The past 12 months have not been easy. Last year brought the world an unprecedented crusade against sexual misconduct and a leader with overbearing persona. But it was also the year feminism fought back, from the Women’s March in Washington to the #MeToo movement that forged new solidarity among millions of women around the globe. It was also the year human goodness triumphed, where acts of heroism by selfless bystanders during natural disasters – especially the terrible flood in Penang – turned into moments of courage and hope.
So, what’s on the horizon for 2018? New openings, wedding bells, a bevy of cultural highlights and the highly anticipated GE14. To borrow a line from Bruno Mars who will be performing in May at Axiata Arena, ‘Let’s start this party off right’!
Malaysian general election 2018
Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi mentioned last November that “the elections will take place no later than 180 days from now”. The six-month duration did not come as a surprise as BN’s five-year term is ending on June 24, with Parliament automatically dissolved then. Our guess is mid-May but there’s speculation elections might take place as soon as January.
Royal wedding + royal baby
At long last, Prince Harry and Suits actress Meghan Markle will tie the knot on Saturday, May 19. According to reports, the couple is planning an intimate, casual ceremony at the rustic chapel in Windsor Castle before living together in Nottingham Cottage at Kensington Palace. Let’s not forget another royal celebration is on its way too: Kate Middleton and Prince William are due to welcome their third child in March.
FIFA World Cup
Partners and spouses of ardent football fans will find themselves in a state of neglect (or chaos, should a favourite team loses) as the World Cup, held in Russia this year, takes over our lives for an entire month. All civilised conversations, apart from football, will halt until a new champion is crowned after 64 intense matches.
Blockbusters and interesting indies
Year 2017 had some bright cinematic moments, most notably Luca Guadagnino’s Call Me By Your Name, Christopher Nolan’s Dunkirk and Patty Jenkins’ Wonder Woman. But this year will see a mix of tentpole franchises (Black Panther, The Avengers: Infinity War, Mission Impossible 6, Pacific Rim) and works by famous auteurs such as Wes Anderson’s Isle of Dogs and Terrence Malick’s historical drama Radegund. We’re quite excited for Ocean’s 8 too, which arrives at a time when ‘gender-flipped’ reboots are improving the number of females in leading roles. The blockbuster is anchored by Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Rihanna, Mindy Kaling, Anne Hathaway, and a host of badass women you don’t want to be on the wrong side of.
Thought-provoking TV shows and new seasons
No TV series has hit a nerve like Hulu’s Emmy-sweeping The Handmaid’s Tale, the crisp and masterful adaptation of Margaret Atwood’s dystopian novel with themes that ring chillingly loud in a society that, at times, display strong disregard for women. The highly anticipated second season is premiering this April, which hopefully means, more standout performances from Elisabeth Moss. Other shows you don’t want to miss: Sharp Objects, The Chi, Britannia and Maniac.
Music: New album and concerts
Queen Bey, joined by The Weeknd and rapper Eminem, is returning to the hot-ticket Coachella after she cancelled her set due to her pregnancy last year. We’re also setting our sights on Justin Timberlake, who will be dropping his album Man of the Woods in February ahead of his Super Bowl performance – 14 years after his duet with Janet Jackson that involved a notorious ‘wardrobe malfunction’.
Fashion and style trends
Another year, another wardrobe update. Pastel shades (think gelato!), voluminous blouses and fringe details are looking to stay and prosper. Elegant and sheer pieces done in sophisticated cuts will continue to dominate, if Dior’s maxi skirts and Burberry’s see-through plastic trenches are any indication. Collaborations this year will see a marriage between art and fashion, just as how Raf Simons included Andy Warhol’s screen prints in his spring 2018 collection or the Ignasi Monreal’s painting for the Gucci spring campaign.
Supercars for the road
A raft of exciting cars are making their debut, some sporting a radical new look, some getting a boost in efficiency. Not to worry; there’s something to keep everyone excited: the super-SUV Lamborghini Urus will lead the brand’s foray into the world of hybrid drivetrains; the Aston Martin Valkyrie, a hypercar designed and built in collaboration with Red Bull Racing, finally hits the road; while the long-awaited Mercedes-AMG Project One brings F1 hybrid technology from the race track to the road.
Food trends
Goth Food is the new black, and it sticks out like a giant middle finger amidst the deluge of rainbow and edible technicolour foods on Instagram. The unicorn fatigue is setting in, while charcoal lattes, coconut ash ice cream, black truffle gelato, squid ink bagels, black rice sushi and jet-black lemonade (made from activated charcoal) are seeing an uptick. But trends aside, sustainability and health still rank very high on diners’ priority list, prompting more restaurants to source pasture-fed meats, farm-raised eggs and ingredients from smaller producers.
New openings, new staycations
Adding to KL’s dramatic city skyline is the new Four Seasons Hotel Kuala Lumpur, opening early this year. The hotel is only part of a 65-storey mixed-used tower that includes 242 private residences, 27 serviced apartments and a five-storey luxury retail podium. Down in Bukit Bintang, the first citizenM hotel – the Netherland-based hotel chain that’s famous for its contemporary art collections, ultra-modern designer furniture and innovative technology – is set to open come Q2 of 2018. More luxury accommodations are debuting, including the W Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur and the super lush Royale Pavilion Hotel.
