In our weekly series, we bring you the latest in luxury news from around the world. This week’s highlights: Johnnie Walker toasts to high fashion with a partnership featuring Balmain’s Olivier Rousteing, the new Aston Martin DBX S family SUV drives like a supercar, and more.
Johnnie Walker Vault X Olivier Rousteing Celebrates Couture And Whiskies
As master blender of Johnnie Walker, Dr Emma Walker has led the creation of the Johnnie Walker Vault, a revolutionary bespoke experience that allows discerning clients to create personalised blends using 500 exceptional whiskies. Meanwhile, as the creative director of Parisian fashion house Balmain, Olivier Rousteing has showcased his versatility by blending fashion with other art forms by designing costumes for The Paris Opera Ballet’s Renaissance and Beyoncé’s iconic Coachella performance. Both are trailblazers in the world of whiskies and fashion, respectively, and now their two worlds have collided with the launch of the Johnnie Walker Vault x Olivier Rousteing’s Couture Expression. The first release of a two-part collaboration, this makes Rousteing the first ever cultural collaborator to be invited within the vault. The collection, which took 12 months to bring to life, comprises four couture blends inspired by a sensorial journey through the seasons: Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter. At the heart of each of the four blends are ghost whiskies from the legendary Brora and Port Dundas—which reflect the rarity of the collection—which are further layered by Walker with hand-selected whiskies from the vault.
Each of the precious liquids is contained in square crystal decanters worthy of the extraordinary whiskies, as each is handcrafted by artisans from the French luxury house Baccarat. Rousteing imbued his signature creative touch throughout the bottles by draping them in four opulent metallic shades to correspond to the seasons. These are topped off with a sculptural wing stopper, a nod to the ‘Keep Walking’ ethos evolved into flight. The bottles are priced at US$20,000 (RM85,000++) each.
Aston Martin Debuts Its Fastest and Most Powerful SUV Yet: The DBX S
Think of it as a super luxury SUV for the whole family, which doubles as a supercar. It’s faster, smarter, lighter, and louder all at once with turbo technology transferred directly from the upcoming Valhalla supercar. With power raised by 20PS to 727PS, and 900Nm of torque, this enables it to do a 0-100 km/hr sprint in a mere 3.3 seconds. Its aero-sculpted features, which took its cues from racing cars, include a dramatic honeycomb front grille, carbon fibre roof, and 23-inch magnesium wheels accompanied by a transformed rear.
Tiffany & Co. Launches Solar-Powered Rope Watch Inspired By Jean Schlumberger
Expanding upon its storied craftsmanship, Tiffany & Co. introduces the Rope watch. The timepiece is inspired by French jewellery designer Jean Schlumberger, best known for his imaginative jewellery and watch creations during his more than three-decade tenure at Tiffany & Co.. The Rope collection reflects Schlumberger’s inventive metalwork, mimicking patterns such as tassels, braids, and weaves—motifs familiar to him from his upbringing in a prominent textile-manufacturing family in Alsace, France. The distinctive twisted gold motif is now reimagined as a timepiece featuring Tiffany & Co.’s first solar-powered movement, developed in collaboration with Swiss movement manufacturer La Joux-Perret. The movement offers a level of autonomy rarely seen in jewellery timepieces. It ensures precise timekeeping with an impressive eight-month power reserve. The solar cells are set beneath the semi-translucent dial, recharging the movement and delivering a full day’s power with just two minutes of sunlight.
Crafted in 18k yellow gold, the design is characterised by concentric circles and is available with a white mother-of-pearl or glossy black dial. The bezel is embellished with polished gold rope and round brilliant diamonds, with the minute hand also showcasing the rope motif. Offered in two sizes, the 27mm model sparkles with 38 diamonds, and the 33mm model with 39. On the case-back, a sun emblem and a diamond are engraved to mark this new release.
Chopard Unveils Red Carpet Collection, ‘Caroline’s Universe’
Chopard has been the official partner of the Cannes International Film Festival since 1998, and this year, the maison will unveil a stunning new haute joaillerie collection for the festival’s 78th anniversary, fittingly with the same number of pieces. The collection explores Chopard’s Co-President and Artistic Director Caroline Scheufele’s personal universe, including flowers, animals, couture, gems, the cosmos, and the heart, which are given form by expert artisans. The pièce de resistance of the Red Carpet Collection is a mesmerising choker with a 129-carat Colombian emerald cabochon at its heart, made with ethical 18-carat white gold, the result of 450 hours of work.
Tick Off Your Summer Style Checklist With Gucci’s New Lido Drop
The new Gucci Lido campaign celebrates the essence of summer, capturing the serene escape of Italy’s coastal lidos, and brought to life through sunlight, sea breezes, and spontaneous moments. Starring Daisy Edgar-Jones, Aliocha Schneider, and David Jonsson, the campaign unfolds as a visual story, with photographer Jim Goldberg lending a cinematic touch through candid stills and his signature use of written reflections. This season brings a refreshed take on Gucci’s classic handbag collections—including the Softbit, GG Marmont, and Bamboo 1947—now crafted in raffia, wicker, and crochet. Accessories and sneakers, such as oversized totes and the Re-Web sneaker, are now awash in ocean-blue hues. Other seasonal staples include the Gigi loafer, GG Monogram denim, lightweight cotton ensembles, flora motifs, fresh Gucci eyewear frames, and Interlocking G jewellery pieces.
The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur Hosts Weekly Jazz Nights With Glitz, Glamour, And Signature Cocktails
The long-standing rapport between The St. Regis and jazz dates back to the early 20th century, when the genre was just beginning to blossom in America. The Astor family—founders of The St. Regis—developed a deep appreciation for jazz, initially embracing it at their private social gatherings. As their influence grew, so did the genre’s popularity, with the Astors playing a quiet yet pivotal role in its cultural ascent. Over the years, The St. Regis New York has welcomed performances by many prominent jazz artists, including Count Basie and Duke Ellington. Today, The St. Regis Kuala Lumpur is reviving this rich heritage through a series of live performances at its opulent, Gilded Age-inspired Astor Bar. Every Thursday evening, guests are invited to unwind at their Astor Jazz Soirée—a weekly showcase of modern jazz led by local musicians.
However, the highlight of each month unfolds on the final Thursday with the exclusive Jack’s Club, named in honour of John “Jack” Jacob Astor IV. This glamorous evening transports guests to a bygone era, complete with red-carpet flair, golden touches, and performances by some of Malaysia’s most established jazz figures. The night is complemented by a curated selection of New York-inspired cocktails, each artfully crafted to reflect the character of distinct city districts, from Lower Manhattan to the East Side.
Doors to the Astor Soirée open at 5pm, while Jack’s Club welcomes guests from 6pm, with live performances beginning at 8:30pm. For reservations, call +603 2727 6696 or email [email protected].
Wei-Ling Gallery Presents A Meditative Solo Exhibition By UOB POY Award-Winning Artist Khabir Roslan
From 27 May to 21 June 2025, Wei-Ling Gallery will be hosting Malaysian transdisciplinary artist and 2020 UOB Painting of the Year Emerging Artist recipient Khabir Roslan’s first solo exhibition, titled Sukma: Megah, Tundok. Taking its name from the Malay concepts of soul, greatness, and humility, the exhibition’s title conveys Roslan’s reflections on the gentle, cyclical rhythms of care. Visitors are invited to engage with temporal themes as the artist explores the passage of time through processes of decay, restoration, and transformation. Each work is shaped by tactile methods and a purposeful embrace of slowness, mirroring Roslan’s philosophy of mindful creation.
Simply Red, George Clinton, And More To Headline Ombak Festival 2025 At Desaru Coast
After a breakout debut last year, the Ombak Festival is set to return to Desaru Coast from 12 to 14 September 2025—this time, even bigger and bolder. Coinciding with Malaysia’s ASEAN Chairmanship year, this year’s edition is casting a wider spotlight on regional creativity across multiple disciplines, including music, performance, visual arts, gastronomy, and family-friendly fun with Ombak Kids. Several crowd favourites are back by popular demand, with chef Andrew Walsh teaming up with Carbon KL for another round of fire-grilled flavours, while Go Fly Kites and the 10-foot puppets Meera & Fiz return to enchant young festivalgoers. Segaris Art Center also resumes its collaboration with local school students to showcase art techniques, with this year focusing on traditional block printing.
Ombak’s stages will also be pulsing with soul, funk, pop, and hip-hop across three exhilarating days, as chart-topping acts promise to turn every sunset into a party anthem. International headliners include Simply Red, George Clinton & Parliament Funkadelic, Joss Stone, and Flight Facilities. Representing the Asian region are 29 musical acts, including Malaysia’s Joe Flizzow, Thailand’s Phum Viphurit, Singapore’s The Pinholes, Indonesia’s Diskoria, and Cambodia’s Vanthan.
