FOR a guide to what is fashionable right now, the best place to look is the European catwalk shows: but check out the audience rather than the models. In Milan, Florence and Paris, the best turned-out women were those who had put away their short skirts, stockings and Blahniks (can Hong Kong women bear the thought?) and opted for clothes that were long, loose and languid. A favourite was Issey Miyake's diffusion line, Pleats Please, which was as prevalent as the ubiquitous Prada backpack. Floaty chiffon dresses over stretch slips were paired with flat sandals, thongs or chunky straw-heeled mules. Joyce's Jimin Lee cut a dash in asymmetrical Costume National tops and long, lacy Comme des Garcons skirts, while Carla Sozzani, owner of chic Milan store Corso Como 10, was spotted wafting along Florence's streets in a breezy Yohji Yamamoto ensemble. Her only accessory? A bottle of Evian tucked into a Gucci bag.
red dawn Milanese jeweller Gianmaria Buccellati has created a one-off diamond watch specifically for the Hong Kong market. The Hong Kong connection is its red strap: red being a symbolic colour here. Judy Yu Hong, who represents Buccellati locally, said the delicate diamond timepiece was made by hand, a process that had taken several months. This particular model is the only one of its kind being brought into the SAR. And only $138,000 ...
backers wanted TWO FASHION houses - Britain's Tomasz Starzewski and France's Herve Leger - are looking for financial support, having both lost their backers recently. Tomasz Starzewski was previously owned by Prince Jefri of Brunei. Anyone interested in investing can contact either house directly. Profits may not be great at the moment - and are unlikely to be forthcoming immediately - but at least front-row seats are guaranteed.
invitation list Perhaps not surprisingly, fashion designers and supermodels are among the most sought-after on the London social circuit. A survey published by Tatler magazine says that blue-blood model Honor Fraser, fashion designer Stella McCartney, and muses Kate Moss and Sophie Dahl are among London's top 100 invitees. Heading the list is superstar Elton John, who is invited to nearly 75 per cent of the city's most fab parties. Also on the list are Hong Kong's Andrew and Patti Wong at number 52 (invited to 47.6 per cent of parties), Claus Von Bulow (46.8 per cent) and Imran and Jemima Khan (55.2 per cent).
yves on the ball LEGENDARY French couturier Yves Saint Laurent seems to be undergoing something of a revival. As well as holding a fashion show just before the World Cup final, his spring/summer 1999 men's show was said to be 'absolutely beautiful' by those who saw it. And, for final proof that Saint Laurent is fashionable once more, super-hip Parisian store Colette devoted an entire window to the latest Rive Gauche collection.
