How To Be Classy By Kevin Kwan

Kevin Kwan is the author of the bestselling novel, which has now been adapted to the award-winning movie; Crazy Rich Asians. With this book, Kevin introduced contemporary Asia to a global audience. The book was so successful, there are two sequels. These books also show how to be classy.

Crazy Rich Asians was hands down one of the best books I read last year. Kevin Kwan is a skilled author and he wove such a vivid picture of modern Asia, that I could not resist reading the sequels as well. The sequels are China Rich Girlfriend and Rich People Problems.

I have always preferred reading a book to watching its movie adaptation. To me, the movie doesn’t always fully express the sentiments held in the book. I have found this to be the case in the Harry Potter series, the Game of Thrones series and now too in Crazy Rich Asians.

The greatest thing that Kevin Kwan taught me in the Crazy Rich Asians trilogy is fashion. He had an in-depth knowledge of fashion. From fashion shows to couture and unique pieces, he showed his firm grasp on the world of fashion. Later, I discovered that he is an alumnus of Parsons School of Design.

As I read the books, I learnt about so many designers and fashion trends. Kevin Kwan exposed me to the arts in a way I had never experienced before. He gave me (via his books) an insider look into fashion.

You can find Kevin Kwan’s advice on how to be classy and re-invent yourself in the dossier given to Mrs Bernard Tai by Corinna Ko-Tung in his book, China Rich Girlfriend. You might know Mrs Tai as Kitty Pong, Alistair Young’s girlfriend and Taiwan soap opera star who is desperate to climb the social ladder. Fiona Xie plays Kitty Pong.

Spoiler alert: Kitty Pong marries Bernard Tai.

Corinna Ko-Tung runs the Ko-Tung Consulting Group. It’s an upscale firm that helps women transform into classy ladies and respectable members of society. A corporate fairy godmother so to say.

Remember, for the crowd you seek to impress, your money means nothing. What matters more than ever now are bloodlines and when your family first made its money. Are you second-, third-, or fourth-generation rich? And how was the fortune made?

Corinna Ko-Tung

Appearance

Corinna states that the ideal body weight is ‘delicately emaciated, with just a hint of a well-managed eating disorder’. She further states that too much Botox injections stop a lady from conveying emotion via facial expressions.

Hair

High ponytails and dramatic updos can convey a look of aggression. She recommends wearing your hair down in a more layered look for most occasions and swept into a relaxed low chignon for formal occasions.

Trick: Use brown highlights to soften your features.

Makeup 

Soft makeup is advised. Makeup needn’t be expensive, but a consultation with a beauty expert is encouraged.

Trick: Buy one or two lipsticks at Arden to qualify for the free consultation and makeover.

Jewellery

When you’re older, big gemstones make you seem even older. The approved jewellery pieces are:

• Mikimoto pearl stud earrings
• Lynn Nakamura Tahitian black pearl drop earrings
• K. S. Sze single-strand champagne pearl necklace
• 3-carat pear-shaped diamond earrings (to be worn only with extremely casual sportswear
• L’Orient ruby ring on tension mounting
• Carnet orchid brooch
• Pomellato Madera quartz ring
• Edward Chiu diamond-and-jade tennis bracelet
• Vintage Cartier Tank Américaine wristwatch
• Graff 4.5-carat diamond solitaire ring

Culture 

Learn to become a scintillating conversationalist. Beauty fades, but wit will keep you on the invitation lists.

Kevin Kwan

To achieve cultural knowledge, Corinna designs a reading program for Kitty Tai. She also states that she must attend one cultural event per week. This can include but is not restricted to plays, opera, classical music concerts, ballet, modern dance, performance art, literary festivals, poetry readings, museum exhibitions, foreign-language or independent films, and art openings. (Hollywood movies, Cirque du Soleil, and Cantopop concerts do not count as culture.)

She recommends completing one book per fortnight, with the exception of Trollope, where she allowed three weeks per book. The books are:

• Snobs by Julian Fellowes
• The Piano Teacher by Janice Y. K. Lee
• People Like Us by Dominick Dunne
• The Power of Style by Annette Tapert and Diana Edkins
• Pride and Avarice by Nicholas Coleridge
• The Soong Dynasty by Sterling Seagrave
• Freedom by Jonathan Franzen
• D. V. by Diana Vreeland
• A Princess Remembers: The Memoirs of the Maharani of Jaipur by Gayatri Devi
• Jane Austen—complete works beginning with Pride and Prejudice
• Edith Wharton—The Custom of the Country, The Age of Innocence, The Buccaneers, The House of Mirth (must be read in strict order)
• Vanity Fair by William Makepeace Thackeray
• Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy
• Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh
• Anthony Trollope—all the books in the Palliser series, beginning with Can You Forgive Her?

Lifestyle Advice

1. Discontinue the use of nail polish in red or any shades of red.
2. Discontinue using any strong perfumes or scented products.
3. For big functions, wear an elegant gown that exudes quiet luxury. Google “Queen Rania of Jordan” for some examples.
4. Integrate a few important works of art into your collection. German photography is also an interesting option.
5. Recommended cars are Mercedes S-Class, Audi A8, or BMW 7 Series.
6. Skip Dubai, Paris, and London and holiday in out of the way spots. For example the Shrine of Our Lady of Fatima in Portugal, the Sanctuary of Lourdes in France, and Santiago de Compostela in Spain. 
7. Become affiliated with one charitable cause.

Social resurrection begins with social death. For about three months, completely disappear from the scene. What did you think of this guide to being classy and re-inventing yourself? Would you try it? Let us know in the comments.

Ndewoo!

*These ideas on how to be classy were culled from China Rich Girlfriend, and are the copyright of Kevin Kwan.