Celebrity Life
Travel with @FoodandTravelHK
In our latest travel series, we journey the world with some of our favourite frequent fliers — from Abu Dhabi to Zurich, Changi to Heathrow — to find out what they’re like on the go. Warning: travel envy ensues.
Traveller: Gloria Chung @Foodandtravelhk
Profession: Food and travel writer / journalist / food stylist
Passport: Hong Kong
Countries visited: 40+
Where was your last destination?
Copenhagen. I was there to binge eat for four days and I managed to get a table at Restaurant 108 and had the best cardamon bun from Juno Bakery. Then I stopped by London for an assignment about Coal Drops Yard and a food styling course at Le Cordon Bleu.
What was the best and worst thing about it?
The weather was absolutely brilliant. Sunny and breezy Autumn weather. Can't complain! I took my time and enjoyed the sunshine at cafés. I love Monmouth Coffee as they serve pastry from my favourite bakery Little Bread Pedlar. Other cafés I like include Fingers Crossed and Jacob the Angel, but it really depends on which area of London I am in.
What do you never travel without?
I am quite minimal in terms of packing. I would say apart from all the essentials, I just wouldn’t travel without my false eyelashes. It takes no time to put on and makes me look sharp. Perfect for travelling.
What’s your favourite travel ensemble?
A striped tee, navy blazer and comfortable trousers. But I’d also bring a little black dress and probably a white shirt.
Where is your favourite hotel?
That's a tough question! There are many fantastic hotels and it really depends on where I travel to. But right now the top three hotels that come to mind are:
- Ryse Hotel in Seoul. It is in an impeccable location and the design is chic. It also attracts a cool crowd and most importantly, the service is fantastic. The staff are extremely helpful, professional and friendly; they even carried my suitcase and sent me to the bus station as I left!
- Hoshinoya in Tokyo is a ryokan [traditional Japanese inn] at its best. It holds Japanese design and service with an international viewpoint. Plus the staff make very good drip coffee!
- And The St. Regis in Kuala Lumpur because they make the best flat white ever.
Who do you normally travel with?
Myself mostly. 60-70% of the time I travel for work, so I do enjoy travelling alone. It's more efficient. I used to travel with a photographer, and maybe a model, but not anymore. I did however, enjoy a trip to Chiang Mai with friends and family not too long ago.
What’s your favourite airline and why?
Cathay Pacific. Because they always have Asian meal options on board.
Tell us your most memorable travel story.
I was on an assignment in London covering a bike tour but I fell off the bike and hurt my knees. I think I lost around a litre of blood from the injury. Everyone around me panicked but I insisted on finishing the whole tour (we were in the middle of it) before heading to the hospital. Thankfully, the nurses at NHS were extremely nice. I consider this experience very professional and heroic. Ha!
Show us your favourite travel photo.
This is my latest favourite! I just love the contrast of light and shadow in Coal Drops Yard, London. The architecture always fascinates me.
Share your top travel tip(s) with us!
- Think Marie Kondo when packing. Seriously you do not need extra bed sheets or a pillow.
- Make a compartment in your suitcase and sort things into different bags. I always imagine myself being checked at customs and needing to open my suitcase. I do not want my underwear on show!
- I always bring Pu’er [Chinese tea] with me. It’s good for digestion. I also bring chia seeds. It's light and fantastic for when you eat too much and feel bloated.
- Get a [mobile phone] SIM card instead of WiFi egg. It's light and does not need charging.
How do you deal with jet lag?
I adjust the time on the flight to the destination. For instance, when you board in Hong Kong, it's still day time in Paris, so you must not sleep until night time in Paris. It works quite well.
Where is your favourite airport and why?
Hong Kong! We have everything really. It’s very efficient, clean and spacious. My favourite area is near Gate 28 where you can get egg tarts and milk tea at King Bakery.
What item(s) do you carry on and use in-flight?
Again, I am really minimal in terms of what I bring on the flight with me, my items include:
- A thermos. I ask the flight attendants to fill it up so I don't need to waste plastic cups for water.
- Eye treatment roll on from Buly 1803. I don’t just use it for the eyes. I roll it on my arm to smell, as I find the scent really soothing.
- Hand cream from Artket.
- And lip balm.
Where are you off to next?
Ishigaki [a Japanese island west of Okinawa]. I went there for a summer holiday before. I can't wait to go back and see what it’s like in winter. I miss the Ishigaki beef!
The post Travel with @FoodandTravelHK appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
Meet Lisabet Summa, the Chef Behind Elisabetta’s and Big Time Restaurant Group
We chat with the corporate culinary director of Big Time Restaurant Group on her new namesake Italian eatery, Elisabetta’s Ristorante.
The post Meet Lisabet Summa, the Chef Behind Elisabetta’s and Big Time Restaurant Group appeared first on Palm Beach Illustrated.
Q&A with Jimmy De Martini
We chat with the Zac Brown Band’s violinist and vocalist about musical roots, influences, and the band’s evolving sound.
The post Q&A with Jimmy De Martini appeared first on Palm Beach Illustrated.
Getting to Know Angela Vecellio
The Palm Beacher shares a few of her favorite things.
The post Getting to Know Angela Vecellio appeared first on Palm Beach Illustrated.
Sarah Wetenhall of The Colony Hotel hosts a perfectly Palm Beach ladies’ soiree
President and CEO of The Colony Hotel, Sarah Wetenhall takes cues from the Palm Beach of yesteryear when hosting a dinner party for a group of modern women. Read More...
The post Sarah Wetenhall of The Colony Hotel hosts a perfectly Palm Beach ladies’ soiree appeared first on Palm Beach Illustrated.
Meet 5 Top-Notch Local Teachers
These educators forge meaningful relationships with their students through innovative techniques and genuine care for the next generation
The post Meet 5 Top-Notch Local Teachers appeared first on Palm Beach Illustrated.
Getting to Know Katherine Shenaman
The local interior designer shares a few of her favorite things.
The post Getting to Know Katherine Shenaman appeared first on Palm Beach Illustrated.
Getting to Know Tiffany Lanier
We catch up with the business clarity strategist and former TEDx speaker before her August 17 retreat at Social House.
The post Getting to Know Tiffany Lanier appeared first on Palm Beach Illustrated.
Oscar-Nominated Actress Felicity Jones on the Art of Film and Personal Beauty
She’s been a professional actress for 23 years. She’s portrayed a villain, a resistance fighter and a Supreme Court justice. And she’s widely considered the embodiment of inner and outer beauty. Is Felicity Jones the closest thing to a modern-day superhero?
Felicity Rose Hadley Jones became a working actress at an age when most kids are studying algebra rather than studying lines. “Well, my first role was in a costume drama for television called The Treasure Seekers, about a group of children trying to find a fortune to help their single father struggling as an inventor,” she recalls of the 1996 TV movie, for which the then 12-year-old Jones received second billing. “We shot it in a lovely old house just outside of London where there was a huge tree swing, which we would all play on in between scenes.”
A promotional poster shows the young star grinning widely along with the rest of the cast, a sure indication that Jones had found her calling among her fellow thespians. Nowadays that same cheeky smile can be seen on posters and advertisements all over the world, either for her latest blockbuster film -- The Theory of Everything, Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, On the Basis of Sex come to mind -- or in her role as global ambassador for Japanese cosmetics brand Clé de Peau Beauté, a position she’s held since early 2018. But how, one wonders, does she manage it all with such grace, such poise and such an unusual lack of personal turmoil?
“I joined a youth drama group when I was growing up, which I absolutely loved,” says the 35-year-old, who grew up near Birmingham in England’s West Midlands. “We learnt about acting in theatre, film and television. I made some lifelong friends there and that’s where I had auditions for professional work.”
At the time, Jones says, she didn’t have aspirations for a Hollywood career. School and schoolwork took precedence, even when it came to her youth group. “I never knew if I’d be able to act professionally, it was just something that I loved doing,” she says. “It was always such good fun and I loved the camaraderie around it.”
Jones continued acting throughout university, appearing in student plays, as she pursued a degree in English literature at the University of Oxford’s Wadham College. Now her portrait hangs in the college alongside fellow alumnae, including actress Rosamund Pike and author Monica Ali, a testament to the school’s “changing faces”.
Following her graduation, Jones appeared in a number of television movies and series in the UK, including one episode of Doctor Who. But before long the big screen came calling. After bit parts in films such as Brideshead Revisited and Chéri, she was cast as the star in The Tempest, directed by Julie Taymor, and Like Crazy, directed by Drake Doremus.
“Like Crazy was a huge experience. Working with Anton Yelchin and Drake Doremus was one of the most extraordinary acting and life experiences I’ve had,” Jones says. “It was the first time I improvised on camera, which I relished.”
It was reported that Doremus and co-writer Ben York Jones put together an outline, 50 pages long, and had Jones and Yelchin improvise off it. Her performance garnered a number of international awards, including Best Female Newcomer at the Empire Awards, Breakthrough Actor at the Gotham Awards, a tie for Breakthrough Performance from the National Board of Review, and a Special Jury Prize at Sundance Film Festival. Doremus must have also been pleased, considering he cast her in his next film, Breathe In, opposite Guy Pearce.
Breathe In was released in 2013, but it was following year that could be considered Jones’s breakout. Besides appearing in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Felicia Hardy, aka Black Cat, she captivated audiences as Jane Hawking, first wife of renowned physicist Stephen Hawking, in the biopic The Theory of Everything. A slew of award nominations followed, including Best Actress at both the Academy Awards and the Golden Globes.
But Jones is quick to point out that she’s in it for the craft and the challenge, and not the awards or accolades. Over the years, she’s appeared in several plays and is still fondly remembered for her recurring role as Emma Carter in BBC Radio’s long-running soap, The Archers.
“The most important thing,” she says, “is the story you’re telling rather than the medium. Narrative is everything.”
Indeed, Jones has been known to throw herself into a role, whether she’s playing the villain to Tom Hanks’s protagonist Robert Langdon in Inferno or championing women’s rights as legendary Supreme Court justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg in On the Basis of Sex.
"I definitely like a challenge and I have to feel creatively invested in the story. I have to care about that person I’m playing in some way. I usually go for things that I can’t stop thinking about a couple of days after reading the script."
Once she decides on a role, Jones goes all-in. “I really enjoy researching a character and understanding the world from their perspective. Physical prep is key, too -- how does that person move?” she says. “Also finding the look is very important: trying on wigs, different costumes. There’s a huge amount of collaboration with creatives in the hair, make-up and costume departments. The approach is both external and psychological. Understanding what motivates that person: Why are they behaving in a certain way? Why are they making certain decisions?”
When it came to her latest big-budget, box-office sensation, Jones found herself studying kung fu among other “forces”. Rogue One saw her introduction as resistance fighter Jyn Erso in a critically praised portrayal that left audiences clamouring for more: the Kids’ Choice Awards, Teen Choice Awards and MTV Movie Awards all nominated her in categories such as Choice Sci-Fi Movie Actress and Favorite Butt-Kicker.
Jones followed up her Star Wars turn by embracing the life story of Ruth Bader Ginsburg, the American attorney who championed women’s rights all the way to a seat on the US Supreme Court. “I adored playing Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” she says of On the Basis of Sex, which was released at the end of last year. “I often think of her as someone I would most like to be like!”
Now in post-production, Jones’s next film follows the story of pilot Amelia Wren (played by Jones) and The Theory of Everything costar Eddie Redmayne as they embark on an historic hot-air balloon expedition. “We’re all deeply proud of the film and it was an incredibly innovative story,” she says. “It’s not like anything anyone’s ever seen before. I adored its originality.”
Making so many films back to back doesn’t leave time for much else, although Jones enjoys “swimming, reading, cooking, seeing friends, and going to the theatre and art exhibitions”. She’s also open to looking beyond acting to a more behind-the-scenes role. “I love being involved in all stages of making entertainment. Having studied English literature at university, it feels very natural to be reading books and articles and thinking, could this be a good film or television programme?” she says. “I love exploring this side of production.”
Also keeping her busy is her work with Clé de Peau Beauté, for which she not only serves as muse and spokesperson but also gets involved in its various advocacy and philanthropic programmes. This year saw the establishment of the Power of Radiance, described by the company as “a multi-year philanthropic commitment that honours inspirational women from around the world whose advocacy for women and girls’ education has led to positive long-term impact on lives”.
“It’s an incredible project to be a part of and a highlight was the Power of Radiance event, where women from all over the world were brought together to discuss and celebrate the importance of female education,” Jones says of the global launch event in March in Tokyo honouring the programme’s first Power of Radiance Award recipient Muzoon Almellehan.
Almellehan fled Syria in 2013 and is the first individual with refugee status to be a Unicef Goodwill Ambassador. She spent three years living in refugee camps in Jordan, where as a 14-year-old she went from tent to tent convincing families that their daughters needed an education.
“Muzoon is an extraordinary woman, and her fight for equal education is breathtaking,” Jones says. “She’s articulate and warm and a very strong woman -- an inspiration to be around.” While she may be the “face” that sells Clé de Peau Beauté to audiences around the world, Jones’s involvement in the Power of Radiance programme underscores the fact that she’s much more than meets the eye.
"Beauty is about looking after the inside as well as the outside. It’s about figuring out what makes you feel you and not being afraid to be that person. It’s not always an easy path but true beauty comes from that self-belief."
The post Oscar-Nominated Actress Felicity Jones on the Art of Film and Personal Beauty appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
Cover story: Ineza Roussille and Datin Dian Lee on ‘M For Malaysia’
Photographer Edmund Lee
Stylist Azreezal Hafidz
Make-up artist Fendi Sani using Dior Beauty
Hair artist Yusof Ruzaimi
This story was first published in Prestige Malaysia August 2019 issue
“I have never been so proud to be Malaysian,” Dian shares, reflecting on her experience in making the documentary. “Because it is not just about the victory. Even before the election,I said that it doesn’t matter the outcome because we have won the battle for change. The amount of ground movement that was happening. – the Undi Rabu, Pulang Mengundi movement. People were organising themselves. These are the things that were never heard of before.”
The documentary reveals many aspects of election night taking place within the confines of Sheraton PJ that till now would only have been privy to a privileged few. Unbeknownst to us, at one point during the night, police descended upon the ballroom, armed with machine guns.
“The immediate instinct was fear,” recalls Dian. “But it wasn’t. It was because they knew the results and they wanted to make sure that everything would move smoothly.
“This is one of the first times that you get to see the rough and tumble of it,” explains Ineza. “Everyone really didn’t know what to do with the process because it had never happened before. They were all trying to figure it out on the go. It felt very new to everyone and we were all on a rollercoaster. It took many hours, the results were slowly trickling in...”
[inline-quote author="Datin Dian Lee"]"There were lots of moments when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing. But the response of the people, who have come up to me after almost every screening, and would hold my hand and say thank you for making this, makes everything worth it."[/inline-quote]
Now that we are more than a year into the “New Malaysia,” Dian hopes that this behind the scenes look will serve as a reminder to all Malaysians.
“To be able to change governments without a shed of blood through the ballot box is something that we all should be very, very proud of,” she stresses.
But she reminds that there is still much to accomplish. However, the intention is that this film will inspire people to reflect on the events that surrounded GE14, and with that, continue the debate around building the new Malaysia.
“There are still so many things that need to happen but we, the people, need to continue the conversation,” adds Dian. “Young people need to participate, need to be politically aware and have their voices heard.”
A version of M for Malaysia has already made the film circuit and has been showcased to international audiences. The response, thus far, has been pretty overwhelming, giving Malaysians living abroad the opportunity to resolve some of their feelings towards the country.
“The response has gone beyond all expectations,” says Dian. “To give them some sort of catharsis and pride for what we have achieved back home has been really overwhelming.”
[caption id="attachment_157742" align="alignnone" width="4000"]
Ineza wears the Hublot Big Bang One Click Sang Bleu Steel Blue Diamonds 39mm & outfit all from Gucci; Dian is in all Gucci[/caption]
One such moment took place in New Zealand. The organiser of the festival there talked of his father who left Malaysia in the ‘80s “bitter and angry,” not returning since. After watching the documentary, the 80-year-old informed his son that he is now ready to go back.
“It is sentiments like these that make it worth it,” says Dian. The mother of three admits that her filmmaking journey has not been without sacrifice. There were missed birthdays, her son’s primary school graduation, family celebrations. “Small” compared to sacrifices of others, she says, but sacrifices nonetheless. Also, with the making of the documentary, the “closeted activist” has put herself “out there.”
“There were lots of moments when I questioned whether I was doing the right thing,” she admits. “But the response of the people, who have come up to me after almost every screening, and would hold my hand and say thank you for making this, makes everything worth it.”
With the impending Malaysian premiere, the filmmakers find themselves somewhat anxious given the intensity of the current political divide. They are fully aware that the film is not going to appeal to “everyone,” but they hope that Malaysians have achieved a level of maturity that will allow for the acceptance of contrasting views.
“I was in Langkawi during nomination day and there were these two groups, one was from PAS and the other was Pakatan. They were talking and laughing with each other. I went up to them and asked them about being on opposite sides and they replied kita matang. That’s what democracy is about. We have different opinions but we can be mature and objective. We must have our own voice and we must make a stand. It is so important.”
The objective, after all, she adds is the same “that we want a better country.”
For Ineza who describes herself an “introvert,” though the upcoming premiere is “pretty scary,” she believes that the storytelling has been honest and authentic – she wouldn’t have done it otherwise – and she hopes that people will see it, even if it is simply because it is something different from what Malaysian audiences would typically see. Till now, the idea of a political documentary being shown in local cinemas has been unlikely.
For Dian, it is more imperative that people watch it and “remember,” particularly those in the current government.
“There was really so much hope and good in that we have a chance to hit the reset button and make things right,” she says. "I want them to remember what it took for this to happen because it didn’t happen overnight. It took so much to get us to where we are, so don’t mess it up. It is a very hopeful time in the nation."
M for Malaysia will open in cinemas in September 2019
[inline_related_article article_id="157738"]
The post Cover story: Ineza Roussille and Datin Dian Lee on ‘M For Malaysia’ appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
光與闇｜陳庭妮
演員的確是一個身份百變的職業，能成為其中佼佼者更是不容易。梅蘭芳說經典的演員是「扮誰像誰，誰扮誰誰都像誰；是我非我，我演我我亦非我。」這是每個演員最期待讓觀眾看見自己舞台上的「魔幻時刻」─這是一位表演者的「人生最閃耀瞬間」，而陳庭妮也期待這樣的時刻，在觀眾面前展現自己的最佳演出，這是身為一個演員的最終極目標；而同時能呈現「光明」與「暗夜」的表演者，能清楚地駕馭角色，同時也期待完整駕馭自己的人生。
11點進入攝影棚，第一個出來了迎接我的，竟然是陳庭妮的狗狗Chelsea。今天看起來最開心的就是牠，「牠已經不是小女孩，是中年婦女了。」陳庭妮指著在攝影師跟工作人員（都是男的）身邊蹭來蹭去的Chelsea說笑：「畢竟牠好不容易有通告耶！」一邊摸著牠的頭，一邊看著Chelsea滿地「撒歡」（教育部重編國語字典修訂本：撒歡，指「因歡樂而表現出興奮的動作」。不知道為什麼，看到Chelsea這樣的反應，就很想把這個「老詞」套到牠身上），陳庭妮笑得很開心：「或許，牠是想把你們這些貓奴拉到狗族這邊來吧！」這時，她的笑容中，帶著陽光。
不過，雖然說其中有1 cut真的是為了Chelsea而設計的，但牠真的也太high了。從第一個造型開始，Chelsea就跟在陳庭妮的旁邊，總是想要蹭一個鏡頭，現場笑料百出：牠會用八字眉趴在攝影師身邊，一邊討著摸摸、一邊小小聲的哀鳴（在這裡可以看得出來，Chelsea被陳庭妮教得很有教養），像是告訴所有人：我在這裡，什麼時候讓我可以「參一咖」？不過真的上場時，Chelsea歡騰到有點不受控，總是想跟主人在鏡頭中玩樂；雖然牠從小就在劇組長大，但成為「主角」可能還是「狗生」第一遭，自然興奮一下也是理所當然。
生命中的陽光
的確啦！觀景窗中一片歡樂—狗狗笑得很開心，陳庭妮也笑得很開心，雖然這樣的呈現在最終可能不太「能用」，但在這樣的視角下所看到的陳庭妮，就是很陽光，也很可愛。
Chelsea似乎真的是陳庭妮的生活重心，除了她自己的公司以Chelsea命名為「雀喜娛樂」之外，她甚至是為了Chelsea去學開車，「牠喜歡跟著我一起，但你知道，大狗狗如果要上計程車很麻煩，有些司機會計較狗狗會不會弄壞、弄髒他的車廂，所以為了避免麻煩，我還是自己開車比較方便，而且也比較自由。」
說起Chelsea，陳庭妮似乎就開始滔滔不絕了，問起她們倆怎麼「看對眼」的，陳庭妮笑了：「我其實沒有想過這樣的問題耶！好像真的就是緣分吧！」那一次到收容所拍戲，她就被寶寶狗們吸引了，看著牠們一隻隻渴望的眼神，心一直被勾著，尤其是從獸醫手中接過來抱在手中的寶寶狗，陳庭妮一直捨不得放下來，「我總覺得，如果我把牠放回去，會傷了牠的心。」於是乎，這樣一直抱著抱著，Chelsea就這樣「進駐」了陳庭妮的心，「我就去盧導演：『我可以養牠嗎？我可以養牠嗎？』導演說：『妳就養呀！』他大概覺得我很奇怪吧！」陳庭妮所擔心的，是因為當時她在劇組拍戲，早出晚歸的狀況可能根本無法專心照顧小狗，「我心裡其實想問的，是『我可以把狗狗帶來劇組嗎？』」忍了很久還是開口「拜託」（陳庭妮一面說，一面下意識地擺出「拜託」的手勢，看得出來她進入了那個情境），在導演首肯「我們大家一起照顧牠，沒問題！」之後，她才真的放下心，讓Chelsea真真正正進入陳庭妮的生命之中，「你回到家，看到牠的那個眼神，你整個心就溫暖了，這個小傢伙，真的是我壓力與情緒的最佳出口。」抱著Chelsea揉揉揉，好像那個疲憊就通通都不見了，陳庭妮的狀態顯得放鬆。
光與影之際
情緒，其實是會在環境中交融的，尤其身為演員，對於空氣中的情緒其實是比較敏感且似乎有些「異能」的，「就像我前幾天開車在路上，旁邊有一台貨車，我們一起停紅燈的時候，我看著貨車司機趁著紅燈的短短空檔，拿起身旁的御飯糰快速地往嘴裡塞，等到綠燈時他有點慌忙地放下、打擋，然後很快地把車子開走。」這一刻對她有一種深刻的想像—這就是小人物的日常呀！「但我就會想：他會覺得自己這樣的生活辛苦嗎？他為什麼只能吃御飯糰？......我會有好多好多的『為什麼』一直反覆地出現在腦海裡。」她自問「這是不是就是人家所謂的演員特質？」這些問題，會一直在她的心中迴盪，想了很久，她告訴我：「其實我還蠻喜歡這樣的思考，尤其是回到一個『一般人』的視角來做觀察。」
跳脫公眾人物的外衣，陳庭妮喜歡比較簡單的生活，尤其是有了Chelsea之後，「我在外面工作或遊玩的時候，有的時候總會不經意地在腦中浮現牠的臉，『牠還在家裡等我耶！』在那時候，我就會歸心似箭，然後就會決定放棄其他去玩的慾望，快快回家。」沒有特別的狀況，陳庭妮會帶著Chelsea到河堤去跑步，然後在家裡就選些電影、書籍翻翻看看，「其實，我是一個喜歡觀察的人，尤其是在不干擾別人的『安全狀態』下去觀察人生百態。」她曾經想過在工作空檔時到咖啡廳去打工，「我喜歡站在吧台，在沒人注目的情況下，安安靜靜的看著無聲飄過去的人群，這都是滋養我人生與工作的養分。」後來在種種狀況下功敗垂成，但陳庭妮喜歡這樣的經驗，「真的，人的專注力是有時效性的，如果我自己覺得我與眾不同，人家就會強烈的關注我；但如果我只把自己當成一般人，人家看一看，當專注力的時效到了，似乎一切又回歸自然，什麼事也沒有。」話說得很有哲理，陳庭妮仍是樂於當「一般平凡人」，過得很開心。
觀察別人，同時也觀察自己，陳庭妮有留存自己之前參與過作品的習慣，對於每一個角色，她都用心地幫對方寫日記，試圖帶入「那個人」的人生，「人是複雜的生物，有的時候我會把它們再翻出來看看，當初的我到底在想什麼。」常常一面看，一面自言自語「這時候的我怎麼那麼憤怒呀？」其實這這些紀錄，就是陳庭妮自己人生中的點點滴滴，回首看來，其實體驗更多，回味也更為有趣，「這些都是最努力的我，通通是無可取代的。」話還沒說完，自己就笑了。不過，陳庭妮的眼神中，的確帶著光亮，這一路的努力，真的也無可取代。
（PROFILE）
陳庭妮 Annie Chen
生日：1989年4月28日
演員、模特兒。2007年參加第一屆「凱渥夢幻之星」獲得冠軍，現參與電影與偶像劇的演出。
代表作：
真愛三部曲：《真愛找麻煩》、《真愛趁現在》、《真愛黑白配》
電影：《失控謊言》、《盜命師》
戲劇：《聶小倩》、《種菜女神》、公視人生劇場《告別》
The post 光與闇｜陳庭妮 appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.
Startup Life: Rachel Lim, Co-Founder of Women’s Fashion Brand Love, Bonito
If you've been on Queen's Road Central recently, you may have noticed a stylish, pink, new clothing store on the ground floor of H Queen's. (Or perhaps you already knew that popular Singaporean fashion brand Love, Bonito has made its first ever appearance in Hong Kong as a pop-up shop.) Known for its well-fitted, stylish and accessible womenswear, Love, Bonito is a relatable brand made for the 'everyday woman' and offers a wide collection including everyday essentials, workwear, maternity clothes, bridesmaids' dresses and more.
Not surprisingly, the brand is also run by women, and here to launch the pop-up store was one of its co-founders, Rachel Lim. We caught a moment with the lovely lady to discuss what Love, Bonito is all about and how the startup life is treating her.
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Love, Bonito collections include everyday essentials, workwear, bridesmaids' dresses and more.[/caption]
Name: Rachel Lim
Profession: Co-founder of Love, Bonito
Industry: Fashion
Startup since: 2005 (unofficially as BonitoChico), and officially as Love, Bonito in 2010
Tell us about your business. What do you do?
It’s a business created by real women, for real women. We understand the issues, needs and concerns that women have, and hope to bring women together through fashion. Love, Bonito creates pieces for women going through different journeys: she could be a graduate looking for her first job or a new mum getting her first taste of motherhood. We also understand that women have different body types and shapes, so we create a wide variety of styles and designs to try our best to cater to different women. It’s thoughtful fashion for every woman: our size range accommodates anyone from anywhere between UK sizes 4 to 14.
What’s behind the name Love, Bonito?
Originally we were [a fashion blogshop] called BonitoChico, meaning 'pretty boy', because chica (meaning girl) didn’t sound as good. But when we became more serious in the business, we found that the name had already been taken and we changed it to Love, Bonito because it reads like a sign-off -- “with love”.
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Lim demonstrating Love, Bonito's modular fitting room concept, which was created for women who shop and try on clothes together.[/caption]
Tell me about your best and worst day at work?
The best days are when I can sit down and brainstorm with the Love, Bonito team. When we brainstorm, during the ideation process and when we get creative is my favourite aspect of the business. As for my worst days, I would say it’s when I have to do back-to-back finance meetings. Finance numbers can be draining.
What do you do when you’re not at work?
To destress from work, I exercise. I don’t have time to go to classes, so I will YouTube some yoga or HIIT workouts. I’ll also spend time with friends and family. I’ll host them at home and eat comfort food with them. And I try to sleep! I usually only have about 5 hours sleep on average.
Outside of fashion, we also host workshops in our event space in Singapore and Malaysia. We have this space to bring women together to discuss all sorts of topics -- from how to dress better for your body type to women’s issues and finding mental stability. We want to give women a chance to share, learn and grow together.
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Lim talking at the “DO IT LIKE A #WERKINGWOMAN" event presented by Love, Bonito on 2 March 2019.[/caption]
Looking back now, what would you have done differently?
There are some lessons I wish I’d learnt earlier. As people, we all have our own gifts that we are meant to hone. I wish I had known that earlier on. If I did, I would not have been comparing myself with others and instead, understood that we are all different, and that it’s OK.
What advice would you give to someone looking to start up in the fashion industry?
Know what you stand for and stay true to it. We are in a very competitive market which is very, very saturated. So you need to have a good, complete brand with its own niche; you need to be very clear about what makes you unique.
What would you be doing if you weren’t doing what you do now?
A talk show host. I dreamed of being one and I still do. I’ve always loved working with people and learning through them. But ultimately, I just want to be in the business of bringing women together, which is what Love, Bonito is all about, so I’m right where I want to be.
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As a child, what did you aspire to be?
I wanted to be a teacher. But I gave up school to focus on starting the business!
What has been your biggest hurdle and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge has always been the mental battle you have being an entrepreneur. If you can overcome your mind, you can overcome anything. But it can be very lonely. You have such a huge responsibility, which can also be daunting and overwhelming at times, but you have to push through. You have to look at the company as a whole and push the boundaries.
Why is Hong Kong such an important market for Love, Bonito?
We realised early on that we had traction in Hong Kong. So we monitored and tracked the behaviour from data, and here we are. We also noticed that there is a gap in Hong Kong for a brand that women here truly relate to, a brand that thinks and cares about the everyday woman. So we brought that ethos over to Hong Kong.
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The pop up store is on the ground level of H Queen's in Central.[/caption]
What are your goals for 2019? And in the near future?
I had a goal at the beginning of the year to read two books a month, so 24 books annually. I’m a bit behind with that. But the year isn’t over yet!
As for the business, we just completed the rebranding, pushed out new product lines and now the Hong Kong pop-up, so our focus is really on that. We’ve had a great response so far and have had to restock already in just a week.
Which books would you recommend to read?
1) Grit by Angela Duckworth [a New York Times bestseller and pioneering psychologist] is a book I’m currently reading.
2) Start with Why by Simon Sinek [who also gave a TED talk about “How Great Leaders Inspire Action”].
How do you define success? Do you consider yourself successful?
Success for me is knowing who you are and your purpose. There is a Ralph Waldo Emerson quote I love -- “To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment” -- and I really think that understanding your purpose can be very powerful. I used to belittle what I had, compared it with others and questioned it. But when you stay true to who you are and are secure -- that’s success. I’m still growing and it’s a journey; I’m very intentional now and working on being the very best version of myself.
The Love, Bonito Hong Kong pop-up is open at H Queen's until 31 October 2019.
The post Startup Life: Rachel Lim, Co-Founder of Women’s Fashion Brand Love, Bonito appeared first on Prestige Online - Hong Kong.