MAC attack! Remember when MAC cosmetics first came to Hong Kong in 1995? You couldn't even buy a foundation sponge without struggling through the masses of MAC addicts in front of you. Well those days are over. The prominent space MAC once had at Seibu in Pacific Place is now filled by the cult Japanese beauty brand IPSA, leaving MAC to find a new home at Lane Crawford around the corner. MAC's Hong Kong brand manager, Jojo Ho, is nonplussed, saying the move is for the best. . 'The lease was up and a bigger space became available at Lane Crawford, so the brand is moving there on Friday,' said Ho. 'It's the first outlet in Hong Kong to show our totally new look.' MAC fans can visit the freestanding stores in Causeway Bay and Festival Walk, plus a counter in Sogo. Made-up in Japan Japanese make-up brands are fast becoming all the rage here. Generally available at places like Sasa, Strawberry and other parallel importers, make-up products from the Land of the Rising Sun are slowly infiltrating mainstream retailers. Seibu spokeswoman Doris Yeung says IPSA will soon be joined by RMK Rumiko, another hip Japanese brand. So what's all the fuss about? For a start, local Chinese are inspired by the style set by Japanese trendoids. Plus there's the definitive Japanese packaging of the products which ranges from Zen to wacky. Seibu is making a concerted bid for the market, and so far seems well ahead of the game. Frightful fashion Here's a great idea for what to do with all those scary outfits you bought during designer sales for next to nothing (and never wore). Slip into them for a Halloween party where the focus is on fashion. 'A Night of Voodoo Exotica' is the name of the bash taking place at Peak Cafe next Saturday. Here you can don that John Galliano dress from Joyce Warehouse or that frilly little Valentino number from the last day of the Swank Sale and get on down to African and Latino music. Prizes will be awarded for the best ethnic and exotic costumes, so yes, that Rajasthani mirrored skirt and those clunky orange Prada shoes may finally come in handy. Almost sounds worth the $999 price tag. Dinner, anyone? This week's hottest invitation is tomorrow night's chic ladies-only dinner at The Peninsula. The pool-side event will be hosted by Jean-Louis Dumas-Hermes, the affable head of the company that makes the world's most covetable clothes and bags. Tomorrow marks the start of Hermes Week, with the opening of the company's revamped boutique at The Pen. Other events will include the Hermes Awards, in conjunction with the Hong Kong Polytechnic, and a talk on design by Dumas-Hermes himself. The dinner is for Hermes customers (and women that Hermes would like to have as its customers), plus a bevy of socialites. Tres exclusive! A treat for the boys A millennium souvenir with an edge, Playboy's Y2K issue promises spreads of the beauteous Naomi Campbell. Shot by celeb photographer (and one lucky dude) David LaChapelle, the word is that it's going to be the hottest issue ever. Still on supermodels, new mother Cindy Crawford has been taken on as adviser to a new Web site, www.babystyle.com . Check it out if you want to know how to make your baby look chic. Crawford also gives advice on how to look fab when you're drowning in dribble.
