A seat beside a 6-foot-1 Miss World? Priceless

Dubbed the world’s first consumer-targeted luxury fashion event, Mastercard Luxury Week Hong Kong 2008 ended with a bang last week.

Mastercard invited some of its top spenders and premier cardholders throughout the region to a five-day fashion and luxury extravaganza at the Four Seasons Hotel. Part of this year’s festivities included fashion shows featuring the autumn/winter 2008-2009 looks of designers such as Jean Paul Gaultier, Donna Karan, Kenzo, Oscar de la Renta, Diane von Furstenberg and many more.

I had the pleasure of watching the Marc Jacobs and Marc by Marc Jacobs show at the Four Seasons Hotel where I sat beside the stunning Zhang Zilin, the reigning Miss World 2007.

Cozy, calm, austere and supremely sophisticated is how I would describe Marc’s mainline collection. Top Chinese model Emma Pei, along with various IMG models flown in from Paris, minced down the runway in a collection comprised of countless well-tailored, wearable pieces in a palette of pale pastels and bleached colors.

Also spotted among Hong Kong’s elite crowd were glittering socialites Victoria Tang, Yvette Yuen, Gigi Chao, Kennie Tai, Pauline Yam, Dee Poon, Sabrina Ho, Mara Rhomberg and celebrated artist Karen Mok.

Now, who wants to pay my Mastercard bill? Can I see a show of hands? Just kidding.