Features
Spill the Splurge: Nellie Lim on hunting down fashion investment pieces, her impulse buys, and more

17.03.2021
By Joan Kong

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Following our first Spill the Splurge episode with Nana Law, our second installment features Nellie Lim, one of the top fashion influencers in Singapore. A regular during New York, Milan, and Paris Fashion Weeks pre-pandemic, the digital creator (who recently welcomed twin girls, Harper and Harley!) is well-loved for her bold yet chic personal style.
As travels take a backseat in the current climate, we hopped on a Zoom call with Nellie to talk about all things fashion (and shopping), from her favourite pieces to the brand that’s on top of her list when it comes to fashion investments. Also, find out what’s her one regrettable purchase.
Watch the video below:

Hi Nellie! How are you?
I’m good, I’m staying safe in Singapore. How are you?
Good, thanks for asking! Let’s talk about style. Can you describe yours in three words?
Bold, colourful, and experimental?

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A post shared by Nellie Lim (@nellielim)

What is your ultimate favourite fashion investment piece?
Christian Dior’s Diorage patchwork boots that I actually hunted down—they were sold out everywhere. These are so special. That’s why when I saw them, I had to make sure I can get my hands on them.

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A post shared by Nellie Lim (@nellielim)

Why are they your favourite?
For this particular collection—I think it was in 2018, it was either the Summer or the Fall/Winter collection—Maria Grazia Chiuri, the designer, was actually on a quest to rejuvenate the brand, and she really integrated her personal life into it. Because she’s Southern Italian, she said that her grandmother actually loved making patchwork, so she brought that into the collection.
Where did you buy them from?
So because it was sold out everywhere in my size, I actually found it on Vestiaire (Collective). They don’t just have secondhand items, sometimes, you really chance upon brand new items. This pair of boots was actually brand new, and I got it from someone all the way in Italy. I was so happy.
What are some of your other favourite pieces?
#1 I do actually invest a lot in Dior pieces that have stood the test of time. When Dior brought back their iconic logo, the Oblique print, I actually found this, and this is actually a vintage piece. It’s very reminiscent of Carrie Bradshaw’s Sex and the City saddle bag.
#2 My Dior tote bag. I got my name embroidered on it. I didn’t get the iconic Oblique print, I got it in the Toile de Jouy print. So you can really see the animals on it, and I think it’s a collector’s item.
#3 You know Dorateymur? This pair of red leather boots is from them. I love that they have an elephant on it. So, special fashion pieces like that, I really, really fall in love with.

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A post shared by Nellie Lim (@nellielim)

What are some of your tips on buying luxury secondhand pieces?
I would say to be very specific about what you want. And be very clear about the style that you like. For example, for vintage items, I would either go for iconic statement or classic pieces that can really stand the test of time. And whenever I shop, I already have what I want in mind. So I’m really just hunting down that particular item.
Where do you usually shop overseas?
I’m quite a purist in terms of buying from the original brand’s stores, because I think that the shopping experience that you get from the original brands is unparalleled.
Do you still remember your very first designer item?
Yes, it is my Balenciaga City bag in this bright neon yellow. I bought it with my first paycheck. Back then, Balenciaga City bags were all the rage, everyone had them, and I needed to have one too.
What are the things to know before investing in a luxury piece?

I think you really need to know what’s your style. If you’re into classics, don’t just blindly follow the trends that every brand is pushing out. Be very sure that there’s always a value to whatever you’re buying. For me, before I invest in a piece, I sit on it for a week before actually making the purchase. That’s to prevent myself from making impulse buys. I’ve done it so many times in the past and I always end up being so upset with myself, so I always give myself a one-week buffer to decide if I really want it, and then I’ll be like, ok, I’ve thought about it for long enough, I’m going to buy it.

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A post shared by Nellie Lim (@nellielim)

If you could only carry one bag for the rest of your life, what would it be?
I would say it would be my Hermès Herbag. It’s Hermès!
Do you have a designer purchase that you regretted?
Yes. Unfortunately, it is my very first Balenciaga City bag. It’s because I bought the wrong colour. Even though, yes, my style is very bold, since it’s in bright neon yellow, it was very hard to match with a lot of stuff that I was carrying.
How do you store your designer bags and shoes?
I don’t believe in keeping everything in dustbags or even glass cases. I have my bag wardrobe out in the open, but I have humidifiers in the room to help maintain the integrity of the bag, and also to ensure that the leather doesn’t crack. I stuff all my bags with stuffing and their own dustbags. I just want to see my babies as they are.
As for my shoes, likewise, I also just stuff them to make sure they don’t lose their shape. They’re just all on display. I feel that if you store shoes in a confined space they will start to smell. So I rather air them out and just do light dusting once a month.

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A post shared by Nellie Lim (@nellielim)

What’s next on your to-buy list?
The Dior Bobby bag. That’s going to be a classic. It feels more like a saddle bag compared to the Dior Saddle, and I think that’s actually a lot more wearable because of the size and the shape. I’m really dying to get one in the classic Oblique print.

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A post shared by Nellie Lim (@nellielim)

Check out our Spill the Splurge series with Nana Law here.

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Fashion
Breaking News: Alber Elbaz resigns from Lanvin
Say it ain't so

28.10.2015
By Buro247

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

October 2015 may very well go down as one of the saddest months in fashion history. Less than a week after Raf Simons’ shock announcement of his resignation from Dior, Israeli designer Alber Elbaz is also said to be stepping down from his post as Creative Director of Lanvin after a wildly successful 14 year run. Elbaz was a recent recipient of the Superstar Award at the Fashion Group International’s Night of the Stars, where he was presented the title by actress Meryl Streep.
During his acceptance speech, the 54-year-old designer commented on the tremendous pressure designers face with having to come up with numerous collections a year, disallowing adequate time for creative incubation—a problem which may have prompted his contemporary, Simons, to leave Dior. “We designers started out as couturiers with dreams, with intuitions and with feelings. We started with ‘What do women want; what do women need? What can I do for women to make their lives better and easier? How can I make a woman more beautiful?’,” he lamented. “And now we have to become image makers, making sure it looks good in pictures. The screen has to scream baby—that’s the rule. Loudness is the new thing. Loudness is the new cool, and not only in fashion. I prefer whispering: I think it goes deeper and lasts longer.” Elbaz’s resignation has rumours flying of a possible position at Dior. We wish you all the best Mr. Elbaz.

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Woman of the hour: Sandra Oh

Film, TV + Theatre
Woman of the hour: Sandra Oh

07.01.2019
By Su Fen Tan

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Fashion
‘Tis the season: 6 Holiday 2021 fashion campaigns to get you in a festive mood

18.11.2021
By Buro247

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

It’s that time of the year again, and parties and gatherings (SOPs-appropriate, of course) are back! Whether you’re ringing in the holiday season with your dearest friends and family, or attending a festive dinner with colleagues from work, what better way to get into the mood that by checking out holiday fashion campaigns? From merry short films to lavish parties, the new holiday ads are all about spreading joy, while showcasing the best gifts of the season. In the market for the essential must-haves? Check out the monogram accessories Versace and Prada have to offer. Looking for outfit inspo? Loewe and Miu Miu have got those bases covered, whether you’re hosting a party at home or heading to a city bash.
Scroll on for our favourite fashion campaigns of the merry season:
Salvatore Ferragamo

In an ode to the world of cinema, Salvatore Ferragamo presents “It’s Movie O’Clock!”, a portfolio of a three-episode short and photographs that celebrate the warmth and joy of friendship and togetherness. Part one of the campaign sees six Italian talents as they get together for a dinner and movie night which is then prompted by a mysterious invitation that will link to the second and third episodes, featuring global ambassadors Jelly Lin and Red Velvet’s Seulgi in China and Korea. Shot by film director Barbara Anastacio, we get a glimpse of the privacy and warmth of shared moments throughout the campaign, alongside plenty of delectable Ferragamo accessories and apparel: glittered F-heel mules and boots; a brand new penny loafer decorated with a Viva bow, the Studio Bag in fabulous woven leather; and elegantly cut shirts and separates that are must-haves for any special occasion.
Versace

Lace up your boots and take to the ice because Versace wants you to get active for the festive season. Winter sports gets a very Versace glam-up in a new campaign featuring professional skater Rebecca Ghilardi alongside models-teammates Stella Maxwell and Malika Louback as “Team Versace”. Ghilardi is a vision of strength and poise as she spins and pirouettes across the ice while showcasing the new vibrant colours of the covetable La Medusa handbag. Meanwhile, Maxwell and Louback don pieces from the Barocco party wear collection featuring the new LA Greca print.
Prada

Dreaming of a white Christmas? So is Prada. The Italian luxury house unveiled a cinematic 2-minute short titled “A Midwinter’s Night Dream“ for the holidays, transporting us to a serene snow-covered Los Angeles filled with the magic and wonder of Christmas. With the help of director Glen Luchford, a line-up of this generation’s brightest Hollywood stars made up of Julia Garner, Shira Haas, Louis Partridge and Taylor Russell dressed in rhinestone-studded get-ups as they journey across the frozen terrain to reach a joyous gathering. The latest cardigans, dresses, suits and accessories glimmer against the dreamy backdrop of a white night, as Tchaikovsky’s ‘Waltz of the Flowers’ (The Nutcracker, anyone?) echoes triumphantly throughout.
Loewe

Photographed by Tyler Mitchell, Loewe’s holiday campaign evokes the feeling of nostalgia that comes with living room memories via a cast of real friends and families to celebrate the festive season. Their principle for the season? “The most thoughtful gifts are the simple but beautiful ones.” As such, Loewe’s Christmas selection of goods arrive in an electric clash of colour and craft, ranging from charming nature-inspired wallets, phone cases and cardholders to fresh iterations of their iconic handbags like the Puzzle Hobo (in new sizes and colours), the Flamenco clutch (in anagram print) and the Amazona 23––a classic that was first introduced in 1975 and recently returned for AW21 show.
Miu Miu

Who better to hit the dancefloor with than Miu Miu? Just in time for the party season, the house debuts Miu Miu Nuit, a collection that revels in the celebration of the evening dress, alongside the accompanying, electric feeling of a night out. Starring the next generation of female talent––Ever Anderson, Ciara Bravo, and KiKi Layne––the campaign evokes the bright flash of a paparazzi photo in a fancy bar to capture the glittering, embroidered details of the looks in its full glory, and encapsulate the fantastical imagination of a night we can all relate to. Who wouldn’t want to join the party?
Coach

Capturing the season’s spirit of warmth and connection, Coach’s “Give A Little Love” campaign celebrates love and affection as the greatest gift of all. Joining the house are members of the Coach Family as well as with their loved ones: Jennifer Lopez; Michael B. Jordan; Kiko Mizuhara and her sister Yuka; Paloma Elsesser with her grandmother; Rickey Thompson and his cousin; and Barbie Ferreira with her cat Morty among others. Captured by photographer Pierre-Ange Carlotti, the images present a snowy New York wonderland alongside cosy knits, teddy bear coats and plenty of eye-catching handbags.
In accompaniment, the house has also released a special holiday episode of Coach TV with new vignettes inspired by nostalgic holiday film, television and pop culture references that include J.Lo recreating an iconic scene from her 2002 music video “All I Have”, and fun infomercials starring Bob the Drag Queen. (P.S. Campaign aside, Coach has also brought their snow-filled dreamscape to Kuala Lumpur via a bespoke holiday installation at Pavilion KL.)
Read more 2021 holiday stories here.

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Fashion
5 reasons why you wish you were at Tommyland
California dreamin’

09.02.2017
By Buro247

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When Tommy Hilfiger teased us with subtle hints of his upcoming runway show on Instagram, it did not take much to guess that it is going to be a major one.  Taking his show, #TommyNow outside of New York Fashion Week, the American designer presented his eponymous brand’s second in-season fashion show in Venice Beach, Los Angeles. There were likenesses between the Fall 2016 and Spring 2017 shows; both shared similar carnival atmosphere, and showcased collections designed in collaboration with model-of-the-moment, Gigi Hadid. This season, the TommyxGigi collection incorporates the brand’s signature East Coast heritage with Hadid’s relaxed West Coast aesthetic. From a whopping total of 50 looks to an impressive set and celebrity spotting, here are some of the top reasons why you wish you were one of the 3000 guests at Tommyland.
#1 Fun fashion experiences
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Tommyland showspace” rid=”4807″ order=”a_tstamp”}Set against the iconic backdrop of Venice Beach, ‘Tommyland’ became the ultimate West Coast fashion festival. Guests enjoyed unexpected activities including shopping Tommy Vintage by Frankie Collective, getting a taste of local Smorgasbord L.A. food trucks, taking in a stunning paranomic view of Tommyland from the Kamikaze and Landslide rides and dancing to surprise music performances.
#2 Famous models
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Tommyland models” rid=”4809″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Besides supermodel, Gigi Hadid, the show featured top models such as Bella Hadid, Joan Smalls, Hailey Baldwin, Stella Maxwell and Sara Sampaio, just to name a few.

#3 Star-studded guests
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Tommyland frow” rid=”4808″ order=”a_tstamp”}
#FROW guests included Gigi and Bella’s family, Lewis Hamilton, Lucky Blue Smith, Sofia Richie and Kris Jenner. However, it was Lady Gaga who sent show-goers into a frenzy as she appeared at Tommyland in a satin sequined top with matching hot pants.
#4 Live performances

A photo posted by Fergie (@fergie) on Feb 8, 2017 at 5:09pm PST

Eight-time Grammy award winner, Fergie gave a spectacular performance during the show finale with some of her biggest solo hits and chart toppers from the Black Eyed Peas. American neo-soul duo, Lion Babe also took the stage to perform their chart-climbing hits.
#5 The clothes
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With so much going on at Tommyland, you’d think it would be easy to forget about the clothes. Of course Hilfiger was not going to let that happen—Hadid opened the show dressed in a cropped top paired with a sporty patchwork jacket, leather biker pants and cowboy boots. Inspired by West Coast music and arts festival, Hilfiger celebrates the fusion of fashion with California-inspired creativity. Throwing in Americana vibes, the collection featured lots of denim, quirky patches as well as Western influences like boho dresses, fringe, patterned patchwork and the red-white-blue motif. The best part? All looks from the Spring 2017 show were immediately available for purchase across all sales channels in more than 70 countries.

Related stories:
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Buro Loves
11 Beauty stocking stuffer ideas that are perfect for gifting this holiday season

11.11.2020
By Redzhanna Jazmin

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

Shopping for the holidays can be a drag, so allow us to make your life easier. We’ve compiled the best stocking-friendly beauty buys for you and your loved ones—from makeup to bath and body care, there’s a little something in here for everyone.
Don’t worry if you’re riding the eco-friendly train, either—we’ve included a few of our favourite sustainably-designed gift sets too! Basically, what are you waiting for? Get browsing and get shopping ASAP!
PS: If you’re looking for the best beauty advent calendars, we’ve got you covered there too.
Malin + Goetz
Malin + Goetz Make It A Double Set

Nothing screams the holiday season louder than a shot of rum. It’s in your punch, your fruit cake, your belly, and now it’s in your body care. however, as fun as it is to wake up with a raging headache on Boxing Day, we’re skipping the hangovers this year with this boozy body duo from Malin + Goetz.
The Rum Hand and Body Wash and Rum Body Lotion now comes in a nifty compact set that makes it perfect for gifting and hoarding alike. You have our guarantee—any beauty fan will be thrilled to find this duo in their stocking come the 25th of December.
Find it here, or in store at Ken’s Apothecary
Fenty Beauty
Fenty Glow Trio set and Holo’daze set

The holidays have never been so twinkly—Fenty Beauty is bringing the sparkle this #HOLODAZE season with two new giftable sets. The Limited-Edition Fenty Glow Trio set is curated to get you glowing, and it comes with the Gloss Bomb Universal Lip Luminizer, the Cheeks Out Freestyle Cream Blush and the Diamond Bomb All-Over Diamond Veil in Fenty Glow.
The second Holo’Daze set is all about the eyes, and it comes complete with a full Snap Shadow and mini Full Frontal Mascara. The eyeshadow palette is all-new for the holidays, including shades such as Violet Vibez (purple duochrome), Royal Dazzle (gold glitter), Blood Moon (red metallic), Concrete Lavender (gray-pink matte), Honey Splash (peach matte), and Brownie Babe (mauve-brown matte). As always, they are created to flatter all eyes and skin tones.
Shop the Fenty Glow Trio here and the Holo’Daze set here, or get it in-store at your nearest Sephora
Ren Clean Skincare
Ren Best of Body Set

Gifting has never been so sustainable—in line with the brand’s ethos, Ren’s new holiday gift sets are bigger and better, but fewer in range. This isn’t a move to cheat you out of a good deal by any means, though—the brand is just opting to offer more full-sized products as opposed to many mini sets. Quality over quantity!
The boxes are designed in collaboration with illustrator Lisa Tegtmeier, created using sustainable materials and produced in the UK.
Treat your body to the Best of Body set, which contains favourites such as the Moroccan Rose line and the Atlantic Kelp and Magnesium line. That’s right—you can score two body washes and two body lotions in two enticing scents for you or your loved ones. Talk about an absolute steal, right?
Available here and at all Ken’s Apothecary stores
Gucci Beauty
Gucci Limited-Edition Rouge À Lèvres Lunaison

If you love Gucci Beauty’s staple Rouge À Lèvres Lunaison lipsticks, you’ll adore the three new, limited-edition glitter shades on offer this holiday season. The three shades include Agatha Orange, Vantine Fuchsia, and Madge Red Rouge; vibrant hues that apply vividly in one swipe, coated with luxurious, iridescent sparkling pearls.
Plus, if the hues weren’t incentive enough, the recognisable etched gold tube has been given a special purple makeover for the occasion, making the new bullet a true collectible for beauty fanatics. If you’ve got a beauty connoisseur in your ranks, you’ve found the perfect stocking stuffer.
Available at the Gucci Beauty store in Suria KLCC
Kiehl’s
Kiehl’s x Maïté Franchi Collection

Go Green, not Grinch this December. Kiehl’s is offering a delightful set of holiday exclusive packaging, created under their most sustainable holiday campaign to date. Designed by Lyon-based illustrator Maïté Franchi, the new look is inspired by the original NYC apothecary and features vivid illustrations of the iconic Kiehl’s aesthetic. This range of limited-edition packaging isn’t just a sight for sore eyes, either—it’s also made with zero plastic and 100% previously-recycled paper.
We love the new holiday-exclusive look for the Lavender, Coriander, and Grapefruit Scented Body Soaps and their Crème de Corps Whipped Body Butter in particular.
Available here and in-store
Lush
Lush Christmas Bathtime Favourites Gift Set

Looking for the perfect gift for a friend in desperate need of a self-care sesh? Look no further than Lush. Consider all your holiday needs met with this year’s festive Bathtime Favourites. Packed full with almost every one of the limited-edition holiday bath bombs from the brand, you’re just a soak away from total bliss.
The festive (and reusable!) hatbox contains old favourites like the Shoot For The Stars bath bomb and the Jingle Bells bath bomb, as well as newer additions like the Winter Garden bath bomb and Angels Delight bath bomb.
Available on Lush’s website and in-store
Fresh
Fresh Holiday Body Care Duo Gift Set

Smelling good has never been so easy—Fresh’s Holiday Body Care Duo is all you need for a total body care refresh. Complete with both the Hesperides Grapefruit Bath & Shower Gel and the Hesperides Grapefruit Body Lotion, you’ll be smelling fresh to death all winter season long.
The fun doesn’t stop there, though. In addition to this set, there are 12 other incredible gift sets for you to peruse and we promise that they only get better.
Available here and in-store
Dr. Jart+
Dr. Jart+ Best Cream Skincare Duo

Behold: The perfect stocking stuffer for the people in your life with super sensitive skin. This miracle duo from Dr. Jart+ is all about soothing and moisture. The Cicapair Cream targets areas of sensitivity (and scarring), rejuvenating the skin, lightening scarring, and protecting against irritation. The Ceramidin Cream, on the other hand, delivers all the moisture your skin needs, improving the skin barrier and shielding from water loss.
And, of course, it doesn’t hurt that the packaging is super cute!
Available here
Briogeo
Briogeo Don’t Despair, Repair! Repair Rituals Hair Care Kit

Any head of hair in need of a major TLC session will appreciate this stocking stuffer. Briogeo is known for their excellent hair solutions, and now you can score two of their best hair care buys in one single gift set.
The dynamic duo consists of the  Don’t Despair, Repair! Deep Conditioning Hair Mask and the Don’t Despair, Repair!™ Strengthening Treatment Hair Oil. The mask is formulated with a blend of rosehip, sweet almond, and argan oils, with a super-nourishing shot of vitamin B5 and biotin. The hair oil is formulated with moisture-loving ceramides and special Briogeo tech that ensures stronger hair.
Together, this hair care kit is the key to shinier, more hydrated tresses.
Available here
Becca Cosmetics
Becca x Barbie Ferreira Prismatica Light Essentials Kit

Shine bright this holiday season with this highlighter trio—the brand’s three best-selling Shimmering Skin Perfector Pressed Highlighters can now be found in one pretty mini-set. The shades include Champagne Pop, Vanilla Quartz, and Rose Quartz.
As you may know, each pressed highlighter is made from ultra-fine pearl pigment mixed with liquid. The creamy texture applies beautifully and blends seamlessly, so you don’t have to worry about looking too glittery or chalky. The best part is that it also looks great on every and any skin tone.
Available here
Burberry Beauty
Burberry Beauty Festive Gold Collection

Houston, we have another fabulous holiday collection! Rich and festive palettes of gold and red hues are celebrated in Burberry Beauty’s 2020 Festive Gold collection.
Comprised of the Signature Liquid Lip Velvet and Burberry Kisses lippies for bold red lips, the Fresh Glow Fluid Base and Essential Glow Palette (the new three-in-one face palette that instantly sculpts, colours, and highlights) for a buildable natural glow, and the Ultimate Lift Mascara for instant volume and lift that comes clump-free!
Hanging any (or all) of these goodies on the fireplace will please any beauty lover—just saying.
The Festive Gold Collection is available at Parkson Pavilion and Sogo.
For more awesome holiday buys, click here.

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Lifestyle
Art rises to new heights at the newly opened St. Regis Kuala Lumpur
Soar point

01.05.2016
By Renyi Lim

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

There’s plenty to marvel at when you set foot in the newly opened St. Regis Kuala Lumpur: its elegant old-world interiors with generous touches of modern-day glamour, the hotel’s signature butler service, and a spectacular wine cellar with an awe-inspiring gold-tiled domed ceiling. Of course, it’s equally impossible not to notice their magnificent private art collection, specially curated and commissioned by Carmen Chua, the Chief Executive Officer of ONE IFC Sdn Bhd, the owner and developer behind the luxury hotel.

One such piece of artwork that’s sure to catch everyone’s eye is Birds and Butterflies—a three-dimensional installation by the Norwich-born artist Barnaby Hosking, whose minimalist style is both communicative and contemplative. It is an immense piece (Hosking’s most labour-intensive yet), involving 200 birds and 100 butterflies crafted from brass and plated in gold and chrome to withstand Malaysia’s humidity.

Over a period of four days in mid-March, Hosking and his team of professional art installers scaled multiple levels of scaffolding, arranging the metal wings all along the St. Regis Kuala Lumpur’s 20-metre Banquet Escalator wall, which stretches from Levels 1 to 3 of the hotel. A series of specially positioned halogen spotlights completed the piece, which takes on an entirely new character with the addition of light: as the light hits each bird or butterfly wing, its reflection and shadow form a whole figure on the wall, effectively bringing the piece to life.

“One requirement was for the piece to incorporate the nearby Lake Gardens, and the Bird Park and Butterfly Park. As Malaysians, we all grew up with The Lake Gardens—it’s the country’s oldest and largest park, with so much history to it, so it made sense to incorporate it into our art,” Chua explains. Such is Hosking’s attention to detail that the bird wings have been modelled on those of the native red-bearded bee-eater, the many different shapes and sizes of the butterfly wings reflect the diverse species found at the Butterfly Park.

Perhaps what’s most intriguing about Birds and Butterflies is its sense of freedom—not just in terms of its impact on the surrounding space, where it rises up, narrowing in the middle and forming into a crescendo at the highest floor, but also from Hosking’s own artistic perspective. “A lot of my work is fairly dark and moody, and I find a sense of release in this work. I wanted it to feel light and airy—of course, it had obvious constraints because it had to work well with the interior design—but this really is an uplifting piece.”

Related stories:
Art and cultural events happening around the globe in May
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Fashion
A lady and her purse: The iconic designer bags of Princess Diana

21.09.2021
By Kelly Lim

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

Before Meghan and Kate, there was Diana. The People’s Princess is arguably one of the world’s most enduring style icons of the 20th century, having inspired countless designers, artists, and some of fashion’s most coveted handbags.
While her wardrobe during her marriage to Prince Charles was one of contemporary elegance that reflected her personal style through prints and bursts of colours under royal protocol, it was her post-divorce period––also known as the “revenge dressing” years––that allowed her to really rewrite her own fashion rules and dress the way she wanted. Across all the monochrome ensembles, memorable suit-sets, and statement LBDs that were all gloriously evocative of the ’90s, there was always a trusty handbag to complete every look. And her iconic accessories continue to stand the test of time––for example, Gucci even reimagined Diana’s iconic bamboo tote earlier this year.
As we impatiently await the arrival of Spencer (alongside Kristen Stewart’s royal portrayal) in November and the fifth season of The Crown, find a breakdown of the late Princess’ favourite luxury bags ahead and how she used fashion as both an armour and a weapon under the watchful eye of the public (and non-stop paparazzi):
Dior

No bag is as iconic or symbolically linked to Princess Diana as Dior’s Lady Dior bag. Formerly known as the Chouchou––French for “favourite”––the tote was created in 1994 under the creative direction of Gianfranco Ferre. A year later, the to-be-launched creation was presented to Princess Diana as a token of French culture by the First Lady of France during the opening of the Paul Cézanne retrospective at the Grand Palais in Paris. The rest, as they say, is history.
The Princess reportedly ordered the bag in every colour and it was almost always by her side in the years to come, from its very first appearance immortalised in a photograph of her departing the plane in Buenos Aires, to its multiple variations during her outings, including her attendance to the 1996 Met Gala to honour 50 years of Christian Dior. According to Dior, the bag suited her so well that she even wanted a navy blue version to match her eye colour, and in 1996, they renamed it to Lady Dior as a tribute to the Princess.
Today, the bag remains a cult-favourite with its clean architectural lines and metallic charms and has since been reinterpreted in new designs, different styles, and various sizes.

Shop: 1997 pre-owned Cannage Lady Dior bag, Christian Dior
Gucci

First launched in 1991, Gucci’s structured, bamboo handle bag was the perfect companion for a busy lady on the go and the chic tote was synonymous with Lady Di’s style in the early ’90s. Evocative of her post-divorce freedom, she paired the capacious holdall with leisurewear and day dresses as she distanced herself from the royal family and became bolder with her fashion choices. The allure of the bag continues to stay strong today––earlier this year, Gucci reissued the Diana bag in three sizes and seven colourways for the modern woman—complete with removable neon leather belts as a nod to the functional bands that once came with the original bag to maintain the shape of the handles.

Shop: Diana bamboo-handle leather tote bag, Gucci
Chanel

No handbag collection is complete without some Chanel quilting and Princess Diana had plenty by her side, particularly to honour her hosts during her visits to France. One of the most memorable moments was in 1988, during a royal tour to Paris when she wore a red coat paired with the brand’s classic flap bag. In the following year, Karl Lagerfeld recreated a version of the Chanel flap bag––now known as the Chanel Diana bag––with a long shoulder chain, curved front panel and partially quilted exterior. Though production for it halted in the late ’90s, the vintage model remains popular and is highly sought after to this day, especially in caviar leather and its 24k gold hardware that is rare in contemporary counterparts. In 2015, Chanel resurrected the Chanel Diana bag with significant design changes for its spring collection.
Post-divorce, there were also rumours that Diana no longer wanted items featuring the brand’s interlocking C logo as it reminded her of Charles and his lover Camilla, but a trip to New York in 1997 proved otherwise.

Shop: 1992 small Diana shoulder bag, Chanel Pre-owned
Salvatore Ferragamo

The same night Prince Charles’ tell-all documentary premiered on national television as a confession to his infidelity, Princess Diana made a public appearance at a Vanity Fair party in what is now known as the ultimate ‘revenge dressing’ moment. Wearing the now-iconic Christina Stambolian off-the-shoulder dress, she paired a Salvatore Ferragamo Vara bow clutch for the ultimate “Diana bad b**ch moment”, as Rihanna once said.
For everyday outings, Diana often opted for the brand’s chain strap bags, which featured the signature gold-hooped Gancini clasp. According to Vogue’s Sarah Mower, she loved it so much that she owned 20 versions of the bag in different colours––no wonder it was retrospectively named the Lady Di.

Shop: Mini Vara bow clutch, Salvatore Ferragamo
Versace

Considering her close friendship with designer Gianni Versace, it comes as no surprise that Diana was often spotted in the brand’s pieces and accessories in the mid to late ’90s. Versace’s distinctive top-handles styles were representative of her sleek and elegant post-divorce look––captured most memorably during the late designer’s memorial in 1997 when she carried a glossy crocodile-embossed handbag featuring iconic Versace Medusa medallions as a final goodbye to her friend.

Shop: La Medusa top-handle bag, Versace
Anya Hindmarch

Coined by Diana as the “cleavage bag”, Anya Hindmarch’s Maud satin clutches were the Princess’ most unique accessory and signature shield––the bags made for the perfect protection against the prying gaze of the press as she started wearing lower necklines. Holding the purse to her chest when she stepped out of cars, the clutch helped her avoid raunchy close-ups or a potential slip and went beautifully with her cocktail dresses. Hindmarch was also said to have embroidered a secret letter D inside the bags as a sweet nod to their friendship.

Shop: Bespoke Maud Tassel clutch, Anya Hindmarch
Read more stories on fashion accessories here.

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Buro Loves
#MCODiaries: A WFH day in the life of a Deputy Editor

10.04.2020
By Wei Yeen Loh

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

Thursday, 9 April 2020
8:30am
After my three alarms ring in a span of 10 minutes, I finally peeled my eyelids open and start on rolling around in bed—it’s as essential as brushing my teeth in the mornings. I then check my phone for Whatsapp messages, emails, and then Instagram—in that order.
8:45am
I permit myself 15 minutes of rolling, tops. Otherwise I’d never get out of bed and may possibly fall back into sleep. Washed up, looped my hair into a bun and downed 1L of water.
9:15am

No makeup, two masks on, and a flaming zit
I discovered a stubborn zit rearing its ugly head (right before tonight’s BURO Hangouts: Live!) and I’m a little irked by it—especially since it’s right smack in the middle of my cheek.
So, I decided on a quick daytime multi-masking session with Sothys’ new Perfect Shape Stretch Mask and Origins’ GinZing Refreshing Mask to Wake Up Tired Skin (that, I most definitely have).
The former has botanical extracts to give the facial contours an instant lifting effect, while the latter is my go-to for a skin pick-me-up (although, sadly, it’s been out-of-stock for a while now and I’m down to the final squeeze of my last tube).
Rooted myself to my desk and started on work.
9:30am
15 minutes later, I remove said masks and slap on my current AM beauty routine:

Fresh Rose Deep Hydration Facial Toner – one of my favourite alcohol-free toners
Swanicoco Fermentation Snail Care Emulsion – leaves my skin feeling ultra soft (I use it as a pre-serum); also, it doesn’t smell anything like snail, if you’re wondering
Drunk Elephant B-Hydra™Intensive Hydration Serum – only a few weeks since I’ve started on this, but it doesn’t break me out and I like that it’s fragrance-free
First Aid Beauty’s Hello FAB Coconut Skin Smoothie Priming Moisturiser – great for dry skin, but I’m not a huge fan of the scent
Supergoop! Glow Stick Sunscreen SPF 50 – great for that glowy effect but skip if you’ve got oily/combo skin

9:45am
Headed downstairs for a quick bite (banana, and whatever I find in the fridge; today it’s a slice of Swiss roll) and to refill my water bottle. Then, back to my work station.
11am
I encountered some tech issues with the site, no thanks to my ISP. It seems like Red isn’t the only one that technology has a grudge against. After liaising with the tech team, we managed to work through some kinks.
12pm
I decided to make pre-lunch dessert (it’s not a thing, but it should be one) because I felt like it—and also because my family’s lunch hours have been decidedly pushed during this MCO period. I attribute it to late breakfasts on a daily basis.

I found a bag of sweet potatoes in the fridge so sweet potato ginger soup it is! After peeling the skins off and chopping them into chunks, I tossed the potatoes into a pot of boiling water, ginger slices and screwpine (pandan) leaves.
I let it simmer until the potatoes get soft (about seven to 15 minutes, depending on how large the chunks are), then I removed the leaves and added brown sugar to taste.
A bowl of this later and I’m back to work.
2pm
It’s finally lunch time! The matriarch came through with the best fried Hokkien noodles and I wolfed it down in 20 minutes.

Gotta say that this #WFH sitch has made me realise how much I missed my mum’s cooking. With 4/5 of the household working long hours on a daily basis, it isn’t often that we get a chance to sit down for a meal together—let alone for my mum to whip up a spread.
Three weeks down and I’m fortunate to be spending family time bonding over meals, from the making of to dining together.
3:30pm

After looking for some nature-scented essentials for this story, my eyes started to feel the sheer weight of a food coma.
Coffee calls!
I got my trusty coffee dripper out for a quick pour over. Can you tell that I ran out of filters from the ill-fitted one above? (I bought these in the wrong size months back but good thing my family kept ’em till now.) Beggars can’t be choosers and I’m honestly happy to be enjoying a cup of black coffee every afternoon. *laugh/cry emoji
4:15pm
Work, work and work.
Occasional stretches because a good posture isn’t one of my better traits.
5pm
Headed to my siblings’ rooms to bug check in with them.
Others may have the cutest pets to interrupt their mundane #MCO days, but seeing how I don’t have one, I’m glad I have company in the form of a sister and brother (:D)—they may or may not be locking their doors after my umpteenth time barging into their rooms.
Constant reapplication of hand cream (two tubes currently sitting on my work station).
6pm
Got into a mini headspace with my playlist as background music.

6:30pm
I had an early dinner today since BURO Hangouts: Live is happening tonight at 8:30pm, hosted by yours truly and Red. Catch a recap of the first episode that aired this past Tuesday here, featuring our Fashion Editor Joan Kong and fashion designer Melinda Looi.
Cleaned up after dinner; proceeded to get ready for a quick Instagram Live rehearsal sesh—crossing fingers we don’t get peaky WiFi halfway through.
8pm
After preparing all the makeup I’ll be using for the BuroBeautyBattle, Red and I started on the rehearsal (yes, it was our second rehearsal, and yes we’re competitive).
We may just be the only few members (including intern Kelly) in the team with spotty WiFi connections, evident from our frozen faces and often-dropped calls during team video meetings.
8:30pm
The second episode of BURO Hangouts: Live is now, well, live!
Red’s obviously acing at hosting—we chat for some and then she kickstarted the No-Mirror Makeup Challenge. Her reference: Blondie’s Debbie Harry at an Andy Warhol shoot i.e. bold eyes and equally bold lips—but with one product.
8:40pm
Red is making red lipstick work for her eyes, lips and cheeks. Beauty hack 101, girls.
Her unparalleled confidence in drawing a winged liner without a mirror is making me gulp in anxiety, and caution her against poking her eyeballs.
Her final look is fire and we stan.
8:45pm
Now it’s my turn to attempt making up sans mirror. The look I had for the day is basically everything pink; I hope it translates to a pretty-in-pink look instead of a pink eye (and a bad sunburn). But we’ll see.
8:50pm
And it’s done-zo with the help of Red’s verbal cues and a lot of questions from my end i.e. “How do I look?”; “Is it enough pink?”; “Should I tightline my eyes?”; “Can you tell that there’s enough glitter?”.

A little sneak peek of our final looks.
Good news: we don’t look like clowns. Not-so-bad news: I probably won’t wear this out (but Red will).
I’d say we fared well for a mirrorless challenge, especially since we didn’t hold back with colour. Fun fact: it’s been eons since I’ve had fuchsia lipstick on and I don’t quite mind how this colour looks on me.
Stay tuned for the recap of this episode tomorrow!
9:05pm
After answering a couple of beauty Q&As from our viewers, we bid adieu and thanked them for tuning in.
A double cleanse is necessary to get rid of this visage. My sink side essentials: Shu Uemura’s Anti/Oxi+ Cleansing Oil and Aesop’s Fabulous Face Cleanser.
10pm
Like clockwork, my sister already pulled two glasses out with a bottle of makgeolli on the side, so a night cap it is!
11:30pm
I decided to catch Spirited Away on Netflix before tucking in.
This feel-good film also brought award-winning composer Joe Hisaishi’s tunes to mind—his work has never failed to induce a tear or two from my leaky peepers (you should watch me at live orchestras and concerts; to say that I get emotional is an understatement).
And so I binged on a few of his performances on YouTube because what else but a stunning work of art to keep our minds clear and our hearts light during disheartening times like these?
But I digress—ahead is my all-time favourite composition from the musical director, also his most recognisable work that was featured in Takeshi Kitano’s film Kikujiro.

As a self-confessed homebody, staying home during the first few weeks wasn’t worth batting an eyelid over at the beginning. But weeks have stretched to a month (possibly more, but crossing fingers we don’t get there) and stir crazy is a term that’s somewhat apt to describe the current dynamics of this household.
That said, I’m grateful for a hundred and one things—for good health, accessibility to groceries and even food deliveries (from fresh soy milk to crispy fried chicken), loved ones who are safe at home, frontliners who are the real unsung heroes in this pandemic, the occasional spot of sunshine amidst these turbulent times, and more.
Here’s to another few weeks of #MCO and a successful curve-flattening endeavour.

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Technology
7 Productive ways I use the iPad Air (2022) for work and play
The power of convenience

10.05.2022
By Natalie Khoo

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Most working adults today will find it practically impossible to live without a smartphone and desktop/laptop. Tablets, on the other hand, are often an afterthought for those who already own one or both of these devices.
However, tablets have now come a long way since the first mass-market model to achieve widespread popularity—the original iPad—was introduced by Apple circa 2010. With productivity being a driving factor for medium to heavy consumers, tech brands have been fitting their latest tablets with faster processors, bigger batteries, and more features to fill a different kind of gap compared to a smartphone or desktop.
Personally, a tablet has always been a device I thought would be nice but not necessary to have. If you share the same sentiment, let me warn you: don’t get your hands on a tablet. Once you do, it’s pretty hard to convince yourself you don’t need one. In other words, you don’t know what you’re missing out on until you do.
As a new tablet user, here’s why I fell in love with the latest, fifth-generation iPad Air (2022 model)—and seven ways I’ve been using it for work and play. [Full disclosure: I own a MacBook and an iPhone, which makes getting an iPad even more worthwhile.]

1. Browse content on-the-go

While a smartphone is more pocketable for commute and a computer or TV is more practical in a stationary position at home, the iPad Air is the perfect mid-sized device for everywhere in between. Imagine a long road trip in the car or a visit to the neighbourhood cafe—it’s the most sensible device to bring along for work or to keep myself entertained. The bezel-less 10.9-inch Liquid Retina display offers a clear, reasonably large screen to read or watch videos, without the weight and bulk of a laptop at just 462 grams (WiFi + cellular model).
If you’re one who shifts from your desk to the couch to the bed and then back to the couch again (like me), then the iPad Air will definitely fit your needs. (P.S. It also comes in handy when someone else is hogging the TV.)

2. Turn it into a second display

Instead of constantly switching between tabs or minimising two windows and placing them side by side on my laptop, the iPad Air serves as a practical second screen. I can use it as a separate display or as a Sidecar to my MacBook, which allows me to extend or mirror my desktop. This is especially useful when I need to refer to an email or a document while writing an article or preparing a presentation, or when transferring files from one location to another.

3. Multitask with Split View

When not using the iPad Air as a second screen, I often find myself relying on the Split View feature to multitask. With the additional Magic Keyboard (sold separately), the iPad Air almost turns into a laptop for me to type and work conveniently. As someone who often moves around and works remotely, this gives me the option to work from a smaller, more portable device instead of having to carry my laptop with me wherever I go. What’s more, the new M1 chip delivers 60 per cent faster performance than its predecessor with up to two times faster graphics. The 8-core CPU is such a powerhouse that I could have a dozen apps open and each one would still run smoothly without skipping a beat.

4. Answer and make video calls

Sure, you can have video calls on any tablet or mobile device. But what’s cool about the latest iPad Air is the new front-facing Ultra Wide camera, which supports Centre Stage. This feature uses machine learning to keep faces within the frame, so you could be walking, dancing, cooking, or going about your day without having to constantly adjust your position to be visible (within reasonable range). I tried this feature on FaceTime with my partner, where I walked in and out of my room and the camera panned immediately to trace my movement. My partner’s exact response was “Wow, that’s so cool!” Enough said.

5. Charge other devices

Also thanks to the M1 chip, the iPad Air is now more efficient and therefore longer-lasting in terms of battery life. Apple says it can last up to 10 hours of video playback on WiFi or up to 9 hours on mobile data. For me, a full charge usually lasts two to three days of light to moderate usage. The iPad Air also supports fast charging with a 20W USB-C power adapter which is still included in the box at launch. Given its long battery life, I sometimes use it to charge my iPhone or Apple Watch. No power adapter or power bank while I’m out and about? No problem.

6. Screenshot entire web pages and create PDFs

Using the Safari browser, I can easily screenshot an entire webpage instead of having to scroll and snap each frame separately. I can also conveniently convert them into PDFs to annotate text with my Apple Pencil (fingers work too, but the tool significantly helps with precision). This comes in handy for editing and sharing long-form content or if you want to save a particular page to revisit later without keeping too many tabs open on your browser. Bonus: signing off on PDF documents is also a lot easier with the Apple Pencil!

7. Travel between devices

If you’re an Apple user, you’ll be familiar with how seamless it is to go from one device to another—and the iPad just adds to this convenience. For instance, I could be typing a to-do list in my Notes app on my phone in my Grab ride, then go through it later on my tablet at home or in the office, as long as they are signed in with the same Apple ID.
Another related feature I use a lot is Handoff, which allows me to start working on one device then switch to another nearby device to pick up where I left off. For example, when I’m browsing the web on my tablet and would like to open the same tab on my laptop, I simply need to bring the two devices closer and an icon will automatically appear for me to click and access the tab instantly. Forget retyping the whole URL or tediously copying and pasting it!

In a nutshell

There are tons of other features that I have yet to fully explore since unboxing the iPad a month ago, especially with regard to drawing, creating, scrapbooking, and gaming. Apple has also released a slew of cool apps that creatives will find useful, including iMovie, Procreate, and LumaFusion. Even if you don’t care for these additional apps, I’d say the above uses, and then some, provide enough justification to get the iPad Air. With prices starting from RM2,600, it’s a sum I would pay for convenience—or rather, the power of convenience.

For more information or to purchase the iPad Air, visit apple.com/my.

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ICYMI: #BestofBuro (2 – 8 Oct 2017)

Lifestyle
ICYMI: #BestofBuro (2 – 8 Oct 2017)
Weekly highlights

08.10.2017
By Gwen Ong

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

Buro 24/7 Malaysia: For the love of shoes, you have to check out the most outrageous pairs spotted at the recent SS18 fashion week. From thigh-high plastic boots to orthopaedic shoes, the designers are giving us something to talk about. Here’s what to look out for next season.

Buro 24/7 Singapore: The World’s 50 Best Bars have been announced and Singapore claims six spots in the list. The next time you’re heading down south, be sure to plan a visit to one, or all, of the cocktail bars, for a sweet tipple. Hit the link for the complete list.

Buro 24/7 Australia: If you don’t know who Jessica Kahawaty is, you might want to take note. The Lebanese model, who recently fronted the Kookai show, is more than just her good looks. She is trained in finance and business law, and she’s also a UNICEF ambassador. More about her here.

Buro 24/7 Malaysia: We all have our guilty pleasures and if you know what’s good for you, you’ll look into substituting your favourite Malaysian snacks. When that afternoon slump rolls around, go for these five healthier alternatives instead. Your waist line will thank you.

Buro 24/7 Middle East: It’s been a busy week for Buro 24/7 founder, Miroslava  Duma as she celebrates Fashion Tech Lab (FTL) in partnership with Stella McCartney. The FTL movement is geared towards changing the world of fashion through innovative and sustainable technology. See the highlights of the launch here.

For last week’s #BestofBuro, head over to this link.

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Food + Drink
A Neat and liquor-fied conversation with Malaysian sommelier, Thomas Ling

16.08.2019
By Ronn Tan

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Back in May, we were given an insightful lesson on all things whisky. The Buro MasterClass was conducted with assistance from Malaysian sommelier, Thomas Ling. He taught us the difference between whisky with and without an ‘e’, contrariety of whisky made from malt and grain, and more importantly, how to tell if it is actually good. Now that you’re an expert, it’s time to know more about a career as a sommelier from Thomas himself and Entwine, a consulting solutions provider—of which he’s a principle partner.

How did you begin a career as a sommelier?
My journey began by being lost—in a hustle and bustle of social vocational expectations and dampened aspirations. Growing weary from the field of law, business and the occasional creative dabbles, I went nomadic. Immersing in random travels, the fascination and culture of drinks and food caught my interest. By chance, I landed a job at a wine shop, which then became the largest beverage specialty retail chain in Southeast Asia, and thereafter, as a group sommelier advisor at a regional restaurant/dining bar establishment. That was close to two decades ago.
With around two decades of experience in the industry, what is your advice to anyone who wants to be a sommelier?
Essentially being passionately curious, yearning to learn, and eager to serve. As a great souled-one once said, “the best way to find yourself is to lose yourself in the service of others”. The quintessential role of a sommelier is to guide, engage and enable pleasure, not to intimidate or mislead the respective individuals they are serving. You’d need to constantly keep up to date and be well equipped by attending relevant professional courses, tastings, travelling—and more tasting!
What qualifications do one need to be a professional sommelier (and where are some places to get these qualifications)?
There are various established professional qualifications available with origins from the United Kingdom and the United States of America. Among them are the Court of Master Sommeliers (CMS), the Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), the Society of Wine Educators (SWE), and renowned regional-based focused wine technical masterclasses, namely the L’ecole du Vin Bordeaux (CIVB) and Ecole des Vins de Bourgogne (BIVB), just to name a few. The courses are offered at various hospitality universities, colleges, and institutions in Malaysia and Southeast Asia—Entwine being one of them.
What are some of the common misconceptions that people have about you as a sommelier, and what’s the biggest challenge?
The constant remark on whether I have my tongue sufficiently insured and that I should be an adept guzzler of alcohol beverages of great prowess. The key to being a sound and skilled sommelier is harnessing one’s sense of taste through smell as its core focus, thereafter to practising one’s timeliness, precision, and technicality of service. Most importantly, exuding a supporting warmth and confidence to guest’s drinking and dining experience through exciting wine and food pairing moments.
The biggest challenge is of course unraveling myths and inaccurate pre-conceived notions, and also the social commercial perception aspect of drinks appreciation, which can veer towards convolution and excess.

What do you like most about being a sommelier?
Meeting intriguing people, experience new places, understanding the beauty of cultural nuances, learning something new everyday and most importantly, being inspired by each and every moment of the way to do better, live better, and to give back. Getting to ride the crescent wave of global hospitality beverage trends is immersively rewarding too!

What would you consider your main objective as a sommelier in Malaysia?
 To enrich, explore, and discover local regional beverage and food culture interplay. To continue stirring curiosity and develop the interest and recognition of a sommelier’s role in the Malaysian food and beverage hospitality industry.
Now, let’s tell us more about Entwine. What does it do?
Entwine provides niche solutions in various aspects of the beverage hospitality trade and lifestyle events. Accredited international educational courses, crafting beverage programmes and concepts, trade consulting for beverage brands, market intelligence, content support for corporate functions, guest sommelier speaker trainer services, and sourcing of rare fine vintages and spirits. Our clients include established international hotel and resorts, governmental regional bodies, renowned beverage brands, niche grocer retail chains, private financial institutions, and individuals.
How did the idea to establish Entwine come about?
The word ‘entwine’ means to interweave or closely connect. From observations throughout my journey traversing the world of hospitality and beverages, I saw many aspects of the industry that lacked an essential connection, a coming together, an interweaving of the product, experience, response, market reality versus optimistic expectations. Entwine aims to foster cohesiveness and essentially uplift the regional beverage hospitality experience, one connection at a time.

For more information on Entwine, visit this website or follow Thomas Ling on Instagram.

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Features
All the exaggerated shoulders spotted on the streets of Paris

06.10.2018
By Su Fen Tan

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It can be intimidating to take on the bold silhouette, but fine-tune it to your own personal style and you’ll be turning heads for all the right reasons. Ease the trend into your nine-to-five wardrobe with oversized pantsuits and jackets for a chic, relaxed take on workwear. For the more style adventurous, power shoulders can be fun and feminine too, as shown by Irene Kim in her be-sparkled top with a sweetheart neckline (look 5) and Camila Coelho’s ruched and ruflled dress (look 19) — both from Balmain. Also, how cute is Susie Lau’s Miu Miu look?
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] PFW SS19 street style” rid=”6651″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Lifestyle
Buro vs SEA Games 2017 athlete Irene Chong in a challenge of push-ups
Push it real good

14.08.2017
By Rachel Au

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What happens when you can’t decide on one sport to compete in? You do the one that combines a few. Malaysian triathlete Irene Chong started out as a synchronised swimmer where she had even represented the country in the 2006 Doha Asian Games but as she started to fall out of love with it, she found triathlon.

A post shared by Irene Chong (Triathlete) (@irenechongofficial) on Aug 5, 2017 at 12:55am PDT

The sport features a non-stop action of 1.5km swimming, 40km cycling and 10km running and with a newfound passion (and a ton of training), the switch, however, proved to be the right path for Irene. At the Singapore SEA Games 2015—her debut appearance as a triathlete—she was so close to making it to the top three. At 2’22:09, she finished fourth—just one second off Thailand’s Arunsiri Sanruthai who won a bronze.

A post shared by Irene Chong (Triathlete) (@irenechongofficial) on May 3, 2017 at 8:10am PDT

The SEA Games 2017 will be the fourth time triathlon is included and for her second appearance, Irene is determined to get that medal. But before that, we took her out for a quick chat and a mini challenge. Watch the video below where Buro 24/7 Malaysia’s Digital Designer (and an avid fan of HIIT workouts) Yi Suen Chong go against Irene in a 1-minute battle of push-ups.

The triathlon event will be happening on 21 August at the Putrajaya Water Sports Complex in Presint 6. Admission is free.

Related stories:
Buro vs SEA Games 2017 athlete Gan Hua Wei in synchronised swimming
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Fashion
Paris Fashion Week SS17: Highlights of Day 2
Treading new ground

29.09.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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

If Bouchra Jarrar’s first capsule collection for Lanvin was anything to go by, a polished collection filled with sleek, tailored suits and timeless gowns is perhaps an obvious (and expected outing) for her Spring/Summer 2017 debut. And the French designer didn’t disappoint, delivering a plethora of day to eveningwear that was inspired by the late founder of the house, Jeanne Lanvin. Held within the decadent halls of Hôtel de Ville in the daytime— a stark contrast to Alber Elbaz’s evening shows that always imbued an upbeat soundtrack, the show kicked off with pinstripe pantsuits, feathery collars and a touch of sheer by way of negligees. But herein lies proof of Jarrar’s expertise with fabrics—her ability to cut, fit and make fabrics work for the female body were demonstrated by satin gowns that draped eloquently on the front and well-fitted jackets of all sorts, including two-toned cropped bikers and tuxedo jackets that serve as delightful alternatives from the usual floor-length gowns for a black-tie event.

Along the runway of Dries Van Noten’s SS17 show were frozen flowers immortalised within towering blocks of ice created by Japanese artist Azuma Makoto—an impressive installation that gave us an inkling of what’s to come this season. As per every collection by the acclaimed Belgian designer, the only way to make a statement is to go bold wisely without trying too hard. Florals for springtime might be a tad too obvious, but florals in the form of randomly scattered prints and sequin embroideries were a refreshing spectacle to take in, especially when juxtaposed with high-neck Victorian-like collars and blouson sleeves. Amidst a palette of black, off-white and khaki green were splashes of vivid sky blue and summery yellow—all in all a collection that posed as a welcoming respite this fashion month.

A photo posted by Dries Van Noten (@driesvannoten) on Sep 28, 2016 at 10:18am PDT

Christophe Lemaire and Sarah-Linh Tran went against their functionally-driven ethos this spring with a lineup that had all the makings of a trend-focused collection. Amongst our favourite looks include an off-shoulder ruffled top had a ruched detailing in the middle, paired with trousers that gathered at the ankles, and a cool gray look made of a kimono inspired top and crinkly pleated skirt with an obi belt detailing. While they scored with loose yet voluminous silhouettes, their attempt on prints on prints might have fared better if they stuck to a just solely one standout print (not so much the apricot-hued florals).

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Technology
5 Standout features that make the Huawei P50 Pocket compact yet powerful

24.01.2022
By Natalie Khoo

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Huawei Malaysia has kicked off 2022 with a bang with the grand launch of the brand’s latest flagship smartphones, the Huawei P50 Pro and P50 Pro Pocket. While both smartphones are impressive in their own right, the P50 Pocket marks the brand’s expansion into the foldable phone category after the Huawei Mate X—and it comes with a number of exciting upgrades.
If aesthetic design, camera quality, and a seamless user experience are what you’re after in a smartphone, then read on for the five standout features that make the Huawei P50 Pocket a trusty daily companion.
Its sleek, seamless fold

Let’s start with the phone’s defining feature—its fold. Whether or not you’re a fan of the whole foldable/flip phone design, the P50 Pocket will draw you (further) into this growing cult. For starters, the phone’s new-generation Multi-Dimensional Hinge mechanism enables it to fold seamlessly with no gap in between the two halves of the screen. This is a huge plus as it prevents the screen from collecting dust, debris, or scratches.
Unfolding the phone is equally effortless, producing a smooth screen supported by the Huawei-exclusive Multi-Dimensional Linkage Lifting design. One may think that bulkiness is a downside of flip phones—not so with the P50 Pocket. As its name suggests, the phone is slim, portable, and lightweight enough to fit in the pocket of your jeans, jacket, or bag. To be specific, it measures just 15.2mm when folded and 7.2mm thin when unfolded, allowing for easy one-handed operation.
Its elegant design and display

Combining form and function, the P50 Pocket’s foldable design provides users with two independent screens—the Main Screen and the Cover Screen (more on this later). The former boasts a 6.9-inch Full HD+ OLED panel with a 120Hz refresh rate for a fast, bright, and vibrant display. Meanwhile, the latter 1.04-inch screen takes up one of two circular rings in the phone’s unique Dual-Ring Design—the other of which houses three rear cameras.

This dual-ring setup gives the P50 series a distinctive appeal that makes it instantly recognisable, especially when contrasted against a beautifully textured back panel. Speaking of which, the back panel comes in two variants for the Malaysian market. One is a shiny white hue, characterised by a diamond-like 3D micro-sculpture design on micro glass. The other is a Premium Edition, designed in collaboration with Haute Couture designer Iris Van Herpen. It features organically flowing patterns in a stunning gold tone, reflecting organic, kinetic movement.
The camera’s Ultra Spectrum Camera Matrix technology
Huawei has built a solid reputation with its cameras, which the P50 Pocket now takes to even greater heights. Building on the success of the Huawei P series, the phone boasts the Ultra Spectrum Image Technology, which incorporates True Chroma Image Engine and Huawei XD Optics to produce highly detailed, realistic, and vivid photography.

It’s equipped with three rear cameras including a 40MP True-Chroma Camera, a 13MP Ultra Wide Angle Lens, and a 32MP Ultra Spectrum Camera, on top of the 10-Channel Multi-Spectrum Sensor, Ultra Spectrum illuminator, and AF Laser to capture greater depth and layers for accurate and clear image production. Whether you’re snapping a close-up portrait or scenic landscape, in low light conditions or against backlight, in macro mode or with digital zoom, the P50 Pocket promises to impress with its results. In other words, expect nothing less than cutting-edge photography.
While one major highlight of flip phones is being able to use the rear camera for selfies and hands-free photography, there’s also a 10.7MP Selfie Camera, which will come in handy for video calls on the Main Screen. Who doesn’t love having options?
The cover screen’s cool features (which beauty geeks will love!)

Circling back to the cover screen, here’s where the P50 Pocket boasts a host of unique features you won’t find in many other smartphones. For one, there’s the Sunscreen Detection feature on the Mirror app that’s able to check whether your face is properly covered up to help you better protect your skin. The feature also works to detect if you have completely removed all your makeup at the end of the day.
Plus, you’ll be able to access important notifications, receive calls, and navigate widgets directly from the cover screen without having to unfold the phone. Forget being bombarded with notifications, the cover screen provides you with the option of tuning out what’s unnecessary for your privacy and convenience. Alternatively, when you are ready to browse more content or make full use of your phone apps, you simply have to unfold the phone. It’s that seamless and intuitive.
Exclusive App Gallery features

Despite only being introduced to the market in 2019, you’ll find that most of Malaysia’s top apps are already available on the Huawei AppGallery. From food delivery to banking to shopping, the platform covers a wide-ranging variety of lifestyle needs. But that’s not all—some of these apps come with exclusive widgets for easy access via the Cover Screen.
For instance, users can access all radio stations and podcasts available in the Syok app directly from the Cover Screen. And this is just a glimpse of more to come in the pipeline for other apps in the AppGallery, thanks to the incredible versatility that the Cover Screen offers.

To ensure you get to enjoy all of the above features productively and efficiently, the Huawei P50 Pocket is equipped with a Snapdragon 888 4G chip and a 4,000mAh battery. It also supports fast charging with 40W Huawei SuperCharge, so it can always be easily powered up for your needs.
So, stunning design, cutting-edge mobile photography, immersive user experience, and exclusive Cover Screen features—all in a pocket-sized flip phone? Yes, the Huawei P50 Pocket is compact but it’s also powerful, and it aims to please.
Pricing and availability

The Huawei P50 Pocket will be available in Malaysia in two variants: White (8GB + 256GB), priced at RM5,999, and Premium Edition (12GB + 512GB), priced at RM7,299. Customers stand to win freebies worth up to RM2,700 with pre-orders starting from 22 January until 13 February 2022 via the Huawei Official Website, Huawei Flagship Store on Lazada, and Huawei Official Store on Shopee.

Besides the Huawei P50 Pocket, the new flagship Huawei P50 Pro is also available nationwide now. Like its pocket-friendly cousin, it features a Dual-Matrix Camera Design, on top of a 6.6-inch True Chroma Display and 50MP True-to-Life Photography. Priced from RM4,199, it comes in two colour variants: Cocoa Gold and Golden Black.
Fret not if you missed the pre-order period, you can purchase the Huawei P50 Pro from your nearest Huawei Experience Store, Huawei Official Website, Huawei Flagship Store on Lazada, and Huawei Flagship Store on Shopee today (22 January 2022) and stand to win freebies worth up to RM900!
For more information, visit the website.

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News
7 Things you can do this weekend: 14 — 15 July 2018

12.07.2018
By Rachel Au

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

1. Dream Japan Festival at Tokyo Street @ Pavilion KL, the whole month of July
Tokyo Street celebrates its 7th anniversary with a festival that embraces the spirit of Japanese culture. There’ll be special deals, fantastic food, fun workshops, cool pop-ups, exciting carnival games and more.
For more info, visit their website.

2. Shucked Turns 4 at Shucked Oysters Bar @ The Gardens Mall, 12pm – 9pm, 15 July
Let’s just say you can get oysters for RM6 all day as well as seafood bites from RM15.
For more info, visit the event page.

3. Malaysia Coffee Fest 2018 at 1 Utama Shopping Centre, 12 – 15 July
The largest coffee festival in the country is back and you can expect a huge lineup of top-class baristas, local artisan coffee bean roasters, independent specialty coffee houses, coffee bean purveyors and suppliers, and coffee equipment distributors and manufacturers, and more. To complement them is a smorgasbord of local bakeries with their delectable treats. Shop, sip or simply check out the competitions and Coffee Clinic sessions by coffee experts.
For more info, visit their website.

4. Catch the finals live on Crystal’s Large LED Screen at The St. Regis KL, 8pm onwards, 15 July
Sit back, relax and enjoy the football match of the year from the rooftop bar of The St. Regis KL — although we’re sure it would be a bit difficult to contain your excitement.
RM150+ per person, inclusive of free-flow food and 1 drink. For more info, call 03 2727 6690 or email [email protected].

5. Ram Jam Festival 2018 at The Gasket Alley, 2.30pm – 12am, 15 July
Adapting the concept of a ‘vintage carnival’, the event will see local talents in music, fashion, art, photography, and the automotive community come together with some of their best works. While you’re there, you’ll even be able to customise your sneakers (among other things), consult a tattoo artist, check out the multi-layered F&B experience provided by Tiffin Food Court, and more. Don’t worry, you don’t have to miss the World Cup finals as they’ll even screen it live.
For more info, visit their event page and Instagram.

6. Market and Picnic at Mari House @ Templer Heights, 10am – 5pm, 14 & 15 July
Shop for some unique home-cook food and drinks (have it there or bring it home but just remember to bring your own containers). Join the workshops and learn a new skill. Rent a kayak. Whatever it is, how often can you do something like that, right? Also, it’s kid-friendly.
For more info, visit the event page.

7. Try the Colonial Chilli Crab at The Majestic Hotel KL
Available on Fridays and weekends only for this whole month of July. Worth it? Read our review here.

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Talking romance with Charis Ow

Buro Loves
Talking romance with Charis Ow

13.06.2018
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Features
Best street style looks from Paris Haute Couture Spring 2017
Work it

25.01.2017
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Despite the froufrou and costume-like extravaganza that Paris Haute Couture Week SS17 brought, street style looks were toned down by a notch with show attendees keeping warm in puffy jackets, fur coats and cushy bombers. Much like their peers during Milan Fashion Week AW17, most of the fashion-forward showgoers made warm-weather dressing their own with a a touch of flair. Layering was key this season, and our favourite looks include Buro 24/7 Kazakhstan founder Meruyert Ibragim’s much-coveted Vetements jacket (Look 1), designer Gilda Ambrosio’s purple-on-purple get-up (Look 16), and German blogger Caroline Daur’s camo + knitwear + fishnet stockings ensemble (Look 17) that did winterwear justice. All the street style inspiration below:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Best of HC SS17 Street style” rid=”4758″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Style
Everything you need to know about KLFW 2021

03.11.2021
By Kelly Lim

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After last year’s all-digital showcase, Kuala Lumpur Fashion Week makes a grand physical return this year at the heart of the city in Pavilion KL. Including local favourites Alia Bastaman, Behati, Kit Woo and Borneo-born Wynka, a total of 48 homegrown designers will be showcasing their latest ready-to-wear collections, both digitally and in real life, as part of KLFW’s biggest show yet. Read on for everything you need to know about the comeback:
1. The week-long of local fashion kicked off with digital shows on Monday via hurr.tv, where 14 shows and 12 designers including Celeste, Cassey Gan and Andy Bandy, presented their collections, alongside meet-the-designer segments and talks with industry insiders on the current and future state of the industry. Missed it? You can watch a playback of the whole thing here.

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2. Celebrating KLFW’s joyous return to the IRL world, a total of 26 physical shows will be taking flight throughout the week, where local designers such as Alia Bastaman, Behati, Kit Woo, Rizman Ruzaini, and Borneo-based Wynka will be presenting their latest ready-to-wear collections in the middle of Pavilion KL.
3. Physical shows will kickstart with a launch on November 3 to unveil the Top 12 Winners from the Samsung Model Search. Each of the winners will be wearing one look from the participating designers of the week, as part of a preview presentation that will pay homage to the resilience and continuous creativity of local talents during difficult times.

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4. KLFW will also be reviving ‘Thread of Heritage,  A Truly Malaysian Textiles’ exhibition as part of their initiative to foster a deeper appreciation for the local fashion and textile industry. Running from November 3 to 7, the exhibition will be a tribute to Malaysia’s lush versatile textiles and is showcased by Cheminahsayang. The one-of-a-kind collection features a hand-blocked batik design intricately curated by Her Majesty, Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah and produced exclusively by Yus of Kakee Batik.

5. Joining in the exhibition is also a new initiative called The Patung Project, which sees KLFW collaborate with Taylor’s University and Barbie Mattel in an effort to showcase and preserve the hallmark of the diverse arts and crafts across different ethnicities in Malaysia. Students from Taylor’s Fashion Design Technology programme will be presenting their artwork at KLFW’s exhibition, which features a series of Barbie dolls dressed in garments based on four artisanal themes: Nyonya Beading, Tekat Embroidery, Calligraphy and Henna. The exhibition will also be taking place at Pavilion KL throughout the week.

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6. 2021 will also see KLFW introduce the first-ever Kuala Lumpur Fashion Awards, a prestigious fashion award that celebrates both the industry and its designers. Presented by Lexus Malaysia, it will be Malaysia’s first fashion-focused award and will “also serve as a platform to highlight undiscovered talents,” according to Akio Takeyama, Deputy Chairman of Lexus Malaysia.
Stay tuned for updates.

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Music
Why Kendrick Lamar’s ‘Damn’ is worth a listen, even if you’re not into hip hop
Making his mark

17.04.2018
By Su Fen Tan

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You’d think nabbing 11 Grammy nominations in a year (2016) would be a career high that is hard to beat, but Kendrick Lamar just keeps setting and smashing expectations. 2017 saw him release one of his greatest works yet, Damn, which scored a nomination for Best Album of the Year and won Best Rap Album at this year’s Grammys. But that’s not all—the album has just been awarded the 2018 Pulitzer Prize for Music, making history as the first non-jazz or classical work to receive the accolade.

The Pulitzer Committee recognised Damn for its “virtuosic song collection unified by its vernacular authenticity and rhythmic dynamism that offers affecting vignettes capturing the complexity of modern African-American life”, cementing Lamar’s status as one of the most influential rappers of our time. It’s no overnight plight—the Compton-born hip hop virtuoso has been demonstrating deep lyricism on topics such as racism and social injustice since his career began.

If you have been missing out, listen to Damn here:

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Food + Drink
#BuroEats: 7 New cafes and restaurants in KL to visit for September 2019

07.09.2019
By Ronn Tan

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1. Shaunteocreations Studio

There’s a new cafe in town and it is winning aesthetic points left, right, and centre. Every corner is designed to stop you in your tracks for photos. In a combination of white, beige, and brown (warm) colours, the place is akin to the retro ones found in South Korea. There’s small tent to create an indoor picnic, a bed, a small chair, and a long table among many other Instagrammable parts. In addition to that, you will be able to experience the fun of baking toast on your own alongside desserts and cakes.
Address: A01-17 (Eve Suite), Jalan PJU 1a/41, Ara Damansara, Petaling Jaya
Opening hours
Monday – Sunday: 11am – 8pm
Tuesday: Closed
Facebook | Instagram
2. Frangipaani

Walk into the restaurant and you will discover an elegant interior that’s reminiscent of India during the colonial era. There is also a terrace that’s perfect for sunset viewing. Go during the weekends and immerse in soothing music from the piano. As for food, what you can expect is an extensive menu which includes Indian culinary heritage—from Punjab to Goa. Whether you’re a meat lover or vegetarian, there is something for you from over 60 choices to select. Try the Lamb Special and Butter Chicken as well as the Aloo & Moong Sprouts Chaat.
Address: M.03, Mezzanine Floor, The Republik, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara
Opening hours: 11.30am – 11pm

Facebook | Instagram
3. Flying Monkeys

This is a new cocktail bar at the heart of Kuala Lumpur specialising in innovative and creative concoctions. The establishment is founded by the team behind Yellow Brick Road and Wizards (at Tribeca). There are about 18 never-before-seen creations currently—some with local elements such as Hudak, with gula melaka, buah pala, and belacan among others. This isn’t just a place for drinks, however, because the food here (primarily snacks) are worth trying too. Opt for the Pulled Beef Bao, unagi bao, or the truffle ice cream and sandwich.
Address: Eighth Floor, Tribeca, Jalan Imbi, Bukit Bintang
Opening hours
Wednesday – Thursday: 5pm – 1am
Friday – Saturday: 5pm – 2am
Sunday: 5pm – 1am
Closed on Mondays and Tuesdays

Facebook | Instagram
4. Lick A Spoon

Meet the first edible cookie dough parlour in the Klang Valley. Flavours include peanut butter, chocolate chip, fudgy brownie, and Rainbow (sugar dough with marshmallows). You should know that Lick A Spoon uses heat-treated flour and pasteurised eggs that are blended themselves. If you haven’t had cookie dough, now is your opportunity to try.
Address: B-10, Ground Floor, Jalan SS15/4D, SS15, Subang Jaya
Opening hours
Wednesday – Monday: 1pm – 9pm

Facebook | Instagram
5. Krung Thep

Thai cuisine here is crafted by a team with a collective background—backed by Michelin-starred restaurants and bar experiences. Expect Isan or Northeastern Thai recipes; like Lao cuisine and influenced by Khmer flavours and culture. Come here for family-style sharing plates such as Gai Yang (Kampong chicken from Ipoh), Larp Bpet (minced duck salad), and Pla Tort Sahm Rot (whole black pomfret with three flavours sauce). Fun fact: Krung Thep is run by the same team behind PS150.
Address: Lot G.05, The Republik, Damansara Heights, Jalan Medan Setia 1, Bukit Damansara
Opening hours: 11.30am – 2.30pm, 5.30pm – 10.30pm
Facebook | Instagram
6. Blonde

With natural light and a minimal design, Blonde is bound to be one of the most Instagrammable restaurants in the city. The establishment serves both Western and Asian cuisine. Opt for dishes such as Moroccan Tomato Stew with Hokkaido scallops and white clams, Dry aged Shanghainese Crusted Duck Breast, and the Squid Ink spaghetti.
Address: G.03A, The Republik, Jalan Medan Setia, Bukit Damansara
Opening hours: 9am – 10pm
Facebook | Instagram
7. Provisions

If you’re missing the bakeries in California and the markets in Melbourne (or if you want to experience them), Provisions is the place to go. It’s a bakery, coffee shop, and supply store. Their menu consists of slow scrambled eggs, toasts, and sandwiches—for now.
Address: 49, SS22/23, Damansara Jaya
Opening hours:
Tuesday – Sunday: 9am – 6pm
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Beauty
#FitnessFriday: Team workout at Firestation.fit in Plaza Mont Kiara
Ride and Strike, people

17.10.2016
By Rachel Au

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After our session at Firestation.fit’s first outlet in Jalan Batai, we—or at least, half the team—were hooked to the whole idea of Fire Fitness so when a few months down the road, we heard there will be a new Firestation opening in Mont Kiara, we were psyched and started counting down the days till it’s ready (for us). Fondly called Fire 2, the new boutique gym at Plaza Mont Kiara offers two additional classes next to the original Stride workout: Ride, a spin class with functional training thrown in, and Strike, a boxing class that packs a punch with a bunch of fun.
It was hard choosing to just review one so we decided to do a little bit of both for this month’s episode of #FitnessFriday. Watch the video below to see how we fared and read on for the team’s testimonials.

Gwen Ong, Deputy Editor
A two-in-one #FitnessFriday session meant that my body was going to get a good shocking. I had my reservations starting with the Ride class cos my legs are my weakest points. I had to push myself through in most of the climbs that my limbs were like jelly by the end of each round. Tracy gave a good tip—up the volume or sing to the music so that you can’t hear yourself panting, which will psychologically affect your performance. So that’s what I did (in my head anyway) which did help to distract a little. By the time the Strike class rolled around, I felt pumped up enough to take on the punching bags. Led by Tanya, our enthusiastic trainer, it was one the best sweat seshs I’ve done. I think I might have pent-up anger issues (haha) but this work so well in the arena. I came out of both activities with battle scars that I’m proud to call myself a survivor.
Rating: 4/5

Rachel Au, Lifestyle Writer
I wasn’t there at the first Firestation.fit as I had just joined the team and my body wasn’t ready for any ‘intense’ workouts (or any workouts at all). After several months of vigourous (in my books, at least) exercises (once a month for #FitnessFriday), I was ready to try Firestation.fit 2. Of course, the somewhat enthusiasm came from the fact that it wasn’t HIIT but a spin class and boxing, two types of workouts that I have found a liking too after Flycycle and Muay Thai/Kickboxing from our previous #FitnessFridays. I love the playlists that both Tracy and Tanya had curated for our session, which made exercising feel more like a dance than a workout. Ride is somehow a little intense as at some points—it really felt like I was cycling upwards—and it really focuses on your leg muscles (cue jelly legs). I’m only glad that we didn’t have to do the functional portion of the class, which would probably be the part where they focus on your upper body but we didn’t have to anyway since we moved on to Strike from there. Like Tracy, Tanya has an infectious energy that helps push us a little more. Unlike the usual boxing classes, however, the punching bags are filled with water, not sand, which helps you do your punches and combos more effectively as it doesn’t sway to and fro where you’ll need to set it straight again. It’s definitely one of my favourite classes so far and I’d love to head back there for another session—after my shoulder muscles have stopped aching, that is. Above all, the gym looks amazing and that itself makes working out a more welcoming thought.
Rating: 5/5

Su Fen Tan, Writer
Just moments after I arrived at the gym, and into the fire I was thrown—okay, it probably wasn’t as bad as that sounds. But having (barely) survived our first visit to Firestation.fit earlier this year, I went in mentally prepared for a hard-hitting, intense session; and Firestation certainly didn’t pull back on the punches. Tracy started us out on a high-energy Ride at the get-go. Although the climbs were tough as always (for me), I found myself powering through to her spirited instructions and the thumping, upbeat accompanying music. My legs may not be up for very much excitement after 30 minutes of riding, but I was excited to take on the next class—Strike. While Tanya was the embodiment of a lean, mean fighting machine with a friendly demeanour, you will hardly persist with the urge to slack in her class, because she’ll be at hand motivating you to throw in a little more power behind those jabs, or getting a few more punches in before time was up. I came out of both sessions exhausted, naturally, but already contemplating coming back for seconds—that is surely the sign of a great workout.
Rating: 5/5

Alyssa Lee, Editorial Assistant
I write this with both my legs in plaster casts hovering 3-feet above the hospital bed. Okay, that’s a lie. Here’s the truth: After the workout, I needed those plaster casts. It was absolutely brutal. Well aware of my non-existent stamina and stunted muscles thanks to my couch potato life choices, I was already prepared to feel the burn at a place so aptly named ‘Fire’ and yet that was an underestimation of the pain that would ensue. Pedalling a bike furiously on an incline is no easy feat, what more with bums in the air and sing-alongs when you just don’t care. Honestly speaking, if were not for Tracy’s encouragement and infectious spirit, I would have fallen off the bike in tears. She kept the entire session fun and upbeat, rousing the strong and inspiring the meek; all while keeping an eye on everyone’s technique. The same could be said for Tanya during the Strike session, the way she threw power punches and hit combos were #goals. It was really reassuring having trainers who knew each of us by name and were always quick to assist in lieu of the order-barking drill sergeant I was dreading. Yes, it hurt. Yes, I thought I would never walk again. But someday in the future, I will come back, walk through ‘Fire’, and not be burned.
Rating: 4/5

Yi Suen Chong, Digital Designer
I’ve been a fan (and a regular) of Firestation.fit ever since we had our first #FitnessFridays at Firestation Batai back in January. Fast forward to today, they’ve totally upped their game with the recent opening of their second outlet, F2, which offers two brand new classes, Ride and Strike, for their fans. I couldn’t be more thrilled that we got to try not only one, but two of the new classes combined together—#jobperks! Just like F1, its sister outlet did not disappoint; their new workout regime was fast-paced, intense and jam-packed with a lot of fun. For me, the highlight of Ride was when we were spilt into two groups and we had to take turns sprinting (while standing on the bike)—it was a great feeling to be able to cheer for the other team while they ride. Tracy was fun and encouraging during our session, and that made the whole workout slightly more bearable. With Strike, it’s a total upper body workout that worked on muscles you didn’t even know existed (judging especially by how sore I was for the next few days). I was a bit skeptical before the class as I wasn’t a big fan of boxing but with the pumping music and Tanya’s encouraging words, I had a lot more fun than I expected. At the end of both sessions, we walked out of the gym with jelly legs and limbs, but with pride cos we survived the Fire.
Rating: 5/5

Strike and Ride classes are available at Firestation.fit 2, Ground Floor Courtyard, Plaza Mont Kiara. Check out their website and Facebook for more info.

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