The ChicBuzz

This summer we had some very important visitors from far away Hong Kong, here to discover the blissful world of Chic Outlet Shopping®.  Model and presenter Zoie Tam, together with Ken Chan, the former host of the Asian version of legendary TV show ‘Who Wants To Be A Millionaire’, and supermodel and Harper’s Bazaar Hong Kong cover girl Lynn Xiong embarked on a Chic Tour to London, Dublin, Barcelona and Munich to film ‘What a Wonderful World’ (歐洲四部曲 : 紅.白.綠.黑)–  a brand new TV programme for Hong Kong Cable TV.

Ken Chan is no stranger to travelling, making footprints around the world for his lifestyle and travel programme 【歐洲四部曲 : 紅.白.綠.黑】and Zoie is a renowned fashionista. They are the perfect co-hosts and, coming from Hong Kong – an Asian shopping paradise that has all the brands you can name and then some, Zoie and Ken told us they still managed to discover some new European labels on their Chic Tour. While they were here, I had a quick chat with them about their own shopping philosophy and their favourite things about the Chic Outlet Shopping® Villages in Dublin and Munich.

WE ARE DELIGHTED TO HAVE YOU BOTH HERE, ESPECIALLY SINCE YOU HAVE NEVER VISITED OUR DUBLIN OR MUNICH VILLAGES BEFORE. WHAT WERE YOUR FIRST THOUGHTS ABOUT COMING ON A CHIC TOUR OF EUROPE?

ZOIE: I went hysterical when I first learned that we were going to make a programme about shopping in Europe. I had done a lot of preparation for this trip, such as borrowing two extra suitcases from my sister to make sure I have enough room for my shopping “trophies”! Ken teased me when he saw me at the airport, asking if I was migrating to Ireland. I said why not?

KEN: My wife warned me five times before I left for Europe from Hong Kong’s airport not to shop too much during this trip because we have just spent a great deal of money on a new plasma TV. The first minute I landed, however, I completely forgot what she said. Plus, I think she just wants to make sure I won’t turn into another shopping madman – one household simply cannot have two shopping maniacs!

YOU’RE BOTH USED TO FIRST-CLASS SERVICE AND INCREDIBLE SHOPPING AND DINING EXPERIENCES IN HONG KONG. WAS THIS EXPERIENCE WHAT YOU EXPECTED?

ZOIE: Yes certainly. The shopping was amazing but I love the charming areas surrounding both Villages, especially the County of Kildare near Dublin. It is so green. Besides Kildare Village, I also went to the Bentleys Oyster Bar & Grill restaurant that overlooks the St. Stephen Green for dinner and the chef’s recommendation of oysters and haddocks were simply perfect. After dinner, I went to the Porterhouse on Parliament Street where hundreds of beer brands are available and the pubs play Irish music all night long. No wonder people say Kildare is the hub for a good life – it really is.

KEN: My TV crew and I just couldn’t get enough of Dublin, Munich and the local areas surrounding the Villages. We spent our entire third day in Ingolstadt town just for sight-seeing.  But the shopping was amazing. I have NEVER been so excited about shopping before in my whole life but “up to 60% off the recommended retail price all year round” is simply irresistible! No one in our TV crew could focus 100% on filming in Ingolstadt Village because I could see their eyes wandering from window to window of gorgeous displays that can’t be found in other shopping outlets elsewhere, even in Hong Kong.

THAT’S GREAT TO KNOW YOU THINK THE EUROPEAN EXPERIENCE STACKS UP WITH WHAT HONG KONG OFFERS. WHAT DID YOU THINK OF THE BRANDS?

ZOIE: I am of course a lover of fashion and was easily contented stepping into Kildare Village surrounded by my favourite European brands such as Anya Hindmarch, Jack Wills, Cath Kidston and too many others to mention but, believe it or not, I found my new love when I went into Le Creuset in Kildare Village. The kitchen wares looked really nice and I imagined every piece of them sitting in my kitchen cabinet – so I bought two pieces in cast iron. I think my Mum would be impressed by my determination to start learning to cook from now on.

KEN: I was especially impressed by the local German brands at Ingolstadt Village, such as Aigner, Schneiders and Rosenthal. I bought my wife a T-shirt and a purse and myself a pair of casual sandals, which I fell in love with the first minute I tried them on. I also bought myself a pair of golf pants and gloves from Bogner at a terrific price; I think my wife will stop complaining about my goofy golf outfit the next time we play. Too bad the trip this time was so short otherwise I would have grabbed the ski pants in Salomon as well and headed straight to the Alps!

ANY FINAL THOUGHTS ON YOUR CHIC TOUR OF EUROPE?

ZOIE: After the trip to Kildare Village I think I could totally live there my whole life and believe I would be the happiest person on earth.

KEN: I am now dead set on a trip to the Alps. It was on my travel list already and I am for sure I will be back to Ingolstadt Village VERY SOON.

Tags: Aigner, Anya Hindmarch, Barcelona, Bentleys Oyster Bar & Grill, Bicester Village, Bogner, Cath Kidston, Dublin, Harper's Bazaar, Hong Kong Cable TV, Ingolstadt Village, Jack Wills, Ken Chan, Kildare Village, La Roca Village, Le Creuset, London, Lynn Xiong, Munich, Porterhouse, Rosenthal, Salomon, Schneiders, Zoie Tam