VALENTINO LE PROGRÈS 2022 春色年華

VALENTINO LE PROGRÈS 2022 
春色年華

VALENTINO在早幾個月前於巴黎瑪萊區熙來攘往的十字街頭舉行了一場大型的戶内外2022 早春系列時裝秀，以「賣大包，益街坊」 的策略展開攻勢，隨意地刻意，安排模特兒由室内走到室外，實行大衆共賞。除了受邀的時尚界達人和貴賓，倘若那天你也那麽湊巧經過，在著名的Le Progrès咖啡館徘徊，也可“自我邀請”，對號入座，自選最佳vantage point， 秀色可餐地觀賞這獨一無二的街頭巷尾時尚街秀。

由於瑪萊區近年已漸漸士紳化成為煥然一新的時尚區域，這令人嚮往的巴黎第三區集合了無窮無盡的文化、藝術、餐飲、娛樂、購物，甚至交通等便利，區內熱鬧繽紛的氛圍，近年更成爲了城中和遊客受追捧的浦點。 而Le Progrès咖啡館的名氣，由開業至今，熱力並沒退減，人氣更有過之而無不及，目前依舊是巴黎不同階層的人相約碰面、樂聚其中的聚腳點。有見及此，新一輯Valentino2022早春系列廣企當然要食住個勢，選址於Le Progrès Café 拍攝。 創意總監Pierpaolo Piccioli為Valentino品牌風格賦予新定義的理念，把時裝從設計室和工作坊帶到街頭，為這個持續演化的進程指引方向；時裝雖脫離工作坊但工藝得以保存，並與穿衣者的獨特多元個性結合，兩者的主從關係不可逆轉，令Valentino得以植根當下，確立美學，衍生自個人身份的養分。

廣告呈現出一個Valentino社群，匯聚街頭素人和一眾熟悉的臉孔包括Tina Kunakey、Dixie D’Amelio、Christian Coppola及Amanda Prugnaud等。成員之間關係親厚，瀰漫著一股真摯友愛的氛圍；Le Progrès Café成為他們社交聯繫的神聖之地，在這片小天地中聚首一堂、互通心意。品牌全新廣企由美國攝影師Michael Bailey Gates操刀拍攝 ，他利用與眾不同的燈光和構圖，捕捉咖啡館內各人的獨特面貌，彰顯人物個性的豐富多元和無限可能。同時亦切合了Pierpaolo Piccioli的理念，讓時裝與街頭兼容並蓄，體現人與人之間互相交流和影響的屬性，從嶄新的角度演繹一貫的創作路向。 

系列當中的西裝以鮮明色調和精準俐落的線條重新演繹，羽毛在短褲、閃片連身長裙和連帽衛衣上綻放豐饒的質感；以牛仔褲配襯綴有蕾絲或華麗英式鏤花刺繡的連身短裙、男裝襯衫或短披肩。中產風格不可或缺的開胸外套、百褶裙、連身罩裙、配襯長褲的長罩衫和西裝，散發活潑的街頭氣息。運動套裝注入量身訂製的元素，以對比強烈的用色營造奪目效果。

精緻小巧的品牌標誌，如圖像符號般凝聚在連身裙和手袋上，組成獨特的構圖。刺繡用於線條流麗的大衣、短外套和風衣上，不再象徵雍容華麗的晚裝。嚴肅與浪漫並存，厚底高跟鞋與平底鞋交替出現，一排排的鉚釘，點綴手袋、涼鞋和男裝皮鞋的厚鞋底。Valentino既有的風格形象進行自我解構，融入穿衣者的個性中，創造千變萬化的組合。「多元」成為「一致」與「獨特」的同義詞，讓這春色年華的系列打破框架，重新定義兩者相匯交融，推動演化的進程。

MICHAEL KORS Celebrates 40 Years Through Collaboration with Accessories Brand ASHYA

As Michael Kors approached his 40^th anniversary, he wanted to celebrate the milestone by supporting the future of the fashion industry. Thinking back to his own beginnings, he decided to provide a unique opportunity to an emerging brand - offering them the global reach, distribution and platform of the Michael Kors company to help bring their brand to a larger audience. In addition, he wanted to share his personal advice and experience, as well as the mentorship of his team. The decision to collaborate with ASHYA was a natural choice - a New York-based brand inspired by travel, dedicated to the marriage of style and pragmatism, and helmed by two talented, thoughtful and entrepreneurial designers.

MICHAEL KORS x ASHYA, a young accessories brand founded by American/Jamaican duo Ashley Cimone and Moya Annece, launches two exclusive, limited-edition bags: the Moya Multi Bag and the Ashley Bolo Bag. Designed in ASHYA’s signature silhouettes, the gender-neutral, leather ASHYA X Michael Kors bags will feature a custom print that incorporates the MK Signature logo print in a new pattern inspired by West African weaving techniques.

The Moya multi bag can be worn as a crossbody or a belt bag. For added versatility, it features two lined pockets, each featuring a leather card sleeve, and a roomy interior to carry your day to night essentials.

The Ashley Bolo bag is equally adaptable, and can be worn around the neck, the waist or cross- body. It features one lined compartment with a leather card sleeve, and is perfect for carrying everyday essentials with hands-free ease.

All of ASHYA’s products are designed as an “ode to exploration.” ASHYA’s vision, since its inception, is rooted in travel, cultural awareness and the act of unifying style and utility. Motivated by black, brown, and global indigenous communities and transient modern life, the brand approaches design with effortless mobility and essentialism in mind.

“Anniversaries make you think about both the past and the future,” says Michael. “I began my business in New York City in 1981, and now I find it very exciting to be able to turn the spotlight on the next generation of designers working here in New York City. When I first saw the work of Ashley and Moya at ASHYA, their thoughtfulness and unique point of view impressed me immediately. I reached out to them about doing a collaboration together that would merge our sensibilities and I am thrilled with how the collaboration came together.”

“As a nod to our continued explorations of our roots, and this global ‘stepping out’ moment for our brand, we wanted to reference West African weaving in the design of the ASHYA x Michael Kors styles, creating something that has historical reference to our identity and that really spoke to the specialness of this partnership,” said Annece and Cimone. “African textiles have had, and still have, an exceptional significance as a means of communication within communities and act as a conduit of stories passed down through generations. There is a spiritual and historical significance to the colors, patterns and decorative elements used. The aesthetic value of West African textile designs can be seen in the lines and motifs created for this collaboration.”

ANDREW GN SS2022 Collection - mylifestylenews TOP 10's Pick

ANDREW GN SS2022 Collection dived into the deep ocean and colored the entire collection with corals inspiration and presented in association with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, who is doing a fantastic job at SAVING THE CORALS.

"Starring Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton, is a film I have watched countless times, not so much for its storyline, rather for its aesthetics and the spectacular outfits of Liz Taylor, which served as my initial inspiration.

The movie was shot in Sardinia, in an almost all-white house surrounded by the sea, with an incredible décor mixing Italian baroque and mid-century modern.

After watching documentaries about the destruction of coral reefs, and the huge endeavors to save them.

I wanted to raise awareness, through the fashion lens, about the vital importance of corals for the survival of oceans and our planet.

Corals are the trees of the seas, bringing life to the whole underwater ecosystem.

We should treasure, protect and save them just like we cherish our forests.

This collection is presented in association with the Great Barrier Reef Foundation, who is doing a fantastic job at SAVING THE CORALS.

We wish to applaud them for their remarkable actions and warmly thank them for their support." Says Andrew Gn.

LONG TENG Seafood Restaurant - Nouvelle Chinese Cuisine Delivers Traditional Flavours

With the principle and spirit to stay truthful to its authenticity and strive to get it right, Long Teng Seafood Restaurant could well be your next best friend especially when you are craving for that “mouthfeel”, taste and aroma of Sichuan and Cantonese flavours…..mylifestylenews writes.

Finding authentic Chinese cuisine that is redolent of flavours you would find in China is not that easy in Dubai, but we think we have just the place for you. We are always delighted to find a Chinese restaurant that serves authentic dim sum, great seafood and covers the gamut of flavours from freshly cooked lobster to Foie Gras and Truffle Fried Rice, Silken Tofu……just to name a few. The joy of such food can be found at Long Teng Seafood Restaurant in Dubai and it is as close to Cantonese dim sum authenticity and Sichuan spicy dishes in true flavour that you can get.

To enjoy a true Chinese food is to savour the delight in the texture of food that is derived from the total sensory experience of eating, and “mouthfeel” (口感 kougan) is essential and inseparable from aroma and taste. As you may already realize finding authentic Chinese cuisine outside of China is not that simple – quite often you are told your food is cooked by a Chinese chef, but then you realize that they are not Chinese or are not a native of the specific cuisine from a specific region. Long Teng Seafood Restaurant has it covered.

Located in downtown Business Bay, which is not exactly a gastronomic wonderland, google map navigation is certainly handy especially when you are not familiar with the maze-like concrete jungle road system in the neighbourhood. Surprisingly, Long Teng Seafood Restaurant is easy to find once you get your bearings and the corporate looking designed glass and steel structure building belies the beautiful interior design inside.

Once you enter the foyer, the fresh bright marble flooring and an airy double height space atrium adorned with the golden spiral staircase that leads up to the upper floors dining area catches your attention right away.

The triplex ceiling height red wall to the left is illuminated by the blinking neon lights with ancient Chinese characters that symbolize the vast dimension of Chinese cooking methods and even various marinade styles that are commonly used in a typical Chinese kitchen. Start counting if that admires or intrigues your inspiration. But we were to be whisked to the fifth floor dining room where our lunch sojourn begins.

There are many elements that firmly place this as a well reputed Chinese restaurant, as they have decidedly chosen to eschew the traditional and kitsch and create a beautifully simple, minimalistic yet tasteful and eye-catching interior.

The interior design in Long Teng Seafood Restaurant did not fall short in details, as there are some dramatic highlights that is certainly not what you would expect: large metal dark bird cage light lanterns hanging in the atrium, ceramic fish swimming across an expansive wall on the upper floor main dining hall, a stunning gold mesh installation cascading down the spiral staircase (we were told that cost a fortune) and a rooftop dining room with a semi-vaulted ceiling and much more designed detailed elements to be inspired.

Dining on the 5^th level is a breath of fresh air, as it were: an internal L-shaped dining room with floor to ceiling glass windows on three sides that look onto the rooftop terrace and the surrounds of the skyscraper maze that is Business Bay.

The interior design is quite elegant with furniture featuring subtle Chinese motif embroidery, statement wooden parquet flooring, all of which is flooded with natural light and makes you feel like you are dining in a conservatory.

The layout of the dining tables gives you plenty of space and we felt like we were having a heightened dining experience as the ambience was fantastic. Not a typical touristy chinzy décor but with a lot of sophistication.

As live seafood is a prime focus, they have big fish tanks on the 2^nd and 5^th floors filled with Boston & Australian lobsters, king crab, mantis prawns and tiny prawns/shrimps and hammour (better known as grouper fish). Other regional signature Chinese traditional dishes are also not to be missed from the well-designed big menu. The service team will recommend which options to have your choice prepared and cooked to your liking.

<滋補菌皇湯 Morel Mushroom with Chicken Broth>
While soup is such an essential starter to warm our stomach, at the same time it is to open up our appetite when it comes to savoring a Chinese feast, Cantonese to be précise. Long Teng’s aromatic morel mushroom chicken broth is second to none – a clear and light broth that is so flavoursome and delightful. An absolute great kick start to the dishes to come.

<獅子頭湯 "Lion Head" Chicken Meat Ball Clear Soup>

Another clear broth that is not-to-be-missed! Light and hearty chicken broth with two well bite size tender and tasty meat balls stuffed with diced water chestnuts, mushroom and other ingredients are superb in texture and flavour. Both soups are perfectly well portioned for one person, nothing more and nothing less to delight your palate.

<雞湯小籠包 Chicken Soup Xiao Long Bao>

&
<水晶鮮蝦餃 Crystal Shrimp Dumplings>
In addition to choosing the seafood, we were quite keen to start off with a few dim sum, as this is also a signature of theirs delicately crafted by their in-house chefs freshly made a-la-minute by delivering the freshest flavour.雞湯小籠包 Chicken Soup Xiao Long Bao and the 水晶鮮蝦餃 Crystal Shrimp Dumplings would be the most ideal mouth-full bites to begin with the Yum-Cha culture as a snacker. Both were delicious and the flavours were close to its authenticity and redolent of traditional Chinese dim sum as served despite our main focus is to sample their big menu.

<鮮蝦紅米長粉 Steamed Red Rice & Prawn Cheung Fun>

The red rice paste wrapping made it very eye-catching but what won us over was the crunchy inner deep-fried dough double wrapped over the fresh and delicate prawns filling that creates quite a delight in texture and well paired with the light soy dipping sauce which was poured over the red dough to soak up the flavour.

<鹽水鴨胸肉 Salted Duck Breast>
Thick slices of duck breast are well laid out in a half moon shape and garnished with edible flowers and cilantro as well as homemade spicy chili oil for dipping. The tender breast meat is not as salty as the name suggests which is a blessing but with a well-balanced hint of saltiness to savour.

<麻辣牛肉 Hot & Spicy Beef>
Sliced tender beef topped with plentiful garlic and chilli and special sauce exudes a good kick on the palate. Extremely tasty despite lacking the numbness used of Sichuan peppercorn yet quite a standout dish for the appetizer selection.

<川味口水雞 Spicy Chicken Sichuan Style>
Well presented with stacked of soft boneless chicken overly poured with the Sichuan spicy sauce. The highlight of this dish genuinely comes from its very own recipe of spicy Sichuan sauce where every chef has their very own version to salivate your palate. As the name suggests in Chinese for its pungent spiciness and numbness on the palate with each bite of the chicken that leaves you wanting more and more which made this dish so popular in demand in most Chinese restaurants. Unfortunately, Long Teng’s version failed to deliver such authentic taste and the sauce was rather uninteresting, flat and even a little sweet by not bringing out the best from such a reputable dish.

<蔥香海南雞 Steamed Chicken Hainan Style>
We gave another go by ordering another chicken appetizer dish since the previous Spicy Chicken Sichuan Style did not satisfy our palate as much as it should be. The same soft and tender boneless chicken is used and nearly the same presentation by stacking up the chicken on a bigger shallow plate, topped with aromatic shallots and ginger garlic sauce which is quite pleasant and harmony in taste. A total comfort food for all ages on the palate is delivered.

<波士頓龍蝦 Boston Lobster>
Fang Xing – one of Long Teng Seafood Restaurant’s managers took the liberty to order us the fresh catch Boston Lobster from their live aquarium tank. While seafood dining is one of their specialties and highlights in here, Fang insisted us not to miss out such a signature dish among many others and had it wok-fried with their in-house homemade secret recipe XO sauce to compliment such abundant and tender meat. It was the perfect presentation and while it was the smaller portion yet it had so much flesh to enjoy and definitely great value for money. The accompanied ingredients work-fried together with the lobster such as lily bulbs, onion and snow peas that utterly soaked up the XO sauce are another highlight for this dish. A must-order!

<避風塘瀨尿蝦 Mantis Prawn with Deep Fried Garlic, Salt & Pepper Seasoning>
Two giant mantis prawns nearly a grown adult’s arm length was deep-fried then work-fried in high heat and high speed to absorb the flavour of the accompanying ingredients and seasoning. As fresh as it tastes and best to enjoy with your hand and eventually has the last taste from your fingers licking good.

<基圍蝦 Shrimp Steamed with Garlic and Vermicelli>
Easily more than 20 pieces of butterflied prawns opened up and aligned beautifully on a large oval plate sitting on a bed of garlic soy sauce and vermicelli which is in fact glass noodles were used ideally. This small size prawns are known for thier light springy flesh with a hint of sweetness in taste and best to blanch as whole or steamed. The shrimps soaked up the entire tasty garlic soy that enhanced its flavour as well as the vermicelli, which is always the highlight for this dish.
 

<清蒸石斑 Steamed Hammour>
The hammour (grouper) is very authentic Cantonese style – perfectly steamed with ginger and dressed in light soy sauce and topped with refined julienned spring onion which is such a delight to enjoy by its own or over a bowl or steamed jasmine rice. The entire fish was beautifully presented and it is just picture perfect in every way and absolutely delicious, with the meat just falling apart at the touch of a chopstick but still firm in texture. A full score!
 

<龍騰特色牛肉 Long Teng Style Roasted Beef>

While we have done with the seafood selection, we segued to meat dishes by ordering another house specialty, Long Teng Style Roasted Beef. Instead of roasted, it is more like a braised ribs slow cooked at low temperature with special Chinese marinade. The presentation is with more than ten large, sliced pieces well placed on a large plate together with the rib bone with rather sweet and overpowering dipping sauce provided. The meat is incredibly juicy and tasty in flavour and texture, so eat as is and you will be in heaven!
 

<三杯鴨 Aromatic Braised Duck>
 As the name suggests in Chinese, it is derived from an infamous and iconic Jiangxi dish which was later made popular in Taiwan – San Bei Ji where chicken was used instead of duck for its distinctive, aromatic scents and smoky flavour. Three sole ingredients cannot do without by making this triumphant dish a champion, are the thick soy sauce, rice wine (some would substitute with sesame oil) and fresh basil leaves. Woefully, none of these had it on this duck version and not to say the duck was awfully tough and lacking in flavour (no matter which sauce it was cooked with and yet not well absorbed for its essence). Despite its generous portion, this dish did not hit the mark from our perspective.
 

<干煸四季豆 Stir-fried String Beans with Chili and Garlic>
Work-fired string beans in high heat were delicious and expertly cooked for the smoky flavour with the right amount of heat on the tongue.

 

<石鍋海鮮豆腐 Seafood & Tofu in Claypot>
A very large portion (family size) of silken tofu with diced seafood (shrimps, cuttlefish) served on a hot and sizzling iron-cast plate and topped with Japanese dried fish flakes. Watch the “dancing” tofu and fish flakes move against the high heat while it is brought to the table. This is a superb dish and the perfect comfort food.

<黑松露鵝肝炒飯 Black Truffle & Foie Gras Fried Rice>
It smelled so good when it arrived at the table and once the clay pot lid opened, it continued to wow us, as it tasted so good and the rice was perfectly cooked, fluffy and glistening grains that separated. So delicious and moreish!

<椰汁桂花糕 Osmanthus & Coconut Jelly>
Three pieces of fragrant layering Osmanthus & Coconut Jelly was ordered by another manager, Robert who insisted us to have a sweet ending after a lavish feast. This classic lighthearted dessert that freshens the palate with clean and delicious flavours does not disappoint.

<蛋撻 Egg Tarts>
These a-la-minute egg tarts may take 20 minutes to deliver to the table but is certainly worth the wait. Lightly baked with the flakiest of pastry comes with a creamy egg mixture in the centre. One of the best very best we have had in a long while.

The food in Long Teng Seafood Restaurant is cooked with passion and skill and Chinese food is predominantly to be piqued to delight your taste bud. Essentially, the authentic flavours have got to be right with every dish. To just hit the right spot with Cantonese dim sum is not easy, as a lot of care and attention is required with the cooking methods and presentations, so are many other traditional dishes from other parts of the great China regions.

The restaurant was buzzing an hour after opening which is testament to the value and quality of the food. What was not to like? Eminently, we were quite impressed with the quality of the food, the speed of service and never felt there was too big a gap or too much came at once as we requested to only bring three dishes at a time which was observed. Long Teng Seafood Restaurant is truly an absolute gem if you are in search of that authentic Chinese flavour especially in this region or just Dubai alone. With the inherited traditional dishes, they strive to deliver the most desirable flavours to satisfy your home food cravings with a nouvelle touch. They have nailed it!

Tried & Tested:

Location: 4/5
Design & Decor: 5/5
Food & Beverage: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Value For Money: 4.5/5
Experience: 4.5/5
 

LONG TENG Seafood Restaurant

Ground Floor, U-bora Towers,

Building #3, Al Abraj Street,

Business Bay, Dubai

United Arab Emirates

Tel: +971 04 241 1666

Reviews are based on actual day of visit and experience. mylifestylenews reserves the right of final decision in case of any disputes. All images are photographed by mylifestylenews team without any photoshop enhancement and are the property owned by mylifestylenews unless otherwise stated.