Shanghai express
December 12, 2004 | 12:00am
I was recently in Shanghai again, with some of my very, very best friends (I only have 40 best friends, by the way): Ben Chan, Miguel Pastor, Mons Romulo-Tantoco and Richard and Lucy Gomez. We flew there for the weekend, just to rub elbows with super model Alek Wek, hat maker-to-the-stars Philip Treacy, the in-demand and very popular stylist Isabella Blow, Red Dragon actor Ralph Fiennes (I really love that scene where he shows off his tattoo – very… ahem… artistic!) and MTV Asia’s darling Coco Lee.
It seems that Shanghai is the top destination for the Philippine elite these days. On the flight to Shanghai, we ran into publishing bigwig Max Soliven, powerhouse fashion couple Ricco and Tina Ocampo, on the edge designer Patrice Diaz-Ramos, the famous Tito Douglas Quijano, palangga Maurice Arcache and Philippine Tatler editor Anton San Diego. I assume most of them flew in to attend the Tatler Ball. Even Bituin Escalante flew over to sing at the ball.
My party and I, on the other hand, flew in for the Lycra channel Young InStyle Fashion Awards. This yearly event, a collaboration between Lycra and fashion TV channel Channel Young, honors people with special contributions to the fashion, entertainment and beauty industries. Judges from various fashion houses and brands, designers and people in the know decide on the winners in each of the 25 categories, from the male and female InStyle Actors to the Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
With the elaborate stage design, the fashion parades, these stellar performances, even the red carpet treatment, I couldn’t have done better myself. It’s like the organizers and I are so in sync: Even the invitations are so me – big, big, big! We had two huge black envelopes, one with the details of the event, and another enormous ticket with our exact seat numbers. We should host the awards here in the Philippines next time: I’m sure we can put together something as grand, if not grander.
We arrived at the Shanghai Friendship Hall on West Nan Jing Road for some (feeling) star treatment. It was just like the Oscars, complete with the red carpet and live paparazzi coverage. Richard and Lucy were our Philippine style representatives, so naturally, they were well photographed. I, on the other hand, was the Philippine style representatives’ official jacket bearer. So, I carried Lucy and Richard’s coats – warm and cozy in my own jacket – while they smiled and froze and photographed beautifully.
I suppose the cold weather was the reason fur was so in. Everywhere I looked, there was fur. Full fur coat, fur on collar, fur on dress, jacket with fur – Fur, fur, fur! I couldn’t even tell the real from the fake. I hope the poor animals didn’t freeze to death in the name of style. Other than the fur, and, of course, the glamour of the evening dress, jewelry was the name of the game. The more you had on, the better. Bigger is better works, too. The jewelry in attendance that evening was almost blinding.
After the parade down the red carpet, we were all whisked off by limo further down the street to the Shanghai Center Theater for the actual show and awarding. This reminded me of my progressive parties, where guests from one venue to the next – I am so in vogue!.
Melvin Chua, who happens to be Shanghai’s it boy and the single person who seems connected to everyone, organized the Lycra Awards. He also happens to be the business development director of West East Magazine. The magazine’s EIC Kevin Lee also helped organize the after-awards party. The party was amazing. Moët et Chandon champagne was overflowing, and we enjoyed the waiters’ white-gloved ritual to pour the champagne.
The crème de la crème of the Shanghai society was there that evening. Everywhere I looked were goodlooking actors from the mainland – I saw Jerry Yan everywhere! Then, there was Yue Sai, who was friends with our lovely Mayenne Carmona. They’ve been longtime travel companions, attending parties all over the world. Yue Sai, according to Forbes, "With her lipsticks, she changed the image of Chinese women for good." She founded the cosmetic brand Hue Sai Wawa, and now is into multi-media production and art exhibitions. Together with Yue Sai and Mayenne was the ever elegant Jojo Zabarte. Nora Sun, too, who only happens to be the granddaughter the great Sun Yat-Sen, was there. It was fabulous seeing and talking to her.
We were amazed that Philip Treacy, that man who makes amazing hats for a living, approached us for some cigarettes. He was equally amazed that none of us smoked. Amazement aside, we managed to have our pictures taken with him. He also introduced us to Isabella Bow – he calls her Issy – who discovered fashion world heavies such as Alexander McQueen, Honor Fraser, Sophie Dahl and, of course, Philip himself.
We also had chitchat with super model Ling, who has done ads for Gucci and Guess? Ling was supposed to come over earlier this year for an event of mine, the Vera Wang fashion show, together with Russel Wong and Jason Scott Lee, but their schedules didn’t work out. However, Ling did say that she’d love to come over soon. Sudanese super model Alek Wek, too, was eager to come over, and she plans to bring her boyfriend (who I hear is extremely good looking). Alek is a delight; she has a lot of Pinoy friends in London and Paris, and she loves adobo and lechon. (Mayenne introduced all of us to Alek, and she was the one who introduced Alek to Pinoy cuisine while they were in Paris). I’m already thinking of an event for her when she gets here.
Ben Chan was happy to have the Chinese supermodel Lu Yen in attendance. Lu Yen is a big hit on the ramps and studios of Europe and Asia, and is the official Bench endorser in China. Actually, Ben was happy to be in Shanghai. After all, with the success of Bench Body, it must feel great to bask in the glory. Not that Ben rests on his laurels, or has puffed up to megalomania, mind you.
I’m always happy to go back to Shanghai. The place makes me think of New York in the East. One thing always puzzles me though. I’ve been there at least four times, but I still wonder – does lumpiang shanghai really come from Shanghai?
It seems that Shanghai is the top destination for the Philippine elite these days. On the flight to Shanghai, we ran into publishing bigwig Max Soliven, powerhouse fashion couple Ricco and Tina Ocampo, on the edge designer Patrice Diaz-Ramos, the famous Tito Douglas Quijano, palangga Maurice Arcache and Philippine Tatler editor Anton San Diego. I assume most of them flew in to attend the Tatler Ball. Even Bituin Escalante flew over to sing at the ball.
My party and I, on the other hand, flew in for the Lycra channel Young InStyle Fashion Awards. This yearly event, a collaboration between Lycra and fashion TV channel Channel Young, honors people with special contributions to the fashion, entertainment and beauty industries. Judges from various fashion houses and brands, designers and people in the know decide on the winners in each of the 25 categories, from the male and female InStyle Actors to the Breakthrough Artist of the Year.
With the elaborate stage design, the fashion parades, these stellar performances, even the red carpet treatment, I couldn’t have done better myself. It’s like the organizers and I are so in sync: Even the invitations are so me – big, big, big! We had two huge black envelopes, one with the details of the event, and another enormous ticket with our exact seat numbers. We should host the awards here in the Philippines next time: I’m sure we can put together something as grand, if not grander.
We arrived at the Shanghai Friendship Hall on West Nan Jing Road for some (feeling) star treatment. It was just like the Oscars, complete with the red carpet and live paparazzi coverage. Richard and Lucy were our Philippine style representatives, so naturally, they were well photographed. I, on the other hand, was the Philippine style representatives’ official jacket bearer. So, I carried Lucy and Richard’s coats – warm and cozy in my own jacket – while they smiled and froze and photographed beautifully.
I suppose the cold weather was the reason fur was so in. Everywhere I looked, there was fur. Full fur coat, fur on collar, fur on dress, jacket with fur – Fur, fur, fur! I couldn’t even tell the real from the fake. I hope the poor animals didn’t freeze to death in the name of style. Other than the fur, and, of course, the glamour of the evening dress, jewelry was the name of the game. The more you had on, the better. Bigger is better works, too. The jewelry in attendance that evening was almost blinding.
After the parade down the red carpet, we were all whisked off by limo further down the street to the Shanghai Center Theater for the actual show and awarding. This reminded me of my progressive parties, where guests from one venue to the next – I am so in vogue!.
Melvin Chua, who happens to be Shanghai’s it boy and the single person who seems connected to everyone, organized the Lycra Awards. He also happens to be the business development director of West East Magazine. The magazine’s EIC Kevin Lee also helped organize the after-awards party. The party was amazing. Moët et Chandon champagne was overflowing, and we enjoyed the waiters’ white-gloved ritual to pour the champagne.
The crème de la crème of the Shanghai society was there that evening. Everywhere I looked were goodlooking actors from the mainland – I saw Jerry Yan everywhere! Then, there was Yue Sai, who was friends with our lovely Mayenne Carmona. They’ve been longtime travel companions, attending parties all over the world. Yue Sai, according to Forbes, "With her lipsticks, she changed the image of Chinese women for good." She founded the cosmetic brand Hue Sai Wawa, and now is into multi-media production and art exhibitions. Together with Yue Sai and Mayenne was the ever elegant Jojo Zabarte. Nora Sun, too, who only happens to be the granddaughter the great Sun Yat-Sen, was there. It was fabulous seeing and talking to her.
We were amazed that Philip Treacy, that man who makes amazing hats for a living, approached us for some cigarettes. He was equally amazed that none of us smoked. Amazement aside, we managed to have our pictures taken with him. He also introduced us to Isabella Bow – he calls her Issy – who discovered fashion world heavies such as Alexander McQueen, Honor Fraser, Sophie Dahl and, of course, Philip himself.
We also had chitchat with super model Ling, who has done ads for Gucci and Guess? Ling was supposed to come over earlier this year for an event of mine, the Vera Wang fashion show, together with Russel Wong and Jason Scott Lee, but their schedules didn’t work out. However, Ling did say that she’d love to come over soon. Sudanese super model Alek Wek, too, was eager to come over, and she plans to bring her boyfriend (who I hear is extremely good looking). Alek is a delight; she has a lot of Pinoy friends in London and Paris, and she loves adobo and lechon. (Mayenne introduced all of us to Alek, and she was the one who introduced Alek to Pinoy cuisine while they were in Paris). I’m already thinking of an event for her when she gets here.
Ben Chan was happy to have the Chinese supermodel Lu Yen in attendance. Lu Yen is a big hit on the ramps and studios of Europe and Asia, and is the official Bench endorser in China. Actually, Ben was happy to be in Shanghai. After all, with the success of Bench Body, it must feel great to bask in the glory. Not that Ben rests on his laurels, or has puffed up to megalomania, mind you.
I’m always happy to go back to Shanghai. The place makes me think of New York in the East. One thing always puzzles me though. I’ve been there at least four times, but I still wonder – does lumpiang shanghai really come from Shanghai?
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