The pursuit of life’s pleasures comes in many forms. To some, it’s the dedicated quest of the world’s finest cuisine. To others, it’s a leisurely stroll with loved ones. To the avid fashion cognoscente, however, it can often be as simple as stumbling upon a piece that all but encapsulates the art of living.
Cue Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné: the art de vivre-inspired capsule collection that sees the coming together of two contrasting yet cohesive luxury houses. Melding Montblanc’s sophisticated leatherwork and silhouettes with Maison Kitsuné’s tongue-in-cheek and versatile flair (the Parisian brand has roots in music and food as well), the result is a one-of-a-kind line-up that spans both fashion and lifestyle.
A reflection of versatility in his own right, bona fide multi-hyphenate Lawrence Wong—the Story of Yanxi Palace megastar is an actor, singer and owner of skincare label, Grail—is one who identifies with the sense of joy that comes with a life well-lived. “To me, the art of living is the art of balancing. A life well-lived and enjoyed is one that is balanced. Work hard, play hard, enjoy the fruits of your labour and share it with your loved ones.”
With this capsule, ardent fans of German luxury house Montblanc can expect a smattering of historic and luxurious leather bags fit for a bon vivant on the go. Think: carry-all totes, roomy backpacks, handy clutches and compact wallets crafted from durable Saffiano leather in original design treatments. And while the selection of bags is generous as it is, the collection takes it one step further with a host of accessories that’ll make everyday tasks that much more special.
Case in point? Enjoy your daily dose of music through the lush over-ear MB01 headphones, take notes in a leather-encased notebook and hold on to house keys with an ultra-adorable key fob—all featuring Maison Kitsuné’s revamped ‘Camo Fox’ print. The design is a nod to the nimble fox—’Kitsuné’ in Japanese—which is said to be a symbol of dexterity, much like the lifestyle-meets-fashion ethos of the label.
As for the specific things, places and faces that add to the 32-year-old’s joie de vivre? It varies from a life-changing trip to the Galápagos Islands to something as simple (and sorely underrated) as sleep. Here, the actor lets us in on the pleasures he holds near and dear.
On his favourite restaurant
“One of my favourite places to go to eat is this small noodle shop under a huge tree just by my house in Johor Bahru, Malaysia. I have such fond memories of eating there with my parents. And after all these years, it’s still there.”
On the musician he can’t get enough of
“Max Richter, a British composer and pianist. I love how his scores and music make me feel so many different kinds of emotions all at once.”
On the book he revisits time and again
“The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry. It is a magical children’s story book that touches on life lessons that all adults need reminding of. I have a collection of it in various pop-up editions and languages.”
On the artist he hopes to buy from
“Currently, it’s James Turrell. I love his play on light and spaces. I think it’s so brilliant and genius. One of my dreams is to own one of his lights, which I honestly think would be impossible in this lifetime as a private commission can cost up to $2 million.”
On the landmark he admires
“In Singapore, I love ParkRoyal Collection Pickering for its lush foliage and green concept.”
If you’re on the hunt for a line up of luxurious pieces to that’ll add to your everyday, here’s a feel of the Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné capsule on Lawrence Wong himself—as well as an up-close look at the entire collection below.
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné backpack, $1,870
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné MB01 over-ear headphones, $1,105
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné tote bag, $1,630
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné fine stationery, $395
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné sling backpack, $1,460
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné document case, $1,870
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné pocket holder with zip, $395
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné messenger, $1,355
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné clutch, $1,015
Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné wallet, $600
Photographer: Shawn Paul Tan
Fashion: Desmond Lim
Writer: Maya Menon
Make-up: Peter Khor using Chanel Boy
Hair: Gary Low
Photographer’s assistant: Melvin Leong
Stylist’s assistant: Joey Tan
Make-up assistant: Rachel Tan
Location: The Artling
Artwork: Private collection of Talenia Phua Gajardo
The Montblanc x Maison Kitsuné collection is exclusively available at the Montblanc Singapore Raffles City boutique within South East Asia.
