Posted on Sep 01, 2008

Diamonds are truly a girl’s best friend… and the ultimate wake-up call is a super-tight ponytail! For me, the last two days of MasterCard Luxury Week Hong Kong 2008 were low on rest… but high on spirits! Friday at Donna Karan, a collection that was the quintessence of urban style, models wore their hair in a demure bob – an engineering feat pulled off by Toni & Guy constructed entirely of pin-tucked rolls. Make-up was fresh and dewy – in contrast to Oscar de la Renta, who showed in the evening, where faces were strong statements emphasised by intense lashes and slashes of terracotta on the cheeks. Oscar De la Renta definitely ranks as one of my favourite shows, mainly because there was a dress for every woman! I was definitely blown away. Much later, clad in chiffon by Ashley Isham and decorated with diamonds and rubies straight from the Tiffany & Co. safe, I attended the exclusive after-party hosted by Taubman Asia. Guests were wowed by a sneak preview of Macau’s biggest-ever luxury mall, coming soon in 2011, over sparkling champagne and conversation.

On Saturday, Swank presented the Kenzo Fall/Winter 2008 collection to a full house. Models were transformed into Japanese dolls with almond-shaped eyes and elaborate triple-jointed ponytails. On the runway, I especially coveted a balloon-shaped kimono jacket that completely redefined drama. Backstage, I mingled with our MasterCard VIPs… who were later treated to a professional make-up consultation with the Shu Uemura team on achieving the looks for Fall/Winter 2009. Arriving at Vera Wang, feeling utterly gorgeous in Calvin Klein, I conducted my final backstage tour in Mandarin… for all our MasterCard guests from the previous days!

The happy ending to the fashion festivities came courtesy of Best of MasterCard Luxury Week Hong Kong 2008 presented by Miele. Selected looks from all the collections were showcased on stage.... and the hair and make-up maestros were given full rein to interpret their own directions for the season. Shu Uemura gave models a full-on white base, with a kohl-lined ‘60s lip, while embellishing the eyes with handmade lashes reminiscent of bird feathers. Eyes were all a-flutter, on and off the runway! Toni & Guy then deliberately kept hair natural – straightened with a careless touch – for a feminine look that was incredibly effortless. Backstage, I congratulated everyone on the amazing week. From planning and preparation, to achieving the pinnacle of presentation, everyone played a huge part in the success of MasterCard Luxury Week Hong Kong 2008. With a celebratory mood in the air, DJ Ruckus (the cousin of Lenny Kravitz!) on the decks, and not to mention some unexpected pyrotechnics, it was no wonder that guests and models started dancing on the runway! Till next year, this has been…

Denise Keller
MasterCard Fashion Ambassador

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