Yue Magazine Launch Party at Trump Tower Atrium

 

Last night I attended YUE Magazine's most anticipated launch party, which was hosted by Jared Kushner, publisher of The Observer Media Group, and Chiu-Ti Jansen, publisher of YUE Magazine at the Trump Tower Atrium.

Bringing together Chinese and New York leaders in fashion, luxury lifestyle, media, art, entertainment, finance, philanthropy, cuisine and business, the exclusive, star-studded affair will offer its guests an evening of Asian-styled appetizers created by celebrity chef Angelo Sosa from Bravo’s reality television show Top Chef.  Mr. Sosa has previously worked with Jean Georges and Alain Ducasse, and is the owner of Social Eatz in Manhattan. The event will feature music performed by The Juilliard School and showcase stunning and unique furniture designed by Ligne Roset. Guests will meet and mingle, while enjoying the YUE signature cocktails available throughout the evening courtesy of Medea Vodka, or they can sip on luxurious wine by Sant Arturo. Additional sponsors include Blancpain, HSBC Premier, Bond No. 9, Harney & Sons, Throckmorton Fine Art, Town Residential, The Corcoran Group, Halstead and Prudential Douglas Elliman.

Notable guests (list in formation) include: Donald Trump, Ivanka Trump, pianist Lang Lang, Mrs. Lu Hailin (Spouse of Chinese Ambassador to the United Nations), Mrs. Xia Zhishun (Spouse of the Deputy Chinese Consul General in New York), Grace Meng (Member of the New York State Assembly), Dame Jillian Sackler, Keith Summa, Michelle and Larry Herbert, Liz Peek, Yaz Hernandez, Eleanora Kennedy, Sarah Judge McCalpin, John Lam (Chairman and CEO of the Lam Group), Chen Feng (Founder and Chairman of HNA Group that owns Hainan Airline and Deer Jet, among others), Lady Liliana Cavendish, Geoffrey Bradfield, Celso Gonzalez-Falla and Sondra Gilman. Numerous senior executives from top luxury brands will also join the festivity, including Pamela Baxter (President of CHRISTIAN DIOR), Lisa Klein (Executive Vice President of LEVIEV Fine Jewelry), Giovanni Mattera (President of DE GRISOGONO), to name just a few.

YUE Magazine is a joint venture between The Observer Media Group (publisher of The New York Observer), and CHINA HAPPENINGS, a multimedia platform focusing on the lifestyle industries in contemporary China.

YUE Magazine

YUE Magazine is the first bilingual lifestyle magazine focusing on the unique luxury experiences that New York can offer to the affluent Chinese consumers. YUE connects New York businesses with Chinese luxury travelers and consumers through its rich original contents.  Covering everything from fashion, shopping, culture, fine dining, real estate and education, YUE aims to give China’s sophisticated reader a multi-faceted view and better understanding of New York City and surroundings.

CHINA HAPPENINGS

CHINA HAPPENINGS is a multimedia platform founded by Chiu-Ti Jansen that focuses on the lifestyle and cultural industries in contemporary China.  Prior to founding CHINA HAPPENINGS, Ms. Jansen was a New York-based corporate partner of an international law firm. A native speaker and writer of Mandarin Chinese, Ms. Jansen holds advanced degrees from Yale University and Columbia Law School and serves on the Contemporary Art Advisory Committee of China Institute in America and the Board of the Couture Council of Museum at the Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT).

Observer Media Group

For more than twenty years, The Observer Media Group has been the go-to source for an insider’s perspective on culture, media, technology, politics, real estate, and the city’s most powerful, trend-setting characters. The Observer offers its readers cutting-edge reporting available on a variety of platforms, written by an editorial staff known for its distinctive and discerning style and wit. The Observer is delivered to Manhattan’s most affluent, educated and influential consumers with the average household income of $644,000 and average net worth of $4.1 million. The Observer Media Group is emblematic of journalism today – a bridge spanning traditional and future media.

TC Charton - Asian Fit Eyewear

Looking for sunglasses has always been a painstaking project for me.  It's hard to find the right shape to fit my face well.  Sunglasses wind up being to big for my face or slide down the bridge of my nose.  I found out about TC Charton during fashion week and had the opportunity to try them on and really loved the fit.  TC Charton is sleek, modern and timeless all at once.  The idea behind each frame design is based on distinctive American style with careful consideration of the colors and styles that best complement Asian features.

I met designer Alexandra Peng who hand picked some glasses and was kind enough to give me a sample.  ”I grew up believing there was something wrong with my face because nothing fit,” said Peng. “But just like you would never send a petite person to shop at the big and tall store, I realized the glasses were just never made to fit my features.” Alexandra Peng spent more 16 years in the optical industry, designing eyewear for luxury brands and seeing them through from conception to production, before finally starting her
own Asian Fit Eyewear line, TC Charton.  “I want to be able to reach out to as many Asian Americans as possible,” said Peng. “I want them to know there’s an eyewear collection designed from the ground up, with them in mind,” said Peng.  To learn more about TC Charton, visit their website here.

With Designer Alexandra Peng

 

McDonald's Flavors of Summer

McDonald's recently held an event at the Empire Hotel Rooftop to introduce the new Flavors of the Summer on their menu, the McCafé Cherry Berry Chiller and the Blueberry Banana Nut Oatmeal.  I had a chance to sample their new menu items and also meet their lifestyle and nutrition experts.  The Cherry Berry Chiller is a cool, sweet summer time treat and the oatmeal is a healthy breakfast option.  I was happy to find out that the creamer that is added to the oatmeal is optional, which is good to know for those who avoid dairy or want a lighter version of the oatmeal.  Today Show's style expert Bobbie Thomas, gave styling tips on how to add berry hued clothing and accessories to your summer wardrobe.  She suggested pairing colors that are not usually paired together and incorporating color into your closet with belts, scarves, jewelry, and shoes.  Makeup Artist Rommy Najor introduced me to Julie Hewett's "cheekie" cheek and lip shine, which added a nice natural glow to my skin. Lisa Logan, manicurist-to-the-stars, was also on hand to give berry-inspired manicures.  It was a fun and relaxing event and a great way to learn about McDonald's new menu items!

 

Today Show's Style Expert Bobbie Brown

Celebrity Manicurist Lisa Logan giving manicures with Zoya nail polish

Gift Bag from McDonald's and sponsors

SOFA - The International Exhibition of Sculpture Objects and Functional Art

I stopped by the SOFA (Sculpture Objects and Functional Art) Art and design show which is taking place at the Park Avenue Armory on 67th St for a press preview.  There are over 20 booths showcasing whimsical sculptures, furniture, and fantastic jewelry!  I had a hard time tearing myself away from a booth that featured silicon/silk jewelry created by French designer Tzuri Gheta, who creates pieces that have been worn during runway shows for couture designers like Christian Lacroix, Chanel, and Balenciaga.  Another booth that caught my attention was the Ornamentum Gallery which featured some amazing emerging artists from around the world, including Yong Joo Kim's velcro jewelry, and elaborate handmade pieces by Swedish Designer Hanna Hedman.  The show ends on Monday April 23rd and is a must-see for art and design lovers!

Clutch designed by Tzuri Gheta

Love these earrings by Tzuri Gheta

I couldn't resist trying on this gorgeous red "coral" (actually silicon/silk) piece by Tzuri Gheta

A Tzuri Gheta piece was featured during a Balenciaga show

Pieces by Swedish designer Hanna Hedman

Designer Yong Joo Kim with her eyecatching pieces made from velcro (in gray and black).

Mango Neon Spring Fashion Show

A fun trend that has been "popping" up lately has been neon.  MANGO, Swarovski and Irresistible Jewelry recently held a Neon Spring Fashion Party at the Queens Crossing Mall in Flushing and I got to see how they incorporated neon colors into their spring collection.  The show started with pretty crystal accessories from Swarovski and Irresistible Jewelry.  The Mango clothing line had great options for women and men.  The collection of separates and dresses in electric blue, neon yellow, hot pink, orange, and red were very wearable.  There were fun floral prints, stripes as well as solid colors.  Silhouettes ranged from short sporty mini dresses to a flowing white maxi dress with watercolor like print.  Neon colored accessories like sunglasses, crossbody bags, bracelets, and scarves added an extra dash of energy to outfits.  For those looking to inject some electricity into their wardrobe this spring, definitely check out Mango's spring line.

 

Spa Week April 16 - 22

Spa Week is this week!  From April 16th – 22nd, hundreds of spas (day, medical and resort), yoga and Pilates studios, fitness centers and other health and wellness practices will offer up to three signature treatments at the major discount of just $50 each. As always, Spa Week partners with some of the most prominent, respected names in the industry to deliver the most current trends in spa and wellness services.
From introducing new massage therapies like Acupressure and Bamboo Massage and advanced,
clinically proven, skin-perfecting facials to weight-loss and nutrition classes, Spa Week is
responsible for educating spa-goers on how to incorporate specific treatments into their lifelong
health regiments.  In order to take advantage of Spa Week, consumers should register on SpaWeek.com for exclusive information on participating spas and their $50 services. It is recommended that spa-goers sign up and book their appointments as early as possible.

Spa Week was created and founded by Cheryl Reid, who hails from successful careers within the luxury spa industry and publishing spheres. Joining Spa Week for the Spring 2012 Event, sponsors include Exclusive National Media Sponsor: Allure magazine; Exclusive Spa Association Partner: ISPA; Exclusive Skincare Sponsor: American Laser Skincare; Exclusive Wine Sponsor: Rioja; and introducing Exclusive Book Sponsor: Where We Belong by Emily Giffin and Exclusive Cosmetic Sponsor: Christopher Drummond Beauty. Co-sponsors include CEW and Spa Chicks On The Go®. Spa Week donates a portion of the proceeds from the Spring and Fall Events to CancerAndCareers.org.

Korean Fashion Festival

The New York Korean Fashion Festival, held at the Daedong Manor in Flushing, was organized by KAMA, the Korean Apparel Manufacturers Association of Greater New York.  The event had a packed program with a Natural Dye Exhibit and four fashion shows. The exhibition featured textiles using natural ingredients like cork.  The four shows included a Traditional Hanbok (Korean Clothing) Show, a Fashion show made up of four fabulous award-winning designers and graduates of Parsons and F.I.T., and and contest among KASA (Korean Apparel Student Association) in NYC.   For the contest, the students had to create 2 outfits with the theme "sex and the city".  The winner was Eun Seok Lee of F.I.T.