How do you rub shoulders with the rich and famous?

You push them.  And they push you back.

:P

Attended the Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Grand Prix last night at Thean Hou temple and had mixed feelings.

What I love: 

1. Very fresh idea of having an event at a temple, according to its theme French and Chinois.  Very Chinois but not sure where the French comes from, probably from the Kronenbourg beer that sponsored the event.  Cause first thing that came to my mind; Mercedes defected?! :P The setup was simple but really gave me some great ideas on how to 'work around' the environment :) 
2. Since 'Sex and the City' made Jimmy Choo a household name, I've always wanted to interview him.  I've always wanted to know about his beginnings - not as how media writes it but how he feels it (which is thoroughly absent from press releases).  I wanted to know what he feels about being Malaysian.  I wanted to know what's next for him.  What happens to people who have already made it.  I wanted to know if people knew Jimmy Choo was a Malaysian and not an ABC.  I wanted to know his creative inspiration.  I wanted to know his marketing strategy - how did he decide one day that he should price his delicate shoes at an unattainable couple of grand and made women worship them.  I wanted to know who was his mentor and who he is mentoring.  I wanted to know what keeps him up at night.  I wanted to know what his real passions are.  I wanted to know if he could change one thing about Malaysia (however small and however big), what would it be (for someone of his position).  I wanted to know if he was... a nice person.  And when I was finally introduced to him... all that came out was just 'uh, hi'.  ?!?!?!?!  Yup.  Uh, hi.  Oh well, brighter next time, sparks!
3. While I didn't particular 'get' the creative showcase because it was beyond fine art, it was still an interesting presentation of fashion (and hair) abstract expressionism.  Just felt sorry for the models who were trippin' on the runway because of impossible shoes.  Jimmy, you should really look into that, y'know...
4. Runway muzik.  Muzik pumps me up and makes everything better :)

What I didn't love:

1. They don't serve non-alcoholic drinks.  I'm heavily allergic to alcohol, like how Mogwai is allergic to water.  You don't want no Gremlins now, do you?  So this stereotyping of 'everyone drinks' or 'everyone should drink Kronenbourg' just didn't cut it for me.  I wonder what those Malay datuks and datins drink.  From their tumbler?
2. This... fwa fwa hoity toity vibe.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm not holier than thou, there's certainly nothing wrong with the crowd.  It's okay to be rich and famous, all glitz and glamour.  It's just me.  It's all me.  It's everything about me.  It's my 'Fun to Drive' ecobag (woops!).  And I can't seem to perfect the air-kissing thing, I'm sorry.  I'll do better next time.
3. The SLK 200 displayed at the door.  Yawn... Merc, I've seen you do better.

Damian Foxe X Tom Palliser.

Damian Foxe pens a love letter to 1940s glamour. Too bad I can't find the video anywhere except for in FT - How to spend it. Click here, and click on the video. I absolutely love the art direction, the music composition, the mood. Gosh it's so melancholic, I feel like hugging the tall girl and tell her everything is going to be all right.

Vogue September issue featuring the Ice Queen.

I vaguely remember reading the particular phonebook size Vogue two years ago. The first 100 plus pages or so are all ADS. Instead of mindless brand propaganda, it was about art, art, art and slap brand on art. To my surprise, they weren't boring at all.

So when The September Issue was on screen in New Zealand, I figure I had to watch it. Couple of things I gather from the film (can't say it's amazing because... that's how all documentaries/reality films are done now anyway, but it's great nevertheless).

One: I didn't know that what you are wearing right now as you're reading this traces back to The One Single Point in the fashion kingdom known as Anna Wintour (at any point - could be a year, two years, some years, but always That One Point). I mean, yea, she's the renown Editor of Vogue and she's powerful, but I didn't know she was that powerful. She basically has the world's greatest designers wrapped around her little finger, all gingerly waiting for her precious little nod to seal the confidence before their runway production. So now I know. You want to hold others on their ___ ? Then you've got to be in media. And you've got to be VERY big in media. As a matter of fact, VERY big media. And Vogue is VERY big.

Two: It was equally enlightening to see what really goes on behind those unassuming doors which separate fashion's greatest creative energy from rest-of-the-world. The systems they employ to produce their monthly issues are really insightful. A system which holds individuals together without them losing their technicolor creativity to become part of the monochrome factory-line. We've been trying to 'create' systems too in this office because we were trying to counter the problems of being too personnel dependent especially when the turnover of this industry is worrying. But at the back of my mind, I've always gotten more worried about creating an advertising factory line - churning out FAs mindlessly - which loses the entire point of being in a creative communication business. We must have a system, because it protects the business. But we must not lose the individual's fingerprint in the process. Hmm. Very intricate business.

But seriously, if the opportunity arises, please go watch it.

Also, if you like fashion and will queue forever for Anna Wintour, you may want to watch this male version called Valentino The Last Emperor. Love defies rules. Here's the trailer :)