Prestige Hong Kong _ August 2019

HONG KONG AUGUST 2019 HK$50

prestigeonline.com

FELICITY JONES A BEAUTIFUL LIFE BEAUTY & WELLNESS AWARDS 2019 | TRAIL WALKING IN TASMANIA CARTIER ROMANCES THE STONES | UNCORKING THE BEST OF ITALY PLUS XIE RONG | MARJORIE YANG & DEE POON | GUILLAUME NÉRY

UNDERCOVER

CAMERA READY

Felicity Jones practically grew up in front of a camera. But she still loves the excitement of a photo shoot. “I love the shoots and working with such a brilliant group of people,” she says of her work with Clé de Peau Beauté, which sees her face turn up on billboards the world over, as well as the promotional shoots for her various acting projects. “Everyone pulls together to create something extraordinary. It’s a magical process.”

Jones also enjoys any opportunity to travel to Japan, where Clé de Peau Beauté is based. “It’s one of my favourite places to visit. The history, the fashion, the food – it’s all exquisite.” With the launch this month of the new Key Radiance Care collection of skin-perfecting products, expect to see more of Jones whether you’re in Tokyo, Taipei, Hong Kong or Honolulu.

6 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

© 2018 Harry Winston SA

Harry Winston Avenue Classic Aurora

ELEGANT WATCH & JEWELLERY OCEAN TERMINAL +852 2735 8481

YES WATCH 1-3 MODY ROAD +852 2366 3288

HARRYWINSTON.COM

CONTENTS 6 UNDERCOVER 14

EDITOR’S LETTER

16 DIGITAL 18 DIARY 143

FOCUS: WEDDINGS 171 FOCUS: KIDS 176 BACKSTORY AGENDA

20

STYLE Rock your wardrobe

22

DISCOVERY Ones to watch

24

TRAVEL Goss for globetrotters

26

JEWELLERY A cornucopia of stone and metal

28

BEAUTY Shades, salves and scents

30

WATCHES Fine art for the wrist

32

DINING Tickling the taste buds

34

ART Masters old and new

36

AUCTIONS Going, going…

RSVP 38

EVENTS The month’s top parties

PEOPLE 44

DEE POON & MARJORIE YANG Family Ties

COVER 48

FELICITY JONES Wonder Woman

FASHION 58

MENSWEAR Redefined

70

YOON AHN Evolution Theories

32 Japanese restaurant Honjo opens in Sheung Wan

8 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

CONTENTS JEWELLERY 74

CARTIER Shaken and Stirred

82

FRED All in the Family

WATCHES

84

PANERAI Guillaume Néry

88

PARMIGIANI FLEURIER Amanda Lui

92

AUDEMARS PIGUET Hearts of Oak

BEAUTY 95

THE WINNERS The Prestige Beauty & Wellness Awards 2019

CULTURE 116 ART

Xie Rong

120 HERITAGE

Queen Victoria

TOYS 124 CAR

BMW 3-Series

INDULGENCE 128 WINE

Incandescent Italians

132 RESORT

Rosewood Bermuda

136 TRAVEL

Tasmanian trails

140 HOTEL

Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing

48 Felicity Jones

10 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

HONG KONG

Tama Miyake Lung EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

Gigi Lee

CREATIVE DIRECTOR

Jon Wall

Zaneta Cheng

SENIOR EDITOR

FASHION & FEATURES EDITOR

Stephen Reels

Tiffany Poon

COPY EDITOR

Michael Alan Connelly

SOCIETY EDITOR

Dara Chau

HEAD OF DIGITAL CONTENT

Fontaine Cheng

DIGITAL EDITOR

Sepfry Ng

ART DIRECTOR

Jing Zhang

EDITOR AT LARGE

Aydee Tie

DIGITAL WRITER

Philip Chan

SENIOR PRODUCTION MANAGER

HEAD OF MARKETING

Janet Ho

CONTRIBUTING DESIGNER

CONTRIBUTING EDITORS

Kavita Daswani, Andrew Dembina, Alvin Goh, Nick Goodyer, Mark Graham, Divia Harilela, Theresa Harold, Gary Jones, Elle Kwan, Gerrie Lim, Tasha Ling, Stephen McCarty, Joanne Ooi, Mathew Scott, Stephen Short, Payal Uttam, Joe Yogerst CONTRIBUTING PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dino Busch, Until Chan, Lionel Deluy, Christiaan Hart, Chun Ho, Joe Kwong, Ruby Law, Ricky Lo, Gordon Lund, Marco Ponti, Mike Ruiz, Laurent Segretier, Samantha Sin, Calvin Sit, Giovanni Squatriti, Olivier Yoan

PRESTIGE ASIA

Grace Tay

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, SINGAPORE

Chris Hanrahan

MANAGING EDITOR, INDONESIA

Steve Chen

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF, TAIWAN

Julie Yim

EDITOR, MALAYSIA

Reena Hallberg

DEPUTY MANAGING EDITOR, THAILAND

The Hong Kong edition of Prestige is published under licence from Burda Singapore Pte Ltd. Copyright © 2019 Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd. No part of this magazine may be reproduced without the written permission of Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd. All opinions expressed in Prestige Hong Kong are those of the writers and are not necessarily endorsed by Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd. Rights reserved. Prestige is a trademark of Burda Singapore Pte Ltd. Hubert Burda Media Hong Kong Ltd accepts no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts, transparencies or other materials lost or damaged in the mail.

Address all editorial and business correspondence to: Prestige Hong Kong, Unit 1401-04, 14/F, Universal Trade Centre, 3 Arbuthnot Road, Central, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 3192 7010. Advertising and Marketing: salesandmarketing@burda.hk | Editorial: editor@burda.hk Prestige Hong Kong is printed by C. A. Printing Co. Ltd, 9/F, Cheung Wei Industrial Building, 42 Lee Chung Street, Chai Wan, Hong Kong. Tel: (852) 2866 8733.

Prestige Hong Kong is published monthly. Single copy price is HK$50. For local and overseas subscription information, please email: subscription@burda.hk. Tel: (852) 3192 7020.

DEWDROP FULL PAVÉ STACKING BAND IN ROSE GOLD WITH DIAMONDS DE BEERS

12 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

HONG KONG

Sven Friedrichs

MANAGING DIRECTOR & PUBLISHER

Tony Cheong HEAD OF SALES

Janet Wong

ASSOCIATE SALES DIRECTOR

Wendy Cheung

ASSOCIATE SALES DIRECTOR

Astor Chan

CREATIVE SERVICES MANAGER

Talia Jackson

HEAD OF CREATIVE PARTNERSHIPS

Brian Bailey

PARTNERSHIPS DIRECTOR

Linda Mak

CLIENT SERVICES MANAGER

Prudence Ng

Georgia Parungao CONTENT LEAD

Annie Yung

OFFICE MANAGER

Daisy Wan

ACCOUNTANT

ACCOUNT OFFICER

PRESTIGE ASIA

Lena Kwek

Ronald Liem

MANAGING DIRECTOR, SINGAPORE

PUBLISHER, INDONESIA

Steve Chen

Steven Chan

PUBLISHER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, MALAYSIA

Waraporn Siriboonma

PUBLISHER, TAIWAN

PUBLISHER AND MANAGING DIRECTOR, THAILAND

INTERNATIONAL ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES BURDA COMMUNITY NETWORK Michael Neuwirth Senior Client Service Manager International Media Kseniia Komarova Client Service Manager International Media

Tel: +49 (89) 9250 3629 Email: michael.neuwirth@burda.com Tel: +49 (89) 9250 3035 Email: kseniia.komarova@burda.com

France/Benelux Marion Badolle-Feick T: +33 (1) 72 71 25 24 Head of Sales Region France & Benelux Email: marion.badolle-feick@burda.com Switzerland/Austria Christina Bresler Tel: +49 (89) 9250 2232 Head of Sales Region Austria & Switzerland Email: christina.bresler@burda.com Switzerland Regina Essig Tel: +41 (44) 810 21 46 Senior Client Service Manager Sales Region Switzerland Email: regina.essig@burda.com UK/Ireland Jeannine Soeldner Tel: +44 (20) 7607 7979 Head of Sales Regions UK&Ireland Email: jeannine.soeldner@burda.com Italy/Scandinavia/Spain/Netherlands (Fashion)/Greece/others Lena Kรถlle Tel: +49 (89) 9250 3197 Client Service Manager Email: lena.koelle@burda.com

Martin Weiss

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBER

Sven Friedrichs

CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER, ASIA

Chua Siew Gek

FINANCIAL DIRECTOR

WULU BAMBOO LACE NECKLACE IN ROSE GOLD WITH DIAMONDS AND EMERALD QEELIN

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

13

EDITOR’S LETTER

ABOUT FACE

The past few months have been a labour of love – more love than labour, to be honest – as the Prestige team pulled together to test more than 300 products and over three dozen treatments in the pursuit of truth for our annual Beauty & Wellness Awards.

So it’s with not a small amount of excitement and anticipation that we bring you this year’s list, which is not only the biggest ever but also presented in an entirely new and easy-to-follow format. Turn to page 95 for all the winners and be sure to share your feedback. We’re always happy to discuss our favourite beauty and wellness products!

Speaking of beauty, I’m also thrilled to have award-winning British actress and Clé de Peau Beauté global ambassador Felicity Jones on our cover this month. If you haven’t seen her starring turns in The Theory of Everything, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story and On the Basis of Sex, then you need to – now. As I discovered in our conversation, Jones is a rare blend of talent, poise and professionalism, which perhaps isn’t so surprising when you also learn that the actress started working at the tender age of 12.

This month we also enjoy an exclusive chat with Hong Kong leading ladies Marjorie Yang and daughter Dee Poon, as they tell us about their efforts to promote sustainability in the garment industry. Fashion and features editor Zaneta Cheng, meanwhile, sits down with fashion and jewellery designer Yoon Ahn, while editor-at-large Jing Zhang reports back from her London visit with groundbreaking performance artist Xie Rong.

On the Indulgence front, we’ve nearly covered every corner of the globe with destinations ranging from Beijing and Bermuda to Tuscany and Tasmania. And don’t miss our expanded watch and jewellery coverage with inside looks at Cartier’s new high-jewellery extravaganza, Parmigiani Fleurier’s Swiss manufacture and Fred’s meaningful new Ombre Feline collection.

August is also the time when we have weddings and kids in mind, with two special sections devoted to all your matrimonial needs and all the latest in children’s gear and goodies. We hope you find something to help yourself – or at least help entertain the little ones – but if not, may we suggest a warm bath and a soothing sheet mask?

We might be able to recommend one…

Tama Miyake Lung | EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

14 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

prestigeonline.com

HONG KONG AUGUST 2019 HK$50

FELICITY JONES A BEAUTIFUL LIFE BEAUTY & WELLNESS AWARDS 2019 | TRAIL WALKING IN TASMANIA CARTIER ROMANCES THE STONES | UNCORKING THE BEST OF ITALY PLUS XIE RONG | MARJORIE YANG & DEE POON | GUILLAUME NÉRY

PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL SCHWARTZ facebook.com/prestigehongkong @prestigehk

@Prestige_HK

DIGITAL SIR JAMES DYSON SPLASHES OUT ON SINGAPORE’S MOST EXPENSIVE PENTHOUSE

The British billionaire dropped more than HK$420 million on a three-storey penthouse. We take a look inside the 21,000-square-foot space with amazing amenities including a barbecue pit and a 600-bottle wine cellar. prestigeonline.com/hk/pursuits/

ASIA’S BEST PASTRY CHEF TALKS TO US ABOUT CAKE, CHOCOLATE AND LOBSTERS, TOO

We sat down with Fabrizio Fiorani, named Asia’s Best Pastry Chef 2019, during his recent visit to Hong Kong to chat about the wonderful world of pastry and why creators should be like lobsters. prestigeonline.com/ hk/wine-dine/

HENNESSY CELEBRATES SUMMER FUN AT ITS OWNING THE SUNSET PARTY

The French cognac maker hosted a lavish affair in Hong Kong attended by a cool crowd of VIP guests including Cantopop singers Vincy Chan and Anson Poon. See who else attended in our gallery. prestigeonline.com/hk/people-events/

ROTORUA, NEW ZEALAND, IS A NATURAL WONDERLAND YOU NEED TO VISIT

A visit to the wilderness reveals lush landscapes, bubbling geothermal activity, rich Māori cultural traditions and a plethora of wildlife including deer, buffalo, alpaca and pheasants. prestigeonline.com/hk/travel/

16 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

DIARY HONG KONG

August 16-25

RASHOMON Chung Ying Theatre scooped three gongs at the Hong Kong Drama Awards this year (best director, best lighting design and outstanding production) for its staging of this Akutagawa tale, first adapted by film auteur Akira Kurosawa in 1950. This re-run, staged at Hong Kong City Hall, portrays four different and self-serving versions of the murder of a samurai in a forest as recounted by a bandit, a woodcutter, the samurai’s wife and the samurai himself. In Cantonese.

ASIA-PACIFIC

Until August 24

TEAMLAB: UNIVERSE OF WATER PARTICLES IN THE TANK Tank Shanghai, a complex of five enormous oil tanks converted to an exhibition space, hosts this interactive display of digital installations. The interior of one tank is transformed into whimsical landscapes of waterfalls, flowers and waves that blur the boundaries between art and people.

Until August 31

HERE, ANOTHER NIGHT COMES FROM TRILLIONS OF LIGHT YEARS AWAY: ETERNAL INFINITY Presented by Tokyo’s Yayoi Kusama Museum, this exhibition showcases early pieces from Kusama’s Infinity Nets series, as well as photographs and documents related to its production. Also on display is her latest painting series, My Eternal Soul, and a stainless-steel pumpkin with cosmic colouring that’s showing for the first time in Japan.

August 17-November 10 September 3-7

HONG KONG WATCH & CLOCK FAIR Salon de TE, the standout attraction at this year’s Watch & Clock Fair at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Centre, makes use of Hong Kong’s status as a hub for timepiece collectors to stage a captivating line-up of watch parades, seminars, media tours and issues of horological interest. The Salon last year showcased more than 140 top-tier watch brands and over 800 exhibitors. The final day is open to the public.

September 4-7

CENTRESTAGE Anais Mak of Anaïs Jourden and Joseph Altuzarra of Altuzarra present collections at Centrestage 2019, a four-day fashion extravaganza of runway shows, seminars, talks and networking sessions featuring some 240 Asian brands and designer labels. The fair, held at the Convention and Exhibition Centre, also hosts the finals of the Hong Kong Young Fashion Designers’ Contest 2019.

BALENCIAGA: SHAPING FASHION Discover the work and legacy of Cristóbal Balenciaga, one of the 20th century’s most influential fashion designers, at Bendigo Art Gallery in Victoria, Australia.

Highlights include pieces made by Balenciaga at the peak of his creativity in the ’50s and ’60s.

EUROPE & THE AMERICAS

Until August 21

HYSTERICAL Phillips London partners renowned set designer and artist Gary Card to transform its Berkeley Square gallery into a dark and whimsical psychedelic landscape for a private selling exhibition that includes works by contemporary artists such as Erik Parker, Cindy Sherman and Kenny Scharf.

Until October 6

SILENT BEAUTY Held at Helsinki’s Ateneum Art Museum, this exhibition explores the mutual influences of Nordic and East Asian art through collections of visual art, ceramics, textile art and architecture by Finnish, Swedish, Chinese and Japanese artists.

August 2-26

EDINBURGH FESTIVAL FRINGE Billed as “the greatest celebration of arts and culture on the planet”, the Fringe explores climate change, ethnic identity and other issues through an astounding 4,000 paid and free performances that span genres, from dance to cabaret to circus.

Artists from 63 countries perform at more than 300 venues in Scotland’s capital.

18 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

AGENDA style THE SHAPE I’M IN Longchamp’s ubiquitous Le Pliage bag was introduced by Philippe Cassegrain in 1993, when he was inspired by Japanese origami to create this foldable bag. Fast forward to 2019 and Longchamp is collaborating with Tokyo-based design studio Nendo in a bid to reinterpret the iconic bag as a series of minimalist pieces. Besides the cones and cubes, we’re most definitely partial to the circular version inspired by traditional furoshiki cloths. longchamp.com

20 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

HEDONIST HEAVEN Michael Kors the man is known for throwing rollicking parties — and Michael Kors the brand follows in lockstep. This year’s film-industry shindig in Cannes was documented in a series called Candid in Cannes

by British photographer Greg Williams at the invitation of the American fashion label. The black-and-white snaps from the French Riviera are modern-day counterparts of those from the heyday of Studio 54.

Head to prestigeonline.com for the full image gallery.

BAGS OF STYLE

Nylon has come back in a big way, and Bottega Veneta’s new creative director Daniel Lee is making sure the guys get in on the fun with his Paper Touch Nylon family, launched for the pre-autumn season. Constructed using materials such as ripstop nylon, elastic mesh and spinnaker canvas, these lightweight, water-resistant bags with their crinkly texture are hard-working accessories. bottegaveneta.com

UNHIDDEN AGENDA

In anticipation of its autumn-winter collection, Gucci has created Gucci Manifesto, a three-piece capsule comprising a short-sleeve, crew-neck cotton T-shirt and a long-sleeve, oversize cotton sweatshirt with or without hood. These exclusive pieces are available worldwide for both men and women at gucci.com. You can’t miss the new Gucci art walls dedicated to the collection and the unique cat mask motif used in the packaging.

ONE FOR THE TEAM

K-pop fans will like this one. Fendi has partnered with its brand ambassador, Hong Kong-born, South Koreabased singer-songwriter Jackson Wang, to create a special capsule collection that merges fashion and music. Look out for the exclusive Fendi Team Wang logo on pieces that range from a Baguette bag for men, a clutch and a baseball hat, as well as running sneakers and slide sandals. Ready-to-wear pieces are set apart using black velvet and chenille. fendi.com

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

21

AGENDA discovery

25 HOURS A DAY WITH PHVLO, DESIGNER JOHANNA HO IS PUTTING VERSATILITY AND SUSTAINABILITY FRONT AND CENTRE

22 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

Hong Kong’s London-based fashion designer Johanna Ho made her name by dressing the likes of local power couple Eason Chan and Hilary Tsui, as well as establishing an international network of boutiques and stockists with her eponymous label several years ago.

Today, the talented, quirky designer has turned her attention to a new project called Phvlo — a sports-inspired, functional, versatile and sustainable fashion label rocking the scene with its forward-thinking concept.

“Phvlo is not just a brand. It’s more than that. It’s about creating a community of creatives that’s a counterbalance to wasteful fashion — and collections are trans-seasonal,” she explains. “Our motto is ‘a 25-hour lifestyle’. We’re reducing the need to multiply purchases to answer different needs through the versatility of each item, and each design is created individually making use of fabrics and techs that have minimal impact on the environment.”

The idea didn’t spark overnight, however. Ho took two years out after closing her eponymous brand before starting Phvlo.

“I had to do research, with a lot of mentoring from different people. One of them was the late Louise Wilson, my mentor and good friend since my Central Saint Martins days,” she explains. “And spending more time back in UK helped, as it’s actually a bit more mature and together in terms of knowledge — a community in itself with sustainability in fashion.”

Her garments have become serious staples in my own wardrobe. Sports and outdoorsy pieces, such as an ultra-light rain jacket with adjustable hood and removable sleeves, a dramatic wind breaker and a bold puffa, are fantastic quality and multifunctional. As with any successful sustainable brand, the proposition stands proud aesthetically as well as in concept. Collaborations with the design students of Central Saint Martins and the University of Westminster, as well as companies such as Adidas and Lane Crawford, mean that the Phvlo model is building momentum and gaining traction.

In Hong Kong, Ho has just launched a big project called Phvlo Hatch, taking over three levels of an old building in the famous garment and manufacturing district of Sham Shui Po. The space is being transformed into a physical platform aimed at rejuvenating the industry in Hong Kong with exciting design showcases and an atelier (“setting up a sample room with seamstresses and pattern cutters, who we call ‘lost people’, skilled people who were once upon a time so important to the fashion industry here”).

Community is key to Ho and her new project. “It’s about bridging and connecting creatives,” she says. “We believe this has no boundaries. We want different exchanges in culture, attitudes of design and lifestyles.” Jing Zhang

AGENDA travel

SALAAM OR SAWADEE?

A beachside resort in the Arabian Gulf with an exotically Thai flavour? If that sounds too far-fetched to be true then you clearly haven’t visited Anantara The Palm Dubai Resort, an urban escape on man-made islands and lagoons that lies just offshore from one of the most dynamic destinations in the Middle East. Here you can head into town for fabulous shopping and sightseeing, sail across the calm blue sea in a long-tail boat, feast on superb Thai-inspired cuisine, or simply chill in the comfort of an overwater villa — the only ones in the emirate.

24 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

Reconnect.

Montblanc StarWalker montblanc.com

AGENDA jewellery

A FINE WEAVE

Featuring a combination of custom-cut baguette and pavé diamonds woven together, the new Threads collection showcases Graff’s love of the precious stone.

It features earrings, necklaces and more in sparkling white and yellow hues. graff.com

MIX MASTER

Why wear one ring, bracelet or necklace when you can stack, layer, and mix and match? Chaumet encourages customers to play around with its Bee My Love, Joséphine, and Liens (pictured) collections to create colourful new styles in whimsical combinations. chaumet.com

26 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

Star-Crossed Love

The creative artisans at Van Cleef & Arpels turned to William Shakespeare for their newest highjewellery collection. Romeo & Juliet comprises more than100 unique pieces that bring the legendary story to life in dazzling fashion. vancleefarpels.com

CHOPARD’S RED CARPET TIMEPIECE IN WHITE ETHICAL GOLD SET WITH SAPPHIRES, FANCY-CUT DIAMONDS, AND A MOTHER-OF-PEARL AND DIAMOND DIAL IS ONE TO WATCH — AND ADMIRE. CHOPARD.COM

GO BIG OR GO HOME

Victoire de Castellane wasn’t going to let the 20th anniversary of Dior Joaillerie pass without a proper celebration. The artistic director decided to mark the occasion with Gem Dior, the maison’s largest highjewellery collection ever. Thirty-eight stunning parures made their grand debut at a gala event in Venice. dior.com

Animal Planet

Boucheron continues its procession of fabulous jewelled animals with the latest set of novelties from its high-jewellery workshops.

Besides snake- and doe-inspired rings, the collection features Meisa the Tit (pictured) perched on a white-gold branch and paved in blue, black and yellow sapphires. boucheron.com

STAR STRUCK

Hong Kong actress Karena Lam was guest of honour at Bulgari’s recent Cinemagia High Jewellery event in Capri, Italy. “Unprecedented colour combinations, gemstone cuts, creativity and artistry come together in the dreamlike masterpieces,” Lam said of the collection. “I feel the boldness and passion from the brand.” bulgari.com

CIRCLE OF LIFE

Inspired by nature, freedom and authenticity, the Horizon ring is a bold new statement by De Beers. Each hand-set ring has a central band of micropavé diamonds that “orbits between two outer bands, free to move in its own world”. The Horizon (from HK$29,000) is currently available in white, rose and yellow gold with diamonds, with a full collection coming soon. debeers.hk

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

27

AGENDA beauty NARS MAKES LOOKING GOOD ON THE GO EASIER THAN EVER WITH ITS NEW NATURAL RADIANT LONGWEAR CUSHION FOUNDATION (HK$410) WITH SPF 50

SKIN SAVIOURS

Celebrating 40 years at the forefront of skincare and wellbeing, Natura BissĂŠ has decided to pay special tribute to its most iconic products. Key items from the core collections are available individually and as gift sets. naturabisse.com

Fresh Scents

European home and body cosmetics brand Rituals is set to take Asia by storm, having just opened its first store in the region at Times Square. Bestselling bodycare collections include the Ritual of Sakura and the Ritual of Ayurveda, while popular home fragrances include Black Oudh. rituals.com

FEELING MISTY The latest innovation from geishainspired skincare brand Tatcha is the Satin Skin Mist (HK$460), an oil-free liquid powder that keeps skin fresh and balanced with a combination of Okinawan clay, Japanese wild rose and Japanese seagrass. The ultra-fine mist can be used under or over make-up any time throughout the day. joyce.com/beauty

28 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

AGENDA watches PLATINUM POWER

Exquisite though the Grand Feu dial of Breguet’s Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat Automatique 5367 is, we thought you’d be just as knocked out by this view of the watch’s intricately decorated movement. Made from platinum, the Calibre 581 measures a mere 3mm thick and offers 80 hours of power.

The price: around HK$1.26 million.

MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE EL PRIMERO CALIBRE, ZENITH’S NEW A384 REVIVAL (HK$63,300) IS AN ACCURATE RECREATION OF ONE OF THE MOST FAMOUS CHRONOGRAPHS EVER MADE

DIVING DIVA A recent addition to Longines’ line of Legend Diver Watches is this feminine interpretation in a 36mm steel case, with motherof-pearl dial and rotating internal bezel beneath its retro-style domed crystal. Recalling the brand’s dive watches of the 1960s, the reference L3.374.4.80.6 (price to be confirmed) is powered by an L592 automatic calibre and comes on a Milanese-mesh bracelet.

Favoured by the Few

At its “One of Not Many” event held in Pedder Building in June, Vacheron Constantin revealed its proud heritage of techical expertise and refinement to 150 North Asian guests, as well as unveiling the new Traditionelle Twin Beat Perpetual Calandar for the first time in this region.

30 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

MARKING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE MOON LANDINGS, OMEGA’S NEW SPEEDMASTER MOONWATCH 321 (HK$481,000) FEATURES AN EXACT REPLICA OF THE FAMED 321 CALIBRE, WHICH POWERED ALL SPACEBOUND SPEEDIES BACK IN THE DAY

FASHION MEETS FUNCTION

Supermodel Liu Wen wears Chanel’s latest J12 sports/dive watch (HK$44,900) in polished ceramic and steel. Featuring revised graphics on the dial, it’s powered by a COSCcertified 12.1 calibre made exclusively for Chanel by Kenissi in Geneva, which offers a reserve of up to 70 hours and is visible through a case-back crystal. The new J12 is water resistant to 20 bar.

SEA CREATURE

Inspired by jellyfish and notable for its soaring flying tourbillon and three-dimensional floating hour and minute numerals, MB&F’s HM7 Aquapod is now available in this even more striking, 25-piece Platinum Red limited edition (HK$1.42 million). Made from platinum 950 and with a vivid red sapphire crystal bezel, it also features a blazing strap in advanced, aircraft-grade elastomer.

TOUCH OF CLASSIMA

Baume & Mercier’s Classima watch collection has been joined by three models that feature what the brand calls “small complications” — a chronograph complete calendar, a dual time and, shown here, a small-seconds version with date window at 3 o’clock (HK$19,100). #prestigehk | PRESTIGE

31

AGENDA dining FOOD FIESTA

Get ready for “a Spanish gastronomic experience like no other”. La Rambla

by Catalunya has unveiled its first ever Chef’s Table to showcase seasonal and off-menu dishes to select groups of no more than six diners (from HK$1,200 per person, minimum of four). Executive chef Ferran Tadeo promises an array of imaginatively prepared dishes made with rare premium ingredients from around the world. larambla.hk

NEXT OF KIN

Soho newcomer Kinship, the brainchild of chefs Chris Grare and Arron Rhodes, has just launched a new weekend brunch with a menu that alternates between American and British themes inspired by the chefs’ respective childhoods. From HK$388. kinshiphk.com

NEW GROWTH

Having put plant-based cuisine on the map in Hong Kong with the wildly popular Grassroots Pantry, Peggy Chan is gearing up for a new challenge. The chef has shuttered Grassroots Pantry and unveiled Nectar, a new high-end concept featuring a progressive, plant-driven tasting experience, in its place. nectarexperience.co

IN THE RAW

With interiors resembling “the imaginary backdrop of a typical Japanese person’s dream world” and dishes that explore the “transformation of Japanese cuisine through cultural influences”, Pirata Group’s Honjo is poised to become Sheung Wan’s next dining sensation. facebook.com/honjohk

ARCANE’S SHANE OSBORN (RIGHT) AND NEAL LEDESMA ARE BRANCHING OUT WITH CASUAL MODERN BISTRO CORNERSTONE IN SOHO #prestigewinedine | PRESTIGE

33

AGENDA art SPILLING INK Victor Wong, who has created visual effects for more than 100 films, spent three years developing the world’s first robotic ink artist in order to plot 3D virtual terrain in the style of ancient ink and water paintings. See A.I. Gemini’s original works now at TECH-iNK Garden. Until August 30

CHARACTER STUDY

In his first solo exhibition in Hong Kong and his third with Perrotin following shows in Paris and Seoul, Japanese artist Madsaki presents three of his iconic series: Warhol, Movie and Character. He also pays homage to Hong Kong with paintings of scenes from famous local films such as Infernal Affairs and In the Mood for Love. Until August 17

VIRTUAL REALITY

Renowned multidisciplinary artist Kohei Nawa explores the perception of virtual and physical space and the relationship between nature and artificiality in new works now on show at Pace. Until August 29

THE CENTRE FOR HERITAGE, ARTS AND TEXTILE PRESENTS THE LARGEST-EVER SOLO EXHIBITION OF LEADING INDIAN ARTIST N.S. HARSHA. UNTIL NOVEMBER 3

34 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

CAN YOU BE BOTH

CREATIVE AND SUCCESSFUL

IN BUSINESS?

SCAD�

SAYS YES!

Jocelyn DeSisto

Founder and lead designer Lot28 Design B.F.A., jewelry, 2017

Courses of study are registered with the Hong Kong Education Bureau, registration numbers: 261958-261971, 262196-262202 and 262909. It is a matter of discretion for individual employers to recognize any qualification to which these courses may lead.

AGENDA auctions OWNED BY ACTOR MARLON BRANDO AND WORN IN THE MOVIE APOCALYPSE NOW, THIS UNIQUE BEZEL-LESS AND SELF-ENGRAVED ROLEX GMT-MASTER IS OFFERED FOR SALE IN NEW YORK ON DECEMBER 10 BY PHILLIPS IN ASSOCIATION WITH BACS & RUSSO

1965 FORD GT40 ROADSTER PROTOTYPE August 15-17 Among the amazing automobiles offered at RM Sotheby’s Monterey auction is this open-top Ford GT40 prototype, built in Slough, UK, in 1965 as a development and test vehicle for Shelby American, and driven at the time by the likes of Ken Miles, Carroll Shelby and the great Jim Clark. Advance registration is required to bid for this fine, original and incredibly rare racing car.

HANYU ICHIRO FULL CARD SERIES WHISKY COLLECTION

August 16 The highlight of Bonhams Hong Kong’s upcoming wine and whisky auction is a set of rare Japanese whisky — each of the 54 bottles represents a playing card in a full deck and was filled from a single cask produced between 1985 and 2014 by the now-closed Hanyu Ichiro distillery — that’s believed to be one of only four such collections extant in the world. The set, which is expected to smash records, is estimated at HK$4.5-$6 million.

36 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

SEL ECT

LIFE IS SWEET

Godiva unveils a decadent selection of mooncakes, hampers and gift boxes just in time for Mid-Autumn Festival OBSERVED THIS YEAR on September 13, Mid-Autumn Festival is a time for gathering with loved ones, gazing at the full moon and gorging on delicious mooncakes. And what could be more delicious than fragrant roasted cashew nuts blended with green tea powder and wrapped in rich chocolate?

This unique mooncake is one of four new versions from premium Belgian chocolatier Godiva, which also include crunchy almonds with dark chocolate, roasted sesame with pine nuts, and salted pecan nuts with milk chocolate.

Chocolate lovers can choose from a range of seasonal gift boxes perfect for sharing with family and friends, including an eight-piece round mooncake gift box and a 15-piece Chocolate CarrĂŠ gift box, during the current pre-launch phase. Hampers and additional chocolate gift boxes are available from August 11. The largest option is the Delight Hamper, with everything from mooncakes and assorted biscuits to truffles and chocolate gift boxes.

To sweeten the deal, Godiva is offering an early-bird discount of 15 percent until August 18 and a privilege discount of 10 percent from August 19 to September 15 on the purchase of either two Mid-Autumn Collection gift boxes, two gift box vouchers (except hamper) or three Delight Hampers. Godiva VIPs can enjoy discounts of 20 percent and 15 percent during the same periods.

Other offers include a complimentary chocolate gift box upon purchase of five or more Delight Hampers. Available while stocks last at Godiva stores in Hong Kong, with the exception of airport and duty-free outlets. godiva.com.hk

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

37

RS VP

FIONA TAM AND EDDY TANG WILL LAM

BMW

ROLLING THUNDER What? You know the guys will come out in droves for a good automobile. BMW has that draw – and it’s magnified when it comes to its luxury cars. The German manufacturer unveiled its new 8 Series Coupe and the first-ever X7 SUV in Hong Kong at an “Own the Moment” party and, sure enough, the testosterone levels in the room surged.

Vehicle ventriloquism: Many inner car geeks were unleashed on the evening, with the fellas closely examining the brand’s new design and individualisation services ahead of the debuts of the two new models.

ALAN MAO AND MARIANNE WONG ENRICO KWONG

VINCENT WONG

BRANDON CHAU AND DERRICK FUNG

38 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

LILLY WITTGENSTEIN, CARINA LAU AND LADY KITTY SPENCER

URSULA CORBERO AND JON CORTAJARENA

LILY ALDRIDGE KARENA LAM

EVA GREEN

DANNY FUJIKAWA, KATE HUDSON AND DANIEL PALTRIDGE

BVLGARI

CAPRI SUN What? Bulgari unveiled its new Cinemagia high-jewellery collection, an ode to the silver screen, at Villa Certosa, an almost 700-year-old landmark in Capri right on the Amalfi Coast, highlighting the brand’s propensity for la dolce vita.

Ice ice baby: The crowd was suitably starstudded. Celebrities the likes of Alicia Vikander, Kate Hudson, Uma Thurman, Karena Lam, Carina Lau, Chun Xia and Ko So Young flew from near and far to attend the extravaganza.

A special guest performance courtesy of Nicole Scherzinger capped this Roman revelry.

#prestigeevents | PRESTIGE

39

RS VP CHRISSY CHAU

MARCUS KWOK

ELIZABETH ARDEN

ARDENT FANS What? Elizabeth Arden held its Prevage House exhibition at The Annex to introduce skincare enthusiasts to the anti-aging properties of its new Progressive Renewal Treatment line – Prevage. Chrissy Chau was invited to kick off the launch ceremony.

Cribs: The Prevage House was divided into five unique living spaces: Breakfast Bar, Technology Studio, Yoga Space, Prevage Bedroom and Technology Studio. Each room recreated the effect of a different time of day and offered women an opportunity to learn about a different aspect of the Prevage Progressive Renewal Treatment.

BONNIE CHAN AND SARAH ZHAUNG

40 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

ROSEMARY VANDENBROUCKE AND ANKIE BEILKE AKA CHIO

ANGELA HUI

SOFIA CIUCCHI AND KELLY CHAN

NAT FU KWAN WAI KIN AND IVAN LUI

IL BISONTE

BIRD TSE

HIDE & SEEK

MA KWOK MING, JESS SUM AND YEUNG CHIU HOI

What? Florentine leather goods brand Il Bisonte opened its first stores in Asia – at IFC and Harbour City. Designer Sofia Ciucchi was in town to mingle with the crowds that turned out to ogle the quality accessoriues. Among them were Ma Kwok Ming, Jess Sum and Yeung Chiu Hoi. Culture vulture: All of Il Bisonte’s stores were created by Studio Vudafieri Saverino Partners, which employed design elements from the label’s main boutique in Milan.

The brand also chose Harbour City as the location to launch its first cartoon line, which was celebrated with an exclusive event replete with artistic film shorts and animation activities.

FIONA TONG AND LYDIA TONG

#prestigeevents | PRESTIGE

41

RS VP SHU QI IN BVLGARI

SHANGHAI INTERNATIONAL FILM FESTIVAL

CINEMA SCOPE

What? The Shanghai International Film Festival is an annual celebration of global cinema. This is not an empty declaration.

The festival invites movie makers from Japan to Georgia, Sweden, Italy and the US (to name a small handful) to submit their work. Not only does the film world descend upon it each year in June, but the biggest stars are also sure to be decked out in their Shanghai best.

Global traction: US films were absent from the festival this year, thanks to Trump’s trade war. This left the way clear for the Iranian family drama Castle of Dreams, directed by Reza Mirkarimi, to snag the Golden Goblet prizes for best feature and best director.

WANGJIA IN GIORGIO ARMANI CHLOE ZENG IN ATELIER VERSACE

NAZHA IN SERGIO ROSSI

JING BORAN IN SAINT LAURENT

SANDRINE PINNA IN EMPORIO ARMANI

42 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

AARON KWOK IN BOSS

ROSAMUND PIKE IN ALEXANDER MCQUEEN

TAY LIAM WUAN, CINDY YEUNG AND NOEL WONG

TEO YANG, YEN PO CHUN AND KEVIN MAK RUBBERBAND CARSON CHAN AND FRANCISCO GARCIA

VACHERON CONSTANTIN

ALL FOR ONE What? Watchmaker Vacheron Constantin held its “One of Not Many” party at Pedder Building, bringing those who couldn’t make it to this year’s SIHH and Baselworld a taste of what it means to produce timepieces that are simultaneously art.

Artistic flair: The brand invited one artist each from Hong Kong, Taiwan and Korea to conceptualise display arrangements for Vacheron Constantin’s Overseas, Fiftysix and Patrimony collections – architect and photographer Kevin Mak from Hong Kong, music artist Yen Po Chun from Taipei, and lifestyle designer Teo Yang from Seoul – while local group Rubberband rocked the party.

JEAN AND DAVID HO

#prestigeevents | PRESTIGE

43

PE OP L E

DEE POON (LEFT) AND MARJORIE YANG

FAMILY TIES

MARJORIE YANG AND DEE POON RANK AMONG HONG KONG SOCIETY’S MOST WELL-KNOWN FACES. THE MOTHER-DAUGHTER DUO ARE ALSO AMONG THE CITY’S MOST SUCCESSFUL BUSINESSWOMEN, WITH AN UNCOMMONLY CLOSE BOND THAT DRIVES THEIR SHARED GOAL OF EMBRACING AND PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY. TAMA LUNG HEARS THEIR STORY

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

45

PE OP L E

MOTHER AND DAUGHTER SHARE A LOVE OF FENDI’S POPULAR PEEKABOO BAG

W

atching Marjorie Yang and Dee Poon pose for a recent photo shoot with Fendi, it’s impossible to ignore the sense of ease and comfort that the mother and daughter feel around each other. They laugh, hold hands and even walk the same way. If anything, years of being under the spotlight of Hong Kong society has only brought the two women closer.

“I’m probably the only child in the world that goes around insisting that my mother is beyond amazing and the coolest person ever,” says Poon, a former writer and film director who joined Yang at the textile and apparelmanufacturing Esquel Group in 2009 as chief brand officer of the premium men’s shirt brand PYE. “Dee is a tiny version of myself,” counters Yang, the chairman of Esquel. “When I want to make fun of her, I call her Margie 2.0.”

The duo have been brought together today by Fendi, in celebration of its Peekaboo bag, but it’s obvious they don’t need an excuse to meet up or collaborate. Poon, whose father is Harvey Nichols retail tycoon Dickson Poon, was a magazine editor and columnist whose short film An Exercise in Futility was shown at the Cannes Film Festival in 2009 as part of the One Dream Rush film series. She went on to create dysemevas, a pop-up concept telling the stories of today’s China through the work of Chinese designers,

46 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

“I TRIED TO TEACH DEE WHAT MY PARENTS TAUGHT ME — DON’T BE AFRAID OF MISTAKES”

— MARJORIE YANG

before joining Yang 10 years ago to turn around the struggling PYE label.

Yang, who oversees Hong Kong-based Esquel’s vast international manufacturing network that produces more than 110 million cotton shirts a year, describes her relationship with Poon as the most rewarding experience of her life.

“The best part has been watching her grow into the mature and caring women she is today,” she says. “I tried to teach Dee what my parents taught me – don’t be afraid of making a mistake. It’s an opportunity to improve.”

Both women credit the other for being an independent,

critical thinker, a quality that has allowed them to work across gender and cultural barriers. “Dee’s interest is broader than mine, perhaps because of her academic background,” Yang says. “Having studied philosophy, her interest spans the humanities as well as science. This is, of course, most fashionable in the age of AI.” Indeed, Poon – now the managing director of Esquel Brands and Distribution – has long been active in environmental activism and taking a humanistic business approach. At the China Fashion Gala 2019 in May, she was honoured with the Sustainability Award for her work with Esquel to bring sustainability to the forefront of the global fashion industry.

The latest project that she and Yang are focused on is Integral, an “industrial eco-tourism garden” that aims to rethink and transform the traditional manufacturing model.

The first so-called factory of the future was unveiled in March in Guilin, introducing cutting-edge technology while providing workers with a more productive and quality working environment.

“We’re trying to showcase a different way to operate in a traditional industry. Integral is taking up a lot of our energy because it’s more than a business opportunity, it’s about putting our philosophy and ability to the test,” Yang says.

“We want to tackle climate change and the wealth gap; here’s our solution.”

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

47

COVE R

48 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

WONDER

MICHAEL SCHWARTZ/TRUNK ARCHIVE/SNAPPER IMAGES

SHE’S BEEN A PROFESSIONAL ACTRESS FOR 23 YEARS. SHE’S PORTRAYED A VILLAIN, A RESISTANCE FIGHTER AND A SUPREME COURT JUSTICE. AND SHE’S WIDELY CONSIDERED THE EMBODIMENT OF INNER AND OUTER BEAUTY. IS FELICITY JONES THE CLOSEST THING TO A MODERN-DAY SUPERHERO, ASKS TAMA LUNG

WOMAN PHOTOGRAPHY MICHAEL SCHWARTZ

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

49

COVE R

F

elicity Rose Hadley Jones became a working actress at an age when most kids are studying algebra rather than studying lines.

“Well, my first role was in a costume drama for television called The Treasure Seekers, about a group of children trying to find a fortune to help their single father struggling as an inventor,” she recalls of the 1996 TV movie, for which the then 12-year-old Jones received second billing. “We shot it in a lovely old house just outside of London where there was a huge tree swing, which we would all play on in between scenes.”

A promotional poster shows the young star grinning widely along with the rest of the cast, a sure indication that Jones had found her calling among her fellow thespians. Nowadays that same cheeky smile can be seen on posters and advertisements all over the world, either for her latest blockbuster film – The Theory of Everything, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, On the Basis of Sex come to mind – or in her role as global ambassador for Japanese cosmetics brand Clé de Peau Beauté, a position she’s held since early 2018. But how, one wonders, does she manage it all with such grace, such poise and such an unusual lack of personal turmoil?

“I joined a youth drama group when I was growing up, which I absolutely loved,” says the 35-year-old, who grew up near Birmingham in England’s West Midlands. “We learnt about acting in theatre, film and television. I made some lifelong friends there and that’s where I had auditions for professional work.”

50 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

At the time, Jones says, she didn’t have aspirations for a Hollywood career. School and schoolwork took precedence, even when it came to her youth group. “I never knew if I’d be able to act professionally, it was just something that I loved doing,” she says. “It was always such good fun and I loved the camaraderie around it.”

Jones continued acting throughout university, appearing in student plays, as she pursued a degree in English literature at the University of Oxford’s Wadham College. Now her portrait hangs in the college alongside fellow alumnae, including actress Rosamund Pike and author Monica Ali, a testament to the school’s “changing faces”.

Following her graduation, Jones appeared in a number of television movies and series in the UK, including one episode of Doctor Who. But before long the big screen came calling. After bit parts in films such as Brideshead Revisited and Chéri, she was cast as the star in The Tempest, directed by Julie Taymor, and Like Crazy, directed by Drake Doremus.

“Like Crazy was a huge experience. Working with Anton Yelchin and Drake Doremus was one of the most extraordinary acting and life experiences I’ve had,” Jones says. “It was the first time I improvised on camera, which I relished.”

It was reported that Doremus and co-writer Ben York Jones put together an outline, 50 pages long, and had Jones and Yelchin improvise off it. Her performance garnered a number of international awards, including Best Female Newcomer at the Empire Awards, Breakthrough Actor at the Gotham Awards, a tie for Breakthrough Performance from the National Board of Review, and a Special Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. Doremus must have also been pleased, considering he cast her in his next film, Breathe In, opposite Guy Pearce.

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

51

COVE R

“I LIKE A CHALLENGE AND I HAVE TO FEEL CREATIVELY INVESTED IN THE STORY. I HAVE TO CARE ABOUT THE PERSON I’M PLAYING”

Breathe In was released in 2013, but it was the following year that could be considered Jones’s breakout. Besides appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, she captivated audiences as Jane Hawking, first wife of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, in the biopic The Theory of Everything. A slew of award nominations followed, including Best Actress at both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes.

But Jones is quick to point out that she’s in it for the craft and the challenge, and not the awards or accolades. Over the years, she’s appeared in several plays and is still fondly remembered for her recurring role as Emma Carter in BBC Radio’s long-running soap, The Archers.

“The most important thing,” she says, “is the story you’re telling rather than the medium. Narrative is everything.”

Indeed, Jones has been known to throw herself into a role, whether she’s playing the villain to Tom Hanks’s protagonist Robert Langdon in Inferno or championing women’s rights as legendary Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in On the Basis of Sex. “I definitely like a challenge and I have to feel creatively invested in the story,” she says. “I have to care about the person I’m playing in some way. I usually go for things that I can’t stop thinking about a couple of days after reading the script.”

Once she signs on to a project, Jones leaves nothing to chance. “I really enjoy researching a character and understanding the world from their perspective. Physical prep is key, too – how does that person move?” she says. “Also finding the look is very important: trying on wigs, different costumes. There’s a huge amount of collaboration with creatives in the hair, make-up and costume departments. The approach is both external and psychological. Understanding what motivates that person: Why are they behaving in a certain way? Why are they making certain decisions?”

When it came to her latest big-budget, box-office sensation, Jones found herself studying kung fu among other “forces”. Rogue One saw her introduction as resistance fighter Jyn Erso in a critically praised portrayal that left audiences clamouring for more: the Kids’ Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards and MTV Movie Awards all nominated her in categories such as Choice Sci-Fi Movie Actress and Favorite Butt-Kicker.

Jones followed up her Star Wars turn by embracing the life story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the American attorney who championed women’s rights all the way to a seat on the US Supreme Court. “I adored playing Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” she says of On the Basis of Sex, which was released at the end of last year. “I often think of her as someone I would most like to be like!”

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

53

COVE R

Now in post-production, Jones’s next film follows the story of pilot Amelia Wren (played by Jones) and The Theory of Everything costar Eddie Redmayne as they embark on an historic hot-air balloon expedition. “We’re all deeply proud of the film and it was an incredibly innovative story,” she says. “It’s not like anything anyone’s ever seen before. I adored its originality.”

Making so many films back to back doesn’t leave time for much else, although Jones enjoys “swimming, reading, cooking, seeing friends, and going to the theatre and art exhibitions”. She’s also open to looking beyond acting to a more behind-the-scenes role. “I love being involved in all stages of making entertainment. Having studied English literature at university, it feels very natural to be reading books and articles and thinking, could this be a good film or television programme?” she says.

“I love exploring this side of production.”

Also keeping her busy is her work with Clé de Peau Beauté, for which she not only serves as muse and spokesperson but also gets involved in its various advocacy and philanthropic programmes. This year saw the establishment of the Power of Radiance, described by the company as “a multi-year philanthropic commitment that honours inspirational women from around the world whose advocacy for women and girls’ education has led to positive long-term impact on lives”.

“It’s an incredible project to be a part of and a highlight was the Power of Radiance event, where women from all over the world were brought together to discuss and celebrate the importance of female education,” Jones says of the global launch event in March in Tokyo honouring the programme’s first Power of Radiance Award recipient Muzoon Almellehan.

54 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

“BEAUTY IS ABOUT LOOKING AFTER THE INSIDE AS WELL AS THE OUTSIDE. IT’S ABOUT FIGURING OUT WHAT MAKES YOU FEEL YOU” Almellehan fled Syria in 2013 and is the first individual with refugee status to be a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador. She spent three years living in refugee camps in Jordan, where as a 14-year-old she went from tent to tent convincing families that their daughters needed an education.

“Muzoon is an extraordinary woman, and her fight for equal education is breathtaking,” Jones says. “She’s articulate and warm and a very strong woman – an inspiration to be around.” While she may be the “face” that sells Clé de Peau Beauté to audiences around the world, Jones’s involvement in the Power of Radiance programme underscores the fact that she’s much more than meets the eye.

“Beauty is about looking after the inside as well as the outside,” she insists. “It’s about figuring out what makes you feel you and not being afraid to be that person. It’s not always an easy path but true beauty comes from that self-belief.”

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

55

SEL ECT

BEAUTY EVOLUTION

Japanese cosmetics brand Clé de Peau Beauté is taking its quest for radiance in a bold new direction, with a three-step system that embraces women’s changing faces and aims to improves them day by day

56 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

WITH A NAME that means the “key to beautiful skin”, Clé de Peau Beauté has built its reputation on cutting-edge skincare science and aesthetics. The Japanese beauty brand, launched by the Shiseido group in 1982, is best known for its signature La Crème, a rich night cream formulated to firm, brighten and moisturise, and its cult-favourite, full-coverage Concealer.

This month, Clé de Peau Beauté embraces the new pro-ageing concept with the introduction of its Key Radiance Care collection. The three-step skincare ritual – comprising a serum, lotion and moisturiser – builds on the brand’s scientific approach to achieving radiant, healthy-looking skin.

It’s also a response to what the brand sees as a widening focus of beauty “to include the radiance of wisdom and lived experience”. The all-out pursuit of erasing wrinkles and freezing time has been replaced by discovering one’s own strength and inner glow.

Clé de Peau Beauté aims to support this “global call for holistic, sustainable beauty” by creating products that allow skin to reach its highest potential, through improved texture, contours and skin tone. And rather than delivering a quick fix, the products are designed to work together to enhance the skin with each passing day.

The first step in the Key Radiance Care collection is The Serum, an easily absorbed formula that prepares the skin for the steps to follow. Like all products in the series, it’s powered by the new

Skin-Empowering Illuminator, which works to awaken, nurture and boost Skin Intelligence.

Next is the lotion, in two types for different skin needs. Hydro-Softening Lotion has rich moisturising agents to reduce roughness, while Hydro-Clarifying Lotion targets visible pores.

Both feature extracts of the medicinal herb scutellaria baicalensis to protect skin from oxidative stressors. The lotion is applied morning and evening, after The Serum, with a cotton pad.

An emulsion or cream is the final step in the ritual, the former applied with a cotton pad and the latter by hand. Protective Fortifying Emulsion and Cream are designed for day use and Intensive Fortifying Emulsion and Cream for night, all with Clé de Peau Beauté’s Time Tune technology to work with the skin’s circadian rhythms.

Key Radiance Care launches on August 8, but tests carried out by more than 100 Asian women in Korea and more 100 Caucasian women in the United States have already have shown the overwhelming majority appreciate the indulgent, luxurious textures and felt the products helped keep their skin in optimal condition.

FIVE KEY INGREDIENTS, CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: PLATINUM GOLDEN SILK; THEANINE; ANGELICA ACUTILOBA; JAPANESE PEARL; PERILLA

cledepeau-beaute.com

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

57

FASH I ON PHOTOGRAPHY CHER HIM | FASHION DIRECTION JOHNNY KHOO FASHION STYLING JACQUIE ANG | GROOMING KEITH BRYANT LEE, USING KEVIN.MURPHY AND BOY DE CHANEL | PHOTOGRAPHY ASSISTANT LEE JIA WEN FASHION ASSISTANTS BERNADETHA WOENARDI AND NICHOLAS CHAN MODEL IGNAS LUKAUSKAS AT MANNEQUIN

THIS PAGE: OUTFIT VALENTINO OPPOSITE PAGE: OUTFIT GUCCI

58 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

M E N S W E A R E

REFRESHED INTERPRETATIONS OF UTILITY WEAR, POETIC RUFFLES AND STATEMENT JACKETS JAZZ UP THE AUTUMN/WINTER 2019 LOOKS IN THE MEN’S UNIVERSE

D E F I

N E

D

FASH I ON

OUTFIT DIOR MEN

60 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

OUTFIT LOUIS VUITTON

FASH I ON

OUTFIT BOTTEGA VENETA

62 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

OUTFIT GIVENCHY

FASH I ON

OUTFIT HERMÈS

OUTFIT VERSACE

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

65

FASH I ON

OUTFIT SALVATORE FERRAGAMO

66 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

OUTFIT FENDI

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

67

FASH I ON

OUTFIT CK CALVIN KLEIN

OUTFIT GIORGIO ARMANI

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

69

FASH I ON

EVOLUTION THEORIES YOON AHN TALKS TO ZANETA CHENG ABOUT HER NEW ROLE AS JEWELLERY DESIGNER AT DIOR HOMME AND HOW THE INTERNET HAS MEANT THE END OF SUBCULTURES — BUT WHY THAT’S NO BIG DEAL ANYWAY

T

oday, when I got dressed my theme was kind of The Matrix,” says the designer Yoon Ahn. “I’m wearing a super-tight, black, long coat with slim black pants, so I’ve been quite minimal with the jewellery. I’m wearing my silver-ball closure earrings from a few years ago and I have a few silver rings on me.” It’s a different theme every day, she adds.

It’s strangely appropriate that Ahn is referencing a movie governed by the concept of a new, parallel reality. As part of the vanguard of contemporary style arbiters whose firm friendships with the likes of Virgil Abloh, Kim Jones and Kanye West reach back to a time when those names weren’t even blips on the fashion or cultural radar, Ahn has been key in changing the criteria as to what exactly constitutes an arbiter of fashion, as well as in guiding the evolution of a new global order or the industry.

Where did it all begin? According to Ahn, the library. “When I’d just moved to the US and couldn’t speak English, I spent a lot of time at the public library because I was working there part-time, but because it was a public library I’d read all the books and magazines that I wanted,” she says. “It wasn’t very busy and that was how I got to know about fashion.

“Because I was in the suburbs in Seattle, I’d obsess over Vogue and Elle. This was before the Internet, so I remember thinking, ‘Oh my God, there’s a world out there.’ There were all these beautiful people and I’d want to know where they were living and what they were wearing, and I’d just read and read. I would really study it.”

At the same time, Ahn got into Seattle’s then-flourishing underground music scene. “This was before Amazon or Starbucks, before any of those companies got huge, so there was really a split between kids from not-sowell-off backgrounds in my school and middle-class suburban kids.

Because it was always rainy and they needed to protect themselves and keep warm, kids would actually wear worn-out denim, flannels and The North Face. A lot of them went to the thrift shop, so that was a part of the fabric of the city, the same way it is for hip-hop culture. You imitate your favourite bands and musicians who were basically fashion heroes – and that’s how I got into it.”

70 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

FASH I ON

LOOKS AND PIECES FROM THE AMBUSH AUTUMN/ WINTER 2019 COLLECTION

On the topic of subcultures and the underground, Ahn has firm opinions. “There’s no underground any more, like there’s no such thing as underground culture, because everything’s on the Internet,” she says.

“It’s exposed. Once it gets taken hold of by the media or the mainstream, people get bored right away.”

However, Ahn clearly regards the end of one era as the beginning of another. “We evolve as humans,” she says, “and that was then and this is now. The Internet has brought the world much closer and I’m just happy that people are much more open.

“In the West, they’re now more aware and tolerant of Asian culture.

We’re no longer this weird thing because they can see it more and more, and you can see it through K-pop and the way that American people are being exposed to it and getting used to it, which includes how we define beauty and how we dress. “[Streetwear] is big, especially out in Asia,” says Ahn of the style with which she’s become so associated. “I think it’s quite new for people in the West. It’s funny, a lot of cultures like America and the UK give birth to things like this, but in this instance Japan took it and made it better. It’s because the Japanese get obsessed over things and partially because it’s an import culture, they still have these little obsessions [over foreign cultures and trends] and they feel like they need to really study it and master it instead of just living it, so I think the Japanese really perfected the street look.

“The reason I don’t call it streetwear and call it casual wear is because not all casual-looking ‘streetwear’ comes from that specific culture any more. It’s just the look. It’s very surface-level now, you know? So I just don’t think it’s right to sum everything up as streetwear, because that originated from a specific culture, like skate culture.”

Despite having no formal design education, Ahn is extraordinarily

72 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

knowledgeable about her metier. She isn’t the least bit concerned that she didn’t come out of the prescribed design-school/assistant route.

Born in Korea and raised in Seattle, Ahn moved to Tokyo with her musician husband Verbal, where, with no design training, she built her jewellery brand Ambush. “First of all, what we do now started as a hobby, which then became a business, so we had no business or fashion background and just jumped in,” she says. “It was very organic in the beginning because we knew what we wanted to do and made it take shape.”

But a lack of formal education does not, for the designer, mean any less hard work. “You don’t have to be from that background, you don’t have to come from a specific school. But if you didn’t study it, make sure you’re ready to study it on the job,” Ahn says. “You need to put in more hours than people who studied it, because you need to know what you’re doing and you need to know your subject. In my case, I didn’t come from this, but I work seven days a week. I go to the factories myself and I talk to everybody because I want to make sure I’m on top of it, I know

exactly how those things work. You can’t bullshit that, so you need to put in hours and be prepared to study it non-stop.”

It’s a work ethic that’s clearly paid off, with Ahn progressing since starting Ambush from a cult following in Tokyo to international success. “Because I run my own business I’ve always been very in tune with customers and can see what works and what doesn’t, so I know how to look at it from a customer’s point of view. I think now customers have more power than brands or fashion houses, and I think this is where my strength lies – in having a connection with a lot of customers and knowing that they’re sophisticated and not buying things because of the brand name.

“You can see it in the way they coordinate their outfits, the way they mix it up. They’re trend sensitive but at the same time they know what they want because they’ve researched it.”

When Ahn ventured into clothing, her brand was shortlisted for the LVMH Prize. She also expanded the Ambush universe by working with brands such as Nike, Gentle Monster, Converse and Rimowa.

More recently, Ahn was invited by Dior Homme’s creative director Kim Jones to head up the house’s new men’s jewellery division and in an effort to define its DNA is now working her way through the womenheavy archive. “Because we have so many customers from so many different continents, we don’t look at it as if there’s a specific male archetype, but rather a certain vibe that we like to see in men,” she says.

“There’s so much in the archives that we can look back to and bring back, but as I don’t want to repeat the exact same thing that’s been done before I take certain elements – like, for example, an iconic CD link – and make it into something current, something like a skateboard and Cuban-link necklace, so that it’s a timeless piece that can blend in with the suit as well as with sneakers and T-shirts. I think the balance matters more than anything, rather than one specific look.”

But if you think Ahn is basking in her success, you’d be wrong. Her strict work ethic is defined by Scarface protagonist Tony Montana: “Don’t get high on your own supply.”

“I watched a lot of Italian mafia movies,” she says. “Korean ones too. Everything. The reason I do it is because the mafia seem like they do bad things, but they have more rules within the community. It’s their code and they really value loyalty and integrity. There’s a lot of street knowledge and life lessons that I’ve learnt from watching these movies. It also teaches good business, like how they manage to survive and not get stabbed in the back.

“So like right now, all of this is nice and I’m flattered, but I also look at it as a test from the Universe to see if I can push myself to the next step.

So I want to stay more clear. I want to make sure everything we do is levelling up and you can apply the quote in every part of life, but for me what it means is to not get high off of everything I have right now.

Because I don’t see this as an end, I see it as a step to the next level.”

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

73

JEWE L L E RY

74 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

SHAKEN AND STIRRED

steps into a microcosm of Cartier’s high jewellery, and discovers a seismic collision of hard stones and precious gems in the new Magnitude collection grace tay

M

ÉQUINOXE NECKLACE IN YELLOW GOLD WITH A 15.48-CARAT YELLOW SAPPHIRE, LAPIS LAZULI, CUSHION‑CUT YELLOW DIAMONDS, AND BRILLIANT‑CUT WHITE AND ORANGE DIAMONDS, AND MATCHING EARRINGS AND RING

inerals, metal, light and colours come together in a swirl of visual poetry in Magnitude, Cartier’s latest high-jewellery collection unveiled in June.

In a bold move, the maison marries quantum cosmology with mythology, science with story.

Ornamental hard stones – quartz, rock crystal, lapis lazuli, opal – are placed at centre stage in this collection, while precious stones take a supporting role.

Magnitude’s design and inspiration lexicon includes words such as “Earth”, “sky”, “constellation”, “cosmos”, “universe”, “Big Bang” and “origin”. The word “magnitude” itself has dual definitions: in astrology, it’s the degree of the brightness of a celestial body; in geology, it defines the amplitude of an earthquake, the natural forces and resulting chemical alchemy that eventually lead to the formation of gem deposits in the trenches of the earth.

The 69-piece collection was born in the imaginations of Jacqueline Karachi-Langane and her team at the maison’s High Jewellery Creation Studio. But the creative director pinpoints its beginnings to somewhere much closer to home, during an annual sourcing trip with Cartier’s gemmologists: “Magnitude was born in Tucson in February 2017,” she

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

75

JEWE L L E RY

76 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

APHÉLIE NECKLACE IN PINK GOLD WITH A 68.85-CARAT RUTILATED QUARTZ, COLOURED DIAMONDS, MORGANITE BEADS, CORAL, ONYX AND BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS, AND MATCHING EARRINGS

says, proceeding to paint a vivid picture. “That’s where, in the heart of the Arizona desert filled with cacti, gem hunters, collectors and enthusiasts meet. They travel from all over the world in search of the most improbable geological specimens and rarest precious stones.

“Try to imagine these overflowing booths, where a rutilated quartz and a matrix opal lie side by side with exceptional emerald, blue jade, lapis lazuli, black and yellow sapphires, and more. It was from this disorderly profusion that our inspiration was born. And so, the seed was planted: We would create a collection featuring a dialogue between precious stones and ornamental gems, combining them without any distinction about rarity and preciousness.”

While quality is a given, the stones Cartier picks must have that je ne sais quoi: “We’re looking for something more, something special. A baroque shape, surprising hues, inhabited substance ... All these original characteristics are traditionally passed over by jewellery standards, while they’re part of the stones’ splendour. That’s the beauty of imperfection – a natural beauty that gives gems charm and extra character. At Cartier, we consider all stones precious because all are treasures of nature.”

As they amassed the stones, the creative team had in mind to create a “micro-universe, with stones like planets orbiting around one another”.

Every stone is used differently, Karachi-Langane points out. The creative process was in finding the right combinations of precious gems with ornamental and decorative stones so that neither would steal the spotlight from the other. “The collection plays very much with contrasts: It offsets shadow with light, transparency with opacity, and solid with empty space.”

“At Cartier, we consider all stones precious because all are treasures of nature” – Jacqueline Karachi-Langane

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

77

JEWE L L E RY

She cites the rutilated quartz used in the Aphélie necklace – a 68.85-carat cabochon whose shape mimics the elliptical orbit of a planet around the sun (the name references aphelion, the point in a planet’s orbit when it’s farthest from the sun). Transparent, but taking a chocolatey or silky gold hue due to dense clusters of rutile (titanium dioxide) inclusions shooting through it, this gemstone is described by Karachi-Langane as having captured the sun’s rays.

This whopper is set into a necklace with fancy coloured diamonds, and a dancing fringe of diamonds and mottled morganite beads tipped with red coral and onyx in an Art Deco style. She calls this a solar design that “makes us travel to the sun”.

The Équinoxe necklace, on the other hand, is a “precious nebula” of blue lapis lazuli planets and moons, and a constellation of yellow, orange and white diamond stars. An unheated 15.48-carat yellow Ceylon sapphire, its natural intensity flashing with hints of orange, is the sun around which these celestial bodies gravitate. (Yellow sapphires, incidentally, are believed in astrology to be from Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, with 79 known moons of its own.)

“The lapis lazuli beads are especially exquisite,” KarachiLangane says. “When we discovered them for the first time, we were impressed by their blue colour, pure and intense, with very fine golden pyrite inclusions, evoking the cosmos.”

This isn’t the first time that a jeweller has attempted the high-low combination. Semiprecious stones have gone through the crests and troughs of popularity cycles through the ages. Cartier itself has a long heritage of using hard and ornamental stones for their colours, energy and symbolism.

Agate, rose quartz, moonstone and aventurine have featured in objets d’art since the early 20th century. Clear rock crystal was brilliantly used by Louis Cartier in the brand’s first mystery clocks, which gave the illusion of hands magically floating in the air to point out time.

78 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

THÉIA NECKLACE (OPPOSITE PAGE) IN PLATINUM WITH SEVEN ROUND COLOMBIAN EMERALDS TOTALLING 46.09 CARATS, CARVED ROCK CRYSTALS, ONYX, BLACK LACQUER AND BRILLIANT‑CUT DIAMONDS. THE DETACHABLE MOTIF ON THE CLASP CAN BE WORN AS A PENDANT (ABOVE), AND THE SET INCLUDES A MATCHING RING AND EARRINGS

“The lapis lazuli beads are especially exquisite. When we discovered them for the first time we were impressed by their blue colour, pure and intense, with very fine golden pyrite inclusions”

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

79

JEWE L L E RY

ZEMIA BRACELET IN WHITE GOLD WITH A 77.27-CARAT T AUSTRALIAN MATRIX OPAL, PURPLE MADAGASCAR SAPPHIRES TOTALLING 14.39 CARATS, SAPPHIRES, SPESSARTITE GARNETS AND DIAMONDS, AND MATCHING EARRINGS AND RING (OPPOSITE PAGE, TOP)

80 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

“These pieces are full of personality, with a strong creative distinctiveness that speaks to the heart. Emotion is an essential and determining factor in our clients’ choices” SORELI SECRET WATCH IN WHITE GOLD WITH A 83.34-CARAT CABOCHON RUTILATED QUARTZ, AND KITE- AND BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS

The fabled origins of Cartier’s Panthère was when Jeanne Toussaint, Cartier’s creative director from 1933, spotted a panther while on an African safari with Louis. She purportedly exclaimed: “Diamonds, onyx, emeralds – a brooch!” and an icon was born. In her design reign till 1970, her penchant for the unclichéd saw topaz, citrine and turquoise, amethysts and coloured sapphires paint the landscape of the house’s creations.

Indeed, 2018’s Coloratura high-jewellery collection was awash with tints and hues of different semiprecious and ornamental stones, set alongside precious rocks. Referencing Cartier’s striking designs in the Art Deco years, the collection was rich with red coral and garnets, onyx, turquoise, colourful tourmalines and other stones along nature’s vast colour spectrum.

Taking this a step further in putting semiprecious stones front and centre, or at least on the same level as precious stones, Magnitude makes an audacious juxtaposition – and especially for high jewellery, which can come with astronomical price tags. Will collectors see the value of this bold proposition? It’s unquestionable, to Karachi-Langane.

“Collectors look at a collection’s criteria and are more concerned with the artistic dimension, new aspects and surprising choices of stones. These pieces are full of personality, with a strong creative distinctiveness that speaks to the heart. Emotion is an essential and determining factor in our clients’ choices.

“Just look at our Tutti Frutti, panther or multicoloured pieces. Their unconventional aesthetics initially only appealed to a certain clientele. Today, these pieces are an impressive benchmark for the art of jewellery.”

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

81

JEWE L L E RY

ALL IN THE FAMILY

Valerie Samuel, artistic director and granddaughter of Fred founder Fred Samuel, brings a dash of Grace Kelly to the modern woman through the brand’s newest collection, Ombre Feline, and talks to zaneta cheng about modernity, talismans and princely favour

82 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

JEWELLERY

PIECES FROM THE NEW EDITION OF FRED’S OMBRE FELINE COLLECTION, AND (BELOW) FRED SAMUEL WITH PRINCESS GRACE AND HER DAUGHTER PRINCESS CAROLINE

F

rench jewellery maison Fred has always been something of a family affair – and when Valerie Samuel, granddaughter of founder Fred Samuel, returned to the brand two years ago as its vice president and artistic director after 20 years working at other jewellery brands, she was determined to keep it that way.

This year, Samuel decided to resurrect the folded panther paws of the Ombre Feline collection from the Fred archives.

“I always saw the pieces on my mother and for me it’s one of the icons of Fred,” says Samuel of the collection. Originally introduced in the 1960s, Ombre Feline was discontinued in the 1990s, despite having amassed a fair share of devotees, including members of the princely family of Monaco.

“I decided to launch a re-edition of Ombre Feline to celebrate the bond between Fred and the Principality of Monaco. In my grandfather’s memoir, Fred: Mémoires d’un Joaillier, he mentions Princess Grace coming to the opening of the store in Monaco in 1976, which was a big moment for him, and when she arrived she showed him the Ombre Feline ring that she was wearing and told him how much she adored it and how she never took it off. It was an emotional moment for him.”

The collection comprises 10 pieces, dancing between light and dark.

There are rings, earrings and necklaces of pure diamond pavé, of diamond pavé and spinel, and of deep black lacquer dotted with diamonds. A high-jewellery piece that particularly catches the eye is a choker necklace in diamond pavé and black spinel with a pear-shape diamond descending gently from between the feline’s paws.

“The collection is not exactly a re-edition but a reinterpretation of the original,” says Samuel. “In the high-jewellery set, the pear-shape diamond dropping from the paws was not totally as it was in the original.

It’s delicate and very refined and I also love the modernity of the black lacquer that you can wear with any outfit.”

The key to the collection and the brand is its versatility. “I think the collection is very much a part of our identity in that they’re pieces you wear every day to express your personality, your style, and you can wear them as you want. They can all be worn casually, even more rock if you want. With the black lacquer they can be very elegant and very dressy.

On the pavé version, what I like is that at a certain point you almost forget the design, the figurative element of the piece, and see them as just a very nice pair of refined pavé earrings. Of course, we’ve also done a shoot where the high jewellery was worn with a sweatshirt and jeans.”

More than anything, the collection is an expression of the warmth and belonging Samuel felt on her journey of homecoming. “The paws feel like a form of protection, having them around you. It’s a sort of talisman piece for me.”

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

83

WATCH E S

DEPTH PERCEPTION FOLLOWING AN ACCIDENT THAT NEARLY KILLED HIM, WORLD CHAMPION FREEDIVER GUILLAUME NÉRY TOOK A BREAK FROM COMPETING. HE’S DIVING BACK IN THREE YEARS LATER, BUT WITH A DIFFERENT PURPOSE THIS TIME, AS ANNABEL TAN FINDS OUT

84 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

D

iving has been part of Guillaume Néry’s life since he was a boy. The French freediving champion grew up beside the Mediterranean, and took his first plunge into the sport – diving on a single held breath instead of using breathing apparatus – at the age of 14. At 20, he became the world’s youngest freedive record holder, when he reached a depth of 87 metres. Néry went on to break three more world records in and won two World Freediving Championship titles in the Constant Weight category.

In 2015, he attempted a 129-metre dive in Cyprus during the pre-competition to the Individual World Championship.

Had he succeeded, the Frenchman would have broken yet another world record. The organising body, the Association Internationale pour le Développement de l’Apnée (AIDA), made an error while measuring the guide line, and instead sent Néry down to 139 metres. Despite reaching that depth, he blacked out at 15 metres while resurfacing, a near-death experience – along with a lung injury – that prompted him to retire from competition.

Yet Néry never really left the sea. He continued to freedive and went on to make several beautiful underwater films with his wife, who’s also a freediver.

Néry’s impressive career as both competitor and filmmaker drew the attention of watch brand Panerai, which brought him on board as an ambassador. The two also collaborated to create limited editions of the Submersible; the new Submersible Chrono Guillaume Néry Edition was introduced earlier this year, at SIHH, and each 15-piece example comes with an offer for its owner to learn freediving from Néry in French Polynesia next month.

Unsurprisingly, the 37-year-old couldn’t stay away from

the sport for long and began competing again last year. In Shanghai in May for Panerai’s Survival Instruments for Modern Heroes event, Néry talked about his motivations for returning to competitive freediving and the message he wants to share with the world.

Why did you start freediving competitively again after a three-year hiatus?

I needed this break to realise that freediving isn’t just about breaking records. When I stopped, I really started to discover the magic of freediving. I still want to compete and dive deep, but I’m more relaxed and I don’t care about records. I’ve done the records. Now, I’m more interested in diving deeper inside of myself. We as humans have a special connection with the underwater world and I want to explore that. And to feel this connection more, I want to stay underwater longer and go deeper. But I don’t link it to numbers or medals any more. It’s a more personal approach, and I like the discipline of the competition process that’s required to achieve that. It’s more about selfimprovement and how to become better.

How’s your journey been with Officine Panerai?

The connection with the brand was always obvious to me because I grew up in Nice and train in the Mediterranean, and Panerai also has its roots in the Mediterranean, very close to where I live. I also saw that Panerai was supporting explorer Mike Horn’s expeditions and I admire his spirit of adventure, so I was like, “Wow, this brand has everything.”

To me, Panerai has both purpose-driven efficiency and aesthetics in its designs, which are very important in a watch, just like how I try to be efficient and aesthetic in the

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

85

WATCH E S

way I’m moving in the water and creating films. So there was a lot of similarity and it was a natural collaboration.

How involved were you in the design of the Submersible Chrono Guillaume Néry Edition?

It was important that the designer and I work together to create a link between this watch, which 15 people will keep forever, and the experience that they’ll get with me. I really wanted a chronograph, because measuring time is so important in freediving – time is life. And in terms of design, I really wanted the Submersible case, because it was made for underwater activity. It’s robust and big, with good readability, but it’s also very light because it’s titanium. The watch has a beautiful mix of black, which represents strength, darkness and the unknown, and a shade of bluegreen that reminds me of a lagoon, when the sun reflects off the water. I hope this is something the watch owners will always remember after their experience with me – a mix of the unknown and the magic of the Pacific.

What can the 15 watch owners expect at the freediving experience with you in September?

It’s going to be in French Polynesia, which is my second home. I really want to show them the magic of this underwater world right in the middle of the Pacific and let them feel the strong connection with the ocean that’s present in Polynesian culture. I also want them to see the importance of reconnecting with ourselves, which is something freediving helps with a lot. Finally, French Polynesia is a world of wonder, and I hope I can show them the whales, manta rays, corals and fishes because the marine life there is incredible.

Your freediving activities also extend to underwater film-making.

Freediving is beautiful to watch, and I actually started freediving after watching an engrossing documentary about a freediver. I think seeing humans moving in the water like that evokes deep emotional responses. What will save humanity is love and art, and with freediving films we have the chance to bring to people the love of nature and the ocean. I’ll try to touch people with freediving however I can, whether it’s through films, photographs or books.

What are the challenges of underwater film-making?

I try to be as innovative as possible and that’s not easy. The last film I released with my wife, One Breath Around the World, was a project we worked on for several years. I wanted to create a film about freediving in different places that’s not a documentary but more of an experience. And it’s challenging because today, everybody can buy GoPros and do incredible things. So my approach was to focus on quality, not quantity, for my films.

Another challenge is spreading awareness about the ocean environment through the film. Where I live, by the Mediterranean, I see more and more plastic. This is obvious and it’s a disaster. There are also fewer big fishes because of overfishing and I see the effects of global warming on the corals, which are really in danger. People can watch the movie and say the ocean is beautiful, but then they’ll use a lot of plastic without realising that they’re killing what they love. The challenge is helping people make the connection.

How will you help people make that connection?

The next book I’m writing, which will be out next year, is about that and I will find a way to spread the message through my next film as well. I’m lucky because I have a big community following my adventures, so I try to share the message with them. I’ve also changed my lifestyle because you can’t ask people to change if you don’t do so yourself.

I’ve stopped eating fish and most meats such as beef and pork, because it’s very bad for the environment. I’ve also reduced the travelling I’m doing. When I’m in Europe, I try not to fly; instead, I take the train. Changing isn’t easy, but we don’t have any other choice.

Tell us more about your upcoming book.

It’s called Reconnection, and it’s about my experiences underwater and how I found happiness through reconnecting with what’s really important. We live in a world where everybody thinks they’re connected, because they have smartphones and Internet access. But we’re losing the real connections. I’m trying to use my experiences to invite people to reconnect with different things, such as their bodies and minds, nature, even the universe itself, and just take the time to understand the world around us and how lucky we are to live on this planet.

“WE AS HUMANS HAVE A SPECIAL CONNECTION WITH THE UNDERWATER WORLD AND I WANT TO EXPLORE THAT. I WANT TO GO DEEPER” 86 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

#prestigeprofiles | PRESTIGE

87

WATCH E S

AN HOROLOGICAL PILGRIMAGE AS NEW FRIEND OF THE BRAND AMANDA LUI DISCOVERED ON A RECENT VISIT, AN ASTONISHING RANGE OF EXPERTISE COMES TOGETHER TO CREATE EACH PARMIGIANI FLEURIER TIMEPIECE

A

thoroughly modern manufacture firmly rooted in the storied traditions of Swiss watchmaking, Parmigiani Fleurier is selective when inviting its Friends of the Brand by welcoming only those who are leaders in their field. Joining the likes of Singapore-based Russian IT entrepreneur, cybersecurity expert Ilya Sachkov and US professional golfer Jessica Korda, Hong Kong’s Amanda Lui embodies the values of innovation, persistence and living life to the full that the brand itself cultivates.

Lui, who first rose to a senior marketing role in her family company KMB, set up advertising juggernaut Roadshow before establishing a luxury events company in Shanghai and subsequently moving back to Hong Kong as a partner in the PR firm Prime. She’s been recognised as Hong Kong Marketer of the Year by the Chartered Institute of Marketing and was a winner of a HKMA/TVB Award for Marketing Excellence.

To celebrate their new-found partnership, Parmigiani Fleurier invited Lui on a tour of its watchmaking locations in Fleurier, Le Locle and La Chaux-de-Fonds in the Swiss valley of Val-de-Travers, which the brand calls home, where she was met by the brand’s founder, Michel Parmigiani, and its CEO Davide Traxler. “Amanda is a remarkable lady,” Traxler said, “and our common striving for quality and high standards is what brought us together.”

First on the list was a visit to Les Artisans Boîtiers in La Chaux-de-Fonds, the craftsmen who make Parmigiani Fleurier’s exquisite cases, followed by specialist dial maker Quadrance & Habillage, where she was shown procedures such as stamping, electroplating and finishing. The tour continued with a visit to the Musée d’Horlogerie in Le Locle, where Lui was able to view the remarkable collection of vintage mechanical marvels owned by the Sandoz Family Foundation, each of which had been painstakingly restored by Parmigiani Fleurier’s team.

Next up was a visit to the maison’s manufacture in Fleurier, where craftsmen have assembled its ingenious movements since the brand made its debut more than two decades ago, and where Lui was invited to help assemble a movement herself. Before establishing his own manufacture, Michel Parmigiani made his name as a master restorer of historical pieces, so it was fitting that the tour concluded with a trip to the restoration workshop, where Lui was shown vintage items that are currently being restored – a process that can take up to two years.

Of all her experiences touring the home of watchmaking, Lui says that her visit to the Parmigiani Fleurier manufacture had a particularly profound impact on her.

“I’m extremely delighted to have the chance to visit Switzerland and tour around Parmigiani Fleurier’s manufacture as Friend of the Brand,” she said. “I was humbled by the experience of meeting Michel Parmigiani in Switzerland and learning more about his path from master restoration to luxury haute horlogerie. I was especially delighted to tour the brand’s manufacture and was deeply struck by the devotion and skill of the outstanding craftsmen. My eyes were opened wide as I witnessed how the brand creates masterpieces that boast unparalleled design, cultivation, innovation and quality.”

Immersed in horology since an early age, Lui says the invitation to become a Friend of the Brand was particularly

FROM RIGHT: AMANDA LUI HELPS TO ASSEMBLE A MOVEMENT; LUI AND BRAND FOUNDER MICHEL PARMIGIANI; THE MANUFACTURE IN FLEURIER

meaningful to her after her father, an avid watch collector, gave her a timepiece to mark each of her milestone achievements.

“Each watch I own holds a very special story and memory within it,” she said. “Parmigiani Fleurier has always worked in harmony with traditions, presenting timepieces that harness excellence, innovation, quality and holistic beauty from inside out, values that I appreciate and look upon in my own life.”

Michel Parmigiani stressed that “respecting heritage and working in harmony with watchmaking traditions are the foundations on which Parmigiani Fleurier was established,” adding that combining this ancestral wisdom with the essence of modern design makes the brand part of an ongoing tradition of manufacturing expertise.

He went on to point out the many parallels between the brand and its newest friend. “We’re honoured to have Amanda joining us as Friend of the Brand. She balances gentleness and determination, elegance and strength.

Amanda and our timepieces complement each other exquisitely.”

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

89

SEL ECT

IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT The Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille puts women at the forefront of motorsport FOR FIVE DAYS in June, female driving enthusiasts showed off their skills and tenacity behind the wheel of classic automobiles as they participated in the 20th Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille. This exceptional event, held annually, has become a not-to-be missed festival of ladies’ motorsport.

Against the backdrop of the scenic French countryside, 91 crews embarked on a 1,700-kilometre journey with the emphasis on timekeeping and hitting targets, rather than sheer speed. The route took competitors from Place Vendôme in Paris to Saint-Tropez via overnight halts in Beauval, Vichy and Aix-les-Bains, with two nights in Saint-Tropez sandwiching the final day of rallying.

Modelled after the Rallye Paris-Saint-Raphaël, an all-female event that ran from 1929 to 1974, the Rallye des Princesses is organised by Viviane Zaniroli. In 2015, Richard Mille, the Swiss watch brand, became the event’s official partner.

This year’s event fielded 99 cars, among which were 50 different models. Each day included seven to eight hours of driving. “Part of what Richard Mille and I espouse as a brand is deliberately changing the narrative of women in these fields, and promoting women who love adventure and competition,” said Aurora Straus, partner of the brand, who drove a red Porsche 356 sporting Richard Mille’s livery. The 20-year old Straus is a familiar figure on racing circuits in the US, where she’s been competing for the past three years.

At the end of five days of driving, Carole Gratzmuller and co-driver Elisa Noémie Laurentin narrowly edged out the competition in their 1967 Chevrolet Corvette Stingray. “We couldn’t have imagined a more wonderful week with which to celebrate the 20th year of the Rallye des Princesses Richard Mille,” said Zaniroli. “The weather was just perfect, the competition was tight up to the finish line, and we have two magnificent winners who perfectly embody what this sporting challenge is all about. It’s a rally for women that has nothing to envy the most famous rallying events.” richardmille.com

90 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

CLOCKWISE FROM OPPOSITE: THE RALLY STARTED AT PLACE VENDÔME IN PARIS; IN THE SHADOW OF THE ALPS; RICHARD MILLE IS THE EVENT’S OFFICIAL PARTNER; RACING DRIVER AND BRAND PARTNER AURORA STRAUS; A COLOURFUL LINE-UP OF CARS

WATCH E S ROYAL OAK FROSTED GOLD DOUBLE BALANCE WHEEL OPENWORKED

JAMIE TAN REFLECTS ON THE DESIGN STRENGTHS EVIDENCED IN A PAIR OF NEW AUDEMARS PIGUET TIMEPIECES

HEARTS OF OAK

A

udemars Piguet’s main highlight in the first half of 2019 has undoubtedly been its new Code 11.59 collection. The line’s design codes, technical minutiae and new movements all redefined what aficionados can – and should – expect of something as innocuous and ubiquitous as a round watch.

The Royal Oak hasn’t been forgotten, though. Long the stalwart of the Audemars Piguet line-up, the collection was also bolstered at SIHH by new models and line extensions.

Among these novelties were two standouts: the 37mm Royal Oak Frosted Gold Double Balance Wheel Openworked, featuring sapphires of various hues, and the diamond-set, 41mm Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked.

Although these two timepieces aren’t the latest revelation in watchmaking by any stretch of the imagination, they do offer an interesting insight into the Royal Oak’s enduring popularity, as well as Audemars Piguet’s mastery of both design and technique.

Introduced in 1972, the Royal Oak was the world’s first luxury steel sports watch, at a price more than four times that of its next most expensive competitor. Its designer, the late, great Gerald Genta – who’s often lauded for elevating steel’s status as a material – had given the Royal Oak’s surfaces different finishes, demonstrated that steel can be as visually arresting as any precious metal.

This year’s new Royal Oak watches accentuate the collection’s design strengths in various ways. For a start, there are the precious stones set into the bezel of each.

The rounded octagonal bezel has long been the Royal Oak’s signature and drawing the observer’s attention to the gems here seems almost like a declaration. Note the subtle twist: the bezel’s upper surface is no longer linearly brushed, but polished like the flank to create a seamless transition to the baguette-cut stones. The eight exposed screws on the bezel, another Royal Oak signature, have been preserved here.

Each gem-set bezel frames the open-worked Calibre 3132.

Introduced in 2016, this movement stacks two sets of balance wheels and hairsprings coaxially for more precise timekeeping; the two balance wheels can be seen at 7 o’clock, secured under a prominent gold upper bridge. Once again, the Royal Oak’s versatility is evident: in spite of one watch being 4mm wider than the other, the same movement looks appropriate in both thanks to a tweak in the inner flange’s

width. The contrasting tones and finishes of the movements also make each watch unique.

Finally, there’s the matter of the bracelet finishing. The Royal Oak Double Balance Wheel Openworked features the same linearly brushed finish that’s common to many “stock” Royal Oak Timepieces. Its rainbow-hued cousin, however, has the (relatively) new Frosted Gold finish, which is achieved by peppering each metallic surface with numerous small indents using a proprietary tool that’s akin to a miniature jackhammer. The Frosted Gold finish is reminiscent of a sparkling layer of snow; it looks more luxurious, naturally, and also lends a a certain tactility to the watch.

In the grand scheme of things, the two watches featured here may not register more than a blip on most enthusiasts’ radar. Examine them more closely, however, and each offers a fascinating look at the Royal Oak design codes – and adaptability – in its own right.

ROYAL OAK DOUBLE BALANCE WHEEL OPENWORKED

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

93

ADD PRESTIGE TO YOUR LIFE HONG

AUGUST 2019 KONG HK$50

prestigeo nline.com

GET YOUR PERSONAL SUBSCRIPTION TO THE VERY BEST IN LIFE To start a one-year subscription (12 issues) at a special rate of HK$360, a 40% saving on the cover price, please email us at: subscription@burda.hk

SUBSCRIBE AND SAVE 40% ON THE COVER PRICE BEAUTY & CARTIER WELLNESS AWAR RO DS PLUS XIE MANCES THE STON 2019 | TRAIL WAL RONG | M ARJORIE ES | UNCORKING KING IN TASMANIA YANG & DE TH E POON | E BEST OF ITALY GUILLAUM E NÉRY

prestigeonline.com Mobile and tablet editions are available via Issuu, Magzter and Pressreader

Best of the Best

We’ve tried and tested, and researched and reviewed more than 300 products and dozens of treatments to bring you, dear readers, our fourth annual Prestige Beauty & Wellness Awards. This year’s report is our biggest ‒ and, we humbly argue, best ‒ ever and we hope it helps you discover a new favourite, or two, or three!

19 BEAUTY Opener.indd 95

6/8/2019 1:07 PM

BEAU T Y

WAKE ME UP

Get your day off to a good start with a morning skincare routine that cleanses, nourishes and tackles any concern from dryness to dark circles. We’ve rounded up the best of the bunch for every step along the way

The Cleanser

With ingredients from the brand founder’s own farm and a soothing botanical fragrance, Tata Harper Nourishing Oil Cleanser is our pick for a gentle daily wash for parched morning complexions. joyce.com/beauty

The Eye Serum

The Lip Balm

Organic coconut oil, apricot kernel oil, shea butter and dryness-fighting glasswort extract come together in the oh-so-soothing Delarom Lips Protecting Balm. And it has a great mirror under the cap. k11beauty.com

96 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

You heard it here first: yes, you need an eye serum. And with Lancôme Génefique Eye LightPearl you get a brightening wrinkle-fighting formula and massaging applicator in one.

Oh, and it fortiifies lashes too. lancome.com.hk

The Essence-in-Lotion

We at Prestige are big believers in establishing — and enjoying — a skincare ritual. And why not make it luxury while we’re at it? La Prairie Platinum Rare Cellular Life-Lotion is one way we’ve found to bring a sense of opulence to our everyday routine. From its amethyst-hued packaging and satisfying magnetic closure system to its silky serum-like texture and subtle floral scent, the essencein-lotion is a pleasure to look at as well as to use. The product is designed to be the first step, after cleansing, in your skincare routine and works to support the skin’s cellular detoxification processes — repairing existing damage, preventing future damage and optimising skin function. We like to pour a few drops in our hands, then gently pat on the face. It’s great for mature, drier skin types and leaves just a hint of luxurious iridescence on the skin. laprairie.com.hk

Louis XVI of France famously called platinum “the only metal fit for kings”. The durable, hypoallergenic material is also the ingredient of choice for La Prairie’s proprietary Platinum Peptide Complex, which consists of anti-ageing peptide particles bound to platinum particles that together help to boost collagen production

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

97

BEAU T Y

VALMONT’s V-Shape Filling series restores density to the skin while its V-Line Lifting series smooths and plumps wrinkles. They can be used separately or combined to target specific needs.

The Eye Balm

Nowadays it’s not enough to slap on some moisturiser and call it a day, at least if your goal is to prevent wrinkles and loss of firmness for as long as possible. So after prepping the undereye area with a lightweight serum, your next step should be the VALMONT V-Shape Filling Eye Balm. The balm has a non-greasy and non-sticky texture that belies its ultraconcentrated formula. It works to firm the skin around the eyes while reducing unsightly bags, puffiness and drooping eyelids.

Over time it also strengthens and densifies the skin and its “dermal extracellular matrix”. All that and it feels good too. evalmont.com.hk

98 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

The Serums

The Sunscreen

What began as a nice addition to our beauty regimen has now become a must-have treatment and first line of defence against ageing and all manner of skin concerns. We tried and tested a slew of serums and found these four to be our favourites.

We all need something to protect our skin from UV radiation. Our choice? Kiehl’s Dermatologist Solutions Ultra Light Daily UV Defense SPF 50 PA+++ because it may be light but it offers major protection from the sun, pollution and all those nasty things we’d prefer to avoid. kiehls.com.hk

THE DAY CREAMS

Different skin types need different moisturisers so we’ve rounded up our favourites for dry, normal and ageing complexions alike. Each provides adequate hydration and has a distinct texture so you can layer or swap as the seasons or your needs change. Just remember to apply every day for the best results!

SU:M37 WATER-FULL WATER GEL CREAM ABSORBS QUICKLY AND HYDRATES DEEPLY. FOLLOW OUR LEAD AND STORE IT IN THE FRIDGE. FACEBOOK.COM/ SUM37HONGKONG

WITH A RICHER TEXTURE AND BLACK DIAMOND TRUFFLE EXTRACTS, ESTÉE LAUDER RE-NUTRIV ULTIMATE DIAMOND TRANSFORMATIVE ENERGY CRÈME RICH RESCUES DULL, DRY AGEING SKIN. ESTEELAUDER.COM.HK

Specially designed for very dry skin, Babor Ampoule Concentrates Repair: Multi Vitamin feature a complex of vitamins A, E, provitamin B5 and biotin to improve resilience and protect the skin barrier. We like the instant plumping effect and soft scent. Those with other skin types or concerns can check the full ampoule range. babor.com Long a favourite for its silky texture and brightening powers, Caudalie Vinoperfect Radiance Serum gets our vote when we want a lightweight formula that can still tackle our dark spots and prevent new ones from forming. The easily absorbed serum is also great for day or night. hk.caudalie.com The bottle looks like a lightsabre, and maybe Pola Grandluxe II is one — for our skin, at least. The high-tech formula, developed based on Nobel prize-winning science, goes on like a shimmering lotion and is said to help release coenzymes with a wavelength of light that’s the same as that of beautiful skin. pola.com.hk

BRAND NEW FOR 2019, CLARINS EXTRAFIRMING DAY LIFTS, FIRMS AND GENTLY HYDRATES WITH A KICK OF KANGAROO FLOWER. CLARINS.COM.HK

Chantecaille Bio Lifting Serum+ is an anti-ageing powerhouse, packed with scientific skincare breakthroughs like lipopeptides, plant stem cells and blue-light-pollution blockers. You can find us applying and sniffing the rosy liquid all day long. chantecaille.com.hk

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

99

BEAU T Y

FACE THE DAY It’s the armour we wear when we go out into the world.

And whether you prefer the natural look or all-out coverage and colour, we present your everyday make-up toolkit

100 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

The Concealer

A true multi-tasker, Too Faced Born This Way Super Coverage Concealer provides a natural, weightless finish that lasts all day long. And a big bottle means we can use it all over if we want (which we often do). toofaced.com

The Eyebrow Pencil

The undisputed expert in all things eyebrow gets our pick for colour, staying power and ease of application. Benefit Cosmetics Precisely, My Brow Eyebrow Pencil also comes in a wide range of shades. benefitcosmetics.com/hk

The Lipstick The Blush

The ever-popular and universally flattering NARS Orgasm Blush now comes in a limited-edition oversized compact for 2019 with a hint of golden shimmer, which means even more of a good thing. narscosmetics.com.hk

New French brand La Bouche Rouge is already making waves with its small-batch, toxinfree, sustainable lipsticks housed in refillable leather and stainlesssteel cases. The colour selection is great too. laboucherougeparis.com

The Powder

Part of the brand’s popular Ultra HD collection created for high-definition TV and film, Make Up For Ever Ultra HD Loose Powder is portable, practical and provides a smooth, lightweight finish we love. makeupforever.com/hk

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

101

BEAU T Y

The Liquid Foundation

It’s not often that we can find a beauty product that ticks every box: highperformance, natural-looking, good for the skin and a pleasure to use. So it was nice surprise when we first tried Guerlain L’Essentiel Natural Glow Foundation SPF 20 and L’Essentiel Retractable Foundation Brush. The lightweight, buildable formula comes in 10 shades and because it doesn’t destabilise the skin’s natural microbiota, it’s proven to actually improve the condition of the skin with each use. The bottle’s unique design, meanwhile, comes courtesy of renowned designer Mathieu Lehanneur, who “worked with free, unconstrained forms and assembled them like cells”. The accompanying brush is equally eye-catching with the added benefit of being retractable. guerlain.com/hk/en-hk

102 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

The Lip Gloss

Micro-pearls, beeswax, aloe vera, and five lightweight oils.

Dior Addict Stellar Shine has everything we need for all-day shine and every gorgeous shade we could want to go with it. dior.com

THE PRIMERS

Particularly in a climate like Hong Kong’s, primers have become a necessary step to allow make-up to go on smoothly and stay there — at least, we hope, for a few hours after we leave home.

We tried a range of formulas and textures, and agreed these three offer the best benefits for a range of skin types.

AS THE NAME IMPLIES, TATCHA THE SILK CANVAS GOES ON SMOOTHLY AND PROVIDES A SOFT VEIL OF PROTECTION. JOYCE.COM/BEAUTY

THE SILICONE-BASED HOURGLASS VEIL MINERAL PRIMER IS A CULT FAVOURITE FOR A REASON: LIGHT-ASAIR TEXTURE AND A PORE-FREE FINISH. HOURGLASSCOSMETICS. COM

The Cushion Foundation There’s something deceptive about Giorgio Armani Power Fabric Foundation Balm. It’s the only cushion we’ve tried that goes on like nothing at all, but manages to deliver a full-coverage matt finish.

Sold! giorgioarmanibeauty.com.hk

WITH ITS REFRESHING COCONUT SCENT AND NOURISHING TEXTURE, TOO FACED HANGOVER REPLENISHING FACE PRIMER IS A PERFECT PICK-ME-UP. TOOFACED.COM

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

103

BEAU T Y

NIGHT MOVES

The workday is done and it’s time to turn up the glamour. We’ve got just the ticket, whether you’re in the mood for a lashing of red lipstick or a hint of iridescent sparkle, with these party-ready make-up picks

The Contour & Highlighter

Why buy two products when you can get them in one?

Charlotte Tilbury Filmstar Bronze & Glow is our choice for subtle contouring and universally flattering highlights. Available in two colour combos, including medium to dark (pictured). charlottetilbury.com

The Eye Shadow The Eyeliner

The Longwear Foundation

It feels like 2019 has been the year of the foundation. YSL All Hours Liquid Foundation stood out with its promise of 24-hour, flawless matt coverage. We even tested it on a cover shoot and it definitely held its own. yslbeauty.com.hk

104 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

Everyone knows this brand for its cultfavourite eye-shadow palettes, but we’re casting our vote for the Urban Decay 24/7 Glide-On Eye Pencil, thanks to its creamy — and waterproof — texture and 24 fun shades that range from deep black to neon green. urbandecay.com.hk

If you’re like us and prefer to keep things simple, Dolce & Gabbana IntensEyes Creamy Eyeshadow Stick is the perfect day-to-night make-up transition piece. Apply, blend and off you go. dolcegabbana.com

THE LIP PRODUCTS

When it comes to glamming it up, you can’t go wrong with a bold lip. And nowadays there are so many colours, textures and formulas to choose from that we couldn’t pick just one. Each of these products is great on its own but wouldn’t it be better to just have them all?

CLAIMING TO BE “MORE THAN A LIPSTICK”, CHANEL ROUGE COCO FLASH COMES IN 27 BOLD HUES AS WELL AS THREE TRANSLUCENT TOP COATS. WE LIKE THE SMOOTH TEXTURES AND EASE OF APPLICATION. CHANEL.COM

ANOTHER CASE OF ONE JUST ISN’T ENOUGH, CHRISTIAN LOUBOUTIN ROUGE LOUBOUTIN COLLECTION FEATURES THE DESIGNER’S ICONIC RED IN THREE MUSTHAVE FINISHES. ASIA. CHRISTIANLOUBOUTIN. COM

MATT LIPS LOOK NICE BUT THEY’RE NOT ALWAYS EASY TO ACHIEVE. NARS VELVET MATTE LIP PENCIL IS ONE WAY WE’VE FOUND TO GET A SMOOTH, SHARP FINISH. NARSCOSMETICS. COM.HK

AS SOON AS WE HEARD ABOUT KILIAN LE ROUGE PARFUM FROM CREATOR KILIAN HENNESSY HIMSELF, WE WERE HOOKED. THE MATT AND SATIN FINISHES COME WITH A MARSHMALLOW-Y GOURMAND SCENT. BYKILIAN.COM

The Multitasker

Part of the brand’s reinvented make-up line, Shiseido Aura Dew immediately caught our eye with its silky, shimmering texture that can be used as an eye shadow, highlighter, lip gloss, we could go on... shiseido.com.hk

The Mascara

Length, volume, drama and lift — Hourglass Cosmetics Caution Extreme Lash Mascara claims to do it all. It may not make our coffee too, but we loved the clump-free, buildable formula and durability. hourglasscosmetics.com

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

105

BEAU T Y

OVERNIGHT SUCCESS Our quest for beauty doesn’t stop just because the day has ended. In fact, a proper

evening skincare routine is perhaps more important than anything to maintaining the health of our complexion. Herewith our top picks for cleansing, pampering and perfecting — before and while we sleep

The Eye Make-Up Remover

It’s the cardinal rule of skincare: don’t go to bed without removing your make-up and washing your face. But how many times have we done just that and woken up to streaks of eye shadow and flakes of mascara on our cheeks and pillow? Well, not anymore, thanks to this new eye make-up remover from a storied Swiss brand. VALMONT Bi-falls, part of the Purity collection of cleansing products launched in March, has a unique non-oily formula that targets even the most stubborn waterproof make-up while protecting and softening the skin around the eyes. And another bonus? The 60ml bottle fits in our carry-on, so we can go all-out glam on our holidays and not have a streaky face to show for it later. evalmont.com.hk

106 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

On Target

The Cleanser

We can only guess how many toxins and pollutants we’re exposed to every day. Fortunately, Natura Bissé Diamond Cocoon Daily Cleanse is formulated to remove them all — plus make-up and excess oil — gently and effectively. naturabisse.com

Sometimes we just need a little extra something to deal with a pesky skin issue or protect us from environmental aggressors. Here are four targeted products we turn to again and again.

Helena Rubinstein Prodigy Cellglow The Intense Clarity Essence is powered by the brand’s signature active ingredients (Edelweiss native cells and Edelweiss extract), but has the added exfoliating benefits of glycolic acid and brightening benefits of Vitamin CG. We also found it makes a great hydrator, even for those of us with sensitive skin. helenarubinstein.com

The Skincare Device

Part of comprehensive skincare system from the Italian brand, the Frame D2 ThermalVibration Face Massaging Device and R5 Extreme Restorative Anti-Ageing Satin Serum work together to provide a soothing nightly facial and silky, smooth results. framecosmetics.com.hk

The Sleeping Mask

With not one but two decadent layers to nourish and hydrate skin all night long, plus a lovely floral scent, Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Sleeping Mask is our new must-have for dewy skin. hk.fresh.com

The Treatment Oil

Combining a nourishing oil and a revitalising essence, Estée Lauder Revitalizing Supreme+ Nourishing and Hydrating Dual Phase Treatment Oil transforms into a lightweight moisturiser once shaken and makes for a protective final step in our evening skincare routine. esteelauder.com.hk

Taking all the antioxidant and antiageing goodness of green tea and concentrating it into a patented Time Response Complex, the AmorePacific Intensive Skin Renewal Ampoule is a four-week treatment to improve everything from tone and clarity to smoothness and firmness. We noticed results within one week, and love the travel-friendly pacakaging. shop.amorepacific.com.hk Unlike most of the products featured on these pages, Caternap Nanotech Silk Sleeping Mask is not something to be applied directly to the skin. But it does still offer some impressive skincare and anti-ageing benefits, thanks to a unique nanotechnology delivery system. We’d still use it anyway, considering we fell in love with the mask’s silky goodness the first time we put it on during a longhaul flight. caternap.com We’ve always been to told to take our vitamins and when it comes to skincare, Vitamin C reigns supreme.

Omorvicza Daily Vitamin C is our choice for a stable and potent addition to our daily skincare regimen. The milky serum melts into skin, where it hydrates, protects and brightens all day long. joyce.com/beauty

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

107

BEAU T Y

The Make-Up Remover

You might think your skin woes — dullness, roughness, blemishes and blackheads — are caused by wearing make-up. In fact, it’s not the make-up but the incomplete removal of make-up that wreaks havoc on our skin. That’s why we need a make-up remover that can remove longlasting foundation and waterproof mascara as well as melt away oil, toxins and the particles that clog up our pores on a daily basis. FANCL MCO Mild Cleansing Oil is fortified with a unique Nano Cleansing Technology that penetrates deep into pores to remove stubborn make-up, with a velvety texture that prevents friction and rubbing of the skin. The ultra-gentle formula also washes off completely, leaving skin feeling clean and refreshed, and is free of any preservatives, mineral oil, fragrance and artificial colorings. fancl-hk.com Use on a dry face, paying particular attention to the pores around the nose and chin. Follow with FANCL Facial Washing Powder for a complete double cleanse

108 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

FACING THE FUTURE

You’ve heard it all before: we have one only face so we better treat it right. If you’re not sure where to start when the plethora of facials on offer in Hong Kong, we present our top picks

Beyorg

Incorporating deep cleansing, tui na massage using rose quartz, and top-quality botanical products, the De Mamiel Pollution Proof Facial scored top marks for firming, hydration and increased circulation. beyorgbeauty.com

CareYou Beauty

Not quite a facial, but your face just wouldn’t look its best without beautiful brows. The semi-permanent 3D Hairstroke Eyebrow treatment mimics real brows and you’ll be in expert hands at this local industry pioneer. careyoubeauty.com

Chantecaille

Our tester was in rose-scented heaven during the Rose de Mai Signature Facial, and described the treatment as “a big drink of water for your skin”. The spacious room was another bonus. chantecaille.com.hk

The Spa at Four Seasons

Using ayurveda- and aromatherapy-based products from Subtle Energies, the Ayurveda Lifting Facial offers a sensory journey and effective pressure-point therapy. You can request the non-invasive CACI machine for added lift. fourseason.com/hongkong

The Mandarin Spa

The 90-minute Digital Wellness Escape is tailor-made for our screen-obsessed culture. The best part, in our opinion, is the bespoke facial, eye treatment and massage. mandarinoriental.com/hongkong

Plateau Spa

An escape in every sense of the word, the Wellness Escape at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong is perfect when you want to linger a while.

Our tester enjoyed an Omorovicza facial, spa meal and some al fresco lounging, and left glowing inside and out. hyatt.com

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

109

BEAU T Y

The Jade Roller & Gua Sha

There are devices and gadgets aplenty these days, but give us The Artistry Face Roller and Guasha Scrapper Set and we’ll happily massage the day away. theartistry.com.hk

THE FACE MASKS

Dry skin? Oily skin? Sensitive, or just plain irritated? Have no fear, there’s a mask for you. And everyone else you ever met, for that matter. These are just a few favourites from the dozens we’ve tried this year.

SPA DAZE

THE THICK GEL TEXTURE AND “EXPRESS” PACKAGING MAKE APIVITA PRICKLY PEAR FACE MASK GOOD FOR BEAUTY ON THE GO. APIVITA.COM

While we all love a good facial in the hands of a professional, it’s easier than ever to create a spa experience in the comfort of our own homes.

Just choose the right product for your skin type, sit back and let the beautifying begin

The Exfoliating Cleanser

There’s no point in applying a mask unless it’s on a clean, prepped surface. Dr Barbara Sturm Enzyme Cleanser is a fine-grained powder that transforms into an exfoliating foam, and our choice for home-spa prep. joyce.com/beauty

110 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

A FIRM FAVOURITE ALONG WITH HER CULT CLEANSER, EVE LOM RESCUE MASK TACKLES STRESSED-OUT SKIN WITH CAMPHOR, ALMOND AND HONEYINFUSED KAOLIN CLAY. EVELOM.COM.HK

WITH ITS RICH TEXTURE AND UNIQUE MAGNET REMOVAL SYSTEM, PAYOT UNI SKIN MASQUE MAGNÉTIQUE IS FUN AND EFFECTIVE AT THE SAME TIME. PAYOT.COM FOR A QUICK FIX ON OUR ALLTOO-OFTEN CLOGGED PORES, WE TURN TO THE OXYGENATING AND FOAMING FIVE-MINUTE MALIN+GOETZ DETOX FACE MASK, MALINANDGOETZ. COM.HK

The Hydrogel Mask

Forget flimsy sheet masks. The satisfyingly thick 111SKIN Rose Gold Brightening Facial Treatment Mask takes at-home — or midair, if that’s your thing — pampering to a luxurious new level. Simply peel off the outer layers, apply to the face, and allow the pure gold and rose damask extracts to sink into the skin while silk amino acids, niacinamide, hyaluronic acid and centella asiatica extract go to work on wrinkles, fine lines and uneven skin tone. After 20 minutes soaking up the serum-like nectar the mask is coated with, we definitely feel a little bit brighter and a whole lot hydrated. joyce.com/beauty

111SKIN says this bestselling mask is a celebrity and supermodel favourite, and it seems there are selfies to prove it. Ashley Graham posted it on Instagram, Victoria’s Secret models used it before their shows and Priyanka Chopra is rumoured to have used it before pal Meghan Markle’s wedding.

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

111

BEAU T Y

BODY TALK We’ve tackled the face and all the fun that comes The Deodorant

Scoring high marks for its sheer, non-sticky texture, Malin+Goetz Eucalyptus Deodorant also won us over with its effectiveness at keeping odours and wetness at bay. No wonder it’s one of the brand’s bestsellers. malinandgoetz.com.hk

with it, so it’s time to move on to other, ahem, bigger topics. Here are our favourite ways to look, feel and smell our very best every day

The Body Wash

The Body Oil

We’re not usually big fans of body oil given the residue it often leaves behind, but Gucci Bloom Body Oil absorbs suprisingly well and leaves behind just an enveloping scent of tuberose, jasmine and Rangoon creeper. gucci.com

112 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

If you like the scent of rose as much as we do, you’ll want to slather yourself in Jurlique Softening Rose Body Cleansing Cream, which manages to refresh the skin without drying it out. jurlique.com

The Supplement

Good skin begins from the outside out, and Ogaenics Love Your Gut Daily Biotic Komplex stakes its claim as the first preand probiotic formula with Vitamin B3 for the recovery of problem skin. And it’s completely organic. beyorgbeauty.com

The Body Mist

If someone’s offering to protect our aura, we’re not about to say no.

Subtle Energies Aura Protection Body Mist was created to cleanse one’s personal space, promote focus and clarity, and even enhance decision-making. We’ll take that. subtleenergies.com.au

The Shampoo & Conditioner

Not only does it look like something Cleopatra would have in her shower, but the Oribe Gold Lust collection smells amazing, suds up luxuriously and leaves our strands feeling soft, smooth and strengthened. joyce.com.hk

Melo Spa

Anytime we need an escape, our first choice is a Melo Signature Massage. We get a big private room, a super-plush robe, perfectly tailored pressure and sense of well-being that lingers long after we return to the busy city. hongkong.shatin.hyatt.com

The Peninsula Spa

There’s a whole industry that’s grown out of Hong Kong’s love of body shaping. And if you want to tackle several areas at once, the Body Contour Collection is a good place to start. It features three fat-fighting machines in one 90-minute session. peninsula.com

The Oriental Spa

In a space that feels like an urban oasis, the Sense of Balance treatment transports us with its ginseng body scrub and Chinese massage that hurts so good. mandarinoriental.com

SHHH

With all the focus on our faces and bodies, it’s easy to neglect our crowning glory. That’s where the stem-cell-rich OMG Advanced Anti-Ageing Hair Treatment comes to rescue and restore. “Best hair treatment ever,” says our tester. shhh94.com

Bruneblonde

The only drawback of Balayage here seems to be the salon’s location inside the Grand Hyatt, because otherwise our tester thoroughly enjoyed the impeccable service, personal approach and even fully reclining shampoo stations. bruneblonde.com

The Body Tool

If you’re someone who enjoys cupping, massage and anything that helps to slim and tone, you’ll love the Cha Ling Ba Guan. After applying massage oil, squeeze the bulb to create suction and then push and pull over any trouble areas. Our tester swears by it, and the Cha Ling Express Shaping Treatment, for the full fat-busting experience. cha-ling.com

#prestigebeautyawards PRESTIGE

113

BEAU T Y

HEAVEN SCENT Every season there are new fragrances that captivate us

and transport us to faraway places, even if just for a moment.

We’ve gathered a few favourites from this year that keep us coming back for another sniff WHAT WE REACH FOR WHEN WE WANT A SWEET PICK-MEUP, BYREDO SUNDAZED IS ALSO OUR KIND OF LUXURY IN A BOTTLE. BYREDO.COM

IT’S HARD TO PICK JUST ONE FROM THIS NICHE BRAND, BUT FLORAL-VANILLA KILIAN WOMAN IN GOLD IS NEAR THE TOP OF OUR LIST. BYKILIAN.COM

A BURST OF CITRUS AND A HEART OF MUSK MAKE PENHALIGON’S THE INGENUE COUSIN FLORA OUR MOST INTRIGUING CHOICE. PENHALIGONS.COM

WE JUST CAN’T STOP INHALING THE WARMING TOFFEE- AND VANILLASPIKED BON PARFUMEUR 402 BONPARFUMEUR. COM

SUNNY DAYS IN CÔTE D’AZUR? YES, PLEASE! LES EAUX DE CHANEL PARISRIVIERA RICH IS A BRACING BLEND OF ORANGE PEEL AND JASMINE. CHANEL.COM

114 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

INSPIRED BY A GREEK MYTH, DIPTYQUE EAU DE MINTHE MAKES A SPLASH WITH FRESH MINT TEMPERED BY GERANIUM AND PATCHOULI. DIPTYQUEPARIS.COM

The Men’s Make-Up

Yes, cosmetics for men have gone mainstream and who better to turn to than Boy de Chanel? Even if eyebrow pencils aren’t your thing, the matt lip balm may just be your lips’ new best friend. chanel.com

The Men’s Eau de Parfum

Created specifically for “the man of today” by perfumer Annick Menardo, Boss Bottled Infinite is spicy and sparkling with cinnamon and sage, and mandarin and rosemary, in a bold blue flacon. hugoboss.com

MALE CALL Women shouldn’t have all the fun when it comes to

looking and feeling your absolute best. So we put some of the year’s hottest men’s products to the test and found a few favourites to add to your grooming arsenal

The Men’s Essence

A concentrated lotion, Biotherm Homme Force Supreme Life Essence is designed to boost the effectiveness of serums and creams applied over it. Even used alone, it’s proven to give skin an instant boost. biotherm.com.hk

The Oriental Spa

If you’ve tried Shanghai pedicures and are a bit wary of the blades and potential dangers, but still want to do something about your callused feet, then a Bastien Pedicure is a must. Studio manager Albin will welcome you into a private room and proceed to remove layers of dead skin before buffing and polishing your nails to a healthy shine. Even better, he’s a font of knowledge when it comes to orthotics and how to care for your poor, neglected feet. mandarinoriental.com

Bliss Spa

The Men’s Body Wash

From a brand whose tagline is “simple skincare for demanding men,” SA.AL&Co. Hair and Body Wash won us over right away. And its hydrating, refreshing results had us sold. beyorgbeauty.com

Soaring high above Kowloon and close to popular party spot the Wet Deck at W Hong Kong, this secluded spa is the perfect place to enjoy a spot of wellness and pampering.

We tried the Caviar and Collagen Cocoon treatment using Carol Joy London products and would recommend it to anyone — male or female — looking for a luxurious full-body moisturising experience, not to mention the anti-ageing benefits of the pure collagen mask. marriott.com

Be sure to visit prestigeonline.com for the full list of winners and lots more beauty- and wellness-related content and reviews

#prestigebeautyawards | PRESTIGE

115

CULT U R E

BODY OF WORK

XIE RONG talks about the honesty and immediacy of performance art and how she made the transition from illustrator to being her own canvas. jing zhang reports

I

reflect on my life, but also on the lives of my mother, my father and my family,” says Sichuan-born, London-based performance artist Xie Rong, or Echo Morgan, as she’s also known. “The story goes back to my grandparents.” Suddenly, personal stories of identity, femininity and ancestry become larger, reflecting the vast social change of a booming China.

A multidisciplinary artist who works with paint, film, print and audio, Xie was born in Chengdu in 1983, but has lived and worked in London since the age of 18. She began studying classical Chinese painting and calligraphy at the age of seven, then embarked on a traditional creative education in Chongqing during her teens, before moving to London as a young adult. Today, Xie has performed her multisensory works around the world from Leipzig to London and from Shanghai to Hong Kong and Guangzhou.

“From 11, I started to learn Western-style painting, still life, based on realism styles of painting, even Soviet Russianstyle painting,” she recalls. “And in the second year of high

school, I just felt I grew more and more political in my art.

At the time I found it quite difficult to adjust, being this young, passionate teenager growing up in Chongqing, a very fast-paced, changing city that became a big part of China’s economic boom.”

But it was London where Xie would really evolve into the artist she is today. “It’s all quite autobiographical and personal,” she adds, “but reflecting on larger social issues through an individual’s voice.”

Her first performance, 2011’s I Am a Brush, which symbolically marked the end of her marriage, comprised an 11-metre-long blank scroll of parchment along which the petite 5-foot-tall artist worked her way painting frantic strokes in black ink using her own hair like a Chinese paintbrush. Xie encouraged the audience to help her raise the huge painted banner like a flag. There were a hundred people in the room watching and a hundred audible gasps when the paper ripped and fell because of a technical miscalculation.

YOU HAVE MY BLOOD IN YOU, 2017

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

117

“Everyone asked if I was OK. It was actually quite moving,” she says. “The journey of my performance work started with a piece of writing, my BA dissertation at Central Saint Martins. That was the starting point of me becoming a fine artist again.”

Using classically Chinese motifs and imagery, Xie’s work is distinctive. She’s painted her nude form like a blue and white Ming Dynasty vase in Be Inside the Vase, which explored her relationship with her father, as well as themes of Chineseness. At times there’ll be audience interaction and a play with Western impressions of China, a cultural looking glass of sorts.

At first glance, Xie’s performances are visually arresting – the use of her own body, form, dress and movement is compelling on obvious levels. But it’s the moving, personal stories she tells that reverberate with people long after the performance is finished.

“When I got into the Royal College of Art for my MA, it was a very difficult time. I was revisiting myself and my cultural, social and sexual identity – everything just kind of pushed me to do something radical and different. My body was the only medium that I had,” she explains. “I didn’t have any money to buy materials.”

There’s personality and politics in Little Red Flower, in which she painted her entire body with expensive red lipstick, a work conceptualised after a visit to St Petersburg while reflecting on growing up in Communist China. One of her most visually dynamic pieces is the installation The Lighthouse in Leipzig, a response to Yoko Ono’s original work. Balls of Steel was a performance first done in 2013 depicting a fragile body in tough armour – females who are seen as “ball-breakers” or “hard candy”, women like her mother, who “was famous for being an ‘iron lady’ among her co-workers.”

“Performance became this immediate, direct and honest medium,” says Xie of the no doubt cathartic use of her body for creative expression during tumultuous personal times. “That’s when my body became the main focus – I became a performance artist when I separated from my husband.”

Previously, Xie had worked as a decorative and fashion illustrator, doing projects and collaborations that ranged from magazines to commercial set designs for department stores. She was awarded the Crown Palace Drawing Prize in 2011, and has taken part in exhibitions at Christie’s, the Royal Strand Gallery, the Liverpool Biennial, The Vault inside The Ned Hotel and Kensington Palace. But since the transition to performance art, her most personal joys and pains have found expression in performance work.

118

PRESTIGE | prestigeonline.com

ALL PHOTOS: JAMIE BAKER

CULT U R E

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: HAIR PAINTING, 2011; THE LIGHTHOUSE, 2019; BALLS OF STEEL, 2013

“My body was the only medium I had. I didn’t have any money to buy materials”

The biographical nature of her oeuvre is heavily inspired by the French feminist philosopher, playwright and author Hélène Cixous, who encouraged people to “paint like a writer and write like a painter”, and championed women telling their own personal stories in the context of social change.

Another influence is Yoko Ono. “I’m inspired by Yoko Ono. Her early conceptual and performance art – I reflect back to Grapefruit, done in the 1960s, which still seems so fresh and new today,” she says. “I really admire her work, it’s hugely intelligent, strong, simple and direct.”

Xie’s favourite artist is, however, Ai Weiwei. “Way before he became so famous and controversial for his activism and political work … I always loved him as an artist, photographer, sculptor and installation artist.”

In similar ways, Xie’s work explores the country of her birth and the rapid changes China has experienced. “The development was overwhelming. I saw so many houses that I loved demolished,” she says. “The river was really polluted and the air – our college was in the mountains but surrounded by factories – the skies were coloured in different hues because of the pollution,” she recalls of her time growing up in Sichuan.

She has also explored her own father’s illness and suicide attempt in emotional work that for some would be wincingly difficult. If there is a theme to her work and the message she wants to convey, it would be “the balance between control and vulnerability. Between beauty and violence but really very much through a personal story but reflected on to a larger background”.

Today, Xie is mother to two Eurasian children with her Welsh husband, a photographer with whom she often collaborates. She’s energised and feels at home in London – “a cultural melting pot where we just all live together and share this globalised energy that I love.” However, the last few years have been “really unfortunate with all this Brexit stuff and all this nationalistic talk”.

Despite having lived in London for the last 18 years, Xie continues to explore her own identity. She still feels very Chinese: “My heritage and country will always remain important. But perhaps I relate more to old China, that of Confucius and the Song Dynasty,” she says. “I identify with that, the Taoist way of thinking.

“Are we moving too fast, are we caring less and less? The responsibility for artists becomes bigger than just doing nice pictures or producing a nice backdrop for a selfie.”

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

119

CULTU R E

WE ARE AMUSED

Three London exhibitions point to a lighter side to the life of Victoria, the British queen often portrayed as stern and severe. Sonia Kolesnikov-Jessop gets a royal peek

Q

ueen Victoria is often remembered through the dignified photographic portraits of her later years: a short, plump monarch and severely dressed widow who wore black during her 40 years of mourning for her beloved late husband.

However, as part of this year’s celebrations of the bicentenary of her birth, three exhibitions are putting the spotlight on the younger, more fun-loving Victoria.

Remembering her childhood at Kensington Palace is a revamp of the permanent exhibition, Victoria: A Royal Childhood, while Victoria: Woman and Crown, also at Kensington Palace, examines her more private persona, looking beyond her carefully managed public image. Queen Victoria’s Palace at Buckingham Palace, meanwhile, takes us through her transformation of what would become the most visible seat of the British monarchy as we know it today.

Victoria: A Royal Childhood challenges certain preconceived ideas many people have. “The assumption is that the princess had quite a difficult childhood, but all the research points to the contrary. She had quite an enjoyable time at Kensington Palace. All her journals point to friends visiting her, riding a donkey, ice skating on the lake and playing in the garden with her half-sister,” says Claudia Williams, the exhibition’s curator.

120 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

“She was quite a fiery little girl, but her relationship with her mother was a very loving one, at least in her early childhood. Her struggles with her mother only appeared later, when she was a teenager and when Sir John Conroy tried to have her appoint him as her private secretary.”

The idea that in later life Queen Victoria didn’t care about her appearance, especially after the death of Prince Albert, is challenged by Polly Putnam, curator of Victoria: Woman and Crown, who notes that “a closer look at her mourning dresses debunks this myth”. Pointing out fruitbasket embroideries on one of the many dresses on display, she says, “They may be black, but they’re definitely not plain.”

During her 63-year reign, Britain embraced innovations that led to a massive industrial transformation on the home front while expanding its empire to the four corners of the globe. At home, Victoria, with Albert’s support, proved to be a moderniser, turning a new royal residence, Buckingham Palace, into the heart of the British monarchy, dramatically redesigning it so that it would serve as a focal point for national celebrations as well as a comfortable family home for a modern monarch.

QUEEN VICTORIA’S COSTUME FOR THE STUART BALL IN 1851, NOW ON DISPLAY IN BUCKINGHAM PALACE

CULTU R E

In 1837, just three weeks into her reign, the young queen moved into the then-unfinished palace, determined to begin a new life on her own terms. Conversion of the palace had been started by her uncle, King George IV, but no one had ever lived there as his successor, King William IV, preferred the nearby Clarence House.

“Despite its unfinished state, the young queen was delighted with her new palace,” says Lucy Peter, assistant curator of paintings at the Royal Collection Trust. “Shortly after she moved in, Victoria recalled in her daily dairies how much she liked Buckingham Palace’s ‘high, pleasant and cheerful’ interiors and the large garden, which her dog, Dash, was particularly taken by.”

Following her wedding in 1840, the queen’s private apartments on the north side of the palace were remodelled to accommodate the Prince Consort, Prince Albert of SaxeCoburg and Gotha. Victoria and Albert each had private sitting and dressing rooms, while the queen’s suite also had a room for her dresser and an audience room for conducting state business.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: A PORTRAIT OF QUEEN VICTORIA BY THOMAS SULLY; A PHOTOGRAPH FOR HER DIAMOND JUBILEE IN 1897; THIS WATERCOLOUR BY LOUIS HAGHE IS THE ONLY SURVIVING RECORD OF THE BUCKINGHAM PALACE BALLROOM ADDED BY QUEEN VICTORIA, WITH THE ORIGINAL ITALIAN RENAISSANCE-INSPIRED DECORATION DEVISED BY ALBERT’S ARTISTIC MENTOR, LUDWIG GRUNER

122 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

But as early as 1845, Victoria felt that the palace was becoming too small to accommodate her rapidly growing family, and plans were drawn up to alter and expand the palace to the form we know today, with a new East Wing enclosing what had previously been a U-shaped courtyard and featuring what would become the outward face of the modern British monarchy: the central balcony.

Queen Victoria was young, energetic and ambitious.

She was also an accomplished musician, singer and dancer whose passions would help shape the palace and its rooms.

An enormous new ballroom was added, along with a kitchen that would help cater for the large number of guests the royal couple would regularly entertain. One of the large events held in the magnificent ballroom was the Stuart Ball of 1851 – the evening gown worn by the queen is one of the highlights of the Queen Victoria’s Palace exhibition. Designed by artist Eugene Lamit, the dramatic grey silk moiré costume is trimmed with gold lace while the underskirt is made of gold and silver brocade.

VICTORIA: QUEEN, WIFE AND MOTHER THREE LONDON EXHIBITIONS MARK THE BICENTENARY OF THE BRITISH MONARCH’S BIRTH QUEEN VICTORIA’S PALACE Date: Until September 29 Venue: Buckingham Palace VICTORIA: WOMAN AND CROWN Date: Until January 5, 2020 Venue: Kensington Palace VICTORIA: A ROYAL CHILDHOOD Date: Permanent Venue: Kensington Palace

QUEEN VICTORIA’S JOURNAL, WITH A SKETCH OF HERSELF AND PRINCE ALBERT WEARING THEIR COSTUMES FOR THE STUART BALL

ROYAL COLLECTION TRUST/HER MAJESTY QUEEN ELIZABETH II 2019

Peter notes that Prince Albert played an important role in the remodelling of the palace, pointing out that a number of the drawings in an album of Sir James Pennethorne’s plans for the improvement of the palace have been annotated “Approved Albert” in the top right‑hand corner.

“Similarly, during the final phases of construction of the east front, we know that Albert worked closely with the Queen’s clerk of works to integrate the fittings and furniture from the Royal Pavilion in Brighton into the new spaces,” she says, adding that “Albert also took a particular interest in the organisation of the royal household”.

Aside from the dress worn by Victoria to the Stuart Ball, the exhibition at Buckingham Palace includes the Supertunica, a full-length embroidered coat made of gold silk cloth worn by Queen Victoria at Westminster Abbey during her coronation in 1838. There are also a cradle made for Princess Louise and a tabard believed to have been worn by a page at the Plantagenet-themed costume ball held by Victoria in 1842.

Many more rare outfits and jewels worn by the queen are on display at Victoria: Woman and Crown. And among some of her many mourning outfits on display is a rare bodice with a white patch on the neck. “We think it was to show her dresser how dirty her black dress was,” Putnam explains, “because it was otherwise hard to tell.”

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

123

T OYS

TRIPLE THREAT Although no longer exactly compact, BMW’s seventhgeneration 3-series is aiming for greatness in the hotly contested premium D segment. JON WALL drives it

124 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

I

f you were alarmed by the garishly aggressive countenances of both the latest 7-Series and X7, and were wondering what on Earth was going on in the BMW styling department, console yourself with the knowledge that all is not lost – or at least not yet. Because fortunately in some areas of the vast acreage encompassed by the company’s ever-expanding model range, the delicacy of line, size, aesthetics and proportion that characterised such classics as the 02 Series of the 1960s and ’70s, the Karmann-built E9 whose ultimate expression was the ’73 3.0 CSL “Batmobile” (one example was famously painted by Alexander Calder in 1975 as the first BMW Art Car), and the E46 3-Series of ’97-2006, which is thought by many to be the greatest and prettiest 3-Series of all, still lives on. In fact, you need only to look at the new G30, the seventh and latest iteration of the 3-Series that arrived in Asia only months ago, to realise that the designers in Munich haven’t totally mislaid their marbles – or, even more important, their sense of good taste.

You could say that as the 3 serves as a key cornerstone of the brand’s appeal (along with the closely related 4-Series it accounts for some 25 percent of all BMW automobile sales), the stylists were hardly likely to take risks. I prefer to view their conservatism more positively, in the sense that this 3-Series has long been the go-to compact executive saloon for owners who want more than a car that will simply cart them in comfort from A to B. To paraphrase an early BMW slogan, it’s the driving machine of its class and thus carries on its sinuous haunches an enviable weight of tradition, respect and expectation that no other manufacturer in this segment can lay claim to. In other words, it’s perhaps the one car in the line-up that has to be right.

Not that the physiognomy of the 330i MSport I’ve been entrusted with is entirely blemish-free. For example, its prominent kidney-shape grille, which when the MSport package is optioned is prominently decked out in high-gloss black, evokes a cartoon Parisian waiter’s moustache; others have remarked that the G30 reminds them of a Lexus (which is odd indeed, as it was always the Japanese who were accused of being copyists). Nonetheless, this is a great piece of work that stays true to the model’s heritage yet also exhibits a sleek new muscularity: all complex curves and taut, sharply defined creases, with low angled headlamp glasses to emphasise the car’s athleticism, it’s topped off with the brand’s familiar roof-mounted antenna, a trope that, perhaps even more than usual, evokes the fin of a predatory shark.

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

125

T OYS

BMW 330i MSPORT

engine: 2-litre turbocharged inline four transmission: seven-speed automatic max power: 254bhp max torque: 400Nm @ 1,500-4,400rpm max speed: 250km/h acceleration: 0-100km/h in 5.8 seconds unladen weight: 1,545kg price: from HK$649,000

It may still be classified as belonging to the premium D segment, yet at more than 4.7 metres long and 2 metres wide the 330i is hardly compact; in fact, it occupies much the same real estate on the road as an early 5-Series and is visibly larger than the model it replaces, though to BMW’s credit it’s also shed up to 55kg in the process. That weight loss, which is aimed at improving performance, driveability and, of course, fuel economy, has been achieved mostly through the use of high-strength steels and aluminium.

But if the 330i badge had you hoping that the car’s long bonnet might open to reveal a sweetly smooth 3-litre inline six, an engine that for years was synonymous with the blue-and-white-propeller logo, you may be disappointed. As with most other motor manufacturers, multi-cylinder units such as this have all but disappeared from the lower echelons of the BMW range (though you can still find one aboard the new M340i, as well as the new M3, which will debut at next month’s Frankfurt show).

Instead, the 330i relies on a 2-litre turbocharged four, which produces a respectable 254bhp and an eminently usable 400Nm from 1,550rpm.

126 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

With a crisp-shifting eight-speed automatic gearbox driving the rear wheels, the 330i will scamper to 100km/h in 5.8 seconds and reach an electronically governed maximum of 250 – and yet while cruising with a gentle foot on the right pedal, you should easily achieve 7 litres of premium per 100km. As that translates into 850km from a single tankful, perhaps the absence of a six is a worthwhile trade-off after all.

As tested with the MSport Package, which will surely be chosen by most enthusiasts, the 330i is kitted out with all manner of goodies, including sports suspension, variably weighted steering and brakes (the latter with blue M-designated calipers), 18-inch alloys with 19s an option, aero enhancements and, in the cabin, sports seats with blue stitching, M-specific digital instrumentation and graphics, and a small leather wheel that’s as wieldy as any I’ve had the pleasure to point a car with. Although the test car’s overwhelmingly black interior lacks the glamour of, say, its Mercedes C-Class competitor, it’s classy and spacious, with sufficient room for six-footers in the back – and the sports chairs are especially impressive, being as comfy and supportive (thanks to prominent side bolsters that really grip the torso) as they’re perfectly in line with the 330i’s sporting mien.

When strapped in, chunky wheel in hands, you’re the centre of attention, bombarded with information from the digital instruments, the central infotainment screen and the optional head-up display. Granted the in-car navigation system has me going round in circles at least once a day, but then I’ve never met a sat-nav yet that doesn’t.

The clincher, though, is the dynamics – and that’s where the 3-Series has always excelled. Yes, there are other four-door saloons and even a few SUVs that can show the 330i a clean pair of heels in a straight line, but I’d be happy to bet that, with the possible exception of Alfa’s Giulia, none can match the exquisite handling balance (claimed weight

The 330i attacks corners eagerly and elegantly, responding to the slightest inputs on the helm

distribution is an ideal 50:50) and steering that give this Beemer the demeanour of a genuine sports car and make it such an unmitigated joy to drive.

The 330i attacks corners eagerly and elegantly, responding to the slightest inputs on a helm that’s not only pin-point precise but is also perfectly weighted, and which offers plenty of feel no matter what speed you’re travelling at. Body control is superb and grip so reassuringly abundant that you rarely feel less than firmly planted on the tarmac, though inevitably there’s a downside: on less-than-perfect road surfaces (which where I live means just about everywhere) and with upsized 19inch alloys, you may be as shaken by the firm ride as stirred by the car’s impressive athleticism.

The latter is emphasised by a willing and responsive motor that reliably serves up all the punch you’ll ever need yet when asked exhibits a frugality that borders on the miserly. Equally deserving of call-outs are the eight-speed auto box, which invariably comes up with the right ratio when left to its own devices, yet snaps to it whenever you decide to do the shifting yourself, as well as the tenacious MSport anchors.

If you’d surmised from all this that I’m mightily impressed by the 330i, you’d be right. In fact, I’m less awed by this new BMW, which does most things very well and some sublimely, than utterly in love with it.

With only its choppy ride barring it from perfection, it’s among the most capable and complete four-door saloons you can buy. And I can’t praise a motor car much more highly than that.

BEST OF THE REST

BRILLIANT THOUGH THE BEEMER IS, THESE THREE CONTENDERS ARE WORTH SERIOUS CONSIDERATION

ALFA ROMEO GIULIA Dynamically easily the BMW’s equal — and it rides better too — but the marvellous Alfa just loses out on cabin quality and space.

JAGUAR XE Recently revised, this engaging Brit was always a cracking drive, but the interior’s still cramped in the rear and its Ingenium engine isn’t the smoothest.

AUDI A4 It’s packed to the roof lining with tech and beautifully built, but the Audi is a more leisurely and less involving steer.

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

127

IND U L GE N CE

MOLTO MAGNIFICO

After tasting nearly 2,500 Italian wines so far this year, james suckling picks out the highlights

F

rom amazing 100-point reds like Antinori Solaia 2016, Masseto 2016, and Bruno Giacosa Falletto Barolo Vigna Le Rocche 2015, to crisp and enticing whites from Alto Adige and Friuli, and some sensationally balanced and fruit-driven wines from the Veneto such as Amarone, there are plenty of exciting Italian wines to buy this year.

In April, my son Jack and I decided to do a major Italian tasting in our office in Tuscany, reviewing wines from key producers from the top appellations of the country. We had already tasted hundreds of reds from prestigious appellations such as Brunello di Montalcino and Barolo in January. The April tasting brought the number of Italian wines tasted this year to almost 2,500, and among them were literally hundreds of outstanding to classic quality reds. Italy is crushing it with characterful and beautiful wines at the moment.

Tuscany took the biggest share of our tasting time. We found many fantastic wines from two great back-to-back vintages, 2015 and 2016. The wet 2014 vintage proved more difficult, especially in Brunello di Montalcino, where many wines are slightly diluted. Conversely, the hot and dry 2017 vintage made some extraordinary wines considering the difficult growing season (particularly in cooler areas such as Chianti

Classico) but some jammy and over extracted wines exist. So, take caution.

The region of Chianti Classico in general is on a high for quality wines this year, not just because of the September release of the legendary Solaia (we rated both the 2015 and 2016 100 points). A range of single-vineyard wines are proving real knockouts, too. For example, Barone Ricasoli’s single-vineyard Chianti Classico Gran Seleziones are truly exceptional young and pure Sangioveses with distinctive character and superlative quality. Chianti Classico Ceniprimo Gran Selezione 2016 (99 points), Chianti Classico Ceniprimo Gran Selezione 2015 (98 points), and Chianti Classico Roncicone Gran Selezione 2016 (98 points) are shining examples of the appellation finally emphasising the greatness of its terroir. We hope more of these wines – including village designations for reds such as the towns Gaiole or Panzano – will highlight how Chianti Classico is akin to Italy’s new Burgundy.

“I don’t remember two consecutive years like 2015 and 2016,” says Marco Bacci, owner of Castello di Bossi in Chianti Classico, Renieri in Brunello di Montalcino and Terre di Talamo in the Maremma. “They are some of the greatest years for Sangiovese.”

All the regions in Tuscany are releasing outstanding wines this year, even Brunello di Montalcino if you focus on the 2013 riservas. It’s a

#prestigewinedine | PRESTIGE

129

IND U L GE N CE

CLOCKWISE FROM BELOW: 2016 VINTAGES FROM RICASOLI; ALL IN A DAY’S WORK — TASTING IN BAROLO; CELLAR HOLDING OLD VINTAGES OF ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO GRAN BUSSIA

shame about the slightly diluted and light 2014 Brunellos. The growing season was just too grey and wet to produce classic quality Brunello. We suggest you wait for the release of the 2015 Brunellos in January 2020.

Stay tuned for some early tasting results later in the year; the wines will be significantly better than the average 2014 Brunellos or even the excellent 2013 riservas. They could be even better than the legendary 2010.

“The 2015 is the greatest Brunello of my career,” admits Vincenzo Abbruzzese, the owner of the great estate of Valdicava.

There will be much debate whether 2015 is better than 2016 or vice versa, particularly in Tuscany. But Jack and I believe that 2015 is a little better than 2016 because it has more intensity and riper tannins. Yet 2016 is very exciting as well with slightly firmer tannins and fresher acidity.

The same debate will rage in Piedmont for the 2015 and 2016 vintages. We experienced the excellence of the 2015 Barolos after an extensive tasting in Barolo in January, and we tasted dozens more bottles in April. We like their harmony and beauty at such an early stage. Sure, they have firm and structured tannins, but the brightness and clarity of ripe fruit gives them an energy and beauty that is rarely seen today in Piedmont. I think the vintage is the best in years and better than 2010.

The 2016s will be tasted later this year and in early 2020.

130 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

As we noted earlier this year, there are also a number of exciting riserva Barolos with anything from a few extra years of bottle age to 10 years just now being released on the market. We love this trend in fine Barolo.

“We’ve been very lucky with so many outstanding quality years recently,” admits Alberto Chiarlo, whose family runs the well-known estate of Michele Chiarlo. “Our know-how and dedication continues to grow in fine winemaking and this reflects in our wines from the region.”

Veneto is another region that caught our attention in the tasting in April with many wines showing balance and transparency instead of overripe, opaque character. Amarone and Ripasso are particularly strong in reds while Soave is consistently making complex and fresh whites.

A new generation is making wines in the region and they clearly understand vineyard management and winemaking to produce focused and vivid wines. We look forward to exploring the region this summer.

All the vintages recently released on the market produced outstanding wines, but 2013 looks particularly excellent for the top wines.

Other parts of the north, such as Alto Adige and Friuli, made some beautiful whites and a limited number of fascinating reds. I remember Alto Adige remained green and fresh during the boiling 2017 summer when we filmed our documentary The Miracle of Alto Adige and in turn made fresh and fruity whites at extremely high quality levels, not to mention some fruity and delicious reds such as Lagrein and Pinot Noir.

The south of Italy also showed consistent results with many outstanding wines. We tasted a lot of Sicilian wines and Etna still makes the best of them. Recent excellent vintages include 2014, 2015 and 2016. However,

INCANDESCENT ITALIANS JAMES SUCKLING’S TOP BOTTLES OF 2019 (ALL AVAILABLE IN HONG KONG) BRUNO GIACOSA FALLETTO BAROLO VIGNA LE ROCCHE 2015 SCORE: 100

I’m lost for words with this wine. Perfumed and so elegant with the most exquisite aromas of roses, plums and earth, yet always subtle and complex. Full body and ultra-fine, firm tannins. Fantastic finish that lasts for minutes. Try in 2026.

MARCHESI ANTINORI UMBRIA CERVARO DELLA SALA 2017 SCORE: 99

This is big and powerful, without being ripe and heavy. So much apple, stone, and hints of toffee. Aromatic. Full-bodied, layered and framed with phenolic tension and a great finish. Muscular and agile at the same time. One of the best I’ve tasted. Drink or hold.

PIRA (CHIARA BOSCHIS) BAROLO CANNUBI 2015 SCORE: 99

Impressive roses and finely ground spices with a bright red-cherry core, as well as a fresh wild-herb thread. The sense of focus and purity here is stunning. The palate has a deeply juicy and fresh core of tightly knit tannins that carry immense power with impeccable balance. Elegantly executed wine with profound length. Try from 2025.

PODERI ALDO CONTERNO BAROLO GRAN BUSSIA RISERVA 2010 SCORE: 99

Campania may be making even more exciting wines. It’s a magical place with its volcanic soils, diverse microclimates and amazing history.

“We’re going back to many of the old viticulture and winemaking ideas of the 1960s and 1970s that made some legendary wines, but in a modern way,” says Piero Mastroberardino, the head of the famous family winery bearing his surname. “We have some of our best wines yet coming out.”

It’s comments like these that make us ready for the next set of tastings – this summer and in the future. We plan to review between 5,000 and 6,000 Italian wines this year and we know we’re going to find great and exciting wines from all of Italy.

See JamesSuckling.com for more reviews and tasting notes

Glorious aromas of roses and other flowers with blackberries and ripe plums.

Spectacular. Perfection. Full-bodied, firm and chewy with polished and tight tannins. Slightly dusty. Great length and beauty. Very, very persistent on the palate. Needs another two or three years to soften, but already a classic.

FÈLSINA TOSCANA FONTALLORO 2016 SCORE: 98

Amazing aromas of liquorice, wet earth, orange peel and lavender. Full body, tight and super compact and polished.

Goes on for minutes. Clearly great.

Better in 2021, but already a star.

#prestigewinedine | PRESTIGE

131

IND U L GE N CE

B

ermuda occupies a surprisingly large amount of real estate in the popular imagination. There are things we recognise, or that at least we’ve heard about, despite never having been even close to the Atlantic Ocean island.

Here are some things we know. Bermuda is fabled for swashbuckling pirates and a mysterious triangle off its coast where ships and aircraft have disappeared. There are storms there and dark rum, a combination that has yielded my favourite alcoholic drink, the Dark and Stormy, while the British connection has given us Bermuda shorts and a propensity on the island for gin.

When it comes to faraway places, it’s hard working out where myth ends and reality begins, so as my flight approaches Bermuda LF Wade International airport, my window showing pink-sand beaches, crystalclear azure waters and the shadow of live coral underneath, I feel a responsibility to excavate truth from fiction. Do planes still plunge into that notorious triangle in the sea? Does everybody really drink rum?

When I land, I’m driven 20 minutes eastward – in what I’m told is the only Bentley on the island – to Tucker’s Point, where the Rosewood Bermuda has recently renovated its now-88-room resort property. Lest we forget the island remains a British colony, the Rosewood Bermuda is a heritage marvel, a traditional, proper sort of hotel with a facade of cream and pale lemon, and bright white roofs.

Upon entering its gates, we pass by the resort’s verdant golf course and as the Bentley sweeps into a smaller, circular driveway, a flurry of porters and receptionists whisk me to the sunlit marble foyer for a speedy check-in.

Just as quickly, I dash to the hotel’s Island Brasserie for a bite to eat and, with eyes much too big for belly, choose what I learn are both the local must-haves: St George’s fish sandwich and Bermuda fish chowder.

The restaurant serves more than this, obviously. There’s Chine bread, a local take on banana bread with candied coconut and yogurt, Bermuda fritters, Somers Isles wings (the island’s version of hot wings) and Bermudian onion soup, the latter made from the island’s most famed vegetable. There’s standard fare of steak, fish, burgers and pasta, but who has time for that when there’s a whole host of pirate-style victuals to be had?

The Bermuda fish chowder is served with sherry pepper sauce and rum on the side. That’s pepper infused sherry and actual, alcoholic rum – splash a little too extravagantly, as the bottles are wont to do, and the effects will definitely be felt. So they do like their rum and they like it dark, in drinks and more than a dash in their food. Considered the

BERMUDA TRIANGULATED FOLLOWING RECENT REFURBISHMENTS TO THE SPRAWLING, 97-HECTARE ROSEWOOD BERMUDA RESORT, ZANETA CHENG CHECKS IN TO FIND OUT WHETHER THIS ISLAND IS REALLY ALL ABOUT BILLIONAIRES AND PIRATES

132 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

#prestigetravel | PRESTIGE

133

IND U L GE N CE

WE’RE NEITHER IN THE TROPICS HERE AND NOR ARE WE IN THE CARIBBEAN national dish, the chowder at the Rosewood is said by both staff and guests to be the best on the island.

A slightly woozy walk back to my ocean-facing suite takes me past one of the resort’s four swimming pools and a croquet lawn. Once inside, I open the balcony doors that lead to a terrace overlooking yet another pool to let in the cool breeze of the North Atlantic – we’re neither in the tropics here and nor, as the locals are eager to point out, are we in the Caribbean.

I open the French windows that separate the bathtub and the cavernous marble bathroom from the white walls and dark four-poster, and run a bath, squeezing a generous dollop of Aerin Lauder Coral Palm bath gel (the entire in-room amenities line was exclusively created for the hotel) into the water, as I do so.

Having ascertained that Bermudians do, in fact, imbibe rum, I head to the hotel’s Conservatory Bar & Lounge to see what all the fuss is about with gin. Thanks to the British colonial legacy, this quintessentially British spirit has been given pride of place at the Rosewood Bermuda. In what was, pre-refurbishment, the library, guests can now sip their afternoon teas and evening gin concoctions while enjoying a view of Castle Harbour. I happily oblige with a Gin & Jam, a raspberry-centric cocktail enlivened with a generous splash of Tanqueray.

In the evening, I drive my own golf buggy to Sul Verde, the resort’s southern-Italian trattoria. Whitewashed walls, white table cloths and

134 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

plush surroundings exude the air of an exclusive mid-century British clubhouse. The food, served either à la carte or three-course family style, is delicious, but then how can antipasto, calamari, braised short rib pappardelle and tiramisu not be?

That night I dream of Naples, but wake up thinking of more fish chowder. It turns out, however, that there’s no fish chowder in the morning at the Island Brasserie, though I can feast on all manner of healthy options, omelettes, French toast – in fact, just about every breakfast favourite is available. To work it off, I opt for a tour that takes me west from the resort to the old town of St George, the colony’s first capital. But first a quick drive up to Tucker’s Point, a hill where timeshare units are located. Here I look at the ubiquitous white stepped roofs, which are apparently constructed this way to trap rainwater. As the island has no springs, rivers or lakes, the settlers soon learned to build self-contained water systems. Traditionally made of limestone and covered in lime mortar, which has antibacterial properties, the stepped roofs are heavy and remain steady even during hurricanes.

Nearby are Billionaire’s Row and, not too far away, Millionaire’s Row, where the likes of Bill Gates and Michael Bloomberg own holiday homes.

I’m told that the profusion of flora around the island won’t be found anywhere else on Earth, as the British brought plant specimens from every corner of the Empire and planted them in Bermuda. Another colonial

hangover is Bermuda shorts, a garb formerly worn by soldiers that was adopted by civilians. A simple way to work out whether the wearer is British or American is that the former almost always pairs them with kneelength socks, while the latter tends to go sockless.

On my way back, there are the Crystal Caves, a wonderland of stalactites and stalagmites that can be seen through the clearest water. I finish my activities with a Cane Sugar Scrub and Cedarwood and Bermudian Pawpaw massage at the Rosewood’s Sense Spa, where I drift off in a cloud of essential oils.

For those who prefer the sea to the land, the Rosewood offers dives and myriad water sports. The adventurous can ask to be taken on one of

Bermuda’s many shipwreck dives, but possibly the most classic activity on the island is a sunset catamaran charter. Crewed by local Bermudians, the catamaran heads to an outcrop of islands where I spend my time snorkelling around fish, peering at coral and exploring local caves. The itinerary and course of charter are tailor-made to personal preference and between Dark and Stormies, salt and vinegar crisps, and the occasional kayak between swims, the burnt orange beams of sunset are upon me before I know it.

A quick shower and change, glass of champagne in hand to toast the setting sun, before the crew zips me back to Hamilton docks where I’m picked up and whisked to the Rosewood’s Beach Club for a private dinner. Not only is there incredible fish and seafood – think cod meunière and bouillabaisse – but the beachside dinner also features a private bar where we perch on poufs and gaze up at the darkening sky before moving on to dinner.

But having demystified so much of the island it seems only polite, in line with the British gentility that pervades the place, to leave an element of surprise. That evening’s culinary extravaganza under the stars was one in which I took delight – but I’m not going to savour the details here.

You must go and find out for yourself.

CLOCKWISE FROM ABOVE: BERMUDA BOASTS SEVEN CHAMPIONSHIP GOLF COURSES; OCEAN-VIEW ONE-BEDROOM SUITE AT THE ROSEWOOD BERMUDA; PRIVATE CABANA AT ONE OF THE RESORT’S TWO POOLS; THE BAR AT SUL VERDE PREVIOUS PAGE: THE HARBOUR AT ST GEORGE’S

#prestigetravel | PRESTIGE

135

IND U L GE N CE

WALK ON THE WILD SIDE

A new wilderness trail in Tasmania takes SANJAY SURANA’s breath away with its scenery and cosy private lodging

TASMAN ISLAND AND THE DOLERITE CLIFFS AT CAPE PILLAR, TASMANIA

GETTY IMAGES

S

itting at the edge of the Blade, a soaring dolerite column at the end of Cape Pillar, with Tasman Island bursting from the sea to the front, and the coastline advancing and retreating off to the right, can make a person feel very insignificant.

At 300 metres above sea level in Tasman National Park, the Blade is the highest sea cliff in the Southern Hemisphere, a vertiginous landmark that irresistibly instils a humbling respect for and wonder of nature.

Naturally, it’s one of the highlights of the Three Capes Track, a four-day hike in Tasmania’s jagged southeast. When it opened to the public in 2015, the 48km trail with boardwalks and gravel paths was an instant hit, even though the only option for visitors was to stay in modern, functional national park huts and bring their own food.

That changed last year with the introduction of Three Capes Lodge Walk, which includes accommodation in the form of two luxurious eco lodges artfully hidden along the track that enable adventurers to enjoy the jaw-dropping scenery without sacrificing creature comforts. At the end of a day led by insightful guides, hikers can decompress in hot showers, nibble on canapés in front of a fire, enjoy freshly cooked meals accompanied by Tasmanian wine, and retire to rooms with large windows looking out to the forest.

My four-day hike traverses a heart-stirring trail that rises from sea level, taking in a cloud forest, undulating coastal heath and sheer‑drop cliffs in a region rich with history. Dutch explorer Abel Tasman landed on the island in 1642, its first railways were built by convicts in the 1830s and Point Puer was the British Empire’s first boys-only prison, with inmates as young as nine years old. I learn all this during the first moments of the walk, as we slowly climb the hills above the official starting point of Denman’s Cove, a short boat ride from Port Arthur, itself a 90-minute drive from central Hobart.

With a maximum of 14 people allowed on the Three Capes Lodge Walk at a time, and the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service permitting only 48 hikers each night in the cabins for the normal route, the beautifully maintained trail is blissfully empty. Taking five years to build and requiring 18,000 helicopter flights to transport gravel, timber and other materials, it’s devoid of slushy sections and rocky terrain, making it passable year‑round.

On an easy first day, my group strides past towering she‑oaks, browntop stringybark trees and silver peppermint bushes, with the occasional stop at benches made by design students. We see the outline of Cape Raoul, its shape broken because it was used for target practice by naval ships in the last century. In the autumn sun, the sky mottled with clouds, a light breeze on my face, and plants such as sword-grass and banksia everywhere, the setting feels almost Mediterranean.

By late afternoon, we arrive at Crescent Lodge, accessed by a faint trail off the main track. One of the three guides – Charlotte, Josh and Gus – arrived earlier to prepare some hors d’oeuvres of cheese, charcuterie, crackers and condiments, accompanied by Tasmanian wine.

#prestigetravel | PRESTIGE

137

IND U L GE N CE

FROM LEFT: CAPE PILLAR LODGE; SOARING DOLERITE COLUMNS EN ROUTE TO THE BLADE; THREE CAPES LODGE WALK

138 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

WILD WALKS

GO OFF-GRID ON THESE EQUALLY AWE‑INSPIRING TREKS IN TASMANIA

CRADLE MOUNTAIN HUTS WALK Experienced trekkers will relish the challenge of crossing glacial valleys, alpine heaths, ancient rainforests and the Unesco World Heritagelisted Cradle Mountain in this six-day adventure on the Overland Track.

MARIA ISLAND WALK On this island off the east coast of Tasmania, expect to spot dolphins frolicking in the water, sea eagles gliding overhead and the world’s largest group of Tasmanian blue gum trees.

WUKALINA WALK Entirely aboriginal-owned and -operated, and just over a year old, the Wukalina Walk winds through the Bay of Fires on the northeastern coast of Tasmania. Walkers get the chance to stay in domed huts, learn about local creation tales, and sample indigenous dishes such as muttonbird and wallaby.

LUKE TSCHARKE; SANJAY SURANA; ANDREW BAIN

Over these bites, we soon settle into the rhythm of old friends. Our enjoyment is amplified by a three-course dinner taken on a huge wooden table that includes lamb stew and panna cotta with mixed-berry coulis (the ingredients and drinks served are almost exclusively from Tasmania).

After the meal comes a rundown of what to expect the following day, followed by more wine in front of a fire and some old‑fashioned, digital‑free conversation. I notice a possum outside sniffing at the lodge windows, eager to get inside to sample the amiable ambience.

The dark ash-coloured timber lodge took a year to build and is sealed with a fire-retarding coating. Plate-glass windows wrap around its main lounge, while terraced rooms and a separate Relaxation Pavilion are set among the trees. The lodge was planned with the environment in mind: showers use low-flow recycling systems so water isn’t wasted, solar panels and wind turbines help generate energy, and buildings sit on stilts to reduce footprints. Rooms feature large windows that can be opened to cool and ventilate the space, and the firm bed with soft sheets deserves a special mention as I fall into a deep slumber, serenaded by the haunting sound of wind whipping through trees.

The next day’s early start is preluded by freshly baked bread, smooth tangy yoghurt and crunchy granola. We set off in the clear morning air and I soon fall into the tempo of the walk’s pleasant metronomic crunch of gravel underfoot. We learn about epicormic growth and how fire helps the forest to regenerate (seed pods drop from trees when triggered by heat and smoke). At times, the guides point out the different flora – candle heath, cheeseberries, dogwood, casuarinas, blanket leaf, snow gums, sassafras, stinkwood leaf, mountain pinkberries, a weird bush

The nascent light slowly illuminates the tall eucalyptus trees ... with the sounds of the bees, birds and breeze, the feeling is transcendental

nicknamed bushman’s bootlace for its strong stalks – and birds such as the flame robin, yellow-tailed black cockatoo and green rosella. I spot a fern covered in small water droplets, and as the sunlight hits it, it appears swathed in crystals. The Tasman Peninsula, one of the guides explains, was created by epic tectonic shifts. As Gondwana pulled apart, magma rose, cooled and cracked, creating the vertical igneous dolerite.

The trail passes through microclimates, including a section of cloud forest that feels like Tolkien’s Middle Earth with its huge boulders covered in moss and lichen.

The next two nights are spent at Cape Pillar Lodge, set on a zigzag walk above the track. The set-up is reassuringly similar to the first, except that it comes with a spa and on-site therapist. After a day of ambling, we settle in with some olives and pineapple cake, followed by a dinner of chicken pot pie with mushrooms, and some local riesling and pinot noir. My favourite spot is the pavilion, where I watch the sunrise each morning. The nascent light slowly illuminates the tall eucalyptus trees and coastline, firming up Cape Raoul’s shape with its strengthening rays. As I sit on the outdoor deck and warm up to the sounds of bees, birds and breeze, the feeling is transcendental.

By the third day, I’m able to identify Tasmanian laurel and pepperberry, though I continue to confuse black currawongs, an endemic bird species, with ravens. As we tread a boardwalk winding through undulating plains, our guide stops to discuss aboriginal history and explains how people have lived on the island for 40,000 years. We hug the coastline until the steep-cliffed Tasman Island comes into view. From the Blade, it’s a breathtaking sight – the windswept, precipitous and forgotten outpost seems almost medieval in its austerity.

On the final day, a walk through a forest is immensely moving. The guides space everyone two minutes apart and ask us to walk in silence to better appreciate our surroundings. Devoid of distractions, I see how the fallen trees provide growth, marvel at the sculptural beauty of burnedout hollows and listen to the creak of branches in the wind.

The walk ends at Fortescue Bay, where a few of us swim in the bracing sea. After drying off and raising glasses of champagne for a farewell toast, we officially end the trip. In this place of inspiring beauty, my joy is doubled in the camaraderie of new-found friends.

#prestigetravel | PRESTIGE

139

IND U L GE N CE

SMALL BUT MIGHTY

THE NEWLY OPENED MANDARIN ORIENTAL WANGFUJING SHOWS A DIFFERENT SIDE TO BUSTLING BEIJING, AS TAMA LUNG DISCOVERS ON A RECENT VISIT

140 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

W

henever I venture into mainland China, I’m always overwhelmed by the sheer size and scale of it all: everywhere I look are vast intersections breaking up what appear to be 16-lane highways, government buildings that extend across several city blocks and, of course, lots and lots of people.

Perhaps nowhere is this more the case than in the capital itself, whether Beijing Capital International Airport (the world’s second busiest), the aptly named Great Hall of the People or the 72-hectare Forbidden City. All of which makes Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing, Beijing, which officially opened in March, such a surprise. Occupying the top two floors of the six-storey WF Central shopping centre (six storeys is the maximum building height for the district), the 73-room boutique hotel manages to feel like a luxurious home away from home.

The personalised service begins from the moment guests step off the jetway at the airport, should they be arriving by plane, where a greeter is standing by to escort them from the arrival gate through customs and baggage claim to a Mercedes-Benz waiting downstairs at a private underground parking garage.

Notwithstanding the expected flight delay from Hong Kong, my journey to the hotel is smooth and comfortable

#prestigetravel | PRESTIGE

141

IND U L GE N CE

with the added bonus of bright blue skies. The hotel sits across the street from Hamleys toy store in a quiet section of town within walking distance of Tiananmen Square, the Palace Museum and the Mausoleum of Mao Zedong, among other landmarks.

In fact, its proximity to so many historical sites is one of the biggest selling points for hotel guests and visitors to its restaurants and rooftop bar. My suite, one of only seven, overlooks an expansive garden terrace filled with diners enjoying the weather and views of the sun setting over the Forbidden City.

It’s a sight that almost overshadows the room itself, which is saying something when it’s a one-bedroom suite with the Mandarin Oriental’s signature Asian-inspired decor and top-of-the-line amenities. Some of my favourites include the kiddie-pool-sized bathtub, personal free weights and Lululemon yoga mat, and Dyson hairdryer.

The hotel also features terrace rooms designed for families and longer stays, which have already hosted a few repeat four-legged customers.

Dining options include Café Zi, serving buffet breakfast, dim sum and pan-Asian cuisine, and the Mandarin Grill + Bar, a more casual version of the Hong Kong favourite with classic meat and seafood dishes. Both restaurants and the adjoining MO Bar share access to the garden terrace, with outdoor tables and lounge areas. Those looking for a quiet spot for tea and snacks can visit The Library, with cosy couches and floor-to-ceiling bookshelves.

While it’s tempting to stay in and partake of all these luxuries, it’s impossible to pass up the sights that are literally just steps away. I gladly accept the offer of a free ride from the hotel (they have a Mercedes van that will drop off guests anywhere within a 3km radius) to the Forbidden City and join the crowds for a leisurely stroll through and around the grounds. Busy as it is on a Saturday afternoon, the streets are surprisingly quiet and clean, with most people concerned about getting a good spot for their selfies. This cultural outing provides the perfect amount of exercise and excitement before I make my way back past the Tiananmen gateway to return to the hotel and the soothing confines of The Spa, where I enjoy an hour-long Oriental Essence massage and a dip in the 25-metre indoor pool. In keeping with the size of the hotel, The Spa has just four rooms but a wide range of treatments inspired by Chinese, African, Mediterranean and other international traditions.

After just two days here, Beijing – and mainland China, for that matter – doesn’t seem so overwhelming after all. It all comes down to where and how you spend your time.

And if I had to do it all over again, my choice would definitely be the Mandarin Oriental Wangfujing.

142 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

WE DDI NGS ALL YOU NEED TO KNOW FOR THE BIG DAY

Serpenti Viper diamond earrings Bulgari Joséphine Aigrette Impériale diamond necklace Chaumet White-gold bangle with diamonds De Beers Diamond ring (on her left hand) Chanel Cushion-cut yellow sapphire ring (on her right hand) Van Cleef & Arpels Gown Antonio Riva at Audella Bridal House

W E DDI N G S

Close to Home The venue of your dreams may be just around the corner. Here are five options right here in Hong Kong, with a style to suit every couple

This page: The staircase at Rosewood Hong Kong makes for a dramatic entrance Opposite page, clockwise from top right: A wedding banquet at the Astor Ballroom at The St. Regis; reflections of a Rosewood event

144 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

ROSEWOOD HONG KONG

It doesn’t get much bigger or better than this new luxury hotel rising from the shores of Victoria Harbour at Tsim Sha Tsui’s Victoria Dockside district. Just ask Peatongtarn Shinawatra, daughter of the billionaire former Thai prime minister Thaksin Shinawatra, who was married there days after its grand opening in March.

The 43-floor hotel, with decor by New Yorkbased Taiwanese interior designer Tony Chi, has 322 guestrooms, including 91 suites. The property caters to weddings of all sizes and styles, from intimate outdoor ceremonies to grand ballroom banquets, with an in-house event studio ready to help couples design every single detail. rosewoodhotels.com

T H E S T. R E G I S HONG KONG

Another newcomer to the Hong Kong luxury hotel scene, The St. Regis continues the legacy of the original New York property founded

by John Jacob Astor IV in 1904. Besides complimentary butler service and a nightly sabrage in the lobby, the 129-room hotel has a pool, spa and three high-end dining outlets.

Acclaimed Hong Kong architect and interior designer André Fu is the man behind the classic-meets-contemporary decor, with clever nods to the hotel’s Wan Chai home. The nearly 12,000sqft of meeting and event space is perfect for weddings, thanks to a pillar-free ballroom with space to host up to 500 guests. stregishongkong.com

W E DDI N G S

T H E M U R R A Y, HONG KONG

Located between the Central Marriage Registry and St John’s Cathedral, The Murray, Hong Kong seems almost tailor-made for wedding ceremonies and receptions. The 336-room hotel is already a popular event venue, thanks to the luxurious Niccolo Room on the 25th floor as well as its outdoor terraces and gardens.

The Murray offers a range of wedding packages, with a team of dedicated planners and specialists who can advise on everything from invitations and photography to live music and menu planning. Brides are also provided with a personal hostess on the day of the wedding. niccolohotels.com

G R A N D H YAT T HONG KONG

There’s no doubt Grand Hyatt has hosted tens of thousands of weddings worldwide. Now the hotel brand is bringing that experience to its new Romance collection for Asia-Pacific.

Available at Grand Hyatt Hong Kong, the hotel’s four “themed multi-sensory experiences” are inspired by all things botanical: Enchanted (a forest lit by fireflies), Royal (a baroque-style garden of mint and peach), Blossom (fluttering cherry blossoms) and Lavender (fields of the fragrant plant).

Couples can choose a single wedding theme or mix and match to create their own bespoke celebration. Each detail has been designed by leaders in their chosen field, whether cake design or videography, to ensure a truly grand affair. grandhyattromance.com

146 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

This page, clockwise from top: Wedded bliss at House 1881; detail of an Enchanted wedding by Grand Hyatt and a ballroom with digital mapping

HOUSE 1881

Another venue conveniently close to a marriage registry, House 1881 in the former Hong Kong Marine Police Headquarters in Tsim Sha Tsui comprises a boutique hotel and five unique dining concepts. Â Â Couples can choose from a variety of wedding and reception settings, including a spacious courtyard and tree-lined lawn, the intimate Tea Room with fireplace and garden view, the Royal Room with balcony and courtyard views, and the light-filled Champagne Gallery with timeless furniture and dramatic double doors.

House 1881 works with local service providers, and can advise on everything from celebrants and photographers to gown and tuxedo designers. As of June, it also offers elegant onsite accommodations. house1881.com P

Opposite page, clockwise from top right: Cocktails next to The Arches and dinner in the Niccolo Room at The Murray; a custom cake by Grand Hyatt

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

147

W E DDI N G S

Love at First Site Whether you prefer white-sand beaches or hilltop chateaus, the perfect destination wedding is just a flight – or two – away

AMANOI Set amid the natural beauty of Nui Chua National Park just south of Nha Trang, Vietnam, Amanoi offers the ultimate in luxury, privacy and biodiversity.

Accommodations range from one-bedroom villas to five-bedroom pavilions and unique Spa Houses with private pool, hammam and double treatment room.

Couples can choose from several options tailored to their specific desires: • Ceremony at the Lotus Lake, with terraces that descend to the water and provide seating for up to 120 guests • Reception at the Beach Club (pictured below), also for up to 120 guests, with open-air dining facilities and a dance floor made of sand • An intimate celebration at one of Amanoi’s luxurious residences, alongside a stunning infinity pool or on a spacious lawn overlooking the beach (opposite) • An indoor reception at the Glass Hall, with elegant modern decor and floral arrangements Amanoi welcomes small groups and a full buyout. The closest airport is Nha Trang (CXR), a 70-minute drive from the resort, with direct flights available via Hong Kong Express. aman.com

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

149

W E DDI N G S

A N A N TA R A K I H AVA H MALDIVES VILLAS A private island in a Unesco Biosphere Reserve, Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is ready and waiting to plan your dream destination wedding. The resort can accommodate up to 200 guests at its 80 villas, and a dedicated wedding planner is available to plan every detail, with the only limit being your imagination: • An underwater wedding with a dive-certified minister and underwater photographer, with rings presented in a white shell • An intimate ceremony in an underwater venue, on the palm-fringed beach, on a private yacht or over water in a private residence • Post-dive hair and make-up styling followed by candlelit dinner on the beach and champagne breakfast in bed Anantara Kihavah Maldives Villas is a 35-minute seaplane ride from Velana International Airport in Malé (MLE). kihavah-maldives.anantara.com

150 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

C H Â T E AU S A I N T- M A RT I N & S PA Awarded the title of “best romantic luxury hotel in the world”, this hilltop chateau in the French Riviera has been the site of many a fairy-tale wedding.

Couples can reserve all 52 suites for an exclusive wedding weekend with the best the Côte d’Azur has to offer: • A rose-scented ceremony in the 12th-century chapel or garden terrace • Rehearsal dinner in a private salon and lunches in the olive grove with local Provencal dishes and wine • Choice of eight event spaces for reception • Pampering and wedding-day preparations at the indulgent spa • Lodging in the Honeymoon Deluxe Suite in the chateau’s ancient tower Château Saint-Martin & Spa overlooks the village of Vence, France, a 20-minute drive from Nice Côte d’Azur Airport (NCE). oetkercollection.com

W E DDI N G S

FOUR SEASONS, THE NAM HAI With its beachside setting and easy access to ancient Unesco sites and the charming old town of Hoi An, the 100-villa Nam Hai resort caters to a wide range of tastes and wedding styles. Couples can opt for bespoke services or the signature wedding package, which includes: • Choice of ceremony venues with bamboo blessing arch and white rose petals • Reception for 50 guests with pre-dinner cocktail reception and three-tier cake • Two-night stay in a one-bedroom pool villa, private honeymoon dinner and 60-minute spa treatment for the bride and groom The Nam Hai sits on the east coast of Vietnam between Da Nang and Hoi An, and is a 35-minute drive from Da Nang International Airport (DAD). fourseasons.com/hoian

152 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

HOTEL DE LA VILLE The newest jewel in the Rocco Forte Hotels crown, Hotel de la Ville occupies an 18th-century palazzo overlooking the Eternal City. Its 104 rooms and suites are some of the largest in Rome, with contemporary furniture and decor by Olga Polizzi and Tommaso Ziffer. The team can assist in planning a romantic ceremony in one of the city’s centuries-old churches, arranging a photo shoot in front of the Spanish Steps or majestic Colosseum, not to mention arranging the perfect celebration: • An intimate gathering for up to 50 people on the rooftop terrace • Cocktails and canapés overlooking the Spanish Steps • A gala dinner in the inner courtyard, one of two banquet rooms or one of two private dining rooms with adjoining terrace Hotel de la Ville is a 45-minute drive from Fiumicino Airport (FCO) and a 30-minute drive from Ciampino Airport (CIA) . roccofortehotels.com

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

153

W E DDI N G S

Wedding Rites When it comes to tying the knot, only the most elegant gowns and eloquent jewellery will do. Here are our picks to ensure fail-safe, fabulous nuptials

PHOTOGRAPHY KC | STYLING CYNTHIA HUNG | HAIR NICKY WONG MAKE-UP CAC LEUNG | MODEL ALENA M AT SUN ESEE SPECIAL THANKS THE MURRAY

154 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

This page: Bow diamond earring and necklace; flame round diamond ring Graff Gown and veil Muse by Berta at Audella Bridal House Opposite page: JosĂŠphine Aigrette ImpĂŠriale diamond tiara Chaumet Diamond ear clips and emerald ring with diamonds Chopard Diamond brooch Chanel Carpet diamond bracelet Harry Winston Jacket Chanel Gown Monique Lhullier at Central Weddings Heels Christian Louboutin

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

155

W E DDI N G S

156 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

This page: Boucle PrĂŠcieuse bracelet with pearls and diamonds Mikimoto Diamond watch Chanel Opposite page: Kissing fancy pink round brilliant diamond necklace and earrings; diamond wedding band Boghossian Gown Alessandra Rinaudo at Central Weddings

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

157

W E DDI N G S

This page: White Kites diamond earring and ring Hearts on Fire Mini Twist by Harry Winston diamond watch Harry Winston Gown Monique Lhullier at Central Weddings Opposite page: Scroll diamond tiara; Promise round diamond ring; Spiral pavĂŠ diamond ring in white gold; Foliage diamond earring Graff Gown Muse by Berta at Audella Bridal House

158 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

159

W E DDI N G S

160 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

This page: (On her right hand) white-gold wedding band with diamonds; platinum wedding band with diamond; rose-gold wedding band with diamonds De Beers Divas’ Dream diamond earring Bulgari Palmyre diamond neclace; Akarova ballerina brooch Van Cleef & Arpels (On her left hand) Solitaire diamond ring; diamond wedding band De Beers Gown Antonio Riva at Audella Bridal House Opposite page: Bois de Rose diamond earring; Rose Dior Bagatelle diamond necklace and bracelet; Rose Dior Bagatelle diamond ring with pink sapphires and tsavorite garnets Dior Joaillerie Gown Monique Lhullier at Central Weddings

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

161

W E DDI N G S

162 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

This page: Archi Dior Milieu de Siecle diamond earrings; Archi Dior Diorama diamond necklace; Archi Dior Bar en Corolle diamond ring; Archi Dior AilĂŠe diamond bracelet Dior Joaillerie Gown Marchesa at Central Weddings Veil Audella Bridal House Opposite page: Gold-tone pearl headpiece 14/Quatorze at Net-A-Porter.com White South Sea pearls with diamond earrings; Universe Elements ring with white South Sea pearls and diamonds Mikimoto

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

163

W E DDI N G S

PRINCESS BRIDE

E V ERY THING YOU NEED FOR THE FAIRY-TA LE LOOK

Get your glow on with Rose Gemma Concentrate Oil

by Belif

Pack a pair of Jimmy Choo dancing shoes

Graff believes that a diamond is the ultimate expression of love, making the precious stone the centrepiece of its bridal collection

Add a touch of South Sea cultured pearls from Mikimoto

Let Charlotte Tilbury light the way with the Glowgasm Beauty Light Wand

Only the Ultimate Emerald Signature timepiece by Harry Winston will do on your special day

164 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

You’re sure to sparkle in a Dior bridal selection

The Coco Crush collection by Chanel features its founder’s signature quilting motif

Hong Kong designer Viola Chan has opened a new boutique and will soon launch an online bridal marketplace

Finish your look with a swipe of the glossy new Joli Rouge by Clarins Luminous skin is yours with the Tulasara mask by Aveda

Designer to the stars Jenny Packham took inspiration from great cities for her new bridal collection

Make your something blue these stunning sapphires from Chaumet

Sergio Rossi has a stiletto to suit every bride

Pink gold meets diamonds in this delicate band by De Beers Opt for a fresh, feminine scent like Eau Intense from Bonpoint

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

165

W E DDI N G S

PUT A RING ON IT

SE AL YOUR LOV E W ITH A SIGN OF COMMIT MENT

One Vow engagement ring with diamonds by Emperor Watch & Jewellery

Offspring rings in gold and sterling silver with diamonds by Georg Jensen Coco Crush ring with diamonds by Chanel

Red Carpet Collection ring with fancy light-pink diamond by Chopard

Kissing ring with tourmaline and oval-shaped diamond by Boghossian Chopsticks Love ring with diamonds

by Diana Zhang

Stacks of Sparkle, a selection of rings with diamonds from the Bridal Collection by De Beers

Plum Blossom bridal set ring with diamonds and rubies by Maison Guan

Icon ring with cushioncut diamond by Graff

166 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

JosÊphine Éclat Floral solitaire with cushion-cut ruby and diamonds

by Chaumet

SEL ECT

LOVE STORY

Chopard’s latest Red Carpet collection pays tribute to one of the world’s most universal themes and emotions LOVE, AS WE ALL KNOW, is about passion, devotion and deep affection or attachment.

It goes hand in hand with curiosity, creativity and celebration. All of which makes “love” the perfect theme for the Red Carpet collection 2019, Chopard’s latest release from its haute joaillerie workshops.

Caroline Scheufele, co-president and artistic director of the maison, took inspiration from art, nature and antiquity for the 72 creations unveiled to mark the opening ceremony of this year’s Cannes International Film Festival.

Chopard has been a partner of the annual gala since 1998, establishing its place as the ultimate red-carpet jeweller for the parade of international actresses at the event. This year, it continues its support of sustainable luxury with pieces made from Fairmined-certified gold and diamonds purchased from suppliers certified by the Responsible Jewellery Council.

Other highlights of the Red Carpet collection include a set of rings and earrings shaped like orchids as well as a necklace that required 500 hours of work by the mains d’art (artistic hands) of the maison’s expert craftsmen.

Love, indeed, is precious. chopard.com

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP: RED CARPET NECKLACE IN WHITE ETHICAL GOLD WITH PEAR-SHAPED AND BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS; RED CARPET EARRINGS IN WHITE ETHICAL GOLD WITH HEART-SHAPED, ROSE-CUT AND BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMONDS; RED CARPET SOLITAIRE RING IN WHITE ETHICAL GOLD WITH AN 8.1-CARAT BRILLIANT-CUT DIAMOND

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

167

W E DDI N G S

WELL GROOMED

A W EDDING CHECK LIS T FOR THE MO DERN M A N OF S T Y LE

Add a Hong Kong twist with cufflinks

by Shanghai Tang

Get to the church on time with help from a Rolex Oyster Perpetual Datejust

Opt for classic accessories, like this Berluti belt

Choose from an array of Tiffany T Two Rings by Tiffany & Co.

Why not go for the gold with Louis Vuitton?

168 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

Have a Rimowa Classic Cabin suitcase, will travel in style on honeymoon

Calm your nerves with a sneaky sip from this Zwiesel decanter Look your best with Made to Measure

by Giorgio Armani

Stay fresh with the new L’Homme Ideal Cool by Guerlain

Change things up for the reception with help from Tom Ford

Inject personality with a bold flower brooch by Saint Laurent

Take a shine to patent

by Jimmy Choo

Stay ahead of time with a Classique Tourbillon Extra-Plat by Breguet

Be a prince for the day in Dolce & Gabbana Don’t miss a moment with a stylish, special-edition Leica

Get your skin in peak condition with Dior Homme Dermo System

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

169

JU NIO R

STELLA McCARTNEY

The Kids Are Alright School’s out ‒ at least for a few more weeks ‒ and the living is easy for Hong Kong’s young ones.

We’re here to make parents’ lives easy too with the latest fashion, toys, furniture and more to keep the fun going all year long.

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

171

KID S

CHILD’S PLAY

COS

HAVE FUN WITH THE L ATEST GOODS FOR LIT TLE ONES

Modern, functional design is at the core of the Cos design ethos, and that goes for its childrenswear as well. Check out the High Summer collection for infants and kids in stores now. cosstores.com

PANDORA

Hot-air balloons, propeller planes and spinning globes — they’re all part of Pandora’s High Summer collection and are sure to make for a perfect gift for your favourite little frequent flyer. hk.pandora.net.

Yellow Octopus

Say hello to Puffles the dinosaur, a super-soft plush toy who sits 26cm high and is suitable even for newborns. yellowoctopus.com.au

STELLA McCARTNEY

The autumn/winter collection from the popular British brand is all about fun and adventure, with Beatlesinspired pieces and a galaxy of stars and geometric shapes. stellamccartney.com

Circu

Specially designed for aspiring astronauts, Rocky Rocket is a fun addition to any playroom or bedroom. Added features include storage, and a light and sound system. circu.net

172 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

W HONG KONG

Running out of ways to keep the kids entertained over summer break? Then sign them up for Master Chef in Training, where they can look to cook like the pros while you kick back or enjoy your own mixology class.

A Kids Day Out party is also planned for August 25. whotelsasia.com

Fendi Kids

The Italian brand presents pint-sized versions of its signature seasonal looks Parents who love Fendi don’t have to worry about clashing with their kids’ outfits, thanks to the Italian luxury house’s high-fashion take on children’s clothing. The new autumn/winter collection from Fendi Kids features all the iconic elements of the adult collections, such as the FF logo and signature logo bombers, in a wide range of styles for both casual and formal occasions. Don’t miss the matching accessories to complete the Mini Me makeover. fendi.com

“THERE ARE NO SEVEN WONDERS OF THE WORLD IN THE EYES OF A CHILD. THERE ARE SEVEN MILLION” – Walt Streightiff

“THE BEST WAY TO MAKE CHILDREN GOOD IS TO MAKE THEM HAPPY” – Oscar Wilde

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

173

KID S

TOYS ’R’US

If you’ve taken the kids to the movies this summer, chances are you’ve seen Toy Story 4. And chances are they’d love one of five new life-size talking action figures. toysrus.com.hk

SWEETPEA & WILLOW

What child can resist a panda? This cute knitted stool is sure to brighten up any girl’s or boy’s bedroom. sweetpeaandwillow.com

Emporio Armani Junior

A fun play on Emporio Armani’s adult collections, the autumn/winter line for kids features bold logo motifs, the signature eagle, and plenty of animal-inspired prints and patterns in unexpected hues. armani.com

BABY DIOR

Oh, baby! Your little fashionista can build her own handbag collection, starting with this Nano Lady Dior. dior.com

CHARLES & KEITH

Little girls and big girls alike love their shoes, and the latest kids collection from this popular womenswear brand is sure to delight with fun bows, fabrics, sequins and stripes. charleskeith.com

174 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

MY CLARINS

It’s never too early to start caring for your skin. And to help the younger generations get in the habit, French beauty brand Clarins has created a new sub-brand specifically for the Gen Z set. Choose from cleansers, creams, masks and more. clarins.com.hk

BONPOINT

Inspired by vibrant travel destinations such as Lisbon, Provence, Africa and India, the French house’s latest kids collection is both chic and colourful. bonpoint.com

“WHAT’S A HOME WITHOUT CHILDREN? QUIET” – Henny Youngman

“CLEANING YOUR HOUSE WHILE YOUR KIDS ARE STILL GROWING UP IS LIKE SHOVELLING THE SIDEWALK BEFORE IT STOPS SNOWING”

Indigo Living

– Phyllis Diller

Make any kid feel at home with furniture and accessories created just for them

Hong Kong’s go-to source for elegant interior goods is also the place to find fun accessories and even a complete bedroom set for the youngest members of the family. This year’s themes include Butterfly Bloom, a perfect setting for afternoon tea in a palette of soft teals and pastel pinks, and Ocean Cool (pictured), with nautical-inspired blues and whites and a variety of textures and textiles to stimulate the senses and imagination. Indigo Kids also sells a wide range of toys, stuffed animals, wall decorations and nursery accessories. indigo-living.com

#prestigehk | PRESTIGE

175

BACKSTORY

SKY HIGH 176 PRESTIGE

| prestigeonline.com

Perched amid the lush woodlands of The Peak and offering stunning views of Victoria Harbour, Mount Nicholson is one of Hong Kong’s most exclusive developments. The gated community of 19 unique detached houses and 48 apartment units is the result of years of planning by worldrenowned architects and designers including Robert A.M. Stern, Yabu Pushelberg, David Collins Studio, Wong & Ouyang and LWK & Partners, with no effort spared in achieving the utmost in finish and quality. The luxurious enclave also features a three-layer security system, advanced home automation systems, and a well-equipped clubhouse with a ballroom, indoor pool, gym and theatre.

DISCOVER PRESTIGE ONLINE, OUR NEWLY REDESIGNED DIGITAL GUIDE TO THE VERY BEST IN LIFE

#prestigehk

prestigeonline.com