The dictator: on style, she rules

The Dictator rules: If only your minimising extended to your verbosity. All that just to ask about a small wallet? Stop blabbing and go shopping; you’ll find lots of options. I think you’ll be impressed by the extensive selection by Kate Spade (Pacific Place, Admiralty, tel: 2116 4998), which are surprisingly affordable, at only HK$700 to HK$1,200 each. Try the Small Stacy, a billfold wallet with an ID slot, four credit card spaces and an exterior zip pocket for coins; or fold-over designs such as the Darla or Holly. Furla has a lovely collection of small pastel-hued leather goods, including fold-over cardholders (HK$840; IFC Mall, Central, tel: 2234 7148) and the Chantilly mini wallet with coin purse (HK$1,690). At Coach, (Pacific Place, tel: 2918 4262), the Madison (HK$1,250) has an ID window and five card pockets. However, I suspect you’ll prefer the medium Legacy zip-around wallet with even more compartments, in fuchsia, light blue or blush pink (HK$1,650). They’re also doing pastels at Miu Miu, where bow-adorned little wallets cost about HK$2,500 (Pacific Place tel: 2918 4616).

The Dictator: Ah yes, the combined 50th anniversary re-release of the film plus the Year of the Snake sparked renewed interest in all that. The fashionistas will tell you Bulgari is the place to go. Not quite, but more on that later. Your best bet is the costume department, as in either fancy dress and/or faux jewellery. The gold snake armband bracelet at www.clicket.com (HK$96 including shipping) looks promising. Avalaya.com has lots of serpentshaped armlets and bracelets in silver or gold-coloured metal (HK$138 to HK$155, delivery charges not included). Back to Bulgari, Taylor and Richard Burton did patronise the famed jeweller in Rome while filming Cleopatra, but all the pieces worn in the movie were costume jewellery. Today, the brand’s Serpenti collection includes luxury watches (price upon request; Elements, 1 Austin Road West, Kowloon, tel: 2196 8228). Now, I think asps, not cobras are usually associated with Cleopatra, but John Hardy offers the Double Coil Cobra Head Bracelet from the Dot collection in diamond pavé, sterling silver and 18-carat gold (HK$32,600; The Landmark, Central, tel: 2533 3895.