spaghetti, meatballs & Madonna

Channelling the Italian actress Monica Vitti for the new Spring/Summer '10 campaign for Dolce & Gabbana, Madonna, ever the chameleon shows her more intimate side. Photographed by her long time friend and famed photographer, Steven Klein the images were much inspired by Italian Neorealism cinema - grainy, raw stolen shots showcasing an intimate, real aspect to the ultimate icon's life.

This feature in December's Vanity Fair Italy also discusses the campaign and why Madonna was the perfect choice by the designers. Stefano Gabbana goes so far as to say: "She loved the collection.... and is passionate and impressively knowledgeable about Italian cinema."

Whether Madonna actually does her own dishes or eats spaghetti despite her most enviable figure is anyone's guess, but looking at the images makes me want to believe so.... and (in my wildest dreams - of course!!) I would love to be a guest, in this setting enjoying a plate of pasta with her. Chicisimo!

noir & the art of dangle

have yourself a merry christmas time.......

Dear Readers,
'Tis the season to be jolly and in the process of celebrating Christmas and welcoming the New Year, I would also like to take this opportunity to thank you all for your support.

May your walls know joy, may every room hold laughter and every window open to great possibility.

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

race day in sha tin

My big race win page - Horse No.13!

This year marks the 125th year of racing in Hong Kong - Race Day: Sunday 13th December. The turnout was huge and the opening ceremony, very grand. There were gymnasts, a performance by famous acrobat Cai Yong (who performed for Barack Obama not too long ago) among the line-up.

The races did not start till lunch time but thought it a good idea to take in the scenery and some shots when all's calm. My hosts and I were given a table in the Champions Circle on the top floor overlooking the race course. The weather was a stunning 22 degrees. As a punter, of course I did bet. My luck turned BIG during race 4 when I bet on horse No.13, Daryakana who is one of the Aga Khan's horses. It was a long race and the horse was trailing behind for the most part but came good in the end. It was nail biting!

What a brilliant end to the trip and at the end of the fifth race, I bid good-bye to my hosts and the friends I had made during my stay. I was chauffeured to the airport courtesy of HKJC reminiscing on the last few days. Shame to be leaving warmer climes but also missing home and the excitement in the lead up to Christmas!

(Top from All Saints, Leggings from Miss Selfridge, Ring and Cameo cuff from Marc Jacobs, Shoes from Zara)

going once, going twice....and sold!

The scene from this year's International Horse Sale was slightly subdued. Only 19 out of the 32 horses were up for auction on the day. My first visit to Sha Tin Race course was at 8.30a.m. on sale day to join the auctioneers, breeders, press, members of the HKJC (Hong Kong Jockey Club) and trainers for breakfast. There was lots to take in, being somebody who doesn't know very much about horses apart from being just a punter when it comes to racing. I was taken through the whole process of how the sale of a horse comes about, what breed, what a filly, gelding, colt and yearling means to how the horses are screened before a sale etc. I could hardly concentrate breakfast! One key fact of course, is that only horses bred in the Southern Hemisphere were on sale here today.

John O'Kelly the auctioneer from Tattersalls, apparently a celeb in the international horsing world was there to chair the auction. This man can apparently speak several different languages and can switch easily from English to French to Italian in one sentence! There is a whole load of press about including TV coverage from Australia, New Zealand, Ireland the UK and of course, Hong Kong. Mind boggling how serious this is! I was very lucky enough to be led down to the centre of the action and also shown where the stable lots are - where the horses are placed during the sale. Just like any other auction, instead of having a painting or a sculpture being put on a plinth, the horse is paraded around on a platform in full view so that the buyers can have a good look. Once the bidding starts, it goes very quickly - from HKD 500,000, the price can escalate up to HKD 4.8 million in a matter of minutes! (As illustrated in the photos above)

By the close of auction, the total sales amounted to HKD 70 million (which pleased the organisers given there were so many horses withdrawn), and my hosts were very happy as their horses shown above were sold at a profit. All's well that ends well. Yee haw!!

PS: In case you are still scratching your head about some horsey terms, here they are explained:
Gelding: A castrated male horse
Colt: A young male horse under the age of four.
Yearling: Horse that is a year old
Filly - A young female horse too young to be called a mare
Fact 2 - Reason there appears to be 2 names to a horse lot is because the horse has not been named until it sold to its new owners. The 2 names that appear refer to the mother and father of the horse.

(T-Shirt from Top Shop, Trousers & Scarf from Zara, Necklace & Shoes from Jimmy Choo for H&M)

a balmy evening in hong kong

Entrance to FelixView from the ladies at FelixThe view from Sevva

Being on the mainland always requires a visit to the Peninsula Hotel. The Peninsula Hong Kong has long been hailed as one of the finest hotels in the world. Created 75 years ago in the glamorous 1920s, the legendary "Grande Dame of the Far East" continues to set hotel standards worldwide. Although it is mostly de rigueur to have afternoon tea there, I was curious to check out the the new Felix Bar designed by Phillipe Starck on the 28th floor, promising incredible views across the harbour to Hong Kong Island from. Well, it did not disappoint. A perfect spot to rest your tired feet after a long day of sight-seeing or the perfect place for a romantic rendezvous.

Back to Hong Kong island later that evening where I was invited to dinner at Sevva on the 25th floor of Alexandra House. Again, the view from the top was AH-MAZING as seen in the photos. At this point, I am having such a good time that the photos also became slightly blurry and the artsy content or composition slightly compromised! Yikes!

(Hazy Moon Dress from Whistles)

postcards from Kowloon

Chung King House from Chung King Express fame

1881 Heritage the Former Marine Police Headquarters

Stable Grill at Hullett House Corridor

Hullett House

Star Ferry

View of Hong Kong Island from Kowloon

pop ron in a china shop

Oh, the Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends.

A stop over at the IFC mall is a must when in Hong Kong. Architecturally beautiful on the outside and a mind-boggling shopping wanderlust on the inside. One other objective was of course to venture into the depth of Level 2 and visit the brain child behind these beautifully innovative displays. Israeli born U.K. based Ron Arad is certainly among the most influential designers of our time, he is showcasing his ingenious, humorous, versatile, border-pushing yet practical but always beautiful furniture in Hong Kong. This is his first showcase in China. The exhibition is hosted by Ben Brown Fine Arts which has now arrived in Asia. Bringing some of the most celebrated international living and non-living artists to the increasingly vibrant art scene of Hong Kong. The gallery launched 2 major shows opening at the end of November 2009; a group show of major international artists from their permanent gallery at 301 Pedder Building and the other, ‘Ron Arad in a China Shop’, a solo show by the world famous Sculptor extraordinaire, from their exciting space at the prestigious IFC. Interesting to see how a designer such as Ron showcasing his work underneath a shopping mall escalator! Ha!

Most astounding is his new design bookshelf, Oh, the Farmer and the Cowman Should Be Friends. If I was from America and lived in a 4 story house, this bookshelf would be mine (or maybe just a humongous house with very high ceilings). Then there is the mirrored and curved Ping Pong Table (allegedly Ron lost a game or two on opening night). Game on?

Ron Arad in a China Shop
Pop-Up Exhibition
26 November 2009 - 29 January 2010
Shop 2049, Podium 2, IFC