HONG KONG is becoming a popular spot with models these days. Lauren Hutton is cruising the territory's nightspots and blonde babe Niki Taylor is winging her way here in July. Then there are those hotly rumoured appearances by Claudia Schiffer and Christy Turlington at Tuesday night's Climax On The Peak party.
Sometime actress Hutton had planned a quiet handover holiday at the Mandarin Oriental, but when word got around she was in town, invitations started flooding in.
'Lots of Hong Kong celebrities have invited her for dinner,' said Ines Ligron, Asia-Pacific director of IMG Models, Hutton's agency. 'Our phones have been ringing non-stop.' Also calling were companies hoping to book Hutton for everything from catalogue shoots to product endorsements. Well, she happens to be here so it's cheaper than flying someone else in, right? 'Usually, models expect first-class tickets and hotel suites,' said Ligron. 'This way, clients save money and still get the job done.' Fees for models like Hutton and Taylor are rumoured to be around US$25,000 (HK$193,350) a day. But anyone interested should not be put off - models are not averse to a little negotiating, I'm told. Hutton is only in town until Thursday, so any takers should get on the phone pronto.
Niki Taylor has already been booked - she's a special guest at the forthcoming Hong Kong Fashion Week (July 16-19), where she will model a Barney Cheng creation.
baggage check AT A party in his honour in town recently, Timothy Ware Schifter of LeSportsac, told the story of how a dozen secret service men walked into his New York store, followed by Queen Sophia of Spain. She walked out with 50 bags.
Apparently, even designer Calvin Klein nipped into the shop recently to pick up some bags before a last-minute flight.