Wants&needs
CHILL FACTOR
Hongkongers seeking an indulgent break not too far from home should look no further than the Capella Singapore. Its Valentine's Day Romantic Respite package includes accommodation in a luxurious one-bedroom villa with a private plunge pool, daily breakfast for two and two cocktails. Guests staying for a minimum of three nights can dine under the stars at an exclusive romantic candlelit dinner beside the resort's reflection pool, the fine food washed down with Krug Grand Cuve Champange. The luxury resort is just 10 minutes from Singapore's central business district and 20 minutes from Changi International Airport. Hard to resist. capellasingapore.com
GAME ON
Chess is often called the game of kings, but your shoddy toy-store set is coming off a lot more pauper these days. Indulge your inner Kasparov with Hermes' luxurious chess set; oversized for those intense games, the 95cm square chess mat is fashioned from etoupe Clemence taurillon, while the 32 large-scale pieces are sculpted out of solid rosewood and mahogany wood. Priced at HK$157,100, this is one board game that you should keep far away from the kids. hermes.com
PETAL POWER
Pacific Petals has all your floral needs covered, delivering vibrant designer arrangements across Hong Kong. The company sources unique flowers from around the globe, creates elegant and modern arrangements, and delivers them to your home, office or wherever you want. And there's no better time than Valentine's Day to indulge in its classy service. Opt for the Grace bouquet (below, HK$1,080) made up of a medley of pink roses, eustoma and vanda orchids. The Passion bouquet (HK$980) oozes with a dozen red roses, while Eternity (HK$1,980) comprises roses, peonies, brassica, ranunculus and eustoma. pacificpetals.com
SWEET OFFERINGS
French luxury macaroon brand Laduree might once have been solely celebrated for its delectable morsels, but with the successful launch of its 2007 line of face and body creams, it quickly announced its dominance in the world of beauty products. Hoping to expand even further, it'll once again lend its name to a range of colour cosmetics, called Les Merveilleuses de Laduree. Created by Albion cosmetics, it will include over 20 different blush colours in the form of cameos, as well as liquid foundation and lip colour. Launching first in Japan this month, the range is set to reach Europe by autumn of this year, with the rest of the world to follow thereafter. laduree.fr
BEST AT SHOW
The Council of Fashion Designers of America might not be well-recognised beyond obsessive fashionistas, but with a roll-call list of some of the most innovative designers of our time, it's the kind of thing everyone with an interest in style should know about. The Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York will celebrate the council's fifth decade with an exhibition starting this month. Impact: 50 Years of the CFDA will exhibit more than 100 garments and accessories designed by the council's most impactful creators, among the names featured will be Diane von Furstenberg, Oscar de la Renta, Marc Jacobs, Donna Karan, Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein, Tom Ford, Michael Kors, Tommy Hilfiger, Isabel Toledo, Proenza Schouler and many more. There will also be a visual image and acknowledgement exhibition from over 600 other designers. From Feb 10 through Apr 17. fitnyc.edu
