Actress to the rescue as food distraction, fashion faux pas take shine off pearls

It's hard to say what was the real draw for Mikimoto's bash on Thursday night at IFC's Inagiku. Was it the opportunity to celebrate the 150th birthday of the pearl company's founder, or gorge on free teppanyaki, tempura and sushi at one of the city's most expensive Japanese restaurants?

For its originator Kokichi Mikimoto's anniversary, a whole display recounting the man's life and history was built at the entrance, including several glass cases of exquisite jewellery that would dazzle most tai-tais any other evening. However, the shine of the pearls couldn't match the sizzle of the griddle iron. It might have been a mistake to suggest on the invitation that dinner would be served, as most folk arrived with empty stomachs. As a result, organisers had to halt the flow from the kitchen to convince people to return to the stage for the jewellery show. A bigger mistake was committed by the 2R sisters, Race Wong Yuen-ling and Rosanne Wong Yuen-kwun. They arrived wearing another label's bling. Worse, their V-neck dresses made their faux pas even more noticeable. Could that be why they left early?

Leave it to Carina Lau Ka-ling (left) to save face for the Japanese brand by wearing a string of beads long enough to strangle the silly starlets. Incidentally, Lau confirmed Wong Kar-wai's film about Bruce Lee's martial arts master Ip Man is on, with her husband in the lead. 'Tony [Leung Chiu-wai] is currently being trained in wing chun by a master. It's very difficult on him and he has to go on a special diet, so he's lost some weight.'