Hong Kong Fashion Week starts on glamorous gala high

Hong Kong Fashion Week kicked off with a star-studded gala at the Convention and Exhibition Centre in Wan Chai on Monday. The guests of honour were five of this season's hottest designers: Paris-based Nana Aganovich and Brooke Taylor, Beijinger Chi Zhang, Briton Holly Fulton and Hong Kong's Johanna Ho.

Ho was looking forward to an eventful year and gushed about her hometown: "I think that this is the time and place to be. We're moving towards a new era and it will be very exciting."

With big-name designers come their high-profile fans, including celebrity model Jocelyn Luko and her DJ-model husband Anthony Sandstrom. They looked bright-eyed despite arriving from Hawaii the previous night. Each wore ensembles from designers at the gala; Luko in a white Aganovich dress and Sandstrom in slick blazer by Zhang.

Tabloid darling and model Jessica Cambensy was in a similar state, having returned a day earlier from the US. But she said she was delighted to get back in front of the cameras. "It was nice to have my hair and make-up done. I spent the holidays with my boyfriend and my family, no make-up, wearing sweats. It's fun to feel like a girl again."

And before the rumour mill starts churning, the big ring on her finger may have been from her boyfriend, but it was only a Christmas gift, nothing more.