspberry and mulberry
sitting in an attractive pose with gentle
oak spices. The palate has superb
depth and detail. A super wine that
lightness and tannins that are supple and caressing, marries power with elegance. A low-
and that kick fresh and expansive out through the pH vintage. This is a New Zealand
finish. Succulent and elegant. A great vintage for this benchmark. Drink from 2020 to 2030.
wine. Drink now. Screw cap. 97 points
98 points
7 BILANCIA
SYRAH HAWKES
BAY LA
8 BELL HILL
CHARDONNAY
CANTERBURY
BELL HILL 2014
This has cleverly played
COLLINA 2015
winemaking influence
Slick and polished with
and oak cask against
superb fresh fruit in the
concentrated lemon-
blackberry and red plum
grapefruit citrus as well
spectrum dusted with
as yellow nectarine and
peppery aromas and a
flinty, stony notes. The
spicy mocha-scented
palate has plenty of
oak. Hints of graphite-
power and depth, with
like dark stone. The
intense pithy citrus fruit,
palate runs a deep line
lemon curd flavours and
of flavours, and tannins
some warmer toasty oak
draw long with a sense
built into the long finish.
of purpose and depth.
Drink now. Screw cap.
9
Succulent, lithe and juicy ESCARPMENT
97 points
finish. Best from 2021 PINOT NOIR
and for years after that. MARTINBOROUGH
Screw cap. 97 points TE REHUA 2015
A dark and brooding pinot
noir with big, swarthy tannins.
Dark cherry and dark violet-
like florals, toasted spices and
dark herbal notes, too. The
palate has a smooth shell-like
outer, opening to powerful,
succulent tannins that really
command. A concentrated
Te Rehua, this is one of the
best to date. Drink from 2020.
Screw cap. 97 points
10 PYRAMID VALLEY PINOT NOIR

CANTERBURY ANGEL FLOWER
2015
Spectacular. Entrancing fragrance and
weightlessness but it delivers purpose and
power. With vibrant red cherry, it smells fresh
and mouthwatering, with hints of rosehip
and pomegranate, underlying spices and
background foresty notes of wood and earth.
It delivers a smooth-wrapped ball of red cherry
flavour into the middle of the palate and unfolds
in all directions. Expansive, velvety and supple, To see more of the top 2017 wines from
it opens like a flower. Drink now. 97 points New Zealand, visit jamessuckling.com

LIFE | TRAVEL
La Dolce Vita
Tucked in the heart of the city, but with a Mediterranean
village charm, the new Bulgari Resort Dubai makes
the perfect island retreat for Hashirin Nurin Hashimi,
who seeks the sun, the sea and the city
am a city girl; i love the vibe of Italian architectural firm behind all the
a bustling metropolis, and how its Bulgari hotels and resorts to date, the building
art and architecture evolve with is exquisitely layered, bathed in golden lights
modernity. But that doesn’t mean I that reflect on its coral-inspired brise-soleil,
don’t fancy a weekend on the beach. juxtaposed against the arabescarto marble
That is why a destination such as the Bulgari exteriors. Architect Antonio Citterio said,
Resort Dubai, which combines the sun, the “The juxtaposition of white marble and coral
sea and the city appeals to me. We were is charming. It’s an unusual combination and
privileged to be among the first to discover contrast. I think this would be one of the
this urban oasis last December. iconic images of the resort.”
A stone’s throw from Downtown Dubai, With the Arabian Gulf on one side and
connected via a 300m bridge, the fifth and the Dubai skyline on the other, the resort
newest property of Bulgari Hotels & Resorts is anchored by 101 rooms and suites split
is set on a man-made seahorse-shaped island into four floors across two wings. There
on Jumeira Bay. “Every project starts with an are 20 villas along a stretch of white sandy
amazing location, which is like a rough stone beach, each with a private pool and a personal
that you cut, polish and craft into a beautiful butler. The top of the line Bulgari Villa also
jewel,” said group executive vice president, has a private entrance, so you can skip the
Silvio Ursini. Like its high jewellery creations, lobby, which coincidentally is one of my
these locations are exclusive, as evidenced favourite spots for its modern Italian design.
by Bulgari’s portfolio: Milan, which opened It is anchored by the arresting 1963 image of
in 2004, Bali in 2006, London in 2012, and Italian star Monica Vitti, wearing the Bulgari
Beijing last September. Ursini explained, Seven Wonders necklace (named for its seven
“When I look at a site, I think about the size, Colombian emeralds), which immediately
the views, the sunrise and sunset—physical draws you into the space. This provides a
attributes that make it special. Then there warm “welcome home” when you arrive
are ‘irrational considerations’ or what we call back after a city sojourn at the gold and spice
genius loci. It’s a feeling.”
Dubai is a city of skyscrapers, where
everything is bigger, taller and glitzier
(this was immediately apparent during the
20min drive from the airport to the resort),
capped by the world’s tallest building, the DUAL CHARM The facade
Burj Khalifa. So how would the resort’s of the Bulgari Resort Dubai is
“understated low-rise architecture”, characterised by arabescarto
marble, and coral-inspired
as Ursini calls it, stand tall against the sun breakers (right) that
spectacular skyline? The answer was staring provide shading from the hot
back at us when we arrived. Designed by Middle Eastern climate
Antonio Citterio Patricia Viel, the renowned

IMAGES: BVLGARI RESORT DUBAI

TRAVEL | LIFE
souks; the nearby Alserkal Art District; or a

sunset cruise.
ALL ROADS LEAD TO ROME

The architects took the bold and
contemporary Italian style typical of the
jeweller, and fused it with local sensibilities.
You see the use of Italian marbles such as
breccia medicea in the lobby; trevi travertine
in the guestrooms; complemented by green
onyx from Iran in the Bulgari Spa. Designer
Italian brands such as Maxalto, Flos, Flexform
and B&B bring a touch of home, along with
Enzo degli Angiuoni cashmere blankets and
wild-wool Beni Ourain rugs from Morocco.
There are Bulgari design codes, with subtle
references to Roman heritage, such as the
Maglia Pantheon mesh screens in the lobby;
the signature eight-pronged star at the lobby
entrance; and the green and real gold mosaic
of the spa’s vitality pool that recall Rome’s
Caracalla baths, which inspired Bulgari’s Il Café for Italian favourites and Arabian CITY ESCAPE Bulgari Resort
Divas’ Dream collection. Then there are the mezze; La Spiaggia on the beach for light Dubai is an urban oasis in the
heart of the city; Opposite,
archival drawings, snapshots of celebrities in meals; and the Yacht Club Restaurant for a clockwise from top: the stunning
the Dolce Vita era, and vintage advertising seafood-focused Italian menu; along with six image of Monica Vitti in the
within the rooms and the hallways. “It’s independent restaurants to open this year lobby is matched only by the
all about evoking the magic of Bulgari,” along the marina promenade. Among its striking book-matched breccia
said Ursini. many highlights, what made our stay truly medicea marble on the wall; the
living room in the Bulgari Villa;
The resort is joined by six residential memorable was the impeccable hospitality, each villa features a private pool;
buildings of 173 sea-facing apartments and especially the breakfast crew at Il Café with the green and real gold mosaic
15 private mansions, as well as Bulgari’s first- the simplest things such as remembering my of the Bulgari spa’s vitality pool
ever Marina and Yacht Club with 50 berths, preference for juice instead of coffee, or my
recreating the seaside feel of a Mediterranean favourite breads.
village. “We want the resort to not only Next stop for Bulgari Hotels & Resorts:
be a place for travellers, but also the local Shanghai in March and Moscow in 2020;
community to come and enjoy the spa and while Rome, Paris, New York, Beverly Hills
the restaurants, where people dress up for the and Tokyo are on the cards. Just like us,
evening to see and be seen,” enthused Ursini. architect Patricia Viel is looking forward to
Both Italian and Emirati conviviality a Roman property. Her vision: “It should be
is cultivated at the dining table, and the in an existing 1930s building overlooking the
options here include Il Ristorante by three river—because Rome was probably the most
Michelin-starred chef Niko Romito who modern city in Europe then.” We like the
blends modern with classical Italian flavours; sound of it already.
EAT LIKE AN ITALIAN

Pizza and pasta may be common a focus on simplicity, technique, Romito brings guests on
Italian fare, but chef Niko Romito as well as humble ingredients. a gastronomic journey of Italy
of three Michelin-starred Reale “For me, simplicity is the with “recodified” versions of
restaurant in Abruzzo, Italy will arrival point. Behind that is an dishes such as tagliatelle with
have you know that it is more extremely complex preparation ragu; veal Milanese; broken
diverse than that. The self-taught and research. For example, pasta with octopus and potato;
chef hopes to “bring true, bread is made from water, flour preserved tuna; and tiramisu.
authentic Italian cuisine to the and yeast, but to bake good “Everything is focused on the
world”, starting first at the three bread, you need experience taste, and for me, the concept
new Bulgari Hotels & Resorts in and years of research into the of the aesthetic is in the
Beijing, Shanghai and Dubai with cooking processes,” he explains. ingredient itself.”

LIFE | TRAVEL
Age of Rediscovery
Once the centre of an empire, Lisbon has more recently
endured seriously hard times. But it is now enjoying
a well-deserved renaissance fuelled by the creativity
and self-reliance forged by those hard times,
writes Madeleine Ross
he pastel streetscapes of lisbon Age of Discovery were followed by the catastrophic
are perpetually bathed in a soft, diffused devastation of an earthquake in 1755. More recently,
light reflected off white cobblestones a repressive fascist regime arose in the 20th century
polished by hundreds of years of traffic. and fought an unsuccessful 13-year war to hold onto
Fresh seafood is the staple of every menu, African colonies before democracy was restored in
handsome beaches are on the city’s doorstep, and the 1974. Then a flowering of the city triggered by its
VIBRANT
CITY Clockwise historic Bairro Alto district buzzes with some of the hosting of the World Expo in 1998 was cut short by a
from top left: a best nightlife in Europe. But for all its blessings, the crippling recession that lasted from 2000 to 2014.
squid and crab Portuguese capital has only just become fashionable. But there was a silver lining. The dive in
dish at Loco “Until very recently, Lisbon looked like it had been property prices and rents drew artists and
Restaurante; bombed,” says Bruno Gomes, founder of the ironically young entrepreneurs from around Europe. And
pastel-coloured
houses line a named We Hate Tourism, which runs tours of the the hard times, Gomes says, forced locals to
narrow lane; city’s hidden corners. “When I was growing up, I saw become resourceful, generating a kind of creative
azulejo tiles; Lisbon as an elegant older lady who would have been renaissance. “It was a really, really rough period, but
street art in very pretty when she was young. Lisbon 20 years ago for me it was amazing because we became conscious
Lisbon; the was an empty city. Buildings were falling apart and that there was no one to help us, no one was going
underside of the
Rua Augusta young families were moving to the suburbs.” Sculptor to look after us, no one was going to give us a job,
Arch; the Fernanda Fragateiro remembers the waterfront so what we really needed to do was create. In many
statue of King district of Baixa as “very quiet, full of empty spaces ways, this was the best time because we started to do
José I on Praça and abandoned buildings”, when she moved into a what we really wanted.”
do Comércio. studio there in 1999. “Sometimes it was scary to walk Property prices are now beginning to soar as
Opposite page:
Alfama, one alone at night.” the glam crowd descends on the city. Madonna
of the oldest The city’s fortunes have ebbed and flowed over bought a ¤7m home here last September, and the
districts of Lisbon the centuries. The heights of colonial wealth of the number of foreign tourists visiting Portugal soared

This former industrial complex is the place for
start-ups, freelance photographers, designers and
artists. Gomes will often go there to eat at Cantina, a
refurbished 1800s workers canteen, which serves one
of the city’s best incarnations of octopus à lagareiro—
octopus that is boiled and then baked in olive oil with
potatoes in a traditional wood-fired oven.
Just a few years ago, Lisbon’s culinary landscape
IMAGES: BRUNO LOPES, FUNDAÇÃO EDP (ANA JOTTA AND BILL FONTANA); FERNANDO GUERRA, EDP FOUNDATION (MAAT)
was dominated by rustic, family-run restaurants
serving farmers’ portions of bacalhau, grilled
sardines and boiled vegetables. No longer. “Cooking
in Lisbon right now is hot, it’s really novel,” says
TASTE OF 13 per cent—the sixth straight record year for chef Henrique Sá Pessoa, who trained in the US
LISBON tourist arrivals. Tourism has been instrumental in before returning to Lisbon in 2002. “The cooking
From left: bolstering the fragile economy. “Sometimes we revolution in terms of haute cuisine is very recent.
the Museum of
Art, Architecture talk about the gentrification and touristification It’s really only happened in the last five years.”
and Technology; of Lisbon, and without a doubt there are negative At Alma, his Michelin-starred restaurant in the
Portuguese aspects to this, but I’d say tourism has brought a fashionable Chiado district, he serves contemporary
tarts at Pastéis lot of good things because we have a city that’s Portuguese food that incorporates flavours and
de Belém being renovated and renewed,” says Gomes. techniques he has picked up from travelling the
“My grandfather is 90 years old and when I take world. His signature dish is suckling pork belly,
him out now, he says he’s never seen it as pretty as cooked for 24 hours at 64°C, then roasted until the
it is today.” skin crackles, and served with sweet potato puree,
Headlining Lisbon’s creative renaissance is the bok choy and orange sauce.
Museum of Art, Architecture and Technology “One of the things everyone needs to know when
(MAAT). The sweeping, organic structure was they come to Lisbon is that our seafood is amazing,”
devised to revitalise the historic Belém riverfront says Sá Pessoa. And one of the best places to find
and serve as a platform of encounter between it is the Time Out market in trendy Cais do Sodré.
the local and international art scenes. Director Expect to fight for a seat as it is extremely popular,
Pedro Gadanho, previously curator at New York’s but the excellent wine and wide range of cuisines
Museum of Modern Art, says its impact has been from the city’s best chefs make it well worth a visit.
extraordinary. “Our first year was beyond my best Don’t leave Lisbon without taking in the gardens,
expectations. We had half a million visitors, which is library and impressive collection of ancient and
quite amazing when you consider that the city itself modern art at the Calouste Gulbenkian Museum,
is 700,000 people. I think it’s part of this excitement centuries of tile work at the National Azulejo
that’s happening with many foreigners discovering or Museum, and the splendour of the Palace of the
rediscovering Lisbon. Marquesses of Fronteira. But perhaps the most
Creativity is firing at a grassroots level too. memorable aspect is walking the streets of the
LX Factory in Alcântara is a hub of hipster eateries, city centre. Set out early to avoid the heat and
bookshops, fashion boutiques, theatre and music. crowds. Visit the skeletal Carmo Convent, a

TRAVEL | LIFE
medieval relic, on your way down to the majestic

Praça do Comércio. Climb the Rua Augusta Arch
for breathtaking views of the city, before snaking
your way up the maze-like streets of Alfama to the
Moorish battlements of São Jorge Castle. Have a
coffee and do some shopping in the upscale Príncipe
Real and head in the evening to the picturesque
neighbourhood of Bica, known for its small bars
and funicular, or neighbouring Bairro Alto for some
Fado, traditional Portuguese singing.
For a serious night out, brace yourself for
the renowned waterfront nightclub Lux Frágil,
co-owned by actor John Malkovich. “I think Lisbon
has one of the greatest night scenes in Europe,” says
Sá Pessoa. “The nights can be long. Now that I’m in
my forties, 3am is my limit, but the night can easily
go until midday the next day.”
If you are contemplating a trip to Lisbon, go now,
because it hasn’t yet become a museum. “What
happened to Barcelona in the 1990s is happening in
Lisbon now. We must be careful that our city doesn’t
lose its character and identity,” says Sá Pessoa. Gomes
feels the same. “We’re already becoming a bit of a
projection of ourselves. We’re beginning to see the
commodification of culture.” He is trying to change
the way visitors consume culture, encouraging
genuine engagement with, and sensitivity towards,
the local population. “I really believe we have that
responsibility. We can’t just travel looking for trophies
the way we have been doing in the past. I think we
should really travel to become better people.”
ARTISTIC
ROUTE
Clockwise WHERE TO EAT
from top left: a Lisbon’s Finest
street performer
in Alcântara; BELCANTO
open day at Portuguese haute cuisine at its best. With two Michelin
LX Factory; stars, it is presided over by the city’s most fabled chef,
an installation José Avillez, and has only 10 tables, so be sure to make
by artist Bill a booking well in advance.
Fontana at the
Museum of Art,
BAIRRO DO AVILLEZ
Architecture and
Technology; Beautifully cooked meat and seafood in generous
Bonus, an portions ideal for sharing. The decor is rustic but
installation elegant, and the atmosphere is relaxed. Request a table
by artist Ana in the Taberna section of the restaurant, which boasts a
Jotta, also at spectacular indoor garden.
the MAAT
MANTEIGARIA
This hole in the wall in Bairro Alto makes only one
product, so it’s no surprise that its Portuguese tarts
are the best in the city. Expect crisp, warm treats with
perfect custard fillings, thanks to the use of whole
eggs, butter instead of margarine, the absense of
preservatives and painstaking hand-working of the
pastry dough.

LIFE | ART
1O ARTISTS TO LOOK
OUT FOR AT ART BASEL
Asia’s biggest and arguably most important art fair opens
next month, drawing curators, collectors and critics from around
the globe. Oliver Giles brushes up on 10 creative talents
to seek out at Art Basel in Hong Kong
1. NICOLAS PARTY 3. TAKEO HANAZAWA

XAVIER HUFKENS GALLERY SIDE 2, TOKYO
When making his brightly-coloured Japanese painter Takeo Hanazawa is obsessed
portraits and still-life paintings, Swiss artist with mixing East and West, old and new,
Nicolas Party mines art history for high art and pop culture. His painting
inspiration—and it shows. You can see the Nirvana (Street Dreams) on view at the
influence of Botero in his fleshy, round- Gallery Side 2 booth, is a perfect example of
IMAGE: NICOLAS PARTY, THREE SEASONS, COURTESY OF XAVIER HUFKENS, BRUSSELS. PHOTO: ALLARD BOVENBERG
faced subjects, the impact of Cézanne on his varied interests. It features the Japanese
his stripped-back still lifes and the mark cartoon character Totoro, aliens from the
of David Hockney in his continued use of Disney film Toy Story, and a Picasso-esque
vivid, fresh-from-the-bottle colours. Like the painting of a bull all on one canvas. His
artists of yore who inspire him, Party seems playful approach to art has won Hanazawa
destined for great things. He’s not yet 40 but some powerful fans; in 2014, fashion label
has already had a major solo exhibition at the Alexander McQueen commissioned him
esteemed Hirshhorn Museum and Sculpture to make a site-specific installation for its
Garden in Washington DC. boutique in Tokyo.
2. WANG YIN 4. JOSH KLINE

VITAMIN CREATIVE SPACE, BEIJING 47 CANAL, NEW YORK
While many contemporary Chinese artists Josh Kline is worried about the state of
have earned international acclaim by making humanity and uses his art to air his fears.
boundary-breaking digital art, Wang Yin has One of his installations, Skittles (2014), was
remained faithful to the traditional medium a fridge filled with brightly coloured, healthy
of oil paint. Each of his paintings provides looking juices of the sort you would find in
a snapshot of life in contemporary China, trendy health food shops around the world.
giving viewers a glimpse into both bucolic But when you read through the ingredients,
countryside and bustling cities. In one recent it became clear that all was not as it seemed.
painting, Wang illustrates farmers tilling the One juice contained “kombucha, agave,
soil beneath a picture-perfect sky; in another quinoa, credit card, American Apparel”,
work from the same period, a faceless man another “banana, Red Bull, infused vodka,
sits cramped in a windowless, four-bed berth self-tanner and Axe body wash”. While
on a train. Look closely at his paintings in this installation was an acerbic comment
the Vitamin Creative Space booth and you on consumerism, Kline’s other works have
might see the influence of Wang’s idol, Paul tackled issues such as the surveillance state
Cézanne, in the elegant, long-limbed figures. and how technology will take our jobs.

LIFE | ART
5. WU CHI-TSUNG
GALERIE DU MONDE, HONG KONG
Taiwanese artist Wu Chi-Tsung is a rising star on

the international scene and a favourite of luxury
brands, having previously collaborated with
Dior and Rolls-Royce. He primarily works with
photography and video but has also created
some ambitious and daring installations,
including one that featured live ants crawling
through sugar. The Galerie du Monde booth
will showcase some of Wu’s large cyanotype
prints (pictured right), which can be more than
two metres wide. These calming blue-and-white
works resemble traditional Chinese landscape
paintings but are actually produced using a
photographic printing process.
6. LEE BAE
JOHYUN GALLERY, BUSAN
Lee Bae, who has lived in Paris since 1990,

loves charcoal. He first began using the
material because it was cheap enough for him
to buy in bulk when he moved to France, but
he soon realised that it was also a poignant
link with his homeland of South Korea, where
a stick of charcoal is traditionally tied on the
front door of a house after a child is born.
As well as using charcoal to make abstract
drawings on paper, Bae creates imposing,
ominous sculptures made of blocks of charcoal
bound together with cord.
7. MARIA TANIGUCHI
TAKA ISHII GALLERY,
TOKYO AND NEW YORK
A master of minimalism, Filipina artist Maria

Taniguchi is famous for filling enormous
canvases with thousands of tiny hand-painted
grey bricks. When she is not painstakingly
working on brick paintings, she is making
prints, videos and sculptures, many also
exploring the idea of slow, repetitive labour.
Her video work Figure Study, for example,
is simply a recording of two men digging
a hole in the jungle. Taniguchi’s thought-
provoking works might not be as attention-
grabbing as other pieces at Art Basel, but her
contemplative paintings might be a visual
tonic after a busy day at the fair.

8. MICHAEL COOK
THIS IS NO FANTASY + DIANNE TANZER
GALLERY, MELBOURNE
Australian Aboriginal art is some of the

oldest in the world, dating back more than
30,000 years, but photographer Michael Cook
is bringing it into the 21st century. Cook’s
Bidjara heritage informs all of his images, which
explore Australian history and the oppression
of indigenous people. This photo (pictured
left), from Cook’s Majority Rule series, imagines
IMAGES: COURTESY OF GALERIE DU MONDE (WU CHI-TSUNG); COURTESY OF TREVOR YEUNG & BLINDSPOT GALLERY (TREVOR YEUNG); MICHAEL COOK
what Australian life would be like if roles were

reversed, with Aboriginal people making up
96 per cent of the population and others just
4 per cent.
9. DOUG AITKEN
303 GALLERY, NEW YORK
Californian artist Doug Aitken makes art

for the Instagram age. Whether he’s taking
photographs, making sculptures or designing
house-size installations, all of his art looks
scintillating on social media. But that is more
of a happy coincidence than the driving force
behind his work, which Aitken hopes will
encourage people to consider complex ideas
about time, space and memory. So drop by
303 Gallery’s booth to experience some
innovative mixed-media art—but don’t forget
to take that snap for social media.
10. TREVOR YEUNG

BLINDSPOT GALLERY, HONG KONG
From Pieter Bruegel the Elder’s chilly depictions

of winter to Claude Monet’s legendary oil
paintings of water lilies, the natural world has
long been a source of inspiration for artists.
Yet no artist has used nature in their work in
quite the same way as Trevor Yeung. As much
a botanist as he is an artist, Hong Kong-based
Yeung has made a name for himself by building
large-scale installations incorporating living
plants, molluscs and even tanks full of fish.
Yeung’s installation Music Box (Bedroom),
pictured left, will sit alongside works by fellow
Hongkongers Leung Chi-wo and Sarah Lai in
Blindspot Gallery’s booth.
Art Basel in Hong Kong takes place from

March 29 to 31 artbasel.com/hong-kong

Mojo Mode On
IMAGES: LEXUS PRESS
AND KENTARO MATSUI
Does the audacious styling of the latest Lexus LC 500 coupe

reflect a bold driving experience? Andre Lam puts it to the test
CARS | LIFE
ack in 1991, lexus launched its first

coupe, the SC 400, for the American
market. Ten years later, the Japanese marque
followed up with the introduction of the
SC 430, which had gone a long time without
a successor. This explains why Lexus is
hardly associated with luxury coupes—until
today that is, as Lexus returns to the luxury coupe market with
the good-looking LC 500.
The LC 500 revisits the original theme of the 1991 flagship
V8 coupe and has been developed into a sporty grand tourer.
It is a large, luxurious coupe derived from the same platform
that underpins the new flagship Lexus LS limousine. The first
thing you notice is the controversial spindle grille, and we have
to admit that this is the first time we actually think that this
oversized grille suits a Lexus styling, as it is provocative and
wonderfully similar to the concept car it was based on.
Enhancing the looks of the LC 500 are its huge 21-inch
wheels. While these and the accompanying run-flat tyres may
not offer a ride that is as cushy as the car’s sibling, the LS sedan,
it is comfortable enough for a sports coupe. On the inside, the
car oozes the same modern vibe as its exterior. The cabin is also
well appointed, though noticeably more commodious for front
passengers. The rear seats are better suited for small children as
leg and headroom are not particularly generous.
GENTLE GIANT
The icing on the cake for the LC 500 is its naturally aspirated
V8 engine, which has been slowly evolving since Yamaha
specially tuned it for use in Lexus’ IS F sports sedan in 2009. It
FULL FORCE Contrary to

Japanese corporate practice,
Lexus shows surprising resolve
by retaining the LC 500’s
daring concept car aesthetic,
which has the car looking as
though it is doing 100km/h
even when stationary

LIFE | CARS
IF LOOKS COULD KILL

Clockwise from left: Less
adventurous than its exterior,
the Lexus LC 500’s interior
blends fine workmanship
with refined materials in a
conventionally styled cabin;
with a powerful 5.0L V8
engine, the LC 500 reaches
100km/h in a swift 4.7sec;
the car’s alluring curves are
more pronounced when
viewed from the top
may not be the most powerful V8 around, seeing how it has an

engine displacement of 5.0L, but it is one of the most tuneful.
In terms of audio impact, the engine would be considered brash
by Lexus standards, but more polite than what the Italians are
used to. However, because of the car’s highly effective cabin
insulation, you would have to roll down the window to fully
enjoy its roar.
With a 10-speed automatic transmission, the car’s modest
470hp output is put to optimum use. The first few gears
are deliberately chosen with lower gearing for more rapid
acceleration, while the top few gears are so tall that at a
speed of 90km/h, the engine barely has to spin much above
idling speed, thus reducing fuel consumption. The car may
not be getting any green awards, but is decently frugal on fuel,
needing just 11.6L/100km when it is driven sanely.
The car’s acceleration needs no special launching
procedure; just stomp down hard on the accelerator and A NEW ERA
100km/h flashes by in just 4.7sec, which is good for a large Following the release of the LC 500 coupe, Lexus has unveiled
coupe that weighs nearly two tonnes and has a top speed another stunner: the 2018 LS 500. The fifth generation of the
of 270km/h. marque’s LS Series, it is really a four-door version of the LC 500.
The LC 500 is a hefty coupe, but when you are helming For the better part of 28 years, the LS series has been using a
it, you will be none the wiser. The power delivery is so superbly refined V8 engine—first as a petrol-only version, then
spirited and the huge grippy tyres turn the car so obediently later complemented with a hybrid version. But in 2017, for the
that it feels much lighter that it actually is. To reduce the first time in Lexus history, the LS Series is being introduced with a
effort of stopping, Lexus has fitted a brake-by-wire system 415hp, twin-turbo, 3.5L V6 engine, as well as in a hybrid-engine
that can dramatically increase the braking effectiveness variant called the LS 500h. No mention of a V8 version of the
when it thinks you are performing an emergency stop. LS 500 has been made as yet.
This might take some acclimatising to avoid unintended With this new model, too, Lexus is boldly charting a completely
emergency stops. different course in terms of styling. The original LS concept was
For keen drivers, the Sport mode is the optimum, because really the Japanese equivalent of the German luxury limousines
that is when its engine and chassis behave in unison—they are such as the Mercedes Benz S-Class and BMW 7 Series. Its main
well-controlled but responsive. Other modes include Sport Plus,

The Lexus LC 500’s greatest appeal is its
fabulous styling, which will garner as many
admiring stares as any Italian supercar
which may be a tad too stiff for daily use; Comfort mode, which
is best reserved for that slow unruffled drive to a gala dinner; HISTORY LESSON
and Normal mode, which is perhaps the best compromise for In 1989, the automotive world was introduced
daily city driving. to a new name: Lexus. The brainchild of
The LC 500’s sleek sporty looks suggest that it might do Toyota Motor Corporation was introduced as
well on the track, however from my experience, I would say an upmarket marque to help the Japanese
it fares best as a grand tourer that can effortlessly cover long company circumvent the limitation of its humble
distances and cruise the boulevards. Its greatest appeal is its Toyota brand.
fabulous styling, which will garner as many admiring stares as It was Toyota’s marketing department in the
any Italian supercar. US that came up with this plan to rebrand and
I also greatly appreciate its charismatic V8 engine for its rich, re-engineer Toyota’s Japanese domestic luxury
melodious soundtrack, but also for the fact that it might well be models as Lexus versions specifically for sale
the last natural aspirated V8 engine that Lexus will ever offer in the North American market. The first Lexus
before the marque fully embraces turbocharged engines. Lexus produced was the LS 400, which was a mega
has spent many years trying to regain its mojo, and we believe project by any marque’s standards, involving
that it has finally found it with the LC 500. 1,400 engineers and 2,300 technicians. But
it was for good reason. Lexus knew that the
international luxury market, which had stalwarts
LEXUS LC 500
such as Mercedes-Benz and BMW, would not
BODY Two-door luxury coupe, steel monocoque construction
give a newbie any room for shortfall.
ENGINE 5.0L Petrol Injection V8
Thankfully, the 1989 LS 400 was a
MAX POWER 470hp at 7,100rpm
resounding success. A complete range of Lexus
MAX TORQUE 540Nm at 4,800rpm
models was subsequently introduced, covering
TRANSMISSION Ten-Speed Automatic with manual mode
the range from compact to luxury. Eventually
ACCELERATION 0-100km/h in 4.7sec
in 2000, driven by confidence, Lexus pushed
TOP SPEED 270km/h
itself to become a global brand. Though, funnily
FUEL CONSUMPTION 11.6L/100km
enough, it was only five years later that it finally
PRICE (WITHOUT COE) From $500,000
decided to venture into its home country, Japan.
AGENT Lexus Singapore, 33 Leng Kee Road, tel: 6749 3288
claim to fame was an extreme refinement of the mechanical parts,

such as the engine and transmission. Its winning feature over its
German competitors is its extremely silent cabin.
Today, its competition has caught up, forcing Lexus to
re-evaluate its strategy. With its bold coupe-inspired styling, the
LS 500 seems to have steered away rather than mimic the features
of its long-time rivals. The LS 500 will reach 100km/h in 4.9sec
with a top speed of 250km/h. It features air suspension, active
rear-wheel steering, active steering assist and a raft of high-tech
safety features that are far too many to mention.
Together with the new LC 500, the LS 500 marks a new age
for Lexus, kicking off a new and more dynamic Lexus persona
designed to appeal to both loyal Lexus clients, and younger and
newer buyers.

LIFE | SHOWJUMPING
NOT HORSING AROUND

A new generation of showjumpers is making its mark on the international
equestrian circuit. Oliver Giles introduces 10 riders to watch
RIDE ON
Olivier Philippaerts at
the 2017 Longines
Hong Kong Masters

f you want to rub shoulders with celebrities, aristocrats and even royalty,
there are a few events you must attend, but they are not necessarily the parties you
are thinking of. You can skip the Oscars, miss Paris Fashion Week and spend the
Cannes Film Festival on a yacht far from the madding crowds of La Croisette. Instead,
get yourself a ticket to a major showjumping competition, such as next month’s
Longines Hong Kong Masters. Long a sport favoured by the global elite, showjumping is now
dominated by the sons and daughters of rock stars, actors, Silicon Valley tycoons and royalty.
While these scions canter around the course, their parents sit in the stands, cheering between
sips of champagne.
Although many showjumpers come from money, their life in the saddle isn’t simply a
means to idle away their time or fritter away the family fortune. Showjumping is a demanding
sport requiring hours of training every day, often with no breaks at the weekend. To make
it professionally, equestrians have to commit to a series of competitions around the world,
meaning they are regularly away from family and friends. And if they are successful, the
prize money at leading showjumping events can run into the millions of US dollars. But most
showjumpers, including the athletes listed below, aren’t in it for the money. These talented
equestrians compete for the sheer love of it.
Olivier and Nicola

Philippaerts
Showjumping Zara Tindall
runs in the Belgian The oldest granddaughter of Britain’s Queen Elizabeth II
twins’ blood. Their and 16th in line to the throne, Zara Tindall is the daughter
father, Ludo, is a of Princess Anne. She began riding at the age of three,
four-time Olympian and and currently competes in events around the UK. She
their mother, Veronique, won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics in the equestrian
competed in high-level dressage team event.
competitions. In 2012, Olivier became
the youngest rider ever to win the Eve Jobs
CN International Grand Prix at the Just as Bill Gates and
CSIO Spruce Meadows “Masters” Steve Jobs went head
Tournament in Alberta, Canada, and to head in Silicon Valley,
in 2017 he won the Hong Kong Tatler their daughters Jennifer
Trophy at the Longines Hong Kong Gates and Eve Jobs are
Masters. Despite his recent international now facing off at equestrian
successes, Nicola defeated him at the events. But anyone expecting a
Belgian Championships last year to vicious rivalry will be disappointed.
claim the trophy. Although they normally The pair are on friendlier terms than their
IMAGES: AFP; PHOTO: CALVIN SIT
compete against each other, the twins fathers were. Eve only recently graduated
pair up to model for H&M’s equestrian from high school but she is already making
portal, H&M We Love Horses. waves. She was named Rider of the Month in
March last year by the Kentucky-based Show
Jumping Hall of Fame.

LIFE | SHOWJUMPING
Charlotte Casiraghi
Another royal, Charlotte Casiraghi is
the daughter of Caroline, Princess
of Hanover, and granddaughter
of the late Princess Grace of
Monaco. One of Gucci’s official
equestrian ambassadors, she
can be seen sporting the Italian
brand’s threads at showjumping
competitions around the world.
Edie Campbell
Alex Hua Tian When Edie Campbell isn’t
Nicknamed “one in a billion” because he is the first walking the runway or
person to ever compete for China fronting campaigns for
at an Olympic equestrian event, brands such as Chanel and
Alex Hua Tian is a champion rider, an Louis Vuitton, you can find
ambassador for Gieves & Hawkes her competing in equestrian
and an all-round gentleman. He events across the UK. She
competed in the 2008 Olympics dreams of competing at
in Beijing and 2016 Olympics in Badminton and Burghley,
Rio, and is now training for the 2020 Britain’s two premier events,
Olympics in Tokyo. and is well on her way.
Jennifer Gates Jessica Springsteen

The 21-year-old daughter of Bill and Melinda The daughter of rock
Gates has been riding since she was six and star Bruce, Jessica
showjumping competitively since entering her Springsteen has
teens. To support their daughter, the represented
tycoons bought two equestrian the US at the
estates—the US$18m, 92ha Olympics and
Rancho Paseana in California picked up a
and a US$8.7m property couple of wins on
in Wellington, Florida. The the Longines Global
investment is paying off; Champions Tour 2017. While she was
Jennifer won the US Equestrian born in the US, she is based in the
Federation Under-25 National Netherlands to be close to her trainer,
Championship in November last year. Edwina Tops-Alexander.
Reed Kessler
Just 18 years old when she qualified for the 2012
Olympics in London, Reed Kessler was the youngest
rider in showjumping history to compete at the Games.
As well as riding on the US equestrian team, Kessler is
IMAGES: AFP; PHOTO: CALVIN SIT
a key member of the Hermès US showjumping team.

Her father, Murray Kessler, is the president and chairman
of Lorillard Tobacco Company, but you won’t catch her
puffing on a cigarette.
The 2018 Longines Hong Kong Masters takes place from February 9–11 at AsiaWorld-Expo.
For tickets, visit longinesmasters.com

LIME AT PARKROYAL ON PICKERING | TATLER FOCUS
WIDE APPEAL Whether you prefer

modern or traditional Chinese New
Year dishes, Lime Restaurant has
you covered, with treats such as the
Prosperity yusheng and Peking duck
Modern-day Feast
Usher in the Year of the Dog at the Lime Restaurant at
Parkroyal on Pickering, which presents an extensive,
mouthwatering spread for sophisticated taste buds
L
ime Restaurant roasted lamb chop infused with Thankfully, there is always serve a complimentary bowl of
at Parkroyal on thyme and garlic, and served room for desserts because you the Chinese delicacy Buddha
Pickering, the with Mongolian sauce; and will need it for the extensive Jump Over the Wall and the
eco-friendly hotel crispy pizza topped with Peking selection of popular treats. Prosperity yusheng. The latter
at the heart of Chinatown, duck slices and hoisin sauce. Sink your sweet tooth into the comes with fresh salmon, crispy
is the address to ring in the If you are a meat lover, make Mandarin orange cheesecake, fish skin, gold coin bak kwa and
Year of the Dog with A Feast of a beeline for the dedicated eight treasure cake, pan-fried traditional candied vegetables,
Paws-perity at Lime, available carvery station, which features nian gao and the Nonya cult and is doused in the chef’s
from February 2 to March 1. To choice cuts including roasted favourite, durian pengat. special sauce.
put you in a festive mood, start pork knuckle and slow-roasted For something more On Chinese New Year’s
the meal with a glass of Swag, boneless beef short ribs. traditional, opt for A Royal eve, the carvery station has
a complimentary drink made But if Asian classics are Reunion buffet feast, available an exclusive offering of crispy
with eight treasure herbs wild more to your liking, the from February 15 to 18, and on suckling pig as well. Q
berries, and topped with salted chefs have also whipped up March 2. Along with a specially
egg cadillac foam. signatures such as the braised curated menu consisting of
Then, you are invited to pork belly buns (kong ba bao); top-drawer dishes such as
happily indulge in the chefs’ double boiled chicken soup Peking duck, braised seafood
contemporary offerings, which with ginseng; braised fish fillet soup with fish maw and
in a traditional five spice soya crabmeat, five spice braised LIME RESTAURANT
include brined salmon fillet
Parkroyal on Pickering,
studded with pink peppercorn sauce; and a signature Chinese duck leg carta fata and Lime’s 3 Upper Pickering Street,
with a side of garlic aioli; half New Year must-have—braised signature claypot foie gras tel: 6809 8899
shell scallop with garlic butter; soy pork belly with fatt choy. rice, the restaurant will also parkroyalhotels.com/lime
Island High
As Phuket becomes
a prominent yachting
destination, luxury resorts
such as Kata Rocks are
hosting exclusive social
events that connect the
elite yachting community.
Chong Seow Wei checks
out the buzz at Kata Rocks
Superyacht Rendezvous
IMAGES: KATA ROCKS SUPERYACHT RENDEZVOUS
RACE
ACTION
Day one of
the event
kicked off on
a high with the
exciting Phuket
King’s Cup
Regatta 2017
YACHTS | LIFE
MEAL WITH A VIEW Alongside

the high-energy evening events, a
sumptuous beach BBQ also took
place at The Surin Phuket, a boat
ride away from Kata Rocks
READY TO DAZZLE The largest yacht present at the event

was Lady Christine, an elegant 68m boat by Feadship
annes, mykonos, Since 2016, Pope and his team have been
Monaco, the Canary working hard to give the Mediterranean
Islands… you know and the Caribbean a run for their money
these beautiful yachting with a well-curated, by invitation-only
destinations like the annual yachting event, Kata Rocks
back of your hand. But Superyacht Rendezvous. Last December, we
now, you are looking were invited to attend its second edition,
for something different—just as scenic which took place around the luxurious
and luxurious, but where there is a new villa-only Kata Rocks Resort.
community of yachting enthusiasts to meet, Over the span of three days, we immersed
and Michelin-starred restaurants and private ourselves in the yachting lifestyle. Day or
parties to explore as you berth for the night, the resort brimmed with energy
holidays. According to Richard Pope, CEO of as the revelry never stopped. There were
Infinite Luxury, the property investment ultra-private penthouse dinners hosted by
company behind luxury resort, Kata Rocks, yacht brands such as Feadship, Benetti and
your next destination should be Phuket. VistaJet; Cannes-styled poolside parties;
While the Thai island, which lies in the champagne-fuelled beachside BBQ brunches;
Andaman Sea, is already a popular holiday and an adrenaline-pumping regatta, all topped
spot, it was not until recently that it off with an eye-catching backdrop of luxury
appeared on the radar of the international yachts that you could hop on for a tour with a
yachting community as the place to berth flute of bubbly in hand.
in Asia, thanks to its idyllic landscape, However, the cherry on the cake were the
rousing island nightlife, five-star o o had and the people
conversations
resorts and world-class met, from yacht
y owners and
marinas. The island is manufacturers, to artists and
also located within a desiggners, to low-key private
charming sailing area inveestors and full-time
that is about five gloobetrotters. Ultimately,
times the size of itt is the good company
traditional yachting that would draw people
hotspots in the back for another round
Mediterranean and of merriment.
the Caribbean; and
the surrounding sea
MINI EXPEDITION
is peppered with other Tenders shuttled guests to
stunning islands such as and from the various yachts
Phi Phi and Lanta. that were open for tours
143
LIFE | YACHTS SPOTLIGHT
Ruling the Waves

SUTL Enterprise, the driving force behind the One°15 Marina brand,
rolls out modern integrated waterfront properties with unique personalities.
Terence Lim susses out their distinctive characteristics
any singaporean brands have

fearlessly punched above their weight “For each marina that
to gain international recognition. Think
BreadTalk for its popular confectionaries,
we acquire, or develop
Hyflux for its revolutionary water
technologies, and Banyan Tree for its warm, luxurious
and manage through
hospitality. Now, add one more name to that list— joint ventures, we are
SUTL Enterprise, the leading developer, operator and
consultant of integrated marinas around the world, and sensitive and mindful
owner of the One°15 Marina brand.
Since the opening of its flagship club, One°15 Marina
that they must have
Sentosa Cove, in 2007, One°15 upped marina standards to
such an extent that even seasoned boaters have become
different personalities”
accustomed to such high levels of excellence. Today, it is
widely recognised as one of the leading names in the marina
development business, and has gone beyond merely building One°15-branded marina are determined.
berths for yachts and boats by offering members a complete This means that when it comes to the marina
recreational lifestyle by the sea. design, there is no fixed scientific formula,
SUTL Enterprise executive director and CEO Arthur Tay and no two properties will ever look alike.
says, “For each marina that we are targeting to acquire, This philosophy has spurred SUTL
or develop and manage through joint ventures, we are Enterprise’s marina development
very sensitive and mindful that they must have different business, and the year 2017 proved to be a
personalities. If it is a river, you can have cruises. If it is particularly important for the company, as
a lake, you can have romantic boat rides for couples.” it also marked the 10th anniversary of the
Evidently, various factors including the environment, the One°15 Marina brand. It announced various
area’s inhabitants and their cultures, and the coastline will major deals to build and operate marinas
be taken into consideration before the style and vibe of each in Malaysia and China with the latest jewel
being One°15 Marina Suzhou,
which is slated to be ready in 2019.
It also inked a memorandum of
understanding with the Hainan
Cruise & Yacht Association
to be its partner for the
development and expansion of
the island’s yachting, cruising and
maritime industry.
To that end, Tay, who is also the
chairman and CEO of SUTL Group,
the majority shareholder of SUTL
IMAGES: SUTL ENTERPRISE
Enterprise, is satisfied with the

progress the One°15 Marina
brand has made. He says, “It
shows that our business partners
recognise the value that our
brand and expertise bring to their
waterfront properties.”

MASTER OF THE SEA
SUTL Enterprise’s expertise
in operating integrated
marinas began with its first
marina in Sentosa Cove,
opened 10 years ago

1 ONE°15 MARINA
SENTOSA COVE
This is where the One°15 Marina
QUICK FACTS
• Opened in September 2007
• 270 berths, including 13 for
INSIDER NEWS
Apart from the boats and
glorious panorama, the
brand started out. In the last mega yachts of up to 200ft gastronomic options too are
decade, SUTL Enterprise has top-notch: try the impressive
• Clubhouse with
perfected the art of managing a braised Ee-Fu noodles
restaurants, bars and
marina, and successfully snagged with Boston lobster at
recreational amenities
the Best Asian Marina award in-marina Chinese restaurant,
not once, but six times. One°15 • Hotel accommodation Wok°15 Kitchen. The broth
Marina Sentosa Cove is designed with 26 rooms and suites that the noodles is simmered
with top-drawer marina facilities in is robust and flavourful. Yet
for boating enthusiasts as well as it doesn’t snatch the limelight
wide-ranging club amenities for from the lobster, which is
non-boaters too. Sports, and arts fresh and succulent. Instead,
and craft lessons are periodically the broth’s subtle nuances
organised for marina members complement the mild flavours
and hotel guests, too. of the crustacean.

YACHTS SPOTLIGHT | LIFE
2 ONE°15
MARINA
GUISHAN
QUICK FACTS
• Expected to be completed in
the fourth quarter of 2019
Still under construction, this • 116 berths for yachts
marina is one of the two in of up to 118ft
China that will be managed • 156-room boutique hotel
by SUTL Enterprise, with the and 23 club rooms
other in Suzhou. Besides • Spa and fitness centre
running the marina, which is in
close proximity to Hong Kong, INSIDER NEWS
Macau, Guangzhou, Shenzhen Zhuhai boasts a pleasant tropical
and Zhuhai, SUTL also climate with temperatures
provided advisory services hovering around 24 to 29°C.
to the owner, helping with Coupled with the scenic
the planning, design and Guishan Island, yachting in the
development processes. area cannot be more ideal.
3 ONE°15
MARINA
BROOKLYN
The Brooklyn Bridge Park
marina was the first One°15
marina outside Singapore.
It is a two-nautical mile sail
to the Statue of Liberty and
offers an amazing view of the
Manhattan skyline. Thanks
to modern wave attenuation
technology, the marina boasts
the calmest waters in all of
New York Harbour.
QUICK FACTS
• Opened in June 2016
• 102 private berths and
94 public berths
• Sailing School with
25 boats and capacity
for 600 students
INSIDER NEWS
SUTL is looking for a vessel
to be used as a floating
clubhouse, which will offer
gym and spa facilities, as well
as dining options.

LIFE | YACHTS SPOTLIGHT
4 INDONESIA
NAVY CLUB
SUTL Enterprise is
QUICK FACTS
• Expected to be
completed in the fourth
involved in the pre- and quarter of 2018
post-construction of this • 150 berths
development. It helped plan • 18 hotel suites and rooms
and design the marina, and with marina views
will be running it once it is up.
INSIDER NEWS
Located at Pantai Mutiara in
Indonesia is made up of
East Java, the club will attract
some 18,000 islands,
superyachts from the region.
making it a unique country
with a strong boating
culture and community. The
Indonesia Navy Club will be
the world-class marina that
serves the regional luxury
boating community.
PLAIN
SAILING
A look at the key
milestones SUTL
has achieved in 1992 SUTL started a
joint venture in Vietnam for
the past 50 years consumer goods business
When SUTL Corporation

founder Tay Choon Hye, 2003 Arthur Tay
the late father of SUTL 1968 SUTL Corporation assumes the position
Enterprise executive director was established of chairman of SUTL
and CEO Arthur Tay, started
the company in 1968, it
focused on ship-chandelling
and duty-free supply trading.
The marque has since
grown phenomenally into 1996 Opened its first
an enterprise with presence shopping centre, Saigon
in 18 markets across Asia Superbowl, in Vietnam
with over 4,000 staff. It has
also dipped its fingers into
many pies with core focuses
on consumer goods, and
leisure and lifestyle (the 1990 Ventured into the
business division that the leisure and lifestyle industries
One°15 Marina brand resides
under). The journey in the
past five decades hasn’t
been fully smooth-sailing but
what SUTL has achieved
as a private company is
indeed remarkable.
QUICK FACTS
5 ONE°15
MARINA
PUTERI
• Expected to be completed
in the third quarter of 2019
• Three marinas with
HARBOUR 352 berths, including
Designed with families in
148 public ones that can
mind, this marina in Nusajaya,
serve boats up to 40m in
Malaysia is a one-stop lifestyle
length; a 278-berth private
hub—there are dining outlets,
marina; and a marina for
retail spaces and communal
14 mega yachts
spaces for gatherings. The
15,000sqm clubhouse will boast • 80 hotel rooms and suites
a luxurious day spa and plenty INSIDER NEWS
of sports facilities including a While it hasn’t been confirmed
sand volleyball court; indoor at the time of printing, One°15
badminton courts; covered Marina Puteri Harbour is said
tennis courts; a basketball to be in close proximity to
court; two squash courts; a the first stop of the proposed
fitness centre; two swimming Singapore-Malaysia high
pools; and two futsal courts. speed rail. Q
2010 SUTL appointed as the

2004 SUTL awarded Nike store partner, opening Nike 2016 One°15 Marina
the tender for One°15 Marina standalone stores in Singapore became an international
Sentosa Cove site brand with One°15
Marina Brooklyn
2017 The One°15 Marina

brand continues its growth in
Asia with new developments in
2007 One°15 Marina Sentosa China, Indonesia and Malaysia
Cove officially opened
2015 SUTL Enterprise listed

on Singapore Exchange
via major acquisition
FACES
The people, the parties and the events
PAGE
155
PRESENT
PERFECT
Serene Tan was all smiles as
she anticipated all the goodness
within the big blue box, courtesy
of Tiffany & Co
Elena Iwatake, Stuart McLelland and Jesmine Hall Jade Lani, Gaurav Kripalani
and Kelly Sia
Jaipal Singh Gill, Pavitra Harilela

and Andrea De Cruz
A Furry Affair
TUX FOR TAILS INAUGURAL GALA
Audrey Mico, Dolly Cheong,
The inaugural SPCA (Society for the Prevention of Cruelty Bernard Cheong and Oscar Mico
to Animals) Tux for Tails benefit gala held at The St Regis
Singapore in December last year saw a host of animal
lovers come together to raise funds for the upgrading of
the veterinary clinic within its sprawling compound in
Sungei Tengah. Its purpose: to provide top-notch healthcare
not only for its rescued animals, but also community animals
and shelters. A delicious dinner paired with exquisite
wines kept spirits buoyant, while a festive performance
by songstress Megan Barker put guests in a holiday mood
as she belted out Christmas jingles. An inspiring speech
by guest of honour and minister for home affairs and law,
K Shanmugam, was followed by a live auction, with attractive
lots that included a pink, yellow and white diamond ring
by Infiniti Jewels and beautifully decorated Christmas trees
by Club 21 and PS.Café. The greatest act of generosity
that evening came just after the auction, in the form of the
private donation of $300,000 from an anonymous donor.

SOIREE | FACES
Brandon Barker
Carla Barker, K Shanmugam

and Gerti Iwatake
Clinton Ang
and Tina Cheng
Grace Wong
and Leja Seth
Lisa Gwee and
Ganesh Ramalingam
Vera Yeo with Florence and John Wong
Celina Lin, Tina Tan-Leo,

Lilian Tan and Shakun Hari Harilela Hossan Leong

FACES | ONLOOKER
Benoit Thebaut
Janet McNab,
Sheraton Grand
Macao Hotel &
The St. Regis
g and Simon Kahn
Andrew Rogers, Zita On Macao
Ana Gorjão Henriques,

H Mandapa, a Ritz-Carlton
Reserve Bali
THE 2017 BMW HOTELIER
Nguyen Cong
AWARDS Chung, Sheraton
Hanoi Hotel
Studio City in Macau hosted more than
400 guests for the fourth edition of the
BMW Hotelier Awards, which recognises
excellence in the hospitality sector across Walter Junger, H12
Asia and Greater China. Winners in 2017
included Ana Gorjão Henriques of Mandapa,
a Ritz-Carlton Reserve in Bali (General
Manager of the Year for Asia) and Janet
McNab of the Sheraton Grand Macao Hotel
and St Regis Macao (General
Manager of the Year for
Greater China). A new
honour was introduced
in 2017, the Rising Star
Award, which went to Benita
Nathania Bunawan, a student
at the Blue Mountains International Hotel
Management School at the Suzhou campus
Michael G Lumbres,
of Australia’s Torrens University. Her award City of Dreams Manila
includes an internship at a top five-star hotel Philippe Bruneau,
of her choice around the world. W Guangzhou
Denise
Matthijsse,
Fairmont
Sanur Beach
Pearl P. Cindy Zhang,

Maclang, Grand Kempinski
Marco Polo Hotel Shanghai Hildegard Anzenberger,
Davao The Langham Shenzen
Benita Nathania
Teresa Huang,
Bunawan, The Rising
InterContinental
Star of the Year
Sanya Resort
ONLOOKER | FACES
Vanessa Liok
Qli Quek Pamela Ardana
Johannes
Tony Jeffs and Meaghan See
Lam Tse Yi and Lam Min Yee
Peggy Jeffs
Festive Sparkle
F
A TIFFANY HOLIDAY
A sea of Tiffany blue, ribbon-
w
wrapped gift boxes under
((and on!) the Christmas
ttree—that is what dreams
aare made of. But it was also
rreality at Tiffany & Co’s
Yenny Then N
Ngee Ann City boutique for a
and Desmond Neo sselect group of Singapore Tatler
ffriends, who discovered the
A
American jeweller’s stylish
collections over canapes
and champagne, as they
picked up some very special
Christmas gifts, and even
WISH
LIST
had the opportunity to send
elegant postcards, inscribed
with words of love, to their
special someone. Peggy Jeffs,
What did
Peggy want for Serene Chua and Meaghan See,
Christmas? Nothing as well as Tatler’s deputy
less than coloured editor Karishma Tulsidas,
diamond jewellery revealed their Christmas
by Tiffany & Co, wish lists as guests shopped
of course up a veritable (snow) storm.
Nada Jumabhoy Serene Chua

FACES | ONLOOKER
Serene Tan Frances Low
Angela Ng
and Adeline Teo
Pocket Sun Violet Yeo, Angela Ng and Evelyn Sam
HAND
IN HAND
There’s
nothing like
a pampering
hand massage
to relax you
at the end of
a long day
Paulina Böhm
Night of
Beauty
CLÉ DE PEAU
BEAUTÉ HOLIDAY
To kick off the season
of giving, friends of Nora Shereen Lim,
Singapore Tatler were Marilyn Lum and Jade Kua
invited to Clé de Peau
Beauté’s flagship store in Carol Shieh
Mandarin Gallery, where
they sipped champagne and
enjoyed pampering hand
massages while discovering
the new limited-edition
Nuit de Chine collection.
They also had their newly
purchased items engraved by
an artist, who was brought
Rosalind and in specially for the event.
Lydia Lim
156
ONLOOKER | FACES
Xiao Jing Wu Sha Sha
All that Glitters

Cartier organised CHEN RUOYI’S
a sumptuous dinner BIRTHDAY
PARTY
at Equarius Hotel’s
TIME
Tangerine restaurant CELEBRATION
for birthday girl
Chen Ruoyi Cartier played host to one of
its VIP customers, Chen Ruoyi,
and a select group of her
Liu Xiao Mei closest friends to fete her
birthday in December last
year. The dinner was held
at Tangerine restaurant in
Resorts World Sentosa’s
Equarius Hotel, and guests
came dressed to the theme
of pink, while the birthday
girl herself stood out in red.
Following dinner, Ruoyi was
escorted outside by two
Cartier footmen, where a
birthday cake was waiting for
her. The celebrations then
culminated in a boisterous
and fun-filled karaoke session.
Chen Ruoyi
o Na
Na andd Yang Jin
Yang
Ya ing
ing
Christine Chen
Xiao Jing
and Mizo Meng

FACES | ONLOOKER
Selina and Lilian Low Elaine Teh

with Kristine Goh
Most Coveted
LUNCH WITH THE
COVETTE CLINIC
Over delicious French food at
Michelin-starred restaurant
Les Amis, an intimate
group of Singapore Tatler
friends were specially
invited to learn more about
The Covette Clinic. The
new-to-Singapore brand
offers premium aesthetics
solutions spanning hair, face
and body treatments at its
Ion Orchard space, as well as
medical concierge services
and private penthouse suites
for its privileged members.
Pauline Chan Tan Khar Nai

THE
IT LIST
Only a select
few individuals
have the
privilege to
own the gold
card from The
Covette Clinic
Angelina Choo and Fanty Soenardy Chiang Yu Lan

and Frank Lee

Choo Mei Tew ONLOOKER | FACES
and Leslie Choo
Anuradha and
Madhupati Singhania
A fleet of Ferraris
ALL equipped with
SYSTEMS the flat-12 engine
GO stood proud outside
The Fullerton
Bay Hotel
Wendi Chan
and Derrick Seeto
Horse Power
DODICI GALA
The love for Ferrari is so
strong that supporters
and enthusiasts of the
Prancing Horse came Timothy Tan Antoine and
and Amanda Hao Giovanni Viterale
together to organise the
Dodici Gala in December last
year. Held at The Fullerton
Bay Hotel, Dodici—Italian for
12—paid tribute to the flat-12
engine originally employed in
the Ferrari 312B F1 race cars.
The same platform has
since been adopted into the
modern-day Ferraris, with
the full range of flat-12s on
display at the hotel foyer that
evening. The organisers also
secured exclusive screening
rights to Ferrari 312B: Where
the Revolution Begins, a movie
about the development of
the engine. Elaine Lim-Chan
and Chan Kok Weng

TATLER TAKES FIVE
LISA
AIKEN
The e Net-a-Porter
fasshion director,
wh ho travels the
gllobe in search
of the next big
trrends, shares
her favourite
disscoveries—
1 LEE ROACH
The London designer, who’s only on
his second season, is doing a lot of
aand a few of deconstructed silhouettes and clothes
that can be worn in a multitude of
her guilty ways, with interchangeable buttons
pleasures and poppers and detachable arms that
are multifunctional. They will appeal to
customers who love Magda Butrym.
“THE BIGGEST ACCOLADE

I COULD EVER GET WOULD BE
TO
T INTRODUCE A BRAND, MENTOR
THEM AND ALLOW THEM TO
2 IL GATTO NERO
The most romantic restaurant I’ve ever
been to is Il Gatto Nero (The Black Cat)
CHIEVE A LEVEL OF SUCCESS THAT
AC on Lake Como in Italy. You drive up a
winding road and get to a restaurant
THEY’RE REALLY HAPPY WITH” on the hillside looking down the middle
of the lake, which is insanely beautiful.
You need to ask for a table on the
terrace and drink Italian wine and eat
3
pasta for the full experience.
JAMAICA
I was in Jamaica over
summer and it’s a really
gorgeous island. The people
are amazing, friendly and
laidback. There’s a vibe
around the entire island that I
love. It must be the rum!
5 FOOD & DRINK

IMAGES: SHUTTERSTOCK AND NET-A-PORTER
I love white burgundy, Italian pasta, and I can’t go without afternoon tea
and shortbread. I love English breakfast tea from PG Tips (it’s a common
tea we call a “builder’s brew” because it’s very strong), and I drink it with SEOUL
4
milk and sugar.
I was blown
aw
Seoul and w ay by the street style in
as desperat
where th e to find o
often from lo e clothes were from. T ut
cal designers hey were
their designs w
on an intern ith no budget to put
feel there’s m ational platfo
o rm
scratched th re to be discovered and . I just
e surface. I’ve only

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L I F E .

ASIA’S MOST ELIGIBLE

8 singapor e tatler . february 2018

ISSUE HIGHLIGHTS 108

94 Asia’s Most Eligible

102 Society Girls

108 Double Act

singapor e tatler . february 2018 . vol 36 . no 4 25 11

32 Tatlerscope 46 The Invitation

34 Tatlergraph 48 Leading Ladies

55 Beauty WATCHES &

142 Yachts 154 Onlooker

Managing Director Corinne Ng

Production and Traffic

Edipresse Media Asia

Managing Director–Edipresse Media Malaysia Florence Fang

Regional Finance Controller Eric Foo

18 singapor e tatler . february 2018

Editor-in-Chief Kissa Castañeda

Fashion Director Desmond Lim

Contributors Priyanka Elhence, Amy Lu, Grace Ma,

Managing Editor–Regional Content Emilie Yabut-R azon

Art and Photography

Contributor Jasper Loh

Contributing Photographers Max Chan, Tim Griffiths, Lionel Lai,

Director, Digital Bhakti Shet

22 singapor e tatler . february 2018

Boys to Men testosterone-heavy shoot

f you’d told me back when we

board of directors. PHOTOGRAPHY

planning to win this business battle,

24 singapor e tatler . february 2018

RIDE IN WHEELS IN MOTION

of transportation: a bicycle. And it is not just

RUMOUR Straight from

The Orbis Singapore Charity Gala 2018 brings the non-profit

eld during the singapore airshow on

Go for Gold hours of the morning.

e has shaken up the cocktail

different cuisines, profiles together? • 15ml fresh lime juice

SOUL FOOD an needs food and water for physical

WORDS: PHOEBE TAYLOR; IMAGES: ESPLANADE—THEATRES ON THE BAY (HUAYI –

CHINESE FESTIVAL OF ARTS) AND PAT BROMILOW-DOWNING (EVITA)

30 singapor e tatler . february 2018

2 TWILIGHT: FLEA & FEAST

around the world, along

ST MORITZ VIENNA RIO DE JANEIRO PYEONGCHANG

singapor e tatler . february 2018 31

THE DREAM ROOM

USING MARC JACOBS BEAUTY; IMAGES: 123RF AND FREDERICK ARDLEY

32 singapor e tatler . february 2018

WORDS: CHONG SEOW WEI; IMAGES: 123RF AND HARRY LANGDON

34 singapor e tatler . february 2018

TEL: 62276819 EMAIL: INFO@OTTORISTORANTE.COM.SG WWW.OTTORISTORANTE.COM.SG

TEPPAN BY CHEF YONEMURA

blending Japanese and French inﬂuences—think

36 singapor e tatler . february 2018

VRoast Suckling Pig stuffed

TungLok Signatures’ new menus showcase everyday