JOYCE'S WAY: The invitation might have read "cocktail" dress, but nearly everyone turned up in Yohji Yamamoto. The event was a private dinner hosted by fashion maven Joyce Ma to kick off a series of celebrations marking the reopening and expansion of the Joyce flagship in Hong Kong, as well as the debut of Joyce in Shanghai. Fashion designer John Rocha, who flew in from Dublin with his wife and business partner, Odette Gleeson, put it best when he said: "It's Joyce. We're happy to come whenever she asks for anything."
Rocha wasn't the only name jetting to Hong Kong and on to Shanghai for the festivities. The biggest star was Yohji Yamamoto himself, who attended the dinner with his mother, Fumi. Also on hand were handbag designer and former model Celestina Ocampo; Korean makeup legend Kyung Min, whose Vidi Vici cosmetics are a hit in Asia; Santiago Gonzalez, whose mother, designer Nancy Gonzalez, flew in from Columbia for the openings, and senior management from more than 20 fashion houses, including those of John Galliano, Hugo Boss, Jil Sander, Oscar de la Renta and Dries Van Noten.
Ma's glamorous sister, Bonnie Gokson, orchestrated the dinner, including booking Grissini at the Grand Hyatt, and convincing chefs from two restaurants to collaborate on a unique East-meets-West menu, which featured Chinese roasted duck and red wine risotto. Gokson also was behind one of the highlights of the evening when opera singers disguised as waitstaff suddenly broke into song, serenading famous guests with famous arias.
Joyce's daughter, Adrienne Ma, who is president of the company, said she tried to keep her speech short, but the list of people to thank for traveling so far was overwhelming. She described the new stores as "our little splendors." Joyce Ma herself, glamorous in Yohji and diamonds, talked about the 37-year evolution her vision has undergone. "The store represents my passion and my curiosity. If nothing else, it is my way to say thank you to Hong Kong," she said.
Rocha wasn't the only name jetting to Hong Kong and on to Shanghai for the festivities. The biggest star was Yohji Yamamoto himself, who attended the dinner with his mother, Fumi. Also on hand were handbag designer and former model Celestina Ocampo; Korean makeup legend Kyung Min, whose Vidi Vici cosmetics are a hit in Asia; Santiago Gonzalez, whose mother, designer Nancy Gonzalez, flew in from Columbia for the openings, and senior management from more than 20 fashion houses, including those of John Galliano, Hugo Boss, Jil Sander, Oscar de la Renta and Dries Van Noten.
Ma's glamorous sister, Bonnie Gokson, orchestrated the dinner, including booking Grissini at the Grand Hyatt, and convincing chefs from two restaurants to collaborate on a unique East-meets-West menu, which featured Chinese roasted duck and red wine risotto. Gokson also was behind one of the highlights of the evening when opera singers disguised as waitstaff suddenly broke into song, serenading famous guests with famous arias.
Joyce's daughter, Adrienne Ma, who is president of the company, said she tried to keep her speech short, but the list of people to thank for traveling so far was overwhelming. She described the new stores as "our little splendors." Joyce Ma herself, glamorous in Yohji and diamonds, talked about the 37-year evolution her vision has undergone. "The store represents my passion and my curiosity. If nothing else, it is my way to say thank you to Hong Kong," she said.
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