EDITOR’S LETTER

I was lucky enough to spend part of last month in New York, my former stomping ground and still one of my favourite cities in the world. And what struck me the most, besides the refreshingly friendly and upbeat attitudes of the New Yorkers I encountered, was the universal worshipping at the altar of Marie Kondo. It seemed I couldn’t go anywhere after January 1 – the launch date of her Netflix series Tidying Up with Marie Kondo – without people sharing the state of their sock drawers and their fascination with towering piles of mostly unworn, and non-joyinducing, coats, sweaters and Lord knows what else. Prestige HQ was no exception (I see you, Rama and Jing, with your newly edited wardrobes and Zaneta, with your uncanny knack for avoiding deadlines by rearranging your shoe closet) and so, it seems, our magazine itself. Stylist Jolene Lin delivered a minimalist cover of the Zen-like Tao Okamoto that seemed to encapsulate KonMari in a single image. Everything about it, from the serene subject to the subdued colour palette, sparks joy. Okamoto was also one of the most delightful interviews we’ve done in a long time, sharing the triumphs and challenges of making her way as an Asian woman in a strange and often confounding world. This issue also contains a sprinkling of KonMari-worthy content, from the obvious joy expressed by Roger Vivier’s new creative director Gherardo Felloni as he talks about the transformative power of shoes to British chef Simon Rogan waxing lyrical about Hong Kong-grown cauliflower and cabbages, and even the most sceptical of us all, senior editor Jon Wall, relishing his time at the wheel of a Volkswagen Golf GTI. We’re equally excited to share a number of Prestige exclusive interviews this month, including fashion and features editor Zaneta Cheng’s chats with fashion photographer Nick Knight and jeweller Andrea Buccellati as well as my conversation with Dior Make-Up creative and image director Peter Philips. And let’s not forget that February offers plenty more reasons to embrace joy, not to mention love and new beginnings. We’ve saved you the trouble of sorting out your Valentine’s and Lunar New Year gifts and goodies – simply turn to my Editor’s Picks (page 23) or our Gift Guide (page 119) and let the shopping begin. And remember, as our fearless leader once said, “Keep only those things that speak to your heart.”