WONDER WOMEN
Eleanor Lam and Antonia Li talk about following your heart and developing an independent spirit, an ethos mirrored by the KILIAN brand’s daring fragrances and make-up
As his last name suggests, Kilian Hennessy belongs to a family whose name is synonymous with high-end cognac, but Hennessy chose to pursue a different career path. One that started with a university assignment—a thesis on the semantics of scent—which sparked an interest in olfactory training at a “nose school” in Paris and eventually led to working in perfumery for brands such as Christian Dior and Paco Rabanne. In 2007, Hennessy started his own brand, KILIAN, which is known for its bold scents matched with equally dramatic names such as “Good girl gone Bad by KILIAN”, “Women in Gold” and “Straight to Heaven”. Since then, KILIAN has branched into make-up, starting with its Le Rouge Parfum line of delicately scented lipsticks in alluring shades of red.
Having chosen to honour his family’s legacy in his own way, Kilian Hennessy’s brand has attracted fans including Eleanor Lam and Antonia Li in Hong Kong who, like him, have chosen to follow their intuition when building their careers.
Lam. The daughter of Peter Lam and Lynn Hsieh has always marched to the beat of her own drum, whether in her role as the assistant vice president at the family business, entertainment giant Media Asia, or when she’s posting stylish snaps for the viewing pleasure of her 153,000 Instagram followers. “I am confident in who I am and I never conform to stereotypes. Growing up, I always looked up to my mother; her grace and her strength are inspiring. Her zest for life and appreciation for beauty really helped shaped me into who I am today,” she says.
It’s no surprise, then, that she gravitates towards beauty brand KILIAN, which is spearheaded by a maverick like herself. “Kilian Hennessy and I both grew up in influential families. Instead of conforming to our families’ expectations of us, we decided to set sail on our own unique journeys. As important as it is to learn from what your family expects of you, it is just as important to learn from your strengths, in order to forge your own path and find your place or purpose in life,” says Eleanor.
She shook things up at Media Asia by bringing a unique East-meets-west perspective and accentuating the importance of social media, activating and managing the company’s accounts herself. As an influencer, Eleanor is also always sure to look her best and leave a striking impression wherever she goes, whether at her many business meetings and events or while on a night on the town with her friends at Ophelia, her cocktail bar of choice.
“My favorite part of a night out is having my girlfriends over and getting ready together. We love to take our time, blasting
music while putting on make-up, exchanging beauty tips, and trying on cute outfits together,” she enthuses. Two essentials in her make-up bag are KILIAN’S Le Rouge Parfum in Heaven Rouge Satin and the Good girl gone Bad by KILIAN perfume. “It’s all about the lips. A red lip is such a sexy statement,” she advises. “When you give a woman the right lipstick, she can conquer the world.” Le Rouge Parfum’s alluring scent of neroli and vanilla adds even more appeal.
“When you radiate confidence, people can always sense it. A unique scent like Good girl gone Bad by KILIAN can help you express multiple facets of your personality—be it the pure, innocent and sweet side or the untamed, uninhibited, wilder side,” she says, singling out the fragrance for its fresh opening notes of osmanthus and orange blossom, and heart notes of tuberose.
“I feel strong yet very feminine at the same time. The tantalising floral notes of tuberose instantly make me feel more alluring and poised after spritzing it on. Plus it’s long-lasting; I love how it lingers on my skin and leaves a lasting impression. When I wear Good girl gone Bad by KILIAN, it evokes all kinds of fond memories from my college years, living in Los Angeles. The scent brings me back to how I felt when I was cruising down the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu in my convertible, and to all those exciting nights out in Hollywood with my friends.”