St John's work Local hipsters are mad for Marc Jacobs, but more mature women - in the league of former chief secretary Anson Chan Fang On-sang - are still making a beeline for United States-based label St John. Lane Crawford, which carries the clothes, recently hosted a couple of trunk shows in Pacific Place, Admiralty, and Ocean Terminal, Tsim Sha Tsui, to pitch the spring line (right). The following weekend the four stores sold more than $1.8 million worth of St John goodies - up from $1.5 million the previous year. 'That's very high by Hong Kong standards,' said Hilda Chang, managing director of St John Asia.
Club class Many top-end retailers are taking the club/rave approach to showing their collections, a trend Dior started several months ago. Moschino, Loewe, Burberry and Gucci have all gone to hot production company, G-spot, to organise events in such clubs as Queen's (above and below), while a couple of others, including Chanel and Celine, have opted for the Hong Kong Exhibition and Convention Centre. But it probably won't be long before the demure teatime shows, once held at the Peninsula, Grand Hyatt and Mandarin Oriental hotels, are back in favour. And for socialites who are tired of dark-room parties, it won't be a moment too soon.
Blanc look The next time you see superstar Jackie Chan (below) - and the time after that ... and the time after that - don't be surprised if he's wearing a sleek, silk Blanc de Chine number. We hear the popular actor loves the line so much he has promised to wear it at all the right international events, and to attend as many of the company's bashes as possible. And he has said he will try to get his celebrity friends wearing the clothes out too. Originally, there were plans for Chan to be more closely involved with the brand, such as on the design front, but they didn't pan out. Blanc de Chine has a store in the Pedder Building, Central, and is opening a flagship store in New York in November.
Smart moves Introduced to Hong Kong by Dickson Poon but now with its own office here, Bulgari has appointed Sharie Ross its head of PR. Ross, formerly with Loewe, now looks after anything to do with Bulgari jewellery, watches, perfumes, accessories and its home collection. Meanwhile, Nicole Wang, formerly with Celine, recently began her new job as local managing director of Giorgio Armani. With the refurbishment of the boutique in Alexandra House, Central, now complete, she said there would be 'huge projects' in the works next year.
