That's priceless
The latest trend in credit card promotion seems to be hooking up with big fashion events. At New York Fashion Week, for instance, VIP cardholders of American Express were able to view the shows from an exclusive American Express Skybox after buying tickets online at prices starting at US$250 per person.
Not to be outdone, MasterCard sponsored Luxury Week in Hong Kong for the second time this year, inviting big spenders of MasterCard, as well as members of the press, to fly in and view the collections from the front row.
We arrived on Friday afternoon and stayed at the posh Four Seasons Hotel right by the IFC Mall.
We were given a brief tour of the mall, stopping by Anya Hindmarch, Anne Klein, Agnes B., and Chopard.
After dinner at the Dragon-i restaurant on Lan Kwai Fong, we were back at the Four Seasons for cocktails and a backstage view of the models being styled and made up.
Godiva chocolate and ice cream cups were served on silver platters, as were bottles of San Pellegrino. Guests and media were treated to their own makeup booth manned by Shu Uemura stylists.
Over 6,000 VIP guests and 200 celebrities and socialites watched the shows featuring 14 IMG models, who were flown in to grace the event, hosted by MasterCard fashion ambassador Denise Keller.
Fourteen designer labels were shown over five days, including Jean Paul Gaultier, Dorian Ho, Escada, Diane von Furstenberg, La Perla, Paul & Shark, BCBG Max Azria, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Marc Jacobs, Sportmax, Donna Karan, Oscar de la Renta, Kenzo, and Vera Wang.
Given the selection, I thought the strongest showing came from Jean Paul Gaultier, Oscar de la Renta and Dorian Ho.
Gaultier showed a very un-PC collection, which was stunning nonetheless — if you could get over the animal skins and heads draped over models’ heads and shoulders.
De la Renta showed edgy, girly dresses with metallic beads and accents, while Dorian Ho was quite a discovery with his Beijing Theater collection of bias-cut gowns matched with show-stopping headpieces.
For the first we experienced a unique arrangement in the afternoon show of Kenzo, where tea was served and trays of finger food were set up in between guests — not only in the front rows but also all over the place.
Best of all was the chance to shop once again in Asia’s luxury capital — Hong Kong. We made sure to use our MasterCard to get perks and discounts from participating stores in the mall.
MasterCard Luxury Week was produced by IMG Fashion, the largest producer of fashion events worldwide.
With a portfolio that includes Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week in New York, Fashion Fringe in London, and various fashion weeks in Milan, Sydney, Moscow, Mumbai and Kuala Lumpur, we should be so lucky if we could get them to do Manila Fashion Week. Then things should become more interesting here. Hopefully.
