Food + Drink
6 Favourite snacks you’ll find at a Deepavali open house
Festival of (food and) lights

28.10.2016
By Rachel Au

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Happy Deepavali! As every celebration calls for scrumptious food and delicious snacks, we decided to go with the latter and list some of our favourites.

1. Murukku (of course)

It’s not Deepavali if there’s no murukku. Then again, it’s so popular that it’s a common snack in our everyday life.

2. Omapodi

Similar to murukku but much thinner yet just as addictive.

3. Mathri

A traditional North Indian – specifically Punjabi – snack, there is both a sweet and savoury version of this flaky biscuit. For the latter, it’s usually fried with various spices to make it more fragrant and crispy.

4. Ladoo

It’s hard to find anyone who doesn’t fancy a good ladoo but be warned as these ball-shaped snacks are so sweet, it’s not really something to binge-eat on (like murukku).

5. Jalebi

This pretzel-shaped sweet gets its bright orange colour from saffron and can be served either warm or cold.

6. Kuih ros

Not exactly of Indian origins but it’s a pretty common (and delicious) find at most open houses during Deepavali and it is sometimes known as bee hive or achu murukku.

Related stories:
How many calories does your fave Chinese New Year snacks have
#Buro101: A guide to kopitiam drinks
Bold and bright additions to prep your beauty look for Deepavali

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Jewellery
8 Beautiful rings that will always be in style
Power to the rings

07.04.2023
By Benedict Unang

Featured images courtesy of respective brands

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Rings, like any other accessory, reflect one’s personality. While many people tend to gravitate towards rings with eye-catching features or distinct designs, classic jewels are typically worth more as they can be worn for years without looking out of date. More often than not, these pieces have special meanings associated with them, whether it’s viewed as heirlooms, a celebration of a relationship, or as reminders of one’s accomplishments. From the Chanel Coco Crush band to the De Beers diamond-encrusted piece, here are eight rings to treasure for years to come.

A true classic
The Chanel Coco Crush ring is a seamless blend of boldness and elegance that illustrates every woman’s fascinating contradictions. Embellished with the House’s iconic quilt motifs, the white gold band satisfies a desire for beauty and reminds one to emulate the brand’s fearless spirit. Another option is the Tiffany T T1 ring by Tiffany & Co., which features a bevelled edge design to make a powerful statement. Whether worn alone or stacked with other Tiffany & Co. rings, this piece is meant to express the strength that lies within you.

Chanel Coco Crush ring

Tiffany & Co Tiffany T T1 ring

Vibrant luxe
Cocktail rings are always a great choice to flaunt your edgy sense of style, and one design you must not miss is the Nudo Classic ring by Pomellato. While every facet of the magnificent sky-blue topaz evokes a joyous energy in vivid perfection, the sleek design makes it one of the many jewels that can be worn every day. Meanwhile, the Boucheron Serpent Bohème ring is a wonderful option to consider if you’re into colour. First crafted in the 1970s, this one-of-a-kind piece features a malachite that radiates femininity and freedom while offering all the contrast you need when paired with an all-white ensemble.

Pomellato Nudo classic ring

Boucheron Serpent Bohème ring

Fine & radiant
As Marilyn Monroe puts it, “Diamonds are a girl’s best friend”, which means you can’t go wrong with the De Beers Enchanted Lotus ring. Inspired by the beauty of the lotus flower, this white gold ring boasts four micropavé diamond petals surrounding a round brilliant diamond mounted on a cool-toned band that lends the ring a modern flair. Alternatively, the Anoushka Eclipse diamond ring is the way to go if you’re seeking some sparkle but in a more subtle setting. This British Royal’s favourite ring is hand set with sparkling white diamonds and oozes everyday elegance with a polished band that may be passed down through the generations.

De Beers Enchanted Lotus ring

Anoushka Eclipse diamond eternity ring

Feminine chunky
Signet rings were historically worn only by men in the past, but times have changed, and you can now get yours too. This solid heart-shaped ring by Missoma is made from recycled sterling gold and may be personalised by engraving it with whatever you desire. Other than that, Tom Wood’s cushion silver top ring is another stunning go-to classic. This sterling silver band is crafted to resemble the brand’s signature cushion shape and sports a bezel-set smooth finish along with white rhodium plating to protect the surface and avoid tarnishing.

Missoma Fine engravable heart signet ring

Tom Wood Cushion silver top ring

For more articles on jewellery, click here.

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Culture
Summer Gan: This Malaysian dancer gets real about pursuing dance in New York City

18.10.2021
By Deanna Cheah

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Dance was once a predominantly feminine industry with Ballet rocking Malaysia’s dance scene. It was the most common class to pick up (not forgetting piano) when our parents wanted us to pick up something creative. Fast forward to today where we see a plethora of dances being introduced and different professional syllabus’ to take up in preparation for a career in the arts—seeing organisations like Cendana, Aswara and TDS nurturing talented young individuals with western dances but also our Malaysian traditional dances. These are just some outlets for individuals to truly break out of one genre of dance and dip their toes into what the industry have to offer. Coming to a realisation that certain dances constrict our body movements and we are only confined to that one specific type of dance—but now introducing newer dances and merging your love for one with another could be a better creative avenue for improving. Dance is experimental and not being stereotypically good at a particular type just proves that the natural movement of your body can be found within the most unpredictable of genres.
Malaysian born Summer Gan’s first introduction to dance was ballet, but it was far from love at first sight—she hated the idea of running around aimlessly in a studio—today, her love and passion for dance transcends from New York to her home, Malaysia. This ballet trained dancer now experiments in all types of dance; contemporary; jazz; even theatre. Conversing with Summer, it’s evident that she places importance on experiencing more of what dance has to offer and trying different styles. “I took a ‘break’ from ballet and tried other dances and I actually got better at it when I came back to it”. In dance, it’s common to be fixated on your art and practicing for hours in a week might results in burnout and rather then seeing improvement. “Ballet is so common and it’s a great foundation for dancers, but how often do we stumble upon dancers that practice our traditional dances” cites Gan when talking about the Malaysian dance scene.

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Many girls fall in love with ballet from the common attributes the dance holds; pretty pink slippers, big puffy tutu’s and Barbie’s Swan Lake. But where does the lightbulb moment strike for one? The thought of wanting to pursue dance as a real career and putting our blood, sweat and tears in to perfect our art. Ballerina’s would understand the struggle of giving up weekends for classes and the endless blisters we get from hours en pointe in hopes of being a soloist or a principle in a fancy dance company—but very rarely do we find someone that can truly say “I made it” or “I’m a dancer”. Again, how to we quantify this obscure industry as a real career? When does the title a “dancer’ actually hold it’s meaning. It’s a passion that lives on in many but only a handful fearlessly pursue it. Ahead, Summer Gan walks us through her sacrifices for her love for dance and how she chased this daunting career.
What inspired you to pursue dance overseas and more specifically why New York?
“I grew up consuming American pop culture from everything on TV and the internet. I was so drawn to its vibrancy, the humour, the glamour. It felt like there were no rules. New York felt like the center of it all and it has such a cinematic quality that just draws you in, working here has always been a dream of mine.”
What are some of the differences between Malaysia and New York’s dance scene?
“The diversity of people, access to world class training, legendary artists, shows, funding, the endless possibilities! New York has an indescribable energy and there’s so much happening around you all the time. People are hungry and passionate. I think that either inspires you or scares the hell out of you. Anything and everything is possible.”
Can you foresee yourself returning to Malaysia for dance?
“I don’t see it as a return as much as I never felt like I truly “left”. Malaysia will always be home. I’ve gone back pretty often and I produced my first project called WHY NOT HERE? at ILHAM Gallery in December 2020 that was so incredibly fulfilling. I can’t wait to do more of that with other Malaysian creatives.”

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What are some changes you hope to see in Malaysia’s dance scene?
“Its impossible to speak specifically to the dance scene as I think it’s much bigger than that. Dance is not just the dancers, it’s also musicians, directors, writers, athletes, comedians, designers, producers, fashion and beyond. Our culture is so rich and unique and I hope we can embrace more of who we are and continue to shape what already exists.”
How can a Malaysian dancer succeed and what does it truly take to pursue a career in dance?
“Success is subjective. If I ended my career in dance at my last ballet exam I would have been very happy and considered that a success. I don’t think we can model our own success to what people think that might be and measured commercially, that’s such a dangerous rope to walk. I think if you want to pursue a career in dance, a lot of the work is beyond technique and performance. Getting to perform and do what you were trained to do is the best part! However, all of that comes with a lot of real life challenges, burnout, rejection, uncertainty, Visa applications, having to pay your bills etc. Learning to manage all that while maintaining your love for the process and craft, I think that’s success!”
What advice do you have to give to aspiring Malaysian dancers?
“Dance is more than just technique, so much of life and our environment shapes who we are and how we move. Pay attention to the things around you, be brave and enjoy the process!”

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Take us through a typical day as a dancer in New York.
“It’s different all the time, depending on what I’m working on! Typically I’m auditioning, taking class, rehearsing and performing, going to see shows and ideally ending the night with dessert!”
You’ve signed up with a modelling and talent management agency. How did this opportunity come about and how does it fit into your aspirations?
“It happened very organically when my brother’s friend introduced me to his agent and she signed me from there. It’s been very exciting to be a part of the industry shift with body and racial diversity and beauty standards. It means so much to see more of myself being represented today. I grew up watching ANTM and was very shy so it’s very cool that at 5’4” I get to go in for brands I grew up dreaming of getting to work with!”
There’s this notion that it’s difficult to make ends meet as a dancer (or any profession in the arts, for that matter)—more so in an expensive city, such as New York. How do you manage it?
“Through a lot of trial and error and support from my family! Financial literacy is such an important life skill. Nobody teaches you this! I took time this year to learn more about my finances and it has been life changing. I also got more comfortable talking about it so having those conversations with my peers has been so helpful. Talking about money, especially as an artist, is never easy. More so we have to do it, and I like to believe we get better each time! Negotiate your contract and advocate for yourself!”
SEE ALSO: Third culture kids: The problems, benefits and true meaning of being a TCK

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Motoring
Be a smarter and more efficient driver with the new 2020 Jaguar E-Pace

22.08.2020
By Ronn Tan

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The launch of new cars, especially in Malaysia, is a regular occurrence—a testament to the growing demand for fresh variants and models in the country. One of the latest to join the list is the updated Jaguar E-Pace, also known as the automaker’s first compact SUV (Sport Utility Vehicle). According to Jaguar, the E-Pace has the ability to take the joy of driving to a new level with the brand’s proprietary and innovative technologies. The question is: why is the vehicle smarter and more fuel-efficient than its predecessor?

Equipped with a two-litre four-cylinder turbocharged Ingenium petrol engine, owners can expect a cleaner drive. In addition to having the ability to achieve the century sprint in 8.2 seconds as well as a nine-speed automatic transmission, the new E-Pace has a top speed of 216 kilometres per hour.
With the Ingenium engine, the car’s drivability, efficiency, and power are enhanced with the help of a twin scroll turbocharger, continuously variable valve lift, and variable cam timing. For a cleaner engine, the E-Pace comes with particulate filters.

Furthermore, the new E-Pace is fitted with a self-learning technology that studies the driver’s habits. Jaguar’s Smart Settings allow the vehicle to recognise the driver either via the key fob or the smartphone. With that, seat, climate, and infotainment system will be adjusted according to the driver’s preference. Fun fact: up to eight profiles can be stored—allowing your loved ones and friends to have their preferred settings automatically recognised too.

Some notable interior features include the Meridian Sound System, five-inch display with instrument panel, Light Oyster Morzine headlining, grained leather seats, 14-way memory electric front seats, and 10-inch Touch Pro whereas the exteriors consists of unique components such as the 20-inch six split-spoke Style 6014 wheels with Satin Grey Diamond Turned Finish and twin tailpipes with finisher.
The 2020 Jaguar E-Pace is available in two colours—Yulong White and Firenze Red—and is priced at RM403,216.67. What are your thoughts on the new model? Are you ready to go on a smarter and more efficient driving adventure?
For more information, visit this website.

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Food + Drink
6 Dim sum you must try for brunch at Wan Chun Ting, Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara
Let's 'yum cha' this weekend

05.06.2022
By Adelina Tan

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Brunch comes in many forms—from poached eggs on toast in the West, to the delicate dumplings and steamed buns synonymous with dim sum in the East. The tradition of enjoying a leisurely dim sum brunch is so beloved by the Cantonese in China, where it originated, the word ‘dim sum’ means ‘heart’s delight’ in the local dialect.
It’s said that dim sum culture traces its beginnings to the tea houses of Canton—now Guangzhou—in the latter half of the 19th century, following the ban of opium dens throughout the country. Opium pipes were traded for the addictive but far more wholesome plates of dumplings and other local snacks, which to this day are still eaten paired with Chinese tea.
Closer to home in Malaysia, many of us have fond memories of catching up with friends and family at a table filled with little plates and baskets of dim sum. Conversations flow between bites of piping hot har kau, crispy egg tarts, and sips of aromatic tea. The dim sum brunch is part cultural tradition, part social activity, and part gastronomic experience.

Where to go for dim sum in KL

Wan Chun Ting in Sofitel Kuala Lumpur Damansara attracts diners from KL, neighbouring Petaling Jaya, and beyond with its refined take on Cantonese and Imperial cuisine. Most of the dining takes place in a grand, circular room set with elegant round tables and the pièce de résistance: a whimsical chandelier that hints at the restaurant’s mastery at fusing traditional elements with contemporary techniques.
This is most apparent in Wan Chun Ting’s sought-after weekend dim sum menu where skill, creativity and quality ingredients combine to create an explosion of flavours. At the helm of this flavourful experience is Dim Sum Chef Low Kin Fung, who has over 15 years of culinary experience, specialising in Chinese cuisine, at with well-known establishments.

Deep-fried mango roll with shrimp

Deep-fried taro dumplings

Charcoal bun with barbecue chicken

Deep-fried green chives dumplings

Crispy minced chicken dumplings

Steamed custard buns with salted egg

Steamed prawn dumplings (‘har kao’)

An adventurous person by nature, the inspiration for Chef Low’s innovative take on dim sum comes from his love of trying out new flavours while travelling. His creations are a feast for the eyes and tastebuds, with his,favourites being steamed pao and crystal dumplings.
If you can only order six dim sum dishes at Wan Chun Ting, these are Chef Low’s recommendations:

Deep-fried green chives dumplings
Fresh shrimp wantons served in spicy Szechuan sauce
Deep-fried prawn balls coated with almond flakes
Steamed crabmeat sticks with tom yam sauce
Steamed chicken and prawn dumplings wrapped in seaweed
Lotus slices with chicken filling and rosemary

Wan Chun Ting’s dim sum brunch is available on weekends
Saturday: 12 noon to 2:30 p.m.
Sunday: 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Price
RM118+ per person
RM59+ per child (aged 6 to 12 years old)
For reservations, please call 03 2720 6648. Click here to view the full menu.

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Food + Drink
20 Artisanal bakeries in KL and PJ for dine-in, takeaway and delivery
For the loaf of carbs

01.11.2022
By Natalie Khoo

Featured images: The Lemon Tree, Flaaah The Bakery, and KLCG Confectionary

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Next to rice and noodles, bread is one type of carb we just can’t live without. Besides providing sustenance, it’s a popular type of comfort food that we can appreciate at any time of the day—breakfast, lunch, tea, dinner, and every hour in between.
Not all bread is made equal though, which is why we’ve taken it upon ourselves to hunt down the best artisanal bakeries around KL and PJ that are available for dine-in, takeaway, pickup and/or delivery. Whether it’s croissants, sourdough, Danish pastry, or baguettes you knead, these places will have your daily bread sorted (no bun intended).

1. Provisions

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Helmed by the same team behind Li restaurant, Provisions is a bakery and coffee shop that’s instantly identifiable by its Instagram-worthy terracotta exterior. It serves everything from its famous sourdough to hot cross buns and Japanese milk bread. While you’re at it, you might want to pick up its best-selling homemade kaya to complement your carb of choice.
Address: 49, Jalan SS 22/23, Damansara Jaya, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 9:00am – 7:00 pm, Tuesdays to Sundays
Contact: 011 1180 1220
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Order here

2. Croisserie Artisan Bakery

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Croisserie specialises in European pastries that are handmade using only imported flour and fine ingredients. Located in Damansara Heights, the bakery house is home to more than 200 types of bread, pastries, and cakes that are baked on a daily basis. Its signature croissants pay homage to French origins, boasting a desirable texture that’s flaky on the outside and buttery on the inside. Other recommendations include the baguette, brioche, and kouign-amann, to name a few.
Address: No. 14, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 7:30am – 8:00pm
Contact: 012 564 4154
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Pre-order here

  3. Universal Bakehouse

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Calling a former laundry shop its home, Universal Bakehouse takes pride in being a community business based in the Damansara Kim neighbourhood. The bakery is best known for its sourdoughs, baked with a leaven that’s approximately 200 years old. Besides that, the humble bakery offers an extensive range of baked goods including brioche, scones, cookies, rolls, and cakes.
Address: 21, Jalan SS 20/11, Damansara Kim, 47400 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 8:30am – 5:00pm, weekdays |  8.30am – 5.00pm, weekends
Contact: 011 3332 7581 (WhatsApp only)
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Pre-order here

4. Huckleberry Food & Fare

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Carb lovers will be spoilt for choice with the assortment at Huckleberry. The extensive spread consists of bread, bagels, sourdough, sweet and savoury pastries, cakes, and cookies that will surely shake your self-control to buy just one treat. To tempt you further, some highlights to look forward to include Babka Rolls, Hot Cross Buns and Nutella Croissants.
Address:

Damansara Heights: Plaza Damansara, 2G & 4G, Jalan Medan Setia 2, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur | Opening hours: 7:30am – 10:00pm daily | Contact: 017 239 9264
Bangsar Shopping Centre: G108 & GK2, Bangsar Shopping Centre, 285, Jalan Maarof, 59000 Kuala Lumpur | Opening hours: 8:00am – 9:30pm daily | Contact: 012 320 0250

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5. Dou dou bake

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Anyone who’s on Instagram would probably have come across this boutique café that went viral when it opened after the first MCO. Aside from the café’s charming design aesthetic, Dou dou bake is known for bread and pastries that are made from a carefully cultivated sourdough starter. The menu comprises country sourdoughs, croissants, danish, fruit loaves, buns, cakes, and more.
Address: 38, Jalan SS 4c/5, Taman Rasa Sayang, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 8:00am – 7:00pm, daily
Contact: 011 6963 5817
Website | Instagram

6. Kenny Hills Bakers

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Established in 2014 in Bukit Tunku, Kenny Hills Bakers started as a small bakery that has since evolved into four full-service outlets (with one more opening in IOI City Mall this November), a kiosk, a kiosk, and a sister café. If that’s not a testament to the quality of its goods, we don’t know what is. Among the baked goods offered at its outlets include organic bread that is baked fresh every morning, sweet pastries, savoury tarts, and cakes, on top of other cafe staples.
Address: See all locations here
Opening hours: 8:00am – 10:00pm daily (for all outlets)
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Order here

7. Orito

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Fans of choux pastry will love the selection at Orito, featuring best-sellers such as Paris Brest and Chocolate Salted Caramel. It also serves babka (sweet braided bread) and doughnuts—both best complemented with its premium range of teas. Everything is hand-rolled or handcrafted using carefully selected ingredients to ensure premium quality and freshness.
Address: Plaza Damas, B-0-5, 3, Jalan Sri Hartamas 1, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 10:00am – 6:00pm, Tuesdays to Sundays (closed on Mondays)
Contact: 012 382 6878
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Order here

8. Der Backmeister

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As you might have guessed from its name, Der Backmeister is a German bakery, which stands for ‘Master Baker’. It offers a variety of baked goods made using natural ingredients and traditional recipes, such as Caviar Bread, Farmers Bread, and Pain de Campagne, as well as Danish and croissants. For a fuller meal, there are also traditional sandwich sets and buns.
Address: 40, Persiaran Zaaba, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8:30am – 4:00pm, daily
Contact: 03 2856 0613
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Order here

9. Flakes

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This cosy café in The Hub, SS2 rose to fame in 2019 selling flaky croissants yielding melt-in-your-mouth buttery goodness. There are several flavours to choose from—such as Almond, Matcha and Oreo—but the crowd-favourite is the Pistachio Croissant. The standard non-flavoured croissant also comes with brunch sets, in case you’re looking for a complete meal.
Address: B-G-06, The Hub SS2, 19 Sentral, Jalan Harapan, Seksyen 19, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 9:30am – 6:00pm, daily (kitchen closes at 5:30pm)
Contact: 011 1760 4816
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Order here

10. Paul

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Paul is a well-known family-owned French bakery and patisserie established in 1889, with outlets in more than 33 countries around the world today. The bakery cum restaurant set foot in Pavilion KL in 2017, offering its famed traditional French baked goods including baguettes, bread, croissants, waffles, and madeleines.
Address:

Paul Intermark: G-18 Ground Floor, Intermark Mall, 348, Jln Tun Razak, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Paul Pavilion: S2.09.02 & S2.09.02, Level 2, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, 168, Jalan Bukit Bintang Lot 2-09-02 & S2-09/02 Level 2 55100, Kuala Lumpur

Opening hours:

Paul Intermark (kiosk): 8:00am – 7:30pm daily
Paul Pavilion: 10:30am – 7:30pm

Contact: 012 726 2074 (Paul Pavilion)
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Order here

11. Tommy Le Baker

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After shutting down his first bakery and travelling the world, Tommy Lee returned to Malaysia to give his passion another go. This time in partnership with one of his loyal customers, Terence Chong. Together, they opened Tommy Le Baker in an unassuming shop in Zhongshan Building—much to the delight of sourdough addicts. Although sourdough remains the go-to option here, there are also “special bakes” like vol-au-vent puff pastry, palmier, and pain au chocolat.
Address: No 82, Zhongshan Building, Jalan Rotan, Kampung Attap, 50460 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8:00am – 8:00pm, daily
Contact: 012 207 1588
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Order here

12. Smith Breadsmith & Café

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Opened in 2021, Smith specialises in wood-fire baked rustic sourdough breads. Aside from the assortment of sourdough, there’s also brioche, focaccia, madeleines, and financiers to try out. Pair your preferred carb with one of its fresh brews for the ideal breakfast or tea-time fix!
Address: 71, Jln Setia Bakti, Bukit Damansara, 50490 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8:30pm – 4:00pm, Tuesdays to Sundays (Closed on Mondays)
Contact: 03 2011 2682
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Order here

13. Dough and Dolce

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You may have heard praises about Dough and Dolce’s grilled cheese sandwiches, but its sourdough loaves, cookies, and pies are no less worth trying. Founded in 2019, the bakery café prides itself in producing all its goods from scratch using high quality ingredients with no shortcuts. Besides freshly baked goods, it also offers breakfast classics, sourdough pizzas, pastas, and other hot dishes.
Address: 24A, Lorong Datuk Sulaiman 1, Taman Tun Dr Ismail, 60000 Kuala Lumpur,
Opening hours: 8am to 6pm on weekdays; 9am to 6pm on public holidays/weekends (Closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: 012 744 7800
Website | Instagram
Order here

14. VCR Bakehouse

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The team behind VCR, which established its first-ever café in Bukit Bintang back in 2012, launched several café spin-offs amidst various MCOs—one of which is VCR Bakehouse. This venture marks its ability to thrive despite lockdowns, while providing a bakery-focused destination for loyal fans of the VCR brand to get their hands on “good honest bread” including croissants, Danish pastries, eclairs, buns, and many more options.
Available for: Dine-in, takeaway, and delivery
Address: Unit 2B, 2C Shoplex, Jalan Kiara, Mont Kiara, 50480 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8am — 4.30pm daily
Contact: 03 20118226
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Order here

15. KLCG Confectionary Bakery

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KLCG Confectionary Bakery is the bakery factory spin-off of Kuala Lumpur City Gallery, specialising in cronuts (read: a croissant-donut hybrid) with flavours such as Lotus Biscoff, Matcha, Dark Chocolate, and Melted Caramel. Other baked goods and sweet treats include croissants and cakes, whereas those who prefer savoury dishes can choose from a selection of New York bagels and “croissant’wiches” (croissant-sandwich hybrids). First opened in a humble shoplot in Taman Midah, the bakery has since moved inside the gallery to welcome more visitors for dine-ins.
Available for: Dine-in, takeaway, and delivery
Address: 27, Jln Raja, Dataran Merdeka, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 9am — 6pm, Wednesdays to Mondays (closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: 012 389 3907
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Order here

16. Broom Artisan Bakery

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Opened in June 2021, Broom is a micro-bakery, brunch kitchen, and social space located in Paramount Garden. Helmed by head baker Ryan Wong, who honed his craft in London and Melbourne before returning to Malaysia, the bakery has attracted café hoppers with its cosy, aesthetic space and assortment of fresh bakes such as sourdough bread, croissants, and cookies, as well as lunch boxes and bowls with Malaysian and Japanese influences.
Available for: Dine-in, takeaway, and delivery
Address: 27, Jalan 20/13, Taman Paramount, 46300 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
Opening hours: 8.30am — 10pm daily
Contact: 018 231 2823
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Order here

17. The Dough Factory

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The Dough Factory is another artisan bakery and brunch spot that emerged during the pandemic. From kouign-amann to plain and flavoured croissants to Danish pastry, the bakery section has something for both sweet tooths and those with savoury preferences. Meanwhile, the food menu consists of dishes such as Crab Benedict, Buttermilk Fried Chicken Burger, Chilli Crab Pasta and Seasonal Mushroom.
Available for: Dine-in and takeaway
Address: 32, Jalan Gangsa SD 5/3b, Bandar Sri Damansara, 52200 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 9am — 5pm (Mondays to Thursdays) | 9am — 8pm (Fridays to Sundays)
Contact: 010 222 4321
Facebook | Instagram

18. Flaaah The Bakery

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Located in Petaling Street, Flaaah boasts a beautiful sun-lit space to indulge in golden brown pastries, hot coffee and warm hospitality. The trendy bakery is well-known for its croissants, but there’s also an assortment of sweet and savoury pastries and tarts to delight everyone!
Address: G01, Four Points, 2, Jalan Balai Polis, City Centre, 50000 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8am to 4pm, Wednesdays to Mondays (closed on Tuesdays)
Contact: 012 502 5591
Instagram
Order here

19. The Lemon Tree

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Since opening in Tropicana in May 2022, The Lemon Tree has attracted a steady stream of visitors both for the ‘gram (thanks to its eponymous lemon tree decor) and for a taste of its artisanal pastries. Before long, the team opened a second outlet at Park Royal Collection Kuala Lumpur, bringing its signature croissants, pizzas, and desserts to carb-loving customers in KL and PJ.
Address:

PJ: Ground Floor, Menara Lien Hoe, 8, Persiaran Tropicana, Tropicana, 47301 Petaling Jaya, Selangor
KL: Park Royal Collection Kuala Lumpur, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, 50250 Wilayah Persekutuan

Opening hours: 8am to 6pm daily
Contact: PJ – 011 5763 0433 | KL – 010 322 2888
Facebook | Instagram

20. Bray Bakery

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Started with the aim to turn “passion into reality”,  Bray Bakery is founder Jonathan Leon Lim’s saving grace after his plans to pursue a career overseas was thrown out of the window by the pandemic. Thanks to benefactors and patrons, he opened Bray in November 2021, offering sourdough that’s influenced by European culture but tailored to local taste preferences. Today, the bakery also serves a variety of danish, pastries, small plates, all-day breakfast dishes, and coffee.
Address: #G-02, Menara See Hoy Chan, 374, 50400 Kuala Lumpur
Opening hours: 8.00am — 5pm, Tuesdays to Sundays
Contact: 012 582 2519
Website | Facebook | Instagram
Order here

For more takeaway and delivery options, head over here.

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Beauty
Exclusive: Talking hair trends and mane care with the founders of IGK
Cutting-edge

19.04.2018
By Gwen Ong

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If you haven’t heard of IGK before, you’re about to discover the hype as the haircare brand comes to our shores. IGK was created by four celebrity hairstylists – Franck Izquierdo, Leo Izquierdo, Aaron Grenia and Chase Kusero – and the brand is named after the first letter of the founders’ last names.
The four have been in the hair styling business since young and each currently manages a number of salons, working with an exclusive clientele. The stylists are known for setting trends and creating the perfect looks that have been seen down the runways and red carpets. It was through their daily interactions with their clients that the four realised what kind of products and styling that they were looking for.
IGK was born out of the desire to give these clients the looks they want with minimal effort. Each product is inspired by the cities they work in, art, music, fashion and their keen eye for unique trend and innovative products. We talk to the guys all about hair trend and mane care.

Which is one iconic hairstyle that you loved from then till now?
Aaron: I’ve always loved the bob. I’m especially into the traditional look – chin length where the hair is able to naturally curl around the face. It’s a more iconic feeling than the super graphic, hard-edge bobs we’re seeing today. Bobs overall though just transcend time, they’re always evolving and can be made to look super modern or traditional. A good example is Dua Lipa’s new look or Taylow Swift’s bob.

You guys have worked with a really diverse set of people and so many different hair types – what are some of your best tips concerning hair care? Any dos and don’ts?
Leo:
1.     Your hair care starts in the shower – make sure you’re using a good shampoo and conditioner that helps with the final look you want to achieve. If you want volume, start with a volumising shampoo. If you want hydration, start with a hydrating shampoo. And always condition your hair. It’s also a good idea to do a hair mask, even just on the ends, 1-2 times a week.
2.     Take care of your scalp. If you scalp is healthy, your hair will grow healthier and better. I tell my clients to use ‘Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub’ 1-2 times a week to get rid of product buildup, dirt and oil.
3.     Look out for ingredients that aren’t helping your hair – our whole line is vegan, cruelty-free, gluten-free, and free from sulfates, parabens, petrolatum and mineral oil. And all our products have UV protection. Those ingredients aren’t helping your hair, and can damage it or affect your colour or chemical treatments.
4.     Don’t cut your own hair. It’s too risky.

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What are some of the best IGK products we can use to keep our hair looking fresh in the humid weather?
Chase: Start by protecting from frizz with ‘IGK Thirsty Girl Coconut Milk Leave-In Conditioner’. It has a patented hyaluronic acid technology that forms a weightless barrier over the hair for hydration and 24-hour frizz protection. Coconut Milk nourishes and strengthens to prevent split ends and breakage.
Keep your style looking fresh with dry shampoo. We just launched a collection of dry shampoos in a light, medium and deep cleanse level – so you can choose the dry shampoo that works best for your hair, scalp and lifestyle. ‘Jet Lag Invisible Dry Shampoo’ is the lightest cleanse and is great for a quick refresh, or for fine hair. ‘Direct Flight Multi-tasking Dry Shampoo’ gives a medium cleanse and adds volume and texture. ‘First Class Charcoal Detox Dry Shampoo’ is our deepest cleanse and is great for oily scalps, thick hair or post workout – it absorbs heavy oil and even eliminates odor.

IGK launched a scalp scrub – do you foresee a trend in scalp care? Why is this important?
Leo: Scalp care is so important – it’s the foundation for healthy hair. Our ‘Low Key Cleansing Walnut Scalp Scrub’ is great to use once or twice a week in place of your normal shampoo to remove product buildup, dirt and oil, and to rebalance and clarify the scalp. It uses sugar instead of salt and is gentle so it’s great for sensitive scalps and is colour- and keratin-safe. It’s important to use a scalp scrub regularly because product buildup can clog the hair follicles and cause thinning hair or hair loss – a scrub should be part of your normal routine.

What is the hottest hair trend at the moment? Most asked hair cut this year?
Franck: The hottest hair trend at the moment is the bang. It’s sexy and fun to style. There’s a French vibe that women want to adopt, I feel – it’s a long fringe and undone textured layers. It looks effortless.
The haircut I’m asked for most in the salon is the long bob. Women want a change. I think it goes with what’s happening in our politics and pop culture – women are claiming their rights and are powerful. And so it goes with their hair! They’re willing to be more daring and do a dramatic change to their hair. So, I’m cutting a lot of long hair into long bobs, which I love.

IGK BESTSELLERS
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IGK have been part of the most celebrated fashion shows and celebrity hairstyles — can you share what’s the best way to make a “hair” statement?
Franck: Go for an extreme look. Whether it’s straight or wavy, do it 100% extra. Or extra long volume, or extra short! Or even wear your hair up and add some bling – like the barrettes we’re seeing at Versace.

You guys are known to be trendsetters in the industry. What are some exciting products we can expect from you guys next?
Aaron: We get our inspiration from everywhere, but a lot of it comes from our salons and our teams of stylists. We’re with clients every day and we listen to what they’re saying about their hair, their products, even trends outside of the beauty industry (like hearing that coconut milk or turmeric are the next big ingredients). We consider what our clients are saying and what we and our stylists think is missing and we create a product to meet that need. For example, our dry shampoos – we knew that people love their dry shampoo but no one knows why. Talking to our clients and our retailers, we found out that it’s because everyone will prefer a different dry shampoo based on their hair and scalp type. So we created a line of dry shampoos that lets you choose a cleanse level that’s best for you.

Chase: We also take inspiration from trends in makeup, fashion, music – we saw a lot of holographic looks in makeup and fashion and know our client likes to play with trends. We wanted to bring that look to hair, so we created ‘Foamo Holographic Hair Foam’. It’s a temporary glitter-packed shade-shifting foam that our clients and customers have loved as a cool trend product.

Franck: We’re launching our whole line in Sephora Southeast Asia in late April, and will have a new round of innovation coming to the market in July. One thing I can share is that we’ll be launching a high speed air dry spray – it cuts air dry time by 46%, so hair dries better and faster with less bending, frizz and breakage. We’ve been trying it in our salons and getting amazing results.

IGK is now available at Sephora and also online.

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Milan Fashion Week AW16: Day One

Fashion
Milan Fashion Week AW16: Day One
Nip slip

25.02.2016
By Buro247

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

Lina Esco’s 2013 campaign and subsequent film Free the Nipple (2014) protests against the many legal and cultural taboos concerning female breasts. The movement challenged the unequal standards women face, demanding for the right to toplessness in any area a male could wander shirtless. The campaign went viral, launching an onslaught of exposed chests across every social media channel imaginable (and being banned or taken down just as quickly). Two years on and #freethenipple is still being referenced on the runway. Call me old-fashioned and/or a prude, but the sheer dresses made by Cavalli, Francesco Scognamiglio and Alberta Ferretti—and particularly as part of a Autumn/Winter collection—made me think that some poor girls are going to have very cold breasts come this September. Apart from a handful of attention-grabbing reality TV stars, I struggle to imagine women in dresses that leave absolutely nothing to the imagination.

It is difficult to think that just 12 months ago, a relatively unheard of Alessandro Michele was made captain of the ship following Gucci’s then creative director, Frida Giannini’s swift and sudden departure. In a very short amount of time, Michele has given Gucci a brilliant new ensign: gone are the days of Ford’s or Giannini’s rampant sexuality, having been replaced by Michele’s girlier, geekier romanticism. The formula seems to be working, with Kering reporting a 4.8 percent rise in organic sales at Gucci in Q4 last year (for a more in depth coverage of the show and to see the entire collection, go here).

At Brunello Cucinelli, another kind of woman was getting dressed. The lifestyle that Cucinelli has spun is one that speaks undeniably of luxury. For AW16, Cucinelli described his collection as a “conversation between the masculine and feminine” and his clothes definitely borrowed from the boys. Herringbone, glen plaid, pinstripes and window pane checks were cut into the most dizzying array of jackets and pants. Cucinelli’s modus operandi has never been to rock the boat; rather, he takes well known classics, gives it a contemporary twist and then creates the clothes in the finest, most luxurious fabrics known to exist. It’s a lifestyle that at present time, we can only watch and love from afar.

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#CheatDayEats: Pies, pies, pies

Food + Drink
#CheatDayEats: Pies, pies, pies
Can’t fight this filling anymore

26.09.2015
By Buro247

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Perhaps the most exciting thing about eating a pie is guessing if the filling will match its gorgeous golden brown crust. Pastries are amazing but the amount of butter used to make these amazing tiny meals qualifies it as a Cheat Day meal. Here are 3 places that will satisfy your Cheat Day cravings.

1. A Pie Thing

With a collection of beautiful sweet and savoury pies, it’s really difficult to to narrow down your choices at A Pie Thing. Our advice is to go with friends so that you can try as many of these delicious pies as possible. Be sure to get ‘The Mashacre’ topping, a mixture of mash potatoes, mushy peas and gravy, that makes every picture of your pies Insta-worthy.

2. The Humble Pie Co.

If you are a durian lover, you don’t have to think twice before heading into this chic cafe. The pie that elevated The Humble Pie Co. into stardom is their duffee pies — a durian toffee pie. When the season permits, it is a no brainer to pay the extra amount for the Musang King pie.

3. The Crusty Nest

Expect to find some classic meat pies at this minimalistic cafe. Although the savoury pies are really good, the sweet pies are the real winners here. Be sure to try their sumptuous chocolate tarts when you are here.

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Lifestyle
Malaysians travelling to EU countries may need to go through a new immigration process
“The new way to travel”

21.02.2018
By Rachel Au

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Blame Brexit—or don’t; because either way, it won’t change anything now. Beginning 2020, Malaysians looking to visit European Union countries may have to go through a new immigration process called the European Travel Information and Authorisation System (ETIAS). It will be mandatory for citizens from visa-free countries, which means Malaysia will be affected too. According to the ETIAS Europe website, the purpose of this process is to “address the potential threats of ineligible individuals before they can cross the borders of the EU.”
Here are some things you need to know about ETIAS.

It is not a visa.
It only applies if you’re travelling to the Schengen Area (aka all EU states except Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Ireland, Romania and The United Kingdom).
It’ll allow you to stay in the Schengen Area for a period of up to 90 days and is valid for 3 years.

The application process can be done online and would only take approximately 10 minutes.

An ETIAS would cost you 10 Euros (approx. RM48.30). However, applicants under the age of 18 would not need to pay the fee.
Some of the required documents for this process include a passport, credit card (to pay the fee), and contact information (permanent residence address, phone number and email address).

Once the application is submitted, the ETIAS system will verify the information, process it automatically (and cross check against various EU information systems such as Europol, Interpol and so on) and either issue or refuse the authorisation (you’ll find out via email).
It is recommended to apply for an ETIAS at least 72 hours prior to departure and it is advised to bring your ETIAS authorisation email printout to the airport to prevent being denied boarding.
The details surrounding ETIAS is still in a proposal stage and hence, the information above might change before the system is in effect come 2020.

For more information, visit the ETIAS Europe website.

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Trends
Party outfit inspo: 5 Paris Haute Couture AW18 trends to rock for #BuroTurnsThree

08.07.2018
By Joan Kong

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OTT pantsuits
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The blazer-trousers combo has always been one of the best day-to-night ensembles, thanks to its über chic factor. Rock the fuss-free looks for your next night out, but this time, take cues from the runways by adding details that’ll give the two-piece that amp-up. Dior and Jean-Paul Gaultier’s satin looks are a good way to start—they add that extra sheen to the overall look. Don’t forget to break off the covered up outfit with a slither of décolletage.

Ruffles
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You can always count on the flouncy frills to add that bit of drama to the simplest of looks, and this season, the ruffles are out in full force. Take a style cue from Chanel and pair your embellished top with a tiered ruffled skirt for a feminine finish, or opt for frills on your shoulder and sleeves to give your monochrome hued looks (spotted at Georges Chakra and Giambattista Valli) that added interest.

Fluffy feathers
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The fluffy details may not be the most practical choice in our hot and humid weather, but step out of your comfort zone for a night in this more-is-more trend—just imagine how good they’ll look with your every step. Dior and Alexis Mabille’s gowns will make the perfect outfit for a black-tie event, but we’re all for Fendi and Ralph & Russo’s shorter options that’ll be perfect on the dance floor.

Deep V-necks
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There’s no better time to show skin than at a party, and if the Haute Couture catwalks are any indication, deep V-necks are the way to go. The navel-grazing details gave Givenchy and Elie Saab’s pantsuit-esque looks that sensual touch, including Georges Hobeika’s fit-and-flare dress that radiated major princess vibes. Don’t let the neckline restrict you; flaunt your toned pins in the gilded playsuit from Zuhair Murad—it’s a refreshing pick for a night out.

Shiny lamé
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Opinions may be divided when it comes to the soft metallic fabric, but with the array of eye-catching looks on the runways this season, you’re bound to change your mind if you’re not (yet) a fan. Whether you’d like to rock lame head-to-toe in Valentino, or incorporate hints of skin à la the asymmetrical Rani Zakem and the sheer Azarro Couture dresses, you’ll get our seal of approval. We particularly like Clare Waight Keller’s use of contrasting fabrics in the Givenchy look.

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Travel
Checking in: Alila Bangsar, Kuala Lumpur
Surprisingly different

25.05.2018
By Rachel Au

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Alila Hotels & Resorts are undeniably known for their modern retreats in unique locations; where they take a lot of the surrounding character and adapt it to the hotel. Alila Bangsar is no exception. Occupying the top six floors of a mixed-use development known as The Establishment, Alila Bangsar is akin to a resort in the sky. The lobby is located on the 41st floor (the highest in the building) and as the doors of the lift opened, we were greeted with a view of lush greenery that acts as the centrepiece. With tall windows that look out to the KL cityscape (and thus provide an abundance of natural lighting) and an even higher ceiling where the plants can stretch towards to, the space is a minimalist’s dream.

But while there are sofas littered around for anyone’s sitting pleasure, here is not where the guests check in. After checking our names on his iPad, a staff promptly invited us to follow him. He brought us to the lifts that lead to the guest rooms and hit the number 35—the only floor that’s currently open as Alila Bangsar is still in its soft launch phase. We exited the lift and was introduced to what would become one of our favourite features of the hotel: The Living Room.
Available on every floor, here is where you can get free flow juice, coffee, tea and snacks. You can even make your own infused water with the sliced fruits in the fridge. In the mornings, you’ll find additional mini breakfast options such as nasi lemak bungkus and pastries. The idea was to create a common area for guests to mingle or relax with refreshments and some reading materials. As our room was at the end of the hallway, we later secretly wished there was a small trolley or basket to help carry three paper cones of murruku, ice gems, and wheel crackers; a glass of orange juice; and another glass of infused water. Or maybe we were just greedy (and lazy) to make multiple trips.

THE ROOMS
Five categories, 143 guest rooms. There’s the Studio Room, Balcony Studio, Deluxe Studio, Bangsar Suite, and our crib for the night, the Deluxe Corner Studio—which is the second largest room in the hotel at 59 sqm. Upon entering the room, the staff introduced the features available as well as the facilities provided by the hotel before finishing up with the check-in procedures and a quick signature on his iPad. Alila as a brand is big on sustainability. Hence the paperless invoicing; the IPTV technology to access all the information via the TV; a Press Reader app to access magazines and newspapers directly from a mobile phone or tablet.
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As such, the room looks and feels clean as a whole. No clutter, no trace of paper—except the ones in the bathroom—and an interior design brimming with minimalism, Japanese-style. Think browns of wooden elements, golden accents, furniture with clean-cut lines, and lots of natural light. The bathroom, on the other hand, sits more on the modern end with white tile walls, mirrors framed by neon lights and a wide grey stoned sink.

Interestingly enough, we received a lot of queries about the bathroom (among others) on Instagram. Is there a bathtub? No, none of the rooms at Alila Bangsar has one. Are the toiletries in-house? Yes, they’re using Alila Living products which are placed in refillable bottles in the shower room. What’s the mini bar like? By default, your mini bar will be empty unless you make your selections when you book the room or upon request. Tea and coffee are by local brands for that local flavour. Is the bed comfy? It is if you love slightly firm ones. The air conditioning is at its peak though!

THE FOOD
Fun fact: Alila Bangsar is the first Alila Hotel to have independent restaurants. The three bars and two restaurants are all curated and operated by the Platform Hospitality Group—or better known as the people behind Botanica + Co and Bocosan Izakaya.

We’ve talked about Botanica + Co and its Alila Bangsar-only dishes before and a full review of its other main restaurant, Entier will be coming up soon. But just to give you a snippet; by night, Entier is a French nose-to-tail concept restaurant helmed by Japanese Chef Masashi Horiuchi (whose impressive resume includes five years at the two Michelin-starred L’Atelier de Joël Robuchon in London) and by day, it’s where you have breakfast.

There are five options for the breakfast set: International (the usual eggs, beef bacon, chicken sausage, and more), Oriental (chicken congee, pan-fried dumplings and fried carrot cake), Malay (the nasi lemak one), Indian (roti canai with chicken curry, vadeh and more) and Vegetarian (steamed mix vegetables, baked beans, vegetarian dhal and more). As it’s a semi-buffet style, the spread is relatively smaller, serving fresh juices, fruits, salads and pastries only.
Next to Entier is the Pacific Standard Bar and it is glorious. Boasting playful cocktails that pack a punch as well as an interior inspired by the 1960s American glamour, it certainly raises the bar for most evening hotspots, especially during sunset hours. It’s an understatement to say that Principle Bartender Ruben Anandha and team know what they’re doing. Whether you’re adventurous or not, feel free to let them surprise you or give them hints of what kind of drink you like. Alternatively, we recommend their slightly spicy Moscow Mule, the sweet Sunset Swizzle and the fried cheese balls (the best out there!).

There’s also a pool bar and an upcoming rooftop bar that’s due to open between July to August.

THE FACILITIES
Alila Spas are known to be quite the luxurious treat but unfortunately, Alila Bangsar does not have one. Instead, the hotel is keen to promote the local culture/tourism. Looking for a relaxing massage? They’ll call in one of their wellness centre partners to send a masseuse over to your room. Looking for something to do? Choose from pewter crafting at Royal Selangor to an off-the-road cooking class to a Segway tour at the Lake Gardens. Within the hotel, however, there’s a 24-hour gym and a swimming pool. They also provide unlimited return chauffeur service to KL Sentral, Bangsar Village and Mid Valley City.

THE VERDICT
If you’re a tourist who prefers a relaxing stay in KL, transportation options are great. If you’re doing a staycation, everything you need and want is within the building—except perhaps Alila Spa itself and a bathtub. Also, it’s great that they’re donating RM2 per night booked to the Malaysian Association for the Blind. Some people find its location extremely convenient, seeing that there’s a bridge connecting it to the Bangsar LRT station, and thus, instant connectivity (although you can opt for the chauffeur service). Others find it a little strange, being in the quiet corner of Brickfields. But once you’re inside, it’s clearly an oasis in the middle of a bustling city.

Alila Bangsar’s opening package ‘Breakfast on Us’ starts from USD 109 per room per night (excluding tax and service) for booking until 31 July 2018 and stay until 31 Dec 2018. This includes breakfast and is based on two sharing a Studio Room. For more info, or to book your stay, visit Alila Bangsar’s website.

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Fashion
Dressed down Fridays: Athleisure for work
Style run

07.01.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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

Some might scoff at the athleisure trend and wonder how joggers ever became a staple in one’s wardrobe. But let’s be real—who wouldn’t like going around town in comfortable Nike kicks instead of tottering in mile-high heels? If your office allows a dressed down Friday and you’re about to pump iron after work, why not dress in stylish gear and make a sporty statement?

Gone are the days of oversized neon sport jackets that aren’t the most flattering—this women’s training jacket from Adidas will keep you warm and ultra modern. We like the printed navy-and-yellow sleeves for an urban look, plus the climalite® fabric helps sweep the sweat away from your skin.

Workout attire can look pretty bland if you’re constantly decked in black. Add a pop of colour with this jersey tank top from Adidas Stellasport that is perfect for both indoor training and running.

An outstanding pair of workout leggings is what every woman needs in her closet. This McQ Alexander McQueen stretch leggings feature a blue, white and black Richter print that’s abstract as it is beautiful.

How do you look luxe while maintaining a street-chic vibe? By repping a pair of leather sneakers from Nike that is. This Air Max 1 sneakers is made from textured-leather, mesh and nubuck coated for a bronze shimmer. Coupled with a silver Air sole unit for great cushioning and support, don’t be surprised if you want to wear this all day everyday throughout the week.

A smart fitness tracker like Moov Now is your best accessory to put on before you transition to the gym. This tracker doubles as a wearable coach, featuring a coaching element that speaks to you while you work out. Achieving your goals on being fitter/leaner/stronger on your New Year resolutions list will be one step easier with this.

To keep all your essentials with you, tote this white unstructured leather backpack from MM6 Maison Margiela. A large gym bag isn’t necessary since you’re already decked in your workout gear, and we’re loving how the leather rope shoulder straps instill an edgy feel to this backpack.

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Beauty
New to L’Occitane Reine Blanche: Skin saviours that work overtime while you sleep
Night shift

27.02.2016
By Terry Saw

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

What caught our attention when L’Occitane first introduced the Reine Blanche whitening and illuminating program last year was the use of the exclusive Reine des Pres from Provence. What’s unique about the petals of this flower is that they lighten from a creamy shade to pure white over time, making it the center of inspiration for its five-step (foaming cleanser, toner, serum, cream and UV shield SPF50) brightening skincare program.
This year, two brand new solutions join the Reine Blanche family not just to complement the existing whitening and illuminating ritual, but also to go the extra mile by working its time-release magic on your skin while you sleep. What’s a girl to do but to wake up with skin that’s naturally lit from within?

For the face…

Infused with the illuminating Reine Blanche Complex and a new major ingredient – the Scutellaria Baicalensis – this gel-cream sleeping mask works as the final step in your ritual and is wired to gradually release benefits deep into your skin throughout the night. Remember miracles do not happen overnight, so stick to the ritual for at least a few weeks and you’ll discover that wanting skin that’s intensely moisturised, luminous and visibly healthier when you wake is definitely not too much to ask.
Massage tip: Position the index finger and thumb on your chin, sliding from the chin upwards towards the jawbone to stimulate microcirculation.

For the eye…

You’ll love that the formula is gentle and respects the delicate eye area, delivering just the right doses of Reine des Pres goodness supplemented with caffeine to instantly soothe, refresh and reduce puffiness.
Tip: Apply directly from the tube, using the cooling metal tip of its expert massaging tool to stimulate microcirculation around the eye area.

First-hand reviews from friends of L’Occitane…
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”L’Occitane Reine Blanche” rid=”3832″ order=”a_tstamp”}
L’Occitane Reine Blanche is now available at all L’Occitane boutiques and counters nationwide or online.

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Balenciaga reopens in Pavilion KL

Fashion
Balenciaga reopens in Pavilion KL
New vision

28.07.2017
By Joan Kong

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The newly reopened Pavilion KL store marks the brand’s second store in Kuala Lumpur, and the interior definitely encapsulates the new creative vision under Balenciaga’s creative director, Demna Gvasalia. Spanning across 182 square meters, a step into the store and you’ll realise the juxtaposition of textures that represents the blend of haute-couture sophistication and the contemporary industrial environments. Concrete, cast aluminium and glass are given a contrast with high-gloss rosewood on walls and display tables, which definitely gave the dull grey tones a perk up.
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Balenciaga Pavilion KL” rid=”5308″ order=”a_tstamp”}
Shop the latest collection (more Insta-worthy bags, perhaps?) at the new Balenciaga store at Level 2, Pavilion Kuala Lumpur.

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Beauty
Aesop’s Epistēmē installation is a sensorial interplay of the virtual and physical

20.09.2019
By Wei Yeen Loh

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Often times when our senses get inundated—or “sensory overload”, as we’d term it—we don’t quite rationalise why and how it comes to be. On the flip side, we infrequently dwell on the cursory moment of appreciating (and pondering upon) our senses after touching, tasting, gazing or picking up a scent, let alone understanding how each sense physically affects our knowledge of the world.
It’s precisely the belief that we absorb knowledge through the senses that skincare brand Aesop‘s new sensorial installation, Epistēmē, is deeply-rooted in. A creative collaboration with Dutch artist Bart Hess provided the three films that draw parallels to three Aesop formulations highlighted in Epistēmē.
Described as a “theatre of the senses”, the installation depicts the moment each Aesop product touches the skin’s surface through scent, sound, tactile materiality, sculptural intervention and moving images.
After a walk-through at the thought-provoking space, we sat down with Aesop’s creative director, Marsha Meredith, to talk about the process behind Epistēmē, what Aesop looks for in an collaborating artist, and how the collaboration with Hess came to be:
Please walk us through Epistēsmē.
“Episteme is an ancient Greek word which means knowledge or understanding. With this, the idea of the installation is that you absorb so much of the understanding of the world through the senses. And interestingly enough, the skin aggregates all of these different senses and it’s also known as the “common sense”.
The installation is made up of two components: the skin and the materials. The skin is the wooden structures circulated through the event and they will guide you through the installation. The materials are the three films by Bart Hess, as well as these sculptural interventions that you see throughout. These help stimulate the sensorial effect of three Aesop products featured in this project.
There are three zones in this installation and we’ve purposely laid out the structure of the event so that you can have a sensorial experience before you see the film, and that’s to also bring to life how your understanding of the world is. Sometimes it happens through your senses before your brain can rationalise it.”

Does technology play a role in each Aesop artistic collaboration?
“I think for me, the medium is not usually the first that comes to mind. It’s the idea and this opportunity to work with Bart—whose work really references the body as a canvas—was very suitable for this concept that we had already.
The play between the virtual and the physical really talks to the senses as well as the physical properties of the products.”

How did Aesop’s collaboration with Hess come into fruition?
“We’ve been wanting to work with him for some time. Luckily this project was appropriate for him and we were very happy with that. When we start working with any collaborators—whether architectural or these kind of projects—we first introduce them very carefully to Aesop.
We take them through our stores, products and they experience them and have it with them as they’re working on the concepts. There is always a dialogue and exchange of ideas. ‘Collaboration’ is an interesting word as I really think it does involve two parties and the exchange of ideas to get it at this point.
One of the questions we get asked a lot is: With so many artistes working on our stores with the context of so many different communities and cultures, how do they feel very ‘Aesop’? I hope that we manage to do this with other collaborations because we have to introduce them to our world as much as they are introducing us to their world.”

What do you look for in potential collaborators of Aesop?
“The shared values are definitely a starting point, as well as the passion and the intellectual vigour in their field. We want to look for someone who challenges us and they need to have a skill that we don’t necessarily have ourselves. Usually it’s someone who is very deep into their topic.”

Many of these Aesop collaborations have poetic meaning behind them. Why is it important for the brand to consider that?
“Thank you for recognising that, and that’s definitely an Aesop trait to recognise a deeper meaning to it. We’ve always been inspired by the arts, and it’s such an enormity of the inspiration that comes from the arts. Philosophy is one of the deeper areas for finding such inspiration.
The book that I was referring to (The Five Senses by Michel Serres) has beautiful phrases throughout that inspire the work. We’ve never really wanted to conform to the mass approach as a company, so we defied the conventions of most of the skincare categories. We don’t look to celebrities for endorsements, we prefer to use the arts to inspire ourselves and to communicate.”

As a global creative director, how do you go about each project and cater it for each demographic?

“They’re all different, and it starts with the product and message we’d like to communicate first. It’s not the media that comes to mind, it’s what we want to talk about and how to express it. Then we look at different mediums to express it as well. Film, of course, is very useful as you can share it with many people.
This collection of films was created specifically for Asia although I’m sure we’ll see it for the rest of the world. Prior to these three films, we created seven in Australia last June, but they spoke to different products of different categories. We chose these three products because of the popularity and suitability in Asia.”

Do you see a potential in an extension of Epistēmē?
“We talk about the senses a lot. We consider it a lot in our stores, from the lighting to the scent. It’s so important for us in store when we greet and host customers, as well as each product’s touch, scent and feel.
Will we take it further in the future? We’d like to continue as it provides for a rich content for us. But Aesop evolves a lot, and I would imagine we’d do something different for the second series of film. How we address the senses moving forward will be different. That’s important to us but hopefully we’ll find new ways to express it.”
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Aesop Episteme” rid=”7582″ order=”a_tstamp”}

Aesop’s Epistēmē runs from 19-29 September, 10am-10pm at Ion Art gallery, Level 4, Ion Orchard, Singapore.

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Fashion
Loewe x Paula’s returns once more this summer with a dose of whimsy
Floaties at the ready

27.04.2018
By Wei Yeen Loh

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

There’s no other idyllic spot in the world that has a connection with Spanish luxury brand Loewe quite like Ibiza. From summer pop-up stores to holiday soundtracks condensed into a 12-chapter digital publication, Ibiza has always been an inspiration mainstay for Loewe’s creative director Jonathan Anderson. After a summer capsule collection in collaboration with legendary Ibiza boutique Paula’s last summer, the brand introduces a second Paula’s Ibiza collection for Spring/Summer 2018.
If playful prints and languid bohemian coastal aesthetic sound a lot like your summer wardrobe, there’s plenty from this collection that will warrant some major loving. The range encompasses women’s and men’s ready-to-wear and accessories that you can take for your next island vacay. Inspired by the glamorous spirit of the Balearic Islands, the collection references iconic archival prints in honour of the iconic seaside destination store. Retro beach motifs take center stage from the lineup, including a droll multicoloured combination of circus characters, beach flags and polka dots—all in clashing prints that are surprisingly easy on the eyes. While tiered sun dresses and boardshorts are obviously summer essentials, add on some stellar accessories to your look in the form of leather goods that have been reinterpreted in exclusive Paula’s prints and colourways. Our favourites are definitely the mini Elephant shoulder bag emblazoned with clowns, the classic leather Puzzle bag in patchwork print, along with novelty items such as raffia basket bags and canvas pouches. Worth mentioning is an outstanding range of footwear options such as flat slingbacks and espadrilles to complete your beach-ready free-spirited look.
Check out our favourite accessories from Loewe Paula’s Ibiza II collection:
{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная без списка] Loewe SS18 Paula’s Ibiza” rid=”6187″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Skincare
International Women’s Day: 8 Female influencers who are defying Instagram’s beauty standards

07.03.2020
By Wei Yeen Loh

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This diverse set of beauty influencers isn’t letting anyone dim their shine with their outstanding features and creative expression
One scroll through your Instagram feed and you’d be hard-pressed to find an #unfiltered (not even with BeautyCam or any other cute IG animal-face filters) shot of a beauty influencer who’s real-talking about her skincare woes. While we can’t fault these personalities for glossing over their perfectly-shot selfies (it is, after all, their income source), it’s always a refreshing change to find someone who’s going against the grain with a different set of beauty rules that they abide by.
In celebration of International Women’s Day, we sift through the Insta throng for a list of females who aren’t just the usual beauty enthusiasts—but who actually face their personal battles with strength and confidence. Whether it is having rosacea, acne, or even the most unusual bone structure, these girls are motivating us to be the best version of ourselves with the help of some makeup, a lot of fun, and plenty of confidence.
Tsunaina
Blessed with a combination of otherwordly features (upward-tilting eyes, unique nose and smattering of moles), Tibetan model Tsunaina has the sort of face that automatically garners double takes—whether IRL or on IG. She was recently featured on Pat McGrath’s Mothership makeup launch campaign, and has since then been photographed by a slew of brands and titles.

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Lex Gillies
London-based blogger Lex Gillies has spent the last decade (and longer) learning to manage her rosacea-ridden skin. The beauty advocate offers a wealth of skincare advice, tips, and beauty routine to her followers on Instagram and blog. She has also been featured on major news sites on her skincare journey, including that one scathing (but absolutely accurate) blog post on how women do not makeup for men.

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A post shared by Lex – Rosacea + Skin Positivity (@talontedlex)

Aryuna Tardis
If you can’t get enough of experimental makeup, give Russian makeup pro Aryuna Tardis a follow on IG and let her subversive work blow your mind. Also appointed as L’Oreal’s Colorista Ambassador, Tardis is not a stranger to making statements with her makeup looks—from alienoid-chic to extraordinarily ethereal.

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Joyjah Estrada
Belizean-Australian model Joyjah Estrada can be described as traffic-stopping. From her superloud curls to freckled face, the 24-year old social media star is also a beauty maven, serving up some seriously beautiful makeup looks on her IG feed while also creating video content on YouTube on her skincare and haircare routines.

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Hani Hans
UK-based beauty columnist and beauty influencer Hani Hans launched her IG account to inspire and identify with other young Muslim girls that they can celebrate wearing the hijab through a plethora of creative ways i.e. makeup! Her glow-getting makeup looks and envy-inducing luminous skin are a few of the reasons she’s on our list today.

Em Ford
Self-taught beauty influencer Em Ford is an inspiration to anyone who’s had their fair share of battles with acne. After launching her viral video “You Look Disgusting“, she has since dabbled with side projects including filming a documentary on Internet trolls with BBC and most recently, being featured on British retailer Boots‘ for a body positivity campaign.

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Mei Pang
Canadian makeup artist Mei Pang first made headlines back in 2018 when a mini-tutorial of her creating a cut crease for monolids. Since then, the heavily-tatted, clean-shaven beauty influencer has amassed a loyal following on Instagram with more than 170,000 followers who tune into her creative makeup tutorials and reviews.

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Mirian Njoh
Toronto-based model, stylist and writer Mirian Njoh is more than meets the eye. The West-African blogger refuses to let her albinism dictate her life, choosing to express herself through her passion for beauty, fashion and photography. Not just a beautiful face, she also runs a fashion label that purveys one-of-a-kind accessories sourced from Liberia and Morocco.

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Travel
3 Decadent holidays for travellers looking for something different
Three one-of-a-kinds

06.05.2016
By Rachel Au

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Guide to ETIAS: The new travel pass for Malaysians visiting Europe

There are top fashion designer hotels for a lavish haute vacation, beautiful towns for a magical getaway and unique accommodations around the world. They’re all amazing but can it beat private jet journeys and a cruise with an award-wining chef on board to your stomach’s delight? We didn’t think so.

James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise of Spain and France, 10 June 2016 and 9 August 2016

You’ve heard of major cruise lines launching partnerships with celebrity chefs such as Jamie Oliver with the Royal Caribbean and Guy Fieri with Carnival, but neither of them were actually on board running the kitchens. Windstar Cruises’s new James Beard Foundation Culinary Cruise series, however, will give you more than just a James Beard Award-winning chef on the ship, the selected chef will be paired with an equally talented sommelier and will create special menus, lead cooking demos and take you on an excursion off the boat to either the local market or a culinary outing.
The first of the series is a ten-day culinary cruise slash excursion taking guests from Lisbon to Dublin with stopovers at Porto in Portugal, El Ferrol and Gijon in Spain, and Bordeaux, La Rochelle and St.-Malo in France. Besides fresh scrumptious Spanish seafood, fine French wine and cheese, and exotic Moroccan spices, you’ll have to admit that the suites (with 24/7 access to a gorgeous view of the sea) are pretty sweet to stay in too.
Windstar Cruises’s culinary voyage starts at $4,499 per person. For more information, visit their website.

Aman Private Jet Expedition, 9 – 26 October 2016

Explore a different side of Asia with Aman’s latest journey of discovery: an 18-day private jet expedition across China, Bhutan, India and Sri Lanka with insightful excursions from each Aman to stunning cultural sites of each country. The journey will begin in Beijing at Aman Summer Palace which is set alongside the UNESCO-protected garden estate (imagine the glorious view from your room) and they’ll take you to explore from the Forbidden City to the Great Wall. Next stop would be Lijiang’s Amandayan which is situated atop Lion Hill and overlooks the UNESCO-protected Old Town and Yunnan Province’s regal mountain range.
A private jet—a Gulfstream G200—will then transfer you to Paro in the remote Himalayan Kingdom of Bhutan where you’ll be able to admire its astounding natural beauty from your stay at Amankora Paro and Amankora Thimpu and during the guided exploration of the local renowned sites. From here, they will take you to Jaipur in India where you’ll be in touch with both the gorgeous architecture and the majestic animals in the National Park (Jungle Book vibes, anyone?). Changing the scenery just a little bit, the final stop will bring you to Sri Lanka for a taste of the beach, colonial charms, ancient temples and the region’s national parks. Let’s just say, it’s the kind of expedition you’ll only see in movies—except this time, you can be a part of it.
The Aman Private Jet Expedition is priced at $63,888 per person. For more information, visit this website.

Three Countries Ski Adventure by Private Jet

For the ultimate ski holiday, one resort would surely not be enough. Private jet charter flight agent PrivateFly have teamed up with upmarket holiday company Black Tomato to offer an eight-day luxury ski tour of three resorts in three countries with private jet transfers between each. The journey can start from either London or New York and stops first at Jackson Hole in Wyoming, USA, second at Whistler in Canada and then in Japan’s Mt. Naeba.
Besides enjoying the stunning scenery, thrilling slopes and natural hot springs (Japan), you’ll be put up at luxury accommodations in all three places. And if the private jet isn’t enough, you’ll be entitled to VIP transfers on the ground as well. The adventure obviously won’t come cheap but there’s another tricky matter: The tour is catered for a group of 12 so if you have enough friends who want to go, then you‘re good to go.
The ski tour is priced at $18,550 per person if you’re departing from New York. For more information, visit their website.

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Beauty
International World Sight Day: L’Occitane Cares About Sight
Don't turn a blind eye

11.10.2016
By Buro247

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The eyes are the windows to the soul. Without sight, the world is engulfed in darkness and even the simplest daily tasks become a challenge. The prevention of vision loss is a cause that sits close to the heart of L’Occitane.
The fight to raise awareness about the importance of sight started in 1997 with product names included in braille on the packaging of L’Occitane’s products.  Fast forward to 2006, the Provencal beauty brand established the L’Occitane Foundation with supporting the visually impaired as one of their core missions. So far, more than two million people have benefitted from eye care thanks to L’Occitane’s efforts.

Closer to home, L’Occitane Malaysia has begun charitable work to back the initiative in partnership with the Malaysian Association for the Blind (MAB) since 2008. This year’s fundraising endeavours include sales of a limited edition kit in all L’Occitane boutiques worldwide from 1 October to 31 December with 100% of the profits channeled towards selected local NGOs to support the visually impaired. MAB and Penang’s St. Nicholas’ Home will be putting the proceeds into activities to prevent avoidable blindness, such as eye screenings, prescribing glasses, providing adequate education through talks, and more.

Blindness is largely avoidable with early detection and timely treatment. Here are five ways to take better care of your eyes:

1. Incorporate food with Omega-3 fatty acids, lutein, zinc, vitamin A and antioxidants into your diet to reduce the risk of eye disease. Examples are leafy greens, nuts, eggs, and oily fish like salmon or cod.

2. Invest in a good pair of sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UVA and UVB rays to reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration.

3. Take breaks from screen-time, rest your eyes for 15 minutes after every two hours of staring at a screen.

4. Cut down on sugar to avoid diabetic retinopathy – a leading cause of blindness among working individuals.

5. Give your eyes a regular workout: Look from side to side and then, up and down. Next, while keeping your eyes open, rotate your eyeballs to the left, followed by a roll to the right. Be sure to focus on what you see and repeat each exercise five times for a few minutes per day to strengthen eye muscles.

Don’t take your gift of sight for granted.

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Technology
4 Free apps that can help you sleep better
Good night

02.05.2016
By Rachel Au

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Sleep deprivation can bring about a handful of negative effects to both your physical health and emotional wellbeing, and it’s not as simple as merely feeling grumpy or having a weaker immune system. It also puts you at a higher risk of serious medical conditions such as obesity, heart disease and diabetes—everything that basically doesn’t promise you as long of a life expectancy as people who does get enough sleep. According to UK’s National Health Service, one in three people suffers from poor sleep with stress, computers and taking work home as the main reasons.

But let’s be honest: It’s not easy to do away with what our work requires us to do even after the 9-to-5 office hours. However, what we can do is practise mindfulness, take a few minutes a day to clear our heads and meditate, and improve the sleep quality of the five to six hours (or less) we do manage to get in a night. Here are four free apps you can download on your phone to ensure your mind is steered clear of the next day’s workload and ready to sleep better.

1. To bed

While it’s true that eight hours of sleep a night is ideal, the amount does vary according to age groups. And if you need to wake up at a certain time, it’s important to find out what’s the best bedtime to get the best quality of sleep—and this nifty app does all that. Just don’t use it as an alarm clock as the tones used are probably too gentle to wake up to.

2. Calm

It’s a simple mindfulness meditation app that offers a variety of 7-day programmes such as ‘Calm’, ‘Focus’, ‘Happiness’, ‘Self Esteem’ and of course, ‘Sleep’. With nature scenes paired with soothing music, you’ll be able to fall asleep faster and be easily relieved from stress and anxiety.

3. Sleep Better

An all-in-one sleeping app, it not only helps you track your sleep and wake you with an alarm that can make you feel energetic and refreshed, but it also tracks your daily habits and other activities (like whether you exercised, had caffeine or alcohol, to name a few) which can affect your sleep quality. It also acts as a dream diary and eventually, it’ll put together an analysis of your sleep patterns and what could be disturbing the quality of it.

4. Relaxing Sounds

If sounds of calming waves or chirping birds are what you need to fall asleep faster and more easily, then this app does exactly that. Its major plus point is that it saves battery life as you can set a timer for it to turn off both the audio and display automatically.

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Collages of architectural beauty

Art + Design
Collages of architectural beauty
building jenga

18.02.2016
By Buro247

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Genius Loci, which refers to the “protective spirit of a place” or a “location’s distinctive atmosphere,” is the brainchild of Swedish artist Anastasia Savinova. Graduating from Samara State Architectural University, Anastasia was inspired to start this project during her first overseas trip, where she had ventured around the town gathering pictures and creating sketches that she had brought back with her. With these pictures and the impression that the town had left her, she had decided to create a collage with them that would eventually become the first piece to her Genius Loci collection.

Taking ideas from what Anastasia describes as the “feeling of the Place,” we definitely get to see a more insightful depth of the places that she chooses to depict through her artwork. She creates a sense of township through the collages that resemble single buildings, capturing the essence of what the locals feel about their towns.

Anastasia’s collages are a preservation of the peculiarities of the places that she visits, the little bits and pieces that make it different from the next. She even states to LandEscape that Genius Loci could become a life-long project for her.

{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”Genius Loci Architectural Collage” rid=”3818″ order=”a_tstamp”}

To see more of the Genius Loci series and Anastasia’s works, you can visit her website.

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Fashion
15 Last-minute gift ideas for your stylish loved ones
Fashion-forward

20.12.2017
By Joan Kong

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

Let’s face it: we all have that stylish person in our life who is really hard to shop for; with Christmas being less than four days away, if you have yet to finish your Christmas shopping, fret not—we’re here to help. From a pair of hyped about footwear and an oh-so-cute accessory, to a scarf that’s a classic favourite and fail-proof denim, below, we’ve compiled a list of covetable pieces that will be a head-turning addition to their (already) trendy wardrobe. The smiles on their faces? Guaranteed. You may even want these items for yourself.

{insert gallery tpl=”slide-freesize.tpl” id=”[Стандартная] Xmas fashion gift guides” rid=”5769″ order=”a_tstamp”}

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Google launches first self-driving car

Lifestyle
Google launches first self-driving car
Goodbye accidents

20.06.2015
By Buro247

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Imagine getting into a car and being driven by the car, with no pedals or steering wheels in sight because they are unneccesary. That’s what Google has been working on for about six years—to design a self-driving car protype that rely on sensors and software to drive themselves.
The two-seater car model that has been released has an electric battery, and the speed—for now—is capped at 25 mph and designed for short distance travel. So while it would currently be time-consuming if you’re in a hurry, the car is great for those who aren’t able to drive a car themselves. Specially written software guides the vehicle without any human intervention, according to Google, while built-in sensors have been designed to detect objects as far as two football fields away in all directions, including pedestrians, cyclists and vehicles-or even fluttering plastic shopping bags and rogue birds, so the car will slow down and stop should any objects come in its path.
The car has been undergoing test driving sessions at Google’s private facility in central California and recently taken to real roads of Mountain View, California with safety drivers on board.
Watch what it’s like first hand to be driven by a car.

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Art + Design
#WednesdayWishlist: Unique furniture picks for every dream home
#InteriorGoals

30.11.2016
By Wei Yeen Loh

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8 Best art galleries to visit in the Klang Valley

Gwen Ong, Deputy Editor: Frank Gehry’s Fish Lamps

If I had my way, every house must come equipped with a dedicated reading corner and a lamp to light up dreary evenings and fire up the imagination. I couldn’t ask for a more beautiful lamp than Frank Gehry’s. While the architect may be famous for his design architecture, he is also skilled in fine art. His Fish Lamps series was first introduced in the early 80s and continues to draw us in with its warm glow. The illuminated sculptures are made by hand so each twist and turn give the illusion that the kois are swimming through water. I’ll hang these up so that I can just curl up under my lounge and have conversations with the wise kois above my head.

Jasmine Leong, Senior Fashion Writer: Louis Vuitton Cocoon Chair

Since its lifestyle designs debut at Design Miami in 2012, Louis Vuitton has been showcasing cool, and luxe, of course, furniture with their special project known as Objets Nomades. At this year’s fair, the French house gives a new take to the famous swinging Cocoon Chair by adding black short and long-hair lambskin. Black, cozy and chic—this fuzzy homeware from Louis Vuitton puts the fur in furniture (#sorrynotsorry). Did I also mention that this hanging chair is in the shape of an egg? I picture myself in the balcony, all cocooned in the seat with a good book and dream pop music playing in the background. Talk about a designer conversation piece amongst my guests, and neighbours.

 Rachel Au, Lifestyle Writer: Rick Owens’ stag chairs

American fashion designer Rick Owens is mostly known for his luxurious goth-infused clothes so it comes as no surprise that few know of his second passion: Furniture. That, however, is about to change as his brand’s new Manhattan store is filled with selected pieces, a forthcoming book and an exhibition dedicated to his and wife Michèle Lamy’s neo-Paleolithic furniture at the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) in Los Angeles where there will be new pieces made just for the show. While I wait in anticipation for his new collection, I’ll just keep my eye on these breathtaking stag chairs of theirs from a display at the Chesa Planta museum in 2012. That’s the beauty of Rick Owens’ furniture—it’s more art than a cosy chair with plush cushions.

Loh Wei Yeen, Fashion & Beauty Writer: Marc Newson’s  Extruded Table 3

It’s not difficult to fall in love with Australian designer Marc Newson’s aesthetic—his design acumen is evident in collaborations with notable brands, including the Jaeger Le-Coultre Atmos 568 that is equipped with a seemingly floating mechanism and Louis Vuitton’s ultra chic Rolling Luggage. But if I had to choose one of his works to furnish in my living space (hopefully realized in the distant future), it’s his third variation from the Extruded Tables exhibition in Gagosian Gallery. This sleek table is crafted from a single block of Striato Olimpico marble, with a form that’s akin to a unbroken line with no beginning and no end—the perfect pick to satiate my secret obsession with marbled everything.

Tan Su Fen, Writer: Cristina Celestino for Tonelli Design’s Opaline collection

Clumsy as I am, I should probably be the last person in the room to own glass furniture—or glass anything really. But one look at the Opalina capsule collection by architect and designer Cristina Celestino for renowned Italian glass furniture makers Tonelli Deisgn and I’m absolutely smitten. Up to the 19th century, ‘opaline’ referred to an off-white rose colour. Over the years, the term expanded to encompass a broader set of colour variations, and now, Celestino pushes the definition of ‘opaline’ with her designs to include glass furniture that are made of etched and painted glass in a translucent, silky finish. The pristine aesthetic will urge even the messiest of people (read: me) to keep cluttering to a minimum.

Alyssa Lee, Editorial Assistant: Canvas by Yoy

There are a few arguments voiced by killjoy dissenters of superfluous artistic additions to a household. One: clutter. Two: triviality. The ingenious piece above by Yoy solves both. A flat piece of canvas to please the fussiest minimalist with a hidden function. The wooden and aluminium frame stretches out an elasticated fabric made to look like canvas with a painting of a chair. Rest a posterior on the illustrated seat and it turns into a chair. I’m already imagining all the gasps I’ll elicit when I literally sit on my art.

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Lifestyle
Bella Hadid wears the new Nike Cortez shoes in the latest campaign
The real OG

27.05.2017
By Rachel Au

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The year was 1972 when Nike co-founder Bill Bowerman’s drive to better equipment for runners resulted in the birth of the Nike Cortez. The classic white shoes with the red Swoosh would go on to not only propel champion runners but also become an endearing pop culture icon.

Two years later, the Senorita Cortez, the first true women’s version of the shoe, hit the market and solidify its icon status among women. Retaining the aesthetic and performance of the original, it easily gained the status of being Nike’s best-selling shoe throughout the ’70s.

“The Cortez is an iconic shoe that harkens back to my earliest days in the sport. The shoe allowed me the confidence and support to explore my fullest potential as a young aspiring athlete,” recalls Joan Benoit Samuelson, gold medalist of the first Olympic women’s marathon at the 1984 Los Anglenes games.

A post shared by Karen Wondra Grisham (@jewelbouquetjewelry) on May 23, 2017 at 6:27am PDT

It also graced silver screens (in the 1994 best picture winner, Forest Gump) and televisions, and became a staple of the west coast hip-hop street style. It just goes to show that one can combine performance and style. This year, the Cortez is celebrating its 45 years and what better way to give tribute to its vibrant beginnings than having a 1970s-style shoot. Starring Bella Hadid, the shots resemble the time Farrah Fawcett was seen skateboarding in a pair of Cortez sneakers on the Charlie’s Angels set.

The new Nike Cortez will be launched on 30th May 2017 at a retail price of RM359 and will be available at Nike KLCC and Nike Pavilion.

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