Is Hilary Tsui Hong Kong’s most stylish woman? The Instagram influencer gave up acting to found fashion boutique Her, a streetwear-savvy shop and cafe space that Gen Z can’t get enough of
- Married to Eason Chan and the star of 90s Cantonese films The Crucifixion and Somebody Up There Likes Me, Tsui quit the screen to found Liger with Dorothy Hui and started the Aim Higher Club with high-jumper Cecilia Yeung
- At the Her store in Causeway Bay, Nike, Pushbutton and Andersson Bell sit beside Needles, Jenny Fax, Abra and Tsui’s own brand Chance, plus jewellery from Jüü Jüü and trainers from Hoka One One and Salomon
Hilary Tsui Ho-ying is regarded as one of Hong Kong’s most stylish women, thanks to her avant-garde look, but there was a time when she didn’t make the best fashion choices.
“When I was younger I always wanted to dress like an OL [office lady]. All I wanted to do was wear Ferragamo flats and headbands. It was a thing back then. I guess when you’re younger you always want to look older than you are,” she says with a laugh.
Today, Tsui is dressed like she’s stepped off the pages of a fashion magazine, so it’s safe to say that her aspirational OL days are behind her. We’re sitting in her cafe/fashion boutique Her, which opened in the heart of shopping district Causeway Bay in 2019. Tsui previously had another popular store called Liger with her friend Dorothy Hui – but her solo venture is a different proposition altogether.
“In 2017 everything was changing – fashion in general was taking a new sporty direction. I didn’t want to dress up in heels and shoulder pads any more. I had an idea to open my own shop, and it felt like the right time. I spoke to Dorothy, who is still a good friend, and we decided to go our separate ways professionally,” she explains.
“It was always my dream to have a cafe/retail concept like they do in Korea and Japan. It was important that people could enjoy a cup of great coffee and chill while trying on clothes in a relaxed and fun environment. That was the inspiration for Her.”
The boutique, which was designed by a Spanish studio, features whitewashed walls contrasted with multilevel display areas made from stacked terracotta tiles. Cosy seating is dotted throughout the store while the cafe is at the entrance and features a menu of popular favourites like matcha, blue soda and Taiwanese coffee.
Then you have the fashion: 39 hand-picked brands from all over the world. Prices are accessible, ranging from HK$800 to HK$2,500. Well-known brands like Nike, Pushbutton and Andersson Bell sit beside newer names such as Needles, Jenny Fax, Abra and Chance – Tsui’s own brand, offering streetwear with a quirky, feminine touch. There’s also stylish yet affordable jewellery from the likes of local brand Jüü Jüü, and trainers from popular names like Hoka One One and Salomon. And there’s not a heel or leather handbag in sight.
“Of course, I’ve kept some brands that we had at Liger since the beginning, because we have history and there’s an emotional connection. But the edit here and how we style the clothes is totally different. Liger was edgy and contemporary, but Her has a much younger and Gen Z vibe that makes it very easy to understand. It’s not about my personal style, but it follows my heart,” she says.