Celebrity Life

After spending more than 20 years in the FM industry, 92.7 BIG FM’s RJ Khurafati Nitin feels that 2020 has been a unique year of learning, where his family and listeners came together and made it a happy professional space for him. In an exclusive chat with TMM, India’s favourite RJ talks about work from […]

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When I arrive at the Mother’s Choice premises on Bowen Road, its chief executive, Alia Eyres, has just wrapped up filming a thank-you video to the charity’s volunteers and supporters, who heroically came to the rescue after it posted warning of a shortage of diapers on its Facebook page. Walking inside from the playground and warming herself up for a moment, she starts telling me how this former corporate lawyer ended up running a charity.

“When I was nine years old,” Eyres recalls, “I saw my parents and friends in our community come together to start Mother’s Choice. They didn’t have much at the time, but they were determined to respond with whatever they had to the needs of vulnerable girls and babies in our city. Watching all of them volunteer – and generously give their time, energy and resources – shaped my childhood here in Hong Kong.”

These memories stayed with Eyres, so that after she’d moved back to Hong Kong as a newlywed 12 years ago and was occupied by her busy legal career, she continued to volunteer at Mother’s Choice.

Establishing Mother's Choice

Back in 1986 when Eyres was a young girl, a series of newspaper articles revealed the alarming number of teenage pregnancies in Hong Kong, and in the process moved two couples – Gary and Helen Stephens, as well as Eyre’s parents, Ranjan and Phyllis Marwah – deeply. When they read about the plight of these young girls, instead of looking to others to do something about it, they had the courage to ask themselves, “What can we do?”

Despite having young families and very limited resources, the Stephens and the Marwahs decided to roll up their sleeves. With a determination to serve
strengthened by their love for Hong Kong, they enlisted the support of a team of volunteers and founded Mother’s Choice one year later.

Fast forward more than two decades to 2012, when Eyres decided to make the big jump from leading a law firm to applying to head the charity co-founded by her parents, a move that she’d never have imagined while growing up. Yet today she’s been helming Mother’s Choice for almost nine years.

“I can honestly say it’s been both the most rewarding and most challenging career move I’ve ever made,” she says. Aside from being responsible for setting the organisation’s vision and strategy, Eyres also leads a team of some 140 staff and 700 regular volunteers, all of whom are dedicated to giving hope and changing life stories. “It isn’t easy to do with limited resources and the current challenging environment, but it’s truly a privilege to be part of this amazing organisation that’s impacted the lives of thousands of people across our city,” she says.

“I’ve become an increasingly hopeful person since I started working here because I’ve seen the generosity and kindness of ordinary people”

Alia Eyres

Mother's Choice today

Eyres explains how Mother’s Choice is a grassroots charity that serves babies and children without families and pregnant teenagers in our city. “Everything we do is aimed at seeing every child in a loving family. We operate from four different locations across the city and we provide multiple direct services for four kinds of clients: children, youth, families and the community.” Mother’s Choice has a residential-care system that cares for children through fostering services and in its child-care home, providing early intervention therapies and support so that each child can join a safe, loving and permanent family as quickly as possible. “Being in a family,” says Eyres, “is what can change a child’s whole life story – and for generations.”

Every year, the charity cares for more 150 children. “We have more than 700 young girls who call us for help with their crisis pregnancy, and we provide sexuality education to over 5,000 students. We also support more than 130 adoptive families and provide training to hundreds of professionals working with vulnerable children across the community.

“Our work with young pregnant girls focusses on those who don’t have the resources or community to support them during their crisis. Mother’s Choice is a safe place, where young girls are embraced, equipped and empowered for a hopeful future. We also take a preventative approach with our comprehensive sexuality education programme, working not just with the young, but also with their parents and educators.”

As well as providing financial support, the charity also equips families with the knowledge and skills to care for their children and, as no one can travel the lifelong journey of parenting alone, it connects them with community support. Helping to build families through adoption both locally and overseas, recruiting and training temporary families through foster care, and reconnecting and strengthening struggling birth families for both the children and pregnant girls remains the charity’s core mission.

Involving the community

Not only does Mother’s Choice help children and pregnant girls, but it also equips members of the community to provide solutions to such problems. “Community issues require a whole community response,” explains Eyres, “and we intentionally seek to inspire and influence different groups, sectors and industries to recognise the different ways that they can contribute. This includes engaging volunteers to increase our capacity and influence, as well as collaborating with our peers and other organisations here and overseas to increase our impact.”

Although Mother’s Choice has grown from small beginnings to helping thousands of people each year with multiple services and in several locations, its vision and mission have remained unchanged. “Today, the staff and volunteers of Mother’s Choice continue with that same spirit as the founders,” says Eyres. “We’re ordinary people from all walks of life who’ve seen how one simple act of kindness can change someone’s life – and that can change the world.” For emphasis, she quotes Mother Teresa, who said that “the problem with the world is that we draw the circle of our family too small”.

“We need to broaden our definition of ‘family’ beyond just a biological connection in order to break the vicious cycle. The cost and long-term impact of children growing without a safe, loving and permanent family is huge. Children face trauma that can adversely impact their entire lives and the generations that follow them. When we step up to become family to these children, young parents and their families, by giving our hearts, our time, our talents and our resources, it will transform our entire city.”

The impact of Covid-19

Covid-19 has impacted Mother’s Choice significantly, so that its services are needed more than ever. The closure of schools and playgrounds, combined with increased financial stress and pressure on parents, and social- distancing restrictions limiting access to important resources and interventions, put vulnerable children even more at risk, especially given the limitations on providing in-person support. Fund-raising is also a struggle.

“Only 25 percent of our funding comes from government sources and other large grants, so we have to raise 75 percent of our budget ourselves every year,” says Eyres. “More than a third is usually raised at our annual gala dinner, which had to be cancelled last year due to the pandemic. However, though Covid-19 has impacted every part of our work, we’re still hopeful for the future. We’ve seen people’s generosity and creativity in helping to keep our doors open increase during this difficult time.”

The road ahead

Recently, Eyres launched Vision 2025, a new five-year plan for Mother’s Choice that includes the introduction of Safe Families for Children, a programme that extends support for struggling birth families through a community of devoted volunteers. Early intervention services with occupational, speech, physical and other therapies will also be boosted.

“Even though we hear and experience stories of heartbreak and tragedy every day at Mother’s Choice, I’ve become an increasingly hopeful person since I started working here, because I’ve seen the generosity and kindness of ordinary people who want to help others,” says Eyres.

“Our biggest need at Mother’s Choice is financial. Even a small amount given consistently can make a huge difference and give us the financial security that we need to continue to care for the babies and young mothers of our city. There are also many ways in which people can volunteer their time, energy, and skills – and we encourage everyone to join our monthly sessions, where they can learn more about volunteer opportunities and how they can get involved in making a difference.”

The post Mother’s Choice Alia Eyres on Changing Lives appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Hong Kong’s model of the moment Louise Wong has graced the pages of almost every fashion magazine in town. Aged just 16, she won the Elite Model Look Asia Pacific regional contest, and remains the only Hong Kong entrant ever to have done so. Since then, she’s fronted print and online campaigns for brands such as Shanghai Tang, Vivienne Tam, Louis Vuitton, Lancôme, Saint Laurent and SUQQU.

Things are looking bright for the charismatic beauty who, having chosen not to sign to any agency, remains independent. She’s gained fashion-star status in the city, has just opened her own modelling workshop and has a new project that will be unveiled soon.

You won Elite Model Look Asia Pacific when you were just 16. Tell us about that experience and how it changed your career.

At the beginning I didn’t want to enter the competition – I was studying fashion design and wanted to be a designer. But one day a friend, who was studying one year above me, asked me to help her by modelling for her graduation show and afterwards she encouraged me to keep on modelling. She even found this competition for me and forced me to join. I couldn’t believe that I’d won the Hong Kong stage of the competition, and was even more surprised when they asked me to represent Hong Kong in the Asia Pacific stage, because I was only just starting to learn. During the course of the competition I learned all the things I had no idea about, including how to pose, walk on the catwalk, face the camera and even walk in high heels. So it definitely gave me the foundation and confidence I needed to start me off in my career.

If you weren’t modelling, what kind of job would you be doing?

I enjoy cooking and experimenting with new recipes. I hope one day I can have my own cafe for healthy and, most important, tasty food.

What are your favourite designers or brands?

Vivienne Westwood, because when I was young I loved the punk element in her work. It always had a focussed message and conveyed being true to oneself.

How has the modelling and fashion world changed in the digital/Instagram era?

There are definitely more opportunities for collaborating with brands and designers. Communication is direct between designers, brands and their audience. I think this builds a stronger and more honest community in the fashion world.

What are the best and worst things about being a model?

I studied fashion design because I love beautiful clothes. The best part of being a model is that I get to admire the cutting, detail and fabric of each creation up close. The second best part has been travelling for my work, meeting people, and seeing and getting to experience different cultures, which has really opened up my eyes to the world. The worst part is waiting. I always want to be moving forward and working, but this job involves a lot of waiting. It could be waiting for make-up, setting up or waiting for your turn. I don’t like wasting time, so you can be sure I’m focussed and ready when it’s time.

“I’ve never imagined being anyone but myself; the good, the bad and the ugly”

Louise Wong

What’s your daily skincare and beauty routine?

I have a basic routine, as I don’t like to put too much product on my face. Main goal: keep my skin moisturised and drink more water.

How do you stay fighting fit, especially as a young mother?

Number one, I try to eat healthily – mostly! Number two, more veggies and less meat. Three, eat slowly, as my stomach tends to feel “fullness” around 10 minutes after the fact, which prevents me from overeating. And four, go to the gym one or two times a week.

Are you an early bird or a night owl?

Night Owl. Not partying – just staying at home, Netflix-nerding out.

How do you like to end your day?

Putting on a good movie and cuddling up with my husband.

If you could trade places with anyone for a day, whom would you choose?

I don’t want to be and have never imagined being anyone but myself; the good, the bad and the ugly.

What makes a person attractive to you?

A kind heart, positive energy, talent and a bright smile.

Which key items in your wardrobe can’t you live without?

A crop top and high-waist jeans.

Do you still think the fashion/modelling scene in Hong Kong can produce international stars?

I’m looking forward to a new generation of Hong Kong models. I think that no matter where you come from, modelling is about having the right look at the right time and circumstances, but also working hard to put yourself out there to chase opportunities.

What’s the best piece of advice you ever received?

If you never try, you never know.

If you could be a superhero, what power would you possess?

I’d choose teleportation, so that I could always see my loved ones – especially my grandma – have breakfast in Paris, and save a lot on airfares. (A must with this power is that I can also teleport people I want to bring with me!)

Where do you see yourself in 10 years?

Three kids, my own cafe and I’ve already shared my designs with the world.

Who are your style icons/heroes and why?

Kate Moss – she’s a fashion legend. Her look and feel were so unique but also suitable for any style.

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Many athletes have carried their success off the field to start their own lifestyle brands, especially in the worlds of fashion and beauty.

While some have collaborated with existing labels, others have chosen to start from scratch. From Serena Williams’ fashion line to David Beckham’s grooming products for men, we look at some athletes who are making their mark in the industry with lifestyle brands ranging from leisure to luxury.

These famous sportspersons are running their own lifestyle brands -

Serena Williams

Winner of 23 Grand Slams, the highest by any player in the singles competition of the Open Era, tennis ace Serena Williams launched her fashion line S by Serena in 2018. Her clothes are designed to cater to diverse body shapes and sizes. Her label sells a range of jackets, trousers, skirts, leggings, jumpsuits and jewellery. She showcased her Autumn/Winter collection at New York Fashion Week in September 2019.

Before starting the brand, she spent two years studying fashion at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, US. She has previously designed for Home Shopping Network on a collection of statement jewellery and fashion accessories, and in 2019, collaborated with Nike to tap on a team of emerging New York City designers for a range of footwear and apparel.

Cristiano Ronaldo

The Portuguese footballer, who plays for Italian Serie A club Juventus, is one of the biggest and highest-paid players in the world of sports. Using his initials and his jersey number, Ronaldo launched CR7, a fashion boutique in Funchal on Portugal’s Madeira Island in 2006. The lifestyle brand has since expanded around the world and today includes high-end denim, eyewear, underwear, footwear and fragrances. Fun fact: Ronaldo is so popular that astronomers named a galaxy CR7 in his honour in 2015.

Maria Sharapova

The former tennis star became the co-owner of Supergoop, a UV-focused skincare company founded by Holly Thaggard, in 2014. The company has a wide range of sunscreen products for all skin types and tones. Sharapova also owns Sugarpova, a company she founded in 2012. Selling sweets and candies, the brand’s revenue, according to Forbes, was around US$20 million as of 2019. Expanding her business portfolio in 2020, she also invested in the wellness company Therabody which is best known for its Theragun — a hand-held massage device.

Virat Kohli

The only Indian on Forbes’ highest-paid athletes list of 2020, Kohli has become the face of many renowned brands like Audi, MRF and Philips India. In 2014, Kohli became the co-owner of luxury fashion and accessories brand Wrogn with Universal Sportsbiz. He is also the ambassador of the brand’s men’s lifestyle products such as T-shirts, casual shirts, jeans, eyewear, sneakers and caps. Wrogn is one of the sponsors of the Kohli-led Royal Challengers Bangalore since the 2018 edition of the Indian Premier League (IPL).

The Indian national team skipper also launched One8, a shoes and accessories brand, in collaboration with Puma in 2017. According to Forbes India, One8 earned a revenue of around US$18.9 million by June 2019. Among other ventures, he co-owns the London-based social networking startup Sport Convo, has a restaurant named Nueva in New Delhi, and owns the Chisel India chain of fitness centres across the country.

Venus Williams

In the world of fashion, the multiple-time Grand Slam champion is best known for her ready-to-wear line called EleVen. The brand was originally launched in 2007 with the now-defunct retailer Steve & Barry’s, but was relaunched in 2012. EleVen sells everything from beauty products to activewear for all sizes.

Like her younger sister Serena, Venus has studied fashion design at the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. She launched EleVen the same year she graduated. She also owns the interior decoration firm V Starr Interiors and has invested in the wellness brand Astura. Her latest venture is Happy Vikings, a plant-based protein shake brand launched in December 2020.

Lukas Podolski

The German football legend started his streetwear line Strassenkicker in 2016. The company produces T-shirts, hoodies, tracksuits, caps and accessories reflecting a thematic connection to Podolski’s hometown Cologne. In 2020, he launched Strassenkicker Base, a gaming arena, with Japanese internet service company Rakuten. It has five artificial grass soccer pitches, two multifunctional pitches for futsal (a form of indoor soccer) and a panna cage (for street soccer game panna), along with space for wheelchair sports and e-gaming.

David Beckham

One of the world’s most famous fashion icons, the retired English footballer owns a few luxury lifestyle brands and endorses many others. House99 is a men’s grooming brand Beckham founded in partnership with L’Oréal Luxe in 2018. Products that are sold under the label include body wash, beard and hair balm, eye balm and shaving cream among others. He also has his own line of fragrances.

In 2019, he gained complete ownership of Beckham Brand Holdings, a company he founded in 2014 with entertainer Simon Fuller. The company manages his partnerships and brands and has stakes in his ventures such as Seven Global and Major League Soccer (MLS) club Inter Miami FC. Seven Global is a joint venture created by Beckham and Global Brands Group in 2015 which oversees the development of all consumer product categories he is associated with.

Dwyane Wade

When the National Basketball Association (NBA) giant signed a lifetime deal with Li-Ning for the Way of Wade 7 signature shoe in 2018, he became only the fourth athlete in the world to have a lifetime sneaker deal. Wade also has his own line of ties with The Tie Bar and custom line of luggage with Away.

He introduced affordable socks under the brand name Pkwy in collaboration with American sock company Stance. In 2017, Wade collaborated with the founders of Dsquared2 on a capsule collection sold exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue. He also has his own California wine brand called Wade Cellars in partnership with his friend, vintner Jayson Pahlmeyer. The series of wines comes under two labels: Wade, which is made from mostly Oakville fruit, and Three by Wade, whose grapes are sourced from Mendocino in California. The 2018 Wade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon, the costliest on offer at US$95, is made from blackberry and black currants mixed with red cedar and holiday spice. In 2020, Wade Cellars announced that it will donate US$10 to the Social Change Fund for every purchase of The Social Change Bundle — comprising a bottle each of 2018 Wade Cellars Cabernet Sauvignon and 2018 Three by Wade Cabernet Sauvignon, and a limited-edition Wade Cellars Hat.

Mahendra Singh Dhoni

Besides being the face of numerous products, Indian cricketer MS Dhoni launched his own lifestyle brand Seven in 2016. Known for athletic and luxury apparel and footwear, it is the official clothing and merchandise partner of the IPL team Chennai Super Kings — a team for which Dhoni plays. In 2019, he became an investor in online used cars marketplace called Cars24.

Michael Jordan

Though it is a partnership with Nike, the basketball legend’s Air Jordan is an internationally famous shoe line launched as a franchise in 1984. According to his agent David Falk, “the upstart” Nike expected to sell shoes worth US$3 million by the end of the initial four years but went on to earn a whopping US$126 million in the first year itself. The phenomenal success of the line made Nike turn Air Jordan into a sub-brand in 1997. In 2019, Forbes reported that the shoemaker made US$3.14 billion in the fiscal year ending in May from this line, with Jordan’s share amounting to US$130 million.

On Dec. 21, 2019, Quartz reported that Nike CEO Mark Parker told investors on a call that the “Jordan brand, on a wholesale equivalent basis, just earned its first $1 billion quarter”. The line is also noteworthy because all Air Jordans launched since 1986 have the iconic logo of Jordan leaping in the air with a basketball instead of Nike’s own swoosh.

(Featured and main image: EleVen by Venus Williams/Facebook)

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A scheduling fluke and an Instagram post ignited a national conversation about the face of the fire service. Meet the five
women who started it all.

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The Palm Beach expert shares his top spots and favorite things

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The Palm Beach expert shares his top spots and favorite things

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Launching this spring, Wristcheck is setting a new standard for pre-owned luxury watches aimed for the new generation of collectors. And behind it all is the 24-year-old Austen Chu.

I first met Austen Chu in 2019, and through all the conversations that we’ve had since he’s always struck me as extremely well put together, independent, and wise beyond his years. There’s no doubting his knowledge and passion for watches, something he’ll tell you he’s developed since kindergarten when he first learned to tell the time. His mother had bought him a Flik-Flak because of it.

Today, he’s a valuable client of some of the world’s most prestigious watch brands. Patek Philippe allocated him a watch after he correctly predicted that year’s novelty before it was even released. And Audemars Piguet periodically lets Chu break the news of its new watches – even before traditional media. In 2020, Chu marked an incredible milestone when AP’s CEO, Francois Henry Bennahmias, allowed him to help design an 88-piece limited-edition titanium Royal Oak Perpetual Calendar watch that was retailed exclusively in China.

You almost forget how young Chu is – he’s still in his early twenties – until he tells you of his days of clubs and partying. A personal favourite: the night he spent in a park in Switzerland, drunk and unable to find his way back to where he was staying, as he cradled a newly bought grail watch, the Audemars Piguet Openworked Perpetual Calendar 25829ST.

“That story is funny,” he recalls. “I was with a friend and we were staying at his sister’s house in Geneva. We picked up the watch at a second-hand dealer, because it was already discontinued, and I remember I was wearing my 15400 when we got the new watch. It was nearly dinnertime and so we just decided to get drunk for some reason, because that was the most expensive watch I’d ever bought in my life by far.

“We got really drunk and both our phones were out of battery, and when we got into the taxi to get home all my friend could say was, “strasse, strasse,” which just meant street. We spent the night going from convenience store to park, still drunk, just waiting for morning to come so we could go and charge our phones. It was really funny. I mean, how did we get ourselves into this situation? It takes a special kind of stupid,” he says, laughing.

Chu has always had an entrepreneurial spirit about him. Born to a middle-class family and raised by a single mother in Shanghai, he’d started his first business – a public relations company for Shanghai’s lively club scene – while a teenager; by the time he was 19, he’d sold it. Today, in line with his own interest in watches, he’s launching a new venture, a pre-owned watch retail platform called Wristcheck.

His partner in the project is Sean Wong, a fellow watch collector and the senior vice president of Hypebeast. Their vision for Wristcheck was simple: to bring the same level of luxury and cool factor to pre-owned watches as Hypebeast did for street fashion. There’s already a lot of anticipation for the opening of its showroom, located in a prime spot in Landmark right next to the Tiffany & Co boutique on the first floor. The showroom opens in February, and Chu promises that it will look amazing.

Chu connected with his new business partner through, of all people, Wong’s five-year-old son. “It was completely serendipitous,” says Chu. “Sean had this segment on Hypebeast for kids, where the interviewer was a five-year-old, interviewing different people in different industries. They reached out to me and I thought it was a great series. And it turned out the kid was Sean’s son.

“It was actually the hardest interview I’ve ever had to do in my life,” Chu says with a laugh. “Because a five-year-old asks the most unexpected questions. I remember I was speaking about taking photos of watches. I said that it was a hobby of mine. And his follow-up question was, ‘What’s a hobby?’ But it was great. Sean and I grabbed lunch a week later and we really got along.”

The concept of Wristcheck had been brewing in Chu’s mind for some time, so he was grateful to find a partner in Wong. “I told him, look, I’ve been planning on doing this for a long time. But I need to find the right partner to do it with. I need someone with operations experience, and I need someone who understands my vision and believes in that. I’m just very thankful that Sean did.”

In many ways, Wristcheck is an evolution of what Chu’s been doing on social media for years. In 2017, he created the Instagram account @horoloupe to talk watches with the watch community. Today, he has more than 120,000 followers, all eagerly lapping up the content he posts. Many of the watches are rare and hard-to-find pieces from his own collection: Audemars Piguet is an obvious favourite, but you’ll also find Rolex, A Lange & Söhne and Patek Philippe. Recently, Chu has also been looking more into independent watchmakers, so Rexhep Rexhepi, MB&F and FP Journe have also made appearances.

All the photographs are his own and, more importantly, each caption is thoughtfully worded to be informative and educational. “Social media played a big role in starting Wristcheck,” Chu explains, “because I was able to see the huge disconnect in the market between the next generation of watch collectors and the current generation of collectors that traditional media caters to today.

“That’s not to say that traditional media weren’t true pioneers in their time,” he adds quickly. “I remember when all these watch blogs popped up and I thought, ‘Wow, this is amazing.’ Prior to that, all you had access to were the watch forums and they had the worst user interface.”

Having grown up with technology at its fingertips, the younger generation wants to consume knowledge, make up its own mind about things and not be told what to think by brands and traditional media. “We’re scrolling through our phones all the time, learning about discontinued models that we didn’t know existed,” says Chu.

What Wristcheck tries to do is to inspire the next generation through editorial, and provide a safe and secure exchange

Austen Chu

This new generation of big spenders, who’re used to queuing up for Air Jordan Ones and spending thousands of dollars on shoes, are now looking to place their money elsewhere. And this is where Wristcheck fills the gap. It’s not just a retail platform – there’s also a content-creation component to it. Knowledge is key, as are transparency and openness.

“At some point, every brand was the coolest brand on Earth,” Chu says. “In the 1990s, you had Breitling. In the 2000s, Franck Muller. I think my mission is to showcase all of that and say, hey, you know what, these are awesome,” says Chu. “Our generation is into knowledge-based collecting, we’re into learning. So, what Wristcheck tries to do is to inspire the next generation through editorial, and provide a safe and secure exchange. We’ll publish everything. We’re going to break down our fees, all our costs, where our money’s going.

“At the end of the day, transparency is the future of luxury. People care about where their products come from, they care about the source,” says Chu. Wristcheck will be carrying accessories as well, one of which is a brand called Parts that sells watch straps made out of apple skin, which looks and feels like leather.

In an industry that’s sensitive to flippers and dishonest dealers, pre-owned can be a tricky business. Because Wristcheck only focuses on pre-owned and discontinued models, Chu says that brands he’s worked with so far have been nothing but supportive. Wristcheck will be open to consignments in the future, but for the opening, Chu is focused on independent brands that he’s sourced himself.

He’s brought some of them over to show us. One exciting piece was the Audemars Piguet Royal Oak Concept Laptimer Michael Schumacher. Only 221 were made, in tribute to the number of Formula 1 points-scoring races by the seven-time champion.

“This piece shows how much AP cares about its people because this watch came out after Schumacher’s accident. It’s basically a new kind of complication, like a split-second chronograph but with the ability to time consecutive laps on the racetrack,” says Chu. “It’s an amazing watch.”

The post Austen Chu: What’s the Hype? appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County's Great Futures students donated 30 hand-knitted blankets to the Riviera Beach Cares Coalition for Homeless Families

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With Valentine’s Day fast approaching, we sat down with three Hong Kong power couples to find out what has sustained their marriage, how their love has grown over the years, and how Covid-19 has brought them closer together.

Brandon and Jenny Chau have long been Hong Kong high-society stalwarts, while actress Ankie Beilke and husband Simon Van Damme’s relationship only blossomed after they’d known each other for 16 years. Chef and socialite Esther Sham and her husband Sunny Tan also share how, despite ups and downs, their marriage has become stronger than ever. Photographed wearing beautiful jewellery by Messika, all three Hong Kong power couples talk frankly about love.

Brandon & Jenny Chau

How did you meet?

JENNY: At a mutual friend’s birthday party in a club called Queen’s.

How long did it take before you knew your partner was “the one”?

BRANDON: We dated for a very long time and, of course, went through our own ups and downs. There was actually a time when we broke up for a brief period – and that was when I realised she was the one. So eventually we got back together and got married soon after that.

What were your impressions of each other when you first met?

B: I thought Jenny was really cool and quite different from other girls.
J: When I first greeted Brandon at the entrance of Queen’s
he was wearing sunglasses, so though I didn’t have the best first impression, I was curious to get to know him better.

What did you do on your first date?

B: I was pretty old-school back then, so even though we already had email I loved to write letters and I still prefer pen and paper. We remained friends for a while until one summer, when I was in London, I told my dad that I really wanted to go back to Hong Kong and see this girl. I basically just turned up at their place and her whole family stared at me. After that, she finally agreed to go on a date with me and I took her to a French restaurant in my dad’s Rolls-Royce, because I wanted to impress her – that was our first date.

J: Aside from that, one of our very memorable first dates was when Brandon took me to Cheung Chau and we rode bicycles and explored the village. That’s a very simple and special memory for me.

Tell us what you both enjoy.

B: We love travel and we also love food. It could be Japan or Europe, anywhere really.

What advice would you give for a long and happy marriage?

B: To be very patient. A lot of people are very impulsive,
so it’s easy to say something you might regret later. So, think before you speak. This might also sound a bit lame, but always say sorry.

J: Communication is very important. A lot of problems arise because people have closed doors, but when you’re open, you’re more willing to talk and compromise.

What’s the most challenging thing to adapt to in
a marriage?

B: Having kids, because it changes the whole dynamic. Your priorities will change and there’s a lot more responsibility. But I love the warmth of a family.

Tell us something about your wedding day.

B: I think of my dad, because he was quite sick at the time. We had the banquet at The Peninsula and he was very happy I’d got married. Shortly after, he passed away.

J: My dad’s reaction is also something I distinctly remember from our wedding day. He’s not very overt with his emotions, but when he walked me down the aisle and gave me a hug, I really felt his happiness resonating with me.

How has Covid-19 affected your relationship?

B: It’s been quite interesting. A lot of couples either become closer or they argue a lot. I think we’ve become more patient with each other, so it’s good.

J: I love that we can spend time together, doing things we wouldn’t normally do because we’re usually both so busy with work. We also bought a lot of gym equipment and started working out together.

Describe your ideal date night for 2021.

B: I’d love to go back to the Maldives again.

J: Anything that involves travel. I’d love to walk around Tokyo with Brandon.

“Communication is very important. When you’re open, you’re more willing to talk and compromise”

Jenny Chau

Esther Sham & Sunny Tan

How did you meet?

ESTHER: We want to say we met each other in a library, but actually we met at Volar.

How long did it take before you knew your partner was “the one”?

E: I think there was a transformation in our relationship after we dated for three years. Once we’d passed our honeymoon period, we had a lot of fights, our personalities clashed and our values were quite different on certain things. I felt that we were quite stuck for some time, as we kind of wanted to be free with each other, but I also felt like we couldn’t yet move up to the next level. It wasn’t until after I came to Christ in 2011 that I learned what unconditional love is, because when I was with him back then, it was actually a conditional love since I wanted him to marry me. The first sermon I attended was about unconditional love, and then it just hit me that I only wanted to be with Sunny because of him, and not because of his status or his family. I stopped wanting him for the wrong reasons and then a few months later he proposed to me, so that was the time that I genuinely felt that he was the one.

SUNNY: On my side, it’s quite similar. I have my own personality too – I’m more a numbers person, while Esther’s very artistic. Now, we fit together very well, but the process we went through was very difficult. It was only after all our struggles that I felt as if the love we had for each other was really genuine.

What were your impressions of each other when you
first met?

E: I thought Sunny was weird because he had this huge smile on his face, as if he was shooting a toothpaste commercial or had some hidden agenda, but that’s just how he is in real life!

S: I was very curious about Esther because I thought she was very talented and very creative.

“ It was only after all our struggles that I felt as if the love we had for each other was really genuine”

Sunny Tan

What did you do on your first date?

E: We went to Disneyland!

Tell us what you both enjoy.

S: We love spending time with our kids and also with each other. We love good food especially!

What advice would you give for a long and happy marriage?

E: Aside from unconditional love, I believe we always have to be mature, but also not to forget to be childlike at heart. And that’s how to keep your life and love young. Your exterior youthfulness may go, but nothing can steal the youth inside of you. Sunny and I still joke around with each other all the time.

What’s the most challenging thing to adapt to in a marriage?

S: To me, marriage is like a piggy bank – you either deposit or you make withdrawals. Thus, while you withdraw, you also have to put in effort to deposit money in order to keep it full. Everyone has good and bad days, but it’s the effort that counts.

E: While dating, life was just the two of us, but married life is much more than that – and that takes time to adapt to.

Tell us something about your wedding day.

E: We had a secret ceremony with my pastor in our bridal room.

How has Covid-19 affected your relationship?

S: Normally I travel a lot, but now I get to spend a lot more time with Esther and our kids, and I really enjoy it.

Describe your ideal date night for 2021.

E: I’d love to do what we did to celebrate our wedding anniversary – book a night at The Peninsula and just enjoy our time with ourselves and our kids.

Ankie Beilke & Simon Van Damme

How did you meet?

SIMON: At a dinner in Dragon-I. My friend, Nicole Schoeni, introduced us.

ANKIE: Even though we didn’t hit it off right away then, it
still remains a special night – we have a picture from that night framed in our house!

How long did it take before you knew your partner was “the one”?

A: When I re-met him in India during Rosemary Vandenbroucke’s wedding, and I thought he was very attractive and funny.

What were your impressions of each other when you first met?

S: My first impression of Ankie was just, wow … sexy lady! So smart and intelligent!

A: I thought he was very handsome, but he’s more handsome now. I think he ages like fine wine.

What did you do on your first date?

S & A: We went to Sushi Kuu!

Tell us what you both enjoy.

A: We love nature and being outdoors. We love to hike, and we love cooking and tending to our garden at home. We also love to watch movies and listen to music or go to music festivals together.
What advice would you give for a long and happy marriage?

S: Happy wife, happy life!

A: You have to take care of yourself and you can’t let yourself go. And when you have problems, you have to talk about it right away. Don’t just let it hang there and never go to bed angry.

What’s the most challenging thing to adapt to in
a marriage?

A: When you start living together, you learn a lot of things about each other that are a little bit different from your own lifestyle habits. I actually read in a psychology book that it’s really important to have two bathrooms.

S: Everything can be a challenge, but it’s about how you look at things. I choose always to be positive – there’s always a solution.

Tell us something about your wedding day.

S: What I remember most is everyone smiling and how happy all our guests were. I also remember my best man gave an incredible speech that really moved us.

A: We were at Hong Kong Park and we had our wedding outdoors. I just remember what a great time we all had.
We had about 40 guests, because we wanted to keep it small. Afterwards we had dinner at a Japanese restaurant – it was really nice, because we had the whole place to ourselves – and ended the night on a friend’s rooftop.

How has Covid-19 affected your relationship?

A: I think it made us realise that we really like spending time together. We don’t go out as much and we’ve become healthier too! I love cooking – and Simon also loves my cooking – so I spend a lot of time at home doing that.

S: Covid has made us love each other more. If we can get through this, we can get through anything. But I think it’s made us better, because we enjoy staying at home more and we’ve also start to lead much healthier lifestyles – we don’t need an excuse to stay in any longer.

Describe your ideal date night for 2021.

A: I know Simon – I think he’d like to be camping on a beach. But I’d love to just go out to the cinema, watch a movie and be able to have dinner in a restaurant at night again.

S: Aside from camping, an ideal night would also involve sushi and all of our friends.

The post Three Hong Kong Power Couples on What Makes Their Marriage Tick appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

Beyond the glamour, fashion, ambition, a London education and wealthy backgrounds, Wendy Yu and Jane Kitakkaranon represent a generation of young Asian women making big moves in the world of fashion. And as economic power shifts towards the East, that comes in parallel with a cultural and creative clout.

“The Wendy collection consists of fluffy layers, wavering silk and detailed adornments of crystals, feathers and beads,” says Kitakkaranon, the 27-year-old creative director and founder of Bangkok-based couture label L’Astelle. She’s walking us through a capsule that takes heiress Wendy Yu, one of China’s most high-profile fashion figures (and Kitakkaranon’s university contemporary), as muse.

“I really admire the brand Jane has created; it’s modern, feminine and romantic, with great attention to detail in the craftsmanship,” says the heiress and millionaire millennial investor Yu, from her opulent Shanghai abode.

There are wispy layers of tulle in a dramatically tiered bright-red gown, plumes of ostrich feathers adorning the white crystal-embellished strapless corset dress, an expertly draped, floaty pale-pink number as well as a sexy, feathered black cocktail dress with a waistline emboldened with gemstones. It’s all part and parcel of the romantic, aristo-chic couture aesthetic L’Astelle has developed since launching in 2019 with ambitions to be “a renowned haute couture brand worldwide; selected by top celebrities and stylists”.

The two entrepreneurs were introduced through a mutual friend years ago when both were attending the London College of Fashion. They’d always see each other around campus, and the designer “could tell instantly that Wendy represented everything the L’Astelle brand stands for – classy, elegant and somewhat royal. Wendy really plays into that.”

Both women, one currently in Bangkok and the other in Shanghai, consider the British capital their second home. After graduating, both made fast-and-furious fashion waves in their native countries and beyond. Kitakkaranon launched her globally minded couture house with its first customers introduced through family and friends, but she soon gained traction through word-of-mouth and is now dressing international celebrities and aristo-ladies, such as Nicky Hilton Rothschild, Lady Kitty Spencer, Princess Maria-Olympia of Greece and Denmark, and Bianca Brandolini.

Although much of the world has been hit hard by Covid, China’s rapid bounce-back has meant that the 30-year-old Yu has also been incredibly busy. She’s preparing the launch of a new beauty line, and in 2020 inaugurated the first Yu Prize for emerging designers at Shanghai Fashion Week. She garnered fame with her early backing of Didi (China’s Uber) and the property-rental business Tuijia, landing her on the investor map before she took her attention to the creative, fashion and cultural fields.

“While I’m not a designer or artist myself, I’m endlessly inspired by creativity and its power to breed positivity and unite people,” says Yu, who, through her platforms, has a vision to “empower talent and cultivate new businesses that shape the cultural landscape”, while “acting as a catalyst for change”.

There’s been the high-profile 2018 investment into the Mary Katranzou fashion label. Yu’s support for British brands is also evident in her becoming the British Fashion Council’s youngest-ever patron. She has numerous arts and fashion patronages: the Victoria and Albert Museum and the National Portrait Gallery in London, and New York’s Met Costume Institute. And recently, by evolving Yu Capital into Yu Holdings, she now oversees a reported $20 million earmarked to support brands and projects for creativity, culture, connectivity and sustainability.

As a consumer, collector and investor, Yu sees fashion’s capacity “to boost your day and mood; whether that be choosing clothes that celebrate your body, enhance your confidence, empower your role or simply bring you joy”.

For big events, she usually goes the couture route, such as the clothes she wears in this shoot. “I also love bespoke or custom pieces by Oscar de la Renta, Valentino, Giambattista Valli and Huishan Zhang,” she says. Her work wardrobe consists more of Dior, McQueen and Saint Laurent suits or, for a less structured look, Bottega Veneta and Alaïa. And for casual days it’s Givenchy or Off-White, “especially jumpsuits and a denim-shorts combo”, but she also iterates that she’s a great fan of Chinese designers Caroline Hu, Ming Ma, Susan Fang and Yueqi Q.

This millennial female power duo clearly shares a dedicated passion for couture, one that brought them together for our cover. Yu, through her love of fashion, has famously built a vast collection for events and galas. Before launching L’Astelle, Kitakkaranon honed her skills at a big London-based couture brand. There she specialised in embroidery and worked alongside silhouette designers and pattern makers, learning “the ins and outs of each process … seeing the professionalism and high standards involved in crafting couture, and applying it at my own label”, she explains. “The craftsmanship and experience required to be a couture designer are extremely niche. Each piece created is custom-made and one-of-a-kind, so it carries a story within itself.”

The place of couture is at an interesting inflection point today. Although streetwear’s influence on ready-to-wear continues to dominate, the uber rich’s appetite for fantasy and made-to-measure outfits anchored in handcraft and tradition hasn’t waned. Now more than ever, it’s driven by new money in rapidly developing regions such as Asia. It’s no doubt been harder this past 12 months, due to the pandemic, but despite the ebbs and flows, “there’ll always be a place for high-skilled delicate details to be admired”, Kitakkaranon argues.

“Couture to me means creating a masterpiece of art and beauty,” says the designer, who cites Tom Ford as a major influence. “Ready-to-wear is great, but I don’t like how fast the sector moves. I like spending time on each inspiration. I often find myself devoting my time to embroidery and intricate details, leaving part of my soul in each creation. I’d like to think I’m very detail-orientated and fussy … I learned how to be extremely meticulous at my London internship.”

Couture to me means creating a masterpiece of art and beauty

Jane Kitakkaranon

With their international exposure and West-East backgrounds, these young women also represent an increasingly important demographic in fashion. Yu realised in her late 20s that she was indeed “in a very special position, possessing a true understanding and appreciation of both East and West, having been educated across both”. She was drawn back to China, riding the wave of a burgeoning creative industry to be at “the forefront of its evolution”.

“Each country has its own idea of beauty and I like to explore and take inspiration from each place I visit,” adds Kitakkaranon, who was well travelled even as a child. Her family owns a mass-production denim factory, and some of her earliest trips involved flying with her mother to visit overseas customers, a prompt that informed her trajectory in the fashion world.

“I’m fond of the European attention to fine details in historic sculpture and architecture. I’m always baffled at how humankind can create such beautiful pieces of art and architecture,” she says. That early exposure to different cities and countries means that she instinctively absorbs details from the architecture, fashion and works of art that she comes across.

I’m in a very special position, possessing an understanding and appreciation of East and West

Wendy Yu

For Yu, fashion magazines were her first portal into fashion. And when she moved to England, it was visits to Harrods that sparked inspiration: “Captivated by the store’s magic, scale of offering and sense of retail theatre, it was here that I began to take an interest in British designers specifically, who are known for their highly creative and avant-garde approach,” she recalls.

It’s the inimitable style of the British capital that draws both Yu and Kitakkaranon back there, instead of the other more commercial fashion capitals. Both were educated there, but also regard the city as an epicentre of creativity.

“It offers a raw, free and conceptual approach to fashion and one that often reflects the times we’re living in,” adds Yu, “and there’s this deep sense of innovation and cultural story-telling, as well as the people – I love their etiquette and humility.”

Kitakkaranon has set up an L’Astelle team in London as well as Bangkok and credits the UK for broadening her creativity and connections, resulting in an eclectic network of potential collaborators. Meanwhile, the Thai cultural focus on intricate details and skills (easily seen in fruit carvings, flower ornaments, weaving and traditional architectural decorations) means that “there’s a balance of both cultures blended into L’Astelle’s brand DNA”.

There are plenty of fashion labels in Thailand, “but none hold the quality standard of an haute-couture atelier”, says Kitakkaranon. “L’Astelle fills that gap for Thailand, and even for Asia. It’s a lot closer for Asian customers to visit than travelling to Europe or America for the same quality.”

There’s great power in “fashion diplomacy”. Historically, Asia’s wealthy have been obsessed with heritage European luxury labels, but with support for local designers rising in both China and Thailand, Yu and Kitakkaranon’s work has extra relevance today. Case in point is that L’Astelle was the only Thai brand to dress the country’s Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana in a recent Vogue Thailand photoshoot.

Yu’s father is the self-made billionaire businessman Jingyuan Yu, founder of Mengtian Group, which is Asia’s largest manufacturer of wooden doors. The heiress admits she’s in a “fortunate position”, but aims to leverage her privilege for positive impact. Yu touts her role as an East-West investor, interlocutor and cultural facilitator – evidenced by her support for the The Met’s Costume Institute. In 2018, her donation endowed the position of Wendy Yu Curator in Charge, which was bestowed upon Andrew Bolton.

“It was an honour and privilege to support a cultural institution that sets such a high global benchmark for fashion and its legacy, past and future,” she says.

Whether it’s supporting global institutions or spotlighting designers in her native China, Yu argues that “fashion is a powerful tool, not only in terms of personal confidence but also in encouraging action in others.” Judging by the contents of her extensive wardrobe – a collection of couture, accessories and limited-edition Barbie Dolls, it also offers a chance for escapism, romance, fun and fantasy.

“Fashion has many facets;” says Yu. Approaching it from a more academic viewpoint at the institutions also made her “appreciate the importance of backing tomorrow’s rising stars”, including those in her native China with the Yu Prize.

“There’s lots of fresh talent there,” she says, “and creative confidence and Chinese pride shining through. However, the industry remains unstructured to help those with the potential to break through internationally and succeed domestically. I’m thrilled to partner with Shanghai Fashion Week on the Yu Prize, which represents a very modern approach to fashion week.”

There's a lot of fresh talent [in China] and creative confidence and Chinese pride shining through. However, the industry remains unstructured to help those with the potential to break through internationally and succeed domestically

Wendy Yu

For her next big project, Yu is working on launching her own beauty brand, an idea conceived to offer something “for the young Asian woman that’s as extraordinary as she is”. Seeking to empower women beyond a glam up, “it will represent this notion of infinite possibility, with creativity and beauty as a universal language that can inspire us to be and do better”.

Meanwhile, beauty as a universal language is also a code at L’Astelle, a label that’s honed on “art and delicate details”, says Kitakkaranon. “Each outfit is a collaboration of crafts and creativity assembled into a grand art piece,” one that’s aimed firmly at those who can afford couture.

The designer’s penchant for old-world romance is clear – she paints with watercolours and acrylics in her spare time, is forever inspired by grand buildings, and has a healthy obsession with Claude Monet: “He uses selective colours as timestamps on his paintings and he always painted from his first impression of a scenery,” says Kitakkaranon. “Exploring his colour palettes and brush-stroke techniques has always come in handy when I’m designing.”

Talking to these two young women, for whom the world is their oyster, the sense is that their trajectories won’t be wavering anytime soon. At 27 and 30, they still have a remarkably long and promising road of potential peaks ahead. It’s the power of a driven generation, especially in Asia – a new class of wealthy, global entrepreneurs who are just as savvy at social media and harnessing digital power as they are at staking their places in traditional business arenas.

As Yu says, “Travelling and asking a million questions along the way have helped me gain a greater understanding of the world; they’ve opened my eyes to other cultures and exposed me to those less fortunate. How and where you’re born is a lottery. My definition of success is not just financial or about status, it’s also about your impact on others and how much you give back.” Over time, it seems that both women have learned to follow their passions and play the long game.

The post Dynamic Duo: Wendy Yu and Jane Kitakkaranon appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.

"Kane was the one that brought me on board for the show and introduced me to Jeff, one of the producers," says California-based Jaime Xie, one of the cast members of Netflix's new Bling Empire reality show. Conceptually, the hit show is a Crazy Rich Asians meets The Housewives Of...  and it  follows the exploits, dramas and romance of several wealthy Los Angeles-based Asian-Americans and Asians and their network, whilst corollary exploring some issues of identity and culture. "After meeting with  producer Jeff  Jenkins and hearing what the show was about and what filming would entail, I knew I had to take the opportunity."

Xie, who met co-stars Kane and Kelly during a Las Vegas shopping trip (as you do) tells us that she was already friends with the pair, and Christine and Cherie prior to filming. Everyone else, Xie says, she met on the show, which she admits "can be a weird experience as you are trying to forge genuine friendships with people in front of the cameras". However, with this cultural sub set in California, "people run in the same circles and they tend to be quite small...We all share a love for fashion so I met most of them through fashion events. I’ve known Christine for several years now. We first met when she invited me to a Chinese New Year Luncheon she hosted with Burberry."

It definitely took Xie some getting used to, trying to act naturally with the camera around constantly, She was probably least prepared as she joined the cast just weeks before filming began, and "I also hadn’t watched reality TV before so I really didn’t know what to expect. I definitely felt a bit awkward the first time we filmed."

[gallery ids="214244,214245,214246"]

There’s obviously been a lot of high drama in the first couple of episodes, but Xie has remained quite quiet and serene in them. Will we be expecting any dramatics from her in the future? "In this season, I remain pretty calm because it comes natural to me. I’m not a fan of arguing or confrontation and generally try to resolve arguments or disagreements quickly," she says.

At only 23, California-based tech heiress and fashionista Jaime Xie has quickly racked up an impressive, enormous wardrobe, a fashion-week presence and a rapidly growing number of social-media followers.

But she's not your usual fashion influencer. As a former competitive equestrian, Xie ranked first in the United States Equestrian Federation (USEF) Small Junior Hunter 16-17 Division and, in 2014, her mount Commisario won the USEF Horse of the Year Award.

“After watching my best friend in second grade, I fell in love with the sport and continued riding for 12 years,” Xie says. “The feeling is indescribable, that connection with your horse is so special.” In that time, she’d switched to schooling online so she could tour the United States to compete, which meant being away from friends and classmates.

“I’m a very competitive person by nature and made a lot of sacrifices to reach my goals ... but it was all worth it when I made number one.”

[caption id="attachment_207915" align="alignnone" width="1494"] Dress: Paco Rabanne | Shoes: Christian Louboutin | Sunglasses: Chanel | Image: Ken Xie[/caption]

Slender, rich, glamorous, young and Asian, Xie epitomises the demographic that’s driving high fashion today. And since attending fashion weeks from 2018 onwards – after leaving university – she’s made a street-style splash attending the big shows in Milan, Paris and New York.

“At the beginning I was just so excited, and my schedule was so packed,” she says. “I had a videographer with me – there’s no time to eat or rest, it was crazy and a lot of fun. I love seeing the pieces as they go down the runway. It's a completely different vibe from seeing them in store.”

When we speak, Jaime Xie and her family are firmly stationed inside their Northern California villa, a sprawling, Spanish-style, three-storey property in Atherton, close to San Francisco. There are tall palm trees and California sunshine, a swimming pool, basketball and tennis courts, and spacious grounds to play around in. Her father, Beijing-born cyber-security tech billionaire Ken Xie, has been coerced into getting behind the camera to take this series of portraits of her inside their family home, exclusively for Prestige.

“I really appreciate dad helping me take photos, since I know he’s also busy working,” she says. “I have to give him credit, because he really put a lot of effort into getting some nice shots, It's actually the first time having him be my photographer!”

[caption id="attachment_207910" align="alignnone" width="1637"] Image: Ken Xie[/caption]

A popular part of the home is the spacious back garden, where the family gather to relax in the sun or play sports together: “It’s such a blessing to have a basketball court, tennis court, and swimming pool all in our backyard. My brothers are both competitive tennis players, so we built the tennis court after moving into the house. Even though no one in our family played basketball seriously, my dad decided to have a court built, so we could enjoy it as a family.”

The covered swimming pool is solar-heated year-round. There’s a basement gym where she and her brothers work out, but her favourite room is the kitchen, where the family spend most of their time together.

Well aware of the comparisons to Cher from the film Clueless, Xie shows me the outfit planner app on her iPhone, which digitally organises all her clothes, as we go through a selection for our shoot. It helps to keep her organised and more efficient, and “prevents me from overpacking for trips”.

[caption id="attachment_207914" align="alignnone" width="1486"] Pyjamas: Sleeper | Image: Ken Xie[/caption]

It’s also how she keeps track of what she owns – there are too many outfits to count; every time she buys something new, she logs it “into the app by importing a photo ... I built this virtual closet that allows me to plan outfits when I'm on the go.”

Now she buys statement fashion and artful runway pieces, but also takes care to include more basics. “I always chose colour because I thought black was so boring,” she says, “but now I’m more aware of versatility.” Her style range is far-reaching – she’s just as comfortable in a mirrored Paco Rabanne minidress and stilettos as she is in LV-monogram tracksuit and trainers, or a pretty floral dress by Zimmerman.

Xie is the only fashionista in her household. Her father founded Silicon Valley cybersecurity company Fortinet and married her Taiwanese mother after they met at a university event in California. Her two brothers and parents “hate shopping” and are more into sports, film and tech than the runway.

But that doesn’t stop her from shopping for her mother when she buys for herself. And last July, after attending couture shows in Paris, Xie took her father shopping on holiday in Florence and Venice, buying him a black Gucci velvet blazer and a Dior Homme bomber jacket.

“My dad is really tall – he used to play volleyball in Beijing when he was younger – and usually wears the same plain suits,” she says. “When I talk to him about fashion, he listens and tries his best to understand, to bond with me, but I can’t keep his attention on the topic for long since he’s just not that interested!”

[caption id="attachment_207913" align="alignnone" width="1525"] Full look: Louis Vuitton -- Jaime's own | Image: Ken Xie[/caption]

Her style genes most likely came from her grandfather on her mother’s side, who was a successful suit designer in Taiwan and just “loved fashion, loved to shop”.

“That’s why my grandmother has such a great wardrobe as well – he’d shop with her. Grandma’s 85 now and has told me to take from her wardrobe too ... there are some great pieces, like this purple Versace fur coat.”

Xie’s been dubbed by some as a bit of “a style chameleon”, which she says is “a really cool term. I’m not one of those people that have one specific style. I can be very minimal one day and very girly the day after, Dior one day and Versace the next – and then I’ll be wearing all dark leather from Givenchy or McQueen.

“I have a few shows I really look forward to seeing, like Paco Rabanne, for example. But whether it’s from Zara, H&M or Chanel, I’ll buy it as long as I think it’s cool ... I don’t discriminate.”
Now, she’s mixing the big fashion pieces with easier, classical items. Style influencers and celebrities whom she looks up to include Olivia Palermo, Elsa Hosk and model Rosie Huntington-Whitley, “who has a quite minimalist, Bottega Veneta look to her”.

The bubble of fashion’s digital-influencer trend can be incredibly myopic at times, but Xie manages to be more realistic about it than most. When she turned 18, her mother told her to “get a real job to learn the value of money" and Xie ended up working the floor as a sales assistant at Nordstrom that summer.

“Being Chinese, both my mother and father grew up with the notion that success equals hard work. The idea of overnight success via social media is something they still have a difficult time understanding," she explains.

“My parents have raised me and my brothers to be humble and well-rounded individuals ... and I had to explain to them that social media is an important part of personal branding in today’s world.”

Today, she hasn’t completely left her unformed, pre-fashionista self behind. She continues to ride horses and compete whenever her schedule permits, but it’s a schedule increasingly filled by fashion – with an ambitious career roadmap increasingly taking shape.

“I’ve always loved shoes, so you may see me launching a luxury shoe brand in the near future,” says Xie confidently. "And I also want to establish myself as an investor in the future, once I understand more of the fashion business from A-Z."

The post Bling Empire’s Jaime Xie on Netflix’s Hit Show, Her Style and Social Media appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.