Celebrity Life

Evelyn Choi — actress, model and influencer — shares fashion and beauty tips.

Evelyn Choi’s familiar face stares out from numerous advertising campaigns, magazine pages and social media posts. After first coming to prominence 14 years ago in the film Echoes of the Rainbow, alongside Simon Yam and Sandra Ng, she’s appeared in many TV shows and nearly a dozen films.

Her social media posts are peppered with makeup trends and tips, nods to designer brands, accessories, colourful dresses, jeans and frilly tops. She’s also known for mixing up designer gear with street chic, so we had to ask Evelyn Choi about all things fashionable – and the trendy young star obliged by doling out helpful advice, and her notions of fashion dos and don’ts.

Evelyn Choi, Actress-Model and Influencer

How has your fashion journey evolved?

I read a lot of fashion magazines and I check up on runway shows, but the most important part of my fashion journey has been the experience. My advice to others is simple: know yourself well and then you’ll know what kind of style suits your personality and shows the best of you.

Your Instagram feed is studded with tags for brands such as Gucci, Sacai, Miu Miu, Tods, Loewe and Giorgio Armani. Which are your favourites?

I don’t have a favourite brand or designer per se, as I think different brands have distinct features that make them unique. I enjoy and appreciate every individual designer.

Tell us about your accessories journey.

I like to wear the same accessories often, but style them differently each time. How do I choose a bag? Well, it’s quite funny: I use my wallet as a yardstick. Of course, I also see whether the bag goes with my jeans, as well as my little black dress. Quite a lot of people might opt for a signature look of a high-end brand, or a classic design. Somehow, I always end up liking new designs that encapsulate the brand spirit.

Would you be influenced by a model or celeb because they endorse a particular brand?

I usually decide for myself. A particular look or accessory might look good on a particular model, but not on me. That’s why they’re models. I believe different people have their own styles and qualities. Choose a style that matches you, not others.

Knowing you influence young women, does it make you more conscious about what you wear and post on social media?

For sure. That’s why I always share my #ootd (Outfit of the Day), not just because I want to share my fashion but, more importantly, because I want to give girls tips on finding their own style.

Who are your favourite Asian designers and style icons?

Three people spring to mind: designers Jason Wu and Vera Wang, and model and influencer Kiwi Lee.

What’s a fashion oops you had – and what did you learn from it?

I must say, hip-hop style really isn’t my cup of tea. I tried wearing very oversized tops and low-rise wide jeans and ended up looking very short and with no shape. But I wouldn’t say this style is an “oops I made a mistake”, it’s just not for me. I just can’t pull it off like others can.

Are there shows you watch just for the fashion?

I must confess I really like reality shows that help and encourage new and upcoming designers, like Project Runway and Next in Fashion. It’s always good to see how they fight for their dreams – and you as a viewer can also learn how to view fashion from different perspectives. From fabric construction to window dressing, the journey of an outfit from the designer’s first sketch to the end product is fascinating.

If you were to go to the MET Ball, who would you wear?

Wow – I really don’t know what I’d wear. I guess I need to see what the theme was first – it really starts from there, as the theme sets the tone. What I’d wear for Heavenly Bodies: Fashion and the Catholic Imagination would be very different from China: Through the Looking Glass.

How collaborative are you with stylists?

To be honest, I don’t usually work with stylists, as I like to choose outfits myself – though sometimes I’ll work with a stylist on commercials or magazine shoots. I respect all the stylists in Hong Kong – I think they’re very professional.

What do you always have in your makeup bag?

Lip balm.

Beauty trends have been leaning away from glamour and towards skincare and wellness. What are your skincare tips?

My tips for readers are easy: less is always more. Don’t try to put lots of stuff and product on your face if you’re worried about your skin. I always remind myself that my body needs water. Good skin comes from within, not externally, so for glowing and smooth skin, drink water.

What’s your fashion advice for young girls – or boys?

You’re under no obligation to follow a trend. Maybe you can create your own instead.

The post Style Folio: Evelyn Choi, Actress, Model & Influencer appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Shanyan Fok Koder and Richard Bassett explain how a Hong Kong art entrepreneur joined forces with a former special-forces soldier to launch a health and mental wellbeing app, Mentor360.

"Mental health and mental fitness are universal concerns," says Shanyan Fok Koder. "And regardless of your demographic, social status, your job or your age, it’s something everyone has to deal with."

Shanyan Fok Koder & Richard Bassett on Mental Health App Mentor360

The Mentor360 app dropped on World Mental Health Day in October, the cumulation of the last 20 months of work and conversations (usually across continents over Zoom) between former military man Richard Bassett and worldly art advisor Koder. A month later, I’m sitting with both in a North London café talking over slices of pizza.

Their app, they hope, offers everyone a holistic 360 guide and framework to “finding your formula” for mental and physical wellbeing. It uses a hybrid approach, with a core layer of clinicians and professional Mentors and then celebrity Ambassadors (who’ve publicly shared meaningful life stories) critical for building noise and momentum.

"I’d been in the military for a long time. And there were a couple of incidents in my life that made me want to create something," Bassett, the CEO, explains. "Firstly, it was my father committing suicide. Then my son had a bit of misdirection. And several of my friends in the military had PTSD issues or adjustment disorders."

"The biggest issue is why people wouldn’t come forward and say they’ve got a problem?” he asks.

“Unlike some apps, we’re not trying to get people hooked. Come on to it when you need it”

— Richard Bassett

The answer often lay in culture, lack of education or concerns about privacy that prevent many from seeking help. With that came Bassett’s idea of creating an app that functions as a “non-judgmental toolkit” with content validated by experts – who include coaches, performance psychologists, mental health-specialising nurses and a clinical psychologist.

Basset’s link with Koder came when his best friend, ex-special forces colleague and TV star Jason Fox, sat next to a pregnant Koder at a charity fundraiser for Born (which researches to prevent premature birth) in late 2019. As the pair talked about their passions for mental health and children’s wellbeing, the connection to Bassett’s idea became quickly apparent.

"Foxy told me that I have to meet his friend, Richard, who’s building this app," Koder recalls. "I was always wanting to support things that are very meaningful and close to my heart … and now Jason is actually our key mentor. The partnership between Richard and I was almost like two parts of a jigsaw puzzle come together."

Although some might go to the app for help with stress, trauma or even resources to help with suicidal feelings, Mentor360 is designed specifically as a three-dimensional offering that will also encourage fitness, workouts, performance and meditation or more clinical matters.

"We wanted to maintain the human factor as a constant throughout. So it feels like somebody has given you some advice rather than some process-driven machine learning," Bassett adds.

The co-founders might come from two different worlds, but the unlikely partnership speaks to the ubiquity of the issues at hand. Bassett’s 25-year military career saw him being appointed the first ever Command Sergeant Major within the UK Special Forces military group. "It was at that stage where I was asked if I wanted to run defence,” he says. “At that point, I thought, I’ve kind of had my fill of the military now, it’s time to move on."

Koder meanwhile grew up in Hong Kong and the UK as the daughter of Li Ka-shing’s "right-hand man" Canning Fok, carving out a career in the arts and taking over her family’s impressive collection. As a female art entrepreneur and mother, her challenges would be different.

"When I had the misfortune of losing three babies to miscarriage and dealing with that emotional fallout, it led me to want to support this as a cause," Koder divulges. "If there’d been something like this app available to me, I don’t think I’d have suffered as much as I did emotionally. It’s a topic that’s still very taboo, even in this day and age … and while you eventually find your own community, at the very beginning, you do feel very alone."

Both were clearly driven towards the app through deeply personal experiences. Bassett saw first-hand how soldiers who’d done several tours in Iraq and Afghanistan suffered – his best friend, Fox, had left the forces with PTSD. Perhaps machismo or fear of institutional repercussions meant that the issue was often ignored or hidden in the military – but he hopes that Mentor360’s holistic approach can gently lead people to explore mental fitness alongside physical performance too.

The male-female perspectives of the pair offer a well-rounded, powerful tool. And while the wellness space is already crowded, Mentor360 stands out by being so broad, human-focused and non-prescriptive.

There’s been exciting traction too. Since its launch, the app has been downloaded in more than 176 countries, with the UK, the US and Australia leading. British schools have reached out and it’s one governance board away from being trialled within the National Health Service (NHS), which means added clinical risk management in the app. That has been an important validation, says Bassett, "especially when an institution like that has picked it out from a huge spectrum of apps on the market today."

Covid-19 and lockdowns have helped throw light on mental health, taking the conversation more mainstream. The timeliness has hit home; as Bassett says, “there’s a lot of people now struggling with the transition between Covid and normality”.

Koder tells us that the plan is to serve individuals but also institutions such as the NHS and the military. There’s also the option of “white labelling” it, so the app can be packaged and tailored to certain industries or corporate employees. In the future, might they look more global, with different languages and translations? Absolutely, the pair say, but they’re taking it “slow and steady”. There’s been interest from American corporations and Koder says that she’s keen to push into Asia very soon. Although going truly global might mean translating for languages, cultures and tone, as well as working with diverse psychologists, it remains a future ambition.

Mentor360 may be extra helpful in cultures where mental health is still relatively taboo. As Koder says, "I think, coming from our Asian culture, it speaks volumes to me – so much of our culture is about still performance or hiding a lot of what you’re feeling."

"Unlike some apps,” Bassett adds, "what we’re not trying to do is create a hook or get people hooked. Come on to it when you need it, and if you don’t need it for a while because you’re good, you can just put it away … We’re starting to see those patterns in the trend analysis."

To get a little personal, I ask what works for them individually to keep a healthy mind and body. Bassett’s formula revolves around daily exercise, time with the family, dogs and good sleep – even the occasional glass of wine on the sofa in front of a crackling fireplace. Koder’s happiness hacks centre around motherhood, being content and at peace in her skin, and looking at life with a certain romanticism: "I always love to see the poetry in my day,” she says, "and I think it’s important to just pause throughout the day, check-in and acknowledge that I’ve achieved these things and I should be proud of myself, rather than just rushing on to the next thing."

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You know what they say – diamonds are forever. Here's everything new in jewellery that we're coveting for winter this year.

Chaumet: Taille Impératrice Cut Diamonds

High-jewellery house Chaumet has made a major breakthrough in diamond cutting, creating a new patented diamond cut called Taille Impératrice, featuring 88 facets for maximum brilliance and scintillation. The 88 facets are each individually shaped by hand, combining a hexagonal form with a star-shaped crown. The Taille Impératrice diamond cut makes an appearance in new jewellery pieces in the Bee My Love collection.

Philips: Flawless X Vivarium, New Modernism

Phillips Flawless’s online selling exhibition features 27 lots by 16 jewellery designers of the 20th and 21st centuries to celebrate the centenary of the Modernist Movement. There are exceptional pieces from Aldo Cipullo and Dinh Van, who designed for Cartier in the 1970s, as well as a beautiful brass-and-steel pin from the 1930s designed by Alexander Calder. New Modernism is a wonderful ode to the strong connection between jewel and art and paints a pretty picture of how abstract modernist designs makes for beautiful contemporary jewellery.

De Beers: The 1888 Master Diamonds

The 1888 Master Diamonds is De Beers’ latest offering of rare and exceptional loose diamonds, ranging from 5 to over 26 carats, which are sourced from its mines in Botswana and Canada. The diamond’s journey is extremely precious to De Beers, which showcases to its clients through images and videos the transformation of its 1888 Master Diamonds, from roughs through to the cutting and polishing stages.

Nalas x Kröller-Müller Museum

Jewellery brand Nalas has collaborated with the Kröller-Müller Museum in the Netherlands to launch an original art jewellery series called Shining Stars, inspired by Vincent Van Gogh’s Trilogy of the Starry Nights’ Terrace of a Café at Night (Place du Forum), 1888, to be sold with its NFT at auction. The earrings, featuring more than 200 diamonds, was sold at Sotheby’s Magnificent Jewels: Part II in October.

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Women are an inseparable part of the fashion industry. About 54% of the world’s sales are accounted to women and it’s growing. From Mona Lisa to Audrey Hepburn, women are not only the consumers but also the inspiration for various designers that eventually turned out to be classics and must-haves in everyone’s wardrobe. We have […]

The post The Most Iconic Items that were named after even Iconic Women appeared first on Upscale Living Magazine.

The Milanese fashion entrepreneur and founder of Fregoli, Francesca Spaggiari, whose handbags adorn the arms of Catherine Deneuve, Olivia Palermo and Veronica Bocelli, believes in high-impact glamour for the modern woman.

Spaggiari is known for dramatic, colourful and extravagant handbags, which offer opulent customisation and interchangeable elements in several styles. Spaggiari, who founded the Fregoli brand in 2016, says her bags impart the sense of fantasy that women are yearning for after a year of lockdowns and sweatpants.

Who are your style heroes?

I love following fashion icons and staying updated on trends and trendsetters, but I don’t have specific names in mind. I travel a lot for work and I find inspirations in what I see around the world. The secret is keeping my eyes open and soaking up all the beauty that surrounds me. It could be a visit to a museum, a dreamy landscape or the observation of Nature’s incredible colours and shapes. Style is everywhere. I just capture it and channel it towards the creation of my handbags.

When did you become interested in making bags and accessories a business?

I’ve been interested in fashion since I was a little girl. My dream was to create my own fashion house, a very elite, unique and haute couture atelier where every woman’s dream could come true. So as soon as I graduated, I decided to start Fregoli to pursue my own idea of glamour – and
to express my creativity and idea of style and elegance

Italian craftsmanship is a big sell. Tell us what you think makes Made in Italy so special and how it applies to your brand. In Italy we have the good fortune of being surrounded by art, architecture and history. My country is like a museum en plein air. Being exposed to all that beauty affects you and drives everyone to achieve excellence and perfection in whatever we do. This is how Fregoli handbags are born: combining the virtuosity of Italian craftmanship with the best materials and the upmost care for details. The result is a harmony of forms, textures and colours, that catches the eyes and the heart of the beholder.

The pandemic has changed fashion and we’ve all been embracing loungewear. Do you think that after Covid there’ll be a hunger for glamour and fantasy in fashion again?

We’ve spent a year dealing with lockdowns, restrictions and social distancing. Our wardrobes and accessories have been neglected for
so long … this was definitely unprecedented, and I’m sure there’ll be a rebound effect – many women can’t wait to get the chance to dress up and be glamorous or extravagant again. As an answer to these times, I chose to see a future filled with colours, feathers and stones, and to create handbags that will bring back joy, playfulness and – why not? – a touch of luxury to our live

Your bags are jewel-like artful pieces that are designed to make an entrance. What’s the ethos of your aesthetic and label?

We live in a globalised world dominated by “massification”. The risk
is to lose your identity and give in to homogenisation. My bags offer women the opportunity to state their own idea of elegance and sophistication, their unique personality. Society is in constant evolution, transforming its habits and traditions at an increasingly fast pace. With that in mind, we designed handbags with interchangeable covers and handles and innovative metal frames and reliable hardware to create fascinating metamorphoses that allow our customers to choose the best combination that suits their needs and taste of the moment.

How would you describe your personal style?

A perfect balance between simplicity, elegance, uniqueness and sophistication. A Fregoli bag is the final touch that you need to complete every look, a faithful companion that will always give you the opportunity to add a touch of glamour to whatever you’re wearing. Own a Fregoli and I guarantee you’ll never go unnoticed!

You’re a big fan of feathers, embellishment, colour and bejewelled items. Does this reflect your personality? 

Yes, totally, I love making an entrance! I believe Fregoli bags are something that projects that “wow” effect, which makes everyone remember you. I personally love the soft finish of the feathers and the movement they create when you walk or move. But I have to say that some sparks and blings don’t harm … so why not add both?

Which of your bags is the most meaningful or precious to you and why?

 I love them all, but the Metamorfosi handbag is the model that better embodies the concept of transformism that’s at the essence of my brand. It’s a handbag with one soul and many personalities, which you can create by clipping different and unique interchangeable covers and handles. The limit is only your imagination.

If the story of your life had a theme tune, what song would it be?

There are a lot of songs that I could point out for many different reasons, but if I had to pick one I’d go with “What A Wonderful World” by Louis Armstrong. There’s something magical about the tune – and the lyrics resonate with me every time I hear it.

Do your parents come from a fashion or style background?

My parents aren’t in the fashion business, but they’re both entrepreneurs, so they’ve been great role models and invaluable mentors along my journey. I wouldn’t have been able to be where
I am today without their help and support, and I can only thank them for everything they taught me about creating and running a company.

What items in your wardrobe can you never live without?

My black sartorial blazer. It’s a timeless classic, and wearing it gives me confidence as a woman. It allows you to look elegant on the spot and it matches every outfit.

What’s the best piece of advice anyone has given to you?

Stay humble and be true to your roots. It came from my dad and it’s the advice that keeps me grounded and reminds me who I am and
of the reasons I decided to start my own company.

Tell us a secret.

I’m working on a pretty wild new handbag concept and I just received the prototype. Even if I can’t say too much, it’s something never seen before that will redefine how and why we carry a handbag.

Which designers do you admire the most and why?

Roberto Capucci – his standout creations were sculptures made out of fabrics. He created a wide range of forms inspired by art, architecture and nature. He was also a true genius in combining colours. I aspire
to do with handbags what he did to clothes.

Once we’re dancing at galas and filling cocktail bars again, what would be your ideal night-out outfit?

You’ll never go wrong with a little black dress. If you complement it with a Fregoli bag you’ll never go unnoticed. I’d either pick the N18 minaudière encrusted with a kaleidoscope of Swarovski crystal or the Veronica crocodile clutch with an embroidered cover clipped on it.

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Suit up for your next great adventure.

The post Accessories made for getting away – even if it’s just to explore your backyard appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Suit up for your next great adventure.

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From the Puzzle bag to the Hammock bag, Spanish luxury house Loewe continues to be at the top of its game when it comes to handbags. Now, they have a new addition to the popular Gate bag family: the Gate Bumbag. The perfect blend of functionality and sophisticated design, this new bag is as versatile as it is trendy.

Loewe first introduced the Gate collection at its Spring/Summer 2018 runway show, and they quickly became an instant classic. The half-moon-shaped saddle bag with an equestrian touch has a knotted front belt with a stripped-down design featuring a side-latched metallic pin and ribbon detail. The dangling leather strip adds an element of fun and freshness.

The new Bumbag exudes the same craftsmanship and meticulous design that have come to define the brand, yet offers something different from the rest of the Gate bags. For starters, the Bumbag has a much wider body, making it a convenient option for those who carry larger phones and purses; yet it still retains its trademark saddle shape. It's also handcrafted in soft calfskin, unlike the other bags in the family.

The best part about the bag is its practical design, with comfort and utility at its core. The super light bag is also a versatile one: you can move around hands-free by wearing it as a crossbody, over the shoulder, tied as a belt around the waist using the thick adjustable strap, or even handheld like a clutch. The stylish bag comes in a range of shades including tan, black, steel blue, wine and pastel pink  (HK$12,100).

[dual-images right-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/321.54.Z58_2530_2F.jpg" left-image-url="https://www.prestigeonline.com/hk/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/321.54.Z58_7210_2F.jpg" right-caption="Loewe Gate Bumbag in Tan" left-caption="Loewe Gate Bumbag in Wine"]

Thanks to the Gate collection’s popularity, the brand has introduced a slew of bags to the series such as the Top Handle Bag, Bucket Bag, Pochette and Mini Bag. While some are characterised by bold splashes of colour, others carry a more neutral tone and woven textures in a number of sizes and shapes.

Loewe, Shop 345, 3/F, Pacific Place, 88 Queensway, Admiralty, Hong Kong; +852 2918 1120

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For Jonathan Anderson -- creative director of Loewe -- fashion, art and craft are one and the same. His women’s spring/summer 2019 show at the historic Maison de l’Unesco building in Paris featured a series of restored mid-century rooms showcasing a variety of experiences that blended the three media.

Guests walked through a blur of spinning car-wash brushes by Lara Favaretto into a space displaying rustic woven baskets by Loewe Craft Prize finalist Joe Hogan before venturing into rooms filled with record players cradling ceramics by Ryoji Koie and overrun with floating soap bubbles.

The collection Anderson presented was equally striking, a rich blend of textures and silhouettes in an inky colour palette. Materials range from cotton muslin and exotic leathers to topstitched gabardine and ostrich feathers while voluminous shapes and asymmetric details provide added drama.

The accessories collection, meanwhile, pays tribute to Joe Hogan’s woven baskets with its extensive use of raffia, fringe and weaving.

[gallery ids="132992,132989,132991,132987"]

The Palm basket with hand-woven multi- coloured leather stripes or crystal detailing is a highlight of the range, while the Bunny, Gate and Mini Gate in raffia are perfect for summer evenings by the beach.

Other standouts of the season include the Balloon, a new bucket bag with an architecturally inspired design and striking asymmetric handle.

loewe.com

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Eclectic extras make for a greater whole.

The post 16 striking accessories for the dapper gent appeared first on The Peak Magazine.

Eclectic extras make for a greater whole.

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From creation to consumption, there’s a universe to consider when it comes to the creative director’s vision for the Parisian milliner.

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