Hoosta Magazine

Tina Tan Leo is founder and creator of All dressed up, an emerging fashion brand from Singapore. Last month, she has presented her spring/summer collection 2008 at the Bel ami hotel, « an exclusive fashion style for the bohemian spirited travelers » she says.

Why did you chose Bel Ami hotel ?
I love Bel ami hotel, for the contemporary style and for location in the heart of Paris. It is modern, fresh, sweet and I feel in perfect harmony with the philosophy of the hotel. I love the people here, the general manager and the staff, very hospitable. We are very well received and very well assisted.

What is a luxury design hotel for you today ?
There are so many beautiful hotels in the world, beautifully presented, with incredible confort and design. What is the most important is the management, how you make the guest feel, how they are welcoming. A luxury design hotel must have a spirit and offer an experience. Then the guest would come back.

What is important for you ?
The hotel must have a personnal touch like the services, it’s very important. I wanna feel like living in my own home. It must be friendly with a fashionable spirit like the Bel ami hotel.

Do you come very often in Paris ?
Several times a year !

What are your favorite places for dining and shopping ?
Oh my God, I have many addresses! I like a very good restaurant nearby the Bel ami hotel, just around the corner, called « La Cigale Récamier ». It’s a beautiful restaurant and they cook a wonderfull soufflé. Highly recommended ! There is also the Armani Caffé, a very elegant café on the other side of the place Saint Germain des Prés.

What do you think about setting up a café in a fashion store ?
We are having a café in our new store. We are having a new store coming up in Singapore with a very special cafe bar, which will offer very good services to keep customers happy.

Do you think that hotels and cafés are essential in a city ?
Yes, it’s very important, because people go there to meet, to chat, to do everything. In Paris, there are a lot of outdoor cafés where you can stay outside and watch people. That make city more interesting. Around Saint Germain des Prés, you have so many beautiful cafés, they are the charm of Paris ! Bel ami hotel is located in a very nice area, queen size streets and nice boutiques all around. Here, people obviously go shopping and go out for dinner. All this is very stylish and so lively.

Are you inspired by european fashion models for All dressed up ?
Well, you know, we work with companies like Givenchy and Chloé. We like the french fashion, I think it’s very international and global. In Singapore, we love international fashion but we also respect our asian culture. Fashion today is about the world, about living, a mix of different cultures. People want to enjoy, having nice clothes, eat well, stay in beautiful hotels… That’s why I am in fashion business ; because it makes people happy, it gives them experiences, having a lifestyle. Hotel and fashion, both are about people !

This year, you’ve worked with Francesca Versace, 25 and niece of Donatella and the late Gianni Versace …
Yes, we are very proud to collaborate with Francesca this year as guest designer. She has designed 30 pieces in our philosophy and spirit. Our brand is for women who love to travel, women who are stylish, modern, free minded, happy to live. In the world, there are so many international women with a busy social life ! They need a pair of jeans, a beautiful top, easy to wear day and night. As you know, we are retailers for many years and we know how it’s important to understand every woman whit her own style. We want to make fashion wearable with nice details which provides a unique style for each of our customer. We are happy to see that western women love what we do. You expect « All dressed up » to do many more collaborations in the future.

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