Our fine magazine turned 18 back in 1995, and here we take a look back at the sparkling commentary that accompanied that first ever society shindig
From left to right: Joseph and Carol Lu, Alice Chiu, Kai-yin Lo, Jennifer Tose, David Tang, Bonnae Gokson, Monis Beraha, Bernadette Chen, Jacqueline Liu, Andrew Yao
2015 marks the 20th anniversary of the Hong Kong Tatler Ball, yet it only seems like yesterday that the cream of the society crop were arriving for the very first soiree back in 1995. In the month following this legendary inaugural event, our magazine produced a lengthy and witty recollection of the night’s shenanigans with sparkling clarity. Here are some of our favourite excerpts:
On planning the big party
“After the initial rush of compiling a guest list and sending out invitations, we sat back like nervous adolescents, biting our manicured nails at the thought of en-masse rejection.”
On the pain of seating plans
“As anyone who has ever sat on a ball committee knows, doing the seating plan was more nightmarish than anything ever seen on Elm Street.”
“Hong Kong Tatler’s trusty support staff worked late into the night preparing lists and placecards only to have 10 couples from 10 different tables (of course) call from their hospital beds on the day of the party, weakly croaking their apologies. After such a frightening experience, this magazine promises never to criticise the work of a ball organising committee again (well, not for a few months anyway).”
On welcoming our esteemed guests
“Five hundred people cannot comfortably fit into the foyer of the Conrad ballroom, but they made a pretty good stab at it. The Hong Kong Tatler welcoming committee gradually retreated up the stairs, leaving a bobbing sea of fabulous frocks and coiffeured heads below. The crescendo of chatter and clinking champagne crystal was almost deafening.”
On the fashion choices
“Sandra Eu wore an amazing dress, in the icing-sugar colours of cream and pink, which certainly looked good enough to eat.”
“Maria Lee, who was wrapped in a snug white mink-trim…”
“Flora [Cheong-Leen] wowing everyone in psychedelic satin and taffeta.”
“David Tang wore green velvet and was joined in the ethnic robes stakes by Robert Lo.”
“Bonnae Gokson looked simply chic in a satin trouser suit, which was fitting as she later collected our award for Most Stylish Woman 1995.”
On the fun and games
“From the beginning, our plan had been to make this an evening to remember. We did not want to bore our high society guests with another routine black-tie dinner – speeches, food, brief entertainment and a rush for the door as soon as coffee is served. It was our party and we wanted everyone to have fun.”
“After the main course, it was the turn of the guests to perform two tasteful party games. First we called upon newlyweds Patrick and Elaine Biacone to demonstrate the art of bursting balloons by jumping on various parts of each other’s anatomy.”
“When a bunch of hula hoops appeared, the penny and faces dropped, but only momentarily. The music started and soon everyone was gyrating on the dance floor in their couture gowns and having a whale of a time.”
“But soon the floor was full, with Ron Arculli, Leroy Kung, Eric Au, Jerome Leung, Monis Beraha and Simon Jackson among others giving fair-to-middling impersonations of a hip-swinging Elvis Presley.”
On the last ones standing
“The dancing became more frenetic as the night wore on; the die-hards strutted their stuff to the sounds of Paul Husband’s disco until 2:30am.”
“Old timers such as Sally and Robert Lo and David Lowe proved that when there is a good party to be enjoyed, Hong Kong socialites do it like no-one else on earth.”
After this blast to the past, head over to our #HKTatlerBall2015 minisite to catch up on all the coverage from this year's society event.