Wednesday, May 25, 2011

PUCCI---DATO' FARAH KHAN HOSTED A PUCCI PARTY AT CASBAH, MANDARIN ORIENTAL

kee@fswmag.com
L1230473.JPG

PUCCI PARTY AT CASBAH, MANDARIN ORIENTAL KL
L1230473.JPG
I believe in wearing my face on my groin...
L1230357.JPG
And a crocodile on my bag and Dato Nancy Yeoh on my right
L1230473.JPG
Datin Su Day and Kee Hua Chee
L1230473.JPG
Kee Hua Chee with top star Zahida Rafik, said to be Malaysia's most beautiful Malay woman. I agreed and drew 3 lines across her bosom as my seal of approval
L1230473.JPG
Pink, orange, crocodile and Louis Vuitton go so well together, as do Farah Dhiyana and Kee Hua Chee
L1230473.JPG
Cheryl Lum and I were so brilliant we had to wear shades
L1230473.JPG
Datin Fathin and friends and Kee Hua Chee who had plenty to show
L1230473.JPG
For obvious reasons, I seldom took photos with men but Alexander Guzowski, boutique manager of Hugo Boss, was an exception!



Dato Farah Khan, president of Melium Group who distributes over 100 international brands including exciting, hot young brands as well as established must-haves like Tod's. Hugo BOSS, Aigner, Juicy Couture, Zegna and of course Pucci, hosted an exclusive and expensive soiree at Casbah, the sizzling new lounge at Mandarin Oriental hotel on 25 May 2011.

The Pucci party was part of Melium's Wednesday Soirees and the Pucci event was the fourth as the first three Wednesdays featured Tod's, ASEANA and YSL. There will be 6 more Wednesdays of this nature so those who missed out can hightail to Melium Gallery in Suria KLCC to wrangle an invite. Make yourself known to the staff as regular customers tend to receive these highly coveted invites!

"It is meant as a get-together for friends to mingle and meet each other in convivial surroundings," explained Dato' Farah Khan as under a hundred guests turned up to do just that. And of course few surroundings are more convivial than the new Casbah, KL's latest and hottest upscale lounge which was doubtless inspired by the 1938 hit movie 'Algiers'. Kasbahs or Casbahs were stopovers like today's R & R meeting points along highways where cars stop for petrol refills, toilet, meals and stocking up on essentials. In the old days, the caravan routes had plenty of kasbahs for this same purpose and Morocco was especially renowned as the 'land of a thousand kasbahs', more vital than 1.001 nights.

In the 1938 movie 'Algiers', Charles Boyer tells Hedy Lamarr, "Meet me at the Kasbah', thus sending her into a warren of souks, bazaars and alleys filled with exotic goods, spices and fragrances and even more exotic people. This is the image stuck in people's mind today and why not, as a Kasbah is synonymous with exotically good times.

L1230473.JPG
Meet me at the Casbah!
L1230473.JPG
Still meeting at the Casbah!
L1230473.JPG
After a long journey on the caravanserai, it's time for the Casbah!
L1230473.JPG
Leg show by PR manager of Prince hotel Tina Foong and beauty queen Cassandra Patrick at right, one of my favourite beauties!


Casbah at Mandarin Oriental is no different, catering to the 21st century pleasure seekers which is the perfect fit for Pucci to host a party. Pucci which is under Melium Group invited its most favoured guests and friends who arrived mostly in Pucci of course. I would have worn a Pucci shirt too if they do menswear.

Champagne flowed recklessly as if there was no tomorrow, wine both red and white were laid out on tables and finger food floated around. I was especially taken by the churros, mini donuts dipped in chocolate, a delightful fusion that would be in synch with the casbahs, bazaars and souks of ancient times as traders congregated from all over the civilised world to barter and trade.

L1230473.JPG
Tg Nong Soraya, Rohana Smurthaite and Dato Nancy Yeoh
L1230473.JPG
Pucci-ed in blue
L1230473.JPG
I don't think Joan Mahoney was wearing Pucci
L1230473.JPG
These ladies had their own colour code
L1230473.JPG
Cheryl Lum of Mandarin Oriental, Zaireen Datuk Seri Ibrahim and friend
L1230473.JPG
Saleha Ali carried an Aigner namecard holder which is part of Melium Group so was politically correct while her friends lugged Chanel and Hermes Birkin
L1230473.JPG
Shaan, Dato' Farah Khan's daughter with Pucci model
L1230473.JPGT
Think pink and you are in!
L1230473.JPG
The well-endowed superstar actress Zahida Rafik and Dato' Farah Khan. The three strategically placed stripes simply enhanced Zahida's ample assets!
L1230473.JPG
The Pink Farah, also very sexy with pronounced curves in all the right places! This Pink farah can give Zahida a run for the money!
L1230473.JPG
I verily believe only the blonde was in Pucci
L1230473.JPG
Exotic elegance
L1230473.JPG
Kassandra Kassim was not standing on a chair as she was really taller than Saleha Ali of Unreserved, the official magazine for the Wednesday Soirees
L1230473.JPG
Everyone was taller than someone, in this case the model was half a head taller than the General Manager of Mandarin Oriental
L1230473.JPG
Mr Heah and his friends except one posed so nicely for my camera. I wonder what instructions he was giving to Shaan.
L1230473.JPG
Datin Fathin and friends
L1230473.JPG
Best pals.
L1230473.JPG
A line of lovelies
L1230473.JPG
Two lovelies!
L1230473.JPG
Pretty in Pucci
L1230473.JPG
Two Chans, 1 Kee and 1 model
L1230473.JPG
Could she handle all three?
L1230473.JPG
Reezal Esa, Hafidah Samad and Nazrin
L1230473.JPG
Datin Su Day, Dato Farah Khan, Puan Sri Molly Low and Che Puan Winnie Sophia Low
L1230473.JPG
Similar but not identical; Dato Farah Khan and model
L1230473.JPG
Again, similar but not clone of each other
L1230473.JPG
Totally different, these two
L1230474.JPG
Unreserved magazine was the official publication


Anyway, everyone just seemed to connect with each other and automatically found their gathering places. There were no allocated tables and it was free seating which allowed guests of similar inclinations to flock together. I noticed there was only one VIP room meant for the likes of Lim Siew Lian the multi millionairess from Genting Group but even she emerged eventually to join plebeians like me.

There was a round table laden with books on and by Pucci and some neckties and sunglasses displayed casually and stylishly just in case you need to brush up on Pucci's illustrious history. There was no, God forbid, hard sell though there was a fashion show with Pucci-decked models meandering elegantly and languidly amid the guests.
L1230473.JPG
Men's ties and books on and by Pucci
L1230473.JPG
The aristocratic Emilio Pucci, founder of Pucci which is not to be confused with Gucci


I suppose you could buy a Pucci on the spot if you think the dress will fit you as I doubt there was a proper changing room unless you did not mind changing with the models. The summer Puccis were really lovely and so wearable as most flaunted happy hues redolent of summer and the bags were especially attractive. Some of the caftans appeared to be made precisely to suit the ambiance of Casbah! The long, flowy sleeves and one-size-fits-all caftans (or should that be kaftans?) were perfect for holidays in Langkawi, Bali, Phuket or anywhere in the Mediterranean!


First created by Emilio Pucci in Italy, it quickly became world famous for its colourful, eye catching, swirling prints and psychedelic tones that easily hypnotised the fashion crowd of the Sixties. Since then Pucci has conquered the world and Matthew Williamson was once its creative director. The crew of Apollo 15 planted the Pucci-designed flag on the moon and Pucci also designed the interior of the extravagant Lincoln Continental Mark IV for Ford Motor Company.

Pucker up now and pirouette to Pucci at Suria KLCC. Call 03-2382 0314 immediately!

THE END

No comments: