Archive for December, 2009

Fast and Furious

Friday, December 18th, 2009
Can I tell you…about Hong Kong. It’s Fast and Furious. It even makes New York look sleepy. I’ve been coming here for so many years it’s like my second home. As soon as I land, I hit the ground running. There’s no time to get over my jet lag.

 There are places to go, people to see. I run over to Causeway Bay to check out all the small boutiques that carry local designers and do some shopping. They’re on trend and cost a fraction of the price compared to the major labels. Who doesn’t like guilt free shopping!

Like New York, there’s always something happening and new spots to check out. Fortunately, my best friends Shirley Hiranand and Reyna Harilela who run their own PR firm Bonvivant & Bellavita, invite me to all their events. I attended a private tour and preview dinner at Hullet House, David Yeo’s ten-bedroomed, all suite boutique hotel in the old historic Police building in Kowloon before they opened it to the public. Each room is lavishly decorated with a different theme.
Hong Kong It Girl and Tatler Favorite Audrey Chiu hosted an intimate dinner for me at the members only China Club. The ambience is so 1930’s Shanghai complete with a lounge singer dressed in a fitted silk Qi Pao. The walls are filled with Contemporary Chinese Art that David Tang amassed over the years. After dinner, we head over to another members only watering hole, The Kee Club in Lan Kwai Fong, for a night cap. Marina Bullivant is the hostess with the mostest and always has a bottle of champagne waiting for us whenever we come.
This trip was extra frenetic because aside from my usual work, I’m also here to do a trunk show for Harvey Nichols. They’ve built a following for me over the years so we thought we would up the ante this season with a Rafe shopathon. All of Hong Kong’s best dressed girls showed up and shopped!
By the end of the evening even the display mannequins were bare! To celebrate the evening’s success, we went straight to Dragon I, one of Hong Kong’s coolest nightclubs. This place attracts a very attractive model-y crowd which is always a plus in my book and they also serve really good Chinese food. Tao Miu ( pea shoots) are in season and I can’t eat enough of them.  Next stop was the Roxie, a new members only club. DJ Joel Madden was in town from LA and spinning to a very enthusiastic crowd of clubbers. As I was making my exit, I heard a Black Eyed Peas song come on. “I got a feeling, that tonight’s gonna be a good night…”. Indeed it was and I’m ready to do it all over again, on my next trip!
http://www.rafe.com

Posted in Audrey Chiu, Dragon I, Harvey Nichols Hong Kong, Hullet House, Kee Club, rafe new york, Rafe Totengco, Reyna Harilela, Roxie Club HK, Shirley Hiranand | 6 Comments »

Rafe Loves…Audrey Chiu

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Raison d’Etre: My five sons…

Job: Full time Mom & Rafe’s Hong Kong BFF

Live: Travelling anywhere in the world with my husband!

Happiness: Right here, right now

Brunch: I’m not a brunch person. I’m more a afternoon high tea person and that would be at The Lobby at the Peninsula in Hong Kong.

Drink: Bubbly champagne and most recently, Grey Goose Apple in Halo(because I don’t get bloated and I feel lighter in the morning)

Eat: 59 in Rome. Just off the Piazza del Popolo. Chesa at the Peninsula, Hong Kong

Escape: Firenze, Italy

Read: Lucky, Vogue(America, French & British), Philippine and Hong Kong Tatler

Listen: Lady Gaga, Adele, Karen O

Watch: Cinema Paradiso

Indulge: A really nice vintage Rolex

Shop: Bergdorfs in New York

Fashion: Vintage Valentino, Roy Gonzalez(old world glamour)

Aspire: Stylish eccentrics like Little Edie from Grey Gardens and my paternal grandmother(she would go to church in the 1950s with dyed red hair, red lips and a white dress purposely late..she’s a recluse now and never leaves her room.)

Charity: I support all my mother-in-law’s charities! Amblyopia Children in China, Child Friendly Centre in China, Schools for the Poor, Operation Smile

Dream: I am living it right now.

Accessory: I love Rafe’s designs because I can choose anything from the collection and I can’t possibly ever go wrong. I am always beguiled! You beguile me, Rafe! Yes, I am biased, so sue me! ;-)
I had a serendipitous moment last night…when the bag fell on my head. Then I knew I made the right choice…

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Rafe Loves…Audrey Chiu

Thursday, December 17th, 2009

Raison d’Etre: My five sons…

Job: Full time Mom & Rafe’s Hong Kong BFF

Live: Travelling anywhere in the world with my husband!

Happiness: Right here, right now

Brunch: I’m not a brunch person. I’m more a afternoon high tea person and that would be at The Lobby at the Peninsula in Hong Kong.

Drink: Bubbly champagne and most recently, Grey Goose Apple in Halo(because I don’t get bloated and I feel lighter in the morning)

Eat: 59 in Rome. Just off the Piazza del Popolo. Chesa at the Peninsula, Hong Kong

Escape: Firenze, Italy

Read: Lucky, Vogue(America, French & British), Philippine and Hong Kong Tatler

Listen: Lady Gaga, Adele, Karen O

Watch: Cinema Paradiso

Indulge: A really nice vintage Rolex

Shop: Bergdorfs in New York

Fashion: Vintage Valentino, Roy Gonzalez(old world glamour)

Aspire: Stylish eccentrics like Little Edie from Grey Gardens and my paternal grandmother(she would go to church in the 1950s with dyed red hair, red lips and a white dress purposely late..she’s a recluse now and never leaves her room.)

Charity: I support all my mother-in-law’s charities! Amblyopia Children in China, Child Friendly Centre in China, Schools for the Poor, Operation Smile

Dream: I am living it right now.

Accessory: I love Rafe’s designs because I can choose anything from the collection and I can’t possibly ever go wrong. I am always beguiled! You beguile me, Rafe! Yes, I am biased, so sue me! ;-)
I had a serendipitous moment last night…when the bag fell on my head. Then I knew I made the right choice…

Posted in Audrey Chiu, Halo Club Hong Kong, Hong Kong Tatler, Operation Smile, Philippine Tatler, Rafe bags, Rafe loves, rafe new york, Rafe Shoes, Rafe Totengco, The Lobby Peninsula Hong Kong | 2 Comments »

Amex Loves Rafe

Thursday, December 17th, 2009


Amex Loves Rafe!
American Express has spotlighted Rafe Totengco in advertisements for OPEN Forum,
a new online resource and networking site for business owners. The site is designed to forge meaningful business connections and provide insights from industry leaders and savvy entrepreneurs.

Rafe is specifically highlighted for his dynamic social media outreach which includes Twitter, Facebook, Stylecaster and Lookbooks, as well as his own blogs Can I Tell You and Rafe Loves.

You’ll find these advertisements featuring Rafe in the New York Times Business section, the Wall Street Journal, LA Times and the Chicago Tribune. What’s next for American Express and Rafe? An upcoming television
commercial will air during prime time on both major network and cable channels. Stay tuned!

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Rafe Loves…Prami Radcliffe

Friday, December 11th, 2009

Raison d’Etre: Love, laugh and shop till your hearts content!

Job: Public Relations Consultant

Live: Bali Hyatt, Sanur Bali

Happiness: Life’s simple pleasures; kissing my husband, being with the family, spending quality time with friends and spend some time alone each day.

Brunch: Kudeta, Bali

Drink: Kudeta in Bali, Omm Bar in Barcelona

Eat: Trussardi in Milan, Inopia and MOO in Barcelona, Sarong in Bali, Chateau de la Cevre D’Or in Eze, Montague in London

Escape: Portofino, Barcelona, Melbourne, London, Hong Kong

Read: British Vogue, Instyle, Harpers Bazaar

Listen: Music of the Night by Andrew Llyod Webber, Summer Sun by Koop, First Time by George Michael

Watch: Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, We Will Rock You (theatre shows in West End London)

Indulge: Spas, Siesta, OK magazine, Facebook

Shop: Santa Eulalia in Barcelona, Lane Crawford and On Pedder in Hong Kong, Harvey Nichols in London

Fashion: Stella Rissa, an upcoming Indonesian fashion designer

Aspire: No one in particular. I like to have fun with what I wear though most of the time it ends up pretty simple and it’s my own style.

Charity: Ashram in Bali. Ashram helps underprivileged kids to get opportunities for higher education.

Dream: I am living a dream!

Accessory: I love my Rafe Black “Emma” Convertible clutch. I can dress it up or down and wear it to work, parties or for leisure any time of day. But you get that with all Rafe bags to begin with, they’re so versatile and on trend!

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Rafe Loves…Prami Radcliffe

Thursday, December 10th, 2009

Raison d’Etre: Love, laugh and shop till your hearts content!

Job: Public Relations Consultant

Live: Bali Hyatt, Sanur Bali

Happiness: Life’s simple pleasures; kissing my husband, being with the family, spending quality time with friends and spend some time alone each day.

Brunch: Kudeta, Bali

Drink: Kudeta in Bali, Omm Bar in Barcelona

Eat: Trussardi in Milan, Inopia and MOO in Barcelona, Sarong in Bali, Chateau de la Cevre D’Or in Eze, Montague in London

Escape: Portofino, Barcelona, Melbourne, London, Hong Kong

Read: British Vogue, Instyle, Harpers Bazaar

Listen: Music of the Night by Andrew Llyod Webber, Summer Sun by Koop, First Time by George Michael

Watch: Phantom of the Opera, Billy Elliot, We Will Rock You (theatre shows in West End London)

Indulge: Spas, Siesta, OK magazine, Facebook

Shop: Santa Eulalia in Barcelona, Lane Crawford and On Pedder in Hong Kong, Harvey Nichols in London

Fashion: Stella Rissa, an upcoming Indonesian fashion designer

Aspire: No one in particular. I like to have fun with what I wear though most of the time it ends up pretty simple and it’s my own style.

Charity: Ashram in Bali. Ashram helps underprivileged kids to get opportunities for higher education.

Dream: I am living a dream!

Accessory: I love my Rafe Black “Emma” Convertible clutch. I can dress it up or down and wear it to work, parties or for leisure any time of day. But you get that with all Rafe bags to begin with, they’re so versatile and on trend!

Posted in Ashram in Bali, Bali Hyatt, Kudeta Bali, Prami Radcliffe, Rafe bag, Rafe blog, Rafe Clutch, Rafe loves, Rafe Totengco | 2 Comments »