Siti set to add local flavour to the Grammys
KUALA LUMPUR: What is Datuk Siti Nurhaliza wearing to the 49th Annual Grammy Awards? A kebaya? Cheongsam? Saree?
Well, her outfit is a fusion of traditional and modern elements designed by Siti and Datuk Bernard Chandran.
Siti, who will be walking the red carpet as one of the invited guests, is taking one outfit to the event to be held at the Staples Centre in Los Angeles on Feb 12 at 9am (Malaysian time).
Siti said the black and white material was purchased during a recent trip to London.
The material is by Jakob Schlaepfer, known as the finest producer of innovative textiles, specialising in embroideries, sequins, lasers and crystal designs for high-end fashion houses.
“As an artiste, attending the Grammys has been my dream. At first, I was supposed to attend the event as a guest.
“But when Star World and Channel V told me that I’d be walking the red carpet, I decided to make better preparations for the event,” said Siti who will be accompanied by her husband, Datuk Khalid Mohamad Jiwa, production manager Saiful Kadry and her longtime make-up artist, Nurul Shukor.
Although Khalid was supposed to walk the red carpet with her, he hadn’t decided yet on whether or not to do so, said Siti.
Siti was chosen to represent Malaysia after she was named best-dressed celebrity at Star World’s Breakfast With The Stars held last year.
At that time, she wore a creation by Radzuan Radziwill.
“Although the dress I will be wearing has a modern feel to it, we have also used embroidery for a traditional effect.
“The black and white beaded top will be matched with an eight-panel black chiffon skirt which gives it a flowy effect. To go with the dress, I will wear accessories by Chopard.
“I don’t know what to expect from this event but if the paparazzi likes my dress, it will be great.
“After all, nobody knows me there,” said Siti who will leave for the US on Saturday (Feb 10). She is scheduled to stay in Los Angeles until Feb 14 before leaving for Canada for a short break with her husband until Feb 20.
Is she looking forward to meeting anyone there?
“Although I’m a singer, I’m also a fan like everybody else.
“I look forward to meeting Beyonce (Knowles), Justin (Timberlake) and my all time favourite artiste, Celine Dion.
“What will I bring along? A camera of course!”
Siti goes to the Grammys
By Sheela Narayanan
February 09, 2007
IF you are watching the live telecast of the Grammy Awards on Monday, there is a chance you may catch a glimpse of a familiar face.
As you read this, 28-year-old Malaysian diva Siti Nurhaliza is on her way to Los Angeles to attend the US music industry’s biggest night.
She has been invited to tread the red carpet at the Staples Centre with the likes of Shakira, Mary J Blige and Christina Aguilera.
This makes her the first Malaysian on the Grammy celebrity floor-runner. Singapore songbird Sun Ho made her Grammy red-carpet debut in 2004.
The awards ceremony will be shown live on Star World (StarHub Ch 18) on Monday at 9am, with a repeat at 8pm.
Even though Siti will not be appearing on the main show, Star World’s music channel Channel V will be filming the red carpet event separately to be aired at a later date.
Siti won a pair of tickets to attend the event as the best-dressed celebrity at Star World’s Breakfast With The Stars, an Oscar party hosted by the cable channel for over 300 Malaysian celebrities last year.
Star World later managed to get an invitation from the Grammy organisers to have the singer and her husband, Datuk Khalid Mohd Jiwa, 48, walk the red carpet.
In a phone interview with The New Paper yesterday, Siti said she felt truly fortunate.
‘It was an opportunity I could not miss. Who wouldn’t want to walk the red carpet at the Grammys?
‘I am so used to walking the red carpet in Malaysia – the Grammys will be something else.’
She added that she plans to wear a black and white two-piece outfit, with a long skirt, designed by Malaysian couturier Bernard Chandran.
True to her image, Siti said the outfit, while modern, would be ‘conservative’ with Malaysian-inspired detailing.
Her accessories will be from Chopard, although she hasn’t picked out the premium pieces yet.
This is another feather in Siti’s already crowded cap.
Last October, she was awarded the Darjah Indera Mahkota Pahang as part of the Sultan of Pahang’s 76th birthday honours, which allows her to use the title Datuk.
There was no mistaking the giddy happiness in her voice – and we don’t think it is only because of the Grammys or the Datukship.
Siti is a woman in love and she admitted as much.
‘I am very happy. I feel very secure. I have a shoulder to cry on.
‘And I have filled out, that’s for sure,’ she said with a giggle, alluding to her slightly chubby frame, which sent the Malaysian media speculating about a possible pregnancy.
She said she wasn’t surprised by the baby frenzy her weight gain has started.
‘It was inevitable. As soon as you get married, they will ask you when you are going to have babies,’ she said.
‘I am just relaxed about it. If they ask the question, I just answer.’
MUM ABOUT BABY
Whether she has a bun in the oven at the moment, she is not saying.
As usual, she said she will let everyone know when it happens.
As for her husband, Siti said Datuk Khalid is still getting used to being in the limelight and the centre of gossip since the couple wed last August.
There were rumours around Kuala Lumpur that their marriage was shaky and that Datuk Khalid controlled Siti’s freedom.
Said Siti: ‘He is a little taken aback, but I told him that he had to get used to it since he married a celebrity.’
There was also talk that she was considering a career as a politician.
Malaysian newspaper Utusan Malaysia’s Sunday edition, Mingguan Malaysia, reported that she was enamoured with politics after following her husband around during his activities.
This was further emphasised when she pitched in to help flood victims in Johor.
But Siti clarified: ‘I have no political ambitions. I was only helping the flood victims.’
When asked whether she entertained any thoughts of joining politics, she firmly said: ‘I don’t think I am right for it.’