https://www.scmp.com/rss/328906/feed Hong Kong-based writer and editor Christina has covered the luxury scene for over a decade. She covers topics ranging from beauty and wellness to arts and culture. Formerly the editorial director of Prestige Hong Kong, she has written for various publications including Hong Kong Tatler, Discovery and Silverkris, as well as for clients such as Louis Vuitton, Dior, Estee Lauder and Lane Crawford. en https://assets.i-scmp.com/static/img/icons/scmp-meta-1200x630.png https://www.scmp.com Christina Ko Christina Ko For the last year or so, there’s been a sleek, red, octagonal vessel seeking pride of place on your supplements shelf, targeted at replacing all your daily veggie caps in one aesthetically pleasing fell swoop. It’s called IM8, and it is the biggest disrupter the supplements industry has seen in a long time: an all-in-one powdered product that mixes with water to deliver a blend of 92 ingredients at clinically effective dosages designed to boost your health – from vitamins and minerals to... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341021/danny-yeung-and-david-beckhams-im8-shaking-supplements-industry?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3341021/danny-yeung-and-david-beckhams-im8-shaking-supplements-industry?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 25 Jan 2026 20:00:09 +0000 Christina Ko Christina Ko “Wellness” is more than just a buzzword these days – it’s a term whose meaning has expanded from spa treatments and detox holidays, to preventive healthcare and longevity protocols, traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) and fertility, and energy healing and fortune-telling. In a landscape where consumers are spoiled for choice, what will be getting you excited this year? Ancient wisdom, new format Traditional Chinese medicine is getting not-so-traditional these days, as a globalised Hong Kong... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3338243/wellness-2026-shaman-rituals-ikigai-pool-sound-baths-four-seasons?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/beauty/wellness/article/3338243/wellness-2026-shaman-rituals-ikigai-pool-sound-baths-four-seasons?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 31 Dec 2025 23:00:08 +0000 It’s easy to fall into a routine as a tourist in Phuket: hole up in your pool villa ordering club sandwiches and pad thais, leaving only for a visit to the night market in Phuket Town. And so, for a change of pace, the Banyan Tree Phuket – one of the town’s stalwart luxury resorts, which is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year – has put together a quaint initiative that allows its guests to see a different side of Phuket: the island that has been around long before the hospitality brands... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3252081/how-immerse-yourself-local-thai-culture-phuket-island-about-more-pad-thai-night-markets-and-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3252081/how-immerse-yourself-local-thai-culture-phuket-island-about-more-pad-thai-night-markets-and-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 22 Feb 2024 06:25:08 +0000 Eating healthy sometimes get an unfair reputation for lacking in flavour or style – but this is only true for the unimaginative. Below, seven fashion influencers in Hong Kong recommend their stylish eats both locally and around the world when they want to stay healthy without compromising on taste. 1 and 2. Alex Li and Jacqueline Au: Daylesford Organic and Como Point Yamu This fashion power couple are as dedicated to health and fitness as they are to their careers. Alex Li is chief retail... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3247919/where-eat-healthy-while-travelling-globe-7-hong-kong-wellness-influencers-restaurant-recommendations?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/dining/article/3247919/where-eat-healthy-while-travelling-globe-7-hong-kong-wellness-influencers-restaurant-recommendations?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 15 Feb 2024 06:00:15 +0000 Dough Beings are the Margiela of the Instagram world. In an age when it’s almost mandatory for a founder to proudly become the face of the company and share his or her personal story, the two sisters who launched this online-only bakery prefer to remain blissfully anonymous – much like the eponymous designer of the French luxury fashion house Martin Margiela (renamed Maison Margiela after he left). How this Hong Kong baker co-founded his cake business at age 12 It also happens to be basically... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/entrepreneurs/article/3250541/hong-kong-bakery-working-ralph-lauren-loewe-and-richard-mille-beloved-luxury-brands-dough-beings?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/people/entrepreneurs/article/3250541/hong-kong-bakery-working-ralph-lauren-loewe-and-richard-mille-beloved-luxury-brands-dough-beings?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 13 Feb 2024 02:00:26 +0000 A cookbook by Taschen is never really just a cookbook – for example, it’s unlikely that many people bought Dalí’s Les Dîners de Gala book purely to follow the recipes cooked at the surrealist’s legendary dinner parties. So despite Feeding Creativity seeming like a straightforward tome of vegetarian recipes designed by Mary McCartney for her famous friends, it is in fact much more. For one, it is a series of telling and personal anecdotes that reveal a peek into the homes and lifestyles of the... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3239370/mary-mccartney-cooking-list-pals-gigi-and-bella-hadid-cate-blanchett-and-stanley-tucci-feeding?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3239370/mary-mccartney-cooking-list-pals-gigi-and-bella-hadid-cate-blanchett-and-stanley-tucci-feeding?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 28 Oct 2023 07:00:10 +0000 Giovanni Galeota – The Dining Room, Rosewood Hong Kong Mesca francesca ‘fagioli e frutti di mare’ This is a true masterpiece of Neapolitan cuisine, showcasing the best of the region’s seafood and culinary traditions. This dish also evokes fond memories of my childhood, as it was a staple for family celebrations and was often prepared by my grandmother and mother for Sunday lunch, which definitely holds a special place in my heart. To create this dish, I have followed the recipe left to me by my... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3238563/house-dishes-inspired-chefs-childhood-favourites-andos-agustin-balbi-salisterras-cary-docherty?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/leisure/article/3238563/house-dishes-inspired-chefs-childhood-favourites-andos-agustin-balbi-salisterras-cary-docherty?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Oct 2023 08:00:15 +0000 Hongkongers love Japan, and after finally making my first trip to the nation’s bustling capital Tokyo this summer, it’s easy to see why. Convenient transport, delicious – and incredibly cheap – food, and of course, the shopping make it a hotspot for many global travellers. Being a first-timer though meant having to find my bearings in a sprawling region that’s often regarded as the biggest city in the world. Four Seasons Hotel Tokyo at Otemachi A good place to start was in the heart of Tokyo’s... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3236245/2-stellar-luxury-hotels-check-out-tokyo-2023-four-seasons-hotel-tokyo-otemachi-boasts-views-imperial?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/lifestyle/travel-hotels/article/3236245/2-stellar-luxury-hotels-check-out-tokyo-2023-four-seasons-hotel-tokyo-otemachi-boasts-views-imperial?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 30 Sep 2023 08:00:15 +0000 If you were to step into Hula’s expansive showroom in Quarry Bay’s Taikoo Place – the same complex that is home to many of the Hong Kong offices of luxury powerhouse LVMH – you wouldn’t imagine how the brand started out as a second-hand marketplace with a fitful online-only presence. The gist of that warts-and-all description comes from Hula’s founder, Sarah Fung, remembering the struggles of running the company when it first launched in 2017. The market for pre-owned wasn’t so much nascent as... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3231556/why-sarah-fung-launched-hula-her-preloved-luxury-store-hong-kong-disenchanted-all-waste-fashion-she?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3231556/why-sarah-fung-launched-hula-her-preloved-luxury-store-hong-kong-disenchanted-all-waste-fashion-she?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 21 Aug 2023 00:30:09 +0000 Who doesn’t feel instantly transported back to their childhood by the taste – or even just the sight – of an old favourite sweet or snack? These recollections may be decades old but are uniquely evocative, rewinding time and taking us back to our earliest memories in a heartbeat; evoking fond thoughts of when life was so carefree that the enjoyment of food was untainted by such adult concerns as nutritional value. On that (sweet) note, read on to wallow in collective nostalgia as we discover... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3230452/7-favourite-childhood-treats-reimagined-adulthood-treasured-snacks-cheetos-jaffa-cakes-white-rabbit?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3230452/7-favourite-childhood-treats-reimagined-adulthood-treasured-snacks-cheetos-jaffa-cakes-white-rabbit?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 09 Aug 2023 02:14:34 +0000 We can credit RuPaul’s Drag Race for bringing the art of drag into the mainstream, but what started out as a subversive underground art form has traded much of its grit for glamour, and queens that have made the television show’s cut in recent years often exhibit high-budget costumes, impeccable make-up, large social-media followings and fully formed personal brands. Some argue that this is something of a departure from drag’s origins as a gathering place for the marginalised, that the televised... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3229958/forget-rupauls-drag-race-hong-kong-drag-group-keeps-things-raw-perfectly-imperfect-shows?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3229958/forget-rupauls-drag-race-hong-kong-drag-group-keeps-things-raw-perfectly-imperfect-shows?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 05 Aug 2023 23:45:15 +0000 There are certain foods that come with their own reputation, entourage and even riders – the Beyoncés of the culinary world – that inevitably steal the show from the rest of Destiny’s Child: think white truffle, foie gras, sea urchin. In a world of foodies who eat for Instagram, these have become a luxury garnish for the lazy chef, toppers that elevate without necessarily adding finesse. And then there is caviar – the ingredient they call black gold, whose presence was once revered. In reality,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3224345/has-caviar-gone-luxurious-mainstream-how-4-hong-kong-chefs-and-1-instagram-foodie-use-black-gold?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3224345/has-caviar-gone-luxurious-mainstream-how-4-hong-kong-chefs-and-1-instagram-foodie-use-black-gold?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 18 Jun 2023 03:00:21 +0000 It’s ironic that traditional delicacies that require a high degree of skill and long hours of labour are disappearing from menus at established Chinese restaurants pushed to the edge by Hong Kong’s pandemic-era restrictions – only for those things to be offered by hobbyists who cooked up careers out of viral demand during those same dine-out restrictions. One such newly minted private chef is Marissa Lau, who’s been busy adding dishes such as eight treasure duck and taro-smoked duck to her menu... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3219517/eating-out-passe-hiring-private-chef-true-sign-class-how-hong-kong-embraced-ultimate-foodie-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3219517/eating-out-passe-hiring-private-chef-true-sign-class-how-hong-kong-embraced-ultimate-foodie-luxury?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 06 May 2023 01:00:14 +0000 The humble egg. So basic, yet so very versatile. Both building block and complete structure. A trope, ripe with symbolism. So very viscous, and occasionally a little voyeuristic. A chef’s dream, and to many, a necessity. More than an ingredient, it is a cultural notion that has fascinated humankind for centuries. It is also the subject of the first in The Gourmand’s new series of books published in conjunction with Taschen. Many tomes have been dedicated to the enduring kitchen staple – from... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3216797/why-egg-such-important-ingredient-taschens-latest-book-gourmands-egg-reveals-humble-foods-role-art?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3216797/why-egg-such-important-ingredient-taschens-latest-book-gourmands-egg-reveals-humble-foods-role-art?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Apr 2023 06:00:22 +0000 The Romans had their Colosseum, a brick and stone structure built to host audiences of 80,000 for spectacles from gladiatorial contests to mythological dramas, still standing almost 2,000 years on. Casetify, the Hong Kong-based maker of those colourful phone cases you see everywhere, may not be as big as the Roman empire – yet – but now they too boast an amphitheatre of sorts. Made out of mobile phone cases, naturally. This 21st-century show-stopper is the centrepiece of Casetify’s new... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3216774/back-office-style-casetifys-new-hong-kong-hq-crosby-studios-designed-vibrant-gen-z-ready-workplace?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/tech-design/article/3216774/back-office-style-casetifys-new-hong-kong-hq-crosby-studios-designed-vibrant-gen-z-ready-workplace?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 13 Apr 2023 01:00:21 +0000 It is 9.45am on a February morning in Dubai, in the United Arab Emirates. The weather is sunny, cool – and thick with the energy of transformation. Or is it impatience? It is 15 minutes before the opening ceremony of an extravaganza hosted by the world’s largest personal-development platform and attended by 2,000 people and, at the VIP registration counter, the printer is broken. As the event’s PR agency reps try to corral journalists covering the event into one area to sign waivers and be... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3216274/motivational-self-help-mind-body-and-spirit-long-you-are-willing-pay?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/post-magazine/long-reads/article/3216274/motivational-self-help-mind-body-and-spirit-long-you-are-willing-pay?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 08 Apr 2023 23:45:10 +0000 He’s taught at American universities Harvard and Caltech, published a New York Times bestseller, coached the likes of former United States president Bill Clinton and British entrepreneur Richard Branson, and addressed crowds at Google and the United Nations. Jim Kwik is the world’s most famous “brain coach”, helping people learn faster and better. We are in the green room of personal development conference Mindvalley Live Dubai for a short interview with him, and we race through topics ranging... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3213045/hes-worked-jim-carrey-bill-clinton-and-other-celebs-brain-coach-jim-kwik-how-fix-yours-and-combat?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/health-wellness/article/3213045/hes-worked-jim-carrey-bill-clinton-and-other-celebs-brain-coach-jim-kwik-how-fix-yours-and-combat?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Mar 2023 09:15:07 +0000 It was in London some 13 years ago that Editecture’s Genevieve Chew and Jacqueline Chak became fast friends. One a chartered accountant with stacks of Vogue hidden in her office desk, the other an architecture student with a penchant for experiential details, they bonded over shopping. “We clicked over design, design theory – and shopping,” says Chak. “Although I don’t shop as much as she does, I like the experience of going to a store and seeing how people curate a brand, curate a space. A lot... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3158303/we-clicked-over-design-theory-and-shopping-friends-who?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3158303/we-clicked-over-design-theory-and-shopping-friends-who?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 07 Dec 2021 04:45:22 +0000 By now, CBD, or cannabidiol, has become such a prevalent ingredient and stand-alone product that questions of what it is (and whether or not it’ll get you high) seem superfluous. You can buy it in tinctures or capsules or gummies, find it in your skincare and add it to your coffee; you can dose your dog or even rub it on your sore muscles. Are cannabis-based treatments the solution to your ailments and are they legal? It’s also getting even easier to find single-sized servings of CBD to test out... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3150744/cbd-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-adding-cannabinoid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3150744/cbd-restaurants-and-bars-hong-kong-adding-cannabinoid?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 Oct 2021 04:00:16 +0000 Pampering one’s furry friends is no secret practice among the wealthy – celebrities and high-fliers have long treated their pets to fabulously furnished homes, extravagant pampering sessions and, of course, glamorous outfits. There’s certainly no shortage of dogs on Instagram that have captured the public’s attention with their affluent lives and fashionable garments, among them Paris Hilton’s “fur kids” (@hiltonpets), Priyanka Chopra’s dog Diana (@diariesofdiana) and Chiara Ferragni’s French... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3149544/6-designer-pet-accessories-autumn-louis-vuittons-stylish?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3149544/6-designer-pet-accessories-autumn-louis-vuittons-stylish?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 22 Sep 2021 02:00:16 +0000 Comic-book artist Pat Lee has a new exhibition in Hong Kong of sketches that he did for Marvel and DC Comics between 1997 and 2007, for titles such as Batman, Superman, The X-Men and Transformers. It is his first show in seven years and his kind of hand-drawn art, already rare in a comic book industry that’s increasingly digital, might no longer exist had he left it any longer. “Pages of Power” at Shout Art Hub & Gallery, a three-storey space in the Star Street precinct of Wan Chai on Hong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3123314/marvel-and-dc-comics-artist-shows-hand-drawn-art-thats?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3123314/marvel-and-dc-comics-artist-shows-hand-drawn-art-thats?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 28 Feb 2021 04:15:14 +0000 Not many can claim 2020 was a good year, but if there is one person who saw a positive turn, it’s Coffee Lam. The YouTube influencer, yoga teacher and former TVB actress’ early life was anything but charmed. She grew up in a stifling, sometimes violent household and become embroiled in a paparazzi-fuelled sex scandal in her early 20s, which resulted in such emotional turmoil she almost died from an autoimmune disease. But she is now one of Hong Kong’s most popular YouTubers, and in 2020 achieved... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3120054/coffee-lam-top-hong-kong-youtuber-and-fitness-influencer?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/entertainment/article/3120054/coffee-lam-top-hong-kong-youtuber-and-fitness-influencer?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 01 Feb 2021 23:30:16 +0000 Ever since Hong Kong became a global art hub, industry insiders have pondered the designation of the city, considering it more of a marketplace for art and doorway to Asia than a true hotbed of creativity. In 2020, the pandemic all but eradicated travel and a packed art fair calendar saw events cancelled one after another. It’s been an interesting time to watch how Hong Kong’s art industry coped and pivoted. Here, we highlight seven of the best shows we saw this year. “Botticelli and His Times –... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3115627/7-best-hong-kong-art-shows-2020-italian-renaissance-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3115627/7-best-hong-kong-art-shows-2020-italian-renaissance-wan-chai?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 29 Dec 2020 07:15:13 +0000 A beautiful, secluded clearing in a forest in New Zealand. A first dance under the watchful gaze of the stars. A song written for the bride by the groom. A stunning wedding gown custom-designed by Israeli designer Galia Lahav. All these elements made Hong Kong-American actress Celina Jade’s wedding on December 31, 2019, to actor-singer and Super Junior member Han Geng, an event to remember. Now, almost a year later, we can go behind the scenes with their friend and destination wedding planner,... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3112895/when-super-juniors-han-geng-married-wolf-warrior-2?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/celebrity/article/3112895/when-super-juniors-han-geng-married-wolf-warrior-2?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 08 Dec 2020 00:00:14 +0000 We’ve all poured over photos of Meghan Markle’s gorgeous Givenchy gown, and seen how beautiful Priyanka Chopra and Kim Kardashian looked in the shapely lace numbers they chose for their big day, but when it comes to making the big decision for ourselves, shopping for a bridal gown can be a minefield – especially since dress samples come in a rather limited number of sizes. While searching for the gown of your dreams should be a joyous rite of passage for every bride, it can also be a time... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3111473/how-find-perfect-wedding-dress-kim-kardashian-went-mermaid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3111473/how-find-perfect-wedding-dress-kim-kardashian-went-mermaid?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 26 Nov 2020 10:00:09 +0000 While the coronavirus has forced so many weddings to be postponed – or not even booked in the first place – not all planning activities have ground to a halt. In fact, many couples can now take their time and focus on aspects outside the big day, and wedding professionals are pivoting business models to encourage such behaviour. Jacqueline Au, founder of The Loft Bridal, launched her business to provide a high-fashion counterpoint to typical gown shops. In the years since the boutique launched,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3098352/new-bespoke-wedding-services-proposal-planning-ring?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3098352/new-bespoke-wedding-services-proposal-planning-ring?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 23 Aug 2020 10:45:14 +0000 There is a hierarchy in value when it comes to more common Birkin and Kelly models,which are already considered more desirable compared to other bags from Hermès. How to buy a US$200,000 second-hand Hermès Birkin handbag “The sizes that get a higher resale value are usually the smaller ones – for Birkins, 25cm is preferred, then 30cm. Kelly bag resale values are highest for the 25cm and 28cm sizes,” says fashion blogger Ingrid Chua. The construction method also plays a part: “Kelly structures... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3092178/birkin-or-kelly-mini-or-oversized-vintage-or-new-which?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3092178/birkin-or-kelly-mini-or-oversized-vintage-or-new-which?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 08 Jul 2020 03:00:15 +0000 It’s typical that in a bear market, people begin to put their money in more stable investments – and if there’s one thing that the fashion set guarantees will hold its value, it’s the Hermès Birkin. This elusive and coveted accessory has long fascinated those who care about style, but besides being a status symbol, some say this holy-grail handbag might be a less volatile buy than stock in the latest unicorn start-up. Which drives the question – how does one actually acquire one of these bad... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3087767/would-you-pay-us200000-second-hand-hermes-birkin-handbag?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3087767/would-you-pay-us200000-second-hand-hermes-birkin-handbag?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 07 Jun 2020 07:00:12 +0000 With weddings on hold around the world, brides and grooms everywhere have an indefinite extension to continue planning their dream nuptials – no doubt a blessing as much as a curse. For all those wedding watchers hungry for inspiration while the event industry remains on hiatus, here is one grand extravaganza worth envying – even if the proposal, in the words of the bride, was “not that exciting”. “He proposed while I was asleep in the flat in Hong Kong,” jokes Julie Kim, a director with Hong... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3082409/inside-magical-wedding-spain-lunch-beach-ceremony-forest?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3082409/inside-magical-wedding-spain-lunch-beach-ceremony-forest?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2020 12:15:07 +0000 Just a few years ago, it might have seemed like heresy to suggest fashion from the 1990s would ever make a comeback. Grunge plaid, pleated skirt suits, crushed velvet, T-shirts under slip dresses, overalls – all of these styles ran rampant back then. The inspiration came from fashion icons who ranged from glam first-name-only supermodels to the personality-infused Spice Girls, whose associated fashion statements veered from simple white button-down shirts to Union flag-emblazoned rompers. And... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3082583/why-versace-valentino-and-balmain-looked-1990s-their?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3082583/why-versace-valentino-and-balmain-looked-1990s-their?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 03 May 2020 07:00:25 +0000 There’s nothing like a global pandemic to make you think about health – and undoubtedly, that’s what most of us are doing, whether it’s worrying that the symptoms of seasonal hay fever are actually early signs of Covid-19 infection, or debating the validity of blood type theories relating the likelihood and severity of contraction. It’s not the first time that society has pondered the effects of blood type on health. Whether you subscribe to it or not, most of us have heard of the blood type... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3078150/how-your-blood-type-can-guide-your-coronavirus-workout?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/leisure/article/3078150/how-your-blood-type-can-guide-your-coronavirus-workout?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 03 Apr 2020 01:00:17 +0000 Emma Stone, Princess Beatrice, Dennis Quaid, Katy Perry and Orlando Bloom are among the international celebrities who have cancelled, postponed or scaled back weddings, as events large and small skid to a halt in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak. In Hong Kong, where cases began popping up in late January, couples started postponing their big days soon after news broke that some early virus victims transmitted the illness at weddings. Entrepreneur Jimmy Yu, whose nuptials were set to take... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3077612/what-its-postpone-wedding-amid-coronavirus?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3077612/what-its-postpone-wedding-amid-coronavirus?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 01 Apr 2020 04:15:13 +0000 As the rest of the world engages in ever more drastic measures to curb the spread of coronavirus, life in Hong Kong appears to be returning to semi-normality. With worries centred around overseas returnees, fears of local transmission have lessened, allowing institutions such as libraries and museums to resume operations, albeit with health-related measures in place. A new museum in Wong Chuk Hang has decided to open its doors to the public after initially delaying its debut. Metropolis Museum... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3075953/new-hong-kong-art-museum-debuts-welcoming-small-groups-30?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3075953/new-hong-kong-art-museum-debuts-welcoming-small-groups-30?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 21 Mar 2020 09:00:10 +0000 The plight of the bookseller is well documented, and rarely does the story end happily ever after. So when beloved Hong Kong second-hand bookstore Flow Books came in danger of going under 2½ years ago, it was both newsworthy and heart-warming to see patrons raise the necessary HK$150,000 (US$19,300) to keep the enterprise afloat. Its home now is small and overflowing – books line every inch of shelf space, with stacks on the floor, and a fortress of literature stands in the hallway... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3075563/how-hong-kong-bookstore-owner-creating-new-way-consuming?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3075563/how-hong-kong-bookstore-owner-creating-new-way-consuming?utm_source=rss_feed Thu, 19 Mar 2020 04:30:14 +0000 When a group of 12 Chinese University student artists put together the exhibition “The Healing Cave”, they could not have imagined the relevance it would have to the present situation in Hong Kong. The exhibition, which runs until the end of March at OUR Gallery in Wan Chai, is an artistic response to the five stages of trauma recovery, with one installation representing each stage. It’s an adaptation of an earlier on-campus exhibition that took place in late September during Hong Kong’s... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3052041/five-stages-trauma-recovery-brought-life-artists-amid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3052041/five-stages-trauma-recovery-brought-life-artists-amid?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 24 Feb 2020 08:30:14 +0000 If winter’s got you down, then you’re totally on trend, if you catch our drift – because down jackets and items of a puffy, feather-filled ilk dominated the runways this season. These luxury labels got our attention. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Balenciaga (@balenciaga) on Oct 4, 2019 at 6:18am PDT This season, Demna Gvasalia’s reinvention of the puffer continues for Balenciaga since he started toying with the concept in 2016, with... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3045543/stand-out-down-jackets-and-luxury-winter-wear-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/luxury/article/3045543/stand-out-down-jackets-and-luxury-winter-wear-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed Sun, 12 Jan 2020 09:00:17 +0000 You’ll be hard-pressed to find a beauty brand out there that isn’t talking about sustainability. What was once seen as the realm of water-bottle-toting, straw-eschewing hippies is now everywhere. Companies claim to be planet-friendly because they’ve discovered that their consumers actually care about this sort of thing. This change is often seen quickest in small beauty brands, which can react to volatile market trends almost instantly. Still, although larger beauty brands are comparatively... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3041319/harvested-hong-kong-why-global-beauty-brand-lush-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3041319/harvested-hong-kong-why-global-beauty-brand-lush-shopping?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 11 Dec 2019 04:15:10 +0000 The Art & Cultural Outreach (ACO) isn’t the sexiest of Hong Kong non-profits – the kind hosting gala auctions or offering big-ticket grants and funding. Its chief purpose is to lease and manage a number of spaces in the Foo Tak Building on Hennessy Road, Wan Chai, most of which are owned by the same landlady and are let at a preferential rate – below half the market price – to emerging artists, usually for up to three years, until they can stand on their own two feet. It also runs an exhibition... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3039192/hong-kong-building-thats-hotbed-political-thought-amid?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3039192/hong-kong-building-thats-hotbed-political-thought-amid?utm_source=rss_feed Mon, 25 Nov 2019 05:33:40 +0000 On a narrow pathway that connects Arbuthnot Road to Old Bailey Street in Central in Hong Kong, the air is thick with smoke. Is it tear gas? Or the airborne remnants of a Molotov cocktail? No – it’s art. This is an event to launch the artist known as Frog King’s latest exhibition at 10 Chancery Lane, “Frog King: The Living Legend”, and outside the gallery, the legend himself has set up something of an art installation. There are incense sticks and candles – and ergo, smoke, copious amounts of it,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3037852/its-not-political-its-art-he-says-hong-kong-artist-frog-king?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3037852/its-not-political-its-art-he-says-hong-kong-artist-frog-king?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 16 Nov 2019 02:30:12 +0000 Pantsuits for women have come a long way from being just practical wear to ride horses. You’d think the power suit’s allegorical associations of being “masculine” would have died down in the ensuing half-century, but the pantsuit was a focus – and ongoing joke – in Hillary Clinton’s political career, framing her as a “sensible” presidential candidate, but also undermining her femininity. Is it a twist of fate – or just liberating – that, in 2019, the brightly-coloured pantsuits that were once an... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3035545/has-hillary-clinton-started-trend-chanel-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3035545/has-hillary-clinton-started-trend-chanel-louis-vuitton?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 30 Oct 2019 08:45:42 +0000 One of the public’s favourite pastimes is dissecting the wardrobes of women in seats of power, passing equal scrutiny on both the wives of leaders or those in office themselves. And whether interpreting the political statements inherent in a fancy frock is fair play or just fun and games, the subtext is fascinating – here’s our take on six women who know that their fashion statements are exactly that. Melania Trum p You’d think America’s first lady would hold an edge, having worked as a fashion... https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3030998/melania-trump-carrie-symonds-carrie-lam-what-can-we?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/magazines/style/news-trends/article/3030998/melania-trump-carrie-symonds-carrie-lam-what-can-we?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 02 Oct 2019 04:00:14 +0000 You wouldn’t necessarily meet Wil Fang, the founder of Cookie DPT, and think: “This is a guy who spent 10 years working at Ralph Lauren.” Lately, Fang’s role has been has been that of a cookie merchant, but he’s also the brains behind The DPT Group, a lifestyle agency that – besides being the parent of his cookie brand – also provides consultancy services for fashion and retail brands covering everything from creative direction to retail strategy and organisational management. Much of his... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3027822/ralph-lauren-supreme-nikes-inside-closet-fashion-and-food?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3027822/ralph-lauren-supreme-nikes-inside-closet-fashion-and-food?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2019 12:00:13 +0000 You know art photography is having a moment in Hong Kong when David Zwirner devotes its gallery to the medium – and for the third time in less than two years. Its survey of the work of American Philip-Lorca diCorcia, known for blending staged photography and reportage, has a particular resonance at a time when, in Hong Kong and around the world, the veracity of news photography is constantly being questioned. That diCorcia was testing the line between fact and fiction in the pre-Photoshop era... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3029619/made-fake-news-era-photographers-work-was-ahead-its-time?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3029619/made-fake-news-era-photographers-work-was-ahead-its-time?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 20 Sep 2019 08:30:10 +0000 Invest eight minutes and HK$3,500 (US$450) and you could be having better sex tonight, according to Pauline Supangkat, the director of operations at Hong Kong’s Nude Waxing Beautique. The salon, which has branches in Central, Tsim Sha Tsui and Causeway Bay, recently launched a vaginal rejuvenation procedure using the Ultra Femme 360. Billed as a non-surgical alternative to vaginoplasty and labiaplasty, vaginal rejuvenation isn’t exactly new, but it’s a technology that’s improved by leaps and... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3026459/designer-vaginas-without-surgery-ultra-femme-360-vaginal?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3026459/designer-vaginas-without-surgery-ultra-femme-360-vaginal?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 10 Sep 2019 07:00:07 +0000 Fashion pundits rarely bother to analyse the wardrobe of the city’s leader, Carrie Lam. It’s not truly relevant to the political conversation, perhaps, but then again that never stopped the public from dissecting Hillary Clinton’s pantsuits. While some may argue the practice is sexist, or that it’s not fair that female politicians have the added minefield of fashion to navigate, those in political hot seats have long had seemingly irrelevant aspects of their lives judged. You cannot deny, for... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3024339/why-carrie-lams-fashion-choices-may-say-more-she-does?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3024339/why-carrie-lams-fashion-choices-may-say-more-she-does?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 27 Aug 2019 00:15:05 +0000 Though she prefers not to highlight her celebrity clientele, Teresa Tarmey is known to be the facialist to stars such as model Kate Moss, fashion designer Victoria Beckham, actress Sienna Miller and more. “In London, it’s a small city in theory and everyone just knows each other, so I was lucky enough to get a celebrity and then get word of mouth. If you look at the circle of people I treat they’re actually just friends [of each other’s],” Tarmey says. Those in search of a perfect complexion are... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3023931/facialist-kate-moss-victoria-beckham-and-sienna-miller-use?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3023931/facialist-kate-moss-victoria-beckham-and-sienna-miller-use?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 24 Aug 2019 10:45:05 +0000 Amid the sea of protesters that have been hitting the streets of Hong Kong nearly every weekend, one face has emerged as a symbol of the demonstrators’ resolve. His wardrobe is extensive, his face iconic, and his presence strangely uplifting. He is Pepe the Frog. Yup, that Pepe the Frog, the one condemned in the West as a symbol of hate. But on this side of the world, Pepe has a mostly harmless reputation. Even before the protests began this summer, the anthropomorphic frog was a popular figure... https://www.scmp.com/culture/how-pepe-frog-became-hong-kong-protest-symbol/article/3023581?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/culture/how-pepe-frog-became-hong-kong-protest-symbol/article/3023581?utm_source=rss_feed Tue, 20 Aug 2019 09:28:59 +0000 In a sea of black-clad protesters wearing safety goggles and yellow hard hats, one face has emerged consistently since Hong Kong’s summer of protests began. His wardrobe is extensive and colourful, his face iconic, his presence strangely uplifting: he is Pepe, and he is a cartoon frog. Even before the June 9 anti-extradition march, Pepe was a familiar figure among Hong Kong youths, thanks to a series of viral WhatsApp stickers depicting him in various forms: Pepe puts in overtime at the office,... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3023060/how-pepe-frog-became-face-hong-kong-protests-despite-cartoon?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/arts-culture/article/3023060/how-pepe-frog-became-face-hong-kong-protests-despite-cartoon?utm_source=rss_feed Sat, 17 Aug 2019 01:30:09 +0000 “My pronoun is they,” reads a line of text at the bottom of every email sent out by Victoria Sin, a female drag artist who seeks to explode notions of gender as a binary designation. If the pronouns cause confusion as you continue to read this, it’s only because society hasn’t given us the correct terminology to define a person outside “he” or “she”. Perhaps it’s a little pedantic, but Sin is not afraid to tackle big topics and ruffle feathers or the status quo along the way. Let’s start with... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3021631/victoria-sin-born-female-drag-queen-tackling-notions?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3021631/victoria-sin-born-female-drag-queen-tackling-notions?utm_source=rss_feed Wed, 07 Aug 2019 17:00:11 +0000 Most beauty and body brands make it big before being selected to go in hotel rooms and travel kits – Zenology, however, did it the other way around. The Dutch brand conquered the travel-amenities trade before making it into luxury department stores around the world. Its founder, Jeroen Oude Sogtoen, did not set out to create a beauty brand. The Dutchman had been working in the fashion industry when he became involved in a project to build what he calls Amsterdam’s first boutique hotel. “It was... https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3017204/sustainable-skincare-dutch-brand-changing-fragrance-and?utm_source=rss_feed https://www.scmp.com/lifestyle/fashion-beauty/article/3017204/sustainable-skincare-dutch-brand-changing-fragrance-and?utm_source=rss_feed Fri, 05 Jul 2019 12:00:09 +0000