Along with Cathay Pacific's refresh of its first class suites, the airline has also unveilled the new first class 'soft product' for those passengers who fly at the pointy end of its Boeing 777 and Boeing 747 jets.
Female travellers will delight at the stylish amenity kit contained in a clutch bag from Trussardi.
The bags come in two colours chosen to complement the new cabin interior – one a dusky ochre, the other a mid-beige.
Inside are skincare and toiletry products from high-end Australian brand Aesop: Mandarin Facial Hydrating Cream (15ml), Resurrection Aromatique Hand Balm (15ml) and Rosehip Seed Lip Cream (6ml).
The bag folds open from all four sides rather than having a clasp or zipper along the top, which could make it better or worse for post-flight use depending on your preference.
Also in the bag: a compact hairbrush and the obligatory dental kit containing a toothbrush, toothpaste and mouthwash.
There's also a new sleep suit – what most people call pyjamas – from home-grown Hong Kong brand Pye.
This replaces the popular Shanghai Tang sleepwear (both are shown below).
The PJs are supplied in a useful tote bag.
I'm a fan of the Shanghai Tang sleepwear, and while the Pye PJs admittedly lack that iconic Shanghai Tang look, many travellers may find them more comfortable thanks to a lighter material which Cathay Pacific says is made from "100% organic cotton".
They certainly seem to breathe better than the Shanghai Tang outfit, which could make all the difference once you're snug under the first class duvet in a cabin that's already warm.
The cut is based on the Zhongshan Zhuang tunic or 'Chairman Mao suit', with a double-sided collar that can be worn up in Mandarin style or folded down for a more conventional western look.
Cathay Pacific says the sleep suit will be issued in a range of colours that change with the season – the first one handed out from this weekend will be in a heathered charcoal.
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David Flynn is the Editor-in-Chief of Executive Traveller and a bit of a travel tragic with a weakness for good coffee, shopping and lychee martinis.
28 Oct 2011
Total posts 645
'typo' on your heading??...'sleep suite' i gather should be 'sleep suit' ... as the article focuses on the new 'amenitity kits, sleep suits'
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
Yes, 'suite' overload from the previous article!
16 Dec 2011
Total posts 49
Curious - How many people change into the sleep suit ? I've never bothered..
Qantas - Qantas Frequent Flyer
10 May 2011
Total posts 732
It is the first thing I do when boarding, whether it is a day or night flight. Your clothes will stay nice and wrinkle free and I find it often more comfortable to lounge around in sleepwear.
24 Oct 2010
Total posts 2563
Definitely on overnight flights, I change into the airline-supplied PJs or sometimes my own (brought from another airline) if I'm flying on an airline which doesn't hand them out.
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