An extravagant and self-indulgent food such as ice cream is not usually touted as a means to extend human life but a recent report praised the positive impact that frozen confectionery can have on mental health. It seems that when people eat a bowl of ice cream the pleasure centres in their brain light up like the IFC on New Year's Eve. And when that happens stress, a major cause of heart attacks and other illnesses, is reduced. So now we know why we like fine things so much: it's because luxury foods, bags, cars, jewels and clothing all give the amygdala - the pleasure centre of the brain - a nice big boost. No wonder some people we know say that buying a new pair of HK$4,000 shoes or the latest It-bag makes them feel better than taking a week-long vacation. So in the interest of improved mental health for the luxury-conscious consumers of Hong Kong we offer our Luxe Life issue, a guide to those elusive little luxuries that are so delicious to have and to hold that they can make everything seem so much better. So plug our pages into your amygdala and enjoy the finest fibres the clothing industry can offer, the best champagne money - and a little influence - can buy, scores of gorgeous products sniffed out by our team of dedicated glitz-hounds and a fantasy fashion shoot which proves that the ultimate luxury is to have a boundless imagination and the freedom to make it bear fruit.
