Valentino creative team and the faithful turn out for winter showcase

While most of us are packing away our winter gear as summer approaches, fashion designers are already sending models down the runway in this year's autumn-winter collection.

Valentino's creative directors, Maria Grazia Chiuri and Pier Paolo Piccioli (pictured), were in Hong Kong for the first time on Thursday to showcase their winter collection in The Landmark's atrium in Central.

Curtains were hung and part of the Caf? Landmark was booked to ensure some exclusivity, with shoppers, office workers and Lan Kwai Fong partygoers milling around.

An obvious benefit of the venue was the Valentino boutique at the back of the runway - guests knew exactly where to go to try on the collection after the show.

Fashion-savvy celebrities and socialites were out in force. In the front row were actresses Carina Lau Ka-ling, (pictured, centre), Michelle Yeoh Choo Kheng and Fan Bingbing, as well as Bonnie Gokson, Pansy Ho Chiu-king and Laurinda Ho Chiu-lin.

Lau, a regular at fashion events lately, arrived in a red Valentino dress and mingled with the designers. Her husband, actor Tony Leung Chiu-wai, however, is rarely at such events. Chances are Leung will be around to support Lau, a best actress nominee, at this Sunday's Hong Kong Film Awards ceremony.