Maldivian Travels With Choo

​Five influencers get away from it all in the Maldives and with the help of eyewear and footwear from Jimmy Choo express their approaches to tackling the summer holidays. 

Irene Kim @ireneisgood

Who is your style icon? Where do you find styling inspirations?

Jane Birkin, Jean Shrimpton, Rihanna and Kate Moss. I get inspiration from my environment and men or women who have their own individual sense of style.

What is your favourite travel destination for food, for shopping and for photographs?

Food in Japan, shopping in Paris and photos in the Maldives.

What tops your travel bucket list?

Africa, particularly Morocco.

What’s your most unforgettable travelling experience?

Venice. It was out of this world.

What are your tropical travel essentials?

Sunnies, hats, sunscreen, cute swimsuit, my phone and comfortable sandals.

What is one packing tip that always works for you when you travel?

Pack for any occasion, pack a dress and a pair of heels because you never know where you’re going to end up.

What do you wear on trips to tropical countries?

Cut-off shorts, a statement top and a cute pair of mules. However, don’t expose too much skin. Linen shirts and maxi dresses are good alternatives to stay cool and look chic.

What’s in your long-haul carry-on bag?

Moisturiser, face mask and eye mask.

Yoyo Cao @yoyokulala

What is your favourite travel destination for food, for shopping and for photographs?

Japan for food, Japan and Paris for shopping, and probably Paris and New York for photos.

What tops your travel bucket list?

Anywhere I can get an excellent view of the Northern Lights.

What’s your most unforgettable travelling experience?

I almost had my phone stolen once during Paris Fashion Week and it was quite an intense chase to get it back. If we’re talking about more “fun” experiences, I recently saw a turtle while snorkeling in the Maldives.

What are your tropical travel essentials?

Sunblock, sunglasses, sheet masks, swimwear that can double as something to wear out, sandals, denim cut-offs, lip balm, straw hats, cropped tops, matching bottoms and a camera.

What is one packing tip that always works for you when you travel?

I always have my outfits sealed in ziplock bags so I know exactly where everything is and it also saves space. I also find that it’s easier if you already have the necessities, say electronics or skincare, in big ziplock bags.

What do you like to wear on trips to tropical countries?

I always say you can’t go wrong with a slightly sheer white shirt, denim and sneakers. A basket bag is a nice summer accessory to have. Cropped tops with matching bottoms are fun. Lightweight off-shoulder dresses or minidresses in linen also have a summer vacation look to them without going too far into the typical sundress territory.

What’s in your long-haul carry-on bag?

I wear a sweatshirt and sweatpants for maximum comfort. My Apple EarPods, lip balm, travel-sized versions of my skincare go-tos and a mask to keep my skin hydrated.

Vanessa Hong @thehautepursuit

What are your favourite travel destinations for food?

Fes in Morocco, the best; Los Angeles for all the vegan eateries; and Sydney because everything is ridiculously fresh.

For shopping?

Marrakech has the best markets, Paris the most variety and Tokyo, great vintage.

Minimal or “maximal” packing?

I’d like to be minimal but it always ends up being maximal.

It’s easy to dress fashionably in a cool environment. What are your tips for staying cool while looking cool in hotter places?

It’s all about breathable fabrics and strategic cut-outs. I wear more dresses in the summer than anything else.

Can you name 10 travel essentials?

1. The perfect silk dress that can transition from day to night
2. A great shawl for summer nights
3. Vintage cut-off shorts
4. A wicker bag
5. A pair of cat-eye sunglasses
6. A straw hat
7. A big book
8. Sunscreen
9. Face mist
10. Paper masks

Would you purposely get lost in a foreign country?

Depends on the country.

How many countries have you visited?

Maybe 30? I’ve lost count.

What should one never pack for a trip?

I once brought my ankle weights with me on a trip so I could continue training. The weights would constantly trigger security who stopped me at every turn. I never did that again.

Can you share your favourite travel tip?

I always take a bottle of chlorophyll with me every time I travel. It’s great for your health and is basically hyperconcentrated liquid greens for when you cannot get them.

What’s one thing you miss most about home when you’re away?

My Lagree workouts and yoga sessions with my teacher.

Do you prefer a relaxing getaway or a party trip?

Always relaxing.

When you’re on vacation are you an early riser or do you prefer to sleep in?

Early riser.

What’s your most unforgettable travelling experience?

The Maldives with Jimmy Choo.

What tops your travel bucket list?

Peru, Costa Rica, Berlin and India. At the top of my list is probably India, it just seems magical.

Liz Uy @lizzzuy

What is your favourite travel destination for food, for shopping and for photographs?

I am fortunate to travel because of work and have lost count of the countries I have visited. When I was younger, I loved New York and its fast-paced lifestyle. Now my favourite would have to be Los Angeles where the vibe is more chill. For food and shopping, it’s a toss-up between Japan and Hong Kong. I can’t decide because I love them equally. For the best Instagrammable photos, it’s definitely the beaches in the Philippines.

What tops your travel bucket list?

South Africa. I want to experience its wildlife, feed the giraffes and see lions casually chilling in front of me.

What’s your definition of a perfect vacation?

Lots of sunshine with gin and tonic.

What are your tropical travel essentials?

Lip balm, sunscreen, moisturiser, insect repellent, sunglasses, sensible shoes, wide-brimmed hat, a cute straw bag, a day dress and a swimsuit.

What’s your most unforgettable travelling experience?

The challenge of trekking and to experience the spiritual energy in Bhutan was memorable.

What is one packing tip that always works for you when you travel?

Learn to effectively compartmentalise.

Do you have any multitasking fashion or beauty items that are perfect to take on holiday?

Virgin coconut oil. I use it as a lotion, hair treatment and make-up remover. For fashion, denim jeans are perfect to dress down or dress up an outfit, or just wear casually with a T-shirt.

What do you like to wear on trips to tropical countries?

Wearing colours is the quickest way to stay cool in the summer. I love good statement mules paired with an interesting iteration of the denim jean for summer. I’ll just throw in a sleek shoulder bag and I’m summer-ready.

What’s in your long-haul carry-on bag?

Sunglasses, a cashmere throw, moisturiser and a small bag of toiletries.

Who are your style icons? Where do you find styling inspirations?

Bianca Jagger and Loulou de la Falaise. For styling inspo, it’s definitely when I travel that I feel most inspired. Inspiration is everywhere, as clichéd as that may sound.

Jane Chuck @janechuck

What is your favourite travel destination for food, for shopping and for photographs?

I don’t really have a favourite, each of them inspires in different way.

What is your favourite destination for food?

I can’t really pick a destination. I love Asian food and you’ll be surprised to find the best seolleongtang in Los Angeles.

Do you have any multitasking fashion or beauty items that are perfect to take on holidays?

A good red lipstick.

What is on top of your travel bucket list?

Feeding giraffes in Kenya.

Who is your style icon?

I’ve recently been influenced by how people dress in Los Angeles.

What do you like to wear on trips to tropical countries?

Statement T-shirts, perfect jeans, a pair of low- cut sneakers and a summer bag.

What is one packing tip or trick that always works for you when you globe trot?

Play with layers instead of over packing unnecessary clothes. Spend time on organising, you will find a lot of wasted space if you pack last minute.

What are you travel essentials for somewhere tropical?

Sunscreen, mini-bags, shades, face mist, sneakers, facial mask, great playlist, a perfect pair of jeans and a lightweight shirt.

What’s in your long-haul carry-on bag?

Facial masks. Long-haul flights make your skin dry.

Photography / Candice Lake

This article first appeared in the June 2017 issue of #legend magazine​