I've moved on...
...to a different domain. Why, what were you thinking? The truth is, I just woke up one day and decided it's time for a change—a metamorphosis, if you will; or, in layman's terms, if Britney can shave her head, then maybe so can I? Nevertheless, it's been a rather handsome 10 years of talking to you, and thank you for putting up with all my moodswings and terrible dad jokes. Fear not! The hormonal imbalance and jokes are more terrible on CUBICLE, see you there.

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Created for
CAMPARI
Who is
Red Hand?
#Campari #RedDiaries

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D-1
Milan, Italy

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CAMPARINO: Opened in 1915 by Davide Campari which quickly became the hub of Milanese life and of the fashions sported by its patrons.

The final act of the Campari tale takes me back to Milan, foggy at touchdown and golden by the time I check in at the Rosa Grand and clock familiar faces from the Campari Collective, last together in September of last year. Rich Woods, (of Duck & Waffle/Sushi Samba bar fame) whom I’d styled a grey tartan waistcoat in the ‘London’ scene for the Campari Diaries – The Legend of Red Hand short film, beams as he tells me how much he’s looking forward to the screening.

We’re treated to a tour of a few spots around town – three to be exact – and I’m counting the hours till lunch at Bar Basso – hoping for a cheeky Negroni Sbagliato that is rumoured to be the size of an average face. Elaborate film sets that imitate the landscape of a New York bar or a London rooftop have been packed away, Milan is served neat. At Laboratorio Paravicini we learn the essence of handcraft (the very element that defines a great Campari cocktail), and Il Profumo. And for your information: Negroni Sbagliato is indeed the size (and colour, if accounting for the Asian flush) of my face.

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LABORATORIO PARAVICINI: The Milanese workshop opened in the 90s to bring back to people’s homes and lives decorative items with the warmth and “Sunday slowness” that industrial porcelain could never evoke.

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BAR BASSO: One of the hottest a Milanese spots for local and international adoration since the invention of Negroni Sbagliato in 1972 by Mirko Stocchetto

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IL PROFUMO: Experiencing a ‘fragrance journey’ that highlights the olfactory combinations that allude to the Campari flavour.

Campari is at home in Milan, a whopping 151 years since the opening of Caffe Campari (1867) and the illustrious Camparino (1915) at Galleria Vittorio Emanuele II by Davide Campari. The routine aperitif had become a legend at this very spot, decked in posters dating back to art nouveau, geometric furnishings, and red velvet seatings to top all off. Milan is a foolproof backdrop for The Legend of Red Hand, directed by Stefano Sollima, featuring Zoe Saldana (playing Mia Parc, an anagram of Campari) – scenes of which decorate my first encounter with Zoe not six months ago.

D-DAY
The World Premiere
Dress – Holzweiler

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With Director Stefano Sollima, Zoe Saldana and Adriano Giannini.

Campari Red Diaries - Red Carpet Premiere

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The launch premiere of the short film paints the town red, quite literally speaking, speckled with scarlet robes of the Campari red variety. The six Red Hand bartenders are revealed at the height of the night, followed by all talents of the ‘Legend of Red Hand’. It’s a corker of a party. Throughout the night an occasional red hand could be spotted as the star bartenders disperse for celebration into the crowd.

Enjoy Responsibly.

Leather ‘Ryder’ bag – JOSEPH

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Created for
JOSEPH

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creative direction & product photography SHINI PARK photography SIMON SCHMIDT assist VALENTINA STANDHARTINGER

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linen suit JOSEPH trainers EYTYS bag ‘Ryder’ bowling bag JOSEPH
Practicality is the name of the game, and JOSEPH knows it like a seasoned quarterback. The new bag & leather accessories collection borrows from the boys but also a nod to uniform, both things – I’ll be honest – that make me swipe right*. That isn’t to say, that the pieces are to be taken too seriously. On the contrary, the Ryder is a stellar upgrade to the everyday work bag with a twist of bowling, the Mortimer a versatile everyday clutch, and don’t even talk to me about the how clam-shaped Cosmetic Pouches with contrast stitching remind me of Linguine alle vongole with a glass of dry Chardonnay.

The trick is in refreshed essentials: the bucket bag gets a new ‘do.

*Technically, I do not have first-hand experience with dating apps, given the 12-year relationship, but the single millenials in the office say that’s what kids do these days.

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dress JOSEPH,
sliders, leather ‘Mortimer’ bag JOSEPH

Joseph

The messenger
There’s a crispness to the Mortimer that smartens any frumpy getup (everyday in this dank London weather). The zips are nifty too, swipe left into a wristlet, or zip right to convert into a boxy shoulder-strap.

Break up an all-black look with an oversized shirt, finished off with graphic accessories.

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Dress – JOSEPH. Shoes – Celine.

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‘Ryder’ Bowling Bag – JOSEPH

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Created for
William & Son
“million years ago”
Dress – Paul & Yakov. Diamond bracelet – William & Son MYA

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“I’M HERE… TO SEE… MYA!”, I announce mid-wheeze as I crash into the Bruton Street boutique, fifteen minutes late to my meeting. Clemence, Head of Jewellery at William & Son, is actually who I’m meant to seek – the two names I’d confused in frenzy – but I am nevertheless led towards a cabinet displaying some of the most brilliant emerald pieces I’d ever seen. A discreet plaque discloses the collection name: MYA.

And what do you know, Clemence also happens to be sitting right behind the cabinet.

MYA is short for Millions Years Ago, and is a unit of measurement in geological terms to measure the age of a rock”, she explains. The collection pays homage to the origin and extraordinary journey of rare stones, the yellow brick road journey, so to speak, of a rock formation into the richest of emeralds and diamonds.

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Diamond necklace & bracelet William & Son MYA. Cashmere tube – Mandkhai. Jeans – Isabel Marant. Boots – Yuule Yie.

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You really don’t see emeralds done like this. It’s never not set in some classic or ironically vintage mount, or worn in the most traditional manner. “The green appears more blue-ish in ethically sourced Zambian emeralds, especially in London’s grey lighting” she adds, and brings out a vintage piece from another cabinet (Columbian-sourced) for me to compare — I can’t even tell, and I’m even wearing new set of contacts for the month. I notice that the organic diamond ‘crusting’ is also actually an intricate pattern of oval and teardrop shaped diamonds. The emeralds may have been a happy relics of coincidental geologic events, but once in the hands of William & Son, evidently nothing is accidental.

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Diamond necklace & bracelet William & Son MYA.

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The more I get to know about MYA, is that it hasn’t taken Million Years to ripen, to be worn with a cardigan-skirt combo or a classic evening gown. It’s aching to be in an unconventional story: to meet new characters at a pyjama party in East London, glow under lampshades of an ornate sitting room, and be paired over a cashmere tube top and 90’s denim.

And you know what they say, what happens at a Mile End pyjama party, stays in the East…

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creative direction SHINI PARK assistant photographer & styling SIMON SCHMIDT lighting LANCE PENEZ runner ZANA WILLBERFORCE in collaboration with WILLIAM & SON

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photography SHINI PARK assistance KLARISSE GEPILANO model ANNA SOFIA MOLTKE (WILHEMINA) fashion ERDEM x H&M

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Skirt, tights & shoes – Erdem x H&M\

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Erdem x H&M; shot at the London West Hollywood

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art direction SHINI PARK photography assistance SIMON SCHMIDT in collaboration with ROGER&GALLET
le soin aura mirabilis
Inspired by ancestral beauty recipes and officinal galenics: a careful cocktail of precious ingredients selected for their virtues
cleanse, detox & revive; ParknCube_Roger-Gallet-Aura-Mirabillis-002 clarify; ParknCube_Roger-Gallet-Aura-Mirabillis-003 restore, correct and infuse radiance; ParknCube_Roger-Gallet-Aura-Mirabillis-004 even out with final layer ParknCube_Roger-Gallet-Aura-Mirabillis-013

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What is our skin if not for the most elaborate (and diva – speaking of mine) personality on our body. No pancreas has ever pouted, or a kidney crossed its arms in complaint about how beautiful and moist it should be looking. Long time readers will know mine threw a coup during the latter half of my 20’s and decided to entirely mutate its ecosystem under a banner named ‘adult-onset eczema’. MAN, that was a pain to fix. Also, apologies for harping on about it for years.

In all honesty, I‘m grateful to even be able to share a skincare routine now; it means a lot to me to be able to present by a routine that has been tried, tested AND SUSTAINED. As with all things, stick to brands that promote natural, wholesome ideals of beauty: Roger&Gallet products are born of healing/natural remedies and precious ingredients are selected only for their virtues. Also, the entire range is relatively inexpensive, so makes for some great gifting ideas.

Here are some notes on personal results from the Aura Mirabilis range.

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cleanse
revive

As much as I qualm about dry skin, I use this mostly to target my T-zone, which can get quite oily depending on diet and season. Massage until gel turns into oil (at which point the impurities are captured), then rinse with warm water. It visibly clears up pores for me when used gently every other day in the colder months.

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clarify
roger&gallet
Beauty Vinegar

Perfect for dry skin to refine skin texture and act as secondary cleansing using a cotton pad. My skin is quite sensitive and bone dry in the Winter months so I personally use it as a toner directly on skin and apply pressure to my face and neck. I‘ve noticed skin texture improving visibly after six weeks.

restore
correct

This is my favourite step: the most concentrated component of the range and what I feel the most effective when massaged in S-pattern on forehead and cheeks. I personally saw noticeable difference in transparency and radiance in my own skin. Tip: do splash out and use more than recommended – I promise your skin will soak it right up.

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even & illuminate
roger&gallet
legendary cream

Final ‘cashmere‘ layer to lock it all in, even out skin complexion and help increase cell turnover. I feel naked without it because it leaves such a comfortable touch to the skin. Plus, it contains Fleur de Lys extract that fights against redness and irritation, which helps maintain post-eczema* flare-ups.

*Not recommended to treat eczema. I recommend using fragrance-free remedial alternatives for flare-ups.

While this story is in collaboration with Roger&Gallet, all products have been personally tested and tried before the partnership for the sake of integrity.