MISCHA MATTER

MISCHA Travel Diaries #113 - By the Sea

2014-06-03T07:00:00.000+08:00

Louise of LouHayHay basking in the afternoon sun at the Boat House Palm Beach in Sydney.

MISCHA Travel Diaries #112 - In the Mood for Love

2014-05-15T07:00:00.000+08:00

Tink, on her way to Tokyo Daijingu, one of the city's top three Shinto shrines devoted to l-o-v-e. Generations have worshiped at Shinto shrines which they believe hold the power to overcoming any and all of life's woes. Tokyo Daijingu is the city's most powerful shrine for matters of the heart, and just about everything else. We hope she got lucky!

Happy Birthday Buddha!

2014-05-01T19:18:00.000+08:00

“When you realise how perfect everything is you will tilt your head back and laugh at the sky” - Buddha

MISCHA Travel Diaries #111 - Sand Dunes for Days

2014-04-29T07:00:00.000+08:00

Victoria living like Princess Jasmine in the Abu Dhabi desert.

5 Things We Love About Spring

2014-04-23T13:37:00.002+08:00

Winter is finally out the door and we’re ready to go barefoot in a circle, to celebrate the arrival of warmth…Yes a sun dance. But before the weather gets unbearably hot, we want to highlight 5 things we love about the short and sweet season of new beginnings, blooming bouquets and balmy nights.

1. Cherry Blossom

Strolling along the Meguro River with the sakura in full bloom is enough to make anyone fall in love with Tokyo. Enjoy Hanami with some refreshments from booths along the river and stop by some of the unique boutiques along the way. With the optical illusion of snow minus the subzero temperatures, what’s not to love?

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2. Hierloom VegetablesIf the sole idea of eating clean is not enough, just take a look at these colorful vegetables and take a bite! Besides being tastier, heirloom veggies also have quite a few other benefits over their commercial counterparts. They make you look good and feel good for the fast approaching bikini season.

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3. Open Air Markets

Treasure hunting in the sun with a fresh juice in hand and the sparkle of hope in our eyes, open air markets are a great way to spend the weekends. The possibility of owning a one-of-a-kind something or a vintage show-stopping piece is enough to get us excited! Recharge your senses and find inspiration in both the old and the new.

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4. Outdoor Lunches

Just because it's a weekday doesn’t mean you don’t deserve a break. Even on a busy workday, there’s always time to soak up some sunshine. All you need is a pair of sunnies, a nutritious lunch and some fresh air to take some pressure off. The extra Vitamin D doesn’t hurt either!

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5. Bike Riding

With the spring breeze running through your hair, bike riding is the chicest and greenest way around town. A popular choice of transport amongst attendees at Paris Fashion Week, put on a floppy hat and sundress and you’re good to go. Also, now you can say you’ve already done your exercise for the day!

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10 Things Truly Passionate People Do Differently

2014-04-22T10:28:00.000+08:00

I came across this article on Elite Daily recently. I thought it summed up very nicely, all the qualities one must possess, first as a person with a zest for life, and second as a budding entrepreneur. Here is the original by Paul Hudson. He outlines the pros and cons of being a passionate individual. What do you think?

1. Start their days early. It’s not that passionate people don’t enjoy sleeping – they do. It’s just that once they’re up, they get excited about the work ahead of them. Even if the particular project or tasks they will be working on may not excite them, their future aspirations and the passion they have for what they do drive them to get out of bed rather quickly. Passionate people are all about doing and you can’t do much if you spend half the day sleeping.

2. Always have their passions on their mind.

They’re basically obsessed – hopefully in a healthy manner. Healthy passions are healthy obsessions. You can’t keep your mind from returning to the topic and can’t help but get excited by those thoughts. Passionate people live in a world in which the few things that matter to them in life basically involve the passions they love.

3. Get excited more than the average person.

Passionate individuals may not always feel excited – no one is excited all the time – but when they get excited, they get excited more fully, for a longer duration and, overall, more frequently.
It’s because they have more in their lives to get excited about. They devote their time to usually one or two things and therefore make more progress than those who split their time amongst many things. The momentum keeps them excited.

4. Get pissed off and emotional more than the average person.

Just as the passionate get excited, they also can come off as very moody. They go from happy and excited to pissed off and miserable. Because they are passionate, they are much more emotionally connected to whatever it is they are doing – so when things go well, the world is a beautiful place, but when things go awry, sh*t gets real very quickly.

5. Willing to risk more and put more on the line.

If you’re passionate, you have a clear understanding of what your purpose in life is – if only your purpose for that very moment. For this reason, you give much less importance to other things. Therefore you’re willing to risk more for the thing(s) that you find most important, that you are most passionate about. Those that are passionate are much more willing to give up things that don’t fall in their scope of passion.

6. Devote their lives to their dreams.

Life is filled with things worth doing and things not worth doing. That which we are most passionate about is what we believe to be worthwhile, everything else seems to be wasteful and lacking. Passionate individuals gradually gravitate towards their passions and away from the rest that life has to offer. They know what will make them happy and are willing to ignore the rest.

7. Surround themselves with their work.

People say that it isn’t good to bring work home. However, for the most passionate, work is home. It’s not possible for these individuals not to bring their work home because their work is in them and reflects in everything they have and do. But it doesn’t feel like work to them. It feels like life.

8. Can’t help but talk about their projects.

They know that you probably don’t want to hear about it because you hear about it all the time, but they don’t really want to talk about much else. And even if they do, their conversations almost always steer back to their passions. They can’t help it because they don’t see their passions as separate from themselves; they are their passions.

9. Tend to either be pushing ahead full throttle or are completely still.

Passionate people aren’t always the best at balancing their lives. They get overly excited and push themselves to their limits. They love working and love moving forward quickly. But they eventually do run out of steam and crash. Only the seasoned and wise passionate individuals have learned to balance havoc and calm in a healthy manner.

10. Always think positively about the future.

Their minds are always looking ahead, looking at what can be instead of what is. This has its good sides and bad, but nevertheless, they are always thinking about their next move.
The one great outcome is that they always have something to look forward to and are excited to make it happen. As long as they remember to hang around in the present from time to time, they don’t run into too much trouble.

MISCHA x Mr & Mrs Smith

2014-04-17T17:39:00.001+08:00

I love the story of how Mr & Mrs Smith started, so when we met last year, I jumped at the chance to work with them! Originally founded by James Lohan and Tamara Herber-Percy, who circulated a list of their tried and tested hotels amongst their circle of friends. Their reputation for sexy espionage style reviews precede them, (think Brangelina) and many weekend getaways and invariably a few mini-Smiths later, the global brand has become a trusted guide for discerning travelers, with writers, rock stars and generally stylish and savvy people as their reviewers.

To celebrate the new Global Nomad Collection, we partnered with Mr & Mrs Smith to come up with my list of Top 10 picks from their portfolio of fabulous Smith hotels. They all inspire an make me want to get on a plane right now, failing that, they're all worth adding to your bucket list!

The first 10 bookings made at any of these hotels will receive a MISCHA Jet Set Tote for all your keepsakes. Here's the full list of secret finds, unique locations and inspiring sights to fuel your wanderlust dreams...

Book a room with Mr & Mrs Smith!

1. SAMODE PALACE JAIPUR, INDIA

"Who wouldn't want to spend a few days as Princess Jasmine in this fairytale desert fort? Samode Palace overlooks the Aravalli Ranges and the surrounding local village. Known as the Pink City as Maharaja Ram Singh had the Old City painted pink in 1876 to welcome the Prince of Wales. It is also one of the cities that inspired this season's Global Nomad Collection, with Holi pink being one of the new colours."

2. BENIYA MUKAYA, JAPAN

"Japanese art and culture were the starting point of MISCHA, so a revamped Ryokan is the ideal getaway. Every room has it's own open air hot spring and sipping green tea in your cotton yukata in the tranquility of a traditional Japanese Ryokan is perfect for gathering your thoughts."

3. DOLPHIN ISLAND, FIJI

"Imagine being shipwrecked on a paradise island where no one could find you. I think being on your own private island would be the ultimate escape. Of course you'd need a few beloveds to keep you company!"

4. COMBE HOUSE, DEVON

"Growing up devouring Jane Austen novels, Combe House caught my eye right away. This restored Victorian Mansion set in rolling meadows of Devon is perfect for romantic fire side chats, country walks during the day and afternoons of sketching and painting the picturesque scenery."

5. ALILA ULUWATU, BALI

"I stayed here a few years ago and dream of going back! Perched atop a cliff at the tip of Bali with nothing but the vast Indian Ocean in sight, you feel how insignificant each of us is."

6. OHLA HOTEL, BARCELONA

"I've always wanted to visit Barcelona; to drink in the architecture, vibrant art scene and sample the cuisine. Besides the bright airy rooms, it is located in the Gothic quarter in the heart of the old city with all the ancient landmarks and squares."

7. SONEVA KIRI, THAILAND

"Sun, surf and sea holidays are my favourite, the sun is so invigorating! I get a lot of inspiration from the beautiful colours of the ocean and sea life when I go scuba diving."

8. HOTEL VERNEUIL, PARIS

"Located on a quiet street in the heart of chic Saint Germain, this cozy little gem with those tiny traditional lifts, has elegant interiors and retains the historical features of the former architecture. And you won't need to bring a book, every room has a little library."

9. ROYAL MALEWANE, AFRICA

"I've never been to Africa but am fascinated with the colours and textures I've seen. I imagine that going on safari and staying in bedouin tents in the wilderness would be an amazing experience."

10. MYSTIQUE, SANTORINI

"I fell in love with Santorini the first time I was there and it has always been on my revisit list. The characteristic whitewashed houses and ocean views are just a sight for sore eyes. Perched on top of the volcanic cliff, it has the vantage point for a perfect romantic getaway. Hence the island inspired the Aegean Sea colourway for the season's Global Nomad Collection."

Monday Blues

2014-04-14T16:15:00.000+08:00

Add A Smile To Your Face

2014-04-08T16:12:00.000+08:00

Don't Give Up Too Quickly!

2014-04-03T14:10:00.000+08:00

Favourite Things About Holiday

2014-04-01T16:05:00.000+08:00

Being on vacation and never knowing what day of the week it is!

What's one of your favourite things about holidays?

MISCHA Travel Diaries #110 - Horsing Around

2014-03-28T11:50:00.000+08:00

Angela from Discovery TLC programme Beach Life with Angela Kan horse riding in Kenting National Park on the southern tip of Taiwan. Catch Angela on a sunset beach ride in a new episode airing on May 1st on TLC. Angela carries the Box Bag in Lavender/Natural, get yours here!

Kenting, Taiwan

Delicious Idleness

2014-03-23T16:23:00.000+08:00

StyleSetter for StarWorld Asia: Celebrating International Women's Day

2014-03-21T16:05:00.001+08:00

Here's my television debut and I'm sharing the screen with two friends and stylish successful women; Geneva Vanderzeil and Grace Lam! I'm honored to be featured alongside these inspiring ladies in this StyleSetter episode celebrating International Women's Day. Catch the program running all through March on Star World Asia.

Geneva shows us how to DIY a cute clutch. Notice the vintage Japanese obi skirt she made for our 4th anniversary party! Click below to watch Geneva's clip.

A Pair & A Spare - Geneva Vanderzeil

Fashion maven and new mommy Grace talks about her journey and fashion philosophy.

Vogue Senior Fashion Editor Grace Lam

MISCHA Travel Diaries #109 - Love On A Mountain Top

2014-03-18T07:30:00.000+08:00

There's nothing quite like receiving photographs from our adventurous clients. Here's yummy mummy, Siuling and her baby daughter on top of a mountain in Italy.

Christmas break in Italy

The Global Nomad

2014-03-10T18:18:00.001+08:00

Where do you come from? It's not such an easy question to answer anymore. In collecting inspiration for the Global Nomad collection, I wanted to draw from the cross-cultural experiences of my contemporaries while growing up. The new collection was inspired by the lives of the ‘kikokushijo’ or ‘third culture kids, who spend a great deal of their lives outside their parent country and are a close cousin of the 'hai gui' (sea turtles). They are the modern-day nomads, with rich cultural backgrounds, are highly mobile, have discerning tastes and the ability to make any place their home.

This collection captures their colourful journeys around the globe and is a celebration of some of the most beautiful sights I've been lucky to witness. Holi pink is an eye popping neon pink inspired by the explosion of bright Holi powder used in the Hindu Festival of Colours. Aegean Sea is reminiscent of the striking Grecian dome roofs and gleaming blue waters of the Aegean. We continue to carry the crowd-pleasers; Classic Red, Classic Black and Champagne.

Top 10 Ted Talks Every Woman Should See

2014-03-09T18:07:00.002+08:00

To celebrate TED's 30th Anniversary (yes, TED is turning 30!) and International Women's Day, Glamour magazine asked TED Prize Deputy Director, Anna Verghese, to curate a list of Top 10 Ted Talks Every Women Should See. "There are now more than 1,700 TED talks—"ideas worth spreading" available online, many of them by badass women," Verghese told Glamour. "I'm honored to make recommendations of just 10 of the many talks, from scientists to artists, writers to leaders, that have made me feel smarter and more prepared to take on the world in just 18 minutes or less."

Here's my shortlist of Verghese's top 10 talks. Hope at least one of them entertains and inspires you!

This year's TED Prize winner, Charmain Gooch: Meeting Global Corruption's Hidden Players

Sheryl Sandberg: Why We Have Too Few Women Leaders
"This is the talk that preceded [Lean In]," says Verghese. "[It's] a great, unconventional, persuasive take on the way that women take themselves out of the running for leadership positions."

Amy Cuddy: Your Body Language Shapes Who You Are
"An essential talk for all young women! Cuddy is a psychologist and Harvard Business School professor who explains how our posture and body language shape not only how others see us but how we see ourselves," says Verghese.

Brené Brown: The Power of Vulnerability
"This blockbuster talk came out of one of our TEDx events in Houston," says Verghese. "Brené's take on vulnerability—and why it's essential to our relationships and to our success—has won her millions of fans worldwide."

Elizabeth Gilbert: Your Elusive Creative Genius
"The author of Eat, Pray, Love offers unconventional advice on how to nurture your own creativity," says Verghese. "Her advice: Take some pressure off yourself, but never stop creating."

Courtney Martin: Reinventing Feminism
"A beautifully heartfelt talk, she describes the three paradoxes that define her generation's question to define the term [feminism] for themselves," Verghese.

Jill Bolte Taylor: My Stroke of Insight
"Dr. Jill Bolte Taylor is a neuroscientist who observed her own stroke as it was happening. This is one of the most popular TED talks of all time," says Verghese.

Leymah Gbowee: Unlock the Intelligence, Passion, Greatness of Girls
"The Nobel Prize winner from Liberia shares powerful stories about the unlocked potential of girls worldwide, who are still far from [being] treated as equal citizens," says Verghese.

MISCHA Travel Diaries #108 - Surreal Escape

2014-03-06T07:00:00.000+08:00

About a one hour drive from Seminyak and an inclinator ride down 85 meters of cliff face, Karma Kandara beach club also known as Nammos is a refreshing escape from all the hustle and bustle of downtown Bali. The thought of lounging on the beach with a cold drink and the sight of clear turquoise waters inches away from your feet is enough to make us want to book a one way ticket!

Lunch spot before a dip in the ocean

Fashion ASIA Sneak Peek Preview

2014-03-04T15:17:00.000+08:00

With hosts Margaret Zhang & Courtney Dober, Fashion ASIA takes you across Asia for the best fashion, art & design. Here's a preview of the episode on Hong Kong featuring Michelle. Catch the full episode Wednesday 5th March 8pm HKT on the Australia Network!

Blue Riding Hood

2014-03-03T10:21:00.001+08:00

When Zoe isn't reading five books at a time or gorging on Mexican food, the budding media mogul of Fashiononymous is documenting her latest fashion finds. We love this cute blue riding hood inspired outfit she put together. Join her competition for a chance to win our Mykonos Blue Box Bag.

Everyone Needs A Little "ME" Time

2014-03-01T16:28:00.000+08:00

Global Nomad Sneak Peek

2014-02-27T13:44:00.001+08:00

A sneak peek at our new SS14 Global Nomad collection. Available in-stores & online in March.

Fuel For My Goals: TEDx and Me

2014-02-24T07:00:00.000+08:00

I still can't believe I'm posting this video. I've been a big fan of the TED site for ages; not only for their thought provoking subjects but for the inspiring speakers and the amazing performances they give. So when I was invited to be a speaker at TEDxYouth Hong Kong, I was both flattered and terrified! I really enjoyed working with the TEDx Team in Hong Kong in the run up to the big day, they made the whole process as painless as possible. Here's my talk on how travel is one of my great inspirations and how it's fueled my goals.

MISCHA Travel Diaries #107 - With Love from West Village

2014-02-21T17:30:00.000+08:00

Kate and Rosy (what she named her Overnighter) in snowy New York City!

Cosying up for a brainstorming session in their New York showroom.

Ralph Lauren HQ

MISCHA Travel Diaries #106 - Date Night With Miss Singapore Universe

2014-02-21T07:00:00.000+08:00

Entrepreneur and founder of Rachel K Cosmetics, Rachel started her career trading commodities at a hedge fund before winning her Miss Singapore Universe title. The gorgeous jet-setter continues to grow her beauty empire and here she is on a night out in Seoul.

Date night at the W Hotel, Seoul