VALENTINO MALAYSIA CELEBRATED ITS 50TH ANNIVERSARY ON 30 OCTOBER WITH A COCKTAIL RECEPTION AT ITS BOUTIQUE AT STARHILL SHOPPING GALLERY IN BUKIT BINTANG.
Giacomo Marzotto, Valentino's Area Manager for SE Asia and Australia who flew in from Hong Kong and Jacob Yeoh, Deputy CEO of YTL Communications
Jacob Yeoh, Giacomo Marzotto of Valentino and Ida Lokman, general manager of Niche Retailing Sdn Bhd
Jeremiah Tan and mum Dato Yeoh Soo MIng, executive director of YTL Corporation
Jeremiah Tan weighed a staggering 200 kg but over a year he dieted and exercised and now weighs 90kg! He looks great now and is so fit and bursting with health. Congratulations Jeremiah! His mother Dato Yeoh Soo Ming is so proud of him.
Jeremiah Tan introduces me to his gf Hui Eng
Terrific 3some; Jacob Yeoh, scion of YTL fortune, Kee Hua Chee greatest journalist this side of observable universe and sexy, dishy Giacomo (even his name is so alluring) Marzotto decked permanently in Valentino
Grey and pink are the latest, hottest colours as proven by Dato Wira Dani Daim, son of the billionaire former Finance Minister Tun Daim Zainuddin and Kee Hua Chee whose worth is beyond measure.
Badlishah Borhan, husband of Best Dressed Woman Aniza Adnan who won a RM 5,000 voucher and her dress cost nearly RM 40,000!
VN Thivakaran and wife Deirdre De Livera from Sri Lanka
Top designer Keith Kee and his biggest customer Angie Lim
Kee Hua Chee and Giacomo Marzotto
Guests were given a special, one-off 15% discount on all new items at the boutique. This was followed by a fashion show and light dinner at Third Floor restaurant in adjoining JW Marriott hotel. Guests mingled and tingled with each other as champagne and fine wine flowed.
Emcee Deborah Henry, a former Miss Malaysia Universe and Miss Malaysia World, introduced Giacomo Marzotto, the handsome and dishy Valentino Area Manager for SE Asia and Australia who flew in from Hong Kong.
Earlier Ida Lokman, who looks after the stable of luxury brands of YTL, had introduced me to Giacomo who saluted my taste and applauded my sense of individualistic dressing. "You stand out and make a statement for yourself and I congratulate you for your style." he said. What a compliment!
Standing next to Giacomo Marzotto was the handsome Jacob Yeoh, Deputy CEO of YTL Communications and eldest son of tycoon Tan Sri Francis Yeoh. I pointed to Jacob Yeoh who looks like a Hong Kong movie star and said, "Ya, if I wear clothes like him, I will blend with the furniture."
Replied Jacob Yeoh with a grin, "This is my plan. I have no intention to stand out and am perfectly happy to let you take the limelight." No wonder I like Jacob so much. No fighting over who gets the most attention!
The first highlight was the latest Valentino collection 2012 flown in from Milan for the occasion. Only a dozen outfits were shown, each seemingly lovelier than the other! Valentino is renowned for world class design, style, fabric and workmanship, making it one of the most exclusive, extravagant and expensive labels!
A gown averages RM 30,000 and only the richest women with excellent taste go for Valentino. The colour red predominates as this colour is synonymous with Valentino as he knows scarlet is the sexiest colour for glam-slam events. Notice how First Ladies at presidential inaugurations tend to wear red to stand out amid the crowd! Royal ermine robes also are usually red. Mistress of ceremony Deborah Henry also wore a striking red gown that was stunning in its simplicity. Then again, she had the height and figure!
I also wore a shirt with red collar and cuffs in case anyone is interested to know...
After the fashion show came the lucky draws as 3 fortunate guests regardless of sex and sexual inclinations could win a Limited Edition Valentino handbag!
I prayed to Jesus Christ and Virgin Mary but in vain as God and Mother of God decreed the 3 winners were Datin Azelina Ahmad, Lynette Low and Azza Arif. Of course the least these ladies could do was offer me their bags but did they? Nope! I was so annoyed I hope their handbag get snatched. Never call me a sore loser. I went to scold Giacomo Marzotto for not picking my name card but he asked me to confer with Higher Powers beyond his control.
Then came the 3 winners of Best Dressed Women. The word 'women' floored me as I knew I would be out of the running even though I am better than any woman I know except my sainted mother who lives in Kota Baru.
And so it was.
The third Best Dressed Lady was Datin Melinda Chan who won RM 1,000 Valentino cash voucher. The runner-up was Michelle Poh who was awarded RM 3,000 while the Best Dressed Lady title went to Aniza Adnan who won RM 5,000 voucher.
Congratulations to all winners as they can now go shopping again at Valentino with a big, fat discount.
Was it chance or coincidence all three wore Valentino? And did the Best Dressed Aniza Adnan wear the most expensive Valentino outfit followed by the first and second runners-up? Oh well, makes sense as Giacomo Marzotto would be sacked had he choose someone wearing Gucci, Prada or Chanel as Best Dressed.
But I must say all three deserved to win and in the correct order too as Aniza Adnan's outfit was truly dazzling. Simple and not fussy yet the cut, drape and fabric were exceptional and she looked like a million dollars.
Proud hubby Badlishah Borhan who happened to sit next to me clapped loudly. Badlishah also happened to be quite handsome and sexy and wore designer gear including the celebrated 'durian' shoes by Christian Louboutin. I immediately connected with him as I too have 3 such pairs in different colours. We highclass people have similar tastes you see.
The party continued till midnight as the last stragglers left. I was invited by Vaikunda Nadar Thivakaran and his lovely wife Deirdre de Livera Thivakaran from Sri Lanka to join them, businesswoman Angie Lim and top fashion designer Keith Kee of Keith Kee Kouture for supper at Royal Vietnam restaurant downstairs.
And so ended another enjoyable evening of my blessed life due to the personal intervention of Jesus Christ.
The latest seductive collection from Valentino, now available at Valentino at Starhill Gallery
Just in case you blinked...
Aniza Adnan (centre, holding red roses) won Best Dressed Lady. At right is her husband Badlishah Borhan who probably paid for her Valentino wardrobe and Ida Lokman, general manager of Niche Retailing, the luxury label arm of YTL
Ida Lokman with Best Dressed winner Aniza Adnan in her stunning Valentino cat suit though she was wearing Christian Louboutin shoes. Aniza won a RM 5,000 voucher
The RM 5,000 spikey, studded shoe by Christian Louboutin worn by Badlishah, husband of Aniza who won Best Dressed Woman and Kee Hua Chee's painted slipper shoe! Badlishah should win Best Dressed Male too!
Second Best Dressed Woman was Michelle Poh who won a RM 3,000 voucher which was around 9% of the RM 29,000 she paid for this gown! It cost an arm and leg to be Best Dressed as I know very well as I pay through my nose to maintain my status as Permanent Best Dressed Guy in Universe
A kiss from Ida Lokman to Michelle Poh the PR and Marketing Director of Dick Chin Hair Gallery
Third Best Dressed Lady was Datin Melinda Chan who won RM 1,000
One of 3 winners of the lucky draw. Well, Azza Arif can throw away her Longchamp costing a few hundred ringgit for a Valentino handbag costing a few thousand ringgit
Datin Azelina Ahmad also won a Valentino handbag in the lucky draw
Lynette Low won a Valentino handbag in the lucky draw. I cannot believe I did not win anything!
Giacomo Marzotto in charge of Valentino SE Asia and Australia smiled at me but did not pick my name in the lucky draw...unless Deborah Henry refused to announce my name and called out someone else's name! But I don't think she dared face the wrath of God
Deborah Henry, Miss Malaysia World 2007 and Miss Malaysia Universe 2011 looking breathtaking in Valentino couture
Erwin Dato Azizi at left and his gang
Erwin Dato Azizi's jacket says 'Blue Jackets' but it was black
Ayinan and Vallette Patrice of Glob Art who will open his art gallery in KL soon so watch this space
Sophia Mohd Noor and Rina Atyeo
Scarlet women; Maisarah Ibrahim, Hanis haizi Abdul Hamid and Salha Zain
