Before the conclusion of the 2024 Singapore Grand Prix, before the announcement of Liam Lawson replacing Daniel Ricciardo for the rest of the remaining six races of the Formula One season, Ricciardo and Yuki Tsunoda were the faces of HUGO x RB capsule collection.
Along with a denim-clad F1 car and a campaign opener involving CGI content showcasing the RB Team car hoisted onto a skyscraper for a jaw-dropping 360-degree burnout show, there is the HUGO x RB Fall/Winter capsule line. This limited-edition collection takes cues from both F1 and modern tailoring and mixes cutting-edge performance wear with streetwear sensibilities. With Tsunoda and Ricciardo fronting the collection, we talked to the duo a few days before the races at the HUGO boutique in Marina Bay Sands.
ESQUIRE SINGAPORE: What's the dynamic between the two of you? What were your first impressions of each other?
YUKI TSUNODA: [I think Daniel is] awesome, [a] tall guy. Like one of the crew, you know? So I was trying to not get too excited about him; that was my first impression.
DANIEL RICCIARDO: I don't think there was anything formal like an introductory session. Naturally, we're in a lot of meetings together at the track so you automatically start collaborating and working with the team. You'd learn a bit more about each other and how to be the best teammate you can be. We've activities away from the track as well so naturally, we get to spend time together and that kind of relationship forms and builds.
ESQ: Do you have any rituals you do before you race?
YT: For me, I'll drink Red Bull. Yeah, caffeine gives me wings for every lap. (picks up a can of Red Bull) I actually need this one just to wake myself up. I'd also do a bit of ping-pong with my trainer just to warm up the reactions.
ESQ: What about your Daniel? Any rituals or superstitions?
DR: I have a little bit of a routine, like a warm-up routine but no superstitions. I'm very anti-superstitions because there is so much noise already in our heads that I think, adding a level of superstition is adding more disruption. You know, we prepare so well that if you have a superstition and something affects it, you are already defeated in the mind before it starts. So, yeah, I don't like superstitions. That's my rant. (laughs)
ESQ: What are some of the favourite outfits from the HUGO x VISA Cash App RB capsule?
DR: Funnily enough, this is what [see image above] Yuki just picked out for me to wear to dinner. We had to dress each other and he gave me his t-shirt with his face all over it. Would I wear this out on my own? No. (laugh) But as a fan, these are quite fun. [Yuki's t-shirt] has a little bit of a retro feel. When I was young, I had similar style t-shirts of my racing heroes and stuff in that style.
YT: Obviously, I won't wear a T-shirt of myself but yeah, I like vintage stuff. I like to go to vintage shops in Brick Lane Market.
ESQ: Do you have any fashion essentials that you can't live without?
DR: I'll take Yuki with me. (laughs) Man... essentials. Glasses, yeah... sorry, sunglasses. I don't wear prescription but if I have to one day, I'll be okay with that because I think prescription eyewear looks really cool. I like it as a fashion accessory but I wouldn't wear glasses with [non-prescription] lenses... only when I really needed them. But sunglasses, that's probably the one thing I consistently carry with me.
ESQ: Is it so you can remain anonymous?
DR: It's more due to the fact that I have sensitive eyes. I need to protect them for racing, that's probably the most common reason. Sunglasses are easy; you can fit in your backpack.
YT: I care more about the accessories. Depending on the location, if I'm going out for a day or if it's a nice sunny weather, I like wearing rings and bracelets mainly. Maybe sunglasses too. Yeah, mostly I'll care more for the accessories.
ESQ: What are your favourite tracks to race in?
YT: For me, it's definitely Suzuka Circuit in Japan, okay? Obviously, maybe there's a bit of bias because I'm Japanese but the track layout is my favourite. I've done probably a lot of laps there more than any other tracks and I never get bored. Each lap makes me excited. So yes, Suzuka's definitely my favourite.
DR: I really enjoy Montreal; really fun track. For a most challenging track, it'll be this [Singapore Grand Prix] because of the heat. Physically, this [track was] probably the most challenging one I found. And it's a street circuit as well so if you make a mistake, you're probably crashing. There's not much margin for error. So, yeah, while your concentration sharpens; your fatigue increases and then the possibility for mistakes is higher... I like that challenge.
ESQ: What do you do off-track? What do you do to wind down?
YT: Didja say "wine"? (laughs) But I really love wine. Especially, when there's a weekend gap, I'll go to a nice restaurant for a nice wine pairing with food, for example. I try to have a nice dinner as much as possible. And I'd sit in a sauna, to reset myself—reset my body and mind.
DR: I love going to see live music. Maybe not necessarily a massive concert festival but a smaller, intimate venue. When you go to a concert, everyone there is engaged in the music. They are kinda fixated on the artist and I enjoy watching someone else in their element. That's a way for me to enjoy a little bit of spare time.
The HUGO x RB capsule is available at select HUGO stores worldwide and online.
For the launch of BOSS' Spring/Summer 2024 collection, the label created BOSS House Bali. Think of it as an immersive showroom. This is where HUGO BOSS EXPERIENCE members, VIP customers and KOLs from the Asia-Pacific region get to experience the BOSS lifestyle 24/7. BOSS took over a villa and dress it up in all the BOSS trappings. Where every corner is a homage to the BOSS lifestyle—a BOSS The Collection Parfum on a side table; BOSS House Bali’s own resident French bulldog is attired in BOSS dog accessories; signature bedding, bathrobes and towels from the SS24 collection—this is a destination where guests can recharge and soak in the BOSS experience.
But... if you're not a HUGO BOSS EXPERIENCE member, VIP customer and KOL, what can you do? Welp, if you're travelling or transiting, you can still check out BOSS House Bali... at Changi Airport Terminal 3.
Running until 9 May, a Balinese-inspired BOSS pop-up store is in operation diagonally from the a newly reopened BOSS store. At the pop-up, visitors can explore a curated selection of summer essentials from BOSS Menswear. That includes holiday-ready footwear, travel accessories, eyewear, and even BOSS-branded canine accessories. (Sorry cats! Maybe next time?) A highlight among the collection: a five-piece capsule line that features a BOSS Bali-themed patch. The limited-edition capsule includes beach-ready shorts, a classic polo shirt adorned with the iconic stripe, a tropical palm-print shirt and two T-shirts in white and BOSS’s signature camel-hue. The capsule is only available at the pop-up and BOSS store.
Visitors can also play with Magic Mirror tech and try out different outfits from the SS24 collection. Check out the BOSS The Collection—a fragrance wardrobe comprising 12 unique scents designed for every dress occasion. There will be fragrance consultants on hand to provide meaningful feedback and helping you settle on the scent for your individual style. Also, shoppers who spend over SGD1,000 will get the chance to win a remarkable three-day, two-night stay at BOSS House Bali.
Travel is no longer about getting to a destination. It's become an extension of one's personality and lifestyle. For some, it's a hobby; some find it to be an essential part of living—travelling and experiencing different cultures and ways of life only make us more in touch with being human. And with all things personal, there's an increasing inclination to want accompaniments that fit in with that lifestyle.
Let's face it: we all want things that are aesthetically pleasing and work well at the same time. We invest on quality that lasts for as long as possible with the added boon of aesthetics.
The BOSS | Samsonite capsule collection is the latest entry in this no-compromise balance of style and function. Combining the sophisticated style leanings that German fashion brand BOSS is known for with the already trusted combination of form and function by Samsonite, the collection is a sleek offering of luggage meant to make one look, well, boss throughout every journey.
The base of BOSS | Samsonite is the latter's premium aluminium hardcase luggage. Rendered in an all-black exterior, it is then dressed with a subtle, tone-on-tone BOSS monogram that beautifully complements the architectural ridges of each luggage's body. An anodised finish ensures that the look stays locked in for as long as possible, especially through the many different immigration points that a piece will be subjected to throughout its lifespan.
Each piece is made to be tough on the outside, but on the inside, there's a softness brought about by a luxurious quality and feel. A soft-textured lining envelopes the interior of each BOSS | Samsonite piece, done in the former's signature camel colour. The interior is spacious with the addition of zipped compartments (removable if one has no need for them) helping to make organisation a breeze. Adjustable webbing straps help to hold everything in place with the added touch of co-branded leather handles to tie in the sophistication of every element together.
There are four sizes to choose from, each designed for different lengths as well as intensity of travel. The smallest is the cabin-sized Spinner 55 that measures 40 x 55 x 23 cm, two check-in sizes, and the Trunk that's a taller, more oblong-shape and boasts a roomy dimension of 41 x 80 x 37 cm. But whichever one ends up with, there's no denying that they all are extensions of a sophisticated, well-travelled individual.
The BOSS | Samsonite luggage capsule collection is now available in selected Samsonite stores as well as online.
You’re dressed to the nines: a carefully crafted outfit complete with shoes that function as splendidly as they look, and punctuated with the right amount of accessories that say you’re all about the fine details. From the first glance of the ensemble, it’s obvious that you know who you are and what you like. The aesthetic is set. What more can elevate it? The right scent.
That’s the idea behind fragrances guided by luxury fashion houses. Yes, they’re often thought of as entry-level introductions to a fashion house—an affordable way of immersing oneself into its tenets—but conceptually, they act more like final touches to a look. The final accessory, if you will.
It is counterintuitive, however, to complete a head-to-toe Dior Men fit with a Dior fragrance—it says little about you as a person than you’d think. As is the case with style and fashion, it’s not so much about what you wear as it is about how you wear something.
Master perfumers may sometimes take inspiration from the fashion house but more often than not, the fragrances tend to stand on their own. They remain true to the spirit of the house they’re crafted for, yet hardly are they literal manifestations of a certain collection or fashion creation of the house. And that means that these fragrances are as malleable as fashion, capable of being paired and layered to suit a mood or occasion.
Subtle nuances rank high in fashion. The simplest and most minimal of fashion creations should never be taken as the easiest to execute—the more seemingly minimal a piece is, the more technical the craftsmanship needed.
The latest expression of the Hermès H24 eau de parfum is a strong representation of the notion. Formulated by the director of creation and olfactory heritage for Hermès Parfums Christine Nagel, the H24 Herbes Vives revisits the original with a more vegetal vision. The result is a greener fragrance brought about by a combination of fresh herbs the likes of parsley, hemp, and sorrel while still retaining that slightly metallic signature allure of H24. The latter is reimagined with Physcool® that adds a hint of mint to the mix.
Francis Kurkdjian interprets Dior’s iconic New Look spirit as a fragrance, reimagining it as an encapsulation of the term for today. The top note consisting of a soaring aldehyde strikes with a clean, almost sterile, hit that is then grounded with the earthy characteristics of frankincense. What gives the La Collection Privée Christian Dior New Look even more body is the base amber accord for a completely balanced fragrance that hardly overpowers.
Maison Margiela’s Replica From The Garden is essentially a bottled memory of harvesting tomatoes in a rich and healthy garden. Hence, the freshness of tomato leaves is matched with bright green mandarin, patchouli, and geranium essences for a truly green concoction. It’s fresh but not cutting, so much so that you’d smell like a bush; rather, a spritz of the very best of nature.
For more intense flavours, these latest selections offer more body and depth that are best suited to be worn on their own. Take the BOSS Bottled Elixir for example. The eau de parfum is a more elevated take on the popular eau de toilette original that’s become part of a starter pack for men venturing into fragrances. Just like the original, the overall fragrance is warm and heavy. Incense and cardamom top notes combine with earthy vetiver and patchouli before being rounded with cedarwood essence and labdanum absolute. It’s typically what one would think of as a masculine fragrance but amped up in intensity.
YSL Beauty’s new MYSLF eau de parfum is its take on “new masculinity”. While it is as bold and heavy as other masculine fragrances, there are hints of vibrant freshness. A bergamot accord serves as its top note, giving off that freshness while a middle orange blossom heart dials down the citrus with sweetness. And for that depth typical of masculine fragrances, a woody accord of Indonesian patchouli and Ambrofix.
If rich, leather-inspired scents are what you feel, add that luxurious complement to your fit, the Noir Kogane eau de parfum by Armani/ Privé deserves a spot in your fragrance rotation. The leather base is topped with sharp elemi and pink pepper, with saffron and frankincense adding on to the intensity. But if the first spritz is intense, the fragrance dries down into a sweet balance of leather and tobacco in a rather satisfying way.
Photography: Jaya Khidir
Styling: Asri Jasman
Styling Assistant: Chua Xin Xuan
It may be the Year of the Dragon but every animal of the Chinese Zodiac is a perennial representation of the passion-filled mythological race that determined the order of the lunar calendar. After all, it's a new year, new you. From fragrances to timepieces, we've curated an edit of items tailored to each characteristic from Raffles City to put that extra spring in your step. With tobyato adding his own touch on the Chinese Zodiac, we present a very special Esquire 12.
You’re a Dragon. You’re eccentric, and powerfully so. A BOSS cardigan crafted from a blend of cashmere captures that sense of regality, punctuated by an embroidered, stylised calligraphy by calligrapher Feng Tang. There’s no doubt that you’re the boss in a piece as unapologetically bold such as this—no mere mortal could pull this off like you do.
BOSS
#01-37B
For the trustworthy Rabbit, equally trusted Aesop grooming products are essential in ensuring that elegant façade remains in the spring of life. A Moroccan Neroli shaving duet—serum and post-shave lotion—helps keep skin supple and hair-free shape, while a facial hydrating serum and anti-oxidant eye cream act as youth-locking assistance.
Aesop
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As unpredictable as the Tiger, there’s no telling what Onitsuka Tiger could ever be up to. The brand known for some iconic footwear, refreshes its chunky outsoled Dentigre LS sneakers with a mixed-media upper rendered in shades of grey. Red topstitching runs across for tasteful nods to the festivities while retaining its statement-making appearance like that of the Tiger’s stripes.
Onitsuka Tiger
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Steady and dependable like the Ox, you’re a ball of love at the heart of all that steely exterior. APM Monaco’s Morse Code series is a perfect match—a stylish go-to that effortlessly dresses up any outfit. Each piece taps into your softer side with words of affection reflected through coded messages embedded into its façade. Because no one really needs to know how you really feel, unless you want them to.
APM Monaco
#01-06
Why does one need five eau de parfums on hand? Because a quick-witted Rat knows to be adaptable in whatever situation it might find itself. The set comprises five 10ml vials of some of Creed’s most prized fragrances—from Green Irish Tweed to Aventus—each designed to cater to different moods and occasions. They’re perfectly sized to keep as part of a flight pack of essentials too, so you smell fresh upon landing at any destination.
Creed
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The Pig gets a bad rep for being a glutton, leaving its determined personality overlooked. These coffee-laced assortments by Bacha Coffee will help to keep the drive going as one gets through the day. Start with a splendid cup 100 per cent Arabica coffee, snack on dark chocolate-covered coffee beans, and treat yourself to a croissant or two.
Bacha Coffee
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Chinese streetwear meets American icon in this collaborative effort between CLOT and Tommy Hilfiger. The latter’s emblematic colours have been cleverly interwoven with CLOT’s Chinese-inspired motifs to create a pattern that mashes the two seamlessly on this bucket hat. Prudent like the Dog, you’ll be prepared for light rain and shine no matter where you go, and rather stylishly so.
Tommy Hilfiger
#01-33
They say not to put your eggs in one basket—but when said basket is an intricately designed Shanghai Tang jewellery box in collaboration with artist Jacky Tsai, we see no harm in it. You’d want to fill it with your daily assortment of rings, bracelets, ear cuffs and more. And perhaps, being an observant Rooster, you’d make some space for the missus because hers is almost stuffed to the brim.
Shanghai Tang
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The Monkey’s charm and versatility is exemplified quite fittingly in the latest Top Time piece by Breitling. Inspired by second-generation Chevrolet Corvettes, the red dial is immediately as stunning as the 1960s icon and is coupled with subdials that give the feel of vintage dashboard gauges. The perforated leather strap adds to the sportscar nod yet makes for an outstanding accessory you’d want to flex any day of the week.
Breitling
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Real GOATs know that Givenchy’s all about refined elegance and the Gentleman Society rings true from bottle design to scent. The eau de parfum opens with a blend of sage and wild narcissus. Then the contrast hits—a quartet of vetiver essences coupled with a woody base—resulting in a bold, sophisticated fragrance crafted for the gentleman who’s constantly reinventing himself.
Givenchy
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More than a decade has passed since the XT-6 first broke into the scene. It’s become synonymous with ultra-distance race athletes, owing to the sneaker’s lightweight and durable construction. The XT-6 has been reimagined with new colours and materials, but its heightened comfort and stability remains—no matter how hard and long one steams through harsh terrains at the speed of the energetic Horse.
Salomon
#02-31
Like the intelligence portrayed by the Snake, a little illumination goes a long way. With Dinesh to light the way home, its portability allows for an immediate brightening anywhere: within and outside your abode. With three levels of brightness, the Dinesh is powered by a simple charge via a USB connector. When it’s sufficiently suffused, create your own ambience by hanging it or leaving it on a flat surface.
Kave Home
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Find our more about Raffles City's "Spring in the City".
Photography: Jaya Khidir
Illustration: tobyato
Styling: Asri Jasman
When BOSS rebranded, not only did it underwent a name change, it also got to the heart of the label. In its #BeYourOwnBOSS campaign, BOSS dives into the brand's slogan: "Bosses Aren’t Born. They’re Made." What are the stories that make BOSS' personalities who they are today? With BOSS' AW23 collection, the spotlight returns to that. BOSS puts the spotlight back onto a selection of top stars and influential ambassadors to explore what it is that defines them as a genuine BOSS.
Showcasing the globally familiar faces of change makers Naomi Campbell, Maluma, Lee Min-ho, Gigi Hadid, Khaby Lame, and Matteo Berrettini, the Autumn/Winter campaign offers a more intimate angle on their individual stories. It also introduces American football quarterback, Patrick Mahomes, and British actress, Suki Waterhouse, as new brand ambassadors. Short black-and-white videos shine a spotlight on these BOSSes sharing the inspiring stories that have defined their journey so far, and reflect on the moments that have shaped who they are today. While wearing pieces from the new BOSS collection, archival footage is projected in the background, providing an up-close-and-personal take on their climb to the top of their fields. Each intimate video features emotive background music in the form of Tupac Shakur’s iconic song ‘Changes,’ which samples the original Bruce Hornsby and the Range single, ‘The Way It Is,’ creating a synergy that pulls at the heartstrings while conjuring a universal sense of belonging.
The Autumn/Winter 2023 collection delivers a blend of sophisticated textures infused with a laid-back approach, embodying the BOSS brand ethos of self-determination and distinctive tailoring. Comprising elevated styles with a retro-modern feel, it features standout colors and nature-inspired prints alongside the brand’s iconic palette of black, white, and camel. A striking spectrum of gray tones augments and elevates the mood of the campaign, bringing added visual richness to the overall look and feel.
The moving and motivational approach of the new campaign—photographed by Mikael Jansson under the creative direction of Trey Laird and his agency, Team Laird—provides a touching portrait of the featured celebrities, while remaining on course with the HUGO BOSS Group’s aim to amplify the global appeal of its brands.
To cement the impact of the new campaign further, large-scale outdoor advertising techniques will be deployed in a range of cities internationally, while BOSS stores worldwide will bring the key look and feel of BOSS Autumn/Winter 2023 to its window displays and interior merchandising. BOSS.com is also hosting a dedicated hub page to celebrate the campaign’s launch and showcase key pieces for the new season.