| Packing
advice from women in-the-know...
Shoes...
The streets and alleys of Hong Kong are often wet, and many
times dirty. Since you’ll be doing a lot of walking,
pack comfortable closed shoes -- not runners but well-worn
loafers. It’s best to protect yourself from picking up
unnecessary bacteria.
Lee, Melbourne, Australia
Same as Toronto...
Packing for my next trip to Hong Kong will be easy. The first
time I was there, I quickly realized that what was appropriate
for me to wear in Toronto worked equally well on the streets
of Hong Kong.
Karen, Toronto, Canada
Designer labels are noticed...
Are you a woman contemplating doing business in Hong Kong?
If yes, you should know that fashion in Hong Kong is especially
prized and respected and designer labels are very important.
A business woman would therefore be very wise to invest in
high quality and classic styling clothing. It is important
to be well-dressed and well-groomed. Skirt suits are preferred.
Carrying a briefcase is considered stylish and prestigious.
Louisa Nedkov, Author of Raise Your Cultural IQ, Canada
Designer copies work too...
For the leisure traveller, dress for HK can be as casual or
as dressy as you like. This is an international city where
the women are up to the minute in fashion; they really know
how to put themselves together very smartly. Even if they
can't afford the real thing, they shop in the markets for
designer copies.
Lisa, Central, Hong Kong
 No
topless sunbathing, please...
I have three clothing suggestions for Hong Kong: (1) If you're
doing business, a dark conservative suit is best. (2) Nude
or topless bathing at the beach is considered offensive. (3)
Save your white sneakers for the health club and when you’re
jogging. Wear them in the street and you’ll be singled
out as a tourist. In this destination, dark colored walking
shoes are equally as comfortable as running shoes and far
more chic.
Evelyn Hannon, Toronto, Canada
Walking shorts...
Hong Kong, during the month of July, is hot, humid and incredibly
sticky. Walking shorts and T-shirts that are easy to care
for and lightweight are your best bet for daytime travel.
Don't forget to bring a long sleeved shirt because the air
conditioning in some places is quite Arctic-like.
Jse-Che, Toronto, Canada
Black...
In Hong Kong, pack black preferably. You can see throngs of
people in black in all the streets.
Weng, Manilla
No cleavage, please...
Hong Kong women seem to have this amazing ability of withstanding
the heat and humidity in tight jeans. Many wear tight clothing,
but not sleeveless or cleavage-showing items. Designer clothes
with the name or logo highly visible are very popular. For
shoes, sandals are fine for the summer only if they're nice-looking.
No Tevas, Birkenstocks, nor sneakers. In other words, take
casual/dressy looking clothing and leave your grubs behind.
You’ll be treated with more respect. I made the mistake
of wearing your standard North American casual clothes just
to go to the supermarket, and though I'm ethnically Chinese,
I got more stares and harassment than any tourist.
Anne, Scarborough, Canada
Pack a shawl...
I never forget to pack a shawl when I go to Hong Kong. For
the evening in Hong Kong, a shawl dresses up my simple black
shirt and pants. But most important of all, it keeps me from
freezing indoors where unfortunately the air-conditioning
seems to be set on extra high at all times.
Loretta, Paris, France |
Spring
(March - mid-May)
