Out and About – Because fashion’s limit is always the sky

This is the season to make a daring statement and look fashionably confident by including bold and vibrant colours in your wardrobe. To further elevate the look, don’t forget to top it off with some shimmery silver and colourful crystal pieces of jewellery.

Look 1

Bracelets by APM Monaco
Enra crochet-knit mini dress by Cult Gaia, courtesy of NetA-Porter
Tiered striped silk faille maxi skirt by Christopher John Rogers, courtesy of Net-A-Porter

Look 2

Ear cuff by Swarovski
Jacket and short shorts by Tom Ford

Look 3

Rings and necklace by APM Monaco
Leather jacket, short skirts, crop top and undergarments by Miu Miu
Boots by Jimmy Choo

Look 4

Earrings by Swarovski
Jacket, button-up shirt and skirt by Gucci

Look 5

Earrings and rings by Jimmy Choo
Long dress by Dior

Look 6

Earrings by Swarovski
Paloma silk-satin halterneck gown by Michael Lo Sordo, courtesy of Net-APorter
Heels by Tom Ford

Look 7

Earrings and bracelet by Swarovski
Top and skirt by Shiatzy Chen

Photographer: Jack Law Art Direction and Styling: Jhoshwa Ledesma Videographer: Jack Fontanilla Model: Angelina D (Quest Artists & Models) Hair and Make Up: Owen Ko

Shade Season: Sunglasses for every occasion

Every fashionista knows that sunglasses are attention-grabbing accessories that can make anyone look stylish, and believe us you can never fail to make a fashion statement with a good pair. To help, we at Gafencu have put together a list of the hottest new eyewear designs.

Salvatore Ferragamo

Combining sustainability with style is the latest range of sunglasses from the Italian luxury label Salvatore Ferragamo. These shades are fashionable with their oversized butterfly shaped frames and a wide bridge. Complete with the brand’s iconic Gancini emblem on the temples, they are available in different shades including Grey Gradient, Wine Caramel, Khaki Brown Gradient and Blue Antique Rose Gradient. More importantly, made from plant-based materials like castor bean oil, they are environmentally friendly too.

Omega

Long known for its iconic watches, horology house Omega has now partnered up with the Italian manufacturer Marcolin Eyewear to release a new line of sunglasses for both men and women. The shades are crafted in a manner to bring out the undeniable allure that can be seen on the brand’s timepieces. The frames are thin making them comfortable and sleek to sport, and are available in round, cat-eye and pilot frames.

Calvin Klein

No matter what your sense of style, the selection of sunglasses from Calvin Klein is sure to complement your look. For instance, if you want something elegant, the Calvin Klein Jean Cat-Eye Shape sunglasses – available in different shades including black and pink – are a great way to accessorise. If you are looking for something bold, there is the Calvin Klein Soft Tortoise Square Sunglasses. Every design comes replete with the brand’s logo on its frame.

Chloé

Experimenting with a plethora of frame shapes, the sunglasses from French luxury maison Chloé is perfect for every daring fashionista. From common round or rectangular designs to the more avant-garde Bonnie Heart Sunglasses from its Spring / Summer 2020 collection or the curly framed Chloé’s Rosie collection shades , whatever shape you choose are sure to set the attention firmly on your peepers.

Longchamp

The French fashion brand Longchamp has continued to create sunglasses that embody the epitome of charming Parisian style, resulting in a variety of chic glasses. The Fall / Winter 2019 Eyewear collection reflects this well through a selection of thick and thin frames. If you are looking for something more athletic, check out the Longchamps sunglasses crafted with a jockey riding a horse on the sides. Moreover, the shades are complete with gradient effect giving it a very aesthetic finish.

Golden Hearts: Chopard’s stunning 007-inspired collection

Luxury jeweller Chopard is celebrating its partnership with UK-based EON Productions’ upcoming 25th James Bond Film, No Time To Die, with an all-new collection of haute joaillerie – Golden Hearts. With the heart symbol as the main motif, this collection featuring bracelets, earrings, pendants and sautoir necklaces crafted from ethical 18K rose gold. The diamond embellishments that punctuate these designs only serve to further elevate its allure.

Similar to the label’s previous bijouterie line Happy Hearts – from which the collection takes inspiration – Golden Hearts is complete with alternating big and small hearts that hold a dancing diamond in the centre. On days when you need a more exquisite option, there is the alternative version of the aforementioned design that has diamonds studded on the borders of the larger heart.

Taking its movie-inspired motif to heart, this limited-edition collection is engraved with the words “007”, a move that’s all but guaranteed to find favour among the many fans of the James Bond film series. And, once you’ve suitably accessorised yourself with pieces from the Golden Hearts collection, if you’re keen to watch the movie first-hand, No Time To Die is set to be released in Hong Kong on April 30, 2020.

Home, Sweet Homantin: Bringing perfection to a premium penthouse space…

Ho Man Tin has long been one of Hong Kong’s most understated, luxury residential districts. Of late, its reputation as one of the most salubrious spots in greater Kowloon has only been enhanced by the residential construction phenomenon that is One Homantin.

Drawn by its central location – just three brief MTR stops away from Admiralty – and its proximity to some of HongKong’s finest educational institutions (including the King George V School and the Stamford American School), it has proven a haven for young families. After all, when young residents are not being equipped for all their future life challenges, it’s a setting also offers easy access to many of the city’s fabulous green spaces, including, of course, the ever popular Ho Man Tin Park.

While many have favoured the distinctly upmarket complex’s garden flats or simply been knocked out by the quality of the residents-only facilities on offer at the on-site clubhouse, the true prize has been perched above it all, looking down in unrivalled splendour – the One Homantin Penthouse.

Extending across some 1,489 square feet on the upper storey – the 19^th floor – of One Homantin, it boasts three capacious bedrooms and one extra-capacious master suite. As well as its extensive indoor acreage, it also comes with exclusive access to 1,265 square feet of rooftop space – an ideal setting for a little alfresco foliage, an unoverlooked sun trap or just a place to watch the far-below world gone by.

Despite its obvious and many advantages, this artfully-designed space didn’t wholly match the spec of its most recent purchasers – a family of four, including two teenage children. While already won over by its existing allure, they felt it wasn’t quite as cosy as they might have liked, while also wondering if it couldn’t be just that little more contemporary. At the same time, they were adamant that ease of access to the roof space was a priority – an area they had previously earmarked as perfect for entertaining friends and family alike.

Naturally, given the scope of the challenge and the importance of getting it exactly right, choosing the perfect design team to oversee it all was of paramount importance. This saw them opt for PriimoCasa Interiors, a Hong Kong-based firm, with an award-winning track record for reimagining upmarket residences.

Heading this particular project was Leslie Lam, Co-Founder and Interior Design Director of the Sai Ying Pun based business. Outlining his approach, he said: “In order to create a cosy ambience, I favoured the extensive use of natural materials, especially timber floors and wall panels. I also added in a few champagne-gold stainless steel trimmings to create the requisite luxury feel.

“In the living and dining areas, we chose to up the colour quotient of the furnishings and drapes. This made both spaces notably more vibrant and more welcoming.”

Moving upstairs, the master bedroom presented a particular challenge. As it stood, the room boasted a sizable feature window, which was set immediately adjacent to the optimum bed positioning. The client, however, had mixed feelings as to whether or not they wanted the window to remain in situ. Outlining his elegant solution to this particular problem, Lam said: “I designed a sliding panel that exactly matched the design of the headboard. Not only did this help unify the space overall, it also gave the residents absolute discretion over whether and when they wanted the window to remain a feature.

“Apart from this one instance the floor-to-ceiling windows,which are featured throughout the apartment were very much seen as plus-points by the clients. Pretty much without exception, they provide a delightful surfeit of natural illumination, making the whole residence bright and supremely welcoming without any need for artifice or supplementary lighting.”

As one of the apartment’s assets that went a long way towards sealing the deal as far as the incoming family was concerned, the re-design brief majored on making the most of the rooftop space. Explaining how this particular challenge was met, Lam said: “Ultimately we opted to segregate it into three dedicated zones. The largest of these comprises a sizable alfresco dining area, complete with barbecue facilities and table space for up to eight.

“There is then a bespoke chill-out space, complete with sofas and armchairs, where the family can relax and enjoy the view out across Victoria Harbour. Finally, there is a discreet jacuzzi area, which is just about perfect for a spot of personal pampering or a little sunbathing….”

Montblanc #MY4810 LIGHT: Made for business trips

From timepieces to writing instruments to travelling essentials, the luxury maison Montblanc has never failed to execute its exquisite design with skillful craftsmanship and unfailing attention to detail. Continuing this legacy for more than a century now, the German label has launched its latest trolley collection – Montblanc #MY4810 LIGHT.

As the name suggests, the trolleys are lightweight and painlessly easy to use, catering to those globe-trotting businessmen and women.

With its efficient two-compartment layout, packing has never been easier, allowing you to stay organised without breaking a sweat. What’s more, in addition to its 360-degree wheels is the leather protection on its extendable handle, making the suitcase highly manoeuvrable.

Moreover, the Montblanc #MY4810 LIGHT line features three sizes – compact, cabin and medium – and it can be personalised with tags that are available in the buyer’s choice of black, blue and red.

Last but not least, the compact and cabin iterations’ handles can be modified into three different way, while the medium-sized design boasts a two-stage alteration.

COLOURLIVING adds Wellness to its in-store offer

COLOURLIVING, the ultimate lifestyle curation brand, has launched a new pop-up store, one with a brief to help stylishly boost the health of high end Hongkongers.

Set within its three-storey luxury retail space in downtown Wan Chai, this new Wellness Living concept has three distinct strands – special kitchen, customised tea and indoor pool.

Its singular take on the kitchen space has been designed, first and foremost, to make food preparation a fun and engaging experience for the whole family. With high aesthetic standards never compromised in the name of convenience, it’s a carefully-curated culinary enclave with great taste it’s clear mission statement.

As for the chosen tea, the lifestyle brand has opted to incorporate Hong Kong-based Lify’s award-winning brew dispenser brand. As high-tech as it is high-end, this distinctly digital age dispenser delivers superb quality herbal tea perfectly prepared in line with your pre-programmed preferences.

The indoor bathing facility – the evocatively titled Faraway Pool – somehow summons the sheer sensuality of an al fresco immersion, with its luxury KOS tub just the perfect ablution solution for the aspirationally inclined. Mood lighting and submerged shelving are also all available on the added extras menu.

A fascinating and most welcome addition to COLOURLIVING’S core offerings, Wellness Living takes comfort, style and personal care to a whole new level.

VISION AVTR: Mercedes-Benz unveils car of the future at CES 2020

Ever wondered what the cars of the future are going to be like? Extremely luxurious, AI-induced, galactically-inspired? German motoring marque Mercedes-Benz have us something of a sneak peek at the reality of this vision when it launched its all-new VISION AVTR at CES 2020, the annual showcase of the latest electronic gadgets and gizmos.

Taking inspiration from James Cameron’s smash-hit fantasy flick Avatar, this new design features an advanced vehicle transformation technology, with the car’s skylight and the back shell of the seats change colours between light and dark blue according to its exposure to light.

Undoubtedly, the exotic look of the Mercedes-Benz: VISION AVTR is only a minor part of what makes this automobile such a visionary design. Under the hood lies an engine with a staggering 350 kW of power and a graphene-based cell that allows the car to be charged in 15 minutes, it is very functional and versatile. Moreover, its all-wheel-drive feature allows the driver to move each wheel separately also letting the car to be turned sideways by up to 30 degrees.

With sustainability a key focus for the VISION AVTR – something that will only grow in importance in the near future – Mercedes-Benz has implemented an eco-friendly vision in various components of the car. For instance, the seats are made using recycled materials and its battery is 100-percent recyclable by composition.

In short, the Mercedes-Benz: VISION AVTR perfectly combines sophistication and sustainability, allowing car enthusiasts to venture forth into the future with nary a shadow of a doubt that they’re relevant, trendy while looking good doing it.

Verdura: The Perfect Spot for a Family-Golfing Getaway

Set on the southern Italian island of Sicily, Verdura – UK-headquartered Rocco Forte Hotels’ first golf and spa resort in the region – has an ideal view looking out across the Mediterranean. Perhaps more crucially, it also boasts three luxury golf facilities – two 18-hole courses and one-nine-hole variant – making it the dream destination for the family that likes to tee-off together.

With European Tour Performance Institute also close at hand, it is also the perfect locale to improve your posture and streamline your swing under the expert tutelage of obliging professionals. It additionally delivers access to much of the game-enhancing technology favoured by many of the current generation of peerless pros.

It’s also a resort that has won a number of awards, not least Best Golf Hotel (Italy) at the 2015 World Golf Awards and the Golden Award for Golf at the 2015 Voyages & Hôtels Readers Awards.

Of course, there is more to the resort than just golf, with a range of other five-star experiences – including spa treatments, wine tasting, cooking and mixology classes and a six-day lifestyle wellness programme – also on offer. For the culinary inclined, there’s also an opportunity to be initiated into secrets of the region’s most renowned recipes and to sample some of the finest local produce.

It goes without saying, of course, that all the rooms and amenities are absolutely the last word in comfort, luxury and sheer indulgence.

Rivamare: Ferretti Group debuts first Riva yacht in Thailand

The leading Italian nautical expert, Ferretti Group, has continued to dominate the shipbuilding industry with the creation of some of the best yachts in the world. The latest chapter of its storied legacy comes in the form of the Rivamare 38, recently launched by Riva, one of the illustrious brands that form the Ferretti Group.

Released just one day before the Thailand Yacht show in January this year, Rivamare 38 is the first Riva boat to be unveiled in Thailand, though it has long been lauded for such iconic creations as the Aquarma and Aquariva Super.

For this debut event, the Ferretti Group Asia Pacific collaborated with Lee Marine, a well-established yacht dealer to organise a special celebration at Grand Villa Royal Phuket Marina. Speaking of the smash-hit evening, Stefano De Vivo, the Chief Commercial Officer of Ferretti Group said, “The success of this event and the love for Rivamare confirm the importance of our considerable commercial commitment in Asia Pacific.”

In addition, the Ferretti Group participated in the fifth edition of the Thailand Yacht Show where they featured some iconic yachts including Rivamare and Navetta 33, which is a part of Custom Line, another brand under the group.

Click here to know more about all the luxury yachts produced by the Ferretti Group.

Bathing Graces: Bath oils to bless your body with

Ever since personkind first accidentally fell into a forgotten mammoth trap, the ritual of bathing has been embraced not only as a means of removing the whiff of slightly-dead wooly elephants but also as a serene experience in its own right. Across the centuries, this ever more popular practice has only been enhanced by the introduction of countless odour-positive bath oils. It’s a practice that continues to this very day, with every season many of the leading skincare brands launching new ways to make your daily dip yet more delightful.

One such in-tub treat – J’Adore Shower and Bath Oil – comes courtesy of French luxury maison Dior and is said to leave you steeped in iconic J’Adore floral notes, while also imparting a delicate sheen to the skin. A similarly floral allure is on offer from British luxury skincare label Bamford’s B Silent Organic Body Oil, while utilises chamomile, lavender and sativa to relax the body and optimise sleep patterns.

Looking more firm up body contours, meanwhile, is Brazil-based beauty brand Costa Brazil’s Kaya Jungle Firming Body Oil. Infused with such rare Amazonian ingredients an antioxidant-rich cacay oil, it promises healthier, firmer skin, but then, don’t they all?

Not to be overlooked, Natura Bissé, the much-loved Spanish skincare label, currently with two new premium treatment oils on offer – the energy-boosting Natura Bissé Energizing Dry Oil and the muscle-soothing Natura Bissé Fitness Dry Oil. Bringing up the rear, meanwhile, London-headquartered Aromatherapy Associates’ Forest Therapy Bath & Shower Oil incorporates several powerful healing ingredients – notably Andean pink pepper and Macedonian juniper berry – as a way of both nourishing the skin and instilling a sense of deep relaxation.

Text: Tenzing Thondup