Home Alone Alice in wonderland of top HK fashion designers

WITH mum and dad otherwise occupied in London, Home Alone Alice Patten was enjoying herself yesterday at the Smirnoff Hongkong Fashion Awards, with three minders from Government House on hand to ensure she stayed just on Coke.

In the absence of the Patten family's fashion arbiter, Laura, it was left to cheerful teenager Alice to cast her eyes over the work of some of Hongkong's brightest young designers and report back to the rest of the clan.

When Keeping Posted asked Alice what it was like to be left on her own, her huge smile and accompanying squeal said it all.

She did, however, point out that although Laura was the better known clothes-horse, she too, had at one time been a model.

''It was when I was about seven years old. I modelled some clothes in London for Laura Ashley,'' Alice said.

Meanwhile, the dazzling show, with all the razzmatazz of drums, lights and world music, was enjoyed by a full house in the ballroom of the Grand Hyatt.