ASIA’S MOST STYLISH
From a doctor and entrepreneur to a politician and business mogul, the fashion-forward femmes awarded Most Stylish Woman by Asia Tatler's eight titles around the region are the most impressive multi-hyphenates of their countries and regions. While in Macau for a glamorous photo shoot at the newly opened Morpheus hotel, a Zaha Hadid masterpiece, they sat down with Rosana Lai and Melissa Twigg to discuss what makes a woman stylish
Every year, Asia Tatler invites the recipients of its Most Stylish Woman award—one from each of its eight regions—to take part in a glamorous photo shoot at an iconic location. This time, our eight standard-bearers were whisked off to Macau to discover its latest landmark, Morpheus, a dramatic one-of-a-kind resort designed by Zaha Hadid at the City of Dreams complex. Named after the shape-shifting Greek god of dreams, it is a fitting legacy for the late Iraqi-british architect, known for her futuristic, free-flowing designs, and the perfect venue to showcase the glamour of our style mavens. The property was abuzz with excitement as the eight awardees arrived with an entourage of social media photographers, hair and make-up artists, and personal stylists. The dressing room was a treasure trove of the season’s latest fashion and jewellery, with some enviable ballgowns and other dresses brought by the women themselves. Morpheus, with its astounding 35m-high atrium and unconventional geometric configuration, offered plenty of creative spaces for the three-day shoot, which kicked off with an epic group shot at the property’s exhibition space, Art on 23, where a towering Kaws sculpture stands. Billed as the world’s first example of free-form high-rise architecture, the otherworldly Morpheus features a dramatic glass and steel facade, a sculptural design inspired by the ancient Chinese artistry of jade carving. The genius of Morpheus’ 40-storey structure becomes apparent when you step inside to discover a clever, cavernous kaleidoscope of spaces that immerse guests in the hotel’s unique aesthetic. Within the open-plan layout, 12 glass-sided panoramic lifts emphasise the height of the white-marble lobby and provide spectacular views of both the dynamic interior and the Macau cityscape. Between the free-form voids that traverse the atrium, soaring bridges create spaces for the hotel’s elegant shops, celebrity-chef restaurants, bars and guest lounges. Shoot days were followed by drinks and sumptuous dinners, the first of which was at Alain Ducasse at Morpheus, a finedining restaurant that pays homage to the great traditions of French gastronomy and the legendary chef Alain Ducasse, who has collaborated with Morpheus on two side-by-side dining destinations plus a glamorous bar where mixologists whip up original concoctions. The welcome dinner highlighted French dishes that have made the chef famous around the world. In between shoots at the hotel’s iconic spaces, our glamazons experienced five-star pampering at the Morpheus spa and treated their taste buds to further gastronomic experiences via the more casual French bistro Voyages by Alain Ducasse, and salads and quick gourmet bites at the Pierre Hermé Lounge. Our Most Stylish Women also enjoyed learning to play friendly table games, attended a performance and backstage tour of The House of Dancing Water, and indulged in some retail therapy at the luxury hotel’s shopping emporium, Morpheus Boutique, which features a carefully curated selection of merchandise from brands such as Thom Browne, Repossi and Proenza Schouler—the first two are available in Macau for the first time.