Photos by SPH Magazines
Layout by Adrian Tay

Opera icons
By Shaan Seth
The Straits Times

THE who's who of high society turned up in their finery for the Icon Opera Ball at the Fullerton Hotel on Thursday. Among the 300 guests there to celebrate the Chinese-language luxury magazine's second anniversary were socialites Olga Iserlis and Jamie Cuaca. The latter opened Singapore's first Manolo Blahnik boutique last month.

Icon, which is published by SPH Magazines, was launched in 2005 as a style guide for the rich and famous.

Guests at the opera-themed event tucked into a four-course Western meal, sipped champagne from Moet and Chandon and were entertained by musicians from the Singapore Lyric Opera.

Icon's managing editor Elsie Yah, in her late 40s, said: 'We wanted a glamorous ball in keeping with Icon's image, and The Phantom Of The Opera musical is in town, which is what inspired the theme.'

In contrast, last year's affair at the Asian Civilisations Museum was a simpler one which served cocktails and finger food.

In line with this year's dress code, guests arrived in tiered gowns and tuxedos, with some sporting extravagant headpieces and sparkling diamonds.

No wonder the panel of five judges, which included Yah and celebrity hairstylist David Gan, had trouble picking the 10 best- dressed guests from among the well- heeled crowd.

Aesthetics doctor Georgia Lee, 39, who made the list in a gold-coloured gown from Prada, said: 'It's nice to see everyone making the effort to dress the part. It's more fun when people let go of themselves. We should do this for more parties.'

No one left empty-handed though, as Burberry Brit fragrances packed in gold suede pouches were given to all guests as door gifts.

Icon had another reason to celebrate.

Its spin-off, Icon Moments, an annual Chinese-language luxury watch and jewellery magazine launched last October, picked up a Silver Award in the Best in Magazine Cover Design category at the IFRA Asia Media Awards 2007 held in Manila on Wednesday .

IFRA, formerly the International Newspapers Colour Association, is recognised as an international authority in the publishing industry.

This article first appeared in The Straits Times on March 31, 2007.