Jimmy Choo

Jimmy Choo, was born in Malaysia and is now the famous shoe designer based in London. Jimmy Choo is best known for his exquisitely hand-made, incredibly expensive shoes and handbags. Tamara Mellon partnered with Jimmy Choo to start a ready to wear company and sourced factories in Italy to produce the shoes on a larger scale. Consequently, plans were made to open the first Jimmy Choo standalone boutique and to develop the wholesale business throughout the fashion capitals of the world. From there onwards, Jimmy Choo Ltd has emerged as a strong fashion industry player.

His royal/elite clients include former Queen Noor of Jordan, Queen Raina of Jordan, Queen Ann-Marie of Greece, the Queen of Denmark, the Sultanah of Pahang, Michelle Yeoh, Madonna, Natalie Imbruglia and Katie Holmes as well as the late Diana, Princess of Wales.

In June 2003, Jimmy Choo was awarded an Order of the British Empire (OBE) by the Queen of England, for his services in making London the design center of the world for the fashion industry. Fashion news have revealed that a Jimmy Choo boutique will be opened in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia in due time.
Jimmy Choo's name is actually Jimmy Chow. The registrar spelled his name incorrectly on his birth certificate, resulting in the now well-known name of Jimmy Choo. He was born in Penang, Malaysia, and studied at Cordwainers' Technical College (now the London College of Fashion). Coming from a family of shoemakers, he created his first shoe at age eleven.

Jimmy Choo is no longer directly associated with the Jimmy Choo ready to wear design house which he founded in 1996 with Tamara Mellon. He now concentrates his efforts on Jimmy Choo Couture footwear.
Tags: Jimmy Choo, Tamara Mellon, OBE, Jimmy Choo Couture, Fashion, Trend, Design, Shoemaker, Shoes, Handbags, London College of Fashion

Tunisia moves against headscarves

My earlier blog on 8 Oct stated that Morocco had moved to drop headscarf worn by the female gender. It seems that the Tunisian authorities have launched a campaign against the Islamic veil worn by some women to cover their hair.

Human rights groups describe the move as unconstitutional. Police in Tunisia have been stopping women on the streets and asking them to remove their headscarves and sign pledges that they will not go back to wearing them. Under a ban introduced in 1981, women in Tunisia are not allowed to wear Islamic dress in schools or government offices. Those who insist on it face losing their jobs. Strong call indeed. (source: BBC News)
Tags: Headscarf, Morocco, Tunisia, Veil, Islamic, Religious

Talladega Nights - movie review

Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby – starring Will Ferrell & David Koechner. A crew member, Will, of a NASCAR team got a big break to drive the car in a NASCAR competition when its drivers took a break in between. He shot to instant fame and got his team new big sponsors. In the process got to know a stunning lady who became his wife and bought a new mansion. This movie turned was filled with slapstick jokes/humour. The owner of the NASCAR team somehow decided to bring in new blood and recruited a French driver.

He got into a nasty accident in a race and was not right in his mind to drive anymore. After some recuperation period with his dad’s help, he overcame his fear (due to the accident) and got back in shape to drive again. He got his old crew members back and formed a new team. On the big day, the entire field’s racing cars was caught in one single accident and only the French guy and him was left in the race. Their cars crashed badly with 1 lap to go but out of the extraordinary, a new type of race emerged on the race track. You have to listen to their crazy conversations to catch those jokes in between. Nothing spectacular for this movie as it’s the usual kind of car racing on a race track. If you have seen a racing movie before, this was nothing special but a good laugh.
Tags: Movie, Review, Cinema, Talladega Nights, Will Ferrell, NASCAR, Racing

Liquid Gold or Designer Water

The spring water under Canaqua brand is now the world's most expensive water. Canaqua comes from an underground aquifer spring in the coast mountains of British Columbia, Canada, 1,200 feet above sea level. The source, which flows at a rate of 2,200 litres a minute, is untouched by air or any living thing before it is hydraulically pumped up 180 feet to be bottled. It will only run out if it never snows for 80 years in the mountains — an unlikely event. Canaqua water is rich in calcium and, unusually, virtually sodium-free which was a rare and added bonus.

Global price for a 475ml bottle of Canaqua costs:-
- Dh10 in Dubai (found in Harvey Nichols, in Mall of the Emirates, Dubai)
- £3 in London
- €6 in Paris
- €4 in Italy
- US$7 in Japan
Tags: Canaqua, British Columbia, Canada, Spring Water, Aquifer Spring, Harvey Nichols, Lifestyle, Luxury

Casanova - movie review

Casanova – starring Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller & Jeremy Irons. The name Casanova is synonymous with playboy. Set-up to depict the Roman days and the movie was shot at the beautiful city of Venice, Italy. This guy was able to tempt any lady to fall for him till he was caught by the church. The church gave an ultimatum to him to get married by a certain date in order to stop his promiscuous lifestyle.

Co-incidentally, he bumped into a lady who was good in fencing and took a liking on her. Unfortunately, her fiancé (which her mom arranged to her disgust) was on the way to town to take her hand. Casanova has to steal the identity of a few persons in order to get near to same lady who also happened to be a controversial writer under someone’s else name. The Vatican authorities sent a bishop to arrest Casanova and the controversial writer. Typical storyline of a man going all out after a lady’s heart but with nice costumes and good scenic backgrounds.
Tags: Movie, Review, Cinema, Casanova, Heath Ledger, Sienna Miller

Potential Toll Rate Increase

With the recent increase of 15% in water tariff for Klang Valley folks, be ready to expect more from other providers. Operators of five privatised highways are now asking the government for toll increase after the Hari Raya or Eid celebration and they are:-

1. Shah Alam Expressway (Kesas) operated by Gamuda. Upward adjustment: 40%.
2. Guthrie Corridor Expressway operated by Guthrie Group. Upward adjustment: Unknown.
3. Karak Highway operated by MTD Infrastructure. Upward adjustment: 20% - 25%.
4. Cheras-Kajang Expressway operated by Grand Saga. Upward adjustment: 42.9%.
5. Lebuhraya Damansara-Puchong (LDP) operated by Gamuda. Upward Adjustment: 46.7%.

(source: 27 Sept 06, Oriental Daily News).

Tags: Water Tariff, Toll, Increase

Walk The Line - movie review

Walk The Line – starring Joaquin Phoenix & Reese Witherspoon. It’s a movie about Johnny Cash, the famous country music singer in the 50s & 60s. His fondness for music was not well accepted by his family. Johnny was then required to serve the US Air Force in Germany. His love for music continued when he was transferred back to USA and was married too. He went for an audition and his music hit the right note.

His stardom went up real fast and it got into his head. He couldn’t handle ladies who came along the way. He got hooked onto drugs and it got worse till he passed out in a concert. He was caught with drugs and his family (wife & 2 daugthers) left him. Music career – doomed. During the same period, he got to know another singer in his music tours, June Carter. June and her family tried to salvage Johnny’s life. He came back to his usual self and soon it was music to his ears. Both Johnny and June got together and lived up to year 2003. If you like music, this is the movie for you. The movie showed us that you are not down until you gave up and your dream is always in your own hands.
Tags: Movie, Review, Cinema, Walk The Line, Joaquin Phoenix, Reese Witherspoon