Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Awards 2009

*

The prospect of pomp, splendour, and beautiful clothes awaited me at last night's Mercedes-Benz STYLO Fashion Awards 2009. Held in conjunction with the Kuala Lumpur Formula One Grand Prix weekend, the awards night was the culmination of a 6-day fashion event, and a handy excuse to get dolled up and mingle with the crème de la crème of society.

*
*
*

*

The arrival of newly retired Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, affectionately known as Pak Lah
*

*

Emcee for the night Wan Zaleha Radzi
*
*

Stylo President/CEO Nancy Yeoh's opening speech
*
*

The highlight of the night was the unveiling of the much-hyped Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur, a USD30 million diamond-studded dress created by batik fashion house Jendela KL's Faisol Abdullah in collaboration with Middle Eastern jeweller Mouawad. Faisol had earlier remarked his design was inspired by a poem entitled The Rose and the Nightingale by fourteenth-century Persian poet Hafiz.

*
*

*
*
The unveiling of the dress was preceded by the recital of the poem by Tiara Jacquelina Abdullah, the leading lady of stage musical Puteri Gunung Ledang. (I found it a bit odd that she walked on-stage kitted out in her full PGL stage outfit, but whatever.)
*

Finally, the moment everyone had been waiting for arrived.
*

*

Actress and model Kavitha Kaur Sidhu wearing the Nightingale of Kuala Lumpur
*
*

*
*

*
*

Kavitha is joined on-stage by (L-R): Mercedes Benz Malaysia President/CEO Peter Honegg, Nancy Yeoh, Mouawad representative Antoine Bakhache, Jimmy Choo, and Faisol Abdullah
*
*

Jimmy Choo: the man, the legend
*
*

What followed soon after was a fashion showcase of three top Spanish designers: Maria Lafuente, Angel Schlesser, and Agatha Ruiz de la Prada. With the exception of the fantastic Ms Agatha, I didn't really think much of the outfits on display.
*
*

Maria Lafuente's collection
*
*

The entire line-up
*
*

I got bored
*
*

Eyes wide shut: Apparently Pak Lah shares my sentiments
*
*

With its bold use of colours and fabrics, Agatha Ruiz de la Prada's collection truly was a breath of fresh air!
*
*

*
*

The show ended with an unexpected treat: a Flamenco performance by a very talented Spanish group whose name I didn't catch.

*

*

*

*
In between checking out the runway antics and dashing outside to escape the freezing temperatures of the venue, I managed to get a couple of shots of the other partygoers:
*
*

Miss J sparkles the night away in her pretty shoes
*
*

*
*

Miss J with Justine
*
*

What I ended up wearing
*
*

Claudia of Tongue in Chic
*
*

Check out Claudia's rad flats!
*
*

With Grace
*
*

With the great Mr Choo
*