SISTER magazines Elle and Elle Homme have collaborated with Frenchwoman Soledad Bravi, author and illustrator of children’s books, on the “Elle x Soledad” collection of artworks – the sale of which will help good causes in Thailand. The “Petit air de Paris”-theme series is filled with the artist’s most adorable characters.

ICC International chairman Boonkiet Chokwatana unveiled the collection at a recent event at Siam Paragon where Bravi was in attendance along with Anthony Tran, a senior vice president at Lagardere Enterprise (Hong Kong).

Bravi, who has previously collaborated with several world-famous brands, is the author of such books as “L’Ecole des Loisires” and “Marabout”.

She personally selected pieces from the “Elle x Soledad” collection to display in Thailand before the exhibition is taken on a world tour.

Some of the artworks are being auctioned off to raise money for schools across the country under the patronage of Her Royal Highness Princess Maha Chakri Sirindhorn. The funds will help underprivileged children in general and specifically girls who have lost their parents to Aids.

Bravi treated guests at the event to a demonstration of her talent, drawing her trademark Parisian girl with long legs descending into chic high heels – but this time riding in a tuk-tuk.

Elle and Elle Homme then presented a fashion show of its spring-summer line that had actor Teeradetch “Alex” Metawarayut among the models.

The outfits feature the same Parisian girl, who Bravi said was inspired by the easygoing young women seen sipping coffee in the cafes of the French capital. You can usually see a bulldog by her side.

She appears on beautiful T-shirts ideal for mixing and matching for a range of sporty looks, with denim trousers or skirts or with a blazer, as well as on handbags, shoes, hats, swimwear, underwear, wristwatches and luggage.

SETTING OUT TO bring a new sensibility to the wonderful world of perfume, world class brands Amouage and Heretic Parfum have both opted for the unconventional with their latest fragrances.

Creative director of Amouage, Christopher Chong, recently introduced the fifth chapter in the second cycle of the Amouage narrative “Portrayal”, describing it as a reflection of a man or woman’s unique authenticity.

“When I came to Amouage in 2007, I proposed the concept of linear storytelling, with each perfume part of a chapter of the grand story because to me perfume is about human emotions. So each perfume is related to the one before and the one after in a continuous narrative,” says Chong who, despite having no formal training in the industry, made a triumphant debut with “Jubilation 25” for women and “Jubilation XXV” for men. 

Founded by His Highness Sayyid Hamad bin Hamoud al bu Said at the request of the Sultan of Oman in the early 1980s, Amouage is today a brand of international repute catering to the niche luxury market. It draws inspiration from its birthplace, infusing reference points from a rich and colourful heritage and working with internationally recognised perfumers in Grasse in the South of France to create an original and evocatively fragrant experience.

The new Portrayal embodies a freedom of rebellion that can be compared to London’s Roaring 1920s and New York’s grooving 1980s.

“Portrayal by Amouage is derived from my childhood love of science fiction films –time travel and wormholes. If I could travel back in time, I would head straight for London in the ‘Roaring 20s’, an era that was all about creativity, rebellion, and naughtiness. A second wormhole would take me to the 1980s to dance with Madonna in New York. It’s about arrogance, lace, pearls, Coco Chanel’s loose jersey, and women starting to smoke in public. That’s why I incorporate tobacco as one of the notes,” he continues.

Portrayal Man has a woody and leather aroma that exudes an air of audacity. “I wanted to create social freedom for the Amouage man as people in 1920s were much more gender fluid. I open this perfume in a very unconventional way, I use violet leaves to create freshness with an earthy tone to it. It represents a fresh beginning, exploration, then goes into vetiver for depth. One of the final key notes comes from an ingredient called cade, a kind of juniper that grows in the Mediterranean which brings to mind leather when used on its own. But if you blend it carefully, it has a kind of smooth softness and smokiness. At the same time, masculinity can be more floral too, which is why violet is the sweetness of this perfume on the top, countered by classical vetiver for a dry woody smell.”

At the heart of Portrayal Woman is a smoky yet sweet melange created by the fusion of Craven A Tobacco with a dusting of vanilla. Brought together with jasmine at its top and balsamic at its base, it is given an undertone of sensuality with tuberose.

“Women in the 1920s and 1980s were extremely feminine and with very strong voices, so I open the perfume notes with jasmine and an undertone of tuberose because jasmine is very endurance and difficult to control. The tobacco calms the floral sense while vanilla adds the sweetness and balsamic the freshness,” he explains.

“The brand’s heritage is underlined in the bottle caps, with that for the man’s fragrance inspired by the khanjar, the traditional dagger of Oman while the cap of the woman’s perfume draws on the Palace Ruwi Mosque in Muscat. Amouage’s signature glass crystal bottles come in an iridescent pearl finish adorned with a blue Swarovski crystal while the elegant art deco boxes are a delicate dusty blue.”

Sansiri, Thailand’s luxury real-estate developer, also relies on unconventional scents to add another level of tasteful and aesthetic living to its properties, joining up with premium US brand Heretic Parfum for the Sansiri Luxury Collection x Heretic Parfum by Douglas Little, a collection of home fragrances and candles.

Little, a Hollywood celebrity and perfumer who founded Heretic 2015, was in Bangkok recently to launch the collection at the Monument Sukhumvit 55.

“For the Luxury Collection, I wanted to create something that is playful and provokes curiosity, something that reflects the beautiful materials we use here. I chose to interpret those ideas working with fig notes but playing not with fruit but with the fig leaves and fig stem. The fragrance is very green and sophisticated but also playful. When you first smell it, it really makes you think. It’s clean, fresh and inviting,” says Little, who uses only organic ingredients and essential oils blended in non-GMO grape and sugarcane alcohol. Heretic believes that nature is sexy, erotic, and wildly provocative and has created a collection of gender-neutral fragrances. He has also collaborated with Goop founder, Gwyneth Paltrow, and burlesque actress Dita von Teese on an incredibly sexy collection.

The Luxury Collection is made with 100-per-cent natural ingredients and essential oils. Rose De Mai and Damask Rose are blended with kaffir lime leaf, yuzu orange and pink pepper, with juicy apricot for a hint of sweetness.

“Working with natural ingredients has homeopathic and Ayurvedic benefits, so by introducing these natural materials into the home environment, mental and physical health also benefit. Citrus is known to create happiness while other ingredients inject a sense of calm and comfort,” he continues.

“Today’s new generation is really interested in wellness and that’s exciting. When I was young, my dad used to wear a very specific fragrance known as Old Spice but I’ve never wanted to wear that fragrance, even though I like it, and it’s fine. I don’t want to wear what my dad wore. This young generation is also looking for new alternatives like, for example, lavender. They know lavender but they want it to be more exciting.”

“My brand and is about showcasing the new version of these materials. I also don’t believe in creating fragrance for men and women. Nature is the great teacher and it is both male and female. And we have both masculine and feminine within us. Take a rose, it is so sexy. It is so warm and woody and provocative, that to me is masculine and feminine, it can be worn by either.

“When I was young, I had very bad Attention Deficit Disorder and my mother, who’s an artist gardener, would take me to the garden with her, pinch the plants so that they gave off their scent, and teach me the names of the plants. If I could remember by the name of the plant and the fragrance, she would give me a quarter. Immediately I focused because I wanted the money but the experience stuck with me and I became obsessed with fragrance. To this day, I remember the specific scent of a geranium. We moved to classical music and she would ask me to tell her all the instruments I could hear. By the time I was nine, I was playing cello, flute and violin, and on the weekend, I was attending flower-arranging classes. I want to bring these same qualities to Siri House and its luxury property collection, I want it to feel very chic, luxurious, and contemporary with a certain playfulness,” Little says.

– Amouage is available at its boutique at Siam Paragon and EmQuartier.

– The Sansiri Luxury Collection x Heretic Parfum collection is being used at The Monument Thong Lor, 98 Wireless, Baan Sansiri and Khun by Yoo, and will also be |available at Siri House in Dempsey Hill, Singapore and Soi Somkid, Bangkok.

SIRINYA Mahadumrongkul, scion of the C Thong Panich family, sole distributor of Citizen’s sole distributor in Thailand, and an aviator in her own right having recently completed training with the RTAF Civil Flying Division on a CT4, was the guest of honour at the recent launch of the Citizen Eco-Drive Promaster Sky Blue Angel.

The limited edition timepiece, inspired by the brave pilots of the US Blue Angel Navy Squadron, was tested by Sirinya during her flights, making her the ideal person to talk about its performance and practical functions.

The radio-controlled watch can receive signals from the Atomic Clock, which is the most accurate time keeper in the world with a deviation of no more than one second in the 100,000 years period.

“It comes with a handy perpetual calendar, a performance chronograph accurate in 1/100 second increments up to 24 hours, offers world time across 43 cities and is designed to instantaneously correct and adjust time when radio signals are received in Japan, USA, China and Germany. The brilliant blue-yellow crystal is made of scratch-resistant sapphire glass and reflective coating, and the case is engraved with the Blue Angels squadron’s logo. Moreover the stainless-steel case makes it an everyday timepiece in terms of performance and style,” she told guests at the launch.

And of course, the model also offers the Citizen proprietary Eco-Drive light technology timepiece that can receive any types of light.

The brand took the opportunity to introduce its new presenter, actor Prin “Mark” Suparat, noting that his adventurous lifestyle responds to the image the brand.

“As a world-class watch brand for the past 100 years, and a philosophy “Better Starts Now”, being a presenter empowers me to do something different. I like to drive bur for me the most impressive part of being Citizen’s presenter for me is to have the opportunity to fly the Diamond DA-42 jet, That’s a real honour as being a pilot was always one of my dreams,” Marks says.

“For me, flying a plane is about being consciousness, concentrated, and always planning. We must be ready at all times. And a glance at a watch that gives off no reflection can be really can be helpful when you need to make split-second decisions,” Sirinya adds.

FANS OF Marc Jacobs, among them Arak Amornsupasiri, Fonthip Watcharatrakul, Nattasha Bunprachom, Saowakon Pornpattanarak, Piyada Nanta, Ganda Saitum and Karuna Vatchanaphukka, flocked to the American brand’s flagship store at CentralWorld last week eager to get their hands on the designer’s newest line of ready-to-wear outfits, bags, shoes, jewellery and accessory items that, according to the label, celebrate the eclectic and individual approach to getting dressed.

Porndet Chandawanich, co-chief executive of PAT Luxury Concept, official distributor of Marc Jacobs Thailand, hosted the grand opening and introduced the new collection, quoting Jacobs as saying he wanted to do “something that is unlike the collections we are already doing, in that it is more ‘item-y’.

“These items are things that you could put together in your own way; it’s more about personal styling than about having a full runway look,” the designer said in his press statement.

Drawing from the music, art and pop culture eras that have always inspired him, Jacobs has created an ongoing and on-growing wardrobe of items for every season. Encompassing everything from cotton printed t-shirts to sequin cocktail dress and from casual slippers to patent leather pumps, The Marc Jacobs comes in a broad price range for wide accessibility while keeping the integrity of each item at the forefront. Collaborations will be an ongoing cornerstone of the line, with creative partnerships including Peanuts and New York Magazine and collaborations with classic craftsmen as seen with the Stutterheim raincoats and a Schott leather perfecto. Long-time friends of the brand will also be featured in a capsule of hats and headbands by milliner Stephen Jones and reimagined ready-to-wear and accessories from the personal closets of Jacobs and his team, with pieces entitled m.archive.

With a campaign shot by Hugo Scott and styled by Lotta Volkova, The Marc Jacobs line launched last month and is now available worldwide and online.

“New York Magazine x The Marc Jacobs” riffs on the classic magazine logo first drawn by Milton Glaser in 1968 while the Marc Jacobs logo gets a redesign that’s featured across all product categories.

“Peanuts x The Marc Jacobs”, meanwhile, stems from the designer’s love for the classic Charles M. Schulz comic strip and his happy memories of receiving a giant stuffed Snoopy from his babysitter when he was six. Incorporated on everything from vintage style sweatshirts to canvas totes and colourful jewellery, the Peanuts characters add whimsical flair to classic Marc Jacobs styles.

The boutique is also home to Boomarc, a curated selection of art, photography, and literary titles.

LIKE OTHER makers of luxury timepieces, Rolex inevitably waits for Basel World to launch its latest collections and this year is no exception with seven models of the brand’s iconic Oyster Perpetual Collection making their debut at the 2019 edition. So Thailand’s luxury watch crowd were delightd to be offered a preview at the Oriental Residence.

                                               The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42

A new model, the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42, joins the Rolex sailing watch collection. With a diameter of 42 mm – a new size for the Yacht-Master range – it houses the new-generation calibre 3235. Made of 18-carat white gold, the watch is fitted with an Oysterflex bracelet and equipped with an Oysterlock safety clasp, also in 18-carat white gold, that includes the Rolex Glidelock extension system. The Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42 is equipped with calibre 3235. This new-generation movement, which stands apart thanks to its superior performance, incorporates the Chronergy escapement, developed and patented by Rolex, and guarantees a power reserve of approximately 70 hours.

The word “Perpetual” is inscribed on every Rolex Oyster and has symbolised excellence, elegance and prestige since the launch of the water-proof wristwatch in 1926 and the Perpetual rotor self-winding mechanism in 1931.

The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II

In addition to the Oyster Perpetual Yacht-Master 42, the Oyster Perpetual Sea-Dweller makes its first appearance in a yellow Rolesor version, combining Oystersteel and 18-carat yellow gold. The name “Sea-Dweller” on the dial is marked in yellow. The Oyster Perpetual GMT-Master II is presented in Oystersteel, with a bidirectional rotatable bezel and a two-colour 24-hour graduated Cerachrom insert in blue and black ceramic, fitted on a Jubilee bracelet. This watch is driven by the new-generation calibre 3285, launched in 2018. An Oyster Perpetual Cosmograph Daytona in 18-carat yellow gold features a paved black lacquer dial. Thirty-six trapeze-cut diamonds are set on the bezel in lieu of the tachymetric scale.

For the first time, the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 is equipped with calibre 3255, a movement at the forefront of watchmaking technology. In 18-carat yellow, white or Everose gold, the new variants of this emblematic model are introduced with dials presenting a concentric gradient, in decorative stone, or entirely diamond-paved with a rainbow of sapphires for the hour markers.

Two new versions of the Oyster Perpetual Day-Date 36 appear with novel concentric gradient dials: green ombre on the watch in 18-carat yellow gold and brown ombre on the 18-carat Everose gold version. Two other versions, in 18-carat white gold or 18-carat yellow gold, are fitted with dials in decorative stone – pink opal or turquoise – framed by a bezel set with 52 brilliant-cut diamonds. They are equipped respectively with calibre 3235 and calibre 2236, new-generation movements first introduced on these two models in 2018.

FANS OF Marc Jacobs, among them Arak Amornsupasiri, Fonthip Watcharatrakul, Nattasha Bunprachom, Saowakon Pornpattanarak, Piyada Nanta, Ganda Saitum and Karuna Vatchanaphukka, flocked to the American brand’s flagship store at CentralWorld last week eager to get their hands on the designer’s newest line of ready-to-wear outfits, bags, shoes, jewellery and accessory items that, according to the label, celebrate the eclectic and individual approach to getting dressed.

Porndet Chandawanich, co-chief executive of PAT Luxury Concept, official distributor of Marc Jacobs Thailand, hosted the grand opening and introduced the new collection, quoting Jacobs as saying he wanted to do “something that is unlike the collections we are already doing, in that it is more ‘item-y’.

“These items are things that you could put together in your own way; it’s more about personal styling than about having a full runway look,” the designer said in his press statement.

Drawing from the music, art and pop culture eras that have always inspired him, Jacobs has created an ongoing and on-growing wardrobe of items for every season. Encompassing everything from cotton printed t-shirts to sequin cocktail dress and from casual slippers to patent leather pumps, The Marc Jacobs comes in a broad price range for wide accessibility while keeping the integrity of each item at the forefront. Collaborations will be an ongoing cornerstone of the line, with creative partnerships including Peanuts and New York Magazine and collaborations with classic craftsmen as seen with the Stutterheim raincoats and a Schott leather perfecto. Long-time friends of the brand will also be featured in a capsule of hats and headbands by milliner Stephen Jones and reimagined ready-to-wear and accessories from the personal closets of Jacobs and his team, with pieces entitled m.archive.

With a campaign shot by Hugo Scott and styled by Lotta Volkova, The Marc Jacobs line launched last month and is now available worldwide and online.

“New York Magazine x The Marc Jacobs” riffs on the classic magazine logo first drawn by Milton Glaser in 1968 while the Marc Jacobs logo gets a redesign that’s featured across all product categories.

“Peanuts x The Marc Jacobs”, meanwhile, stems from the designer’s love for the classic Charles M. Schulz comic strip and his happy memories of receiving a giant stuffed Snoopy from his babysitter when he was six. Incorporated on everything from vintage style sweatshirts to canvas totes and colourful jewellery, the Peanuts characters add whimsical flair to classic Marc Jacobs styles.

The boutique is also home to Boomarc, a curated selection of art, photography, and literary titles.

Gucci recently offered Thai fashionistas a preview of its latest Autumn-Winter 2019 Women’s and Men’s collections, which made their debut to both wonder and critical acclaim during Milan Fashion Week 2019. The showcase was held in the lush surroundings of the Glass House at Nai Lert Heritage Home.

On display were the runway looks of statement-making clothing and accessories from the collection as well as a number of rare home decor items from Gucci Decor collection. Emmanuel Delrieu, president of Gucci, South East Asia Pacific region, flew into town to join the event.

Gucci’s creative director Alessandro Michele was inspired by German-American philosopher Hannah Arendt and her concept of “The Mask as a Cut Between Visible and Invisible”. Michele played with the magic ambiguity of a mask and its dual function of showing and hiding at the same time.

“The mask lets us show ourselves as we please and play our acting role as we think is best. It’s the possibility to choose how to exercise our freedom to show ourselves through a powerful filter that constantly selects what we want to share about us and what we want to conceal,” Michele explained after the Milan show.

The accents of this collection were on new tailoring for both a feminine and masculine look with oversized vintage jackets suits, black-and-white hounds tooth check, G Rhombus motif, elastic jump trousers and sartorial labels.

For women’s wear, mini dresses, trompe l’oeil sequin gowns, pencil dresses and three-piece suits were among the highlights.

For the men, it was tops with Victorian ruffle collars or made of delicate lace, and jumpsuits that reflected the blurred gender lines.

These looks were embellished with delightful accessories including gilded ear-pieces, GG-logo kneepads, sneakers and leather shoes.