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EDITOR'S NOTE
Time moves very quickly in Hong Kong. In what seemed like several weeks, two months have come and gone. So now we present to you BEAUX’s ‘Self Indulgence’ issue, whereby we revel and sink into our own sensual delights. In creating the pages for Volume 3 of BEAUX, we wanted it to become a visual feast for fashion, art and photography. We were very pleased to receive two submissions from Timmonthy Lee, whose ‘Party Carmen’ is sensual and sexy, and ‘Red Gus Poison’ is nothing less than sublime art. Rising stylist extraordinaire Bhisan Rai teams up with Jeff Ip for ‘Serenade’ and Samson Poon for ‘Blame it on the Sun’, both stunning editorials that helps define what BEAUX is truly about. Victoria Del La Torres teams up with our very own Patryk Chaou for the leisurely ‘A Walk in the Park’. Then Patryk them collaborates with Max To for the colorful Shoot Out on ‘Color Flash.’ I then have the pleasure of photographing the beautiful and exotic Janice Yip in ‘Camouflage’ using screen projection, while also photographing tattoo art in ‘Body Art.’ For our readers, Darlene Chu talks about her love of chocolates in Paris, while Alessio Savona and Chris Branch both reveal their love of coffee in ‘My Perfect Cup’. As a lover of both chocolates and coffee myself, these simple pleasure are nothing short of self indulgence. No sharing allowed! Writer Andre Cooray then meet ups with famed photographer David LaChapelle, whose direction and journey into photography has led him to
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a more artistic intervention, where suffering plays a crucial role in the message he wants to send out. As BEAUX grows, I want you to know that nothing is impossible. A few years ago, I said to myself that I wanted to host gay dance parties, just to know what it was like. Lo and behold, I have had the pleasure of hosting three of them to date. It’s the most nerve-wracking experience, especially when there is a Diva performance by Gretchell Yeung as part of the program. Two hours before the dance started, the venue was in complete choas, but by the time came to the stage, the crowd was ecstatic. The show and dance was an enormous success! I want to thank all the creative people that have offered their time and creativity to this issue of BEAUX. If you would like contribute your work, writing skills, photography, or perhaps share your knowledge in business and the internet, I would love to hear from you. Meanwhile, please enjoy! Publisher and Chief Editor Norm Yip
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WHO'S WHO
Publisher & Chief Editor Norm Yip Production & Fashion Director Patryk Chaou Fashion Stylists Patryk Chaou, Bhisan Rai Assistants Marco Ho, MC Max, Reve Ryuu Writers Jefferson Mendoza, Komphech Akkarasetthi, Darlene Chu Designers Norm Yip Assistant Editor Leroy Luar Post Production Assistant Kannis Tsui Advertise advertise@beauxmagazine.com BEAUX MAGAZINE is published by Studio 8 Hong Kong Publishing Ltd. Room 802, Block B, 8/F Hong Kong Chai Wan Industrial Building 26 Lee Chung Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong T +852 2540 6267 F +852 2542 4208 E enquiry@beauxmagazine.com W beauxmagazine.com
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CONTENTS
18 AGENDA 22 BEAUTE What is the secret of perfect skin? by Gurjit Kuar 26 FEATURE Hermes Life of a Scarf 32 WHAT’S HOT FOR HIM 33 WHAT’S HOT FOR HER 36 SHOOT OUT ‘Party Carmen’ by Timmothy Lee 46 SHOOT OUT ‘Serenade’ by Jeff Ip 54 SHOOT OUT ‘Blame it on the sun’ by Samson Poon 66 SHOOT OUT ‘Color Flash’ by Max To 80 SHOOT OUT ’Tasting the good life, my way’ by Norm Yip 90 SHOOT OUT ‘A Walk in the Park’ by Victoria de la Torre 98 ACCESSORIES ‘Heat’ by Norm Yip 112 ART ‘Camouflage’ by Norm Yip 122 ART ‘Red Grus Poison’ by Timmothy Lee 128 ART ‘Body Art’ (Tatto) by Norm Yip 136 PROFILE Interview with David Lachapelle by Andre Cooray 142 FOOD ‘Le tour du chocolat’ by Darlene Chu 144 FOOD ‘My perfect cup’ by Alessio Savona and Christopher Branch
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CONTRIBUTORS
DARLENE CHU
BHISAN RAI
JEFF IP
Darlene Chu is a freelance writer in Vancouver, Canada. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations from the University of British Columbia and a CGA designation.
Trying to comprehend fashion stylist Bhisan Rai can give one a massive headache. He can talk in circles and get caught up on a thing that he can’t let go of.
After studying at the Photography Institue of Hong Kong in 2006, he started working eagerly as an assistant photographer.
Darlene loves travelling around the world in search of the best of everything. Her favourite city is Hong Kong where she has many dear friends and family. Darlene has also assisted Beaux Magazine Fashion Director, Patryk Chaou, on various fashion styling projects for print, events, and fashion shows and has worked with well-known fashion names such as Donna Karan New York, La Perla, Sportmax, and Lane Crawford.
Born in Nepal and having come to Hong Kong at a young age, his enthusiasm for fashion and creativity is none other than a tour-de-force. With no formal training in styling or the arts, how he arrrives at his ideas are rather a mystery. His contribution to this edition is on three shoots, as he works with three photographers, namely Norm Yip, Jeff Ip, and Samson Poon to create some stunning images. [wix.com/rbhisan/stylist
Darlene shares with Beaux her love for fashion, food, and music.
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Photography inspires him greatly, and he is always on the search for new ideas to add to his portfolio. He is constantly observing the things around him, and believes that a photograph can be more than a mere image. jeffip.com
GURJIT KAUR
CHRISTOPHER BRANCH
ALESSIO SAVONA
Gurjit is a Hong Kong based freelance Make Up Artist and Hair Stylist. She acquired her Diploma with Credits from ITEC in Make Up and Hairdressing.
Christopher Branch lives and works in London, England. A fascination in human form and Luar function ledLeroy him to his chosen career of osteopathy. He also has passions for food, drink and street photography - all of which are satisfied in abundance in his home city.
Having achieved a BSc degree in Biology, Alessio trained as an Osteopath at the British School of Osteopathy in London, the oldest osteopathic teaching college in Europe. Since graduating he has worked in various multidisciplinary clinics in London and Hong Kong. He can be found working at the Sutherland-Chan Centre in Hong Kong.
She loves make up and enjoys making people look their best. Gurjit also believes strongly in the power of cosmetics and how they can be used to express oneself. Gurjit not only was responsible for two of the fashion spreads for this issue of Beaux, she also took time to share with our readers her tips in summer skincare.
Christopher offers his personal view on his love of coffee in My Perfect Cup.
Alessio is Italian but has a multicultural background and enjoys travelling, motorcycling and salsa dancing, as well as being a keen sportsman, cook and coffee geek!
makeupbygurjit.com/ This is his first time contributing to Beaux, and he offers us his personal take on his love for coffee in ‘The Perfect Cup!’.
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CONTRIBUTORS
VICTORIA DE LA TORRE
SAMSON POON
ANDRE CORRAY
Hailing from Argentina, Victoria now divides her time between London and New York working as a professional fashion photographer, visual artist and image retoucher.
Diving enthusiast Samson Poon is a full-time graphic designer here in Hong Kong. He has worked for several years on Men’s Folio (Hong Kong edition) and teams up with Bhisan Rai in shooting the handsome and rugged Jesus in the superb editorial Blame it on the Sun.
Andre Cooray is a writer, filmmaker and photographer. He was born in Hong Kong and studied Media Arts at Deakin University in Melbourne, Australia. The New York Film Academy in Los Angeles was his next stop, before moving to Mumbai, the heart of Bollywood, where he wrote for a variety of publications. He now resides in Hong Kong as a full-time writer.
She teamed up with Beaux Magazine while she was in Hong Kong to create the fashion spread “A Walk in the Park.”
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coconutseed.com Andre meets with famed photographer David Lachapelle to to discover his new direction in art and photography.
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TIMMOTHY LEE Timothy Chuck Hin Lee (Timmothy Lee) is a 26 years old Hong Kong born Canadian image maker, He graduated in Niagara College with a a graphic design diploma and an illustration degree at Ontario Art and Design University. His job is to not only provide visual solutions to client, but also satisfy his own expressions. He is now currently located in Hong Kong to contintue presuing his dreams. He likes movies,music,graphic design, illustration, arts, photography, fashion, sports, skateboarding and breakdancing. timmothylee.com/
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AGENDA
BALLY AND CENTRAL SAINT MARTINS TEAMS UP AGAIN Bally has recently launched the exclusive men’s collection designed in collaboration with the Central Saint Martins MA Fashion course following a successful partnership with the women’s collection showcased back in 2010. Bally’s Creative Directors Graeme Fidler and Michael Herz have been involved with the project since its inception by working closely with the students from the prestigious College’s Master of Arts in Fashion students before selecting the designs of London-native Craig Green to form the capsule collection. Green has designed four urban styles for everyday wear, and each style will be produced in two colour variations featuring materials such as felt, suede, canvas and calf leathers combined in unique ways. This exclusive collection will be exclusively available in Hong Kong from July 4 onwards at the Bally Elements store. by Komphech Akkarasetthi 18 BEAUX
MICHELLE OBAMA WOWS THE WORLD WITH YEWN American First Lady Michelle Obama caused a sensation when she appeared in front of the world wearing a Jadeite Diamond Wish Fulfilling Lattice Ring along with a black Ralph Lauren gown last month. Widely respected for her exquisite taste in fashion, the First Lady was seen wearing none other than the contemporary Chinese luxury jewelry YEWN. At the star-studded dinner party, Michelle Obama wore her YEWN ring on her index finger and the ring quickly captured the eyes of many of the guests at the lavish event which included the British Prime Minister David Cameron, Football star David Beckham, Tom Hangs and J.K. Rowling, the author of the Harry Potter series. Guests were immediately wowed by YEWN’s creativity for turning the venerable architectural art form into a piece of wearable work of art. The YEWN Jadeite Diamond Wish Fulfilling Lattice Ring is available at the YEWN Heritage Jeweller at Shop 303, Level 3, The Landmark, Hong Kong. by Komphech Akkarasetthi BEAUX 19
AGENDA
THE KEY TO THE BEST WORLDWIDE SERVICE AT QUINTESSENTIALLY Quintessentially is an exclusive global private member’s club for those who believe that life is too short to waste time on the ordinary. Members are given a membership card, which provides them with 24-hour global concierge service in almost every major destination worldwide. Quintessentially is the passport to the very best life has to offer, whether it be travel, music, art, food, drink, hotels, spas, etc. No matter where you are in the world, or whatever time of the day it is, Quintessentially is here to help provide the best service to it’s members, no matter how extraordinary or difficult your needs may be. 20 BEAUX
Not only can they solve some of the most pressing practical problems such as where to find a good nanny, or where the best spa is in town and save you money, we can also help you make the most of your precious time. From front row seats at fashion shows to impossible-to-book tickets to the opera, charity galas, VIP after-parties or the spur-of-the-moment cruise on a yacht, Quintessentially can almost certainly help you achieve the unmanageable. The Quintessentially mission is to bring you only the very best in life. For more information, contact the Quintessentially office in your city or country. Quintessentially.com Website by Komphech Akkarasetthi
KEEP YOUR SKIN RADIANT WITH SUISSE PROGRAMME Most of us live a hurried and pressured life. Compounded by constant exposure to air pollutants and toxic elements found in our food and water, our skin can quickly lose its lustre and sheen. In the summer, air conditioners are vital to our comfort in the humid and sweltering heat, but while we stay comfortable, our skin can lose a great deal of moisture, and with ultra-violet rays increasing in the summer sun, it is important for us to not only use proper sun screen, a basic skincare regime is also essential in keeping our skin looking great. One product, which utilizes a new advanced technology in skincare, can help keep your skin looking brilliant: the Suisse Programme Cellular Boosting Solution. This hero product incorporates a unique Biodynamic Cellular Complex (BBC) and combines bio-ingredients that can be absorbed directly into our skin cells helping our skin looking radiant and healthy. A few small drops is all it takes and the result is almost immediate. The solution quickly replenish the oxygen level in our skin helping to detoxify our skin, increase elasticity and fight against aging. The Suisse Programme Cellular Boosting Solution is available exclusively at Sasa Hong Kong. by Khompech Akkarasetthi
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BEAUTE
by GURJIT KAUR
Skincare is essential for every women of any age. Caring for our skin and getting rid of the minor flaws on the facial skin is the key to flawless, smoother, radiant and younger looking skin. It is common for most women wanting to heal those blemishes, dry skin, big pores, wrinkles or most of all slowing down aging process or prevent aging (if at all possible). Here are some products that can be used according to your needs.
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Clinique anti-blemish solutions Blemishes are just so unavoidable, and there are several reasons to that. Genetics, hormones, stress, medications, pollution and irritation are just few of the culprits. This is a 3-step system that can help to put a stop to those spots and fight future breakouts. It’s very gentle on the skin and diminish spots almost instantly.
Clinique anti-blemish solutions ‘clearing concealer camouflant purifiant’ This is worth a try as well. It instantly put blemishes and redness undercover and it’s appropriate for all skin types.
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Gorgio Armani Regenessence multi-corrective rejuvenating cream. This is a regenerative cream to correct wrinkles, texture and tone the skin to reach an ultimate level of perfection. It gives you more smoother, tightened skin texture and more uniform complexion. It’s light and amazingly hydrating as well.
Gorgio Armani Regenessence youth regenerator This serum can be used alone day and night or layered underneath the Regenessence Multi-corrective Rejuvenating Cream. It helps instantly reduces wrinkles and gives you more replumped, refined and radiant skin
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Kiehl’s Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF50 PA+++ The most important skin-care product available to prevent wrinkles, skin cancer, freckles or spots etc is sunscreen. Regardless to weather or your working environment, put your sunscreen on even on a rainy or cloudy day. When you least expect the sun to shine through or even when you are just indoors all day. Leading dermatologists always recommend daily sunscreen as the number one measure necessary to protect your skin. Kiehl’s UV Defense is a great product which contains SPF 50+++ to thoroughly protect your skin and it’s dermatologist-tested. It’s as well light and does not grease or turn your face all white.
Sulwhasoo Hydro-aid Moisturizing Lifting Eye Serum This is a light weight eye essence, formulated with Korean herbal medicine. It instantly moisturizes the skin and improves the circulation of moisture and energy within the skin, relieving dark circles, dullness and puffiness. It keeps the skin’s moisture in high flow and deeply hydrate the skin from within resulting in supple, luminous skin and prevention from pre-mature aging. BEAUX 25
BRAND STORY FEATURE
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This month, BEAUX explores the world of the exquisite Hermès scarf. From the drawing table to the your romantic embrace, its step-by-step craftsmanship and quality is exceptional: an elegant and iconic piece to wear for now and a lifetime. Hermès carefully selects designers to create its exclusive patterns that express the spirit of Hermès. While certain artists have been longstanding with Hermès for over twenty years, many new and young artists are appraised and considered. As selection is very strict, the work of composition and the quality of the designs required for producing models - which are always 90 centimeters (35 inches) square - is not compromised. A Hermès scarf is not improvised. Once a theme has been launched and its designer selected, a long journey begins. A series of sketches are considered and thoroughly reviewed from the standpoints of composition, structure, equilibrium of the design, and the variety of colors BEAUX 27
involved. Each individual color necessitates a specific printing frame. Then, a release date is designated and the model is sent to an engraver who decomposes the design into as many frames as there are numbers of colors. This is a six to eight week time consuming, painstaking process - demanding total obedience to the artist’s vision. Upon completion, the frames are next passed on to the printer. Firstly, the printer performs color tests based on both fashion and seasonal trends and on the design and its unique characteristics. Undertaken under supervision, the color choice is delivered and each model is produced in five or six different color combinations. Fixing, steaming, washing, drying, finishing, and hemming operations are performed in the final stages with the latter completed by seamstresses working out of their homes. 28 BEAUX
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Annually, Hermès presents its clients with twelve new models, divided into two collections. To date, Hermès has produced over 900 models. Certain classic models such as “Ex Libris” and “Brides de Gala”, have never been discontinued due to constant demand.
LIFE OF A SCARF 9-12 months are required from the first stage—launch of the theme—to the final: the last confirmation of the design. Then: 18 months are required from the submission of the layout for engraving and delivery at the beginning of the new season. Engraving time Color trials Printing Finishing Rolling
: 3 months : 3 months (25 colors tried for 12 selected) : 1 month : 1 week : between 32 and 40 minutes per scarf (work done by hand)
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WHAT’S HOT FOR HIM
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WHAT’S HOT FOR HER
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SHOOT OUT
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Top: Stylist Owns Skirt: Maison Martin Margiela Paris Shoes: Franco Sarto
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Dress: Le Chateau
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Dress: Roksanda Ilincic Accessory: Stylist Owns
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Dress: Le Chateau
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Trench Coat: Patrick Larrivee Shoes: Le Chateau
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Dress: Temperley London Shoes: Le Chateau
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Serenade Photographer: Jeff Ip Stylist: Bhisan Rai Makeup & Hair: Gurjit Kaur Model: Barbora W (StarzPeople)
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Jacket / Versace
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Fringe Jacket / Gucci
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Dress / Bottega Veneta
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Backless Dress / Bottega Veneta (both pages)
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White Lace Dress / Dolce & Gabbana
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Knit Dress / Wong Chau Hung, Denise
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Burgundy Crinkled Dress / Lanvin Leather Braces / Hermes
Art Direction & Photographer: Max To / Assisted by: Roy Kwan Beauty Director: Wil Wu / Make Up: Reve Ryuu / Hair by: MC Max Fashion Director: Patryk Chaou / Model: Janice Yip
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Black Dress / YSL Belt / Gucci
Red Butterfly Blouse and Shorts / Sportmax
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Blue Fitted Dress / Versace
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Leather Wrap Dress / Loewe Patent Red Shoes / Sportmax
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White Dress with Red Lining / Sportmax Nylon Windbreaker / Hogan
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Green Dress with Feathers / Gucci
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Purple Loose Dress / Fendi Wide Belt / YSL
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Orange Dress / Shiatzy Chen Wide Belt / YSL Black Chiffon Long Blouse / Hermes Gold Heels / Gucci
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Dress, Belt and Shoes / Fendi
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Silk Dress, Stingray Leather Corset & Belt / Hermes
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Top and Pants / Ports 1961; Shoes / Rupert Sanderson
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Photographer: Victoria de la Torre Fashion Stylist: Patryk Chaou Makeup and Hair: Wil Wu Assisted by: Marco Ho, Reve Ryuu, MC Max, Kannis Tsui, Richard Sun
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Top / Bally; Shorts / Loewe; Sandals / Rupert Sanderson
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Leather Jacket / Bally; Bikini Top and Shorts / H&M; Wedge Heels / Rupert Sanderson
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Dress / Vivienne Westwood Gold Label Bikini Top / H&M Heels / Bally
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Sweater and Bikini Top /H&M Shorts / Ports 1961 Shoes / Bally Bag / YSL
Jacket and Pants / Vivienne Westwood Red Label; Bikini Top / H&M Heels / YSL
Top / Ports 1961 Dress / Bally Shoes / Rupert Sanderson
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Top and Skirt / Versace; Shoes / Burberry Prorsum
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Dress by Ports 1961
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ACCESSORIES
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Emilie: Sunglasses / Dior; Lingerie / Huit; Jewelry / MCL Rodney: Sunglasses / Dior
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Sunglasses / Cutler and Gross Lingerie / Huit Jewelry / MCL
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Sunglasses / Loewe
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Sunglasses / Bottega Veneta; Jewelry / MCL; Dress / Dolce & Gabbana
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Sunglasses / Loewe Pants / Model’s own
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Sunglasses / YSL
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Sunglasses / Tom Ford Bracelet / MCL Outfit / Dolce & Gabbana
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Sunglasses / D Squared; Bracelet & Ring / MCL
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Sunglasses / Dunhill
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Bracelet / MCL Outfit / Dolce & Gabbana
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ART
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Photographer: Norm Yip Model: Janice Yip
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Photography & Text by Norm Yip
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Model: Toto Tattoo by: TATTOO888 (tattoo888.com)
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Model: Gretchell Yeung Tattoo: Maori tattoo by Turumakina Duley, Auckland New Zealand
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Model: Philip Lai Tattoo by: TATTOO888 (tattoo888.com)
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Model: Jason S. Polley Tattoos by: Clint at “Peace of Mind” in Lethbridge, Canada; Julia formerly of “Star-Crossed” in Hong Kong; Arno at “Imago” in Montreal, Canada; Ami at “Miami Ink”; Leon, from Hong Kong, and others.
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Model: Kevin Yung Tattoo by: Star-Crossed Tattoo, Hong Kong
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PROFILE Enlightenment, Camera, Action… Having photographed the world’s most glamorous people; from Elizabeth Taylor to Lady Gaga, for well over two decades, photographer and artist David LaChapelle is as high profile as you can get. At an intimate gathering to launch his exhibition ‘The Raft’ at de Sarthe Fine Art, LaChapelle opens up on why he escaped the world of celebrity to seek refuge in fine art. Name any top celebrity and Hawaiibased photographer David LaChapelle is likely to have taken their portrait. Famous for his stylized, over-the-top images, his work has graced the covers of high-end editorial publications including Italian Vogue, French Vogue and Vanity Fair. A protégé of the legendary Andy Warhol, he went on to direct music videos for the likes of Christina Aguilera, Moby and Jennifer Lopez. Lately, however, he’s turned his attention to the art world and judging by his debut exhibition in Hong Kong last month, he’s outdone himself yet again. After visiting Beijing over a year ago, LaChapelle felt inspired by the culture and enlightened by the Dao. The visit was the impetus for his Bruce Lee series, the first chapter of his ‘Raft’ exhibit. Examining the East from a
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Raft of Illustion, Raging Towards Truth II, Mixed media collage on canvas, 2010
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Game of Death, Chromogenic Print, 2010
western standpoint, LaChapelle chose Lee as his subject because the iconic on-screen hero personified the fusion of both worlds. “He predated this whole idea of globalization, being from Hong Kong and Hollywood. He lived a very interesting life because he took martial arts and - informed by the Dao - elevated it into something almost spiritual,” says LaChapelle. A section from his new series of collages that were on display at de Sarthe 138 BEAUX
Fine Art pay homage to the Kung fu veteran and the kitschy film posters he appeared on. The works feature LaChapelle’s trademark: highly saturated colours, elaborate sets and strong narratives. “I wanted the collage feel of these movie posters of the ‘70’s as well as the sort dynamics of this cultural clash of East versus West, and of spirituality versus sexuality,”
“I COULDN’T SEE MYSELF GROWING OLD IN THE FASHION BUSINESS OR WITH CELEBRITIES,” HE SAYS. “I DIDN’T WANT TO PHOTOGRAPH THE NEXT BRITNEY SPEARS OR THE NEXT WHOEVER THAT MIGHT BE.”
photographer that LaChapelle is, nothing was added digitally. That said, he admits to pushing the colours and cranking up the grain to achieve the overall movie poster effect. In contrast to the Bruce Lee images where everything was assembled on set then photographed, LaChapelle’s The Raft of Illusion, Raging Toward Truth II is a more traditional collage. It is composed of photographic cut outs, raw paint, corrugated cardboard and crumpled sheets of plastic. The captivating montage is best described as epic and was the centerpiece of the exhibition at de Sarthe Fine Art. The work depicts a group of people at sea hanging literally for dear life to a raft amid a raging storm – as their naked bodies are tossed across the ocean by merciless crashing waves.
he explains. To create the works, LaChapelle created a theatrical set juxtaposing large scale Chinese calligraphy on Plexiglas sheets with cardboard cutouts and life-sized props. He hired a Bruce Lee impersonator to pose for the shots. LaChapelle was fascinated by Lee’s quote ‘Be like water’ which is taken from the Dao. “I wanted my own spin on it so instead of movie credits, I use quotations of the Dao [in my collages],” he says. Being the master
It’s symbolic of the dark periods and personal catastrophes that plague our lives – mentally, emotionally and spiritually. The moody multitextured image in which he uses an old school, hands-on technique really signifies his departure from the commercial world. The photographs used in the traditional collage were non-appropriated shots taken by LaChapelle. “It’s very important for me also to have the drama, the actual event occurring so all the people were on the raft and we shot it over two days in the sun on the rocks in Hawaii,” he enthuses. BEAUX 139
Big Boss, Chromogenic Print, 2010
The powerful work also featured a large sized origami dove hanging above it to represent the promise of inner peace and hope for the future. “We can more or less strive to find our own shores of paradise within ourselves,” says LaChapelle who is all too familiar with personal tragedies. In the late eighties and early nineties, he lost many friends to AIDS including celebrated artist Keith Haring. “People were dying in weeks and where does this energy go?” questions LaChapelle. 140 BEAUX
In 2006, he made the bold step to walk away from commercial photography and moved to Maui where he bought a farm. It was here that his passion for fine art was reignited. In fact, everything fell into place when Fred Torres, his producer of 15 years at the time, approached him to exhibit at a gallery in Berlin. “I couldn’t see myself growing old in the fashion business or with celebrities,” he says. “I didn’t want to photograph the next Britney Spears or the next whoever that might be.”
Fear of Dragon, Chromogenic Print, 2010
LaChapelle who began his career in 1984, showing in New York galleries has come full circle. Like his dramatic photographs on display at de Sarthe Fine Art, LaChapelle sees his return to the contemporary art world as a powerful rebirth and new beginning.
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FOOD
by Darlene Chu
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My favourite chocolate shops: 1. Jean-Paul Hévin Address: 231 Rue Saint Honoré Metro: Tuileries or Pyramides Tel.: +33 (0)1 55 35 35 96 2. La Maison du Chocolat Address: 225, rue du Faubourg St. Honoré Metro: Place des Termes Tel.: +33 (0)1 42 27 39 44 3. Pierre Hermé Address: 72 Rue Bonaparte Metro: St.-Germain-des-Près Tel.: +33 (0)1 43 54 47 77 4. Michel Cluizel Address: 201, Rue St. Honoré Metro: Tuileries Tel.: +33 (0)1 42 44 11 66 5. Christian Constant Address: 37 rue Assas Metro: St. Placide or Rennes Tel.: +33 (0)1 53 63 15 15
Paris is the city for fashion and passion; AND chocolate with the most seductive and decadent delights one could imagine - Paris is the City of Light and dark chocolate. On a recent trip to Paris, I went on foot to seek out the city’s sweetest and most indulgent chocolate treasures from amongst some of the world’s best chocolatiers. I decided to devote one full day to Paris’ most elegant chocolate boutiques. It was thrilling - a chocoholic’s dream. Paris Metro pass and map in hand, I set off to cover five arrondissements in one day. My journey began at Jean-Paul Hévin where cobalt-accented boxes of delicate bonbons were displayed in a lighted backdrop of modern dark wood cabinetry and slate flooring. Squeezing in amongst Japanese tourists clutching guidebooks, I quickly decided on cheese-filled chocolates, caramels, and a variety of regional chocolate slabs with the salted caramel milk chocolate as a standout. It’s only the first stop and I’ve already blown my budget. A few shops ahead, I arrive at Michel Cluizel who has been making chocolate since 1948. Mr. Cluizel’s daughter, Catharine, presents me with an assortment of decadent delights including their macarolat, a chocolate macaron. This delicious confection consists of a dark chocolate shell filled with almond and hazelnut praline with the nuts ground coarsely to provide a rich and crunchy texture. Next stop, Pierre Hérme; after a brief detour to Chanel, up the street at the original Rue Cambon address. In this slim, black boutique, the macarons are out of this world and I adore them all. Pristine row upon row of exotic macarons with new and unusual flavors such as milk chocolate and passion fruit, rose, pistachio and morello cherry, olive oil and vanilla, and jasmine flower, decorated with gold. Riding the Metro back to Clemenceau at avenue des Champs Elysées, I make my way to La Maison du Chocolat, eagerly anticipating its famous truffles, ganache, and chocolate-fruit confections at its exceptionally serviced boutique where I pick up a couple more boxes of assorted indulgent treats including the piece de resistance, the chocolate éclair. Last stop, exhilarated and exhausted, I make my way to Christian Constant, home to a vast array of cakes, pastries, ganache, and sinful hot chocolates.
Photo: Courtesy of the Internet
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FOOD
My Perfect Cup
To all coffee-lovers, what’s your perfect cup of coffee? Two writers were asked to give their personal intake on their own perfect cup...
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Alessio Savona’s Perfect Cup Have you ever been asked the question “what’s your favorite smell”? I’ve never had any doubts answering this: the smell of freshly prepared coffee in the morning. One of my earliest childhood memories is waking up in those hot Sicilian summers in my Nonna’s summer house to the warm aroma of coffee boiling through her Bialetti moka pot. The aluminium machine would be on an intense morning shift to start the day of all her children and grandchildren who habitually spent the summers with her.
different places and researching all the variables that make a coffee perfect for me.
On the other side of my family, my Grandma has had a love relationship with coffee spanning many decades. She owns more coffee machines than shoes! Her cup is full at all hours of the day and at 85 years of age in perfect health - many argue that this may be the secret to her longevity.
I love my cappuccino dry (less milk and more froth) so I can taste the full body of the espresso shot beneath the “white hat” and still soften its bitterness; I add a three-quarter tea spoon of raw brown sugar on the top, and watch it sink through the cocoa-dusted froth deep down into the dark core of the cup. Stir and sip slowly, perhaps melting in the mouth a square of luxurious 90% chocolate to add more depth to the experience. That’s perfection!
I’ve grown up in a country where coffee is somewhat of a national institution. There is no good or bad coffee, there is just coffee, and any excuse is good enough to go “take an espresso” at the closest bar with a friend, colleague or partner. Even with all this exposure, I’ve never been a coffee fanatic and never drank much of it until I moved to the UK. Here, I was introduced to various coffee chains and their bizarre concoctions, named using questionable Italian-sounding words. This was where I realized there was such a thing as good and bad coffee. Since then I’ve made the search for the perfect cup my holy grail; trying out
To some, I may sound like a coffee-snob when I argue how many grams should be ground or when I fuss over how much froth and how much milk should be in my cappuccino. I have one coffee every morning to start my day and since I am not a morning person, that cup is the kick start to my day - the moment I treasure, when everything around me stops if only for a few minutes.
Since moving to Hong Kong my search has begun again. I have been lucky in swiftly finding suitable providers to my daily ritual: “Holly Brown”, in Central and Tsim Sha Tsui mixes Italian passion with Australian technical skills to produce a truly gourmet cup of coffee; “18grams” is a small and cozy cafe in Causeway Bay that will grind exactly that amount in your espresso. If you visit Tai O village on Lantau Island, look for “Solo Café” for freshly roasted coffee with a beautiful riverside view.
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Christopher Branch’s Perfect Cup I’m a coffee geek, you need to know that. I try and live my life by finding simple pleasures in simple things. If you can build your day with lots of little pleasures, you end up in a happy place. When prepared correctly, coffee is one of these pleasures. There is nothing better to me than meandering through the streets of London in search of great coffee - and luckily there is an abundance of it. Quirky, independent coffee shops are cropping up all over the place. Occasionally I walk past a Starbucks closing down and it puts a smile on my face. Upon entering a good coffee shop, I am always faced with a dilemma: filtered or espresso? I enjoy filtered coffee as a longer drink; great to drink over time while conversing with a good friend. It has a wonderful complexity which changes flavour as it cools. Filtered coffee is also a great way to get a true sense of one country’s coffee as it can be served as a single origin - as opposed to espresso which tends to be a blend of a few countries. However, I just LOVE espresso! I love it straight, I soften it in a macchiato or I stretch it out for longer with a flat white. If I really want to test the skill of a barista, I go for a ristretto. If they can create something dark and strong but still bring out the softer notes of the blend, I doff my cap. I cannot say I prefer any of the above methods as there is a time and a place for all of them. I can, however, pin-point two very definite cups of coffee that I class as my all-time favourites. One was in a shop called The Railway in Hackney, East London. It came from a Peruvian bean roasted 146 BEAUX
round the corner and served as a filter. It was a Sunday morning and I had the newspapers spread on the table with a beautiful girl sitting opposite me. We stared at the rain hitting the window, feeling happy to be inside with nowhere else to be. The coffee arrived, steaming in a hand-made clay mug. There was never a hint of acidity or bitterness but the flavour was dark and strong with a nutty aroma. As it cooled, hints of light-berries, caramel and even banana surfaced. It was pondered and shared in comfortable silence - the occasional wry smile acknowledging a new flavour. For me, there is no better way to spend an autumn’s day. My second (but equal favourite) cup was the most perfect flat-white I have ever had. I was served by the 2009 World Barista Champion who is now a living legend in the London coffee scene. He’s recognised just by his first name - Gwilym. The flavours were so perfectly crisp I could close my eyes and let my thoughts travel through the landscape and then focus on each one individually. There was fruit cake, crème brulee, soft spices and dark fruits. It genuinely stopped me in my tracks. I had places to be, it was a busy day. But stuck I was. In that coffee shop. Mesmerised... Much to the amusement and bemusement of my Nescafe-drinking friends, I take my coffeegeekery to another level. But as I said, simple pleasures from simple things is what keeps me going. I find having a little knowledge about coffee turns a simple hot brew into something magical.
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