Music
Lady Gaga gets real about ‘Chromatica’, working with Ariana Grande, fame and mental health issues

27.05.2020
By Rachel Au

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

All the exciting live concerts in KL to look forward to in 2023

The Internet is holding their breath, waiting for Lady Gaga to drop her forthcoming album, Chromatica but before that happens, she has already co-organised the eight-hour One World: Together at Home livestreamed benefit concert with World Health Organisation (WHO) and Global Citizen to raise funds for coronavirus relief funds; and more recently, released Rain On Me, the second single from her Chromatica (which features Ariana Grande) to much fanfare. To give fans a taste of what’s to come and her inner musings, Zane Lowe had an intimate chat with Lady Gaga on Apple Music—and it’s incredibly heartwarming. Here are some of the highlights from their conversation.
Why she initially postponed the release of Chromatica

“It’s a super interesting time. It’s been a very difficult time for a lot of people. And we stopped the drop of the record, and everything that we were doing, because I really wanted to be more specific at one point. I wanted to do something to help the world, that was very focused. And working with the World Health Organisation and Global Citizen was a way for me to talk about kindness, and the things that I believe in, in a very focused way, as opposed to a more abstract way, which for me, is what Chromatica is. It’s this beautiful abstraction of my perception of the world. And I just wanted to wait for a second and do something specific. And then when it felt appropriate, I was like, ‘Okay, we can get abstract.'”
Her thoughts on fame and objectification in the music industry
“It’s one of these weird things. I really do understand why people go, “It’s so annoying when artists complain about being mobbed at the grocery store.” Right. But I am also just a person. And what happened, I think, with me and this album is, on a subconscious level, I was experiencing joy, while consciously, I was experiencing an immense amount of depression as a result of this objectification, a lack of feeling like a human. And then unconsciously, my body was like, “Stop. You’re making a mistake. If you don’t brace yourself, you will get hurt.” Because I’ve developed a fear of the public, but not a fear of people. I love people. So this album is about, how did I get back to people. And how do I connect with people, and go like, “Hey, I’m over here, I’m a person, I’m an artist. I’m not a celebrity”? Whatever this thing is, this celebrity thing, I wish to eradicate its existence.”
Chromatica’s first act and radical acceptance

“I think that the beginning of the album really symbolizes for me, what I would call to be the beginning of my journey to healing, and what I would hope would be an inspiration for people that are in need of healing through happiness and dance. And that’s in what I would call radical acceptance. It’s this concept that, for example, I know that I have mental issues, I know that they can be sometimes rendering me nonfunctional as a human. But I radically accept that this is real. And so it goes right into this sort of this grave string arrangement that Morgan and I made together, where you feel this sort of pending doom that is what happens if I face all the things that scare me. And I say then, for Alice, I say, “My name isn’t Alice, but I’ll keep looking for Wonderland.” Meaning, I’m not giving up, I’m not throwing in the towel. It’s very early on in all of this. I had some dark conversations with BloodPop about how I felt about life.
“I’m in the hole, I’m falling down. So down, down. My name isn’t Alice, but I’ll keep looking for Wonderland.” So it’s this weird experience where I’m going, “I’m not sure I’m going to make it, but I’m going to try.” And that’s where the album really begins. And we put it together in this way, but that string arrangement, Chromatica I, act one, it’s essentially setting the stage for a more cinematic experience with this world that is how I make sense of things. How do I make sense of myself when I feel this way? I make sense of it by going, “This is a mental issue. I radically accept that I have it. And although I feel completely disconnected and offline, I am still going to pursue Wonderland. I’m still going to look for something that I do not have right now. And maybe it is through just simply trying. But I think that being brave is hard, but it’s synonymous in many ways with trying.”
Working with Ariana Grande, their blossoming relationship, and their collab Rain on Me

“She and I connected right away and she was so wonderful. Maybe she assumed that she would come in and I would tell her, “Here, just sing this and thank you so much for your time.” But instead, I asked her what she needed, how she wanted to do things. When we were vocally producing her, we were at Jim Henson when we finished. I was sitting at the console and talking to her. I remember saying to her, “Okay, now everything that you care about while you sing, I want you to forget it and just sing. And by the way, while you’re doing that, I’m going to dance in front of you,” because we had this huge big window.
“And she was like, “Oh my God. Oh my God, I can’t, I can’t. I don’t know. Oh my God. Okay, okay.” And then I did it and she sang, and she started to do things with her voice that was different. And it was the joy of two artists going, “I see you. And I see all the things that we all…” Humans do this. We create things that make us feel comfortable. We put them all around. I do it all the time. We all do things to make ourselves feel safe and I always challenge artists when I work with them. I go, “Make it unsafe, make it super f**king unsafe and then do it again.” And it was just awesome to watch her.
“You haven’t seen the video yet, but she was so open to trying things that she hasn’t done before. She was, “I’m going to just trust you.” And it was this beautiful healing process for me too, since I did not have a female artist that mentored me as I came up. That woman has been through some really tough, hard life testing stuff, undoubtedly. And her ability to move on. When she came into the studio, I was still crying and she was not. And she was like, “You’re going to be okay. Call me, here’s my number.” And she was so persistent. She would try over and over again to be friends with me. And I was too ashamed to hang out with her because I didn’t want to project all of this negativity onto something that was healing and so beautiful.
“And eventually she called me on my shit. She was like, “You’re hiding.” And I said, “I am hiding. I’m totally hiding.” And then this friendship blossomed and this song Rain On Me, the lyrics that I wrote right here in this studio developed: “I’d rather be dry, but at least I’m alive. Rain on me.” This is about an analogy of tears being the rain. It’s also a metaphor for the amount of drinking that I was doing to numb myself. I’d rather be dry. I’d rather not be drinking, but I haven’t died yet. I’m still alive. Rain on me. Okay, I’m going to keep on drinking. This song has many layers.”
The false economy of social media
“We have created these millions, perhaps billions of enigmas that are avatars of who we are online, in order to deal with ourselves. And it’s part of how we feel safe, but it’s turning on us. And it begins to turn on you because you start to feel shame. It’s a totally false economy. And the currency is shallow. You can’t be pretty enough on Instagram. You can’t be thin enough. You can’t be hot enough. You can’t be rich enough. If you’re not in it for impact, if you’re not famous because you’re trying to help the world, or make an impact on the world, the return on what you’re putting in is a ‘like’—and that is a bottomless pit. You are literally circling the drain going, “Oh, I’m valuable if I get a ton of likes.”
“No, that is not what makes you valuable. What makes you valuable are your values, your morals, your ethics, your code, how you act, how you treat people, your behavior. That’s what makes you who you are, not how many people like your post.”
Forgiving herself: “You don’t have to hurt yourself to feel better.”

“I forgive myself for all the ways I’ve punished myself in private. I’ve been open about the fact that I used to cut. And I’ve opened about the fact that I have had masochistic tendencies that are not healthy. And they’re ways of expressing shame. They’re ways of expressing feeling not good enough, but actually they’re not effective. They just make you feel worse. And you think that you deserve to be hurt. And you think that you don’t deserve good things. You think you don’t deserve happiness.
“And I have these scars on my wrists and it’s been something that’s bothered me for years when I was younger. I don’t really read the internet anymore, to be honest. But when I was younger, I would see people write, “Those scars on her arm are disgusting.” And that makes you feel even worse because it makes no sense why someone that feels sad would want to hurt themselves. To a lot of people, that makes no sense. To me, it makes a lot of sense.
“Once I made deals with myself, “You’re not doing that anymore.” Now when you want to hurt yourself, if you want to throw yourself against the wall and scream, you tell someone. I wish to not glamorise this in any way to anyone that’s listening to this interview, you do not need to hurt yourself, or be crazy to be a superstar. You don’t have to hurt yourself to feel better, even though, temporarily you think it’s going to cut the pain off that’s going on in your brain. It lasts for two seconds.
“The harder thing to do is to ask for help and to tell someone. These are some of the things that I’ve been through. And then I stopped and I forgave myself, eventually. But I think I forgave myself because I decided that I was human and that made me feel better. I was like, “Oh, I’m doing this incredibly human thing, even though I feel a plastic doll. Look at me, I’m so f**king human.”
Supporting younger artists and writing Billie Eilish a letter
“I love Billie Eilish. I love all these younger artists. I’m there for you. I love you. I am not in competition with anyone. I want everyone to win. I want to support and love, but that’s how I feel about the world. Just generally I feel that my rebellion in life is to be kind like to almost an annoyance to people.
“And I remember there was one… I forget what award show. Billie’s won so many awards and there was one night where she just swept a whole bunch of awards. And I said, “Send her some flowers.” I wrote her a note and for me, it’s healing, because I go, “You know what? That hurt me that I didn’t get that, but that’s okay because I’m going to be that for someone else.” And me being that for anyone is also a gift for me, because that means it doesn’t not exist. It does exist.”
Her efforts are bigger than the music

“And do I want people to love the record? For sure, I’d love for people to love the record, but it’s not just about the music. It’s about who I am and what I’m trying to say. The first billboard that came out for this album said: “You are essential.” I mean it, and I think that the simplicity of seeing something kind on your phone is so simple. Or just like walking down the street and just seeing block letters that are telling you that you matter—that’s who I am. This is not just about music. This is about culture. This is about: How can I do something? Where do I fit in? What do I mean in this industry?
“And you know what? If my record is loved by people, great. And if not, I really hope that young female artists or young artists of any gender identity, any sexual identity, will know that I’m rooting for them and I love them. I think artists are beautiful. I think people are beautiful. And I think this idea that we’re rooting each other on, cheering each other on, I think it’s so important. And look, what’s happened in this world with, SARS COV 2, it’s like this idea that we need to cheer each other on. I don’t think that we’ve witnessed a time in history where this has felt more important.”

This transcription has been edited for length and clarity.
 Watch the full interview on Apple Music at apple.co/chromaticainterview.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Interview
mental health
Lady Gaga
Ariana Grande
Apple music


Culture
#BookTok Recommends: 5 Books that went viral on TikTok—and why you should read them

30.09.2021
By Deanna Cheah

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

All the exciting live concerts in KL to look forward to in 2023

TikTok serves up an endless loop of short videos that can be anything from dancing skits to tutorials and tips, making it one of the most popular apps of 2020 and 2021. With a large number of users come clusters of individuals with similar interests. In this case, #BookTok—a hashtag with a niche but loyal and ever-growing following. Book lovers on TikTok use it to share all sorts of videos related to books, from recommendations to snappy and relatable takes on the reading experience (such as “Things that bookworms do”).
#BookTok videos that go viral have contributed to a surge in book sales and more fan-made content that increases the visibility of certain books. Readers also keep close tabs on certain authors and titles through this hashtag as well as #bookclub, #bookish, #bookworm, and #bookrecs. Through TikTok, we’ve found some of our favourite reads that pull on those heartstrings, bring forth the tears, and have us mulling over the meaning of life.
We present to you the best #BookTok recommendations for your reading pleasure:

1. It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

For those who like: Romance woven with heartbreak and tears
What’s it about: Lily has always worked hard for the life she wants, graduating college and starting a business in Boston, a long way from the small town in Maine where she grew up. Nothing has ever been easy for her, except the instant spark she has with the gorgeous and brilliant neurosurgeon Ryle Kincaid. He’s assertive, stubborn, and even a little arrogant—but with Lily, he’s sensitive and kind. She’s also the only exception to his “no dating” rule. As questions about her new relationship pile up, so do thoughts of Atlas Corrigan, her first love who was a kindred spirit and protector. Atlas’ sudden reappearance forces Lily to confront the past she left behind and threatens everything she’s built with Ryle.
Why you should read it: Colleen Hoover’s books go above and beyond when it comes to packing an emotional punch. With a huge fan base on TikTok, she’s won the Goodreads Choice Award for Best Romance three years in a row—for Confess (2015), It Ends with Us (2016), and Without Merit (2017). This self-made writer is known for her soulful writing, romances that have unconventional endings, and honesty in tackling subjects and feelings we might be too scared to face. Two of her other books that have gained popular recognition are Ugly Love and Verity.

2. The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo by Taylor Jenkins Reid

For those who like: Historical fiction laced with romance and scandals
What’s it about: Monique Grant is an unknown magazine reporter whose professional life is going nowhere. To rub salt into the wound, her husband has left her. So, no one is more astounded than Monique when she’s handpicked to write the biography of Evelyn Hugo, a reclusive Hollywood movie icon who has lead a glamorous and scandalous life. Nevertheless, it’s the opportunity of a lifetime for Monique to jumpstart her career. As she listens to the story of how Evelyn arrived in Los Angeles in the 1950s to her decision to retire from show business in the ‘80s—and the seven husbands accumulated along the way—Monique begins to feel a very real connection to the legendary star. But as Evelyn’s tale of ruthless ambition, unexpected friendship, and a great forbidden love nears its conclusion, it becomes clear that her life intersects with Monique’s own in tragic and irreversible ways.
Why you should read it: Taylor Jenkins Reid’s The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo has more to it than old Hollywood glamour—it inspires us to weather heartbreaks with grace and to make the best of life. Reid has a way with words and excels at writing engaging dialogues, which is also apparent in Daisy Jones and The Six and Malibu Rising. Her books have been on the New York Times Bestseller list and Reese Witherspoon is a fan.

3. A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

For those who like: Hard-hitting stories that unpack current social and relationship issues
What’s it about: We don’t have to be related by blood to consider someone as part of our family. This is what four classmates from a small Massachusetts college discover throughout the years. When they first move to New York in search of a better future, they’re broke and adrift, fuelled only by friendship and ambition. Willem, an aspiring actor, is kind and handsome; JB, a Brooklyn-born painter, is quick-witted and sometimes cruel; Malcolm, an architect at a prominent firm, is frustrated; and the enigmatic Jude, who keeps them together, is withdrawn and brilliant. While their relationships deepen and darken over time, it’s the increasingly broken Jude, haunted by a childhood trauma he struggles to overcome, who will turn out to be their greatest challenge.
Why you should read it: Shortlisted for the 2015 Man Booker Prize for fiction, A Little Life is a heart-wrenching and masterfully executed story of love tinged by violence. It’s also thought-provoking to read about queer life and issues through the lens of a presumed-heterosexual author—for better or worse, it raises important questions we should engage in regarding authenticity and representation. Nevertheless, this book will change your perspective of life and serves as a reminder to be more empathetic.

4. The Midnight Library by Matt Haig

For those who like: Heartwarming and life-affirming speculative fiction
What’s it about: We all have regrets in life and more than one “what if” moment, where we wonder what may have changed had we made a different decision. After hitting rock bottom and attempting suicide, Nora Seed wakes up in a strange library where she’s presented with the possibility of changing her life for a new one. She gets to explore a different career, undo old breakups, and realise her dreams of becoming a glaciologist in the search of a truly fulfilling life. As she travels through one alternate universe after another, Nora searches within herself for the answers to what makes life worth living in the first place.
Why you should read it: While this book starts out with a dark undertone of despair, Matt Haig has a gift for making everyday life seem extraordinary. With compassion and a quirky sense of humour, he invites us to look both within and outside ourselves to find greater meaning in life. The Midnight Library is a winner of the 2020 Goodreads Choice Award for Fiction and a nominee of the 2021 British Book Awards for Fiction Book of the Year.

5. The Silent Patient by Alex Michaelides

For those who like: The mystery and suspense of psychological thrillers
What’s it about: Alicia Berenson is a famous painter married to a successful fashion photographer. They live at one of London’s most prestigious addresses, in a grand house with big windows overlooking a pretty park. So why would Alicia shoot her husband, Gabriel, five times in the face on an evening when he returns home late from a fashion shoot? The truth is impossible to come by as Alicia stops talking altogether after this bizarre act of violence. Her silence captures the public’s imagination and casts Alicia into the ranks of notoriety. The price of her art skyrockets while she, the silent patient, is hidden away at the Grove, a secure forensic unit in North London. When criminal psychotherapist Theo Faber has a long-awaited opportunity to work on Alicia’s case, his determination to seek out the truth takes him down a twisting path into his own questionable motivations.
Why you should read it: The Silent Patient, despite being Alex Michaelides’ debut novel, entered the New York Times’ bestseller list for Hardcover Fiction at number one in its first week. This is a testament to the page-turning mystery at the heart of the story and Michaelides’ tight pacing right up to the very last word. This book’s ending also ensures Alicia, Theo and Gabriel will stay on your mind long after you’ve moved it to your “completed” list.

Click here for more book recommendations.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Book Lovers
Book Recommendations
Booker Prize
Reading
tiktok
books


Style
One year after #TimesUp, here’s what celebs wore to the Golden Globes 2019

07.01.2019
By Stephanie Boey

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

The ultimate wedding shoe guide for the bridal party

Last year’s Golden Globes 2018 will go down in history as celebrities wore all-black ensembles in support of the #TimesUp movement, in response to the multiple sexual misconduct allegations and the coming forward of victims, voicing out against their abusers in the entertainment industry. A year after the train of all-black ensembles, this year’s red carpet was met with bright and cheery hues to kickstart awards season.
‘Tis a new year and time to spearhead 2019 with a clean slate and gleeful optimism. Lady Gaga (Look 1) lead the way in bright periwinkle (with hair to match), and Lupita Nyong’o (Look 2) glistened in a deep indigo off-shouldered heavily beaded dress. Claire Foy (Look 8) channeled old school Hollywood glamour in a plunging canary yellow gown and timeless jewellery while Anne Hathaway (Look 12) stepped up as a modern silver screen siren in a metallic bustier and fierce leopard print. Shimmer and sheen were also a common theme for the night with — Dakota Fanning (Look 7), Emily Blunt (Look 16), Saoirse Ronan (Look 27) and Thandie Newton (Look 30) rival for the most light-catching ensemble. On the other side of the spectrum, Charlize Theron (Look 13), Laura Harrier (Look 22), Rosamund Pike (Look 26) and Timothée Chalamet (Look 31) stayed with 2018’s hue as they anchored their looks in deep onyx.
View more of the standout looks below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Golden Globes 2019″ rid=”6856″ order=”a_tstamp”}

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Celebrity
Best dressed
Golden Globes
Awards


Lifestyle
#WomenWhoStart: Meet the four women who are empowering the workplace
Taking charge

03.03.2022
By Sarah Hani Jamil

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

Between the demands of a high-powered career such as making tough decisions, resolving conflict, and managing others, as well as balancing time out for family and self-growth, it’s not easy being a woman in leadership. But how do they make it all work, nonetheless? Together with ShopBack, we spotlight the highs and lows of four women who have poured their blood, sweat and tears into building their careers to what it is today in the #WomenWhoStart campaign. This movement aims to encourage women to make the first move and pursue their dreams, whether in their career or personal life, simply because dreams can be achieved from that first small, yet courageous step forward.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by BURO Malaysia (@buromalaysia)

Shalma Ainaa Bruhanutheen, TV Host, Content Creator and Founder of Shals
Happy International Women’s Day! This year’s global theme is called #BreakTheBias, which imagines a world free of discrimination and inequality. What are your thoughts on it?
“Happy International Women’s Day! The issues and stereotypes we women face have long been addressed and fought for at all fronts by women leaders around the world. Therefore, I’m very much aligned and fully on board with this year’s theme.”
In your career, have you ever been in a situation where you were discriminated against?
“More often than I’d like to admit. In entrepreneurship, where most key decision-makers are men, you’re bound to be discriminated against and undermined in your opinions and ideas. It’s important to remain steadfast so as to not derail from the main goal and above all, let your professionalism and intellect do the talking.”
What achievements are you most proud of today?
“My Shals. It has been a long journey but one I wouldn’t change one bit. I’ve grown, made mistakes and learned from the multiple facets of my business. And Alhamdulillah, these past three years, we’ve been able to reach our annual targets with flying colours.”
What advice would you like to share with women considering your career route?
“Never give up, stay the course and learn something new every day or learn new skills that are in demand in the fast-paced fashion industry.”
What’s one thing you have to do every day?
“I love to wake up in the morning and set my daily affirmations, and enjoy a cup of tea by my balcony whilst watering the plants. It’s a very calming and meditative ritual that’s good for the mind, body and soul.”
What is the most challenging moment in building your business?
“I’d say growing the brand whilst simultaneously strategising the business. Multiple SMEs have this common obstacle and it requires a lot of patience and knowledge to get the right balance in growing your team relative to the set KPIs.”
What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“Being able to inspire the community by doing what that I love.”
How has it been for you working with ShopBack?
“It has been very refreshing because ShopBack offers a lot of perks and added value when I shop online, be it for local or international brands. I’m truly grateful for this shopping app that rewards me as I shop!”

Michelle Chin, Co-Founder of Oyen Pet Insurance
Happy International Women’s Day! This year’s global theme is called #BreakTheBias, which imagines a world free of discrimination and inequality. What are your thoughts on it?
“I love the theme—I believe it’s spot on and offers a strong call to action for everyone. We cannot truly advance if we don’t create awareness of these biases and take an active role in calling them out. To me, choosing to stay silent and to ignore the bias, discrimination and gender stereotyping is equivalent to choosing against advancing equality for women. Having a strong theme advocates for stronger action to acknowledge and play a part in rejecting these discriminations and biases.”
The past two years of COVID have been hard for everyone. What new things have you learnt about yourself within this period?
“That it’s okay to not be on the go all the time and having to fill up my time with productivity 24/7. Having my movements confined to just my home during the lockdowns have been difficult, and many times made me feel like I was not doing enough. The process of languishing and reading about it taught me to take a real break and be kinder to myself.”
What achievements are you most proud of today?
“Taking the leap of faith to build a business to solve real problems and building people as part of the process. The 10-year-old me would have been super proud of myself.”
What advice would you like to share for women considering your career route?
“Don’t be afraid to do things that are unconventional and different from what is ‘expected’ of you and never be afraid to reach out to ask for help!”
What is the most challenging moment in building your business?
“It’s the constant juggling of many things to do and fire-fighting! This is a constant feature in building a business, so my way of handling it is to look at the bigger picture to allow me the room to prioritise what demands my time and energy the most at any given point in time. Of course, having friends and family who are supportive always helps too!”
What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
“Firstly, it’s seeing my team love what they do, and continuously strive to do better and help each other out. Secondly, it’s reading all the conversations and reviews from our customers from all the hard work we’ve put in to service them.”
What do you like to do on your time off?
“I am a big advocate for financial literacy among women, so I spend a lot of my free time working on creating content to simplify personal finance knowledge and sharing them. Otherwise, I love watching TV series on Netflix and cooking—these are my ways of taking a break from the hustle and bustle of life.”
How has it been for you working with ShopBack?
“The ShopBack team has been great to work with—quick in responding, fast in execution and super friendly! It was important for us to work with a business that is trusted by many consumers as we are a relatively new, niche market product and needed to spread awareness fast.”

Joan Yeoh, Country Director, Love, Bonito Malaysia
In your career, have you ever been in a situation where you were discriminated against?
“I have been fortunate when it comes to this as I’ve worked in companies that were very progressive and in the forefront of promoting women empowerment. However, I would say that throughout the years in my career, women have had to be much tougher and more adaptable when it comes to working alongside men as we were the underdogs.”
The past two years of COVID have been hard for everyone. What new things have you learnt about yourself within this period?
“I’ve always been a person that has high grit and perseverance, but the last two years tested the limits of that. I think during this period, these are the few things I’ve learnt:

Change is constant and the only certainties in life are death and taxes, therefore, we are only able to control what we do as a result of that. As long as we are doing our best, we should let go of the things we can’t control.

Strength starts from within us—mentally and emotionally. We must have the ability to pick ourselves up and believe in the power of manifestation, positivity and having the courage to fail.”

What achievements are you most proud of today?
“I have many things to be proud of, but I am very proud of my team that has gone through thick and thin, through COVID and the business that we have built at Love, Bonito in Malaysia today.”
What advice would you like to share for women considering your career route?
“It is not for the faint-hearted, but the most important thing for young women is to learn by nurturing themselves with the right fundamentals, having the mindset of growth and constant learning, having the courage to go after what you want, seeking the right mentorship, and not just going after greatness but having the consistency to rough it out when the going gets tough. That is what separates you from others and that is what gets you from good to amazing.”
What is the most challenging moment in climbing up the corporate ladder and how did you overcome it?
“One of the most challenging moments would be when I had to wear many different hats when we lacked manpower—I had to do everything from HR, Finance, Operations to Marketing, and there were days when I would feel overexerted. The key thing to managing this is to stay focused on the key priorities, differentiate what is important and urgent, and set timelines. Having the right support from my mentors also really helped and therefore, it is very important to seek guidance so that you do not feel alone.”
How has it been for you working with ShopBack?
“We’ve had a very good working partnership for years now and I look forward to more projects together!”
How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship or leadership roles in their careers?
“I think there definitely can be more women entrepreneur workshops, training, and mentorship sessions that can help encourage more women to pursue their goals and dreams!”

Wai Kuan Wong, Global Head of Marketing, Malaysia Airlines
Happy International Women’s Day! This year’s global theme is called #BreakTheBias, which imagines a world free of discrimination and inequality. What are your thoughts on it?
“I am a mother of special needs child and many times, this group does not get the right attention as well as lack of inclusion by the society. This is primarily due to low awareness of various spectrums of special needs. We need to recognise and allow them space in society. I strongly believe in the theme of #breakthebias and personally, it shall be a continuous effort throughout the year.”
The past two years of COVID have been hard for everyone. What new things have you learnt about yourself within this period?
“Due to the pandemic, I have learnt to adapt to work-life integration. I’ve become better in time management, more efficient in compartmentalising my work based on my best productive hours and have even been able to squeeze in an hour or two for my workout or running. Honestly, the pandemic has taught me so much.”
What advice would you like to share for women considering your career route?
“I strongly believe mental and physical health is extremely important for every woman. We need to have both to sustain our hectic and demanding daily schedules. When both are balanced, you’ll notice high levels of productivity and energy, the ability to think sharply and enhanced self-confidence.”
What’s one thing that you have to do every day?
“I start my morning with a workout and that adrenaline pumps up my body’s battery throughout the day! I also try to pray, pray and pray daily (though, not fervently yet!).”
What is the most challenging moment in climbing up the corporate ladder and how did you overcome it?
“There is always a steep learning curve between the first six to 12 months because every career movement is different. That has made my career life so colourful and yet, full of great experiences. I thank God that I am surrounded with wonderful, caring and kind-hearted colleagues and bosses who have helped me along the way.”
What do you like to do on your time off?
“I start my day with running or hiking and taking scenic photos!”
How has it been for you working with ShopBack?
“It has been a great experience because great minds think alike!
How can we encourage more women to pursue entrepreneurship or leadership roles in their careers?
“Be courageous, be brave, persevere, and be genuine. You won’t go wrong.”

Check out ShopBack’s International Women’s Day 100% cashback campaign to pay it forward to #BreaktheBias.Visit shopback.my or download the ShopBack App to find out more.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

lifestyle
Women empowerment
career


LFW SS16: Topshop Unique

Fashion
LFW SS16: Topshop Unique
British rebel

21.09.2015
By Su Fen Tan

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

Topshop Unique’s show brought all the British It girls out to play, from top models to socialites, with Jourdan Dunn, Alexa Chung, Suki Waterhouse and Poppy Delevingne seated at the front row, among other notable names from the industry.
“More is more” seemed to be the adage that was embraced on the runway, as vivid prints, bright lips, bold eyes, and statement earrings dominated the presentation, a befitting embodiment of the muse of the season—”A beautiful British rebel”.
There was plenty of layering fun as coats, sleek blazers and comfy knit sweaters completed the rebellious chic looks with a touch of cosy sensuality, but the stars of the night were the lovely lace dresses that closed the show—charming floral embroidered numbers that exude a sweet feminine allure.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Topshop Unique” rid=”3400″ order=”a_tstamp”}

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Collections
SS16
LFW
London Fashion Week
Topshop Unique
Fashion
Fashion Week
Spring


Lifestyle
Go further in your electric cars: Tesla and Airbnb partners up
Go on an eco-friendly road trip

01.10.2015
By Buro247

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

Tesla have invested millions of dollars to allow their luxury electric cars to travel further by installing electric car charging stations across the globe and now they are making it available to Airbnb homes around the world for free. However, interested Airbnb hosts will have to bear the cost of installation on their own and have a few criteria to check off before they can be eligible to install the charging stations in their homes. To qualify, hosts must list their entire home for rent, have more than five bookings, and have a 4+ star rating.

Although Tesla has will select at least 100 homes to install their chargers, currently there are only 17 being listed on Airbnb. With the introduction of the new Tesla Model X, a stunning electric SUV that impressed even its skeptics, Tesla is bringing us with them on their journey towards a more eco-friendly future and we hope to see charging stations in more interesting locations soon.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

lifestyle
motoring


Beauty
Here’s how Blackpink’s Lisa landed her latest role as MAC Cosmetics’ Global Brand Ambassador

19.10.2020
By Redzhanna Jazmin

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

By now you’re surely familiar with the girls of Blackpink—after all, they’ve released three singles and dropped a whole album just this year. We’ve heard them sing about heartbreak, we’ve swooned over their highly-anticipated collab with Selena Gomez, and we’ve even tried to emulate a few of their best beauty moments.
So, with all the success that has followed them, it comes as no surprise that they are landing some pretty major brand deals. Blackpink’s Lisa, for instance, has had her fair share of impressive collaborations this year. She is Celine’s newest brand ambassador and, most recently, MAC Cosmetics’ latest Global Brand Ambassador.
The big partnership has been met with resounding excitement from the woman of the hour and Blinks alike—and for good reason, too. Lisa is the first female K-pop star to be appointed the role, and as far as we’re concerned, she deserves it.
Ahead, find out what Lisa has to say about her brand new gig and glean some of her best beauty tips.
How does it feel to be the newest brand ambassador for M·A·C Cosmetics?
“I’m a huge fan of M·A·C and have been a loyal user for a long time, so it’s really a dream come true to have the opportunity to serve as an ambassador for the brand.
“M·A·C is truly at the forefront of trendsetting, which reminds me every time I see a M·A·C campaign or the incredible looks their artists create backstage at fashion weeks around the world. It‘s an honor to partner with a brand with such an incredible heritage and unrivaled expertise in makeup artistry. I am thrilled and looking forward to this journey!”

We are absolutely obsessed with this crystal-encrusted lip; this is just the start of Lisa’s beauty ingenuity.
What was your first ever MAC product?
“The first M·A·C product I used was a lip product. I’m still a huge fan of M·A·C’s lip products and love playing around with the countless number of colors and textures to choose from to help perfect my look.”

Lisa is never one to shy away from a red lip—from more bold, defined application techniques to diffused, K-beauty flushes, she’s got it down.
You’re renowned for your super-cool beauty looks. When did you fall in love with makeup?
“Since I was a little girl, I have always been interested in makeup and fashion. But if I had to say the time I officially fell in love with makeup, I would say that was after my debut. When we release a new album or when I’m on set for a magazine, I enjoy suggesting a makeup look that I’ve always wanted to try.”

Statement eye looks, glittery Euphoria-style lids and the ever-intimidating black lip: There’s nothing this beauty chameleon hasn’t tried.
Where do you get the inspiration for your more colourful makeup looks?
“I constantly review various makeup looks for inspiration. When I’m on a shoot, I like suggesting makeup styles that I have been eager to try. I enjoy working together with the makeup artist to finalise my look through different attempts to eventually suits the mood I am trying to express in the shoot.”

Rhinestone-bedazzled liner, rainbow-cast lids and red-rimmed eyes are just a few of the colourful looks Lisa has sported.
What does beauty mean to you and has it been an empowering tool?
“To me, beauty is confidence. I think beauty comes from one’s confident inner self and one’s attitude. Makeup and styling are the cherries on top of your beautiful inner-self!”
For more Blackpink-related stories, click here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Makeup
Blackpink
Beauty
Skincare
Natural Beauty


Men's
Every look Henry Golding has worn for the Crazy Rich Asians press tour

22.08.2018
By Joan Kong

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

5 Leading tailors in Klang Valley to design your sleek wedding suits

Attention Hollywood: There’s a new leading man in town, and he’s here to stay. Henry Golding is currently on tour for the promotion of not one, but two films—Crazy Rich Asians and A Simple Favour (starring Blake Lively and Anna Kendrick), but all eyes are on the former, as the movie is changing the game in the Hollywood film industry by taking a step forward for representation. The hype surrounding the show aside, the spotlight’s also on Henry Golding for another reason—his oh-so-suave style (and yes, his good looks). Making his last pit stop in Singapore last night for the premiere of the movie (out on August 23), we dived a little more into his style game with a compilation of all the looks he sported in the past few weeks. We especially loved how he ditched the classic black tux for a powder blue tuxedo for the LA premiere, and a metallic pink look in Singapore.

Below, Henry Golding’s #OOTDs on the Crazy Rich Asians press tour:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Henry Golding Crazy Rich Asians” rid=”6458″ order=”a_tstamp”}

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Fashion
Men's
style crush
Style feature
Crazy Rich Asians
Henry Golding


Beauty
Be bold and ‘Do You’ with Puma’s latest Velvet Rope collection
#DoYou

11.07.2017
By Su Fen Tan

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

For Autumn/Winter ’17, Puma’s inspiration stemmed from the idea of the Velvet Rope—that line that divides the queue and the party; that line that separates the crowd from the red carpet. Which side are you on? Take a cue from Puma: stand out, be bold and radiate confidence. #DoYou.

Fronting the Velvet Rope campaign is a bevy of ladies who embody the ‘Do You’ attitude with pizzazz: Puma ambassador Kylie Jenner (pictured above) as well as the returning campaign stars Olivia Boisson, Mimi Staker, Emilie Gerrity, Meagan Mann and Unity Phelan from the New York City Ballet.

Taking you from the streets to training in style, the tech-infused Velvet Rope collection features pieces with silhouettes that both flatter and support. Materials range from strong Lycra to soft velvet, a fusion of performance and style. Staying true to the hues of the season, the colour palette blends autumnal shades of olive and copper with silver and navy. The collection lineup includes training shoes, sports bras, tights as well as leotards.

See a selection of the Velvet Rope collection here:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”puma velvet rope” rid=”5232″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Like what you see? The Puma Velvet Rope collection is now available at puma.com and Puma stores/retailers worldwide.

Related stories:
Sweethearts and darlings for Puma this Spring
Street-ready sneakers: Puma releases the Ignite evoKnit 3D Pack

Boy meets girl: Puma’s ‘Basket Heart’ sneaker

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Puma
Kylie Jenner
Ballet
sportswear


Fashion
#WednesdayWishlist: A royal getup to the races
The fanciest event this summer

14.06.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

Gwen Ong, Deputy Editor: 18-karat rose gold diamond ring by Anita Ko

When I think of the races, I picture fancy hats, tailored dresses, pretty heels and more high-to-the-heavens hats. The Royal Ascot may be the epitome of sartorial elegance, I truly believe that sometimes, less is more. While the headpiece is the icing on the cake for many women (and men!) at a prestigious event such as this, nothing spells glamour more than a bling ring. This beautiful piece right here is understated chic, one that holds its own with its 1.05-carats of diamond in a crowd of fascinators.

Loh Wei Yeen, Fashion & Beauty Writer: Straw headpiece by Philip Treacy

The Royal Ascot is pretty much the biggest British event to show off the fanciest head-toppers that could rival royalty. To me, the idea of a perfect hat has always been Audrey Hepburn’s wide-brimmed black straw hat she donned in Breakfast at Tiffany’s, but I worry about the sheer size of my head and the probability of blocking out the view of those behind me. So this Philip Treacy fascinator made from sinamay straw and buntal ribbons is a chic alternative I would go to for various reasons. Firstly, how can one deny the iconic Irish milliner’s works of art? Also, race day is perhaps the only time to justify having a fantastical piece perched atop my head without feeling overly ridiculous.

Rachel Au, Lifestyle Writer: Metallic pumps from Jimmy Choo

When you’re at the races, don’t expect it to be much of a sit-down affair. Instead, you’ll be moving around a lot and that means, you might end up regretting that beautiful pair of stilettos. A good tip I’ve heard (and follow till today) is to go with sensible shoes and style doesn’t have to be compromised. Kitten heels are great but I’ve got my eye on these gorgeous gold glossed-leather pumps with block heels by Jimmy Choo. It’s a modern take on the classic Mary Jane which makes it perfect for the races and after.

Tan Su Fen, Editorial Assistant: Dolce embellished box clutch by Dolce & Gabbana

One of the biggest fashion questions at the Royal Ascot has to be: What colour hat will Queen Elizabeth wear today? Well, at this year’s opening day, the Queen pulled up to the affluential event dressed in yellow, hat and all. Taking cues from Her Majesty, perhaps a little (there’s no way I can pull off an all-yellow look) sunny disposition is due in my race day getup by way of this beauty of a clutch by Dolce & Gabbana—a stunning statement number adorned with hand-painted daisies and sparkling crystals.

Related stories:
#WednesdayWishlist: Beach bag essentials for a summer vacation
Dior gives us polka-dotted delights for summer
By Terry’s summer collection will make your tropical cruise dreams come true

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Summer
Wednesday Wishlist
Buro Loves
Fashion


Fashion
New York Fashion Week AW16: Highlights of Day 6
Congenial yet chic

17.02.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

I wouldn’t bat an eyelid if you told me that the 70s and plenty of romantic notions made up most designers’ notes this New York Fashion Week AW16. It’s hardly groundbreaking, but it’s always pleasant to find clothes on the runway that one can actually wear in real life (by that I mean going out to run errands, work, you know, normal everyday life).

That said, I very much want to wear Tory Burch’s preppy meets equestrian chic pieces: one particular jacket in multicolour geometric patterns, hardy-looking suede knee-high boots, and casual yet glamorous gowns. Elsewhere, Stuart Vevers took hold of Coach 1941’s festival-ready bohemian spirit and brought it to school—literally. The show’s setting was based off an American high school gymnasium’s basketball court, where models sashayed down in the snazziest outerwear options (leather biker and reinvented varsity jackets, fur vests, the like) that I’m already eyeing to fit nicely into my closet, or just #WednesdayWishlists for that matter. That tan shearling coat with matching A-line skirt will be my pick, of course.

But the romantically-inclined collections I was mentioning about came in the form of Rodarte AW16, where Kate and Laura Mulleavy celebrated the brand’s 10th anniversary with an Art Nouveau themed collection with the makings of a gothic fantasy world—leather ruffled detailing and halters tops, tiered lace dresses with matching veils and floral embroideries were exquisitely done. On a related note, Peter Copping did Oscar de la Renta justice, citing 1973’s fashion showdown (Battle of Versailles) as his inspiration as he reconciled both French and American elements in a collection of silk jacquard coats, prim fur collars, and beautiful evening gowns speckled with metallic thread.

Related stories:
#WednesdayWishlist: New York Fashion Week AW16 picksNew York Fashion Week AW16 Street Style Day 6: Fancy PantsNew York Fashion Week AW16: Highlights of Day 5

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

New York Fashion Week
NYFW
Tory Burch
Collections
Rodarte
Fashion
AW16


Technology
The world’s first Hyperloop will officially be built in Dubai
The future is coming

10.11.2016
By Rachel Au

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Threads 101: How to start and everything you need to know

It looks exactly like something from a sci-fi movie except it’s on the cusp of becoming a reality. Hyperloop is a futuristic transportation system envisioned by Elon Musk, a businessman, engineer and inventor—also, the co-founder of Tesla Motors—since 2012 as the “fifth mode of transport”. Since then, lots of time, money, and research have been poured into this concept to make it a dream come true—and now, they’re one step closer.

Hyperloop One had its first open-air test in the Nevada desert in May 2016 where the world saw a metal sled successfully shooting down a short train track at a little more than 100mph. It doesn’t paint a whole realistic future but it shows that they’re on the right track with electric propulsion technology, which is what the system is based on.

And just a few days ago, Hyperloop One has announced it will be building the first commercial passenger-ready Hyperloop system from Dubai to Abu Dhabi. (The United Arab Emirates is one of the investors of the company.) The 160km trip which would usually take around two hours by car/bus will be cut down to 12 minutes with the futuristic mode of transportation.

The US-based company hopes to have the system ready by 2021 but in the meantime, they’ve released some slick videos to give a snippet of what riding the Hyperloop will be like. In addition, there’s much to look forward to seeing from them in 2017 as they plan to show off the full-scale prototype it’s currently building in Nevada; as well as a public test in California featuring hyper hyperloop pods built by high school and college engineering teams.

Related stories:
5 Best aquariums in the world that you have to sea
KL-Singapore bullet train: Everything you need to know
How to sleep better (and comfortably) on the plane

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Futuristic technology
Hyperloop


Art + Design
These wooden surfboards are made of reclaimed Glenmorangie whisky casks

12.10.2018
By Su Fen Tan

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

8 Best art galleries to visit in the Klang Valley

To ensure its single malt’s signature complex and multi-faceted flavour, Glenmorangie Original’s white oak casks are only used twice it their whisky-making lifetime. What happens to the casks after that then? Glenmorangie’s answer to that is Beyond the Cask, a series of creative collaborations that celebrates the wood that makes the whisky, giving them a new lease of life beyond the distillery.
First it was sunglasses produced in collaboration with Finlay & Co, then the world’s first bicycles made from old whisky casks were launched with Renovo Hardwood Bicycles. This year, Glenmorangie’s strive for innovation and sustainability continues with purveyors of handmade wooden surfboards, Grain Surfboards of Maine, New England.

Mike Lavecchia, founder of Grain Surfboards, working on a Glenmorangie Original Surfboard

Each handmade Glenmorangie Original wooden surfboard is made using reclaimed oak staves from Glenmorangie barrels. Each board uses 12 barrel staves (about half a cask), worked and glued to a bed of cedar planks to keep the weight of the board down and fully functional — champion Scottish surfer Mark Boyd can attest to that. Boyd was the first person to test out the Glenmorangie board on the waters. See him in action here:

Designed to last a lifetime, each limited edition Grain Glenmorangie Original surfboard is made to order. For more information, visit the website.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

surfboards
sustainability
whisky
surfing
Glenmorangie


Film, TV + Theatre
Wes Anderson’s most charming and aesthetically pleasing film sets

18.01.2022
By Genie Leong

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

The defining trait of a Wes Anderson film is the auteur’s whimsical and opulent Art Nouveau-ish sets, typically saturated in bright colours and pastel hues. Anderson’s use of colour and setting dictate the tone of his scenes as well as the characters populating them—resulting is a visually stunning, eccentric and captivating story.
With The French Dispatch joining Anderson’s list of visually sumptuous films, let’s look at some of the filmmaker’s most charming film sets to date:
1) The Grand Budapest Hotel (2014)

Arguably Anderson’s best film to date, The Grand Budapest Hotel features some of Wes Anderson’s best utilisation of colour to tell his story. The candy-pink exterior of the hotel on the movie poster is actually that of The Bristol Palace Hotel in the colourful Czechoslovakian spa town, Karlovy Vary. The interior of the movie’s hotel was filmed in one of the oldest shopping centres in Germany known as Görlitzer Warenhaus, a real place you can visit.
Anderson’s fictional city of Lutz captures an imaginary burlesque European city in which the film’s main characters, hotel concierge Monsieur Gustave H. (Ralph Fiennes) and lobby boy Zero (Tony Revolori) go on exciting and dangerous adventures while pursuing a priceless inherited painting. The film won four Oscars at the 2015 Academy Awards, including the awards for Best Production Design and Best Director.

2) Moonrise Kingdom (2012)

Set in the summer of 1965 on an island off the coast of New England, Moonrise Kingdom tells the story of young teens Sam (Jared Gilman) and Suzy (Kara Hayward), who fall in love and run away together. The entire movie is drenched in a dreamy, sepia haze, even in the outdoors where most of the film occurs. Suzy’s home, the Bishop family house, is quintessential Anderson with a splash of ’60s retro—from the warm yellows and golds and brick reds, to the mismatched furniture and symmetrical corners.
Likewise, the costumes of the two lovebirds are curated to the tee. Suzy’s pink and red ensemble stands out against the yellow-toned backdrops, and Sam’s Scouts’ uniform complete with racoon skin cap embodies the quaint and free-spirited nature of the film, as the young couple pursue love against all odds on the sleepy island.

3) The French Dispatch (2021)

The director’s latest creation, The French Dispatch, is as outlandish and hilarious as Wes Anderson movies get. A love letter to journalists, the film depicts a collection of unique stories that make up the final issue of an American magazine published in the made-up 20th-century French town of Ennui-sur-Blasé. As the film weaves together the multiple stories told by their respective writers, the backdrops take on bright colours that are swapped out for black and white at certain points of the film. The colourful set and fast pacing can feel slightly disorienting to Anderson fledglings, but once you get a grasp on the movie’s plot, it’s a delightful visual indulgence.

4) Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009)

Fantastic Mr. Fox was Anderson’s first exploration into animation—and has since become a hallmark stop-motion movie. Adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1970 children’s novel of the same name, it’s an endearing and playful story made even more so with Anderson’s signature touches.
The vibrant autumnal colour palette that is used throughout most of the movie warms up the dollhouse-like environment, making the film extra cosy to watch. Auburn foxes are clad in quaint, countryside fashion and every scene is meticulously filled to the brim with lovely details, bringing the beloved children’s story of friendship, family and food to life.

5) The Darjeeling Limited (2007)

If a postcard could be turned into a movie, this would be it. Picturesque in every sense of the word, The Darjeeling Limited takes viewers aboard a train ride through North India (through the eyes of Anderson, of course). The movie follows brothers Francis, Peter, and Jack as they go on a spiritual journey in the wake of their father’s passing. To achieve this mood, primary and secondary colours are a huge part of the film’s visuals.
The train in the film is real too, borrowed from Indian Railways by the production designer. Every nook and cranny on the train is covered in eye-catching prints, punctuated by the same spice-coloured hues that inhabit the entire film. There is just so much to look at and admire in this movie that it’ll have you rewinding and pausing each frame to take it all in.

6) The Royal Tenenbaums (2001)

Although The Royal Tenenbaums is not Anderson’s first film, it’s the one where his current aesthetic is most believed to have been solidified. Centred on the three successful but distant Tenenbaum children as the family reunites upon the announcement of their father’s dire health condition, most of the story unfolds in a vintage New York townhouse decorated with antiques and artefacts.
There’s a groovy ’70s flair to the film—from the costumes to the warm, citrusy colour palette used—creating a genius contrast to the heavy, almost depressing subject matter of the film. There is a good reason as to why this is an Anderson cult-favourite and a must-watch if you’re just getting into the director’s work.

7) Hotel Chevalier (2007)

Despite serving as a prologue for The Darjeeling Limited, the 13-minute-long short film Hotel Chevalier makes its mark as one of Anderson’s most visually impressive pieces of work. The colour yellow dominates in the Parisian hotel room where the short’s two main characters, Jack Whitman (Jason Schwartzman) and Jack’s ex-girlfriend (Natalie Portman), converse. The walls are yellow, the beds are yellow, the heroine’s dressing gown is yellow—even the lighting is yellow so as to cast a yellow tint over the few things that aren’t yellow.
Hotel Chevalier is a prime example of Anderson’s jewel-box-esque visual style, and his miniature world-like storytelling. Oversaturated and poetic, this is one all Wes Anderson fans have to see at least once.

Check out: 10 Picturesque movies that are the perfect (virtual) travel escape

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Wes Anderson
Hollywood
Movies
aesthetics
aesthetically pleasing


Watches
To reach millennials, Tag Heuer taps Bella Hadid
Watch this face

15.02.2017
By Buro247

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

The Cartier Privé collection is about history and modernity

This girl doesn’t stop and she certainly doesn’t crack under pressure. Adding to her long list of accolades and achievements,  Bella Hadid debuts as the new face of Tag Heuer. Posed with fists wrapped in boxing gloves, she took to Instagram to showcase the collaboration.

A post shared by Bella Hadid (@bellahadid) on Feb 13, 2017 at 1:03pm PST

The 20-year-old rising star thanked Tag for warm welcome and applied herself into the infamous tagline, saying ““I don’t stop, I don’t crumble, and I certainly #DontCrackUnderPressure.”

This new partnership launches the Swiss watch brand’s strategic efforts in connecting with a younger market—millennials, to be exact. Having also recruited the likes of Cara Delevingne, Martin Garrix, and graffiti artist Alec Monopoly, the vision is clear—accessible luxury as aspirational goods for a new generation.

We are delighted to welcome the stunning @bellahadid as the newest member of the incredible TAG Heuer family! A perfect addition to our inspirational ambassadors, stay tuned to find out more! #BellaHadid #TheNewFaceOfTAGHeuer #DontCrackUnderPressure
A post shared by TAG Heuer (@tagheuer) on Feb 13, 2017 at 7:42pm PST

“We need someone like Bella to help us capture the bold and confident spirit of young people today,” explained the CEO of Tag Heuer and Chairman of the Watch Division of LVMH, Jean-Claude Biver as he stressed on the avant-garde spirit of the brand that pushes them to innovate and lead.

The campaign was shot by American photographer Cass Bird and launched in Manhattan to coincide with New York Fashion Week.

Related stories:
OneRepublic and TAG Heuer enter a partnership that will not crack under pressure
Cara Delevingne fronts the ‘I’m Not a Trophy’ anti-poaching campaign
TAG Heuer introduces Chris Hemsworth as new brand ambassador

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Watches and Jewellery
Bella Hadid
TAG Heuer


Music
Concert season kicks off at the Dewan Filharmonik Petronas this August

23.07.2015
By Buro247

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

All the exciting live concerts in KL to look forward to in 2023

Starting with a tribute to the legendary rock band Queen, the MPO will be presenting an exhilarating concert that will have audiences witnessing the full extent of the MPO’s virtuosity. Led by Brent Havens, expect to hear some of the band’s most well-known tracks such as We Will Rock You and Bohemian Rhapsody presented in a high-energy, unique classical style. This special tribute concert will take place on Friday, 14 August to Sunday, 16 August 2015.

Next on the August calendar will be a collaboration with the National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), led by the MPO’s Ciaran McAuley and NSO’s Mustafa Fuzer Nawi. The ensembles will present a programme which includes Dvorak, Brahms and Liszt and will be showcasing on Friday, 21 August 2015 and Saturday, 22 August 2015.

To usher in Merdeka Day, conductor Fabio Mechetti will present masterpieces by Berlioz, Tchaikovsky and Rachmaninoff on Saturday, 29 August 2015, and Sunday, 30 August 2015.

Ticket Prices (Music of Queen)
Premium: RM350, A Reserve: RM280, B Reserve: RM200 and C Reserve: RM150

Ticket Prices (MPO)
Premium: RM150, A Reserve: RM120, B Reserve: RM90 and C Reserve: RM60

Phone bookings: 03-20517007

For more information, visit www.mpo.com.my

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

News
Culture


Lifestyle
7 Things to do this weekend: 20 & 21 August 2022
Out and about

19.08.2022
By Marissa Chin

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

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

Support local artisans with Batik Boutique and Kind Kones’ Merdeka collaboration

Merdeka month just got a whole lot sweeter! Local plant-based ice cream brand Kind Kones has teamed up with award-winning social enterprise Batik Boutique to create a gifting bundle in celebration of Malaysia’s independence day. Called the ‘Be Kind To Artisans Bundle’, it combines Batik Boutique’s Batik DIY Painting Kits (complete with cute tropical motifs) and Kind Kones’ Merdeka flavour of the month, onde-onde, in a bid to promote unity, support and kindness toward home-grown artisanal brands.
Priced at RM169, the ‘Be Kind To Artisans Bundle’ is available for purchase throughout the month of August. Head to any Kind Kones outlet to get your hands on the bundle or purchase them via Batik Boutique and Kind Kones’ website. Online purchases can enjoy free delivery within the Klang Valley.

Trade in your pre-loved luggage for a new Samsonite and help save the turtles

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by samsonitemalaysia (@samsonitemalaysia)

When: 12 August to 25 September 2022
Where: Any Samsonite store in Malaysia
Samsonite’s annual Luggage Trade-in campaign returns! This time with up to 40 per cent off three of their most popular and skilfully crafted silhouettes: the Magnum Eco, Enow, and Varro. Any pre-loved luggage is accepted regardless of brand, size and condition (non-usable included). In addition, Samsonite will donate RM10 from every trade-in purchase to WWF-Malaysia’s ‘Help Protect The Next Generation Of Turtles’ initiative. Moreover, a fraction of the pre-loved luggage collected will be upcycled into exclusively crafted artisan flowerpots by Upcycled by FE, which will then be distributed to internal and external stakeholders.

“The ‘Help The Next Generation Of Turtle’ initiative is an important addition to the push for greater sustainability in Malaysia and we are thrilled to be able to advance both the concepts of waste reduction and the move towards a more circular and supportive economy,” says Ambert Khoo, General Manager of Samsonite Malaysia.
Made with upcycled yoghurt cups and PET bottles, the Magnum Eco is available in three sizes (55cm, 69cm and 75cm) and colours inspired by Mother Nature (Forest Green, Graphite and Maple Orange). For those seeking state-of-the-art functionality with cutting-edge design, the Enow is available in three sizes (55cm, 69cm and 75cm) and two classic colours (Black and Latte). If contemporary design and practicality are what you’re after, the Varro is available in three sizes (55cm, 69cm and 81cm) and two modern hues (Black and Peacock Blue).
For more information on this campaign, visit Samsonite’s website.

Relive the greatest rock hits with KLPAC’s ‘Rewind’

When: 18 to 22 August 2022
Where: Pentas 2, KLPAC
Rockers and headbangers, this one’s for you! If you’re still jamming to the likes of Paramore and Evanescence, then you definitely don’t want to miss this. For the first time in three years, KLPAC and The Actors Studio bring Rewind, an unplugged concert featuring mega rock hits from the ’90s to early ’00s. Rewind will feature two programmes performed back to back, but interestingly, audiences can choose to pick one programme featuring 13 songs, or both programmes making it a 26-song marathon of non-stop rock ’n’ roll.
Programme A pays homage to female rockers such as Avril Lavigne, Sheryl Crow, The Cranberries, Evanescence, Joan Osborne, and more. On the flip side, Programme B will rock the stage with male-fronted bands such as Green Day, Nirvana, Oasis, Counting Crows, Red Hot Chilli Peppers, U2, and the like.
Tickets for Rewind are priced at RM65 for one programme and RM100 for two programmes (A+B) of any show date combination. For more information, head to their website here.

Savour a taste of The Balvenie French Oak Cask 16 Year Old

The Balvenie recently unveiled the latest addition to its Cask Finishes Range: The Balvenie French Oak Cask aged 16 years. Embodying the Speyside distillery’s honeyed signature style, the new expression is crafted using Malt Master David C. Stewart MBE’s pioneering cask finishing process. It involves taking whisky from a period of maturation and moving it into a different cask for a shorter period. This imparts a distinct layer of flavour to the whisky that’s unparalleled by other methods.
As a result of maturing for 16 years in traditional American Oak whisky barrels and then being transferred to French casks that previously held Pineau des Charentes, the expression presents a beautiful depth of flavour. On the nose, it offers light floral notes of lotus and geranium with hints of fresh meadow grass and peeled apple skin. Sipping on the light gold liquid welcomes a complex yet well-balanced combination of grapefruit, geranium, glazed fruit, and ginger, all with a refreshing finish.
The Balvenie French Oak Cask 16 Year Old is available at The Chambers, Wholly Spirits, Cellar 18, Wine & Liquor Warehouse, Wine Warehouse, WIP On The Park, WIP Bangsar Shopping Center, Burnin’ Pit, Butchers Block, Whisky Bar, Dark, Hybrid and Mezze Bistro.

Learn the craft of ‘mengkuang’ weaving at GMBB

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by GERIMIS (@gerimis_my)

When: 20 & 21 August 2022, 2pm until 5pm
Where: Reka-Reka, Level 3, GMBB
For a fun excursion out, try a fun workshop organised by GMBB this weekend at their Reka-Reka space to get closer to your Malaysian roots. You can learn the art behind mengkuang weaving from a master weaver hailing from Pulau Carey, Selangor. In 2015, she was declared a National Heritage and Living Legend by the Ministry of Tourism and Culture so you’ll be in very good hands. Slots are limited so don’t miss out on this unique opportunity!
For more information, follow GMBB on Instagram.

Liven up your Sunday with a Beyoncé-themed brunch

View this post on Instagram

When: 21 August 2022, 11am until 2pm
Where: Hijau, RexKL
Fan of the one and only Queen B? Then join the rest of the Beyhive at RexKL for a vegan brunch buffet presented by Hijau. You can also sip on some Beyoncé-themed cocktails from the Rex Bar as you jam to the tunes of Renaissance and enjoy performances by Cik Teh Botol and Xehra. Interested parties are encouraged to reserve via their form as walk-ins are subject to availability. The brunch is priced at RM50 per pax or RM75 with drinks.
For more information, follow RexKL and Hijau on Instagram.

Catch the final days of Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week 2022

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by KUALA LUMPUR FASHION WEEK (@klfashionweek)

Malaysia’s biggest annual fashion event is back, featuring some of the most innovative local fashion designers the country has to offer. KLFW 2022 kickstarted on August 17 at Pavilion KL and if you haven’t been able to catch any of the shows, fret not as it will be ongoing till August 21. It’s the perfect opportunity to squeeze in some retail therapy while you’re there! Malaysian designers and brands such as Kit Woo, Nelissa Hilman, Phyn Studio and Innai Red have so far presented their collections on the runway. You can check out the daily schedule on KLFW’s Instagram.
For more information, head to their website.

Find more things to do in our previous BURO Weekend Guides here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

#BUROSupportsLocal
things to do
Buro Weekend Guide
Events in KL
Things to do in KL


Food + Drink
8 Celebrity chefs who are using their home kitchens and Instagram to offer self-isolation cooking classes

06.04.2020
By Ronn Tan

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Review: Sky35 KL presents an omakase experience plated on Hermès finery

It’s no secret that the COVID-19 pandemic has affected all sense of normalcy—and the number of positive cases are on the rise every day. Globally, we are all working together as a collective; staying at home, practising social distancing, and washing our hands. After all, the aim is to beat the novel coronavirus, flatten the curve, and save lives.
As of today (6 April 2020), there are 3,662 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Malaysia and 61 deaths. With the Movement Control Order in effect until 14 April 2020, Malaysians are now *encouraged* to stay in. One of the most popular things to do while self-isolating is cooking—and there are no better people than renowned celebrity chefs (apart from our grandparents and parents) to look to when it comes to preparing amazing, palatable meals. #HomecookedMeals. Even better, these cooking shows/tutorials conducted in their own home kitchens are all on Instagram!
If you prefer cooking instead of ordering from restaurants in KL and intend to bring some delicious normalcy back into your lives, check out the roundup below:
1. Martha Stewart

The Homeschool With Martha series includes Martha cooking some of her favourite recipes from her home kitchen as well as “fun and creative projects—from making a spring wreath to brighten up your space to knitting DIYs”. This is a collaboration between Martha and the editors at Living. Learn to make Irish soda bread, creamy lemon squares, Turkey-and-Mushroom Bolognese, and more. Are you ready to go to Martha’s school… without actually leaving home?
2. José Andrés

This celebrity chef—who turned his restaurants into community kitchens to feed the needy when the COVID-19 pandemic first hit the United States—found #RecipesForThePeople. Through this new avenue on Instagram, he shares ways to make simple dishes while his daughters sing songs from Hamilton. It’s fun, entertaining, and simply delicious. Let’s be honest… it’s José Andrés. Expect nothing but joy while you practise social distancing at home.
3. Rachael Ray

Another prominent celebrity chef who has taken to Instagram to offer cooking tips is Rachael Ray—with the help of her husband John Cusimano. In her videos, Rachael takes you through ways to prepare meals such as plant-based tacos, breaded and baked halibut, as well as chicken pot pie. It’s informative, easy, and a sure-fire way to bring your cooking skills up a notch while self-isolating at home.
4. Massimo Bottura

The world-renowned owner and chef of Italy’s Osteria Francescana and Gucci Osteria was one of the earliest celebrity chefs to start a cooking show on Instagram during quarantine. Three Michelin-starred Chef Massimo Bottura’s response to the lockdown in Italy is Kitchen Quarantine. The episodes feature help from Lara, Charlie, and Alexa (his wife, son, and daughter, respectively). Through Chef Massimo’s shows, you can learn to make bollito salad, tortellini in panna, and vegetable Thai curry among other dishes.
5. Antoni Porowski

With Quar Eye: Cooking Lessons in Quarantine, the popular star of Netflix’s Queer Eye is also using Instagram to share a tip or two while everyone’s staying at home. Find ways to make dishes utilising ingredients you already have at home—preferably not canned goods or instant noodles. Dishes to try include chicken soup, chickpea pasta, turkey meatballs, roasted squash with peanut chicken, and snapper with fennel. Tasty!
6. Christina Tosi

The founder, owner, and chef of Milk Bar is no stranger to the culinary world. Christina Tosi has also appeared on Netflix’s Chef’s Table in 2018—that’s where you might recognise her from. If you’re craving something sugary while self-isolating at home, Christina Tosi’s Instagram cooking classes are perfect for you. Why not start with some Cornflake Chocolate Chip Marshmallow Cookies? You can also ask questions, give feedback, and even request for specific tutorials.
7. Padma Lakshmi

In her Instagram cooking tutorials, the celebrity chef aims to show us ways to prepare super simple meals such as Chipotle Chicken, house-made chicken stock, pan-tossed noodles with ground veal, and black-eyed peas over polenta. In some of her videos, Padma Lakshmi’s daughter Krishna helps her with the cooking! This is a great time to bond and spend time with your loved ones at home—especially while preparing scrumptious meals.
8. Ili Sulaiman

Malaysian chef extraordinaire Ili Sulaiman will be conducting live cooking sessions on Facebook in collaboration with the Asian Food Network (AFN). She will be sharing four surprise Ramadan recipes that will delight taste buds across Malaysia. Check out the required ingredients here and tune in to AFN’s Facebook Page at 7pm when the dish for the day will be revealed. The live sessions will take place on 21 April, 28 April, 5 May, and 12 May at 7pm. To watch, click here.
It is now time for you to cook! Get your recipes and ingredients ready; round up your little assistants (or go independent); and get cooking. Make dishes that cheer you up and spark joy as we all get through the unfortunate situation together. Remember to follow the guidelines and always keep yourself safe.
For more fun and easy recipes, visit this website.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

food and drink
Celebrity
Coronavirus
covid-19 virus
wfh
work from home
recipes
things to do


Style
How fashion’s biggest brands and names are doing their part to combat the COVID-19 pandemic

25.04.2020
By Joan Kong

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

The ultimate wedding shoe guide for the bridal party

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to worsen globally, many countries—including China, Denmark, France, Ireland, Italy, New Zealand, Poland, and Spain—have implemented lockdowns to contain the pandemic, as well as Malaysia which has imposed a restricted movement order from March 18 to April 14. The fashion industry has also come together to join the fight against COVID-19. Below, all the biggest names and brands in fashion who have made a donation so far:
April 25, 2020
Mulberry

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Mulberry (@mulberryengland) on Apr 24, 2020 at 9:02am PDT

Mulberry has announced it has begun producing PPE gowns in its Somerset factories for the NHS frontline workers, particularly, for the University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust. Aside from that, it’s also supporting the Scrub Hub—a network of volunteers making scrubs to order for NHS staff—by cutting large volumes of PPE fabric using its machinery, which will then be distributed to the community groups to be stitched. Fund-wise, the brand has raised over 75,000 pounds via its Coronavirus Appeal for the local UK charities and support groups.
April 21, 2020
Loewe

On top of initiating an all-new digital event titled Loewe En Casa, the Spanish luxury fashion house is also pitching in to fight the pandemic. In a joint statement released by Loewe’s CEO Pascale Lepoivre and artistic director Jonathan Anderson, the duo announced that the brand will be donating 100,000 surgical masks to the Spanish Red Cross, and it’s also producing non-surgical ones to be distributed to volunteer workers, its employees and their families. From every item sold from its upcoming Paula’s Ibiza collection (between May and August 2020), Loewe has also pledged to donate 40 Euros to educational projects “to ensure a better future for children in socially vulnerable groups”, starting with an initial donation of 500,000 Euros. The initiative will be carried out in partnership with Plataforma de Infancia—a Spanish alliance of social organisations that works to protect children and adolescents’ rights.
April 11, 2020
Louis Vuitton

Two days after announcing its protective mask initiative, Louis Vuitton has revealed that it’s also producing hospital gowns at its headquarters for six Parisian hospitals that are “in urgent need of protective gear”.
April 9, 2020
Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton has reopened and repurposed 12 of its 16 workshops in France to produce hundreds of thousands of non-surgical protective masks for its staff, nearby retirement homes, and healthcare workers. According to an interview with WWD, its chairman and chief executive officer Michael Burke said that the brand will be keeping around 20 to 30 percent of masks for internal use, and the rest will be donated. The French Maison also relayed a special thanks to its “hundreds of artisans who have volunteered to create these masks, as well as everyone doing their part to fight this global pandemic”.
April 7, 2020
Tod’s

The Della Valle family, who are the owners of luxury Italian accessories brand Tod’s, has donated 5 million Euros on behalf of their employees “to support the family members of health personnel who lost their lives in the fight against COVID-19,” according to the press release. “Their selflessness and courage will forever be an example to all of us,” the Della Valle family adds. On top of that, they’re also inviting the public to contribute to the fund, which is called “Sempre con Voi” (always with you, in English).
April 1, 2020
Dior

Dior has reopened its Baby Dior ateliers in Redon, France to support its parent company LVMH’s ongoing efforts to produce new masks for the healthcare frontliners. The French Maison also paid tribute to its petites mains, aka its seamstresses who, “in an exceptional show of solidarity, are working tirelessly to protect them.”
Capri Holdings

Capri Holdings—the luxury fashion group that owns Michael Kors, Versace, and Jimmy Choo—has pledged USD $3 million to the COVID-19 relief efforts across the globe. In a statement released by the brand, its Chairman and CEO John D. Idol says, “Our hearts and souls go out to those who are working on the front lines to help the world combat the COVID-19 pandemic. We thank them for their remarkable dedication and courage and want to support them and the hospitals where they work. We also aim to strengthen organizations dedicated to helping the community. This is clearly a time for people to come together in every way and on every level, because we are all stronger in our united resolve. I want to thank Donatella and Michael for their personal commitments.”
John D. Idol and Michael Kors will both be donating a total of USD $1 million, while the latter’s eponymous label will contribute another USD $1 million. From the combined USD $2 million, USD $750k will be distributed to the NYU Langone Health and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, USD $250,000 to its longtime philanthropic partner God’s Love We Deliver to provide meals for people with serious illnesses, and USD $250,000 to A Common Thread to give financial relief for the fashion community.
Versace is also donating USD $400,000 to the San Raffaele Hospital, and USD $100,000 to the Camera Nazionale Della Moda italiana for the “Italia, we are with you” project, a campaign to donate healthcare equipment and ventilators to the hospitals in Italy. This is on top of the one million yuan and 200,000 Euros donated by the brand and Donatella Versace and her daughter, Allegra previously.
Jimmy Choo will donate USD $500,000 that will be split equally to the National Health Service COVID-19 Urgent Appeal by NHS Charities Together to support hospital staff and volunteers, and the World Health Organisation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund.
March 28, 2020
Burberry

Burberry has pledged to dedicate its resources to support the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. Aside from retooling its trench coat factory in Yorkshire to make non-surgical gowns and masks for patients, the brand will also be utilising its global supply chain network to fast-track the delivery to the UK National Health Service. Aside from that, the company’s funding the research by the University of Oxford for its single-dose vaccine that’s on course to begin human trials in April, and donating to charities including FareShare and The Felix Project that tackle food poverty across the UK.
Chanel
Chanel has contributed 1.2 million Euros to an emergency fund for the public hospital system in Paris and emergency services in France, and is donating 50,000 face masks not only for healthcare personnel, but also for police and firefighters. On top of that, the Maison is also planning to get its partner manufactures on board to produce protective face masks and gowns.
March 27, 2020
Giorgio Armani
Following Giorgio Armani’s initial donation to the Luigi Sacco and San Raffaele hospitals and the Instituto dei Tumori in Milan, as well as the Instituto Lazzaro Spallanzani in Rome, the designer has also made a contribution to the hospitals in Bergamo, Piacenza and Versilia in the Tuscany region. In addition to that, the Armani Group has announced that all of its Italian production plants will be switching to manufacturing single-use medical overalls for healthcare frontliners who are helping to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
March 26, 2020
Ralph Lauren

The Ralph Lauren Corporate Foundation have commited USD 10 million that will be split among four organisations. The first, to provide financial grants through the Emergency Assistance Foundation for its employees who have medical, eldercare or childcare needs; second, the World Health Organisation (WHO) to support countries in preventing, detecting, and responding to COVID-19; the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA) to assist those in the fashion industry; and lastly, to its own Pink Pony Fund for cancer research. On top of that, the American brand has also started producing 250,000 masks and gowns with its manufacturing partners to help relieve the shortage during this period.
Gucci

Its president and CEO Marco Bizzarri has previously made a personal donation of 100,000 Euros to hospitals in the Emilia-Romagna region, and now, Gucci will also be joining the fight by making two separate donations to its crowdfunding campaigns. One million Euros will be donated to the Italian National Civil Protection Department via Intesa Sanpaolo’s ForFunding platform; and another one million Euros to the United Nations Foundation’s COVID-19 Solidarity Response Fund in support of the World Health Organisation (WHO) through a Facebook USD 10 million fundraiser. The #GucciCommunity is invited to make a donation, and Malaysians can donate via this link.
Bvlgari

On top of the donation made to Rome’s Spallanzani Hospital early February, the Italian brand will help manufacture several hundreds of thousands of hand cleansing gel in the next two months to be supplied to all medical facilities through the Italian Civil Protection Department. The gels—distributed in 75ml recyclable bottles—will be produced by its long-term fragrance-manufacturing partner, ICR.
March 23, 2020
Prada
After its co-CEOs Patrizio Bertelli and Miuccia Prada donated six intensive care units to three hospitals in Milan, the brand has also announced that it has started producing 80,000 medical overalls and 110,000 masks for healthcare personnel, following a request from the Tuscany region.
March 18, 2020
Inditex
The Inditex fashion group which owns fast-fashion brand Zara has announced that it’ll be lending its factories and logistics team to the Spanish government to produce hospital gowns and masks for medical staff and patients. The company also revealed its plans to convert some of its textile-manufacturing factories to produce medical supplies such as hospital gowns.
March 17, 2020
Moncler
Moncler is donating 10 million Euros to support the construction of a hospital with over 400 intensive care units in the ex Fiera Milano area in the region of Lombardy, Italy. In a statement released by the brand, chairman and CEO Remo Ruffini says, “Milan is a city that has given us all an extraordinary time. We cannot and must not abandon it. It is everyone’s duty to give back to the city what it has given us so far. I have expressed to the councilor Giulio Gallera the will to work on this great project from the moment it was hypothesized and now that there are reasonable certainties on the feasibility, we are ready to support it. I am sure that the team of the Region of Lombardy, also facilitated by the experience of Guido Bertolaso, can bring this great initiative to become a reality as soon as possible.”

March 18, 2020
Vivy Yusof and Fadza Anuar
Local retailer FashionValet’s founders Vivy Yusof and Fadza Anuar have also laun

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Fashion
LVMH
Gucci
BVLGARI
Chanel
Chiara Ferragni
Vivy Yusof
donation
Fendi
Moncler
Giorgio Armani
Kering
Dolce & Gabbana
Loewe
Prada
Louis Vuitton
Coronavirus
Versace
covid-19 virus
Fashion brands


Features
The only way is up: Max Mara’s Ian Griffiths on the brand’s 70th anniversary, evolution and success

24.11.2021
By Kelly Lim

SHARE THE STORY

RECOMMENDED

Fashion Insider: Content creator Eros Erfe on the inspiration behind the ‘Bags of KL’ series

2021 marks the milestone of 70 years for Max Mara. What better way to start of such a momentous year than with an Autumn/Winter 2021 runway show that paid tribute to the modern-day woman through a celebration of female empowerment? After all, Achilles Maramotti founded the brand in 1951 to dress the new middle class population––coined as “the doctor’s wife” by the designer himself, he wanted to create clothes for women who went on to pursue professional careers and wanted to change the world. And as the world evolved, Max Mara evolved with it.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by Max Mara (@maxmara)

Dressmaking ran in the family: Maramotti’s great grandmother Marina Rinaldi ran an elegant tailoring shop in the mid-nineteenth century, while his mother Giulia Fontanesi Maramotti, established a sewing school. Stylistically inspired by the innovative industrial techniques of French haute couture, Maramotti looked beyond the Italian tradition of handcrafted fashion and specialised in the production of coats, creating sophisticated garments such as the camel coat and geranium red suit for his first collection––pieces that remain iconic and timeless till today. As collections flourished, the brand grew over time and became known for its ‘Made in Italy’ craftsmanship and distinctive style identity. The iconic 101801 coat, a 1981 trademark classic created in wool and cashmere with oversized kimono sleeves, is a testament of that.
And walking with them along the way? Iconic fashion photographers, from Paolo Roversi to Arthur Elgort and Peter Linberg, and supermodels including Christy Turlington, Carla Bruni to Gigi Hadid, who portrayed the brand with campaigns that captured the vision and vitality of each moment.

Max Mara Autumn/Winter 1988 campaign featuring Steevie van der Veen by Peter Lindbergh
Since then, Ian Griffiths––hailed by The Guardian “the most influential designer you’ve never heard of”––has been working quietly at the helm of the Italian fashion house for more than 30 years. Honing Max Mara’s Italian elegance and subtle radicalism with deft touches of Britishness, he looked towards the archives for the momentous anniversary celebration. Landing upon witty brand campaigns from the 1950s, he delved into the concept of classics, delivering a coat-heavy collection made up of signature styles, including the bestselling teddy bear style in green and the 101801 design, alongside waterproof riding jackets, quilted vests and aviator bombers. In keeping with the vision, the latest Autumn/Winter 2021 campaign, captured by long-time collaborator Steven Meisel, celebrated women from a variety of culture and ages in reflection of the global Max Mara family.
Ahead, we caught up with the British designer himself on the brand’s huge milestone, evolution and the Max Mara woman:

BURO: Max Mara was established with the intention of delivering clothes for real women living real lives. How has the brand evolved with changing times, while keeping true to its heritage?
Ian Griffiths: “I think Max Mara has evolved alongside the changing role of women over the past 70 years. In the 1950s, most women followed their partners’ careers but Max Mara’s founder Achille Maramotti sensed that the role of women was to change. He established Max Mara to create clothing for those highly ambitious women who wanted careers of their own. His instinct was spot on: soon enough, women were doctors, lawyers, or running their own companies. They rose and rose, and Max Mara went with them.”
“In the early 80s, Max Mara devised the distinctive look known as power dressing––the dress code which offered women a style that was credible in the corridors of power and helped them earn their place in the boardroom. That is surely one of Max Mara’s most remarkable achievements. In that sense, Max Mara is more than fashion: it’s about positive social change and empowerment. And it’s still changing, today and into the future. As the Max Mara woman becomes more and more successful, the more her self confidence has grown, the more she wants to celebrate herself in the way she dresses. She wants to be cool, original and elegant.”

Max Mara Spring.Summer 1994 campaign featuring Carla Bruni by Max Vadukul
BURO: What is your design philosophy, and how do you think you have evolved as a designer at Max Mara?
Ian: “I think of Max Mara as a continuous narrative, and each collection as a new chapter in the unfolding story. I’m always curious to see where it will lead me next. There are still so many new avenues that I would like to explore, facets of the Max Mara persona that I would like to uncover or rediscover. Every new collection is a new experience, but it all revolves around this woman, the Max Mara woman. I have been at her side for nearly 35 years. I know her so well, I admire her strength, determination and ambition; I think of her as a close friend and I always want the best for her. I feel connected to her, and to our narrative of empowerment. We are living that narrative together.”

Max Mara Spring/Summer 1997 campaign featuring Linda Evangelista by Steven Meisel
BURO: For the anniversary fall 2021 collection, you delved deep into the concept of classics, while exploring elements of British culture. Could you talk a little bit about this and what you wanted to express for the anniversary?
Ian: “I always spend a lot of time in the Max Mara archive, and since it’s our 70th anniversary, I dug deep this season. I realised that Max Mara has always adored British style, right from the earliest days because it’s authentic, classic and full of character, yet you can wear it in your very own way. Naturally, since I’m British, and have been spending a lot of lockdown time at our cottage in Suffolk, I focused on my countryside favourites, but smartened them up for the city using the finest quality materials and craftsmanship that Italy has to offer.

Max Mara Spring/Summer 2002 campaign featuring Stella Tennant by Steven Meisel
“I think of the Max Mara woman as a self-made queen, and that naturally led me to think about the iconic style of the Queen, in off-duty country mode. Just a single image of Her Majesty in a waxed jacket and a kilt sparked off a world of ideas. The look says here is a woman in control––the Max Mara woman is ready to deal with any situation with calm confidence and quiet determination. Nothing gets in her way. She’s a Max Mara woman.”
BURO: What makes the 101801 coat so iconic?
Ian: “Designed in 1981 by the legendary Anne-Marie Beretta, it has been in constant production ever since and it has not been changed in any respect. To me that coat represents the perfect balance of form, volume, finish, proportion, style and functionality. I regard it as a pivotal piece in the history of twentieth century fashion. A single coat encapsulates everything there is to know about power dressing.”

Max Mara Autumn/Winter 2007 campaign featuring Lily Donaldson by Craig McDean
BURO: How would you describe the Max Mara Women of today? How has she evolved since you joined the brand?
Ian: “In the 1980s, when I joined, Max Mara was one of the brands that devised the dress code that came to be known as ‘power dressing’. It was a way of dressing that offered a credible image for women to forge careers for themselves. It offered success but demanded conformity. There was little room for self-expression. Over the years, as women have crashed through the glass ceiling, they rightly expect to be themselves. They are smart, cool and confident and they want to celebrate that. They no longer wish to blend into the background; they want to stand out. When a Max Mara woman walks into the room, she attracts attention –for the right reasons. She trusts the brand for a wardrobe that always helps her to show her best self. That trust is special to me.”
BURO: What has been the best thing about working at Max Mara?
Ian: “The best thing about working at Max Mara has been working at Max Mara! What a privilege to accompany that woman on her inexorable ride to the top!”

Max Mara Autumn/Winter 2009 campaign featuring Eniko Mihalik by Mario Sorrenti
BURO: How do you balance creativity and business? Have you ever felt merging the two to be counterproductive?
Ian: “Never never never. Business is a factor of design. The immediate appeal and wearability of an idea is fundamental, not just for commercial reasons, but because it squares with Max Mara’s philosophy of good design.”
BURO: What are your thoughts on the term “luxury”, what it means now in fashion and for Max Mara?
Ian: “I have been pondering this question for several years and my thoughts are these: ‘luxury’ is a word used to define products which are expensive and, by their very nature, unnecessary. Max Mara is expensive, but as a working wardrobe, Max Mara is a useful and valuable tool for the woman who wears it. Therefore I would define Max Mara as “utility”!”

Max Mara Autumn/Winter 2010 campaign featuring Freja Beha Erichsen by Mario Sorrenti
BURO: How do you stay inspired?
Ian: “Inspiration can come from anywhere; I am very drawn to architectural, design and contemporary culture and art but I can also be inspired by a person I see walking along the street. Someone who puts things together in a cool, original way. I get a lot of inspiration from being in cities around the world. The city is a melting pot for ideas. It’s the place to catch the zeitgeist.”
BURO: With over 30 years spent at the brand and counting, how would you define what success means to you today?
Ian: “A collection is a “success”, to me, when it reinforces the brand’s identity, but maybe shining a light on an unexplored angle. The ultimate test though is when I see a real woman in the street wearing something from a collection; that’s when I know the idea has resonated.”

Max Mara Spring.Summer 2020 featuring Irina Shayk and Gigi Hadid by Steven Meisel
BURO: Describe the future of Max Mara in three words.
Ian: “Onwards and upwards.”

Max Mara Autumn/Winter 2021 featuring Amar Akway, Chloe Oh, Malgosia Bela and Mona Tougaard by Steven Meisel
Read more fashion insider stories here.

SHARE THE STORY

Explore More

Collections
Empowerment
Max Mara
Designers
AW21
Ian Griffiths
Insiders
Fashion
Interview