Whenever I stop and think about my personal style and what my fashion identity is, my mind really just wanders off into a playfield of cultural references. If I really think about it, my fashion taste changes every now and then. Sometimes I feel like channelling my inner model, straight out of a Japanese fashion magazine wearing girly, colourful and frilly clothes. Sometimes my style is a bit edgier and chic, inspired by streetwear fashion looks of chunky boots and leather jackets.

 

My approach to fashion has shifted as I moved from the East to the West and back. In Hong Kong, my home country, fashion is highly influenced by Japanese and Korean aesthetics, such as the rocketing hype for K-pop bands and Korean television dramas. Whenever a TV show, music video or song becomes popular here, everything worn by the people featured – even lipstick! – goes on trend.

​

"My approach to fashion has shifted as I moved from the East to the West and back"

 

But then, in my mid-twenties, I moved to London to complete a work abroad programme. To me, the city was all about fast fashion, a place where people followed the latest trends and everyone wore pretty much the same things, sourced from what chain stores had to offer. I must admit I mostly shopped fast fashion as well, visiting retailers like Topshop, New Look and Zara. Actually, I bought more fast fashion in London than I do in Hong Kong; I definitely feel those fashion giants dominate the West.

 

Hong Kong is more about the little boutiques. Despite not being able to compete with the wider offer of sizes, ranges and fits available at bigger fast fashion brands, these stores do keep costumers engaged through products of coveted provenance. Shop owners normally source their clothing from big cities from the East and the West, or by shopping online. They look for garments that are more unique (non mass-produced) and match their business concept. I’ve heard of mysterious malls in Korea where wholesalers shop from midnight… some Hong Kong boutique owners may go there looking for some trendy pieces. Imported items from Japan or Korea are considered fashionable or of high quality in Hong Kong.

 

I recently got married. For this life event, it is quite common for women in Hong Kong to wear typical Chinese gowns in red or gold, as well as a ‘Western’ white long dress. Women usually wear the Chinese gown in the morning for a traditional ceremony, which consists of kneeling and presenting cups of tea to the parents/senior relatives, followed by the seniors presenting gifts/red packets to the newlyweds. In the afternoon, the couple change into western clothes to complete other rituals, such as exchanging vows and rings, holding a wedding banquet, etc.

 

As a member of a younger generation, I chose a wedding that was a bit different, untraditional if you will, for I wore – or plan on wearing – three white dresses and no typical Chinese gown. The first dress I wore was a long lace gown for a pre-wedding photo shoot in Hong Kong, as we normally do. That was followed by my marriage registration, for which I wore a simple, sleeveless, short white dress. Finally, in June we are hosting a slightly bigger symbolic ceremony in Okinawa, Japan. Although this ceremony will not be legally binding, it will take place in a chapel and will be followed by a banquet we will host for our family and friends. There, I will wear white again, a long embellished gown that feels right for me.

​

Wingyuu Lau is a 28-year old accountant from and living in Hong Kong.