Tucked away in the Thaa Atoll in the Maldives, is a little gem called Maalifushi.

Owned by COMO Hotels and resorts, Maalifushi is the first and only resort in the unspoilt Thaa Atoll. This little known paradise houses 50 rooms and suits and 15 private villas on land and over water.

One of the perks that we enjoy at Luxury-Insider is the fact that we are given the opportunity to visit these kinds of places.

I was privileged to be able to immerse myself in the unique sort of experience that only Maalifushi by COMO can provide.

If I had to describe the time I spent with the resort in just one word, it will most definitely have to be "adventure".

I have often told people to be wary of the fact that I'm not all too fond of the water.

As silly as it may sound, I have this innate trepidation of sea creatures - yes, the movie Jaws, did indeed do a number on me.

When the day came for me to make the trip, I bravely prepared to make my way over to the little paradise that is located on a tiny island in the middle of the Indian Ocean.

Thanks to Lightfoot Travel, a luxury tour operation specialising in bespoke holidays to the Maldives, my flight to the Maldives went smoothly without a hitch.

Using a handpicked portfolio of resorts selected solely through their own first-hand experience, Lightfoot Travel tailor-makes each Maldivian itinerary to suit their clients' individual tastes and requirements.

Lightfoot Travel arranged for me to take a Singapore Airlines flight to Male International Airport - do note that Singapore Airlines operates two daily flights to Male.

I was told that we would be making the trip from Male International Airport to Maalifushi via a seaplane. I have to admit, however, that my fears about sea creatures and the ocean temporarily departed, when I saw the seaplane.

I had never been on a seaplane, and the little kid in me was excited. Once I got into the seaplane, my adventure began…

Island Living

The flight on the seaplane lasted about 40 mins. We had smooth landing on the water and alighted onto a floating platform not too far from the island.

Once the seaplane departed, a little speedboat came over to pick us up from the platform. The pampering began as soon as we were seated in the boat.

Warm towels, COMO's signature drinks, bottled water…the staff on the boat were intent on making us feel right at home.

We were told that there was another way to get to Maalifushi - via a domestic air transfer from Male to Thimarafushi Airport takes 35 minutes, followed by a private 25-minute speedboat transfer to the resort. Frankly I was glad I got to experience the seaplane.

The folks at Maalifushi put me up in one of Maalifushi's 14 Garden Suites (101m² / 1087 ft²). These are ideal for couples or families with small children.

From the shade of Maalifushi's lush gardens, I had direct access to the beach, my own pool, lawn and sundeck with loungers and furniture. I must say that I have no complaints.

The furnishing was lovely; the elegant, simple interiors had large windows that allowed natural light to flood the entire room and afforded me a beautiful view of the island setting.

It was apparent to me that the wonderful folks at Mallifushi had thought of every thing when it came to the facilities in the room.

Nothing seemed to be lacking.

Here's a brief rundown of what was available: a king bed with Egyptian cotton bed linen, a private sun deck, my very own bathtub and shower stall, air-conditioning (obviously), minibar, complimentary tea/coffee making facilities, bottled water and fresh fruit daily, satellite TV, direct dial telephone, COMO Shambhala's signature bathroom amenities, hairdryer private safe, a multimedia hub, Wi-Fi internet.

Interestingly, my Garden Suite also came with its very own crab guarding the gate entrance.

Although I doubt that this comes as a standard in Maalifushi's impressive list of services - the crab was probably guarding the entrance to my suite of its own good will. I had the good sense to not freak out and kept my apprehension of sea creatures in check.

Wining and dining

Hailing from Singapore, I'm an island boy myself.

One of the things I'm used to in Singapore is an exotic and eclectic variety of food. Like a typical Singaporean, I was wondering about what Maalifushi had to offer in terms of grub.

I had never been to the Maldives before, and I had no clue what to expect in terms of the style of food.

One of the first things I got to try was a from the COMO's wellness menu. Signature mocktails that were crafted to cater to the individual's preferred diet intake. These mocktails are available at both 'Madi' and 'Thila'.

'Madi' (meaning Manta Ray in the local language) serves Maldivian, Mediterranean, Indonesian and Thai-accented dishes all day.

'Madi' also holds themed nights, including a seafood barbeque and a 'thali' evening focusing on south Indian specialties.

'Thila' (named after Maldivian submerged reef formations covered with abundant marine life) offers an easygoing and family-friendly environment, serving salads, freshly baked seafood, pizzas and Turkish 'pide'.

'Thila Bar' is a relaxed pool bar and lounge for billiards, easygoing salads, pizzas and wood-baked seafood.

I was indeed surprised to find that Maalifushi also had a Japanese restaurant. Called 'Tai' (Japanese for red snapper) the restaurant showcases fresh, local seafood.

A 'yakiniku' grill offers fine cuts of meat marinated in Japanese flavours.

There is also a sunken sushi bar offering only the freshest cuts.

If you really want to go the extra mile for a truly intimate affair, the many uninhabited islands on Maalifushi's doorstep can be used for those seeking a private dining experience, served by a private butler.

Sun, Sand and the Sea

Families and those looking to do something other than lounging about being lazy sipping on a cocktail, will not be disappointed.

Adventurous sorts, who want to try their hand at some watersports, diving, snorkelling and surfing, are well looked after at Maalifushi.

If you insist on being a strict land animal like, yours truly, Maalifushi also organises sunset cruises and fishing trips for those are not looking to foray into the water.

One of the activities that the staff at Maalifushi were kind enough to organise for me and a few of the other guests, was dolphin spotting.

I figured that as long as I didn't have to physically get into the watery realm where the sea dwelling mammals lived, I would be fine.

The resort's marine biologist claimed that we would be able to spot dolphins in the evening during their feeding time. A bunch of us got onto a diving boat and went to chase after this dolphin clan.

After about half an hour of searching, we finally spotted the elusive bunch of dolphins and proceeded to play a game of nautical cat-and-mouse.

According to the marine wildlife expert, during certain times of the year, we would have also been able to spot migrating turtles, Manta Rays…whale sharks and hammerhead sharks.

I'm just glad it wasn't that time of the year.

Divers, and marine daredevils who are nary afraid of the creatures that lurk beneath the calm of the water should note that September is the best time to see whale sharks and hammerheads, and the manta season runs from May to October.

Aside from dolphin spotting, a number of other family-friendly excursions are also available, from beachside picnics to snorkelling with dolphins from the prow of a privately chartered dhoni (a locally made fishing boat).

I think it would be prudent for me to mention that Maalifushi is very child-friendly.

Children can explore and make new friends in the secure environment of the island. The lagoon is safe to swim in and Maalifushi's choice of landed suites and villas, many with private lawns, are ideal for families with younger children.

Childminding and babysitting services are provided, while menus for infants and children include healthy, delicious choices.

Pamper yourself

One of the services that visitors to Maalifushi, simply must enjoy, is the COMO Shambhala Retreat. The COMO Shambhala Retreat at Maalifushi by COMO is a place to relax, recuperate and feel well.

Guided by expert therapists, the COMO Shambhala Retreat features eight overwater treatment rooms that offer a range of signature facials, massages and body therapies.

The Retreat also has an open-air yoga pavilion offering complimentary daily classes each day, a large pool, relaxation area and spa boutique selling COMO Shambhala's popular bodycare products (they smell great) and Active Living Collection.

If you're feeling up to it, you can sign up for private yoga tuition and guided pranayama meditation. Guest who prefer a more vigorous workout can visit the resort's gym which offers cardio equipment and weights.

The Keepers of Maalifushi

Maalifushi offers all the understated luxuries of a COMO private island resort and no good resort is complete without is exceptional and dedicated staff. At Maalifushi, you can expect nothing less than COMO's signature service.

The staff on the resort, whose warmth, discretion and passion for detail, always put a smile on my face.

Walk pass a member of the staff on you way to lunch, and you will never fail to receive a friendly greeting. The folks at Maalifushi make you feel more than welcome, and they give you the sense that they have known you for a lifetime.

Not to mention that the guests staying in Maalifushi's most exclusive villas (Beach Villas, COMO Residence, Maalifushi Water Villas and COMO Villas) will also experience the services of COMO's private butlers.

I would like thank everyone at Maalifushi by COMO for being very patient with me - I know that having to plan some of the itinerary around my ridiculous fear of the water must have been a pain.

The folks that keep the resort, services and activities running without a hitch are truly the Keepers of Maalifushi. When it was time for me to leave the island and end my adventure, I couldn't help but think about…Maalifushi 2: The Sequel.

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"It's a baguette!"

Thus spoke Carrie Bradshaw with a mix of matter-of-factness and incredulity in the third season of "Sex and the City" when a gun-wielding mugger demanded she hand over her purple sequined Fendi handbag.

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The episode aired on Oct. 8, 2000, as the era of the "It Bag" was arcing into full swing, a time when it seemed perfectly normal to have a much-coveted, known-by-style-name handbag serve as a plot point in a popular TV show. After the 1997 introduction of Fendi's loaf-inspired bags would come Dior's bean-shaped Saddle Bag (1999), Balenciaga's studded City Bag (2000), Louis Vuitton's colorful Murakami Speedy (2002) and Chloe's slouchy, gold lock-adorned Paddington (2004). For a time, these unreasonably revered bags were fashion's most covetable status symbols, inspiring shoppers all over the world to add their names to months-long wait lists.

Since then, the handbag game-from what designers are producing to what women are craving-has changed considerably. Disagreement about whether the "It Bag" itself is alive or dead, however, still thrives. While this very newspaper proclaimed "It" moribund in 2008, last month Vogue.com, perhaps a bit too enthusiastically, resurrected the term. What's clear, however, is that the "It Bag" in its early-oughts form-carefully branded in design, and supported by major ad campaigns and celebrity placements-is undeniably behind us.

"It's much more about individual taste now than 'It Bag' taste," said Li Edelkoort, the Paris-based trend forecaster who recently published a manifesto entitled "Anti_Fashion," critiquing the current state of the industry. "Arguably the new 'It Bag' is the backpack, but it's not an 'It Bag' [in the traditional sense] because it doesn't come from one brand."

Read the full article here.

Ask any Bordeaux wine lover which are the best (and naturally, the most expensive) Pomerols and almost instantly, the answer will be Le Pin. Second? Petrus.

Both right. But there are those who keep their counsel because they know that while Lafleur is not in the top two, it is expensive enough - third after Petrus - and is their favourite Pomerol!

With a production of less than 1,500 cases per year, any surge in demand will send the prices skyrocketing.

It is interesting that the vineyards of Petrus, Le Pin and Lafleur - the three expensive Bordeaux wines - are within walking distance of each other, and until recently, all were distinguished by their unpretentious winery buildings.

It is no accident that they are all on the same plateau, and have therefore more or less the same terroir, or clay with gravel and sandy soil with iron oxide deposits.

Chateau Lafleur 2001

Merlot 50 per cent Cabernet Franc 50 per cent

I had not seen this wine for some time, so last week, decided that at 13 years old, it should be quite ready.

Colour medium-hued, dark brown-red, impenetrable. Rich dense aroma of ripe merlot, no cedar notes at all. On the palate, a soft, full-bodied wine, packed with fruit, still rather closed, very ripe blackberries, very dense and concentrated.

It did not lack freshness but seemed to need acidity to balance the overwhelming density of the very ripe fruit, red and black berries.

Two days later, from the re-corked half-full bottle, it was a different wine. It had become firmer, its great minerality more pronounced, making it even more complex.

Yet, this wine is still an adolescent. It has begun to open up but will need another four to five years to show its full potential, and from what has already been seen from this bottle, the final result will be quite spectacular. The minerality and the concentration of ripe fruit are quite amazing.

I cannot recall ever witnessing this degree of minerality. It is one of the first qualities of this wine that hits you with the first mouthful. You cannot miss it. I am not going to wait four to five years for the next bottle.

I first met the owners, Jacques and Sylvie Guinaudeau, at dinner at Chateau Figeac more than 10 years ago, when my wife and I were house guests at the Chateau. Our host, Thierry Manoncourt, now sadly deceased, introduced us to the Guinaudeaus, saying we had to visit Lafleur.

Thus began our association with Chateau Lafleur. It would be difficult to find more unassuming owners of such a famous chateaux as Lafleur than the Guinaudeaus.

Simple people, simply dressed, modest and even retiring in demeanour. If you did not know who they were, a visitor visiting Lafleur for the first time could mistake them for the housekeepers!

Last thought: a comparative tasting of Petrus, Lafleur and Le Pin would be mind-blowing. Should any reader be able to set it up, don't forget to call me!

Now for one of my favourite whites.

Beaune 1er cru Clos des Mouches 2002, Drouhin

Drunk at a Chinese dinner a week ago.

Very pale straw-yellow, with a lovely, light and wonderfully enchanting bouquet with just a touch of lime and lemon. On the palate, a refined, lightly sweet, lemony flavour, a bright freshness; the flavours just filled the mouth, its aromas escaping up through the back of the nose to reinforce the bouquet taken in from the front.

Glorious. My favourite wine, from a great vintage, a fresh young adult at 12 years! One of the best vintages of this wonderful wine.

Beaune is Cote d'Or's third-largest commune, and the slope of premiers crus extends from the boundary with Pommard to the south, right up to its border with Savigny-les-Beaune just at the northern end of the city.

The Clos des Mouches vineyard sits in the middle of the slope. Drouhin produces both white and red Clos des Mouches, but the white is by far the more celebrated wine. This bottle of the 2002 is glorious and is typical of this wine. I have never been disappointed by Drouhin's white Clos des Mouches.

How does it match up against the Pulignys and the Meursaults? Interestingly, I had two examples of a great Meursault recently, both from Comtes Lafon. Different animal. Bigger wine, denser where Clos des Mouches is delicate and fine.

Richer, more concentrated palate than Clos des Mouches. Both versions of white Burgundy demonstrate the fascinating range of palate colours one can find in white Burgundy. The choice is wide and varied, and makes life more interesting!

Finally, a simple Bordeaux.

La Fleur de Bouard 2009, Lalande-de-Pomerol

This Chateau belongs to the de Bouard family, its 17-hectare vineyard planted with 75 per cent Merlot and 25 per cent Cabernet Franc. The first vintage was 1998, a very good vintage for Merlot!

A black-red colour, impenetrable. Great and lovely freshness in the rich aroma, which was filled with the scents of very ripe red and black berries. A dense soft palate of very ripe fruit followed, great concentration, very lush, filled the mouth, result was a very lovely mouth-feel.

What was striking was that, notwithstanding the richness and concentration, it was such a nice drink that you instinctively reached for another mouthful even before the first one had gone down!

This is a very enjoyable wine. It has enough freshness and complexity to balance its denseness and richness; the result is that it does not tire the palate. It is almost like drinking very concentrated, very ripe grape juice, so easily does it go down. Except that this contains alcohol - 14 per cent!

All the above put together, with its very affordable price, about 20 euros en primeur, make this a very useful stand-by, a wine for all occasions. It will comfortably take spicy foods in its stride. Above all, it is a very nice drink.

La Fleur de Bouard also produces a tete de cuvee, Le Plus de la Fleur de Bouard, from the fruit of old vines planted on gravel. The first vintage was in 2000, with 4,000 bottles produced.

This wine is more elegant, with more complexity and pedigree. Also more expensive. Fleur de Bouard is just under 20 euros en primeur; Plus de la Fleur is three to four times that price!

As they say: "You pays your money and you takes your choice!"

This article was first published on March 20, 2015.
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The Chanel bag that you have been eyeing may now cost nearly $1,000 less at its Singapore boutiques, after the French luxury label announced on Monday a move to standardise the prices of its products worldwide.

For a start, it is aligning the prices of three signature bags, each of which will become almost $1,000 cheaper in Singapore.

Officially, the price change will kick in on April 8 globally. But Chanel's two boutiques here at Marina Bay Sands and Ngee Ann City have already lowered the prices from Tuesday to benefit customers immediately, Chanel told The Straits Times in a statement.

The medium 2.55 and medium 11.12 flap bags now cost $6,600 each, down from $7,550. The price of a medium Boy Chanel has been lowered from $6,580 to $5,820. Customers who bought any of the three bags between March 3 and 16, before the price adjustment, will get a credit note that allows them to offset the difference on their next purchase.

Chanel said the move will reduce price differentials across countries, which have "widened considerably" due to the euro's depreciation.

It is also meant to fight against parallel resale markets, "which jeopardise the business, the image and the exclusivity of Chanel", it added.

Yesterday, one Singapore dollar could buy €0.68, compared with €0.57 a year ago.

Before the price adjustment, shoppers from Singapore pay about 40 per cent less if they buy the bags in Paris.

But from April 8, the price of the three bags will go up by 20 per cent in Europe. A medium 2.55 will cost €4,260 (S$6,290), up from €3,550 - only about 5 per cent cheaper than in Singapore.

Chanel aims to standardise the prices of all its other products, including wallets, shoes and clothing, by the end of this year.

Its president, Mr Bruno Pavlovsky, told industry journal Women's Wear Daily that the cost of its products worldwide will never be more than 10 per cent above or below the prices in the euro zone.

The Straits Times asked several other major luxury brands if they have similar plans to standardise their prices, but they were unable to respond by press time.

The "harmonisation" of prices is expected to deal a blow to parallel importers, who would buy the bags in Europe and resell them in their home country.

The Attic Place, a shop at Far East Shopping Centre which sells pre-owned and brand new luxury goods including Chanel bags, said it expects the lower prices to draw shoppers to the local Chanel boutiques. "Regardless, we will continue to offer limited-edition and vintage pieces which collectors covet," said the shop's spokesman.

Tax consultant Cynthia Teo, 25, who is looking to buy a Boy Chanel, said she is "more encouraged" to buy it in Singapore, now that the price has been revised.

Singapore Polytechnic senior retail lecturer Sarah Lim called the move "a good idea".

The feeling that people can purchase the bag more cheaply in Europe hurts Chanel's positioning as a brand-name product, she said.

mellinjm@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on March 22, 2015.
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On Paris's tiny rue Vivienne, a stone's throw from the Palais-Royal, the regal pile built by Cardinal Richelieu as his home nearly 400 years ago, sits a smaller yet equally stately neoclassical mansion known as the Hôtel Colbert de Torcy.

Behind its limestone facade, the walls have witnessed their fair share of French history. Constructed in the mid-17th century, the building was originally owned by Jacques Tubeuf, a financial advisor to the absolutist King Louis XIII and a close confidant of Cardinal Jules Mazarin, the Machiavellian godfather to the Sun King, Louis XIV.

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Today, fashion aristocracy has moved in. Celine, the influential LVMH-owned fashion and accessories brand, has made the hôtel particulier its first Parisian maison.

An extensive gut-renovation was recently completed, transporting the space back to its former glory, under the direction of the discreet and finely attuned British creative director Phoebe Philo.

Together with chief executive officer Marco Gobbetti, she has led the 70-year-old brand to new heights, with revenue increasing fourfold since their arrival in 2008. But Celine, which was founded in 1945 and became part of LVMH in 1996, didn't have a headquarters that matched the level of its influence.

With its arrival at 16 rue Vivienne, it has finally joined the major houses whose addresses are part of Paris's fashion landscape, such as Chanel at 31 rue Cambon, Dior at 30 avenue Montaigne and Hermès at 24 rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore.

"This is home, basically," says Gobbetti, 56. "Our project has been about building a house more than a brand. From that point of view, this building represents the foundation and where we come from. It is solid with an element of timelessness."

Click here to read the full article.

The prices of three iconic Chanel handbags in the fashion house's Singapore boutiques are now almost on a par with those in Europe, but some say that they would still rather get their Chanel fix there.

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• Chanel bag for $1,000 less
• The bags

In a bid to reduce price differentials across countries, which have widened significantly due to the euro's depreciation, and to curb parallel resellers, the French luxury brand will align the prices of its 2.55, 11.12 and Boy Chanel bags worldwide from Wednesday.

Prices in Singapore have already been adjusted, making these bags almost $1,000 cheaper than they were before.

A medium 2.55 and the 11.12 flap bags now cost $6,600 each, down from $7,550. The medium Boy Chanel has been lowered from $6,580 to $5,820.

Over in Europe, the prices of the three bags will go up by 20 per cent.

A medium 2.55 will cost 4,260 euros (S$6,311.30), up from 3,550 euros. They are still about 5 per cent cheaper than in Singapore. Before the price adjustment, prices in Paris were about 40 per cent cheaper.

But bank executive Kay Kew, 26, says a Chanel bag purchased in Paris has more sentimental value for her as it is the birthplace of the brand.

"It's just not quite the same getting it elsewhere," she says.

Ms Jeanne Soon, 26, says buying a Chanel bag in Singapore would be her last resort, primarily because it is still slightly cheaper in Paris.

"If I'm not planning a trip there, or if I can't get someone to buy it, I'd rather get a second-hand bag," says the marketing communications manager, who is looking to buy the 11.12 bag.

Explaining her rationale, she says: "If I decide to sell the bag, I won't lose as much, compared with if I bought one brand new; it's the way the resale market works."

The local Chanel office declines to comment on how sales have fared since the change was implemented two weeks ago, but says the bags are in stock.

Chanel will progressively standardise the prices of all its other products by the end of this year, so that they will never be more than 10 per cent above or below prices in the euro zone.

Mr Bruno Pavlovsky, Chanel's president of fashion, told industry publication Women's Wear Daily that this change should help ensure that customers are "seduced by the brand and by the products and not just led by these price differentials".

One sure thing is that nobody in Singapore is complaining about the changes.

"When you get someone to buy a bag for you overseas, you have no choice but to take it even if they've got the wrong thing," says Ms Janice Lee, who got a friend to purchase a medium Boy Chanel for her a few months ago. But due to a miscommunication, her friend bought the bag in a bigger size.

"Hopefully, this would mean a more enjoyable shopping experience in Europe. Some of the boutiques are so packed with tourists that they are like wet markets," adds the 48-year-old senior administrative executive.

Urban asked several other major luxury labels, including Louis Vuitton, Gucci and Prada, but most declined to say if they would follow Chanel's lead.

A spokesman for Club 21, which distributes Balenciaga in Singapore, says the company "has not been advised by the principal at this point".

Aside from Chanel, prices of luxury bags are still generally cheaper in Europe.

Shoppers headed there can e-mail or call the stores there for a price check.

Urban found that sales representatives are polite and responsive to price enquiries.

We compare the local prices of six bags from Bottega Veneta, Celine, Dior, Goyard, Loewe and Louis Vuitton to prices in Europe and found that they are between 20 and 30 per cent cheaper in euros (see box above).

staceyc@sph.com.sg

Prices in Singapore versus prices in Europe:

1. GOYARD JEANNE (MEDIUM)

$4,040 versus 1,885 euros (S$2,808)

2. BOTTEGA VENETA INTRECCIATO NAPPA LARGE VENETA

$4,220 versus 2,200 euros (S$3,278)

3. LOUIS VUITTON PETIT NOE IN EPI LEATHER

$2,590 versus 1,340 euros (S$1,996)

4. LOEWE AMAZONA 75 IN CALF LEATHER (LARGE)

$3,990 versus 1,900 euros (S$2,830)

5. DIOR LADY DIOR BAG IN LAMBSKIN (MEDIUM)

$5,500 versus 2,900 euros (S$4,319)

6. CELINE DRUM SKIN MINI LUGGAGE

$4,200 versus 2,100 euros (S$3,127)

This article was first published on April 3, 2015.
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SINGAPORE - ICON, the leading Chinese luxury lifestyle magazine for today's highly affluent and bilingual women, celebrates its 10th anniversary this year.

To mark this milestone, ICON magazine has pulled out all the stops to host the grandest and glitziest gala ball in its 10-year history, recreating the glamour and sophistication of red-carpet events in Hollywood.

Over 400 guests comprising A-listers from Singapore's high society and the ultra well-heeled are set to attend this high-profile and prestigious invitation-only event on Wednesday, 15 April at the Shangri-La Hotel. The annual ICON Ball is certainly one of the most anticipated events on this country's social calendar.

Established in 2005, ICON, an award-winning luxury lifestyle magazine, features the most coveted in fashion and jewellery and reports on the latest beauty trends. The monthly magazine also profiles international celebrities and Singapore's most influential and powerful figures.

Elsie Yah, Managing Editor of ICON, said: "In our special April anniversary issue, we devote the edition to all the talented individuals and personalities we have had the pleasure of working with over the past 10 years. It's a celebration issue of creative talent, ultimate sophistication and remarkable success fuelled by passion."

On its 10th anniversary, ICON celebrates its success in a big way, engaging the affluent community with luxury brands in an integrated manner through print, digital, events and social media.

At the ICON Ball 2015, guests are in for a treat, with a night of ultimate and bespoke indulgences.

Firstly, every guest is a star for the night and will get to sashay down a 30m-long red carpet, fringed with photographers, to the ballroom. During the pre-dinner cocktail, ladies can head to the Cle de Peau Beaute booth for touch-ups or get quick tips from the beauty specialists. In addition, luxury fragrance expert M. Micallef will be on hand to match scents best suited to one's personality.

All guests will be presented with a limited-edition 10th-anniversary issue of ICON, with the magazine cover carrying the printed signature of Chinese actress Ni Ni. This collector's issue is packaged in a leather-bound jacket designed by bespoke leather goods company, Bynd Artisan. To top it off, guests can personalise the leather jacket on-site, with their initials.

Other highlights include The 20 Best Dressed - awarded to 20 ladies whose outfits best match the red-carpet theme of glitz and glamour; a guest performance by home-grown singer Nathan Hartono; and one of the largest Spring/Summer 2015 fashion showcases - the Max Mara Elegante collection in Singapore.

ICON Ball 2015 is supported by ION Orchard, Hong Seh Motors - official distributor of Maserati in Singapore, M. Micallef by Prestige Products, Max Mara, Girard Perregaux by The Hour Glass and Cle De Peau Beaute.

Dennis Pua, Managing Director of SPH Magazines, said: "We are extremely grateful for the loyal support ICON has gained over the last decade from both readers and advertisers.

Instagram 'takeovers' by socialites

Leading up to the Ball, ICON is partnering two socialites (Jamie Chua@ec24M and Datin Sharel Ho@shareltanho26) in Instagram "takeovers" on @ICONSingapore on 15 April, from 9am to 12am. Get the inside track on how they prepare for this red-carpet event, through to their memorable moments during the Ball.

There will also be live reporting straight from the red carpet on both Facebook (ICONSingapore) and Instagram (@ICONSingapore), where readers can keep up with the happenings with up-to-the-minute reports.

Prelude to ICON Ball

As a prelude to its 10th Anniversary Gala Ball, ICON, in partnership with ION Orchard, presented in early April an exclusive display of specially curated covers by ICON Singapore's editorial and creative team. The public could view a selection of the most stunning photographs of celebrities and top international artistes who have graced the magazine's cover. Celebrities include Zoe Tay, Fann Wong, Yvonne Lim and international celebrities such as Karen Mok, Sonia Sui, Zhang Zilin, Lisa S and Dee Hsu.

Also on display were 10 beautiful evening gowns specially selected and curated by ICON's Managing Editor Elsie Yah, together with celebrity stylist Jeremy Tan. The 10 dresses epitomise sophistication, glamour and pure luxury, a reflection of what ICON magazine stands for. ION Orchard is the mall partner for the ultra-glamorous ICON BALL 2015 this year.

ICON magazine, a leading Chinese luxury lifestyle publication by Singapore Press Holdings, threw a gala ball on Wednesday night to celebrate its 10th anniversary.

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• ICON Ball: Daring dressers on a night of red-carpet glitz

The event saw more than 400 A-listers in social and business circles turn up dressed to the nines in accordance with the magazine's glitz and glamour theme.

The gala ball also unveiled the 20 Best Dressed of the evening. We spoke to some of them.

SHE COMES OUT OF HER 'COCOON'

Susanna Kang, socialite

Heads turned and camera flashlights popped as she sashayed down the 30m red carpet leading to Shangri-La hotel's Island Ballroom.

Known for her typically audacious style, Madam Kang said it was always going to be "either pyjamas or drama" as she showed off her mermaid-cut dress that featured a cocoon-esque fixture on her back.

She revealed that the bespoke gown was a creation by the founder of fashion label All Walks Of Life, Mr Alfie Leong.

Madam Kang said: "I called Alfie and told him I wanted something special and to forget brand names. In the light of SG50 and ICON's 10th anniversary, I wanted (my outfit) to reflect metamorphosis."

Madam Kang said that about 150m of can-can type netting was used for her gown.

While she said the dress was comfortable, Mr Leong told The New Paper the "cocoon" alone weighed about 8kg.

And true to her promise of drama, later in the night, Madam Kang transformed her dress into an Oscar-style gown when she unhooked the cocoon, which stored her gown's train, from her bustier

HER DRESS HAD 'MORE LAYERS'

Jamie Chua, socialite

She walked around like she was the belle of the ball.

High-profile socialite Jamie Chua said her hellos and gave away air kisses to her gal pals the moment she arrived at the pre-event cocktail reception.

The entrepreneur, who co-founded online luxury fashion platform Closet Raider, had on a $10,000 Isabelle Sanchis gown for the party.

Ms Chua, a former Singapore Airlines stewardess, justified her outfit choice, saying: "It's the dress that's on the red carpet this season."

She added: "I don't spend a lot of time preparing. I just see the best thing and I just get it."

The event saw another woman in a similar gown, but Ms Chua nonchalantly defended her choice by saying her version of it had "more layers".

When Ms Chua was called up on stage to collect her bouquet of flowers for being one of the 20 best-dressed women, she said it was not a surprise to her at all.

"I wasn't shocked. Honestly, I'm really used to it," she said.

GOWN FLOWN IN FROM NEW YORK

Shabnam Arashan, part-time lawyer

Looking almost as elegant as Egyptian queen Cleopatra, especially with her coiffed bob haircut, was part-time lawyer Shabnam Arashan.

Madam Arashan, who is the assistant director at the Legal Aid Bureau, turned up at the event with her husband, Mr Rajendran Kumaresan, who is also a lawyer.

She wore an elegant pink Carolina Herrera gown from the 2015 Spring Collection.

Madam Arashan said about her outfit: "It was flown in from New York and it cost about $7,000".

It was not surprising that she was also one of the 20 best-dressed beauties, although she said she did not "dress up with that in mind". She added: "I was thrilled to be one of the 20, but it was really unexpected.

"The reason I chose this outfit was because it's elegant and understated and that's very much my style, not to be a part of the best-dressed women group."

Madam Arashan implied that choice was about how it looked on her and not about anyone else.

She added: "My theory (for outfits) is you always wear the gown and not the gown wears you."

FOLLOW TRENDS? NO, THANKS

Marisa Hjelle Wee, lawyer

Equity lawyer Marisa Wee, the daughter-in-law of the late former Chief Justice Wee Chong Jin, wore a dazzling sequined long-sleeved gown.

The Norwegian-Chinese socialite disclosed that the eye-catching frock was bought from Dolce & Gabbana two years ago.

TNP understands the gown was from the Dolce & Gabbana 2013 Fall collection.

Even though the dress is not one fresh off the runway, Mrs Wee said she had no qualms throwing it on.

The mother of one said: "I don't believe in following trends. What may look good on someone else may not look the same on you.

"It's more about what makes you feel good that's more important."

crobert@sph.com.sg

Superyachts are still likely to be the main attraction at this year's Singapore Yacht Show, but visitors can also indulge their love of art, fashion and four-wheelers.

To improve the experience for visitors, organisers have come up with a more diverse programme for the annual show, which will run over four days next week at One Degree 15 Marina Club in Sentosa Cove.

Among one of the new programmes is an art, jewellery and watch auction.

Up for grabs are more than 30 paintings - starting from $1,900 each - by artists such as Singaporean Andre Tan who specialises in pop art and veteran local artist Aw Tee Hong. Art-lovers can also bid for sculptures and ceramics.

Also going under the gavel are 24 jewellery pieces (starting from $2,500) and 20 timepieces (starting from $1,200) from brands such as Italian hand-made jewellery label Margherita Burgener and Swiss luxury watch brand Patek Philippe.

It is the first time the auction's organiser, online auction house Lucanna, is participating in the Singapore Yacht Show, which is in its fifth year and is expected to draw more than 16,000 visitors. It drew 14,000 last year.

Visitors do not have to pay or buy a pass to the show to view or take part in the auction, which takes place on April 25. Auction experts will also guide visitors through the lots and offer advice onsite.

Mr Wong U-Yun, managing director of Lucanna, feels the auction is a good fit at the Singapore Yacht Show as the show is "re-positioning itself to provide a family-oriented and carnival experience for visitors".

For those who are sartorially inclined, there will be daily fashion shows featuring spring and summer outfits by regional and international brands. Fashionistas can even indulge in a spot of shopping.

The fashion shows, organised by One Degree 15 Marina Club, starts from 6.30pm and are open to non-ticket holders as well.

Car enthusiasts would be chuffed to know that a supercar rendezvous, featuring luxury brands such as Lamborghini, will take place at 3pm on April 25 and 26.

Of course, the main draw for visitors is still the luxury yachts on display. There will be at least 120 boats by 150 exhibitors at the show, including superyacht builders Gulf Craft and Spirit Yachts. Superyachts are roughly defined as being more than 24m long, which is the length of a tennis court.

On the more diverse programming, Mr Andy Treadwell, managing director of Singapore Yacht Show, says: "Top quality yachts and boats built around the world will always remain our focus, but we also understand the value to our visitors in adding complementary lifestyle elements, products and services."

There will also be parties galore for visitors, with live music performances at Boaters' Bar, a floating bar within the club, culminating in a White-Out Party for pass-holders on the last day where visitors are encouraged to dress in white.

To cap the show, Woobar at W Hotel in Sentosa Cove will host the official afterparty on April 25, with international groovemeisters such as British DJ Scarlett Etienne on the decks. The party is open to non-pass-holders.

Mr Matthew Fleming, 44, a consultant at a forensic services company, was at the Singapore Yacht Show last year and has bought a ticket this year.

The Singapore permanent resident, who hails from Australia, is looking forward to checking out the Anastasia, a 75.5m-long yacht, with his children, aged four and seven.

Built by shipyard Oceanco, it will be the largest pleasure cruise on display at the show.

Mr Fleming says: "It's like a big toy shop for my kids. I go there to live the dream, at least for one day."

nabilahs@sph.com.sg

Book it

SINGAPORE YACHT SHOW

Where: One Degree 15 Marina Club, 01-01 Sentosa Cove, 11 Cove Drive

When: Thursday to April 26, 1 to 9pm from Thursday to Saturday; 1 to 8pm on Sunday. Supercar rendezvous at 3pm on April 25 and 26. Fashion parades at 6.30pm every day

Admission: $48 for single-day entry, $18 for children aged five to 16; $148 for multi-day entry, $48 for child

Info: www.singaporeyachtshow.com

FINE ART & EXQUISITE LUXURIA AUCTION

Where: Viewing at Constellation Ballroom I, One Degree 15 Marina Club; auction at Constellation Ballroom II

When: Public viewing: April 24, 10am to 8pm; April 25, 10am to 3pm; Auction:April 25, 4 to 6pm

Admission: Free

Info: www.lucanna.com

OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY

Where: Woobar, W Hotel, 21 Ocean Way

When: April 25, 9.30pm till late

Admission: Free, but visitors are encouraged to book tables. Call 6808-7258 or e-mail woobar.singapore@whotels.com

Get the full story from The Straits Times.

Society women and corporate leaders gathered for a glitzy night, Hollywood style, at the ICON Ball yesterday evening.

The annual event, at Shangri-La Hotel, marked the 10th anniversary of ICON Magazine's publications. The theme of the ball - A Night With Stars - recreated the glamour of red-carpet events in Hollywood.

The 420 guests had the chance to be a star for the night, starting with a walk down a 30m-long red carpet into the ballroom. They also enjoyed beauty touch-ups from specialists at the Cle de Peau makeup booth, and fragrance recommendations from luxury fragrance expert M.Micallef.

The guests were next treated to Max Mara Elegante's presentation of its 2015 Spring/Summer fashion showcase, as well as a guest performance by home-grown singer Nathan Hartono.

The highlight of the night came during the announcement of the 20 Best Dressed women at the ball, who were awarded the title for their daring dresses.

All guests also took home a limited-edition 10th anniversary issue of ICON, which came with a leather jacket designed by bespoke leather goods company, Bynd Artisan.

ICON is a Chinese luxury and lifestyle magazine for Singapore's bilingual elite, published by SPH Magazines.

"In its 10 years, ICON has become the first and most established luxury Chinese magazine, with a strong database and readership," said Mr Sylvester Ng, deputy editor of Icon.

This article was first published on April 16, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Wearing the same dress as someone else to a party is every girl's fashion nightmare, but that was exactly what happened at ICON magazine's 10th anniversary gala.

Held at the Shangri-La ballroom on Wednesday, high-profile socialite Jamie Chua and fellow society belle Ginny Wiluan turned up on the red carpet in nearly identical dresses.

Both fire-engine red Isabel Sanchis dresses featured an eye-catching layered hoop skirt, but had subtle design differences up top.

While Ms Chua opted for a halter neckline design, Mrs Wiluan's pick featured a bustier top with a deep V-neckline.

Instead of running in opposite directions when they spotted each other, the two ladies managed to laugh off the potentially awkward encounter and gamely posed for photos together.

Ms Chua, a former SIA stewardess and model, told The New Paper (TNP) that she picked the $10,000 outfit from the Spanish haute couture design house as "it's the dress that's on the red carpet this season."

She added: "I don't spend a lot of time preparing. I just see the best thing and I just get it."

According to her Instagram posts, she had been shopping around for the right dress to wear a week before the event.

Ms Chua also defended the alleged fashion faux pas, saying her dress was different from Mrs Wiluan's as "it had more layers".

Dubbed the Queen of Instagram, Ms Chua was one of 20 women who won the best dressed bouquet for the evening.

But it was no surprise to her at all. She told TNP: "I wasn't shocked. Honestly, I'm really used to it."

The former convent girl was previously married to Indonesian businessman Nurdian Cuaca and was involved in a high-profile divorce involving a $450,000 monthly maintenance sum which Chua reportedly demanded. The divorce reached an amicable settlement in November 2011.

Ms Chua is also well-known for having one of the largest collection of Hermes Birkin bags in the world, with more than 200 at last count in 2014, according to a report.

Dramatic "cocoon" dress turns heads

Another style maven who turned heads with her gown was socialite Susanna Kang, whose black "cocoon" dress was, hands down, the most dramatic of the night. Madam Kang was also among the 20 best dressed at the ball.

Her bespoke gown was designed by local designer Alfie Leong, founder of fashion labels Mu and A.W.O.L, and took two weeks to create.

Mr Leong told AsiaOne he designed the lambskin corset "armour" and contrasted it against a mermaid-cut gown, draped with two layers of French lace fabric. 

Madam Kang managed to pull off carrying "over 100 yards of fabric" on her back, which was secured around her "like the wings on a Victoria's Secret Angel," said Mr Leong. Wings which weighed a hefty 5 to 8kg, although one would not be able to tell from the way Madam Kang floated around the room effortlessly.

She was also perspiring underneath all that fabric, and was "prepared not to go to the toilet the whole night", said the flamboyant mother-of-one. The "cocoon" on her back would later unravel to reveal a long train.

Equally impressive was Madam Kang's hairdo, fashioned into several cuboid shapes, styled by local hair guru Grego Oh.

The fashionista, known for her bold sartorial choices, said that she did not consider buying a dress off the rack at a store. She wanted her outfit to reflect her "DNA" as a modern woman with both soft and hard edges, hence the mix of leather and lace. Her "transformer dress", as she calls it, also plays on the theme of "metamorphosis", in light of SG50 and ICON's 10th anniversary.

ICON is a Chinese luxury and lifestyle magazine for Singapore's bilingual elite, published by SPH Magazines.

"In its 10 years, Icon has become the first and most established luxury Chinese magazine, with a strong database and readership," said Mr Sylvester Ng, the magazine's deputy editor.

candicec@sph.com.sg

Lately, I've been thinking about how my daughter will react when I eventually give her one of my impressively fancy mechanical watches, the first of which I received from my parents when I graduated from college.

She's only two-and-a-half. So we've got some time before she hits a milestone deserving of an heirloom Cartier or an IWC. But the Apple Watch, which will finally be available to the public on April 24, feels like a looming force that may well change her generation's idea of what a luxury watch is.

Like many smartwatches, Apple's is designed to let you quickly dictate responses to text messages, check the weather, find a child-friendly Ethiopian restaurant. 

But while several smartwatches - also known as "connected watches" and "wearables" - have entered the market, none has so directly and deftly taken aim at both the male and female luxury and fashion consumer. To wit, the company invited an international crew of fashion editors out to its headquarters in Cupertino, Calif., for the announcement of the watch last September.

Soon afterward, the watch made an appearance at Paris fashion week, where Apple's design gurus Jonathan Ive and Marc Newson showed it to the likes of Vogue editor Anna Wintour and Chanel creative director Karl Lagerfeld. Strapped to a model in a Celine dress, the watch graced the cover of Vogue China's November issue, its first major fashion-magazine outing.

But perhaps most important is that, while entry-level Apple Watches start at $349 and go up to $1,099, with an array of bands that range from sporty rubber to steel links, the company is offering a provocatively high-end version called the Edition, which starts at $10,000 and goes up to $17,000.

These are made of 18 karat rose gold or yellow gold with a variety of straps. To try one on, you have to make an appointment at an Apple store that carries them (not all do). And appointments are currently nearly impossible to land. (Should you find owning a rose-gold model too pedestrian, a number of fine jewelers have been devising methods to pave the case with diamonds and engrave it, among other upgrades.)

In other words, the Apple Watch is clearly being positioned as a luxury good.

Read here for the full story

The first of the Affordable Art Fair's two annual editions in Singapore for this year brought in $2.8 million in sales, a dip from last year's edition that signals the saturation of the art market here, as more fairs open while galleries shutter.

The figures notched by the three-day fair that ended on Sunday were lower than the initial projection of 14,000 visitors and earnings of more than $4 million that fair organisers had given Life! at a media preview last Thursday.

Visitor footfall stood at 13,400, a slight bump from last year's May edition, which pulled in 13,300 visitors. But sales then amounted to more than $3.7 million.

The fair's director Alan Koh, 32, said in a press statement that the lower sales figures "could be attributed in part to the smaller number of galleries this year".

Seventy-four galleries from 21 countries took part in the latest edition of the fair here last week, as compared to 82 galleries in the 2014 May edition.

In fact, the previous edition of the Affordable Art Fair competed with two other ongoing art fairs last November. In total, there were nine such events held last year.

Industry insiders say the growth of such commercial fairs reinforces the trend that some buyers here prefer to shop at art fairs rather than buy directly from galleries, five of which are exiting the three-year-old Gillman Barracks art cluster due to poor sales.

Founder of Y2Arts Ken Chang, who has taken part in the fair since 2012, says: "Fairs are a one-stop place for new buyers as there's more variety. But regular collectors come back to the gallery all year round as they know we carry other works. At fairs, each gallery has limited wall space."

His gallery reported about $40,000 in sales, with the top-selling piece being an acrylic and oil on canvas painting by Chinese artist Ocean Wang that sold for $5,000.

The Affordable Art Fair is held in 11 countries worldwide, and more than once annually in art capitals such as London and New York. Organisers decided last year to make the Singapore fair a biannual event due to "steady growth in the past five years", says the fair's chief executive Will Ramsay, who is based in Britain.

"We've more galleries which want to participate in the fair and bring in new artists... as for the other art fairs, I think there will be a natural filtering as to which ones succeed and which ones, sadly, don't," he tells Life!.

But he dismisses the notion that the spike in art fairs has torpedoed business for galleries here.

He explains: "Art fairs create a focus for the galleries during the week that the fair is on. I own a gallery myself and it's very hard to get people to come back after a few visits as they get bored.

"For Gillman Barracks, of course, not everything works straightaway... but it should be seen as positive, not negative, that it exists at all, that the Government has created it and that other galleries are succeeding."

Response to last year's two editions, especially the November one, was mixed, with some participating galleries unable to recoup costs although overall visitor and sales figures were up.

Says Mr Koh: "We are the entry point for new collectors - they form 60 per cent of our visitors. I don't think we've touched everyone yet, so having two fairs a year is an initiative we want to keep doing."

To this end, the fair introduced new features such as a personal shopper scheme to help first-time buyers.

On top of live art demonstrations such as print-making, this year's fair also put up an SG50 wall featuring 50 works from 50 artists, each priced at $500.

This seemed to be a hit with visitors, with some pieces snapped up at the private viewing event last Thursday before the fair opened to the public.

One of the first buyers was Ms Grace Yeo, 33, who picked up two $500 pieces.

"I like the fact that the proceeds will go to charity. That's meaningful. I feel we should have more local artists at this fair, so Singaporeans can support our own original art," says Ms Yeo, who works in private banking.

Singapore galleries made up the biggest contingent at last week's fair, with 28 of them. The next biggest group of exhibitors were the 15 from South Korea, up from one when the fair first started here, reflecting the Hallyu wave that has swept through Asia in recent years. The fair will launch its first edition in Seoul this September.

Business development director Aileen Neoh, 38, who has collected art for more than 10 years, thinks that the growing interest in South Korean art here is due to its "unique" nature.

"They tend to have a modern take on things. With South Korean art, you can recognise it's from the country straightaway, whereas with some South-east Asian works, there is a tendency to mimic European art," she says.

Curator Kim So Jeong from South Korea's Gallery Gabi says it sold works by mainly emerging contemporary Korean artists such as Cho Yi Kyung and Ko Won Tae.

She says: "Affordable art is on the rise in South Korea and fairs like these are great for new artists who can't compete with established ones. The crowd's a lot more than we expected. On Friday alone, we made about $12,000."

Other local galleries such as The Art Fellas, Y2Arts and Art Porters, which have showcased at the fair previously, fared well from the get-go and gained momentum as families and tourists alike poured in over the weekend.

Co-founder of The Art Fellas Cruz Phua said his gallery made about $90,000, up from last November's edition's earnings of about $70,000. His top-selling work was a $9,800 acrylic on canvas painting by Singaporean artist Yeo Siak Goon.

But some galleries were not as fortunate. Mr Norberts Samulis, owner of gallery Antonia, which specialises in 20th-century contemporary art by Latvian artists and made its debut at the fair last week, closed with only about $5,000 in sales.

"There could have be better advertising of the fair. But it's okay for the first time, even though I made a loss. I may come back next time as there was some interest," he says.

jianxuan@sph.com.sg

This article was first published on April 21, 2015.
Get a copy of The Straits Times or go to straitstimes.com for more stories.

Lung Wong (The Dragon King) is the fossilized skull of a male Triceratops dinosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous period, approximately 65 million years ago.

Over 95 per cent complete bone, 2.8 metres long, 1.6 metres high, and 1.4 metres wide, he is the largest most complete skull of any animal that has ever walked the Earth.

Unparalleled in terms of visual impact, quality and aesthetic magnificence, this dinosaur fossil is a masterpiece of natural history.

A first for Asia

Lung Wong is now for sale in Asia, exclusively represented by Evolved Ltd. The Dragon King was brought here by his private owners who have long connections with the region. A fossil of this magnitude and quality is only very rarely available for private sale anywhere, and never before in Asia.

Palaeontologists familiar with The Dragon King acknowledge that nothing approaching the scale, size and quality of Lung Wong has come to market since an unprepared Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil was acquired by an institution in 1997 for USD8.5 million (S$11.4 million).There is nothing like Lung Wong owned by anyone else in the world, including museums, institutions, corporations, or private individuals.

An authentic dragon of unrivalled majesty

The name Lung Wong (The Dragon King) was inspired by the ultimate symbol of strength, good fortune and longevity in Chinese culture -- the dragon. The feng shui dragon epitomizes potency, auspicious opportunity, individual achievement and personal excellence. As such, the name Lung Wong is an appropriate tribute to this remarkable connoisseur-grade piece.

A fossil of this magnitude and completeness only occurs through a very rare set of circumstances. The very existence of Lung Wong is due to the extraordinary good luck that has followed him through the eons. This unique Triceratops fossil has been crafted by nature, the greatest artist of all, and immortalised by elemental forces over millions of years.

About Evolved Ltd

The Dragon King is exclusively represented by Evolved Ltd, specialists in Natural History and objects of incredible antiquity.

For the full story of Lung Wong's extraordinary reemergence into the modern world, please visit thedragonking.net or email enquiry@thedragonking.net.

Lung Wong also known as The Dragon King, is now on a private sale in Hong Kong. According to thedragonking.net, offers above US$1.8 million (S$2.4million) are invited.

A press statement by PR Newswire said that Lung Wong is a fossilized skull of a male Triceratops dinosaur that lived in the late Cretaceous period.

It is approximately 65 million-years-old and palaeontologists familiar with the fossil say that nothing comes close to its scale, size and quality since an unprepared Tyrannosaurus Rex fossil was acquired by an institution in 1997 for US$8.5 million.

The fossil is made of 95 per cent complete bone, is 2.8 metres long, 1.6 metres high, and 1.4 metres wide. The press statement added: "He (Lung Wong) is the largest most complete skull of any animal that has ever walked the Earth."

NEW YORK - The Whitney Museum of American Art will open up its new home in downtown New York City on May 1 with an exhibition that details the history of art in the United States from 1900 to the present day.

The show, "America is Hard to See," will be the first in the museum's new location in Manhattan's meatpacking district on the lower Westside in the nine-story building designed by architect Renzo Piano. "It's quite an amazing experience," said Adam Weinberg, the director of the museum.

"It's very rare that you open a ground-up museum in the city of New York.

The museum moved into the new building, which features outdoor galleries and terraces that will showcase large-scale pieces, after 50 years uptown in Manhattan.

"It's often that there are renovations or wings added, but this is the first time, I think probably in quite a long time, that there has been a building designed where you basically started from scratch," Weinberg added in an interview.

When it opens next Friday the space will feature the largest column-free museum exhibition space in New York which is designed to give artists and curators extraordinary freedom, according to the museum.

The Whitney's collection includes 22,000 works of art, with masterpieces by artists ranging from Edward Hopper to Jasper Johns. More than 600 pieces will be on view. "America is Hard to See" will focus on themes, ideas, and beliefs of artists with familiar and unknown works.

"I think one of the great things of this exhibition is that people are going to see the things they know well, 'Calder's Circus,' Edward Hopper's 'Early Sunday Morning,' Georgia O'Keeffe. But then they are also going to see many things they haven't seen before. Actually some of them are things we haven't seen for a very long time," said Donna De Salvo, the chief curator and deputy director for programs.

LONDON - Ukrainian-born billionaire Len Blavatnik has become Britain's wealthiest man, a "rich list"published annually by The Sunday Times newspaper showed on Sunday, but Queen Elizabeth slipped down the rankings despite her net worth growing.

Boosted largely by rising stock markets, the newspaper said the super-rich had doubled their collective wealth since the 2009 economic crisis and that the wealthiest 1,000 people based in Britain were now worth 547 billion pounds ($1.1 trillion), up from 258 billion in 2009, an increase of 112 per cent.

The figures are likely to be seized upon by politicians less than two weeks before a close national election. The opposition Labour Party accuses Prime Minister David Cameron of governing in favour of the wealthy at the expense of the poor.

Cameron rejects that charge, but the widening gulf between those on the list and most Britons, whose living standards have only recently begun to return to where they were before the crisis, is awkward for his re-election campaign.

Britain has 117 sterling billionaires, the list showed, more than any other country except the United States and China, and London has more billionaires (80) than ever before and more than any other city in the world.

Blavatnik, who shot from number four to number one this year, was worth 13.17 billion pounds, the newspaper said, up 3.17 billion on 2014. With investments in music, industry and media, it said it would take the average Briton, on 25,000 pounds a year, 526,800 years to match the 57 year-old's wealth.

The Indian-born Hinduja brothers, Sri and Gopi, who headed the list last year, were placed number two with 13 billion pounds. They have interests in industry and global finance.

The Anglo-Canadian Weston family, who own a retail empire, were third with 11 billion pounds.

The newspaper said new money was "flooding" into Britain, pushing Britons down the rich list. The Queen increased her wealth by 10 million to 340 million pounds, but dropped out of the country's richest 300 for the first time, it said.

If it wins power on May 7, Labour has pledged to scrap tax rules that allow wealthy individuals to legally reduce the amount of tax they pay on money earned overseas.

The change would affect about 116,000 people who live in Britain, some of whom figure on the rich list.