Marquise: Issue 5

For women of calibre

Wild card

It is no longer the size or silhouette of your accessory that matters, the It-factor is all in the hyper-luxe hide page 10

Bed of Musc

Conjuring polarising extremes from pristine, laundered sheets to beastly, languid pleasures, what remains beyond a doubt is the confounding seduction of musk page 13

Empowering Grace

A mother, career woman and a philanthropist, Agnes Chandra is just about to make a life-altering move – one which women from Spears to Hathaway have all dared – only for a greater good.

the jewel in the crown Burberry’s meteoric rise to stardom

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Faces of Happiness

Chopard scales back a timekeeping icon that has spanned the ages with its latest self-winding Happy Sport 30mm

By Cheryl Ann Chia

After a stream of dignified, supersized watches designed to ennoble the feminine wrist, the time came when self-assured elegance was once again about having a discreet, fleetingly present, proportionately sized timepiece that boasts an equal concentrate of technical sophistication and balletic beauty. True to evolving market trends, this year, Chopard brings its storied Happy Sport Automatic to a whole new scale in a dainty 30mm case.

a feminine yet purposeful iteration graced with the same trusty automatic calibre.

With a power reserve of 40 hours, the latest opus is presented in a silvery dial featuring a beautiful spiral guillochÊ centre pattern with five floating diamonds. It arrives in a spectrum of styles: steel, rose gold, or twotone, on a leather strap or metal bracelet, polished or partially set with diamonds. Adding the perfect sparkle of detail, the crown, also made of steel, is set with a blue sapphire. Yet, pragmatism and simplicity aside, there’s also a mesmeric joaillerie version at the top of the line, crafted in 18ct rose or white gold fully set with diamonds and where the singularly playful appeal of its dancing diamonds is further enhanced by a motherof-pearl dial – copious on one hand yet graceful, subtle and born to be well-worn.

In 2013, Chopard feted the 20th anniversary of this emblem with the development of the first mechanical movement for the Happy Sport 36mm Medium Automatic, featuring subtly redesigned lines and details. Its sophistication and technical refinement was met with rapturous enthusiasm. Yet to make it even more wearable and adaptable, Chopard presents its successor in 2015, the Happy Sport 30mm Automatic, 2

Dior’s Guiding Star Even if the initial draw is its sweet simplicity, Dior’s latest jewellery collection, Rose des Vents belies a wealth of layered anecdotes, to know it is to love it

As folkloric traditions continues to set a precedent for many jewellery maisons, corralling esoteric symbolism and humble handicrafts, it is bewildering at best to think that one of fashion’s most unimpeachable legacies would not have transpired if not for a peculiar, lucky star Monsieur Dior had chanced upon, thereby accepting it as a portent of his destiny to start his own couture house back in 1946. For this, Dior’s latest Rose des Vents jewellery collection was hardly borne of a floral motif, but instead an old nautical, navigational instrument – a wind rose – used to display the orientation of the cardinal directions. But like many of creative director Victoire de Castellane’s conceptions, the deceptively simple octagonal star was a silent carrier of unmediated meaning, a reinvented relic laden with Christian Dior’s earliest, and most delicate memories.

Unbeknownst to many, behind the illustrious fashion house, from which spawned the true virtues of elegance and fineness of dress was a man of sentiment and superstition. Composed of his fondest signs and symbols, Rose des Vents harkens back to Dior’s childhood in Granville, Normandy where he lived in an Anglo-Norman villa perched atop a cliff, overlooking the sea. Coincidentally enough, this cherished home, which soon became a holiday retreat when Dior began spending more time in Paris, was named after the rhombus-shaped points of a compass, Les Rhumbs and had the recurring motif running through its decor.

More essentially, Dior’s garden in Les Rhumbs was where he developed his passion for roses and is often credited for influencing Dior more so than anywhere else he had ever lived. Having met that familial metal star once again outside the British Embassy in Paris, Christian Dior established his fashion house and the star accompanied him to the four ends of the earth as he presented his couture creations to the world’s fashionable elite.

Yet, idiosyncratic charm and anecdotal memorabilia aside, the Rose des Vents jewellery collection certainly doesn’t require any form of vivid or analytical storytelling to be desired. Perhaps, it is safe to surmise that you can count on one of history’s most

venerated couture house to transform a folksy object into something as delicate and fragile as frost and by contrast, like a talisman, designed to be worn and then forgotten about – on a daily basis. Comprised of four bracelets, four necklaces and a sautoir-style necklace, each is as beautiful and whimsical on the surface as it was mapped out to be, accentuated with the Dior elegance that has spanned the ages.

details, barely-there presence, endlessly wearable with that all-important, singular pull-factor and finally, it accompanies the wearer and allows for open-ended interpretation. The sautoir-style necklace, for instance, can be acclimatised to a variety of milieus be it elegantly looped twice around the neck for the boardroom or kept carefree and fashionably long for summer festivals.

Rife with notions of wanderlust, each piece is composed of a reversible medallion-like pendant expertly crafted in yellow or pink gold with a diamond set in the center on one side. Then on the other side, Victoire de Castellane has selected some of Dior’s favourite gemstones from far-flung horizons to represent each of the cardinal directions: a symbol of femininity and wellbeing, iridescent mother-of-pearl for north, turquoise, a stone of protection and strength, for south, frosty pink opal, a symbol of peace and tranquillity with healing properties, for east and lapis-lazuli, an emblem of serenity, wisdom and truth for west. A subtle nod to rigging and the ocean, a twisted outline of tiny gold grains encircles the medallion, spinning freely on the wearer’s neck or wrist, displaying either its hard stone or wind rose face, as she moves.

In honor of the new line, Victoire de Castellane has also created a special series of short cartoon videos where the collection’s deep symbolism is illuminated by a bubbly narrative. It features imaginary dialogues that Castellane might have had with Monsieur Dior whilst crafting the collection together. In the span of a few seconds, the assorted, lighthearted vignettes present the worlds encapsulated by each of the cardinal points, along with stones that represent them. It ends off at the Dior Couture Ball, where Castellane and Monsieur Dior would present the Rose des Vents collection together.

Tellingly, the calling card of this naïve-yet-knowing jewel lies in its sublime simplicity. In fact, it ticks all the boxes for that modern, effortless finesse: luxurious

As Victoire de Castellane herself succinctly puts it across, Rose des Vents speaks of “a symbol of travel, in it you find echoes of Christian Dior’s star and the idea of the good-luck charm, but also the rose, his favorite flower. The whole history of the house is there, implicitly” – That alone is perhaps, something no other bombshell jewel, no matter how gem-spattered, can compete with.

Precious Wearability

ST Ang, founder of local jewellery label Jemsa on her modern, versatile offerings, the art of layering and how jewellery is better well-worn than locked away in a safe

By Cheryl Ann Chia What was it that drew you towards fashion jewellery?

I think costume jewellery allows you to express yourself, to be creative and have fun at accessible price points.

You can afford to take risks and make mistakes. It really allows you to change your look, be playful and it adds fun to your daily life.

As a wearer of fine jewellery yourself, what do you think makes costume jewellery such an ever growing market?

I think people today have much greater access to runway trends and are able to identify with brand symbolism better than ever before. And that in turn, allows them to express their individuality better and fashion jewellery fuels that phenomenon. Consumers today aren’t afraid of mixing. It’s a lot like fashion and how we mix designer and street. It’s essentially about that personal touch and how it is assembled.

Chanel once said, “Costume jewelry is not made to give women an aura of wealth, but to make them beautiful.” Do you agree?

Yes, I believe fashion jewellery isn’t about conveying your status or that you’ve arrived. I think it is to make you more confident and assured. That’s more important. It definitely makes a woman feel more beautiful, confident and happier. And when you’re in that element, you’ll naturally be able to express yourself better.

How would you describe Jemsa’s jewellery pieces?

They are put together specifically to allow the wearer to mix and match, be it within the collection or within their own personal collection. I think that’s the beauty about it; you’re able to collect a few pieces and pair them with your finer ones. I would say the styles are contemporary, stylish and playful. They are all highly

versatile and enable the wearer to explore the different aspects of her personality. It allows the wearer to put together a variety of looks and because of its accessibility, it encourages women to layer Jemsa’s pieces and get a lot of wear out of them.

Which is more important to you when it comes to your jewellery selection, details or the grand design?

I think these two factors go hand in hand. Sometimes I’ll pay attention to the design first and then I’ll go into details to ensure that a product is well-made. But at other times, it’s the details that catches your attention and then comes the design. At the end of the day, the details are important because it conveys the quality but the overall design is first and foremost what drives you to pick up a piece. It is the impulse factor.

What is the main impulse for acquiring a piece?

First of all, it would be the design; it has to speak to you. And then the quality of it, its uniqueness and the manner in which it fits into your personal mix of jewellery. And because of its wearability, it can be easily adapted into your personal style. Its price value also allows you to act on those impulses without breaking your bank!

What is your favourite piece of jewellery in your life?

I think with jewellery, apart from aesthetics and quality, it’s also about the sentimental value attached to a piece. It takes you back to a special occasion or it could remind you of someone. One particular piece dear to me is a blue sapphire ring that my Mom gave me. I think it has taken on more significance since she passed away three years ago. It was one of her favourites but when she bought the ring, she made sure that it would fit me instead so it was actually a few sizes bigger than her

actual size. It is things like that that makes a piece of jewellery feel like it was specially made for you.

How would you describe your personal approach to jewellery? How do you like to wear your favorite pieces?

I like using jewellery to express myself, to change my outfit easily. I tend to wear them differently each time. It’s like an ongoing discovery; there’s a sense of excitement in the process. I like creating a sense of newness by mixing fine and fashion jewellery.

Sometimes I see some of my customers mixing two pieces that you never thought would ever look great together but it somehow looks beautiful on them. You may invest in finer pieces but these two segments are no longer mutually exclusive. There are certain aspects of fashion jewellery that resonates better with the lifestyles of modern career women; you never have to worry about them when you travel. It can be properly enjoyed as it should be and not locked away in a safe.

essential picks

Pearl and Line Ring

Avant-Garde Gold Bangle

C Shape Earrings

Scarf Medley Necklace

Six Pearls Gold Ring

Open Pearl Rhodium Bangle

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Available at www. jemsa.com.sg

Metiers d’Art

Collectible works of art where the rarefied hand of the master craftsman reigns supreme.

By Cheryl Ann Chia

Slim d’Hermès Koma Kurabe It was 1093 Japan when horses were perceived as sacred, mystical beings that possessed divine power. Crowds gathered in droves each time they raced ferociously at the annual Koma Kurabe, an equestrian ritual held in Kyoto’s Kamigamo Shrine. Today the dynamic scene of riders dressed in traditional costumes whooping and cracking their whips has been gracefully immortalised on the dial of the Slim d’Hermès Koma Kurabe thanks to leading Japanese master artist, Buzan Fukushima. He employed the millennial-old craft of Aka-e painting, a type of Japanese ‘red painting’ that enjoyed its prime and grandeur in the 19th century. Integrating Japanese art into Sèvres porcelain, graded shades of red and ochre were used to depict the spectacle from Koma Kurabe and then coated with a fine layer of gold. Featuring a 39.5mm white gold case fitted with a matt Havana alligator strap, the timepiece runs on the maison’s new 2.6 mm thin mechanical self-winding H1950 movement, offering a 42-hour power reserve.

Métiers d’Arts Fabuleux Ornements French Lace Drawing inspiration from the ornamental arts of four distinguished cultures around the world, the Métiers d’Arts Fabuleux Ornements collection deployed the combined expertise of ten different artisans. Equipped with an ethereal hand-engraved movement, the French Lacework model tellingly showcases a design inspired by traditional lace embroidery. The beautiful purple inlay uses a Grand Feu enameling technique, which was executed not by direct paint, but by applying oxides to the gold and then fired. It features a guilloche engraving, reminiscent of pleated fabric.

To assimilate delicate French lace, the white gold design is intricately carved out, jeweled with blue and pink sapphires and diamonds and then, an inner bezel festooned with diamonds proffers a glimpse of its finely crafted movement.

Harry Winston Midnight Feathers Automatic 42mm Harry Winston has showcased its dab hand at plumasserie, the rare and almost forgotten decorative craft of feather marquetry, in its Midnight collection with the Midnight Feathers Automatic 42mm where each remige was carefully selected, shaped and worked under a magnifying glass to ensure nth degree precision.

With a simple and unembellished dial, the resulting marquetry motif is characterised by majestic, alternating colours reminiscent of amber-tinted roots of vetiver, bulrushes and cedar wood, lending a vibrant, dynamic rhythm to the dial. As with all forms of handiwork, each piece varies according to the feather and the touch of the master artisan.

Jaquet Droz Petite Heure Minute Relief Carps A brand that has long peddled in the vivid storytelling of its dials, Jaquet Droz combines enameling and engraving in its latest sleight of hand: The Petite Heure Minute Relief Carps. It drew cultural cues from traditional Asian iconography with a school of carps revered as ornamentals to represent longevity and virility. Such a traditional scene in Asia has been captured at a scale of 41 mm, with the dial set over a pond created through the subtle layering of translucent blue enamel. Two lily pads float gracefully on the surface, crowned by a blooming lotus applied in relief and hand-engraved gold reed stems. Under the enamel, three elegant koi carps are set against a backdrop wave-ridged gold. The enamel lightens across the upper half of dial in a gradient underscored by an engraving of sky and birds. Limited to 28 specimens, here for the first time, Jaquet Droz offers an enameled balance weight decorated with a carp hand-engraved in bas-relief.

Little White Bag From ladylike to athletic, the most surprising trend to emerge is the uncomplicated, graphic and deafeningly modern white bag

By Cheryl Ann Chia While a white bag might seem like a classic essential, let’s face it, you perhaps neither carry one nor ever had the urge to own one.

Yet, it’s an alluring new staple that is bold, more youthful and far less predictable than its stoic yin brethren. An assertive statement accessory, white bags add a frisson of crispness and modernity to any ensemble, giving pride of place to the sublimity of the finest detail, be it the harsh lines of a structured tote or the slouchy texture of a crossbody. They are startlingly versatile; breaks up an outfit and looks graphic when paired with other rarefied wardrobe staples such as an LBD or a power suit.

GUCCI Bamboo Daily Shoulder Bag

Jil Sander Jil Bag

Dior Diorama Bag

Victoria Beckham Victoria Bag

Proenza Schouler Kent Bag

Loewe Flamenco Knot Bag

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Supple Elegance

Dreamy, transitional knits that hint at the onset of fall whilst decidedly suited for the most casual summer

Designers are growing increasingly attuned to a climate that starkly differs from that of Europe, delivering stronger, inch-perfect Pre-Fall collections that are highly adaptable and seasonless. On one end of the spectrum, there are chunky, oversized coats, cashmere sweaters and shaggy fur jackets for cooler temperatures and then there are knitted pieces that are lightweight, agile, breathable, sheer and all the

things you look for in a warm-weather consort. From Calvin Klein’s easy, subtly sexy light-knit co-ord to Stella McCartney’s luxe silk-wool flared pants to Ralph Lauren’s chic tonal separates, these pieces gently cling to the body to give you that cozy comfort yet allow ease, freedom of movement and not to mention, an almost breezy elegance – wear them now and all-year round.

wear it with Ancient greek sandals Thais

Repetto Rose in Black Patent Leather

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Saint Laurent Signature Classic Court Sneaker

The Jewel in the Crown Burberry’s meteoric rise to stardom

By Cheryl Ann Chia

London has not had another fashion week more glorious or grandiose since 2009, the year Christopher Bailey moved his Burberry show from Milan to Kensington Gardens in London. Since then, once every six months or so, the expansive glass marquee goes into a colourful, manic frenzy where the A-list fashion fraternity parade their garb in front of the press, pundits and buyers and where fashion is reminded that the repressive nature of England’s grey weather had, in fact, spawned one of the most powerful emblems in the industry.

It is tall order to be constantly innovating, especially for a brand whose iconic accents, and signature check pattern, could singularly and readily become the gold mine of a knock-off merchant. But in the last decade, Christopher Bailey has done the seemingly impossible, transforming a glacial-paced heritage brand into a tech-savvy, glamorously cool powerhouse and establishing an unassailable appeal far beyond its renowned trench. His adroitness in this regard can be rightfully described as revolutionary.

According to a statement by the company, Burberry’s share prices have increased by over 500 percent and its profits by £350m since Bailey took the reins as design director in 2001, becoming one of the biggest global presences in the fashion industry, as well as one of the highest performing businesses in the UK. The house has always attributed this success to its creativity and innovation and thus, it was only the most logical climax when Bailey became the first ever designer in a publicly-traded fashion company to be appointed as CEO in 2014 – a role that added to his existing position as chief creative officer, responsible for creating and delivering Burberry’s global vision and strategy.

While it was the brand’s holistic approach to marketing at large that converted the business into a dynamic global retailer, what changed the game so entirely was when Burberry recognised Millennials as a generation of rising tastemakers. While its contemporaries held blinkered notions of this new phenomenon and were resolute in maintaining brand mystique, Burberry boldly embraced digital technology as a means to communicate its timeless sensibility to an audience who had little to no knowledge of its rich heritage.

It was in 2009 when Burberry became the first luxury brand to delve into digital marketing, livestreaming their shows in 3D from London and making runway pieces immediately accessible online, thereby essentially slicing off the traditional six-month buffer time. Other initiatives included integrating smart personalisation tags to its latest products and scanning them would activate videos of the crafting processes. Anchored on the precept that fashion is the adornment of the five senses, Burberry also explored the concept of ‘merchantainment’, the seamless blend of merchandising and entertainment by creating immersive, multi-sensory experiences such as having a 4-Dimensional hologram of Rose Huntington-Whiteley, showcased in a scented room using innovative virtual imagery.

Yet it was its remarkable dedication towards the quality of its online content that truly pedestalled the house. One of its earliest campaigns was the ingenious ‘Art of the Trench’ microsite, described as “a living celebration of the Burberry trench coat and the people who wear it.” It enabled Burberry devotees to share images of themselves in the iconic trench.

Armed with a highly sophisticated navigation system, it allowed consumers to browse through hundreds of others in the coat and could just as easily make a purchase – all whilst listening to soundtracks of Britain’s fledgling musicians.

Speaking of which, Burberry was also one of the first to provide an experiential buying process sonically, integrating music – one of the oldest yet also the most unexploited modes of communication – into its story with a platform for rising independent British musicians dubbed ‘Burberry Acoustic’. He had recognised musical, sub-cultural influences as a deeply entrenched facet of British heritage and whilst it thrived along with the brand’s social media presence, Bailey didn’t stop there. He brought forth Burberry shows with their own emotive rhythm, selecting songs from these artists as soundtracks or even injecting live performances and thereby launching the careers of many musicians such as Jake Bugg, Tom Odell, Paloma Faith and George Barnett in the process.

Yet, it is nigh impossible to speak of Burberry without dwelling on the glamourous faces and lifestyles that have come to embody it. Through the years, Bailey has established an unrivalled set of personal and by extension, brand associations with models, musicians and actors who have brilliantly and acutely reflected the zeitgeist, be it across campaigns courtesy of Mario Testino, down the runways or on the much vied-for front rows. From Kate Moss and Lily Donaldson to Alex Pettyfer, Eddie Redmayne, Laura Fraser, Agyness Deyn, Merlin Ferry, Will Cameron, Edie Campbell, Coco Sumner, Josh Beech and in the last five years, Emma Watson, Douglas Booth, Rosie HuntingtonWhiteley, Cara Delevingne, Jourdan Dunn, Suki Waterhouse, Romeo Beckham whose reach entailed front row regulars, Dev Patel, Olympians Denise Lewis, Andy Murray, Alexa Chung, Clemence Poesy, Harry Styles and Kate Bosworth, it was this closely knitted family of Brits that, with their unimaginably dazzling lives, crystallised the coolness of youth, inspiring rapturous prying eyes and catapulting Burberry to the forefront of the fashion firmament as an It-Girl’s fave.

Creative culture aside, the genius of Bailey is his endlessly versatile and ingenious way of renewing, strengthening and diversifying beyond Burberry’s core products. While there aren’t many designers whose virtuosity in leather goods and shoes could eclipse that of their ready-to-wear, Bailey’s biggest strength rests in the way he had successfully made each category more desirable than the next.

Burberry Spring Summer 2016 at Kensington Gardens

It was this closely knitted family of Brits that, with their unimaginably dazzling lives, crystallised the coolness of youth and inspired rapturous prying eyes, catapulting Burberry to the forefront of the fashion firmament as an It-Girl’s fave.

In 2014, accessories remained Burberry’s largest product division accounting for 36% of retail and wholesale revenue, delivering revenue growth of 12%. But that isn’t all. In 2012, Burberry ended its beauty license with Interparfums and brought its beauty business in-house. This finally enabled the brand to fully integrate beauty into its grand design such as launching a trench-inspired colour makeup collection or leveraging on its family of beautiful faces such as Jourdan Dunn, Kate Moss, Cara Delevingne, Edie Campbell and Suki Waterhouse. Creatively, this hyper luxurious beauty division was perhaps hugely responsible for perpetuating if not pioneering the modern art of effortless beauty which became the peak of fashion desirability this year.

With that, the brand’s decision to slice a few decades off its target demographic was perhaps well-accounted for, because one certainly need not study or dissect its heritage to covet a Trench today.

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Cara Delevingne & Kate Moss on the front row of Burberry SS15 show

Burberry FW2015 campaign

Burberry FW2015 campaign

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Suki Waterhouse at the Menswear SS16 show

Jil Sander View Bag

Bally Corner Bag

Chloe Becky Pump

Tod’s Wave Bag

Saint Laurent Classic Small Monogram Tassel Satchel

Loewe Pouch

Rag&BOne Folk Sandal

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Viktor ale Castile Pyth

Wild Card

It is no longer the size or silhouette of your accessory that matters, the It-factor is all in the hyper-luxe hide

By Cheryl Ann Chia Exotic reptilian skin showed plenty of bite this season, arriving in a kaleidoscope of hues and in the most sophisticated designs. Far removed from harsh, gaudy depictions of affluence, the latest crop of hide revises the standards of luxury and is repositioned today as youthful, everyday exotic wear where unimpeachable craftsmanship meets wearability and functionality. Yet for those partial about scaling up, a classic wardrobe workhorse such as Saint Laurent’s classic small monogram satchel in python embossed leather enables just the right touch of opulence for a fiercely modern ensemble.

On the other end of the spectrum, look to Bottega Veneta’s Irish Madras and Exotic Skin Shoulder Bag, Tod’s Wave Bag and Gucci’s Gia python brogue for that one killer investment piece. But for every polished croc or python embellishment, construct your outfit with solid-coloured, less-extravagant staples and let its singularity yield intrigue and create textural depth to your ensemble.

exander hon Bracelet

Aquazzura French Lover Sandals

Gucci Gia Python Brogue

Marc Jacobs Hand Painted Python Mini Trouble Bag

Bottega Veneta Irish Madras and Exotic Skin Shoulder Bag

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CHARLOTTE TILBURY Charlotte’s Magic Cream

Coastal Glow

The most natural hint of warmth for every skin type

By Cheryl Ann Chia

Chantecaille Pure Rosewater Face Mist

A healthy lit-from-within glow redolent of balmy summer days spent on tranquil shorelines begins with a great canvas. The key is to remove any dry patches with proper exfoliation and hydration before you add on any extra colour. And to even out your complexion, select a tinted moisturiser like Kora Organics Tinted Day Cream. It provides added benefits of hydration whilst giving you a sheer and fresh coverage.

Fresh Sugar Honey Tinted Lip Treatment Sunscreen

Kora organics Tinted Day Cream

Sisley Gentle Facial Buffing Cream

Narciso Rodriguez, Spring Summer 2015

Burberry Fresh Glow Luminous Fluid Base Golden Radiance No.02

Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Summer

The modern approach to bronzing is more about achieving a subtle wash of colour that complements your skintone and less about graphically altering your natural skin colour. This is where Burberry’s Luminous Fluid Base in Golden Radiance, Chanel’s Soleil Tan De Chanel Bronzing Makeup Base and Giorgio Armani Maestro Liquid Summer come in to enhance your skin’s natural radiance. They can be applied to the face, ears and décolletage, leaving nothing but a healthy, sun-kissed glow. For added dimension, create gentle definition to your features with Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate. And a sheer cream bronzer without the pinks and greys like RMS Buriti Bronzer will do the trick at providing just the right hint of warmth.

RMS Buriti Bronzer

Chanel Soleil Tan De Chanel

Tom Ford Shade & Illuminate

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Bed of Musc

Conjuring polarising extremes from pristine, laundered sheets to beastly, languid pleasures, what remains beyond a doubt is the confounding seduction of musk

By Cheryl Ann Chia

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1. Diptyque Musc

Certain candles diffuse a grand top note whilst others will tempt you with an impeccable dry-down and then there are the ones that are mellow, rounded and simply better at accompanying you through idleness on a languid summer day. Unassuming, dulcet and brilliantly unforgettable, Musc

by Diptyque is that of the latter, a scent of clean sophistication acutely characterised by earthy, powdery nuances.

2. Frédéric Malle Musc Ravageur

3. L’Artisan Parfumeur Mûre et Musc

4. Maison Martin Margiela Replica Lazy Sunday Morning

5.Serge Lutens Clair de Musc

Far preceded as it is by its repute as a louche scent of twisted secrets, Musc Ravageur belies the sort of opulence that inspires startling devotion.

A game-changing oriental composed by Maurice Roucel, it opens up with icy cool top notes of bergamot, tangerine and lavender. Then it sheds its innocence with the sensuous, animalic glow of amber, musk and vanilla, fleshing out into a hypnotic, feral fragrance.

The art of elegance and sexiness, like chalk and cheese, is executed to a trailblazing perfection in L’Artisan Parfumeur Mure et Musc. A torrid fruity floral, it kicks off with a sparkling opening of lemon, mandarin orange and basil before deep middle notes of blackberries arise, infusing it with a natural depth. Musk and oakmoss dispels and refines its fruity sweetness, arriving at an elegant, sophisticated blend.

True to its name, Lazy Sunday Morning candle is a sheer chypre evocative of quiet mornings, freshly laundered sheets and the first rays of sunlight. It illustrates this familiar scenario with lily, patchouli, rose and a generous dose of musk, subtly lifted by metallic notes of aldehydes, giving that sparkle before dark, earthy notes of moss ensue.

What remains is a delicate and transporting blend of blooming flowers and wet woods.

A white abyss of lush snowfall, soft fibers and fresh laundry, Clair de Musc is perhaps one of the most understated, comforting scents by Serge Lutens. A floral, woodymusk fragrance composed

by Christopher Sheldrake, it features an angelic, classical interplay of white iris, musk, neroli and bergamot that yields an almost eerie timelessness.

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One Bold Statement

Agnes Chandra, Managing Director of Greenbury Holdings Pte Ltd, seeks to raise awareness of the rarely spoken scourge of children’s cancer by making her statement a bald one

By Jonathan Ho

Psychologically speaking, a shaved head has been associated with trauma and loss of individuality. In Biblical myths, Samson loses his power when his locks are shorn by a traitorous lover. In history, Nazi-collaborators were shaved in public to shame them for war time betrayals. Self image is a powerful psychological factor, to paraphrase Paradise Lost: To lose hair is to lose thyself.

Noir Sachinbabi dress, The Prelude; Jewellery, Chopard Earrings: High Jewellery collection earrings in white gold set with rubellites and diamonds; Ring: High Jewellery collection ring in white gold set with a 10-carat blue sapphire; Bracelet: High Jewellery collection bracelet in platinum set with 128 carats worth of ashoka-cut diamonds

Yet, there are brave women like Agnes Chandra, Managing Director of Greenbury Holdings Pte Ltd and a mother of three; Chandra is making a bold statement. One with the cinematic equivalence of Sigourney Weaver’s impactful visage as a bald heroine in Alien3. In the film, what begins as a primal symbol of torment (death of her adopted daughter, fellow survivor and stranding on a Prison Planet) evolves into something else entirely, in ending the alien threat and culminating with her self-sacrifice, her baldness demonstrates strength and bravery over adversity. In this sense, Ms. Chandra is our modern Ellen Ripley, but instead of a reel sacrifice, hers’ is very real and more importantly, it draws attention to one rarely spoken scourge- children’s cancer.

In developed countries such as the United States, it affects over 16 out of 100,000 children; in Singapore, there are about 100 new cases per year. Leukaemia is the most common type of childhood cancer with a recovery rate of 90% (other lymphomas do not share such positive statistics). For resource poor situations (i.e. African states), a greater mortal danger exists: approximately 80% of cancer-stricken children will not live to see their next birthday. As it stands, cancer is 2nd in child mortality only to accidental death and thankfully, with patrons like Chandra, an nongovernmental organisation like Children’s Cancer Foundation (CCF)can make a difference in their fight for survival.

CCF is an integrated hospital-home-community service working closely with hospitals and childpatients who are newly diagnosed with cancer.

Offering emotional, financial and social support with a focus on therapeutic play, CCF caseworkers are stationed at paediatric oncology wards of KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital and National University Hospital, working with children undergoing active treatment.

On the community level, the CCF community Social Work Team works to facilitate transition for children during recovery and return to school periods or to support children affected by a family member diagnosed with cancer; in concert with corporate partners, CCF offers social and recreational activities for the affected families.

It’s heart wrenching and at times, heart breaking work. In 2013, a total of 486 families were supported, 146 of them were newly diagnosed, 24 of them were relapses and 31, bereaved. The unfortunate fact is Close to 10 years ago, a celebrity passed the doors of Esther’s Haircutting Studio in tarzana, California accompanied by bodyguards. When owner and founder Esther Tognozzi refused to accede to the high profile customer’s drastic request, the popstar snatched the clippers had shaved her head herself.

The star? Britney Spears.

More recently, model contestants on global reality series Next Top Model, have been captured in their most intimate moments, in tears, some sobbing even, as they face the stylist’s scissors dreading the inevitable make-over haircut.

“Assisting CCF to raise funds and create awareness has been on my mind for the past 5 years and the calling gets stronger each year. So here I am. I’m ready. Hair has life. It can grow back. But not for the lives of many children with cancer. These little warriors are fighting everyday just to be alive.”

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The kids putting on a show during an annual retreat for Children’s Cancer Foundation.

that passing of a child is a consequence borne not just by the immediate family but also the caseworkers assigned to the child. In this area, CCF provides important counselling services stretching across comprehensive psychosocial assessment of the needs of the patient and family with regard to their coping mechanisms and treatment. The emphasis on mental as well as physical and financial health is the sort of multi-disciplinary care plan which best exemplifies the thoroughness and importance of CCF’s mission.

“A Drop in The Ocean”

by Yeo Yawen, Megan, 5

In terms of expenditure, 87% of their funding goes to charitable activities like their core services, while fundraising, administration and costs of generating voluntary income occupy 4 to 5% of the pie, requiring over $5.1 million per annum. Thanks to patrons like Chandra, CCF continues to provide the sort of holistic service which is largely ignored, understandable because of the heavy emotional burdens but mostly because cancer is something which never occurs to us can develop in innocent children.

A lady of achievement, Ms. Chandra is participating as a Shavee in the hopes of raising funds and creating awareness for CCF’s sacred mission. The former contributor returns to the charity after taking a break to recover from the heartache of losing one the the Foundation’s kids to the disease. Chandra recalls, “If she were alive today, she would be my daughter’s age.

Assisting CCF to raise funds and create awareness has been on my mind for the past 5 years and the calling gets stronger each year. So here I am. I’m ready. Hair has life. It can grow back. But not for the lives of many children with cancer. These little warriors are fighting everyday just to be alive.”

Please show your support and visit Ms. Chandra at https://hairforhope.org.sg/shaveeProfile/3950 15

savior faire Spellbinding jewels for the courageous leading lady.

By Cheryl Ann Chia With pieces from the Red Carpet and Animal World collection, Chopard demonstrates a fastidious eye and a powerful hand, combining the ebullience of coloured gemstones with the iciness of diamonds to breathtaking results.

High Jewellery collection ring in white gold set with a 10-carat blue sapphire

High Jewellery collection earrings in white gold set with 72 carats worth of emeralds and 4 carats worth of diamonds

High Jewellery collection earrings in white gold set with rubellites and diamonds

Animal World hummingbird necklace in white gold set with sapphires, diamonds, amethysts and tsavorites

Red Carpet collection bracelet in 18ct white gold set with pear-shaped diamonds (9cts) and brilliant-cut diamonds

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High Jewellery collection ring in white gold set with 13.6 carats worth of pear-shaped yellow diamonds High Jewellery collection timepiece in white gold set with 12 carats worth of diamonds