Tuesday, April 5, 2011

STYLO 3 rd NITE THE STYLO FASHION BALL ON MONDAY 4 APRIL 2011

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The inaugural Stylo Fashion Ball was the classiest and most luxurious ball so far which is a bit unfair as Opening Night on Saturday featured designers from MODA who did not have the clout nor capacity to host such a glittering affair while Sunday's event 'Interview with the Vampire' was a hoot with vampires, vamps and vixens and I could still my heart throbbing and my jugular veins pumping blood hours after coming home.
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Dato' Nancy Yeoh, boss of STYLO with Dato' Mokhzani, boss of Sepang International Circuit and probably his boss Datin Mastisa Hani.

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Datin Linda Ngiam, MD and CEO of Star Publications, YTM Tunku Laksamana of Negeri Sembilan and his consort YTM Tunku Nurul Hayati.
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YB Dato' Seri Ozier and his wife YTM Tengku Meriam Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang
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Princess Dr Becky Loegardo and I ensconced in feathers.


Stylo's inaugural Fashion Ball, the first after 4 years of existence, was among the most sought after events of the year. Due to limited space and Dato' Nancy's Yeoh insistence on ample breathing and minglingspace, only aorund 250 fortunate folks received the couriered invites. Most made an effort to dress to the theme 'New York Glamour' which meant blacktie for me and lavish gowns for women. I came in feathers again, this time in black and white and received so many compliments I am thinking of opening a feather-frilled boutique! My outfit even had a white pigeon perching precariously on my shoulder as if it had just founded the perfect place to roost! See below.
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Well, they do say birds of a feather flock together! Princess Dr Becky Leogardo wore a gold, diamond and citrine tiara specially commissioned from Tracy Ong of Elegance Club at Bangsar Shopping Centre. She is lucky as it was bought for her by hubby Michael Mantz the Dutch lawyer for her birthday present two years ago! I never get tiaras but tirades!


Chin Woo Stadium was filled to the rafters with royalty, high society, celebrities, socialites, models and Beautiful People worth oogling. A classic 1967 Mercedes-Benz 250 SL was parked at the entrance whose curves garnered much attention. I was asked to pose next to this car by a posse of pixmen but forgot to ask them to use my camera so now I have dozens of pictures of me and my Merc but none to show here. I aslo met the new boss of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Ronald Folger who was transferred here from Stuttgart, Germany, headquarters of Mercedes-Benz, the world's most famous and successful luxury car maker. His predecessor Peter Honegg is now looking after the vast Indian market and is now lording over Mumbai.

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Ptincess Dr Becky Loegardo and new president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia, Roland Folger

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VIPs all; from left, Datin Linda Ngiam, CEO and Group Managing Director of Star Publications, Kelly Jagan the winner of last year's Ford Supermnodels Search Malaysia, top designer Carven Ong, The Feathered One and Iris Tan, advertising head of The Star.


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Dato' Wendi-Ann Chong
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I still cannot recover from the compliments I get for this bird on my shoulder!
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Cassandra was the most magnificently endowed that evening though her friend Yenti Lou were not the size of grapes either.
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I just had to join them as they seem about to burst out.
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Here we are again!
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Angie Ng in orange was the winner of STYLO Model of the Year 2010 and is now based in London and raking in pound sterling by the containerload.



The interiors of Chin Woo was transformed into a super ballroom with chandeliers, mannequins on tables, red roses, crystal light stands and the most stunning catwalk ever. What impressed me most and almost made me fall off my high heels bought at great expense at La Foret in Tokyo was the ingenious way the main and only catwalk also did double duty as DINING TABLE! Yes my dear, both sides of the catwalk had plates and cutlery placed as if they were a normal albeit very long table! For the first time, diners could sit and stare straight at the ankles of models parading up and down their dining table! Or look up and see the models a few feet away!
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The models were warned to stay on the white section of the catwalk while the plates of food and drinks were on the black portion to avoid the models stepping on your food!
The evening's fashion show was by Zang Toi. He is a Kelantan boy like me. We Kelantanese are the best as our brains grew bigger due to the fresh air and pristine water we enjoyed as we grew up. He is from Kuala Krai and me from Kota Baru.
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The finale by Zang Toi which featured his signature gowns, frothy pastel colours and lots of leg. However the bandaged look reminded me of the previous night's "Interview with the Vampire' theme! Or maybe Zang Toi was inspired by The Mummy movies...


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I believe only VIPs were seated at the Catwalk Table which must be true as Princess Dr Becky Leogardo and I were seated there what!

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Chin Woo Stadium had never looked so palatial and grand!


The evening started with The Muses and Designers Parade which was the most eagerly awaited as guests wondered which muse would be picked by each designer. Can you believe NONE of the designers selected me as a Muse? In the holding room, I was about to start bashing all the designers when they pointed out I was the wrong sex. Well, I am as good if not better than any female so I still think it was a feeble excuse.
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This one was of the right sex! Princess Dr Becky Leogardo wore Melvin Lam Couture.
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Below are more Muses and their Designers or should it be the other way around?
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Muse Miss Malaysia Thanuja and Carven Ong
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Why this design did not win is beyond my comprehension!
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Exactly my taste! Both muse Soo Vincci and Academy Award gown!
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Worthy of a Pharaoh's wife
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Muse and Ashley for KAPAS
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Key Ng with muse Stephanie Chua
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Mr and Mrs VISA as he runs VISA for this part of the world!
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I like men wearing skirts, don't you?
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Miss Malaysia Universe 2004 Andrea Fonseka
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Designer Alan Tay with muse Andrea Fonseka
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Keith Kee with his muse Kelly Jagan
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Jovian Mandagie and muse Ning Baizura

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Michael Ong with muse Zahida Rafik
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Amazingly beautiful star Zahida
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Miss Malaysia Universe 2011 Deborah Henry. She was also Miss Malaysia World 2007. Bring home the crown this 12 September in Sao Paolo, Brazil!
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In Amir Luqman gown. This guy also from Kelantan! Like me and Zang Toi!



Each designer catwalked hand in hand ever so lovingly with his or her muse from one end of the Catwalk Table towards the stage and returned to their seats. Then came a super treat but sadly super short. It was a live performance by the 3 singers from the forthcoming concert 'West End Stars' prodiuced by Enfiniti Vision and starring the heart throb Stephen Rahman-Hughes, Ramin Karimloo and Simon Bailey! They sang the hit song 'Memories' from Cats and I think I saw dozens of women and quite a few men on the verge of fainting from ecstasy. We were furious when the winsome threesome sang only ONE as in SATU song only and cheekily announced they would sing more on 15 and 16 April! Since we didn't pay for this dinner, we could not demand they sing more or our money back. I am still mortified they sang 1 measly song as I thought any singer worth his salt would warble at least 3 songs. Not as if they had to run a marathon or undergo throat surgery to do so.
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They sang 'Memories' from Cats but all I remembered was that one song was not enough to whet my appetite


Then came another much anticipated round; the first and official unveiling of the 12 finalists of the Ford Models Supermodels of the World Search 2011! Dato' Nancy Yeoh and her team even went to scour the wilderness of Sabah and Sarawak to scout for talents which might have been hidden by the virgin rainforests. All wore black outfits by the new fashion brand F+F. They were being judged too by Dato' Nancy Yeoh, Datin Linda Ngiam the MD and CEO of Star Publications and supermodel Azura. The winner will be announced on 10 April.

Some posed and preened prettily. A few looked awkward with all legs and no posture while a few did so well I can guess who are the top 2! See for yourself below.
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Dato Nancy Yeoh with crooner and Ford Models' finalists. Never knew she was so short!
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Peekabo I see you!
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All together now.


After the formal sit down dinner, it was just fine the desserts were placed at the entrance so guests can stretchy-wetchy their leggies and mingle-tingle. The evening concluded with the announcements of Mercedes-Benz STYLO awards for Most Fashionable Muse & Designer which went to Melvin Lam, Jovian Mandagie, Keith Kee, Khoon Hooi and Michael Ong.

Jovian with superstar singer Ning Baizura and Carven Ong with Miss Malaysia Thanuja who did not win btw but I include him cos he is so brilliant.
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Michael Ong and muse Zahida Rafik who seemed to be overwhelmed with emotion. How if she won Academy Award for Best Actress? See her expression below?
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Keith Kee and Kelly Jagan

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Melvin Lam with Best Expatriate Muse.

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Apart from the three in front, the rest were winners in the Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Awards.

The End

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