senorita show-stopper PEOPLE are talking about Luna Soper, a Spanish stunner who has been seen at numerous social events recently, stealing the limelight (and paparazzi) away from the established socialite crowd. Soper sauntered into a Sonia Rykiel party at the Landmark the other week and was immediately surrounded by photographers who clicked away furiously, inspired by her sexy blouse and sparkling jewels. She is married to a Hong Kong Bank executive, and reportedly loves the party scene.
But Soper's popularity in the local press has offended the delicate sensibilities of other pseudo-celebs, some insisting the only reason Soper gets all the attention is because of her body-hugging clothes (Yeah? So?). Also, they sniff, there is no way her jewels can be real 'because how can she wear these in the middle of the afternoon?', forgetting they do it themselves. Anyway, this is Hong Kong, and when people start frothing with envy, you know you are doing something right.
party favours WANT to make a sale? Have a party. At the cocktail do to celebrate the opening of the Miu Miu store in the Landmark the other week, sales ran to more than $100,000 within three hours. Lida Castelli, a Prada/Miu Miu events co-ordinator visiting from Milan, was flummoxed. 'This doesn't happen in Europe,' she said, as guests tried on shoes and flew in and out of changing rooms. 'People in Europe just don't shop at parties. Maybe they are more shy than they are here.' Oliver Yang, who runs Prada and Miu Miu in Asia, was pretty chuffed. 'We need to put in our re-orders already,' he said, adding that more than 30 per cent of the men's stock sold. 'And that's nothing compared to the following day. It was record-breaking in terms of sales,' he said. Top buyer was a Beijing model, now living in Australia, who did the whole head-to-toe thing and came back the next day and bought more.
Same story a week later at the opening of a British glass collection at Lane Crawford in Pacific Place. Over champagne and hors d'oeuvres, guests between them bought 52 pieces within a couple of hours. Top price: $18,000.
missing mobile THERE was an unhappy customer at Polo Ralph Lauren in the Landmark the other day, whose mobile phone was stolen from the changing room. The customer had set her cell phone down in the cubicle, tried on her bits and pieces, changed back and left without realising her phone was left behind. She rushed back in about 30 seconds later to discover it had been swiped. Those who go shopping should be warned: minor felons are at large - and they're not just the retailers.
nine west bagged EVERYONE copies everyone else's designs - though some are less subtle than others. In the window of Nine West in Pacific Place last week were exact replicas of the hot-selling Tod's bags. The folks at Nine West didn't even attempt to do their own spin of the thing: same size, little studs, big round handles. Of course, the price can't be compared: the Nine West version is about $500 - which is about 10 per cent of the original Tod's model. But we advise would-be punters to do what every self-respecting fashionista does: save up and buy the real thing.
