| 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)
