Travel
Checking in: The only Forbes Travel Guide 2019-approved hotel in Malaysia

25.05.2019
By Terry Saw

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Fun fact: Up until 2017, I had not properly visited Genting (shock, horror – I know) and by ‘properly’, I mean aside from that one midnight adventure on a whim (to the iconic Starbucks for all of 30 minutes) with a few well-meaning friends, who could not accept, that as a Malaysian, I have travelled to Germany but not Genting, and not once experienced ‘my head up in the clouds’, 6,000 feet above sea level in my entire existence.
Without any childhood memory of the place or benchmark to compare my experience to, I checked off many fun ‘firsts’ and key highlights since – from cable car rides between SkyAvenue and the GHPO, revisiting comfort food faves including Burger & Lobster and Harry Ramsden outside of the UK, to sizzling BBQ at Palsaik Korean BBQ on cool evenings and other new eats – you name it, I’ve (finally) done it – much to the relief of my friends.
I’ve since been back to Genting a few times for staycations away from KL, but more recently to revisit the Crockfords Hotel, which we reviewed in 2017, but this time, to uncover the whys and hows it successfully put us on the map as the only hotel in Malaysia to make it to the Forbes Travel Guide 2019 list – a prestigious five-star recognition awarded to 210 hotels around the world.
Did you know? Forbes Travel Guide Star Ratings is the oldest and most prestigious travel guide in the US (currently in its 61st edition) and is the global benchmark of the world’s finest luxury hotels, spas and restaurants.

Junior Suite
Crockfords Hotel is the epitome of luxury from the moment you arrive – a private entrance lobby ensures ultimate privacy isn’t compromised by its prime spot, being located adjacent to the bustling SkyAvenue and First World Hotel. Looking into the finer details, I love that all 115 suites are designed to give you unobstructed views of stunning rolling hills where you can kick back and watch the mountain sunrise from the comfort of your bed. All suites also come with an in-room private steam sauna and if you wish to stay in to enjoy a quiet, relaxing night away from the crowd, 24-hour room and butler service is just a phone call away.

Mayfair Suite
But it’s not enough for these little luxuries to just pass our test, here are two key aspects the Crockfords Hotel went through to earn the ultimate nod of approval from the Forbes Travel Guide 2019:

The hotel was reviewed anonymously by unannounced auditors, using a proprietary algorithm that weighs 75% (service) and 25% (quality of property), focusing on various aspects including graciousness and thoughtfulness of the overall experience, down to the minute details of personalised service during the stay.

For the Crockfords Hotel to qualify for a five-star Forbes Travel Guide rating, the hotel must exceed a 90% score across all necessary tests.

“We at Resorts World Genting are thrilled that Crockfords has been recognised by the Forbes Travel Guide for the 2019 award. To be rewarded the five-star rating is a confirmation that our vision for luxury at the Resorts World Genting works. It is also an affirmation that Malaysia, as a destination, has luxury service on par with the world’s best, with service and standards that meet the highest level of demands,” says Dato’ Edward Holloway, Executive Vice President of Leisure & Hospitality, Resorts World Genting.
This year, Crockfords Hotel joins the ranks of Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons, Langham, Mandarin Oriental, Peninsula and Island Shangri-La in Hong Kong, St Regis, Peninsula and Mandarin Oriental in Bangkok and the Capella, Mandarin Oriental and the Fullerton Bay in Singapore to make the five-star Forbes Travel Guide rating, and we can’t be prouder of their success – Malaysia Boleh, indeed.

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Fashion
Malaysian footwear brands to shop for your ‘kasut Raya’

28.04.2020
By Buro247

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The trick to wearing the right pair of shoes during the festive season of Hari Raya is to find one that you can easily slip in and out off while you do your ‘rumah terbuka‘ rounds. Fidgeting with straps, laces, buckles and zips is the last thing you want to do when you’re at the tenth house on your list. Let’s not forget you’re most likely in your formal wear or baju kurung, so reaching down to undo your shoes will be an added struggle.
In the event Raya will fall during an extended MCO, we can kiss that rule goodbye this year. Hari Raya in 2020 will be celebrated very differently from what we’re used to, but doesn’t mean we cannot celebrate the festive season in the comfort of our own homes with our immediate family. Look on the bright side, this may be a good opportunity where you can pick form over function!
Looking to cop a new pair of kicks in time for Raya 2020? Below, five local footwear brands to shop from to get your ‘kasut Raya’ fix.
Kulet

Made with “animal-friendly leather”, Kulet‘s selection of neutral-toned slip-in heels and sandals make the perfect Raya addition. They can be paired with literally any colour, and the no-fuss slip-in designs are easy to wear, too and can be worn for many festive occasions, well beyond the MCO.
Nelissa Hilman

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Nelissa Hilman has a new collection in time for Raya 2020! The Kota Raya collection features strappy mules and slingback sandals, all ready for you to shop on their website. The new additions see dainty silhouettes balanced with a monochromatic marbled block heel for a modern twist.
Nazifi Nasri

Nazifi Nasri is known for crafting men’s footwear, but has since ventured into women’s as of 2019. TBH, we wouldn’t mind slipping into his popular backless loafers—we’re all for gender-neutral attire! They’re so sought after that he takes these orders in batches. Unfortunately, due to the MCO, the recent batch in time for Raya 2020 has been delayed, but his leather sandals are still up for grabs!
Yoke & Theam

Founded by two sisters whose family business specialised in shoes, Yoke & Theam is built on decades of heritage and legacy, appropriated for the modern wearer. The brand first started with heeled sandals for women, but has since gone into new territory with rugged and more masculine silhouettes for men. Every aspect of Yoke & Theam’s shoes is locally sourced, from the leather to the rubber soles, so buying a pair means you’re supporting the local industry!
Shoes Shoes Shoes

Would you like to own a style as impeccable as the founder, Ung Yiu Lin? Good news: You can come very close if you shop from the store’s trendy selections. Up your style game this Raya 2020 by putting your best foot forward in a wide array of heel styles and heights.

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Fashion
Polo Ralph Lauren introduces the It-piece for AW17—the Lennox bag
Bag it!

24.08.2017
By Joan Kong

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There’s nothing more ideal than a perfectly-sized bag that strikes the right balance between looking stylish and timeless, and Polo Ralph Lauren’s key piece of the season proves just that. An ode to its equestrian heritage by incorporating bridles, hardware and saddle leather into the mix, the Lennox bag—in black, oxblood or saddle brown colours—gives the “refined ease of horse-riding culture” a perk-me-up. The focal point of the carrier is the oversized buckle hardware in antique brass—sourced from one of the vintage bags from its archives—that adorns the belted details, giving the timeless silhouette its style factor.  Available in Italian pebbled or nappa leather, the sleek Lennox bag comes with a twill-lined interior with multiple compartments to store your knick-knacks.
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The Lennox bag is priced at RM1,890, and it’s available at the Polo Ralph Lauren Pavilion KL store, and in Isetan KLCC and The Gardens.

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Food + Drink
BURO Bar Lingo: A beginner’s guide to the types of rum
All for rum, and rum for all

26.10.2022
By Natalie Khoo

Illustrations: Amos Yip for BURO Malaysia

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Speak of rum and you may think of pirates like Captain Jack Sparrow or a signature rum-based cocktail like mojito. But do you know how the spirit became widely known as the preferred beverage of pirates? Or what type of rum, exactly, is used in a mojito?
In this edition of BURO Bar Lingo, we’ve put together a beginner’s guide on the basics of rum, from its origin story to the types of rum in the market today. Read on to learn more about this underrated spirit.

Photo: Paulovilela / Freepik
What is rum?
Rum is a type of spirit made from the fermentation of sugarcane juice, syrup or molasses. Unlike whisky or cognac, there are no specific regulations for rum. However, the spirit is typically bottled at a minimum of 40 per cent alcohol by volume (ABV).

Where did rum originate from?
Photo: Bryan Faust / Shutterstock
Many rum origin stories date back to the West Indies in the 1600s, when Barbados was discovered. The first rums were known on record as “kill devil” or rumbillon—and its history is as dark as it sounds. During that period, plantation slaves discovered that molasses—a byproduct from the sugar plantations that flourished on Barbados soil—could be fermented into alcohol. The distillation of this alcohol and removal of its impurities resulted in the first modern rums.
Given the cheaper production process and stronger effect of rum, it quickly became the beverage of choice for trading. Due to increasing demand, New Englanders resorted to trading slaves for molasses to make rum, then trading rum for more slaves to keep up with sugar production to make molasses. You get the picture.
Captain Jack Sparrow and his infamous love of rum in ‘Pirates of the Caribbean’. (Photo: IMDb)
As rum became a staple export, many of the ships attacked by pirates in those days would contain rum—ripe for the taking (or drinking). Besides, rum was safer to drink than water during the Golden Age of Piracy, when water would be contaminated with algae after being kept stagnant in barrels for long periods at sea. Thus, rum became the drink of choice for pirates and the navy alike.

How is rum made?
Today, rum production varies depending on locations and distillers. In general, rum starts with the harvesting of sugarcane, which is then fermented, distilled, and aged.
Photo: Victoria Priessnitz / Unsplash
Harvesting: First, the sugarcane plant is harvested, cleaned, sliced into small lengths, and milled (pressed) to produce sugarcane juice. The sugarcane’s quality depends on the soil type and climate that it was grown in, which in turn, affects the rum’s quality.
Fermentation: Just like other alcoholic beverages, rum is fermented with yeast—traditionally in open vats. Depending on the strain of yeast used (some producers use wild yeast), the fermentation time may take longer and produce different amounts of esters and and congeners, which influences flavour.
Distillation: Since there are no regulations for rum, some producers distill the fermented sugarcane juice in small batches using pot stills, although column still distillation is more common. The former is said to produce fuller-tasting rums.
Ageing: Aged rum typically sits in bourbon casks for at least a year, but may also be stored in other types of wooden casks or stainless steel tanks. This process determines the colour of the rum—those aged in oak casks become darker in colour, whereas those aged in stainless steel tanks remain colourless.
Blending: After ageing, rum is usually blended to produce a consistent flavour. During blending, light rums may be filtered to remove any colour, whereas caramel may be added to dark rums to achieve the desired colour.

Types of rum
Due to the lack of regulations, rum is one of the hardest spirits to classify. One common method of classifying rum is by colour, but there can also be different characteristics and flavour profiles within each colour designation. Nevertheless, it’s the most widely accepted classification:
Photo: Alvis Taurēns / Unsplash
Light rum
Also known as white rum or silver rum, this style of rum may be aged in oak barrels and then filtered to remove colour or distilled in stainless still casks. Light rums are popularly used as mixers to make mojitos or pina colada rather than being consumed straight, due to their milder flavours.

Dark rum
As the name suggests, dark rums are distinguished by their colour—usually brown, black or red. They are typically made from caramelised sugar or molasses and are aged for many years in charred oak barrels, developing stronger flavours. Dark rums may also be used in cooking.

Aged/gold rum
Gold rums have a caramel hue and generally sit between light and dark rum in flavour and body. They are usually aged in oak barrels and are considered medium-bodied rum.

Photo: Jennifer Schmidt / Unsplash
Spiced rum
Spiced rums are usually golden and flavoured with spices like cinnamon, cloves, pepper, aniseed, and cardamom. Some versions may be darker in colour from added caramel or molasses.

Flavoured rum
Similar to spiced rum, flavoured rum is infused with fruits such as banana, mango, orange, pineapple, coconut, or lime after fermentation and distillation. They are usually used in tropical drinks but may also be drunk neat or with ice.

Rhum agricole
Unlike other types of rum, rhum agricole is one type of rum that has strict regulations. It must be made from pure, fresh cane juice and distilled to 70 per cent ABV. Rhum agricole is only produced in the French Caribbean including Martinique, Haiti, Guadeloupe, Mauritius, Marie-Galante, and St. Barths.

Cachaça
Cachaça is another regulated rum that must be produced in Brazil and typically has a lower ABV than rhum agricole. It is also made from fresh-pressed sugarcane juice and is known for its sweeter flavours.

Photo: CDX / Unsplash
Premium rums
Just like scotch or cognac, there are also premium rums made for sipping. These are usually from boutique brands with careful production and ageing processes, resulting in more complex flavours that are best enjoyed straight.

For more BURO Bar Lingo stories, click here.

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15 most iconic shoes of all time

Fashion
15 most iconic shoes of all time
These shoes were made for lovin'

19.07.2015
By Buro247

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Shoe lovers from every corner of the earth speak the same language. Be it the peep of a red sole, a grosgrain ribbon or a stacked gold platform, there is no mistaking the universal lingo of a shoe. Here are 15 of our absolute favourites—ones we feel any self-respecting shoe lover should recognise on sight.

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15/15

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Repetto
Gucci
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News
7 Fun things you can do in KL this weekend: 23 & 24 November 2019

20.11.2019
By Ronn Tan

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1. Makers’ Market & Workshops by Naiise at The Godown KL, 11am – 7pm, 23 & 24 November 2019
This weekend, Singaporean design label Naiise is curating a two-day market featuring 20 creative makers and brands from Singapore and Malaysia—such as Wetteeshirt, Seniman Kakao, and Hometoomuch. In collaboration with KL co-working venue, A Space To_, there will also be workshops on leather crafting and succulent survival.
For more information, visit this website.
2. Try Johnnie Walker Gold& Syiok at selected locations, 23 & 24 November 2019
The Malaysian-inspired highball was specially curated by Bar and Beverage Professional, Angel Ng, by combining the Gold Label Reserve with local ingredients. In addition to whisky and soda, the concoction contains honey, floral notes, and pomelo pulp. Available from November onwards for a limited time only, you can get a taste of Gold& Syiok at Hyde at 53M, The Locker and Loft, Soma Cocktail Bar, and Topshelf.
For more information, visit this website.
3. Visit A Day Lifestyle Store at Intermark KL Mall, 10am – 10pm, 23 & 24 November 2019
Spread across 3,000 square feet, the store redefines the art and craft retail in Malaysia with a portfolio of over 100 brands—including fashion, beauty, food, design, art, and home. Their goal is to provide local artists with a platform to present their works. Brands include the likes of Jun Pottery, Acqua Bonita, Marini by Ninimarini, Cristjen Lai Artelier, Kinder Soaps, Parody Parlour, Pagoda Kingdom, La Fiancée, Tina Winness, Go CheeKS, Claire Organics, ANIA Skincare, Harith Green Carpenter, and Beejooz among many others. Take this weekend to explore the artisan department outlet.
For more information, visit this website.
4. Brew N Brush: Matilda Sunset at Marimbar, 5pm – 7pm, 24 November 2019
This Sunday, take the opportunity to enjoy a guided acrylic painting session in a social space. With the assistance of an experienced teacher, paint the sunset or create your own original painting in two hours. Don’t worry if you’re a beginner because this is suitable for everyone and all painting materials will be provided. This session is priced at RM130++.
For more information, visit this website.
5. Brohemia! A New Play at Klpac, 8.30pm – 10.30pm, 23 & 24 November 2019
In this play, you will get a thorough look on sexual minority as well as the consequences of toxic masculinity. This is Theatresauce’s third and final New Project of 2019. Cast includes the likes of Aiman Aiman, Josh Blake, Cayden Diow, Theyvapaalan S. Jayaratnam, Darren Lee, Azzad Mahdzir-Sariza, Ashraf Zain, and Tristen ZiJuin. The production is strictly for mature audiences only. A regular ticket is priced at RM63.
For more information, visit this website.
6. Monkey Business featuring Callan Green at W Kuala Lumpur, 9pm – 1am, 22 November 2019
This Friday at the hotel’s Woobar will see Australian bartender, Callan Green, taking over for a night. The Guest Shift will feature a multitude of tipples that infuse gin from Monkey 47. This specific choice contains a mix of angelica root, acacia flowers, bramble leaves, lingonberries, and spruce shoots.
For more information, visit this website.
7. Try new restaurants and cafes in the Klang Valley.
Check out this list for November that we have compiled for you here.

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Watches
Goodbye, Baselworld: Inside Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard, and Tudor’s withdrawals

15.04.2020
By Joan Kong

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Rolex, Patek Philippe, Chanel, Chopard, and Tudor have announced that they’ll be withdrawing from Baselworld, the largest watch exhibition in the world, to create a new watch fair. While yet to be named, the show will take place at Palexpo in Geneva in April 2021, at the same time as Watches & Wonders, previously known as SIHH. This will, undoubtedly, cause a huge blow to the event, as Rolex and Patek Philippe are considered two of its biggest exhibitors.
Baselworld has come under fire recently for its decision to reschedule the event to 2021 without consulting the brands, as well as its inability to meet their needs and expectations. On top of that, it’s been reported that many exhibitors were unhappy with the watch fair’s refund policy, which can be read here.

Below, the official statement from each of the watch brand’s representative:
Jean-Frédéric Dufour, The CEO of Rolex and board member of Tudor, said: “We have taken part in Baselworld since 1939. Unfortunately, given the way the event has evolved and the recent decisions made by the MCH Group, and in spite of the great attachment we had to this watch show, we have decided to withdraw. Following discussions initiated by Rolex, it seemed only natural to create a new event with partners that share our vision and our endless, unwavering support for the Swiss watchmaking sector. This will allow us to present our new watches in line with our needs and expectations, to join forces and better defend the interests of the industry.”
Thierry Stern, President of Patek Philippe said: “The decision to leave Baselworld was not an easy one to take for me, being the fourth generation of the Stern family to participate to this traditional yearly event. But life evolves constantly, things change and people change as well, whether it is at the level of those responsible for the watch fair organization, the brands or the clients. We constantly have to adapt ourselves, question what we do, since what was right yesterday may not necessarily be valid today! Today Patek Philippe is not in line with Baselworld’s vision anymore, there have been too many discussions and unsolved problems, trust is no longer present. We need to answer the legitimate needs of our retailers, the clients and the press from around the world. They have to be able to discover the new models from Swiss watchmakers each year, at one time, in one place, and this in the most professional manner possible. That is why, following several discussions with Rolex and in agreement with other participating brands, wehave decided to create, all together, a unique event in Geneva, representative of our savoir-faire.”
Frédéric Grangié, President of Chanel Watches & Fine Jewellery said: “Like its partners, CHANEL shares the same independence and the same desire to protect and promote the values, know-how, utmost quality and precision of Swiss Watchmaking. This initiative marks a key milestone in the history of Chanel Watchmaking and is part of a long-term strategy, which began with the launch of this activity in 1987. This exhibition will allow us to present all of our new creations in an environment that meets our high-quality standards.”
Karl-Friedrich Scheufele, Co-President of Chopard said: “Chopard first exhibited at the Basel fair in 1964 with a stand of some 25 square metres. After careful consideration, our family decided to support the Rolex initiative and retire from Baselworld—a painful decision. The creation of this new watch show in Geneva, in parallel to Watches & Wonders, will allow us to better serve our watchmaking partners and our customers. Through the alliance, these grandes maisons will also be able to collaborate in promoting the values and best interests of Swiss watchmaking.”

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Fashion
Moschino to show Spring and Cruise ’17 collections in Los Angeles this June
Ciao L.A.

20.04.2016
By Su Fen Tan

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It looks like Los Angeles is climbing up the ranks in the fashion world, as Moschino leaves London to present its June runway show in the California city this year. Moschino is to headline Made Los Angeles—a lineup of runway shows, presentations and events on fashion, music and art to be held at L.A. Live’s Event Deck space on 10 and 11 June.

The Moschino show will take place on the 10th, and the lineup will combine the luxury brand’s Spring/Summer ’17 Men’s and Cruise ’17 Women’s collections. Of the decision to move the show from London to Los Angeles, creative director Jeremy Scott says: “As I’ve been a Los Angelono now for over a decade, the thought to transplant my Moschino show to the west coast for a special showing has been on my mind since I took the role as Creative Director. So when WME | IMG and MADE let me know they were brewing up an idea to do something in LA, it took me no time at all to say ‘Yes!'”

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Film, TV + Theatre
‘Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania’ review: Shaky start to MCU Phase Five
Quantum-mess

04.03.2023
By Marissa Chin

IMAGES: Marvel Studios

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It only takes a couple of searches on the Internet and a slew of social media reactions to find out that the reception for Ant-Man and The Wasp: Quantumania has been nothing short of a dumpster fire. At the box office, the film suffered its worst second-weekend drop in Marvel’s history and scored a 48 per cent rating on Rotten Tomatoes, making it the second worst-rated film next to 2021’s The Eternals.

While Ant-Man has always been perceived as an underdog to the larger MCU franchise, it generally received positive reviews from critics and fans. As someone who thoroughly enjoyed the Ant-Man franchise myself, I had been eagerly anticipating the threequel—especially since they were giving the little guy the big task of kickstarting MCU’s Phase Five.

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I had the pleasure of watching the film in GSC’s Aurum Theatre to try out the brand-new Sea Salt popcorn flavour. While the seats were really comfortable and I enjoyed the popcorn (great for those without a sweet tooth!), I didn’t have the same experience with the film. Perhaps I should have known this when I found out Michael Peña and his iconic voice-over narration would be missing this time around…
So why do I feel Quantumania may be signalling a huge problem for the MCU? Read ahead for my full review.
Warning: spoilers ahead!

PLOT

Quantumania sees Scott Lang (AKA Ant-Man), his daughter Cassie, Hope (AKA The Wasp), Hank and Janet Pym getting sucked into the Quantum Realm where they meet the powerful Kang the Conqueror who plans to escape after being imprisoned there. Already, it’s a very different type of plot than we’re used to seeing. For one, MCU fans loved the Ant-Man films for how they seemed self-contained, with issues that generally didn’t affect the overall MCU narrative. Nonetheless, the Quantum Realm has been teased multiple times throughout the films so I knew we would be making a full-fledged trip down there soon. It still didn’t make this change any less jarring as I felt like I wasn’t watching an Ant-Man film.

The characters are the same but the tone of the movie was completely changed. Perhaps this can be attributed to the fact that Rick and Morty writer Jeff Loveness penned the script in his MCU debut. Giving the keys to the MCU Kingdom to a cartoon show writer—not shooting down Rick and Morty, it’s just a different ball game—might not have been the right choice.
For a two-hour film, the plot also felt empty. After being sucked into the subatomic universe, the five characters are separated from each other: Scott with Cassie, and Hope, Hank and Janet together. And then for the entire movie, they just…walk around and find their way back to each other? When I think about the plot, it really strikes me how nothing really happens. They encounter small mishaps here and there but it doesn’t amount to anything and the characters move right along—whatever is a threat also doesn’t make that big of an impact (more on this later).

There is an underlying father-daughter plot that was genuinely endearing to watch. I wished Quantumania took its time to flesh this out as the relationship between Cassie and Lang was the most enjoyable for me to watch. However, the script left no room for any prominent character development to take place or raise the stakes between the two.
Quantumania also suffers from a lot of plot discontinuity issues that made it all the more messy and frustrating. In the past films, the Quantum Realm looked like a universe of geometric shapes, pulsating and glowing organisms, and amoeba-like creatures—which makes sense. Now, we’re made to believe that there are not only other lifeforms down there but ones that look like us, broccoli, and even their own functioning cantina and skyscrapers.

Secondly, Janet’s powers—that she seemingly absorbed while in the Quantum Realm for 30 years—have completely vanished in this film. In Ant-Man Two, we see her help Ghost from phasing in and out of reality by touching her with glowy fingers in an exciting mutant tease. In Quantumania, we don’t get any display of such powers nor is it ever mentioned. These are just some of the plot problems that I had trouble with, although there are other plot holes this film does not answer either.
I always thought that Marvel put a lot of focus and detail into crafting a carefully-thought narrative. Indeed, this was why the Infinity Stones saga did so well and had a great payoff. Watching Quantumania, I had this creeping feeling that the Golden Age of Marvel was slipping away. Paired with the horribly quippy Thor: Love and Thunder and the campiness of Dr. Strange: Multiverse of Madness, the signs have been there for a while now but I still had hope. Unfortunately, Quantumania was the one that broke me.

VISUALS

As I mentioned before, I thought the previous look of the Quantum Realm worked a lot better. You really got a sense of how small these characters were while they were down there, with huge plants towering over them and even giant tardigrades floating above them. Those scenes made it believable for me that Hank and Janet really were in a subatomic universe full of micro-animals. This Quantum Realm, however, took a great turn. I’m not the only one who seemed put off by this as many viewers have criticised it for looking like a knock-off Star Wars film, with its own cantina to boot. It was also giving Shark Boy and Lava Girl vibes, especially when MODOK appeared and I audibly laughed in the cinema out of secondhand embarrassment. Some things are just better staying put in the comics.

I know what Marvel Movie MODOK reminds me of!Mr. Electric! pic.twitter.com/imcl70IbHe
— Indumati #1 NOT CUTE Batdere Superhero PNGTuber (@cerisbeech) February 25, 2023

Most importantly, I just don’t believe in this world. I don’t believe that our characters are in this strange universe, I don’t believe that this world functions in the way that it does, and I don’t believe in the civilisations and structures that have been placed there. I know it’s not fair to compare the two but when I was watching Avatar Two, I completely bought into the wonder and world-building of Pandora. With Quantumania, everything just felt flat. There were scenes you could tell were obviously filmed in front of a blue screen and even the actors themselves didn’t perform their best to sell it. Like Cassie said when they arrived, I found myself questioning the same thing throughout the film: “Where are we?”
Of course, this lack of finesse in CGI is a long-standing issue with Marvel, as many VFX artists have come out to expose the gross mistreatment they’ve been dealt with. The result of this couldn’t be clearer in this film. So far, Quantumania has to be the silliest-looking film in the MCU roster.

CHARACTERS

It hurts for me to say this in a Paul Rudd-led film because I do love the guy but unfortunately, I felt the characters were severely neutered. They were, as Gen Zs would say, “not giving”. I didn’t enjoy Lang’s reputation as Ant-Man was almost ridiculed not just by Cassie but the entire family. As MCU fans, we’ve seen Scott’s growth and root for him so it’s hard to see him being treated like this when he literally saved the universe. Yes, he wrote a book about it and probably talks about it a little too much but give the man a break!
Which brings me to my next point: I want the old Cassie back! I kid you not, there was a scene at the beginning of the film where she tells her father, “I know you saved the universe, but what did you do after that?” It’s the kind of moral-high-horse-sitting behaviour in a poorly-disguised act of virtue signalling that makes her character not very likeable. The concept of child geniuses and prodigies in the MCU is also tired and overused; I really hope we can steer away from this soon.

Furthermore, Hank is reduced to a crazed old man obsessed with ants and Hope is so underutilised in the film, it wouldn’t matter if she wasn’t in it—and this is the female protagonist we’re talking about here. She and Scott barely have any scenes together, which made the climax where they profess their love to each other out of place.
I was also getting increasingly agitated with Janet in this film because she spends half the time keeping the truth about Kang away from Hope and Hank which makes no sense at all. She would give them a flimsy excuse that she’s trying to “protect” them when the truth wasn’t even that big of a deal—they’re superheroes, and they deal with big bad villains all the time! Also, I found it strange how she didn’t want to share her history with Kang but was ready to spill about her sex life instead. Not only did it undercut the sweet love story between Hank and Janet in previous films, but it was also just a poorly-landed joke (there are a lot of those in the movie). And, if she really was so afraid of Kang, why did she readily send Scott down to the Quantum Realm in the second movie? I digress.

Fortunately, the standout for me was Jonathan Majors as Kang. In the comics, Kang is one of the most powerful villains and I could definitely feel the gravitas from Majors’ performance. He was affable yet menacing; empathetic yet logical. My only criticism of Kang is that Quantumania didn’t do a good job of relaying his intentions. I found his character motivations to be unclear and surface-level. All he really says is that he’s made to conquer but we don’t know why or how he even does it. Surely, the energy bursts we see from him are not enough to end several worlds and even kill multiple Avengers. And yet, the movie tries to drill into our heads that Kang is an all-powerful and all-seeing being that can destroy anyone with a flick of his wrist. I will have to see how future content roll-outs intend to draw out Kang’s arc but for now, he hasn’t fully convinced me as Thanos 2.0.

VERDICT

Quantumania could be signalling a huge problem in the MCU. With no standout characters such as the likes of Iron Man or Captain America taking the mantle into Phase Five, and established superheroes such as Thor and Ant-Man failing to ignite the once-bright spark, Marvel needs to go back to the drawing board if they ever want to replicate the success of the Infinity Stones era. I have mentioned the superhero fatigue before and it seems Marvel is now in the thick of it. As I sat there in the cinema for a two-hour film filled with silly-looking CGI, under-developed characters, and a poor script, I felt exactly what Janet, who got lost in the Quantum Realm for decades, felt: stuck for an eternity with no way out.
Final rating: 3/10

For more film and TV show reviews, head here.

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Fashion
#RedCarpet: Arrivals at the 2018 SAG Awards
The A-list

22.01.2018
By Wei Yeen Loh

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This year’s Screen Actors Guild Awards had many definitive moments that are worth mentioning—records (and tradition) were broken in many instances, including Julia Louis-Dreyfus who now officially holds the most SAG honours for a single actor, and Sterling K. Brown taking home the best male actor in a drama for his role in ‘This is Us’, making history as the first African-American actor to win in that category. If you haven’t caught up with what happened last night, don’t forget to check out the winners list here. The red carpet just before the ceremony had many notable highlights as well, with Millie Bobby Brown going against the grain in her Converse sneakers and Calvin Klein By Appointment dress (take a look at how she pulls off those space buns without looking overly cutesy here), along with her fellow ‘Stranger Things’ co-stars looking seriously fab—Sadie Sink in Chanel, Noah Schnapp in Stella McCartney, and Natalie Dyer in Dior. Scroll through the gallery below for all the red carpet looks at the SAG Awards 2018:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] SAG Awards 2018 Red Carpet” rid=”5842″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Watches
Birthstones 101: A month-by-month guide to the gems and what they mean

03.01.2020
By Joan Kong

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Jewellery will always have a special place in every girl’s heart—there’s no doubt about that. But if you’re looking for something that’ll make your heart flutter that bit more, here’s a suggestion: birthstone jewellery. These personalised pieces are unique to your birth month, and the best part? They will never go out of style. While you may already be familiar with the classic diamonds and rubies, there is more to it than you think. For example, some months have more than one precious stones, and a particular birthstone may have different shades. Below, our guide to the birthstones of each month, and jewellery picks you should shop from while you’re at it:
January: Garnet

January birthstone – Garnet
Colour: Commonly in red, garnet also comes in an extraordinary range of colours, including green, orange, purple, and yellow.
Origin: Its name is derived from the medieval Latin word “granatus”, meaning pomegranate, and it has been used since the Stone Age as gemstones and abrasives.
Meaning: According to Indian astrology, the gem is said to help eliminate negative emotions and instill mental clarity, however some people also believe that it has the power to evoke happiness, and bring good health and wealth to the wearer.
Fun fact: It’s also the stone that celebrates the second anniversary of marriage.
February: Amethyst

February birthstone: Amethyst
Colour: A purple variety of the mineral quartz, amethyst’s shade ranges from a light lilac hue to dark royal purple.
Origin: Its name originates from the Greek word amethystos, which means “a remedy against drunkenness”.
Meaning: Hence, wearing it is believed to be able to enable the wearer to have a clear mind, and it’s a symbol of empowerment and strength.
Fun fact: It’s also the gem for the 6th and 17th wedding anniversaries.
March: Aquamarine

March amethyst: Aquamarine
Colour: Its soothing colour ranges from light to deep blue.
Origin: A combination “aqua” meaning water and “marina” meaning the sea, the gem is named after the beautiful blue sea.
Meaning: Aquamarine is a symbol of youth, tranquility and courage.
Fun fact: Historically, sailors used to wear them on the seas to ensure a safe voyage. The gemstone is also the present for the 19th wedding anniversary.
April: Diamond

April birthstone: Diamond
Colour: While a pure diamond is perfectly transparent and colourless, the stone is also available in a spectrum of colours such as brown, green, grey, pink, white, and yellow.
Origin: The earliest diamonds were found in India as early as the 4th Century BC.
Meaning: Diamond is a symbol of eternal love and commitment, hence it’s the most common stone for engagement rings.
Fun fact: Diamond is the hardest naturally-occurring substance on Earth.
May: Emerald

May birthstone: Emerald
Colour: Its green tone ranges from yellow-green to dark blue green, and the more vivid the colour, the more valuable it is.
Origin: The first known emerald mine was in Egypt (the gem is Cleopatra’s favourite), but the three main emerald sites currently include Colombia, Brazil and Zambia.
Meaning: It’s often associated with growth, love, and rebirth.
Fun fact: It’s also the gemstone for 20th and 35th wedding anniversaries.
June: Pearl

June birthstone: Pearl
Colour: While we’re most familiar with pearls in white, cream or grey, the gem also comes in colours such as black, champagne, blue, green, lavender and pink.
Origin: There are two main types of pearls available—freshwater and saltwater. The former is mainly produced in China and is a more affordable choice, while the latter originates from Tahiti and other islands in French Polynesia.
Meaning: Pearl symbolises pure love and good luck.
Fun fact: It’s the gem for the 3rd and 30th wedding anniversaries, and it’s believed to offer protection for its wearer too.
July: Ruby

July birthstone: Ruby
Colour: Ruby’s colour ranges from light to dark reddish-brown.
Origin: Regarded by ancient Hindus as the king of gems, ruby is now one of the most coveted gemstones after diamonds.
Meaning: The gem is often associated with power and wealth.
Fun fact: 40 years of marriage is dubbed Ruby anniversary.
August: Peridot

August birthstone: Peridot
Colour: Peridot is only available in one colour: Olive green.
Origin: Like ruby, the origin of the gem stretches back to Ancient Egypt, but nowadays it can be found in over 14 countries in the world.
Meaning: Peridot is believed to give off a calming effect and balance the emotions and mind.
Fun fact: It’s a gem to gift on a 16th wedding anniversary.
September: Sapphire

September birthstone: Sapphire
Colour: Blue sapphires are the most well-known, but they can be found in other colours including green, orange, pink, purple, violet, and yellow too.
Origin: Sapphires have been prized as a valuable gem since 800BC. Its name is derived from the word “sapphirus”, meaning blue.
Meaning: The gem symbolises wisdom and divinity.
Fun fact: Sapphires became a symbol of royal love when Princess Diana was given a 12-carat engagement ring by Prince Charles in 1981. The gem is also typically given on the 45th wedding anniversaries.
October: Opal

October birthstone: Opal
Colour: The most common type of opal has a milky base hue with a rainbow of pastel colours, almost iridescent-like.
Origin: The word “opal” comes from the Greek word “opallios” which translates to “to see a change in colour”.
Meaning: The gemstone can be used to unlock positive energy and represents hope.
Fun fact: Opals are typically associated with 14th wedding anniversaries, but it’s also the national gemstone of Australia.
November: Citrine

November birthstone: Citrine
Colour: The colour of citrine varies from a golden yellow to brownish yellow and dark orange.
Origin: In Ancient Greece, the stone was used as a decorative gem between 300 and 150 B.C.
Meaning: Citrine symbolises a healthy mind and body, and encourages a fullness of life.
Fun fact: The gemstone is typically gifted during the 13th wedding anniversaries.
December: Turquoise

December birthstone: Turquoise
Colour: It can be found in shades of blue, bluish green, green, and yellowish green.
Origin: Turquoise is the world’s oldest gemstone, dating over 7,500 years ago.
Meaning: It’s a symbol of good fortune and success.
Fun fact: The gemstone is traditionally given for 11th wedding anniversaries.

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Fashion
A look at Meghan Markle’s best style moments
Princess-to-be

27.11.2017
By Joan Kong

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After months of speculation around Prince Harry and Suits actress Meghan Markle relationship status, Clarence House has officially announced the couple’s engagement, with a brief statement saying “His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales is delighted to announce the engagement of Prince Harry to Ms Meghan Markle.” The wedding will be set in Spring 2018, and the couple will be living at Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. Prince William and Kate Middleton (who are expecting their third child) have also shared their joy at the impending union, stating “We are very excited for Harry and Meghan. It has been wonderful getting to know Meghan and to see how happy she and Harry are together.”

Prince Harry and Meghan Markle’s relationship has been nothing short of a whirlwind since the news of them dating were revealed in November 2016. While Meghan has been visibly keeping a low profile the past year, one thing that’s not to be missed, is her chic and polished off-duty style. Regardless whether she’s attending a tennis match or a fashion event, you can count on her to show up in the most refined of ensembles. From sartorial suits to sleek shift dresses, while Meghan tends to stick to a more muted colour palette, she’s not afraid to incorporate pops of colours to spice up her outfit. Her fit-and-flare midi and shift dresses in particular emulate her soon-to-be sister-in-law Kate Middleton vibes, and we can’t wait for her choice of wedding dress to be revealed.

Below, some of Meghan Markle’s best looks the past year:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Meghan Markle’s style” rid=”5712″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Lifestyle
Behind HomeAway’s growth in the vacation rentals industry, and in Asia
An insider's perspective

01.08.2017
By Su Fen Tan

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Prashant Kirtane’s foray into the vacation rentals industry started back in June 2012, when he co-founded Travelmob, a rental and listings site that focussed on Asia. In 2013, HomeAway acquired a majority stake in Travelmob, before fully acquiring the company in 2015 and appointing Kirtane as the Vice President for its headquarters in Asia. Now, Kirtane continues to lead HomeAway’s expansion in Asia, building awareness for both the brand and vacation rentals in the region.

Have you observed a change in people’s perception towards vacation rentals in recent years? If so, how has that affected HomeAway’s plight in the industry?
“The concept of renting vacation homes has been popular in markets like US, Europe and Australia for many years. According to Phocuswright, less than 40 percent of US adults aged 18-34 had ever stayed in a vacation rental three years ago, and this number has grown to 46 percent last year.

At HomeAway, our mission is, and remains, to make every vacation rental in the world available to every traveller in the world through our online marketplace. This is regardless of a travellers’ budget, and with over two million places to stay in 190 countries, there is a wide range of listings available on our platform for every budget.”

Take us through the growth and expansion of HomeAway Asia, and its current position in the region.
“Since joining the Expedia family, business at HomeAway has accelerated. After the acquisition, we have benefitted from Expedia’s scale by integrating over 40,000 HomeAway listings on the Expedia platform. In the long term, we expect to derive significant benefits by leveraging Expedia’s distribution, technology and expertise to provide an even better experience and greater value to our home owners, property managers and travellers.

In 2016, HomeAway delivered approximately US$6 billion of online gross bookings globally, an increase in 46 percent year-over-year, driven by over 22 million online room nights. HomeAway delivered US$185 million of revenue in the first quarter of 2017, representing an increase of 30 percent year-over-year.

Asia is poised to be a key growth driver for HomeAway as more Asian consumers travel domestically, regionally and internationally. Asian travellers are quickly catching on to the benefits of renting a whole house for their vacation—for greater value, greater comfort and a better experience.”

What gives HomeAway the edge compared to other vacation rental sites?
“Instead of obsessing over other players in the category, we at HomeAway are focused on making entire homes available on our sites to travellers, giving them a home away from home experience. We believe that staying in a vacation rental helps familes and friends create unforgettable holiday experiences together. We have discovered that after staying in a vacation rental for the first time, 82 percent of travellers plan to do so again (according to Q2 HomeAway CSAT in US). Why is that? That’s because you create memories with your loved ones in the comforts of a home, not in hallways and lobbies.

Many homes listed with us are located in traditional vacation destinations and appeal to larger groups of families or friends. However, in Asia, we also have a wide selection of apartments, condominiums and whole homes in popular city destinations including Bangkok, Hong Kong, Seoul, Singapore, Taipei and Tokyo where space, value for money and location are important for travellers. There are still millions of travellers who have not experienced staying in vacation rentals and we aim to change that.”
“Asian travellers are quickly catching on to the benefits of renting a whole house for their vacation—for greater value, greater comfort and a better experience”
Quality of supply is evidently key for HomeAway Asia. How do you ensure the quality of your listings are of a desired standard?
“At HomeAway, we do our best to ensure that our listed properties meet the high quality standards we set. We equip our owners and property managers with tools and programs to better merchandize and market their properties. We take great care in verifying our hosts before they are put on the site.  All travellers are encouraged to leave a review for their stay. Property reviews from past guests help to reassure travellers that a property is truly as described, and helps them to book with more confidence.

Ultimately, we are a marketplace and we facilitate rental of individually-owned properties by travellers through our sites. We try to make sure that all reviews on our site are unbiased and truthfully reflect the experiences of both travellers and owners so we can ensure that properties are clean, safe and up to the high standards we set for ourselves.”

What has been the biggest challenge for HomeAway Asia so far?
“The greatest challenge for HomeAway and the vacation rentals industry is the low awareness and understanding of the category. With our brand and category building efforts, we plan to continue accelerating the growth of the vacation rentals industry in Asia.

Furthermore, government regulations for the sharing economy, vacation rentals included, is a grey area in many countries worldwide. In Asia where the category is still fairly new, our goal is to work with governments to share best practices that would help to create short term rental regulations that will benefit the whole community.  We believe that regulations should encourage compliance and that all rules should be fair and enforceable. Asia is a key region for HomeAway and we remain excited and optimistic about the potential for vacation rentals across Asia.”

What did you learn from your previous business (Travelmob) that you were able to apply to your current role at HomeAway?
“While HomeAway, and now Expedia, bring a wealth of resources and experience, the fundamentals required to succeed in the vacation rentals marketplace remain the same. Since our early days, we have always appreciated the diversity of the markets in the region and hence support 14 languages and 22 currencies in Asia.  100 percent of the listings on the HomeAway Asia platform are online bookable, making the booking process seemless and secure. Another learning we had in our early days was that mobile is crucial in Asia. Hence, from the onset, we invested in building the best possible user experience for our mobile apps. A vast majority of our traffic in Asia now comes from mobile devices.

Finally, the success of travelmob, to a large extent, was due to the small, but passionate team. After the HomeAway acquisition, the team has grown in size and we have moved to a bigger office in the heart of Singapore. I firmly believe that our people are still our biggest asset and we make deliberate efforts to ensure that we provide a conducive environment in which the team is highly motivated and can realise its full potential.”

What are some of the most popular HomeAway destinations in Asia?
“According to our site traffic data, Taiwan, Japan, Indonesia, and Thailand are the most popular Asian destinations. Demand to India and South Korea is also on a rise and these are the emerging destinations for HomeAway in Asia.”

Are there any exciting upcoming vacation destinations in the region that are on HomeAway’s radar?
“HomeAway has recently inked an official partnership with Setouchi Brand Corporation, one of the largest regional Destination Management Organizations (DMO) in Japan, to encourage travellers to visit the Setouchi area, also known as the Seto Inland Sea. As part of the collaboration, travellers can book their accommodation through HomeAway in the area, which includes seven prefectures – Ehime, Hiroshima, Hyogo, Kagawa, Okayama, Tokushima and Yamaguchi.

Japan is one of HomeAway’s top markets in Asia, and has always been a very popular travel destination. The Setouchi area in particular has so much to offer travellers, and staying in a traditional Japanese house provides a great cultural experience for families and groups of friends. We are excited about this partnership, and look forward to introducing our global travellers to the stunning Setouchi region, when they book a unique property through HomeAway.”

And lastly, we have to ask — what has been your favourite HomeAway experience?
“My favourite HomeAway experience was in Phuket, Thailand, where I booked a villa with my family by the beach in Naka Lay Bay, overlooking the Andaman Sea. The property was set on the side of a gentle hill near the water’s edge, and there were many quiet corners and open spaces where we could hang out as a family. The feature I remember the most is the beautiful staircase that led from the main foyer into the lounge, connecting it to the main communal living space.

My family would spend the evenings on the wrap-around pool deck, which was furnished with loungers and al fresco dining coves. The privacy we enjoyed from having the whole villa to ourselves made us totally feel at home. To top it all off, we were tended to by the live-in chef and housekeeper who would go above and beyond to cater to all our requests. Having spent most of my time abroad for work, I was glad that I could finally spend quality time with my wife and daughter. It still brings a smile to my face when I think about the wonderful memories we made as a family at our home away from home.”

Read about the Buro 24/7 team’s HomeAway experience in Bali here.

More lifestyle insiders…
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Features
Buro 24/7 Exclusive: An interview with Karin Gustafsson and Martin Andersson of Cos
Just be Cos

05.10.2016
By Buro247

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The wait is finally over; Cos opens its first store in Kuala Lumpur today—at 12 pm to be exact. Known for its commitment to functional design and quality, Cos (which stands for Collection of Style) finds its home at Pavilion Elite Mall, marking a new chapter for the Swedish brand.

The new space spans over approximately 500 metres and over two floors within the new Pavilion extension. Reflecting the Cos design aesthetic of clean-lines and natural elements, the store interior also features a lounge area with furniture from mid-century, modern designers. The store opens with its dynamic Autumn/Winter 2016 collection, so expect to see an eccentric and eclectic mix of warm colours, organic tones and draped proportions.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Cos to open first Malaysia store at Pavilion Elite” rid=”4654″ order=”a_tstamp”}In conjunction with the Cos store opening, we had the opportunity to have a little chat with the brand’s Creative Director, Karin Gustafsson and Head of Menswear Design, Martin Andersson in an exclusive interview below:
Karin Gustafsson

You have been with COS even when it was still a concept yet to be fully shaped and realised. How does it feel to watch it grow into a leading fashion brand today?
It’s so interesting to have watched the brand grow and evolve. I remember when our first store on Regent Street opened and seeing the customer’s reaction to the clothes, it really made me feel so proud to be part of COS. Looking back at all the activities we’ve done over the years, we’ve really come a long way!
With so many high-street labels in the market, what sets COS apart from its competitors?
I think as a brand we tend not to follow fashion trends but instead, create garments that have a timeless and modern quality that will last beyond the season. We try to keep garments functional, never over complicating things with zips and buckles that don’t have a use on the garment.
There are COS stores in over a dozen countries, which now includes Malaysia. How do you maintain a unique mass appeal when considering so many different customers?
To date, we have been really fortunate that the COS ethos of quality garments at a comparably affordable price has been favourable in all our current markets. We continue to learn the intricacies of different markets and as you can imagine this takes a little time, but I am really looking forward to the Malaysian customer seeing our collection.
As a brand that does not use conventional advertising, how else do you plan on marketing the brand to Malaysian customers?
We prefer to take an organic approach rather than to advertise, instead we choose to host projects that we think will be of interest to our customer such as creating an art installation in conjunction with Salone del Mobile in Milan or supporting the Park Night Series at the Serpentine Gallery in London.
Art and architecture have always been a key influence in your designs. Can you tell us a bit more about your latest inspiration, Martino Gamper’s 100 Days and 100 Chairs, and how it infiltrates the Autumn/Winter 2016 collection?
Martino Gamper is a London based Italian designer, who deconstructed unused chairs from London alleyways as well as friends’ homes. He then reassembled them, 1 per day for 100 days, into poetic and often humorous forms. For me the deconstruction of a known item and then reassembling into an unknown alternative functional piece was especially interesting.
What are the key pieces and accessories off the new collection? Do you have a personal favourite?
One of my favourite pieces in this collection is the heather pea coat and trouser suit with functional pop buttons and raw-edges. We took inspiration from menswear for the tailoring of the piece; it has such a sleek silhouette. For accessories, one of my favourite pieces is the soft leather shopper that has been compressed with aluminium to create a kind of crinkled effect.

Martin Andersson

Can you explain your role as head designer at COS? What does your day typically involve?
For me every day is different, although more often than not I start my day with a flat white from this amazing coffee shop over the road from head office. I typically then do my emails and go into a range of different design meetings with the team.
Describe the essence of COS menswear. How do you think the aesthetics will appeal to men in Malaysia?
For me, the essence of COS menswear lies in classic garments with a modern twist. Within the collection, there are pieces for everyone from classic tailored pieces to more eclectic patterned pieces.How do you stay inspired and continuously innovate on timeless collections? Do current trends influence your design and creative process?
As a brand we look to the art and design world for reference, we’re so fortunate in London to have some incredible places to go to for inspiration like the Serpentine Gallery and the Tate Modern, both are always showing something new and interesting. As a team we spend time researching and experimenting with different effects with fabric. We don’t ignore trends, but we are not heavily influenced by them.
You have been with the brand since 2008. What is your proudest achievement thus far?
It has been so rewarding to watch the brand’s growth and development. With the brand turning 10 next year, it’s great to be part of all the activities that we’ve done and be part of the journey.

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Fashion
Dior to stage the largest ever fashion retrospective in Paris this July
70th anniversary

09.06.2017
By Buro247

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The entire legacy of the House of Dior — spanning 70 years and seven designers — will be amassed and hosted by Les Arts Décorarifs in Paris this summer. Titled ‘Christian Dior, Couturier du Rêve’ the massive exhibition held in celebration of Dior’s 70th anniversary is slated to open in conjunction with Paris Couture Week on July 5th, and will run till January 7th, 2018.

A space of almost 3,000 square meters will be transformed into a jaw-dropping showcase of over 300 haute couture gowns designed between 1947 and present day, alongside the most extensive display to date of atelier toiles, fashion photographs, illustrations, accessories and memorabilia from the Maison’s history. In acknowledgement of Christian Dior’s past as a gallery owner prior to starting his fashion house, the exhibition will incorporate a selection of paintings, sculptures, and objets d’art. Most of the featuring works are from the Dior Heritage collection and have never before been seen in the French capital. The remaining pieces are special loans from institutes and collections worldwide.

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Staged by exhibition designer Nathalie Crinière, the show will unfold chronologically —opening with his childhood in Granville, the Roaring Twenties when he discovered the avant grade art world, his training as a fashion illustrator and his entry into the haute couture world. To present the timeline and thematic material, Crinière has recreated an art gallery, an atelier, a street, a boudoir, journeys and a fabulous garden. A succession of six galleries is dedicated to the six couturiers who followed Dior, Yves Saint Laurent, Marc Bohan, Gianfranco Ferré, John Galliano, Raf Simons, and lastly Maria Grazia Chiuri.

Musée des Arts décoratifs, 107, rue de Rivoli, 75001 Paris.

Buy your tickets here.

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Technology
Apple’s Mac Studio and Studio Display review: Do you need them both?
Building the studio of your dreams

14.10.2022
By Rachel Au

PHOTOS: APPLE

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The Mac Studio is a superpowered Mac desktop, while the Studio Display boasts an immersive 27-inch 5K Retina display. They both make for a gorgeous set-up, but who would need an almost RM16,000 “studio” versus, say, the colourful 24-inch iMac?

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The short answer: creative professionals who dabble with audio work, photography, video editing, and any software requiring a powerful core. And seeing how Apple‘s M1 chip met—some even say, exceeded—the expectations and needs of many, that’s evidence enough of how much further an M1 Max chip in the Mac Studio could go. Alternatively, consumers have the option to take it a step even further by opting for the M1 Ultra chip, which is almost equivalent to two M1 Max chips put together.
But my workload ranges from your everyday web browsing (albeit with two to three windows of 20 tabs each, more or less) to typical Microsoft Office programs to photo- and video-editing on some of Adobe’s collection of software. Off-duty, I tested the Mac Studio with several video games and live streaming programs too, while keeping all the abovementioned programs opened just to see how far I could push the Mac Studio with the M1 Max chip. So here’s how everything turned out after months of using both the Mac Studio and Studio Display.

MAC STUDIO REVIEW

First impressions: It’s SO heavy, so premium-looking, and has so many ports. I liked how everything looked so far upon unboxing it. The Mac Studio was designed to be an in-between of the Mac mini and Mac Pro while serving as a replacement for the 27-inch Mac. It’s a grade higher than the colourful iMac—the M1 Max chip was a giveaway, and after all, it’s marketed for “studio” professionals.
With a perfect square build encased with an all-aluminium enclosure, measuring 7.7 inches and 3.7 inches (height), the Mac Studio is compact in size, as Apple claims it should fit under most displays. But it’s certainly not one to be lugged around with a weight of 2.7kg—though you have the MacBook Pro for that since it also houses an M1 Max (or M1 Pro) chip.
The perforation pattern on the chassis is just a hint of the innovative thermal design, resulting in efficient airflow channels while working away quietly, even under the pressure of heavy usage. The Mac Studio staying quiet is a huge plus for me since pre-Apple silicone, the MacBook and iMac I used were loud enough to fill our small office.

In terms of connectivity, you have so many to choose from, front and back. If you’re in the creative field, it’s a huge green tick since you don’t always have to fiddle with the ports at the back to plug the cables you want. On the Mac Studio menu of ports and slots, there are two USB-C ports and one SDXC card slot for the front; four Thunderbolt 4 ports, two USB-A ports, one HDMI port, one 10Gb Ethernet port, and one 3.5mm headphone jack for the back. If need be, it supports running five displays out of one Mac Studio—Apple did say it lets you build the studio of your dreams.
Moving on to the performance, the Mac Studio slaps. It’s a mighty beast with its 10-core CPU, 24-core GPU, 16-core Neural Engine, 32GB unified memory and 512GB SSD storage. In simpler terms, it delivers. Even with three Google Chrome windows housing 20-ish tabs each; five other simple programs like WhatsApp, Twitter, Apple Music and Stickies; Adobe Photoshop and two video editing apps; OBS that’s capturing several scenes and transmitting footage from my iPhone via HDMI; The Sims 4 and Stardew Valley; the Mac Studio did not complain or falter. Rendering edited footage with effects and transitions or working on a GIF with 70 layers resulted in zero lag, noise and perfect heat control.

To say I’m impressed is an understatement. It makes my work much easier and faster while my entertainment needs are equally fulfilled. I remember trying to install The Sims or Two Point Hospital on the older iMac, and it was frustrating how making the Sim take a bath and cook a meal after would take so long in human time because of the lag. That being said, I can’t say for certain that the Mac Studio is officially great for gaming since those simulation games don’t require gameplay and visual rendering as heavy as RPG or shooter games. But it’s finally getting there, at least. It might be fair game to test that once the Mac version of Resident Evil Village drops later this year.

STUDIO DISPLAY REVIEW

I’ll admit that I’m a sucker for aesthetics and the Studio Display was a breathtaking sight. Designed to complement the Mac Studio, it follows the same all-aluminium enclosure and has standard glass with an industry-leading anti-reflective coating for better viewing comfort and readability. There is an option to upgrade it to nano-texture glass at a price, of course, but the standard one makes good on its promise.
And if you’re getting the Studio Display to go with the Mac Studio, be prepared to be spoilt with even more ports: Three USB-C ports and a Thunderbolt 3 port! You can never have too many ports, in my opinion.
In terms of viewing pleasure, colours pop on the 5K Retina display, and it’s bright—600 nits versus the Pro Display XDR’s 6K peak brightness of 1,600 nits. For me and my range of tasks, I’m happy with the 600 nits, the 5120×2880 resolution (with support for one billion colours), and its anti-reflective coating.

My biggest gripe with the Studio Display is the webcam. Fitted with a 12MP Ultra Wide camera powered by an A13 Bionic chip—the exact set-up you’d find in an iPhone 11, iPad Air 2022 and iPad Pro 2021—I had my first moment of shock on a FaceTime call with a friend. The resolution looked almost grainy in my admittedly dim-lit room, especially when I looked back at myself on this gorgeous 5K Retina display. Was it Portrait Mode, or was it because I turned on Centre Stage (a feature where the camera “follows” you as you move, thanks to the 122° field of view)? Turning off both made no difference, and during the day, with natural lighting flowing in, the quality was still subpar. Using Zoom or Google Meet showed no improvement either. The problem was that I’ve been spoilt by immensely satisfying camera quality on the new iMac and MacBooks, so this felt like a downgrade. There was a software update to mitigate this issue after launch, which did improve a little, but it still can’t compare to the quality you’ll get from the iMac or MacBook.
Otherwise, for virtual calls and the like, the Studio Display’s studio-quality three‑mic array and six-speaker sound system with Spatial Audio work like a dream.

VERDICT
Do you need to get the Mac Studio and Studio Display together? If you love things in sets, yes. If you don’t mind a less-than-perfect webcam (or are open to purchasing a separate one), why not? For me, the two work hand-in-hand for my needs, so if the tasks you have in mind are comparable, then I’d say it’s a worthy upgrade. If anything, the Mac Studio gets a 9/10 for me—the missing mark is just because it’s heavy and slightly taller than the Mac mini.
The Mac Studio (starts at RM8,799) and Studio Display (starts at RM6,999) are available on apple.com/my/store and in the Apple Store® app.

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Lifestyle
#BuroFitMum: Interview with Dr Jezamine Lim
#fitnessgoals

13.06.2017
By Su Fen Tan

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7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

Her Instagram profile says it all—the managing director of Harith Iskander Productions, a doctor pursuing her fulltime PhD in stem cell research, proud wife to Malaysia’s godfather of standup comedy (Harith Iskander, of course) and happy mummy of three, Dr Jezamine Lim Iskander is no doubt a supermum. On top of that, she’s a fitness enthusiast too, working out regularly despite a hectic schedule. Fun fact: Jezamine was in the national Taekwondo team when she was 14! Here, watch her power through deadlifts as we throw her a series of questions in our latest #BuroFitMum episode:

Related stories:
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Watches
The most spectacular jewels that accompanied the show-stopping looks at Met Gala 2019

07.05.2019
By Su Fen Tan

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No other red carpet event is quite as exciting on the fashion and beauty front as the Met Gala. Just take Cardi B’s extravagant oxblood Thom Browne gown or Janelle Monae’s winking dress (yes, blink and you’ll miss it!) paired with a stack of hats for example—looks that are guaranteed to induce double takes. How do you give an already-OTT look even more oomph? By way of spectacular jewels, of course.
As this year’s Met Gala co-chair Lady Gaga peeled off the layers of her Brandon Maxwell ensemble, revealing four looks in total, she also unveiled a stunning Tiffany & Co. geometric choker resting on her neck, featuring a butterfly crafted in 18k yellow gold to seal the statement piece with fantastical glamour. Other glorious looks we love include Lupita Nyong’O’s vibrant Versace gown punctuated by a rainbow of heritage Bvlgari jewels, as well as Lily Collins channeling Priscilla Presley in a Giambattista Valli couture gown with a sweeping train and regal emerald creations from the Cartier Magnitude High Jewellery collection. Lucy Boynton, on the other hand, chose to go with toned-down silhouettes by Harry Winston to complement her dreamy, muted pastel palette for the evening.
Leaf through more head-turning sparkles in the gallery below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] met gala 19 jewellery” rid=”7198″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Click here for more Met Gala 2019 coverage.

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Beauty
6 Best new unisex fragrances you need to get your hands on
Made for everyone

19.04.2023
By Phyll Wu

Images courtesy of respective brands

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You can never go wrong with a genderless fragrance. Here are six ravishing new unisex scents you need to add to your beauty stash ASAP!
What makes unisex fragrances such a must-have in our books? Aside from their versatility and timelessness, there’s just something about the harmonious blend of woody musk and sweet powdery notes in genderless fragrances that are so alluring and enthralling. Besides, why limit yourself to the traditional boundaries of masculine or feminine scents when there is a slew of unique, gender-blind perfumes out there that provide the best of both worlds?
Whatever your fragrance preferences are, there’s something for everyone. Ahead, we’ve rounded up six newest unisex perfumes you won’t regret adding to your fragrance wardrobe.

Maison Margiela Replica On A Date, RM630

Picture this: You’re on a romantic dinner date overlooking the lush vineyards of Provence, France. The sweet scent of ripe grapes and fresh roses fills the air as you and your date sip on the finest wine from the local winery while watching the late summer sunset—everything’s going perfectly. Now, imagine this experience in a bottle. Maison Margiela’s Replica On A Date is the fragrance interpretation of a perfect date, crafted with dreamy notes of Patchouli sourced from Bali, rose petal essence from Isparta, and blackcurrant liquor as the major ingredient to tie everything together.
SHOP HERE

Aesop Gloam Eau de Parfum, RM715

Coming as the fifth instalment of Aesop’s Othertopias fragrance collection, the new Gloam Eau de Parfum evokes a dream-like sensation with an earthy blend of rich florals, warm spice, and woody notes. Fusing the familiar and the uncanny, the fragrance opens with the spicy scent of pink pepper and cardamom, softened by the pleasant sweetness of neroli and orange flower. The blend of rose and jasmine sambac offers an aromatic warmth to the spicy notes, topped off with a powdery blend of iris, patchouli, copaiba, and sandalwood.
SHOP HERE

Jo Malone London Star Magnolia Cologne, RM656

Reminiscent of the sprightly mood of spring, Jo Malone London’s Star Magnolia Cologne opens with a crisp, fresh citrus aroma, followed by the heavenly sweet floral scent of magnolia and neroli. Notes of cedar and amber enhance the fragrance with a smooth creamy base, offering an enticing warmth to its zesty top notes.
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Sisley Paris L’Eau Rêvée D’Hubert, RM655

Described as a masculine rose fragrance, Sisley’s L’Eau Rêvée D’Hubert emits an intense aromatic breath of clear green notes and moist earthy accents, encapsulating the invigorating scent of nature. The fruity floral aroma of geranium takes centre stage, complemented by the crisp freshness of peppermint and cedar for a clean herbaceous tang.
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Floraïku Levitating, RM1286

Aptly named Levitating, Floraiku’s new perfume offers a sense of weightlessness and tranquility with a rejuvenating blend of citrus and mandarin essences. The ravishing fragrance opens with bergamot, mandarin orange, and angelica for a zesty start, which subsides into the sublime scent of Ceylon black tea extract with a smooth vanilla sillage.
SHOP HERE

Amouage Guidance, RM1598

The spellbinding aroma of Amouage’s Guidance will transport you into a lush, fairytale-like garden filled with the scent of osmanthus blossoms and fresh roses. A heavenly blend of pear, jasmine, hazelnut, and vanilla opens the fragrance with a smooth sweetness, followed by the voluptuous woody scent of saffron and sandalwood with a hint of spice.
SHOP HERE

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Film, TV + Theatre
7 Upcoming Korean drama series to binge-watch this February 2021

29.01.2021
By Melissa Foong

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14 Thrilling new TV shows and films to stream in July 2023

From Joseon-era melodramas to nail-biting sci-fi flicks, these are the highly-anticipated new Korean dramas to add to your watch list this February.
River Where The Moon Rises
When: 15 February
Where: KBS World — Astro CH 391 / 392 (HD)
Starring: Kim So-hyun, Ji Soo, Lee Ji-hoon, Choi Yu-hwa, Ryoo Ui-hyun, Kim Hee-jung, Park Sang-hoon, Wang Bit-na, Lee Hae-young

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Adapted from the classic Korean folklore On Dal, River Where The Moon Rises tells a love story between Princess Pyeonggang (Kim So-hyun) and On Dal (Ji Soo). The princess is an ambitious woman with big dreams to become the first Empress of Goguryeo and she will stop at nothing to make it come true. However, things start to take an unexpected turn when she meets On Dal, a peace-loving man who strives to live in harmony with those around him. As the both of them are forced to join hands in uncovering a conspiracy within the kingdom, love begins to blossom along the way.
Sisyphus: The Myth
When: 17 February
Where: Netflix
Starring: Cho Seung-woo, Park Shin-hye, Sung Dong-il, Tae In-ho, Lee Jae-won, Chae Jong-hyeop, Tae Won-seok

Sisyphus: The Myth is a mystery-fantasy drama that revolves around a genius engineer named Han Tae-sul (Cho Seung-woo), who is crowned a hero in Korea for being a good-looking miracle worker. As he embarks on a perilous journey to find clues to leading to his brother’s death, he starts walking down a dangerous path. Kang Seo-hae (Park Shin-hye) is a modern-day warrior who has learned to master survival skills from living in a world that’s dominated by gangsters and military cliques. One day, she bumps into Han Tae-sul and decides to lend him a hand.
Hello, It’s Me
When: 17 February
Where: KBS World — Astro CH 391 / 392 (HD)
Starring: Choi Kang-hee, Kim Young-kwang, Lee Re, Eum Moon-suk, Kim Yong-rim, Yun Ju-sang, Kim Yu-mi, Ji Seung-hyun

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Hello, It’s Me is an adaptation from the 2011 novel Fantastic Girl by Kim Hye-jung. The series tells the story of Ban Ha-ni (Choi Kang-hee), a 37-year-old woman who was once a contented young girl filled with laughter and dreams. In a twist of events, her 17-year-old self (Lee Re) mysteriously time-traveled to the future and witnessed the mundane and miserable life her future self was currently living in. As the two Ha-nis co-exist in one space and time, the younger Ha-ni begins to heal her older self’s wounds as she learns how to love again.
Beyond Evil
When: 19 February
Where: JTBC
Starring: Shin Ha-kyun, Yeo Jin-goo, Choi Dae-hoon, Choi Sung-eun, Cheon Ho-jin, Choi Jin-ho, Gil Hae-yeon, Kim Shin-rok

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Follow the journey of two fearless men as they join hands in solving mysteries that have shaken up their entire city. Lee Dong-sik (Shin Ha-kyun) was once a capable detective until he was demoted and asked to perform menial tasks instead. But things start to get complicated when Han Joo-won (Yeo Jin-goo) is transferred to the Manyang Police Substation. As secrets unfold and death counts increase, both of them are forced to join hands and go through extreme lengths in pursuit of the infamous serial killer—who has adopted gruesome killing methods that are uncannily similar to many murder cases from 20 years ago.
Penthouse 2
When: 19 February
Where: SBS
Starring: Lee Ji-ah, Kim So-yeon, Eugene, Uhm Ki-joon, Kim Young-dae, Han Ji-hyun, Yoon Jong-hoon, Kim Hyun-soo, Shin Eun-kyung, Park Eun-seok

Fans have been eagerly waiting for the next chapter of Penthouse, after the first season ended with huge success early January. Penthouse 2 is a drama that features the residents of Hera Palace, a luxury penthouse apartment with 100 floors. With countless secrets and hidden ambitions surrounding the penthouse, season two will continue where the first left off—unsolved puzzles regarding Shim Su-ryeon’s (Lee Ji-ah) horrifying murder and questions surrounding her daughter’s death.
Vincenzo
When: 20 February
Where: Netflix
Starring: Song Joong-ki, Jeon Yeo-bin, TaecYeon, Yoo Jae-myung, Kim Yeo-jin, Kwak Dong-yeon, Jo Han-chul, Choi Duk-moon, Kim Hyung-mook

The nation’s favourite flower boy and actor Song Joong-ki has transformed into a cold-hearted lawyer who works for the Mafia as a consigliere for this upcoming Netflix series. Directed by Kim Hee-won, Vincenzo revolves around the Mafia advisor who returns to Korea due to a conflict within his organisation. As he crosses paths with Hong Cha-young (Jeon Yeo-bin), the two work together to take down villains who have escaped imprisonment.
Dear M
When: 26 February
Where: KBS World — Astro CH 391 / 392 (HD)
Starring: Park Hye-soo, Jaehyun, Roh Jeong-eui, Bae Hyun-sung, Woo Da-Vi, Lee Jin-Hyuk

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Beauty
4 Ways artificial intelligence is redefining the future of beauty

15.07.2019
By Joanna Pinto

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

Gone are the days of one-size-fits-all when it comes to beauty. These days, with the advancement of technology, it’s starting to look more like one-size-fits-me. That’s right — everyone is unique and is ultimately looking for customised solutions.
Hence, beauty brands are constantly reinventing and innovating their products to meet these specific needs. From AI and AR to implementing chatbots, let’s take a look at how beauty tech trends are changing the way we view and shop for cosmetics.
Product personalisation

 Thanks to the availability of more customised solutions when it comes to skincare, haircare and even makeup choices, consumers are saving more time on their end as they can skip the hassle of going through a trial-and-error process. In fact, many brands now allow you to take a simple quiz online to determine your skin/hair type; others even offer recommendations you’d never think of (just like Netflix!). Check out some of them below:

 Proven: Answer a skin assessment in three short minutes and they’ll prescribe you a specific skincare range plus unique ingredients tailor-made for you; that and, free deliver to your doorstep.
 Curology: Yes, there are tonnes of options for the acne-prone too. This one offers customised acne care with machine learning. After you fill out their form and send a selfie, they’ll match you to a medical pro who’ll formulate a superbottle for you.
 Prose: Besides just taking into account your hair DNA and texture, this brand also looks at your styling habits, geographic location and lifestyle before recommending a bespoke haircare regimen.
 Skin Inc: Want to DIY your own superbottle? Skin Inc lets you do that with its custom-blend serum that you can concoct in mere minutes.
 Neutrogena: Sheet masks, but make it custom-fit? That’s what they did with its MaskiD, a 3D printed hydrogel sheet mask that takes your exact face measurements so that it fits you perfectly. No more oversized face masks!

Smart skincare & skin advisors
Need an assistant like Siri or Alexa when it comes to skincare? Some brands have already rolled them out. For example, Olay’s Skin Advisor, an AI-driven tool that analyses your skin and finds you the right product. The brand also has an app (FutureYou Simulation) that uses AR to predict what your future skin will look like.
Then there’s Foreo’s #LUNAfofo — a new super cleansing device that comes with skin sensors, gives you real-time reading of your skin’s condition, and uses this data to generate a personalised cleansing and massaging routine for your current complexion state.

Smart beauty products don’t just stop at skincare either. Proof? There’s even a smart hairbrush called the Kérastase Hair Coach and it tells you how healthy your hair is as you comb through your locks.
Virtual try-on apps

Wonder how a certain shade of lippie or eyeshadow will look like on you? There’s no need to step into a store thanks to virtual try-on apps. Take Sephora’s Virtual Artist app for instance — it tracks your face so it knows where to apply specific makeup products and allows you to see what it’d look like in real-time. So what if it’s not as good as swatching products IRL? It’s still very much useful, and the 200 million shades that have been tested on the app since its launch in 2016 speaks for itself. Of course, other retailers have hopped on the bandwagon too, including Benefit, BareMinerals and many more.
Printed makeup

If you can print 3D masks, surely you can also print makeup, right? Right. Enter P&G’s next-level Opté Precision Skincare System. Using facial-recognition algorithm, its wand is able to scan your skin and strategically apply small amounts of makeup (concealer-cum-serum) where your skin needs it — on blemishes, age spots and more — while correcting those trouble areas in the long run. Just like a real-life beauty filter or photo retoucher! See how it works below:

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Fashion
10 Pig-themed fashion picks to ring in CNY 2019

26.01.2019
By Stephanie Boey

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RECOMMENDED

Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

The countdown to Chinese New Year 2019 begins! As we bid farewell to the Year of the Dog, we welcome the prosperous pig into the calendar. Gentle, playful and cute as a button, pop culture has made a long list of famous little piggies. From the talking farm piglet Babe, the ever-fashionable Miss Piggy from The Muppets to the timeless tale of the Three Little Pigs from our childhood days, one can’t deny that the animal is beloved and a favourite.
Inject humour and fun into your CNY #OOTD with our edit of pig-themed fashion picks. Dsquared2 celebrates the animal with a hand-drawn design on a long-sleeved cotton fleece hoodie in black with red elements for good measure. For a luxurious flair, look to Salvatore Ferragamo‘s pure silk scarf adorned with beautiful Chinoiserie print, with a large gold pig in the centre symbolising good fortune. You may recognise the cartoon characters printed on Gucci‘s GG Supreme portfolio and Moschino‘s leather embroidered phonecase. Childhood memories to lighten the mood! Looking for a more subtle approach? Miu Miu‘s gold charm bracelet is a pretty sight, complete with a pink bow and sparkle.
More of our piggy-themed fashion picks below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] CNY 2019 – Pig-themed fashion picks” rid=”6906″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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test

Beauty
test

15.07.2020
By Calleigh Yap

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BURO Beauty Empties Giveaway Week 2: Win up to RM4,500 worth of beauty prizes

Looking to get your hair looking its best? You might want to start with what you’re putting on it. Shampoos and conditioners can make or break your hair quality, which is why it’s so important to use the right ones for your hair type.
Here, we cover all of the different hair problems you may have encountered, and give you two simple solutions to fix them—a new shampoo and conditioner for you to try.

For tamer hair

Try: Grown Alchemist Anti-Frizz Shampoo and Anti-Frizz Conditioner
Trouble taming the flyaways? These products might just be what you’re looking for. Ginger CO2 Gingerols, Shorea Robusta and Methylglyoxal-Manuka Extract work to smooth the hair cuticle, condition the shaft and scalp and make your hair all-around easier to manage and style. Plus, Baobab protein increases your hair’s resistance to chemical, UV and heat stress so that it’s less likely to succumb to further damage and frizz.

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Fashion
Met Gala 2019 looks: The good, the OTT, and the ‘meh’

07.05.2019
By Joan Kong

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RECOMMENDED

Couture wedding gowns that will make you feel like a fairytale princess

It’s the first Monday of May, where fashion’s biggest heavyweight come out to play for the industry’s biggest day of the year. As revealed late last year, this year’s theme—Camp: Notes on Fashion—was curated around American writer Susan Sontag’s 1964 essay “Notes on Camp”, where she describes camp as the “love of the unnatural: of artifice and exaggeration…style at the expense of content”. But what does it mean, really? In simpler words, camp is a style that “regards something as appealing because of its bad taste and ironic value”. Think Cher’s Bob Mackie gown and headpiece at the 1986 Oscars. Think Lady Gaga’s meat dress at the 2010 MTV Video Music Awards. It might be one of the most difficult themes in recent history.
As the A-listers—including this year’s co-chairs Anna Wintour, Lady Gaga, Harry Styles, Serena Williams and Alessandro Michele—grace the red carpet at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City, take a look at all the good, the bad and the over-the-top ensembles we’ve spotted so far. Let’s just say they did not disappoint.

Scroll through our gallery below for all the Met Gala looks this year:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Met Gala 2019 celeb looks” rid=”7192″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Lifestyle
Want to open your own cafe in KL? Founder of Jaslyn Cakes and Dew shares her advice
Things to know

09.03.2018
By Rachel Au

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RECOMMENDED

7 Things to do in the Klang Valley this weekend: 15 & 16 July 2023

Running a successful cafe in KL sounds like a dream for some but the reality is, the local cafe scene is quite saturated and competitive. That aside, where do you start and what do you have to do? Jaslyn Rangson opened Jaslyn Cakes back in 2014 and though it was but a humble space, the cafe gained unwavering love for its delicious, well, cakes. Fast forward to almost three years later, she expanded and opened Dew, a part patisserie, part “florist and sometimes speakeasy”, next door.
When asked what were the ingredients to her success, she answers, “From my experience, success comes from being persistent, patient and by trusting yourself, and others. The success of both shops lies in the strength of my teams.” We had a quick chat with Jaslyn on what else one needs to know to open a cafe of their own in the bustling city of KL.

Hi Jaslyn! Tell us how did your career in the F&B industry start?
Hello, Buro 24/7 Malaysia! It began in a shared studio apartment when I was still a student in London. I used to bake for friends and family while I was in university, and once I graduated, I enrolled in a pastry school. I threw myself into various internships at different restaurants, cafes and a hotel during my year at Le Cordon Bleu. When I returned to Malaysia, Edwin Yau graciously invited me to do a cake pop-up at his then newly-opened restaurant, Wondermama. I then started baking full-time, first from home and then Jaslyn Cakes came along later on.

What does a day in your shoes look like?
My day varies from day-to-day but mainly, I am running errands, buying supplies, and stationing myself at the shop to chat with the customers and check in on my team—to make sure they have everything they need to carry out their jobs well. Both of my fantastic teams at Jaslyn Cakes and Dew affords me the luxury of flexibility so my days are not exceedingly bound by routine, which I appreciate greatly.

Running a cafe might seem glamorous to some but surely, there’s a lot more work behind the scenes. Can you please share what are some of the gritty tasks under your belt?
When we just started, we did everything! No task was beneath us. My partner (dressed in office clothes, no less) and I would clean the grease trap, toilets, dishes, etc. It was definitely far from glamorous!

You have a degree in economics and trained at Le Cordon Bleu in London—is it necessary to have a qualification/certificate in culinary arts?
All you need is a lot of heart and determination.

What were some of the biggest challenges you faced while opening your own cafe/cake shop?
Staffing, definitely. It was a struggle in the beginning when we opened Jaslyn Cakes as we were wildly short staffed. It was incredibly hard to hire people when nobody has ever heard of us!

This may be a sticky topic but we’re sure not many know to what extent are the costs of opening a cafe—what are some things that aspiring cafe owners should look out for when coming up with a budget?
The costs vary significantly. It depends on the size of the cafe, the concept, the location, and numerous other variables so giving an estimate would be impossible. You should expect to spend on renovations, design fees, marketing fees, licensing, rental deposit, equipment, furniture, ingredients… There are so many things to invest in, from air conditioners to teaspoons!

Opening in Bangsar was a smart move considering how popular the location is for cafe hoppers—how did that decision come about?
We only had two criteria: Somewhere small and somewhere central, and Bangsar ticked both boxes. We waited for about six months for a half-sized lot to become available and we seized the opportunity immediately. We were certain we wanted to be in Telawi so we did not really scout for any other locations for Jaslyn Cakes.

Were there any challenges in acquiring a shop lot?
Definitely. There’s a scarcity of half-sized lots in Bangsar, or in KL in general. Shops are often so large and spacious that it was difficult to find one small enough for us! Demand was also high back then for these small shop lots, so we had to be on our toes for opportunities.

Location is key when opening a cafe but nowadays, a lot of new eateries are also banking in on the Instagram-worthy factor—what are your thoughts on it?
It would be reckless to underestimate the significance and influence of Instagram. However, I think it’s more important and impactful that the food you serve tastes good, and is made with thought and care.

You opened Dew late last year (congrats, by the way!). What made you decide to open a second shop?
Thank you! It was an opportunity too good to pass up as it’s right next door to Jaslyn Cakes! The prospect of delving into a new world of patisserie and flowers was just too exciting.

Do you think it’s tough being a woman in the local F&B industry?
I think being a woman in the current F&B landscape in KL is becoming more of a non-issue. There is a such a growing female presence in F&B; you can now see so many young, successful women chefs, bartenders, bakers, business owners and so forth. Perhaps I’m being overly optimistic but I’m certain that as long as you’ve got a heart for hospitality, and are willing to put in the work and hustle hard, you can succeed, regardless of gender.

Last, but not least, what advice would you give to anyone aspiring to open a cafe of their own?
Be brave, plan well, and then stay curious and motivated!

Follow Jaslyn Rangson for more delicious updates on Instagram; or you can also check out Jaslyn Cakes and Dew.

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