Latest news with #allwhite
CNA
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- CNA
As all-white soiree Diner en Blanc returns to Singapore, can a Gen Z host shake off its exclusive vibe?
Secrecy and inclusivity go together like white clothing and sambal chilli. But bringing together seemingly conflicting ideas is the lofty ambition of one Singaporean, who plans to make one of the world's most famous pop-up events a night to remember for 3,000 guests. And he's only 18. Chiang Yee has been appointed the youngest host in history for Le Diner en Blanc, more commonly called Diner en Blanc, which will return to Singapore on Sep 6 for its seventh edition here. With its presence in more than 85 cities since it began in Paris in 1988, the large-scale urban picnic is renowned for keeping its outdoor location secret – including from guests – until the event itself. Guests are also expected to adhere to the all-white dress code; and usually encouraged to bring along their own white furniture, utensils and table decor, although they can also request for tables and chairs to be provided. The goal is to create a sense of unity through purposeful uniformity. And while guests are encouraged to bring their own food, per picnic norms, there are also catered meals available for order on the Diner en Blanc online store pre-event. But what does someone from a generation often criticised for being glued to their screens understand about pulling off a massive get-together, in a world where the mere concept of community has fundamentally shifted post-pandemic? What does a teenager – who's just hit the legal drinking age in Singapore, hasn't yet done National Service and still isn't sure what he wants to study in university – know about navigating the complexities of hosting a decadent soiree against a backdrop of global unrest? What does he know about the public relations fiasco that happened during Diner en Blanc's inaugural edition in Singapore 13 years ago, which his father hosted? He was only five then. Enough to realise he's got his work cut out for him, but not enough to be deterred, as I learnt when I spoke with the clearheaded 18-year-old earlier in July. In 2012, a food blogger was 'uninvited' after he apparently refused to remove his blog post recommending white Singapore food items to bring, like tau huay (bean curd) and chicken rice. It led to heated debate about whether local fare was sophisticated enough to match Diner en Blanc's branding. The organisers eventually apologised for the miscommunication, stating that local food had always been embraced anywhere in the world Diner en Blanc was held. Subsequently, the 2013, 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2018 editions in Singapore went on with comparably muted fanfare. A LOVE FOR EVENTS Now at the helm, Chiang talks about his intention to bring together different communities as though he's an experienced event planner. To be fair, he kind of is. The Anglo-Chinese School (International) graduate was in the student council, where he planned events like student orientation, prom night and Valentine's Day. 'The events were all student-led; no teachers were involved. All of us had to form a team for marketing, finance, operations, the whole gist of it. And what really piqued my interest was the … logistics and marketing; talking to the students, inviting them. It's a long tedious process, but it's so fun,' he gushed. He also volunteered to organise the after-prom party with his friends at a chalet. Almost his entire cohort turned up, he added with a grin. 'After all the heart, sweat and tears I put in with my team … finally on the event day, I just can't wait to see all the smiles.' Colour me somewhat convinced. Not everyone has the ability to rally the most challenging demographic – angsty, uncooperative, judgemental teenagers. So when Chiang heard Diner en Blanc was looking for an Asian host with 'something new and fresh', he sent in his application to bring the event back to Singapore. 'I may be my father's son but I'm also my own man. I took time to go and talk to (Diner en Blanc's) HQ; it took about two to three months before I was finally approved as a host,' he said. 'Many things went through their mind. First of all, my age: I'm a young boy. What can I bring to the table? I proved to them I could, with fresh ideas and new perspectives.' HONOURING HERITAGE, REDEFINING LUXURY Not only did Chiang land his role, he ensured Singapore would be the first and only Asian city to host Diner en Blanc in 2025. He secured Moet & Chandon, one of the world's most prominent luxury champagne brands, as the event's main partner, marking their first Diner en Blanc partnership in Asia. Their red and white wines, as well as champagne, will be available on site. Guests are not allowed to bring their own booze. He also scored a partnership with five-star luxury hotel The Fullerton Hotel Singapore, which will offer exclusive staycation packages for guests wishing to extend their evening after the dinner. 'When (Diner en Blanc) went global, it was really about showcasing your city's heritage and tradition. I want to show the world what Singapore is like,' he said. Partnering with historic brands also ties in with Singapore's celebration of its own heritage in its 60th birthday year, he believes. Despite Chiang's desire to put his own spin on things, Diner en Blanc's standard guidelines still apply (along with common sense and social awareness), though he isn't fussed about specifics. Respect the all-white dress code and don't mistake casual for slipshod – no slippers, in other words. But with Singapore's humidity, guests are welcome to wear a T-shirt. One can't be expected to enjoy the after-party dancing while suffocating in a suit, he reasoned. As with previous editions, there are team leaders, each responsible for putting together a table. Among the approximately 100 leaders this time – including university students and working professionals from finance to production houses – some were previous Diner en Blanc leaders and guests, now back to relive their formerly once-in-a-lifetime moment. Others signed up after seeing social media callouts. All are volunteers who share his passion for bringing together various communities to make core memories, and he wants to highlight their unique perspectives and personalities. "Storytelling" is the one aspect he often finds missing from events that fall flat. "Each guest will be under different leadership. Some leaders want to bring lots of fairy lights, make the table very pretty. Others will want to do a Haidilao hot pot. All of them have their different stories, and I give them the ability to create their own narrative," he said. "It's about what you want the world to perceive your event to be. For me, it's really simple. I want it to be about my leaders. They're the ones that support me ... They are the gatekeepers of the tickets." Tickets will cost S$60, released in three phases starting Aug 1. The first phase is for previous guests; the second, from Aug 8, for those invited by team leaders; and the third phase, starting Aug 12, will be open to the waitlist which has ballooned to over 50,000 people. (That's at least 16 times the spots available.) Naturally, the final phase involves some quintessentially Singaporean competition to secure a ticket. Those keen to attend can try searching for and connecting with team leaders on social media or online forums in the meantime, where some may have started sharing about their role for the event. Chiang doesn't want Diner en Blanc's inherent elusiveness to be a deterrent, but pique people's curiosity and bring them together to "enjoy the secrecy" as a community trying to figure out the mystery location. And if he's able to create an experience that guests still remember fondly 10 years from now, like previous hosts have, he'll consider his job done. It's an admirable goal, in part because it feels personal. He was, after all, just becoming a teenager when the pandemic hit – an age where connection starts to shape identity and isolation hits harder. At the same time, it is hard to overlook Diner en Blanc's undercurrent of old-school luxury, typically associated with invite-only circles where access often depends on who you know. It feels to me at odds with Chiang's community-driven ethos. Or maybe that's my millennial cynicism showing. Where I see luxury through a lens of wealth and exclusion, and instinctively question any attempt to rebrand indulgence as something egalitarian, it's been said that Gen Z's idea of luxury lies in 'interestingness'. They may still admire standard markers of luxury, but exclusivity alone isn't enough. A thing becomes desirable when it tells a story, and when that story feels authentic and speaks to their identity and values. And by that measure, Diner en Blanc's concept fits the brief. It's what Chiang believes his generation would call "experiential luxury". 'It's not about carrying a physical item, but experiencing that once-in-a-lifetime moment. It's a core memory you make with your best friends and loved ones,' he said, hopeful that more young people will "get the idea" and attend the event. "It's about friends of friends – making new friends through your connections. I want to create a feeling that everybody will somehow get to know each other. If not, it will become a networking party, which I don't want." When we first started talking, Chiang described himself as "an ordinary boy with extraordinary dreams", and I found myself instantly sceptical. I'd been quick to see tone-deaf hedonism, instead of someone trying, in his own way, to carve out space for joy and connection. An evening of unity won't fix a "divided world", he knows that. But in a time when it's easier to give in to distrust and disillusionment, maybe such events do offer something simpler that we've long overlooked. A reminder that community, if only for a night, still matters.
Yahoo
02-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
"Find me a better all-white team" - Cedric Maxwell claims he played with the five best white basketball players
"Find me a better all-white team" - Cedric Maxwell claims he played with the five best white basketball players originally appeared on Basketball Network. When you think of the greatest players in NBA history, it's almost inevitable that every face on the league's metaphorical Mount Rushmore would be a black athlete - whether it's Michael Jordan, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant, Bill Russell, or Shaquille O'Neal. Advertisement However, there have been rare exceptions, according to Cedric Maxwell. Some of the finest white talents the league has ever seen have happened to be his teammates, and he didn't shy away from boasting about them. Maxwell's all-time all-white starting five Speaking on his podcast, Maxwell urged Rick Mahorn to name the five greatest white players he had played alongside. While Mahorn was quick to mention his former Bad Boy Pistons teammate Bill Laimbeer, he struggled to complete his list. Maxwell, on the other hand, proudly stated that he had shared the court with what could be considered the greatest 'all-white' starting five of all time. "I played with the best all-white team ever. I got Larry Bird, Kevin McHale. I got John Havlicek… Dave Cowens and I got the guy you hate the most - Danny Ainge," Maxwell told Mahorn. Advertisement "Find me a better all-white team. And Pete Maravich also, I played with him. So, my all-white team is one of the best all-white teams ever put together, right?... I thought this the other day, 'Man, the team I played with, the white guys I played with, I don't think there could ever be… I can't think of a better one - a combination of white guys that played the game at that level," Maxwell reminisced. Maxwell witnessed Bird single-handedly transform the Boston Celtics franchise from being one of the worst in the East to a regular championship contender. Moreover, the latter's legacy isn't just about winning three MVPs, two Finals MVP honors and three titles but building a reputation of being one of the most flamboyant trash-talkers, scorers and playmakers at the forward position. Then, there's McHale. Though his brilliance was never at the center of attention due to the presence of Larry Legend, McHale carved out his own Hall of Fame career by winning two 6MOTY awards and six All-Defensive Team nods. This truly highlights his prospects of being one of the most underrated two-way forwards of all time. Advertisement Cowens, on the other hand, had a shorter career than the former two. But in 11 NBA campaigns, he won the ROY and MVP awards and even led the Celtics to two Larry O'Brien trophies in the mid-70s, all while racking up eight All-Star appearances. Havlicek's resume is even more staggering. In 16 seasons, he was part of eight championship-winning Celtics teams, earning an All-NBA selection 11 times in his career. Lastly, while Ainge's resume might not be as legitimate as the other four, he played a pivotal role in helping the Celtics win championships in 1984 and 1986. Related: "His greed was deeper than his respect for me" - MJ took exception to Jerry Reinsdorf's comments after he signed his last contract with the Bulls Maxwell was truly blessed Of course, the modern-day NBA featured more European and worldwide players like Dirk Nowitzki, Luka Doncic and Steve Nash, among more who could be ranked in the all-time list. But in Maxwell's era, only a few players were fortunate enough to share the court with such a concentrated cluster of white talent, each of whom left a mark on the sport in one way or the other. Advertisement Furthermore, while plenty of otherworldly talent never gets to share the court with a genuine talent even once, Maxwell was fortunate enough to constantly have such players at his disposal, which truly gives him the right to boast. Related: "That kind of anger and animosity is not good for your high blood pressure" - When Michael Cooper jokingly stopped Cedric Maxwell from hating on Kareem This story was originally reported by Basketball Network on Jun 29, 2025, where it first appeared.
Forbes
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Wimbledon 2025: Why Players Wear All White At The All England Club
LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 01: Coco Gauff of United States speaks to the media ahead of The ... More Championships - Wimbledon 2023 at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 01, 2023 in London, England. (Photo by) The Championships, Wimbledon is the only Major that requires players to wear all-white. What you can and can't wear at Wimbledon goes beyond tradition and aesthetics, according to the members of the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club (AELTC). History Of Wimbledon's All White Dress Code (L-R) Althea Gibson and Darlene Hard walk onto centre court for the Ladies' Singles final (Photo by ... More Barratts/PA Images via Getty Images) Wearing all-white at Wimbledon dates back to the 1870s, the Victorian era. During that era, visible perspiration was considered improper. "Players would sweat less in their whites — and their perspiration would be not be quite so obvious, thanks to the light color," International Tennis Hall of Fame Librarian Meredith Richards told NBC Sports. But back then, wearing all white was a preference, not a requirement. Wimbledon didn't ban color until 1962 when Brazil's Maria Bueno wore a colorful designer kit. The following year, Wimbledon made the all-white rule official. The U.S. Open eased its all-white requirement in 1972. Soon, players tested Wimbledon's all-white rule. During the disco era of the 1970s and early 1980s, players experimented with more vibrant colors. However, the more creative players got, the more restrictions Wimbledon placed. 1980: John McEnroe seen in action during Wimbledon Men's Singles Final in which he played Bjorn ... More Borg. He lost Mandatory Credit: Allsport Hulton/Archive Andre Agassi, known for rebellious tennis attire, boycotted Wimbledon in the 1980s over its all-white dress code. Tennis legend Roger Federer raised eyebrows in 2013 when he wore white shoes with orange soles. Wimbledon officials asked him not to wear the shoes. Federer called the rules 'too strict.' "I just find it quite extreme to what extent it's got to be white. We're talking white like it was in the '50s. If you look at the pictures then, it was all white," Federer told Reuters. "The thing is, when I came on tour, when I was watching on TV, I still have the pictures in my mind where (Stefan) Edberg and (Boris) Becker and all those guys, they had more color. There were iconic T-shirts, iconic moments, I thought." American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, known for wearing colorful and sometimes wacky outfits, agreed with Federer. In a 2015 interview with 'The Daily Mail,' Mattek-Sands said she rarely wears white and had not worn a white gown on her wedding day. "It was funny, because I was actually googling some players like when John McEnroe played, Arthur Ashe, they had color everywhere. They had color on their sleeves, big stripes, they were coming out in colored jackets. So I feel it's actually gotten stricter," Mattek-Sands said. "I think for the most part everybody that has come here has been pretty much all white, more than 95 per cent I would say, and they are still kind of picking at people for a certain stripe." Venus Williams in action against Elise Mertens on day one of the Wimbledon Championships at The All ... More England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club, Wimbledon. (Photo by John Walton/PA Images via Getty Images) In 2017, during a match, Venus Williams had to change a pink bra that peeked out from beneath her all-white dress. The same year, officials asked three boys playing in the juniors tournament to change their underwear, which had become visible beneath their shorts. Wimbledon eased restrictions in 2023, allowing women to wear darker shorts under skirts after several players expressed concerns about wearing white shorts during their menstrual cycle. Wimbledon rules continue to evolve, to address sponsorship patches and logos. Brands must get creative when designing Wimbledon attire for players, making fit, cut, trim, and fabric more important. Official Wimbledon Rules For What Players Can Wear US player Serena Williams poses (top 2R) with the winner's trophy, the Venus Rosewater Dish, greets ... More runner up Germany's Angelique Kerber (top R) during the presentation after Williams won the women's singles final victory on the thirteenth day of the 2016 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 9, 2016. / AFP / POOL AND AFP / Andy RAIN / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read ANDY RAIN/AFP via Getty Images) The AELTC rules state: LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 12. Madison Keys of the United States reacts during her match against Aryna ... More Sabalenka of Belarus in the Ladies' Singles quarter-final match on Court One during the Wimbledon Lawn Tennis Championships at the All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club at Wimbledon on July 12, 2023, in London, England. (Photo by Tim Clayton/Corbis via Getty Images) What Spectators Are Allowed To Wear At Wimbledon TOPSHOT - Tennis fans wearing wigs resembling legendary players watch Spain's Rafael Nadal play ... More against Luxembourg's Gilles Muller during their men's singles fourth round match on the seventh day of the 2017 Wimbledon Championships at The All England Lawn Tennis Club in Wimbledon, southwest London, on July 10, 2017. / AFP PHOTO / Glyn KIRK / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE (Photo credit should read GLYN KIRK/AFP via Getty Images) The All England club does not have a specific dress code for fans attending the event. However, there are restrictions. The following clothing and accessories are prohibited: The AELTC warns visitors that anyone with prohibited items may be refused entry or ejected from the Grounds. Any Prohibited Items that are surrendered as a condition of entry to the Grounds shall be deemed to be surrendered irrevocably and voluntarily. Any such items will be unable to be reclaimed and shall be disposed of by the AELTC without any liability. LONDON, ENGLAND - JULY 13: Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, Meghan, Duchess of Sussex and Pippa ... More Middleton in the Royal Box on Centre Court during day twelve of the Wimbledon Tennis Championships at All England Lawn Tennis and Croquet Club on July 13, 2019 in London, England. (Photo by) Celebrities and dignitaries who sit in the Royal Box, must adhere to AELTC protocol. "Dress is smart, suits/jacket and tie, etc. Ladies are asked not to wear hats, as they tend to obscure the vision of those seated behind them," according to the Wimbledon website. Unless you're sitting in the Royal Box, if you plan to attend Wimbledon, the primary concern is staying comfortable and cool while enjoying the action.
