Category: Gallery

The Vinci Code: Vinci Wong on becoming Tung Wah chairman and LGBT rights in the city

Vinci Wong is founder and chairman of Chinese medicine pioneer 3 Kings Holdings, a subsidiary of the Wongs’ WKK Group. Following his highly publicized marriage to partner Kevin Chow last year, he also prepares for the coming year as chairman of the city’s most prominent charity organization, the Tung Wah Group of Hospitals. We caught up with the former TVB star at the new Kerry Hotel (a Shangri-la brand) in Hung Hom.

Your career took off when you became a talent with TVB and artist with ATV. Did you always see yourself getting into entertainment?

I’ve been enamoured with the entertainment industry since I was young. I liked to express myself. Whenever they had games on those radio programmes I’d always phone in – not for the prizes, but for the thrill of hearing my own voice on air.

What were your first steps into that career then?

My first forays were in radio, during my days in Vancouver. I spent high school and university in Canada, where I entered an international Chinese DJ contest. I got into the top 10, which landed me a gig in one of Vancouver’s Chinese radio stations. I worked there for four or five years. Once I finished my studies, I came back to Hong Kong and joined Metro Plus Live, and then TVB.

What made you decide to move?

It was time. I was with TVB from 24… 13 years later I was already towards my 40s.

I had a lot of opportunities, but it was getting repetitive. A lot of shows are done every year, like the annual countdown, beauty pageants, charity shows. I found myself standing on stage and saying the same thing again and again. I kind of got scared, asking myself ‘Do you want the rest of your life to be like this, doing the same thing?’

I couldn’t find anything new about what I was doing. I could still manage to change myself, but had I waited 10 more years it would have been too late.

Let’s talk about your upcoming year as chairman of Tung Wah, which starts next April. What are your plans for that?

I want to create more awareness about Tung Wah. Most people might think that it’s old fashioned as it’s been around for 150 years, but I want to change that. I hope I can leverage my prominence as somebody people have been seeing on TV over the years.

When you married your partner of 7 years, Kevin Chow, in Vancouver last year it made the headlines in Hong Kong as the first same sex marriage in local entertainment. How did people react?

My family, relatives, old school friends and even the management at Tung Wah – they all supported me. This gave me a lot of confidence to take the next step in our relationship, and I’m thankful for that.

It’s been in my head for a long time: If I met someone I think is the right one, should I get married? But before meeting Kevin, there was never the right person.

How was your journey coming out?

Whether straight or gay, you just know it inside of you. It wasn’t something I ever questioned. In my generation especially it wasn’t easy; I told my family when I was in my twenties and I had other problems making me unhappy. On top of all that I was tired of hiding my sexuality, so it happened all at once. I told them about my problems, ‘Oh and by the way, I’m gay’ [laughs].

They might not have embraced it at first, but it wasn’t a big drama. In the end they not only accepted it but wanted me to find the right person with whom to have my own life and family as well.

After you married Kevin, you became a role model for the city’s LGBT community. How are you handling that unintended role?

I do my best… a lot of organizations like Pink Dot and BigLove Alliance call us to support their events; we’re asked to join demonstrations like the gay parade.

We would definitely want to do more for society, for younger ones of future generations. We’re talking about equality here. Same sex marriage is a must in the future.

Text: Julienne C. Raboca

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Class Act: Chopard’s new watch is a fine balance of form and function

Paying tribute to historical pocket watches created by Louis-Ulysse Chopard in 1860, Chopard has recently launched the L.U.C Heritage Grand Cru, the only tonneau-shaped watch wound by automatic movement.

Designed for the modern connoisseur, the watch draws analogy from Grand Cru wine, known for its craftsmanship and premier quality. Just like the Grand Cru wine, which follows rigourous certifications, the L.U.C Heritage Grand Cru too is attested by Poinçon de Genève, a top Swiss agency for certifying horological excellence.

Featuring an 18-carat rose gold strap and a white porcelain type dial with bold Roman numerals, the watch is as unpretentious as it gets. With nicely balanced proportions, the finishing of its case and movement, the micro-rotor winding feature, this is a must-have for the modern epicurean gentleman.

Priced at HK$174,000, the watch is now available at select Chopard boutiques at ifc Mall, Landmark Prince’s, Ocean Terminal, etc.

High Rise: Fall fashion at its peak

There’s something so intrinsically whimsical about Fall fashion. It’s that time when vibrant hues mingle beautifully with the sober shades, creating a mood that is at once poignant and hopeful. Check out our video below: 

Entrenched: The best of haute coat-ure

With the mercury dipping very fast, it’s time to bring out the coats and jackets. Check out our best coat-ure looks that’s sure to make you stand out from the crowd. Turn up the heat this winter!

Check out the who’s who at Chanel’s Code Coco launch party

 

Chanel’s recent cocktail party for the launch of its iconic watch CODE COCO at ArtisTree saw support from Hong Kong’s top fashionistas and socialites. Hong Kong’s favourite diva Sammi Cheng, K-pop idol Krystal, popular faces Tracy Chu, Charmaine Fong, Kearan Pang, Angela Yuen, Rosa Maria Velasco, and Yvette Kong were in attendance. Also spotted were prominent socialites like Candice Chan, Jacqueline Chow, Ruth Chao, Ming Ho, Catherine Chiu, Vanessa Wong and Sherie Kong.

Paying tribute to first timepiece “Première” 30 years ago, Chanel’s latest offering CODE COCO is at once a jewel and a watch. Featuring the 2.55 handbag clasp, a quilted motif and diamonds, the watch lives by all the codes of the maison.

Famous fans celebrate Emporio Armani’s new Fall/Winter 2017 line

Emporio Armani celebrated its new Fall/Winter 2017 Collection with an exclusive cocktail party at its Canton Road flagship store.

Brand ambassador and Chinese sensation Hu Ge – whose face is splashed across Emporio Armani ads all over town – was the star of the show in a dapper double-breasted evening jacket over a white mandarin collar shirt from the new men’s line.

The private event also attracted local celebrities and socialites including actress and singer Kelly Chen, actress Cherry Ngan, Adam Pak, Jason Wu, Angie Ng, Faye Tsui, and more. Many were spotted eagerly browsing through the displayed selection.

Interactive hi-tech digital gadgetry kept guests entertained and gave the evening a futuristic vibe as they dabbled with an augmented reality game app and posed at the 3D photo booth.

Gucci’s new store celebrates the ‘do it yourself’ spirit

With its recent flagship store reopening at Landmark, Gucci has once again shown why it’s a brand with a difference.

Creating a space that is instantly recognisable as Gucci, the store is huge by Hong Kong standards, boasting 7,700 sq. ft of floor area, spread across two storeys, featuring an extensive range of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear collection, handbags, accessories, shoes and watches.

The collection and store design matches Creative Director Alessandro Michele’s whimsical, idiosyncratic aesthetic style and evokes the same retro-chic vibe that Gucci has been aiming for in the last few years.

To accentuate the fashion label’s new direction, the ground floor of the newly refurbished store houses the Gucci DIY (Do It Yourself) service that allows customers to personalise certain products to best express their individualism.

As expected in any Gucci event, the launch cocktail party saw a host of socialites attending the event. Among those spotted were Kary Ng, Aarif Lee, Hilary Tsui, Wyman Wong, Carmen Yim, Yen Kuok, Antonia Li, Tiffany Chan, Rene Chu and many more.

TOD’S launches new concept flagship boutique at Landmark

With two-stories of silver and taupe saddle-stitched leather-panelled steel vitrines, suspended showcases and high-gloss ceilings, the TOD’S new flagship store at Landmark is a classy affair. In sync with the brand’s global identity, it evokes a space that is discreetly luxurious while being contemporary and elegant.

TOD’S celebrated the special occasion with an exclusive cocktail party that was attended by its brand ambassador, actress Liu Shi Shi, along with a host of other celebrities and socialites, including Pakho Chau, Jennifer Tse, Gaile Lok, Kathy Chow, Sarah Song, Jason Chan, Zelia Zhong, Sing Lam and many others.

One of the highlights of the evening was a special demo to show the craftsmanship on the latest iconic bag, TOD’S SELLA, by one of the maison’s skilled artisans who flew in from Italy especially for the event.

Chanel’s new fragrance pays tribute to its founder with celebratory sensorium

 

Chanel recently hosted a private event at The Annex in Hong Kong to unveil its new fragrance named after its iconic founder, Gabrielle Chanel.

Created by perfumer Olivier Polge, the fragrance is the latest in the list of tributes that Chanel has paid to its creator Coco Chanel throughout the year, starting with the ‘Coco before Chanel’ high jewellery collection and the Gabrielle bag earlier in 2017.

Using multi-faceted mirrors and walls decorated with Coco Chanel’s celebrated quotes as well as scented niches designed for taking in the aromatic ingredients of the perfume, the private space provided a way to experience the perfume using all the senses beyond just scent alone.

As is usual with any Chanel party, a lot of celebrities turned up to show their support for the brand. Some well-known faces included Joey Yung, Hins Cheung, Tracy Chu, Elva Ni, Anjaylia Chan, Angela Yuen, Zelia Zhong and Evelyn Choi.

Cartier hosts lavish party to celebrate Panthère watch

Following on from the successful party in Los Angeles, Cartier hosted an event recently to celebrate  its Panthère de Cartier watch.

Cartier transformed Shaw Studios to show off different facets of the women’s watch. The Gold Room captured the jewellery aspect of the Panthère de Cartier watch with golden décor and a contemporary-style chandelier, along with specially designed backlit showcases.

The Mirror Room was set up like a deluxe beauty salon, offering flash tattoos, makeup and nail art.

The Studio Room was furnished with cameras, lights and photography umbrellas to resemble the set of a professional magazine photo shoot and three vanity rooms were decorated like mini film sets.

Guests at the event included Cathy Lee, Rosamund Kwan, Gaile Lok, Bianca Bai, Vivian Sung, Shuling Wu, Kathy Lepeu, Niki Chow, Jennifer Tse, Queenie Rosita Law, Harris Chan and Kenny Kwan.