It’s the most wonderful time of the year

IT’S BEGINNING TO look a lot like Christmas. I don’t mean to be cheesy, but it just is. Last year, not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. This year, the city’s decorations are back in full force. From Chanel’s display at the Peninsula, to Cartier’s red baubled tree by K11 Musea, as well as the traditional lights along the harbourfront, everyone is keen to make up for the lost year of yore. We at #legend are no different.

We’ve decked this issue with boughs of holly. Flip to our jewellery shoot “Baby it’s cold outside” ( page 44) to take a look at many a festive treat and what to bedeck your own limbs with to look good while plucking a gingerbread man from the tray. Our fashion shoot “Follow the light” ( page 24) pays tribute to the more Biblical origins of the holiday season while offering you the best in outerwear for any festive gathering you might be attending.

If in need to figure out what to wear underneath those coats, look to our story on YanYan Knits ( page 36), Hong Kong’s very own knitwear brand that mixes cosy and cute with traditional Chinese elements, or our inside cover story ( page 101), which features 10 Designers to Watch as chosen and hosted by Fashion Asia for pieces a little less cosy and a little more jazzy. As for what gifts to bring with you, turn to our gift guide ( page 72) for what everyone wants to see under their tree this year or head to kapok ( page 126) for a curation of lifestyle favourites that will definitely win you any number of brownie points.

Now we know that global warming might give us a warmer winter than before, and while we can’t quite magic that white Christmas you’ve been dreaming of, we can lower the temperature by bringing you some ice instead, in the form of our cover star, Chinese supermodel Ju Xiao Wen, who dons carats upon carats of Van Cleef & Arpels diamonds in our shoot ( page 82).

Should anyone wish to stay in, tune into The Great, the TV show that Nicholas Hoult is starring in. Read our interview with him to find out why it’s a good holiday watch ( page 60) or stream the tunes mixed by Peggy Gou, who we also interviewed for this issue ( page 116). We’ve also covered the gamut of festive eats interviewing every chef in town who participated in Cookie Smiles’ Gingerbread for Good at Joyce campaign ( page 138) and once you’ve had your share of feasts, visited all the private kitchens worth visiting ( page 148) and even scarfed up a vegan Christmas spread ( page 152), drive home, maybe take a breather with some digital art ( page 130) and give a little toast to the fact that we’ve made it through yet another year in one piece. Cheers!