LOOKING FORWARD

Instead of revisiting the past, we close the year with Serena Luo — a young Malaysian whose curiosity, cultural literacy and clarity of purpose point to what lies ahead.

- Creative Direction & Styling: COLIN SIM Photgraphy: ERIC CHOW Makeup: RAESEOK @ PLIKA MAKEUP Hair Stylist: KEITH ONG Words: ZENA KHAN

As 2025 begins to slip into its final weeks, many people will nostalgically turn backward.

They revisit accomplishments and tally losses, reminisce over fond memories from the year that has passed and perhaps measure where they stand compared to where they began. Prestige is choosing to do something different for its December issue, which is traditionally reflective. Instead of looking backwards, the magazine is glimpsing ahead and asking what the future of Malaysia might look like when viewed through the experiences of the next generation.

Twenty-four-year-old Serena Luo represents one possibility for the future. On a rainy Friday in early November she walks into a popular Bangsar based cafe for the interview for this cover profile with a composed presence and style choices that reveal a preference for clean lines. When asked to describe her style she describes it as an aesthetic extension of her personality saying she sees herself as “timeless, elegant and chic.”

Today she wears a vintage Cartier Baignoire from the 1980s, a watch inherited from her aunt that is clearly in step with her style. Twisting the strap around her wrist she invites me to take a closer look describing it as a favoured classic. “It is yellow gold, and the dial is more of an off-white or cream because it is vintage.” The tan strap matches her beige top, a nod to her love of careful coordination, and the watch is the perfect ice breaker on her experience at her recent cover shoot for Prestige. “A highlight for me was the Cartier jewellery. The shoot gave me a new perspective on Cartier's fine jewellery, from how it is made to the variety of styles beyond the classic Panther which I was always more exposed to.”