Monday, July 29, 2013

Fashion | As The World Turns



















Asia A-listers take their seat on fashion front row
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Raf Simons' multicultural show for Christian Dior, meanwhile, was also a clear pitch to customers in new markets - PHOTO: AFP
[PARIS] Arriving at a Christian Dior fashion show in Paris surrounded by a gaggle of photographers and minders, Korean star Gianna Jun quickly eclipsed the already seated Oscar winner Jennifer Lawrence.
One of the best known faces in Asia following a string of box office smashes, the actress is one of an elite group of bankable names attracting the attention of the fashion world.
Designers have long looked to Hollywood stars to help sell their collections - but as the spending power of consumers in countries such as China and South Korea grows, it's now the turn of Asia's A-listers. Taiwanese model and actress Lin Chi-ling was also in Paris for the couture shows where she was given the red carpet treatment at Karl Lagerfeld's Chanel show.
At a time when couture houses are increasingly winning new customers in countries from China to Singapore, Lagerfeld underscored the East's importance with a show contrasting the "crumbling" old world with a new world represented by a futuristic imaginary Asian city.   2013 July 29






 

Monday, July 8, 2013

The Pit


Our friend Teddy Ip Jr. had a car running at Le Mans 24 Hours  >> MORE

 

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Crazy Rich Asians

PUBLISHED AUGUST 23, 2013
ENTERTAINMENT
Tales of the rich and those struggling to make it

CRAZY RICH ASIANS
By Kevin Kwan     416 pages
CRAZY Rich Asians is quite possibly one of funniest social satires ever written about Singaporeans. It reads like a cross between Anthony Trollope and Singapore Tatler. It is simultaneously stylish and tabloid-ish, grand and gossipy, well-written and, well, trashy.
















I'm reading Crazy Rich Asians, a hilarious novel about seriously rich Chinese families based in Singapore with linkages to Hong Kong, New York, London, Taiwan, Vancouver, California ...



Besides the obvious entertainment value of guessing how the real elite might live there are lessons to be learned here:
  • Serious money - Chinese or otherwise - do not flash!
  • Asian linkages are global.
  • This could be a good handbook for a Princeling looking to bring someone into the Family who is not of the same pedigree.   The theme of strong mothers-in-law's comes to mind.
This book by first time author has received wide coverage and excellent reviews.
Highly recommended entertainment for Asians and non-Asians alike.   Well done, Kevin Kwan!

Read Prologue: The Cousins which is part of 'Look Inside' at Amazon for a taste.