great vintage HOLLYWOOD's favourite vintage couture store, Decades on Melrose Avenue in Los Angeles, reports a boom in business from Hong Kong women. Perhaps it's the recession, but when I stopped by the other day (narrowly missing Cameron Diaz, apparently), owner Cameron Silver was raving about his new customers. 'Amazing business,' said the former singer, who developed a penchant for vintage clothes while on tour. 'One Chinese woman walked in, very pretty and demure, didn't say a word, and I thought she'd go for something classic. But instead, she picked up this great funky fox fur, totally wild. And the Japanese only come in for vintage Gucci and Hermes.' The place is not just designer-driven: among the racks of Dior and Pucci, I found a chic, beaded, midnight blue full-length dress with matching coat ... made by a tailor in Mirador Mansions. A steal at US$600 (HK$4,650).
bags of bags THERE seems to be no end to demand for accessories in this town. Next month London handbag designer Anya Hindmarch opens her second store in Hong Kong, opposite Prada in the Landmark. Her autumn 1999 collection, which I saw in London this year, is to die for, with luxury trims and heavenly colours.
in the mix HONG KONG Fashion Week has just ended, with mixed reviews. Most iffy collection: Pacino Wan, whose confections were described by one critic as 'a tribute to Hello Kitty'. Ouch. Barney Cheng, on the other hand, appears to have drawn rave reviews ... his evening wear was described by those who saw it as 'his best ever'.
foot action THERE is as much action on the feet of the hordes of customers tramping through the Lane Crawford shoe department as there is on shelves. Despite the Manolo Blahniks and Sergio Rossis beckoning from their displays, our favourites were these divine beaded flats worn by one customer, who bought them in Manila's Chinatown for about HK$100. They are made only in burgundy, and the embroidery is as lush as if Blahnik had made them himself.
with chinese characteristics THERE IS only one place to go if you're on the hunt for all-things Chinois: Pedder Building. Shanghai Tang is on the ground floor, Blanc de Chine a floor above and, tucked away at the end of the corridor on the first floor is Tian Art, a little boutique opened by Flora Cheong-Leen a few months ago. It's great if you're in the market for funky, relatively inexpensive Chinoiserie: little beaded slippers, embroidered jeans and silk brocade shell tops with a kitsch feel. Cheong-Leen says she was inspired by 'China's hippie movement'. Didn't know they had one.
designer gowns AFTER restaurant uniforms (William Tang for which restaurant?) and outfits for airline staff (John Rocha for Virgin Airlines), a couple of designers have turned their talents to hospital gowns. Cynthia Rowley, whose collection is available at Seibu, has done a range of autumn gowns for the Hackensack University Medical Center in New Jersey. Mum's the word until they start being worn, but apparently they offer full coverage at the back, unlike the usual mode of dress for the bed-ridden. They are in nice fabric and are pretty fashionable ... something for Hospital Authority staff to think about.
