Fit for a Princess
When Feiping Chang’s dream of a fairytale wedding came true, Piaget had the perfect accessory
In every decade, there are brides who encapsulate the glamour of the era. And alongside them, there are the clothes and accessories that we will forever associate with these magical moments. In Monaco in the 1950s, it was Grace Kelly in her regal white gloves, in the early ’80s in London, it was Princess Di and her extravagant sleeves. And in Hong Kong today, it is Feiping Chang’s fairytale white dress and her exquisite Piaget Limelight Gala watch.
Her wedding to Lincoln Li took place on beautiful Capri, the island off the coast of Italy in the Bay of Naples. The extraordinary celebration spanned three days, moving from traditional Italian restaurants in the olive groves to the ceremony at exquisite Villa Lysis, a historic monument the couple refurbished for their wedding day.
“The government has never allowed a wedding to be done there,” says Chang. “It took a lot of work, but we’re so happy that we were able to help... We actually built an entire bridge to link the grounds of the villa to the rooftop.”
They also covered the whole area in flowers to create an enchanted, scented Italian grove that looked like an illustration from a story book.
And while everything, from the cake topped with raspberries and cream to the hand-illustrated, lemon-embossed invitations, not to mention the customised presents for all the guests, was nothing short of exquisite, the most beautiful vision of all was undoubtedly Chang herself.
Resplendent in a mille feuille dress by Giambattista Valli, she looked like a high-fashion fairytale princess. It was a look she had envisioned for years, but when she was presented with the finished product, it went beyond her wildest dreams.
“For as long as I can remember, I always knew that when the day came, I would want Giamba to make my dress, because he really makes very dream-like creations that are just above and beyond,” she says.
Clearly this is a woman of great style and elegance. So it should come as no surprise that she is rarely seen without her trusty Piaget Limelight Gala watch, a timepiece that encapsulates her distinctive look.
“Piaget’s aesthetics of refined elegance and balance of feminine and masculine elements really remind me of my own sense of style, so it was a natural partnership and an honour to represent this timeless luxury brand,” she says.
With the Limelight Gala, Piaget has created a watch that seems almost enchanted, using gold and diamonds with creative flair. The model’s distinctive, undulating design has been iconic since its first iteration was released in the 1970s.
The most memorable design feature is the way that the rounded face is framed by two dramatically extended lugs, which are accentuated by a row of brilliant-cut diamonds. The face itself is made up of an understated dial punctuated by roman numerals.
And then there is the strap. This year, the Limelight Gala has been relaunched with a 26mm case with either a white gold and diamond strap, or a sparkling satin one. Or, clients can opt for the gold-clad version released last year.
“I love the versatility of the Limelight Gala,” says Chang. “I love that it functions both as an incredible timepiece and jewellery. It can also easily transition from day to night.”
But how does she style the three distinctive straps?
“I love a stack of gold jewellery, so I like layering the gold and rose-gold watches with matching Possession bangles,” she says. “While the diamond watch with black satin band looks so classic and clean on its own, and can be paired with a beautiful evening gown or just jeans. This goes to show how any look can always be taken up a notch with the right accessory.”
Spoken like a true icon.