Celebrity Life

By now, your bosses and colleagues have probably seen more of your abode than you would've ever expected to show them.

With many of us working from home these days, meetings held over video conferencing apps the likes of Zoom and Microsoft Teams have become the new normal. Inevitably, this means letting colleagues into our residences — albeit virtually — and having them catch glimpses of it via our backdrop. Depending on where your workspace is located, this view could range from a boring blank wall to windows or cluttered bookshelves.

Your makeshift office may not be the most glamorous, but there are several easy interior design tricks that you can employ to quickly jazz up the background of your Zoom calls.

Textiles and cushions

If your workstation of choice is the couch or bed, all it takes is a few snazzy throw pillows wrapped in eye-catching fabrics and prints to provide visual interest in the space behind you. Consider dressing your cushions in the Armani/Casa Exclusive Textiles by Rubelli collection, which is inspired by modern art — specifically works by Henri Matisse, Vasilij Kandinskij and Paul Klee.

It showcases striking colour blocks embellished with embroideries, ikat details and intertwined motifs. These are available in various patterns and shades ranging from pastel to neutral hues. More details here.

Houseplants and greenery

Adding houseplants to your home office will help the space look less spartan and bland. Smaller plants like cacti, succulents and spider plants can be displayed on shelves or tables, while larger ones such as philodendrons, snake plants and ZZ plant (Zanzibar Gem) can be placed on the floor to break the monotony of blank walls.

Online plant retailer Flora Houses offers a wide variety of houseplants that will thrive indoors and are generally low-maintenance. Its range includes Japanese fir, fiddle leaf fig and Bird of Paradise. The store provides free doorstep delivery with a minimum spend.

Artworks and paintings

Perhaps houseplants may seem like too much of a commitment, or you simply don't have green fingers. This is where paintings and art pieces make an easier alternative. You can simply hang a couple of them on the wall that constantly forms your video call backdrop.

An Andy Warhol or Basquiat will certainly impress your co-workers, but your art doesn't necessarily have to be expensive or by big name artists. Consider procuring artworks instead from indie galleries such as Odd One Out, which boasts an array of creations by local and international printmakers and illustrators. We can't take our eyes off the above acrylic painting by Micke Lindebergh, which is titled 'Small Yellow Flower Pot' and features colourful blooms accented by quirky squiggles and bright hues.

Statement ornaments and furniture

Inject a dose of quirk into your meeting setup by peppering your background with assorted decorative items and statement furniture pieces. These can be anything from figurines to colourful tiles and dramatic room dividers.

Our go-to is Lala Curio, which is a whimsical wonderland of objets d'art such as brass monkey sculptures, cloisonné birds, and, one of our favourites — an adorable trio of cranes adorned with rock crystal feathers and perched on crystal balls.

Wallpaper

Why settle for one specially curated work area, when you can turn your whole room into an Instagram-worthy space? Wallpaper is a bold and easy solution — if every wall in your room is clad in beautiful prints, you can essentially park yourself in any corner and still have an envy-inducing Zoom backdrop.

Designer wallpaper has seen a resurgence in recent years, and we're obsessed with Christian Lacroix's exquisite Oiseau Fleur vinyl wallpaper, which depicts vibrant botanical and bird motifs against a silk effect embossed base. It comes in two colourways of pink and grey.

(Main image: Brina Blum/ Unsplash; Featured image: Christian Lacroix)

The post Photo Shoot: Purple Haze appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

This season shows that designers are still wild at heart when it comes to spring/summer. Embracing psychedelic florals and stretchy earth tones, the new season looks are nothing short of maximum impact.

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Photography Issac Lam

Hair Winky Wong

Make-up Jenny Shih 

Photography Assistant Ivan Chan, Shawn Cheung & Sinyi Lau

The post Photo Shoot: Psychedelic Florals and Earth Tones for Spring appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

"I never thought I’d be a model because when I was young, I never thought I’d grow to be this tall, but I did think I wanted to be an actress or a singer,” says Tang He, who was discovered at a performing-arts school in her hometown in Jilin province, China.

Since being signed to Elite in Shanghai almost three years ago, the 18-year-old is fast becoming one of fashion’s most talked-about faces. This season she opened Miu Miu’s resort show and joined what she calls “my Miu Miu family”, featuring in the brand’s autumn/winter advertising campaign. “It’s my first international campaign,” He says, “and I’m very excited and very happy. It makes me feel like the last couple of years have been worth it.”

Indeed, it’s been a very fast rise to the top for the Chinese teen. Her first show outside her home country was for Tom Ford. “It’s a show that so many models wanted to be in and I got it on my first try, so I’m very grateful,” she says. “I love modelling. It gives me the chance to wear so many beautiful clothes and I’m so grateful for the opportunities I’ve been given.”

Besides Miu Miu and Tom Ford, He can now be seen in most high-profile shows, appearing at Valentino and Fendi haute couture just this season. And it’s clear after working with her on just one shoot that, despite her natural talent, He is wholly dedicated to her craft. “I don’t mind posing more,” she tells us. “Make sure you tell me what you want me to do if I’m not delivering, so we can get the shot. I really don’t mind.”

Of course, making it as a model on the international stage is not without its share of criticism and hardship. When she signed to Next, her global agency, brands told He she had to slim down in order to walk in the European collections and haute couture shows. She did it, she got the jobs and somehow kept her youthful spirit.

“I think I’m a bit too slim now,” she says, when asked about her weight. “I don’t think you need to be super-skinny to be a model, to be honest. As long as you can fit into the clothes and your body is healthy, that’s all you really need. I want to put a bit of weight back on so we have to eat some good food for lunch later.”

And with that, we bring He to a bakery between shots, pointing out our favourite local sweet buns, and she squeals with the glee of a happy teenager.

“I’d like to try that one,” she says, pointing to a sugary bun stuffed with shredded coconut. As she eats in the taxi on our way to the next location, still decked out in Loewe, Dior and Jimmy Choos, she smiles and says, “There’s probably nothing better in the world than a sugary bun, don’t you think?”

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Photography Chasek at Planet X

Creative Direction and Styling Zaneta Cheng 

Make-up Kidd Sun

Hair Billy Hai at Hair Culture

Photography Assistant Ryan Au at Planet X

Styling Assistant Lau Bo

Model Tang He at Elite

The post Asia’s Hottest New Supermodel, Tang He, Struts Her Stuff at Chungking Mansions appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Streetwear is in. Hip, younger designers are injecting a bit of cool-cred into fashion's stalwarts.

The post Streetwear is in: traditional luxury houses embrace urban chic for Spring/Summer 2019 appeared first on The Peak Magazine.