2019-07-31

Tiffany & Co. “Believe in True Love” Campaign


Tiffany & Co. unveils the latest chapter of its “Believe in Love” campaign, which introduces the new Tiffany True engagement ring. Tiffany True features a subtle “T” detail and a new innovative white diamond cut, making it a modern expression of the classic engagement ring which the house introduced in 1886 with the original Tiffany® Setting. 


The newest campaign film captures the intimacy between two people, and the Tiffany True engagement ring as a symbol of their bond. Launched across Tiffany & Co. digital and social media channels and in select publications globally, the black and white campaign echoes the emotional connection of how true love feels.



Tiffany & Co. promotes love in all its forms. This year, Tiffany continues in pursuit of their Believe in Love campaign, and deepens its meaning. In addition to the love between couples, Tiffany celebrates the precious love between family, friends, and also affinity towards nature and animals.


Tiffany also extends the idea behind its previous campaign by inviting ordinary people from different backgrounds and cultures to demonstrate that different values do not diminish or lessen relationships; the power of love is always the deepest bond between any two people“Modern love is personal. Small moments between two people are what create true intimacy. As a brand we understand the authentic connections that lay the foundation for enduring love,” said Reed Krakoff, chief artistic officer, Tiffany & Co.

2019-07-30

KENZO SS2019 "Kenzotopia" Advertising Campaign

KENZO’s SS2019 collection is a colorful and divinely energetic assemblage, a futurist and optimistic vision. Co-creative directors HUMBERTO LEON and CAROL LIM wanted to take this a step further for the campaign and depict a true utopia.


They tapped a hero of theirs, iconic photographer, filmmaker, and artist DAVID LACHAPELLE, to shoot the images.


Infinitely and uniquely qualified for the job, LaChapelle has made a career out of not so much depicting his subjects but rebirthing them and placing them into a fantasia of his own making.


His images are instantly recognizable and inimitable. He has also spent much of the past 11 years in tropical heaven-on-earth : Maui, Hawaii. Shot at his Los Angeles studio, LaChapelle conjured a surreal paradise, a ‘Kenzotopia’, for the KENZO SS2019 campaign, where streetscapes, urban apartments, and breathtaking outdoor scenes blurred into each other in a Technicolor euphoric reverie.


Models are joined by fashion moonlighters such as dancers, musicians, students, and even a star-making cameo by Humberto’s mother, Wendy Leon.


The campaign is the perfect harmony and coalescence of the passions and ideals of Carol and Humberto and David, as all have devoted their careers to not only following their bliss but spreading it.


2019-07-29

Hermès SS2019 Women Collection - mylifestylenews' Top 10 Pick


The Odyssey is just beginning. In a game of reflections, we sail into the horizon, along the edge between two worlds, between sky and land. And in the same moment, we are sailing on the sea. Words break together on this shore: Sailor or Saddler? We turn them every which way… Why choose between them?


The Hermès SS2019 women collection inspiration begins with a woman on horseback, chasing her dreams beyond the horizon. A modern myth, she wears leather mesh with techno-spartan sandals.


Her sailor’s smock becomes a parka and she sets sail wrapped in her cashmere blanket coat of neon orange. The clouds guide her journey, nothing can stop her. She steals a groom’s apron and turns it into a summer dress.


Knotting and bending boat ropes, she draws one, two, three different silhouettes, however she wishes…


With snap hooks as fasteners. Her jacket is decorated with precious buttons, designed by the artist Laurence Owen. Some of them have been oxidised by the sea spray from her adventures.


Under the sun, she wanders in shorts worn with the lightest jacket in Barénia leather or in delicate plaited lambskin…Always carefree.


At nightfall she puts on a coat, an homage to Méditerranée. A single pigment traces across the double face cashmere, and the lines unravel themselves like paths.


The rider scans the horizon. The sailor looks out on deck. Each one like the other, watching for the next wave, the new wave.


And they ask themselves: have we never once thought what if Corto Maltese had been a woman, Lord Jim a Lady? Penelope a man and Odysseus his wife?


The Williamsburg Hotel Brooklyn - Cherish Memorable Moments & Be Where It All began

While travelers are only focusing on Manhattan to look for their accommodation, one may have overlooked the possibilities in Williamsburg, Brooklyn, that is now becoming the new hang out for the locals and visitors alike. Chic and boutique design hotels are rising to excite this arty neighborhood and The Williamsburg Hotel is one of the definite options to go to, even for the New Yorkers for a relaxing weekend staycation. Let yourself be seduced by the sleek and alluring interior design and décor with a view over Manhattan. mylifestylenews writes.


Brooklyn for some New Yorkers is out of their comfort zone, as stepping into other boroughs may be considered too much of a hassle. Williamsburg is now one of Brooklyn’s most popular and exciting neighborhoods of late to explore and to set foot in to discover a more unique lifestyle. From an industrial area and a place for artists who were priced out of Manhattan in the 90’s, Williamsburg has transformed into the epicenter of Brooklyn’s hipster culture.


With just three Subway stops on the L train over to Manhattan Union Square Station from Bedford Avenue where the heart of Williamsburg is, you can now soak up the creative energy and young vibe, garnering a lot of buzz lately and straddles old and new with lively arts, music, trendy cafes, bars, restaurants and chic design stores.


With a plethora of chic boutique hotels opened and revitalization in the sleepy old industrial area, the vibrant soul shines, yet some things in this hipster-hood remain timeless. The food and beverage scene is now a buzz with international cuisines and you have a surfeit of choice that is really enjoyable to see. It is a mecca for young and creative minded fashionistas since the early aughts with its indie feel and surrounds, Williamsburg is full of potentials against all odds.


The Williamsburg Hotel can be easily seen from Wyeth Avenue for its skinny and rustic bricks façade, glass, Corten steel exterior and the replica giant water tower on the roof (an icon in most Brooklyn buildings designed in the past decades) to pay homage to the block’s historic, now defunct, wooden water tower factory which is now a lookout tower for the magnificent view of Manhattan and a special event venue.  A colorful re-modified tuk–tuk motor vehicle welcomes everyone’s arrival and also serves as a good means of transport to ferry guests to the nearby sights as well as to the Subway station.


Opened in Spring 2018, The Williamsburg Hotel stands at the nexus of history and history in the making. This eight-story,150-room offers a white-gloves-off, fun and full-service-on venture bringing a whole new standard to Brooklyn. Entering from the street level, the reception can be accessed by the lobby lift or a giant spiral wooden stairway. What strikes your eyes immediately is the centre stage copper bar with a multicolored “concertina” alike on top. Brick tiles encompass the industrial and contemporary jewel tones, with velvet sofas and furniture instantly giving you a designed hotel feel and style with character from the first impression. The double-heights ceiling creates a spacious cozy airspace with the adjacent newly renamed Mediterranean restaurant with Orient twist Seven Seeds which is also the all-day dining of the hotel.


Check-in was done efficiently by a friendly and knowledgeable staff member who was from the neighborhood. Extra insight tips are always a bonus when a local tells you where to go and what to do especially when you are new to the area.


Despite the slow in motion operated two hotel lifts that ferry guests to their rooms and up to the roof top pool and bar, the long hallway on each floor leading to the rooms with painted black walls gives an unusual welcome. Do look up for the room number highlighted with a beam of light in order to find your assigned room or you may end up walking back and forth along the long hallway.


Our 220sqf Queen Terrace Room comes with floor-to-ceiling windows and private balcony looking out to the enviable Manhattan skyline as well as share-worthy views of Brooklyn and the East River. The aqua blue tiles furnishing the bathroom wall juxtaposed well with the brass shower head in the white tub together with the rain shower head as well as the marble top vanity. The eclectic modern industrial aesthetic is certainly back in style and works perfectly well in a design boutique hotel like this. Toiletries supplies by Apotheke are handmade in Brooklyn with exclusivity and engaging intimately with the local community.


Room is compact and colorful. The King size bed has taken up almost the entire usable room size adorned with a large brown chesterfield leather headboard against a whitewashed timber wall.  Above the ceiling hangs a paper “cloud” design motif oversized mood lamp with textured details adding more design elements to the room. The bathroom’s shower is separated by the square layered glass factory windows with tinted effect only at the lower part. So, if you are sharing room with someone less intimate, privacy is an issue here.


The mini bar is “visible”. A small premium selection of snacks and alcohol are well displayed in a black solid wooden tray on a glass top side table for your enjoyment. A color theme designed umbrella and a thick linen tote bag are hang on the hallway’s wall for your usage while you are out and about. Soft cotton bathrobes are provided but not slippers.


Visiting the roof top pool is a must when you are staying in The Williamsburg Hotel. The outdoor rooftop pool perched above the city streets is an oasis that boasts breathtaking views across the water, day and night. The 40ft pool may not be as big to cater for the flow of the hotel guests even not in the high season during our stay but sun lounges are not in short supply. The rooftop bar is another recent talk-of-the-town to watch the sunset and to be mesmerized by the uninterrupted Manhattan view.


Service is laid-back but friendly and always ready to assist. Waking up on the right side of the river is never too cliché and be inspired by the stylish neighborhood full of creatives, dreamers, and doers making things happen and cherish memorable moments and be where it all began. The “new Brooklyn” has risen.


Tried & Tested:
Location: 4.5/5
Design & Decor: 5/5
Room Amenities: 4/5
Housekeeping: 4/5
Food & Beverages: 3.5/5
Service: 4/5
Value For Money: 4/5
Experience: 4/5

Highlights:
Design & Deco

 96 Wythe Ave
Brooklyn NY,
USA
Tel: +1 718 362 8100


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. 

2019-07-26

SHANG PALACE Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi - The Allure of Cantonese Cuisine

With dishes prepared with seasonal ingredients following traditional recipes and modified cooking methods to suit the local’s taste, the Shang Palace in Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi strives to bring its authenticity to the Gulf Region. mylifestylenews writes.
 

No stay at any Shangri-La is replete without a visit to their signature Chinese restaurant, Shang Palace. Being one of the hallmarks for the hotel’s Food & Beverage worldwide wherever the brand has a footprint, exploring the Shang Palace in Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri Abu Dhabi is with no exception. Situated at the lower lobby and adjacent to the hotel’s all day dining restaurant Sofra Bld overlooking the hotel’s beach and pool area with lush garden, the curved wooden sliding doors welcome you from the main entrance adorned with two giant red lanterns symbolizing the warm welcome gesture of any Chinese’s housing or restaurant entrance design.


The setting has to be classic Chinese yet with a touch of sophistication. The solid grey stone block pillars makes way for the suspended lanterns with red and yellow shades to shine that set the scene, adding coziness to the entire ambience; along with Chinese opera face masks as decoration behind the main service counter that give an extra hue to the restaurant décor.


Across the main dining hall that was half separated by the Sofra Bld restaurant hang some Chinese porcelain paintings, which also add that exotic and colorful touch. What we liked were the large open screen windows with a low threshold to see into the other dining areas, creating a larger sense of space. Ironically to that convenience, you do notice that guests will walk through this opening with a large foot step to enter or leave the Shang Palace restaurant. Not quite a pleasant sight for privacy.


However, the dining tables are well spread out to create private spaces for conversations to be had, with very comfortable dining chairs. A big round table can easily sit 12 people at the end of the corner decorated with an opened giant yellow golden fan painted with cranes and pine trees that signifies longevity and health. It is ideal for a small group with more intimate conversation and privacy away from the main dining hall.


As for the menu, Shang Palace is known mostly for its Cantonese cuisine with a few other classic signature dishes from other China’s regions in their menu. As we all know, authentic Cantonese and seasonal favorites are served in a setting that evokes the grandeur of the Chinese heritage and Dim Sum dishes shall never be missed. But do hold your horse a little and lower your expectation by judging the Cantonese food being served in this region. Ingredients availability and the Chef’s know-how play an essential part for making it work. Our opinion is: if you can get a taste by 60 percent of the dishes being served here that is close to what home has to offer, you are considered lucky to have a place to satisfy your home-sick palate. Food for thought, Chinese culinary flair is so diversified even for their own nation to understand completely, not to say it is being served worldwide to the unknown or non Chinese audiences that are trying to guess what they are eating or they think what they know better. We welcome the challenge!


We love Cantonese cuisine with a passion and having enjoyed meals at different Shang Palaces in Shangri-La hotels in our past visit among other authentic Cantonese restaurants in Asia. To find out what Shang Palace in Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi has to offer, we began our dining sojourn with:


<Steamed River Shrimp Dumplings with Asparagus>
Dim Sum selection is limited on the dinner menu which somehow is a blessing as Dim Sum is usually not to be enjoyed for dinner but breakfast, brunch or afternoon over tea as snacks or in between meals. The Steam River Shrimp Dumpling with Asparagus was pleasant in taste, although a little bit dry and the paste was not as thin and delicate as expected. The asparagus was not overly steamed yet still crunchy and a nice touch for garnish.


<Steamed Seafood Dumpling with Baby Spinach>
This is as good as you can get by far while a Har Gau (a classic Shrimp Dumpling) is being served in this region. And again, the paste was not as soft and delicate for what it should be that can possible ruin the first palate in the mouth before you have even started chewing. The art of Chinese Dim Sum needs to have the precise technique and know-how in order to make this work. A good culinary chef may not be a good Dim Sum Chef and vice-versa for a pastry Chef to the Chef de Cuisine.


<Yellow Chicken Thigh with sweet basil, ginger & soya sauce>
A classic and well-known Taiwanese dish to be precise. The highlight of this dish which is to be served with a combination of three different rice wines or yellow wines (usually home-made) that gives a gist of its distinctive flavor and a perfect palate stir to enjoy. Its sizzling effect from the clay-pot while the lid is being lifted when brought to the table, followed by the aroma of the evaporation from the alcohol as well as the fragrant taste on the palate are the main criteria for this salivating dish. Unfortunately, none of this was being delivered despite the tenderness of the chicken, perhaps it was due to the alcohol constraint in this region or difficulty in getting the right ingredients as well as the know-how from the kitchen to excel in this traditional dish to be served.


<Half Cantonese Roasted “Pipa” Duck>
The deboned meat (traditionally it is served with bone on for its extra taste while chewing the duck from the marinade) had quite crispy skin from the air-dried process, with good flavor and texture. The dipping sauce was not overly salted and quite enjoyable.


<Stir-Fried Tiger Prawns with Green Asparagus, Lily Bulbs in XO sauce>
The portion was generous, with four huge tiger prawns that were cooked to perfection. Fresh in taste and with the right firm bite and perfectly stir-fried with XO sauce, lily bulbs, asparagus and tiny mushroom stems.


<Steamed Cod Fish Fillet with broccoli & Superior Soy Sauce>
The defrosted steamed cod fish was very flat in taste and gives a broken texture on the palate which is the failure. The superior soy sauce also overpowered the fish and it was a total let down as steamed fish dishes served in a Chinese restaurant are usually the highlight especially it is done in Cantonese style of cooking.


<Vegetable Fried Rice with Cashew Nuts>
The presentation may be in a fast food version but the fried rice was quite tasty with a soft fluffy moist texture and the rice grain separates from each other instead of the stickiness from its moisture and not being fried well in the wok.


<Stir-Fried Australian Beef Rib-Eye Strip with Sichuan dry chili & oyster sauce>
Saving the best for last! In this case, it was perfectly turned out. A great dish with a balance in all ingredients and flavor! The premium tender rib-eye strip was cooked to perfection. A must order!


The friendly and knowledgeable service staff made our night flow beautifully. It is hard to find authentic Chinese dishes in many supposed Chinese restaurants in this region, if you are willing to lower your expectation to crave for your desired “home-sick” meals and pick the right order which the chef do best, the Shang Palace in Shangri-La Qaryat Al Beri, Abu Dhabi is one of the best substitutes in this region.


Tried & Tested:
Location: 4/5
Design & Decor: 4/5
Food & Beverage: 3.5/5
Service: 4.5/5
Value For Money: 4/5
Experience: 4/5

Highlights:
Stir-Fried Australian Beef Rib-Eye Strip with 
Sichuan dry chili & oyster sauce

Khor Al Maqta,
Qaryat Al Beri
Abu Dhabi, UAE
Tel: +971 2 509 8888


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.