NICE to see that former Discovery Bay girl Alex Manley hasn't let royalty go to her head: instead of swanning around Parisian couturiers, Princess Alexandra of Denmark is back at her old shopping haunts. While in Hong Kong a few weeks ago, she dropped in at Peggy Boyd in the Prince's Building to stock up on evening gowns, opting for an obscure Hong Kong label called 'Conjurer' and tending towards jewel colours instead of boring black ? Conjurer retails for $7,000-$10,000 a throw. But at least Alexandra's new wardrobe is coming in handy: she wore one of her most recent purchases - a dark burgundy silk taffeta concoction - to the Vienna Ball. The dress was, said one observer, 'very big and very grand'. Still, at least Alexandra's Hong Kong shopping spree will keep her in fine form for all those European state banquets she has to attend.
(File pics) DK in HK ANOTHER recent visitor to these shores was in and out before you could say 'DKNY'. Mega New York designer Donna Karan surprised shoppers at her Canton Road superstore when she dropped by during a one-day stopover in the territory with her husband Stephan Weiss. 'Store looks great - great job,' Karan enthused. Then she posed for pictures with customers, met with staff, boosted their morale - and had pictures taken with each of them. Seems it was quite thrilling ? a bit like walking into Chanel and seeing Karl Lagerfeld behind the counter.
under the hammer LAST week's 'Jewels of the Night' black-tie fund-raiser succeeded nobly in flogging off some less-than-spectacular baubles to Hong Kong heavyweights who had nothing else to do after dinner other than smoke cigars and start bidding. Some $564,000 was raised by the sale of eight donated items, including a pair of bangles in lapis lazuli, malachite and a smattering of diamonds, which went for $150,000 to tycoon Kenneth Siu - even after his wife said she didn't particularly care for them. Peter Lam of Lai Sun dropped $42,000 for a brooch from Lo Kai-yin, Joseph Ho Tung walked away with a Cartier watch for the bargain price of $20,000 and a Chanel camellia brooch went for $22,000. The jewellery was modelled by yuppie debs Bernadette Chen - whose parents own a beauty salon chain - Wendy Hsu, who works for Tiffany's and socialite Ruby Yau.
They were dressed by Hong Kong designer Benny Yeung. But, unlike the Oscar stars, they were not allowed to keep the togs. And clearly a spot of auction-buying wasn't enough for Siu, who made his way on stage for a duet with Filipina songbird Regine who had been flown in as the evening's entertainment. It wasn't much of a duet either, so perhaps Siu shouldn't give up his day job just yet.
passion for fashion THOSE who are 'passionate about fashion' are being lured to a luncheon catwalk show, where they can check out Gottex beachwear, Blanc de Chine's top-quality 'East meets West' designs, evening wear from Givenchy and kiddie clothes from Guess. The Jewish Women's Association show, a traditionally well-attended event on the local social scene, takes place at the Grand Hyatt on June 5, money raised ($600 for members, $700 for non-members) goes to charity and it promises to be a fun show. Call Hannah or Iris on 2521-3411 or 2526-6330 for tickets.
middle classy EUROPEAN label InWear Matinique will be kick-started at the end of May when a new flagship store is opened in the Sun Arcade, Tsim Sha Tsui. The 420-square-metre store, one of 3,000 in the InWear Matinique worldwide group, is meant to 're-position' the label in the minds of the buying public: marketing co-ordinator Dorthe Rorbye Jespersen said that a new and plush store would not necessarily mean boosting prices. The label is still directed at 'the middle classes', and would comprise of work and casual wear for 'secretaries and office workers'. You're looking at about $800 for a fashionable suit of reasonably good quality.
