With a theme like 'Aladdin's Harem', I expected the men to come in turbans and women in translucent silken veils and nothing else. Actually I had low expectations since few Malaysians bother to dress to the theme. Only ten days ago, Winnie Sin of Rafflesia Pearl Centre threw a lavish pre-Anugerah Bintang Popular and cited 'Gold' as the theme. She might as well have mentioned 'Any Colour' as 95% came in every colour but gold. I think I deserved a prize for being ENTIRELY in gold!
So I was pleasantly surprised to see bobbing turbans wreathed in jewels and belly dancer costumes proliferating in gay abandon! Everyone seemed to make an effort to dress to the theme though it must be said the head honcho Dato Nancy Yeoh did not resemble a Sheikha or Sultanah although she wore a stunning gold lame gown by Melvin Lam with enough cut-outs to ventilate her whole body. "My outfit is more 'Sex in KL City" she giggled.
Dato Nancy Yeoh, President and Founder of STYLO International in Melvin Lam and Stuart Tomlinson, VISA Country Manager for Malaysia.
The final parade
Princess Dr Becky Leogardo and Michael Mantz. Unlike others, her accessories like her headband are of real diamonds! "The diamonds are pinned to my hair and if the necklace falls, it will slide down my face so I will know!" she explained.
My jewels are real gold but semi-precious stones as I planned to dance so I left my diamonds in Maybank vaults.
Ace Tang and Ming
Winsome threesome. In other words, I dunno their names la!
My friend David Lim of KPMG and his friend.
They did not look exotic Middle Eastern at all but STYLO let them in anyway.Next time dress up for the theme OK?
This sexy half naked guy is a young actor. His friend took my photo as I took his friend's photo!
Decorated bras are very popular
Sindbad the Sailor with his conquest or was he conquered?
Sebastian Folger, son of Roland Folger, president and CEO of Mercedes-Benz Malaysia and STYLO's main sponsor.
Angie Ng and Thomas Teh
I just made it past Angie Ng's nipples as she is so tall at 182cm!
Matching dancers in purple
Thomas Teh, Vincent and Lorenzo Peh with female friend.
Party time!
Poser!
Harnesh and Kee Hua Chee
Harnesh with belly dancer and Thomas with dancer. I think they prefer the dancer.
'Aladdin's Harem' was also inspired by the movie 'Sex & the City 2' which featured Abu Dhabi though the location was the more liberal Dubai but I guess they all look alike after you see several camels and sand dunes.
Which was just as well as it would be too much for top STYLO winners Edric Ong, Melinda Looi and Khoon Hooi to come up with Middle Eastern costumes for their combined show. All three were past winners of Mercedes-Benz STYLO Designer of the Year awards.
Edric Ong started the ball rolling with his Sarawakian ikat weave made contemporary. He even used local silk and supervised its production. "This is the first time I am using this unique fabric," he explained. I live his cutesy, woven mengkuang hats with spiky mini towers that looked like he was wearing KL Tower and Petronas Twin Towers from a distance. His clothes were easy to wear and crumple-proof which made them ideal for travel. Willowy, flowy and non-flowery, his were intelligent garments that were at home from KL to Kathmandu to Kensington!
Edric Ong in action below!
Edric Ong receiving applause.
Melinda Looi as usual was concerned about the environment and eco-system. She started her show with a video clip showing the pain and horror of conflicts in Egypt, Libya and Afghanistan before moving to the earthquake and tsunami that decimated Japan. She wanted peace like all of us though how she could reconcile this sterling quality with fashion is rather deep. So she simplified everything by sending a little girl down the catwalk holding a dove, the symbol of peace. The darling then released the bird which flapped and vanished into the rafters of Chin Woo Stadium. Some griped she practically killed the poor bird, the emblem of peace as it was certain to die unless it could find its way out into the open air! Western nations have long banned releasing birds unless they are trained to fly backstage and into their cage! Even temples have banned the practise of releasing birds as this would merely encourage the sellers to track down the exhausted birds to re-sell them!
A bird in hand is worth two in the bushes...
As it was, some guests sat through the rest of the evening in fear of having bird shit falling on their heads! Was this why the awnings were installed? The panels of cloth were not there during previous nights.
Bird-brained arguments aside, Melinda Looi put up her usual stunning show. All in white, cream and off white. Inlaid with feathers, beads, crystals and embroidery plus dangling tassels amid frothy layerings. The most spectacular was a long gown with magnificent crest that made the model looked like the Victoria Crowned Pigeon. One could barely see the face which might solved the problem of deciding whether to be a wallflower or centre of attention. With this outfit, you can be both! Many burst into applause as Melinda Looi sent down winning designs one after another.
The stunning gown with magnificent crest!
Melinda Looi at her finale
Khoon Hooi was another winner and proved his mettle as his wearable garments with quirky touches have earned him a legion of fans. Tonight, he proved why he is one of Malaysia's most saleable designers. See below...
I thought Bernie was baring her boobs but now, she was wearing skin toned bra!
Melinda Looi at back and Edric Ong in front.
There was a break so guests could feed their faces. Half an hour later I slithered back into the hall where 3 sexy belly dancers had taken over the stage. The chief dancer in yellow costume carried a snake with matching colours! How cool could one get? Their gyrations and sensual movements and wild swirlings of hips and stomachs left straight men weak and gay men wishing they could dance like the trio.
Personally I like to kiss but not by a snake but people do have fetishes you know.
The dancer below does it more with her protruding belly but this is OK as belly dancers are not to be confused with rake thin models
There, all done!
Now is time to tango with TANGOO!
Andy Ho and TANGOO designer Moses Law
The finale was a collaboration between TANGOO the avant-garde boutique and hair stylist Andy Ho. Andy Ho's hair scaled new heights which matched the corporate big wigs while TANGOO outdid themselves year after year. I never miss a TANGOO show as their attention to detail and accessories have made designing duo Moses Law and Eric Yeong two living legends. Surprisingly, while they dress their models and Malaysia's fashionistas to the max, they are lowkey folks, humble and easy going. Some might even say they are shy as they are not flashy, brassy and bossy like me.
TANGOO is one of my favourite labels together with Melvin Lam. TANGOO's collections never fail to impress me with their diversity and tenacity to details. From animal prints to florals, from pop art to Victorian, there is something for someone. When I glide into Pavilion, I always slide into their boutique to see what's new. There is usually!
Sometimes I try NOT to visit their boutique when my credit cards are on the verge of maxing out!
History Channel was also there to interview famous fashionistas and who was more famous than me so of course I had to be interviewed. More so when I was wearing my fabulous red pants with my face painted on my groin AND on my ass! I was asked to comment on Edric Ong and TANGOO so make sure you watch History Channel in August! That seemed like light years away but we know how times flies. After the interview (which didn't last an hour as I thought since the producer also wanted other people, strange to say) I was asked to pose and strut like a peacock to show off my pants. I hope they won't cut off this section and they shouldn't since History Channel is not a family series...or is it?
THE END
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