Cover From left: Debbie Wong and Nicole Mott, the co-founders of Dressing The Woman (Photo: Zed Leets / Tatler Hong Kong)
From left: Debbie Wong and Nicole Mott, the co-founders of Dressing The Woman (Photo: Zed Leets / Tatler Hong Kong)
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Meet Nicole Mott and Debbie Wong, the co-founders of Dressing The Woman, a personal styling service that is helping women feel confident in the skin they’re in
Call it fate. In 2017, the lives of two women—Nicole “Nic” Mott, an advertising, retail and tech industry professional, and Debbie “Deb” Wong, a TV chef—were about to intertwine in the most unexpected way.
In 2015, Mott’s husband received a job offer in Asia; the couple packed their bags and moved from San Francisco to Hong Kong. During those initial months in the city, while living at company-provided accommodation at the Island Shangri-La, Mott was lonely and found solace in watching Wong, a presenter on the Asian Food Network, on TV. “I remember my husband would come home from work every day and ask me how my day was, and I’d tell him about what I learnt from watching Deb on TV [laughs]. She got me through some tough first few weeks in Hong Kong.” Fast-forward to 2017, when Mott and her husband attended the Taste of Hong Kong food festival, where Wong happened to be the emcee. The two met through their husbands, who happened to be colleagues—and the rest, as they say, is history.
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Above Nicole Mott (Photo: Zed Leets / Tatler Hong Kong)
Nicole Mott (Photo: Zed Leets / Tatler Hong Kong)
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Wong, who was born in Hong Kong and raised in Canada, has a background in food as a former private chef and caterer. After moving back to Hong Kong from Montreal in 2014, she combined her culinary skills and love for presenting by becoming a TV chef.
Though the women bonded over fashion and have a shared belief in its ability to facilitate personal expression, the decision to collaborate did not come overnight. “During the pandemic in 2020, some deeper realisations surfaced,” says Mott, who at the time was transitioning out of a 25-plus-year corporate career. “I started a very simple ‘outfit of the day’ page on Instagram called Dressing The Woman, just to have some sort of creative outlet. I had this strong urge to put something out there that was my heart and my voice.” Wong felt similarly: “I was coming to a point in my career where I wanted more control and to create opportunities to inspire others. I was obviously a big supporter of Nic’s page. Then one night, we were out having burgers and martinis at The Diplomat when I said: ‘Why don’t we do Dressing The Woman together?’”
Above Debbie Wong (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
Debbie Wong (Photo: Zed Leets/Tatler Hong Kong)
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The duo use the 1980s Kibbe Method, conceived by noted New York-based stylist David Kibbe, a system of classification that helps individuals understand their unique “essence”. The pair then choose clothing that enhances these traits.
The Kibbe Method features five distinct “essence types” with sub-types, making up a total of 13 essences that fall on a spectrum from yin to yang. “Identifying a person’s Kibbe essence means considering both their tangible and intangible traits, such as their bone structure, body frame and their overall energy—whether it’s refined, bubbly, intense, relaxed or sensual,” explains Wong. Quiz questions including musical preferences, and non-appearance- related compliments are factored in too.
“Each Kibbe essence type has corresponding style principles that amplify and highlight a person’s unique essence, and from there we’re able to choose clothing from a place of intent and empowerment,” says Wong. “We actually joke that Dressing The Woman is more about who you are when you are completely naked versus clothed,” says Mott, laughing.
Since its inception, Dressing The Woman has become more than just a fashion consultancy—it offers a journey of self-discovery and self-expression. Mott and Wong guide their clients through life transitions, helping them find inner peace and confidence, and unlocking their potential through personal style. “When you start moving through the world intentionally, the world has no choice but to rise up to meet you there,” says Mott. “We’re not here to tell people to ‘hide this’ or ‘hide that’ part of their physique. We don’t believe in flaws—instead we aim to identify and bring awareness to an individual’s strengths.”
Wong echoes this: “Our clients often approach us during significant life transitions: career changes; relationships ending or beginning. We look at personal taste, profession and stage in life as puzzle pieces to design a personal style aesthetic that is true to them.”
The duo have expanded their reach by offering group workshops and corporate team-building programmes too, segueing into the wellness and personal development space. Wong says, “One of our mantras is: let us bring out what is already within you.”
Credits
Photography: Zed Leets / Tatler Hong Kong
Photography Assistant: Nicole Ma / Tatler Hong Kong
As Content Director at Tatler Hong Kong, Tara shapes the brand's editorial vision across social, digital and print, and reports on Asia's most influential figures — from CEOs and leaders across business, style and the arts. In her dual role as Head of VIP, she also drives the planning and execution of Tatler's flagship IPs, curating star-studded events and building the relationships and communities that define the brand. Born and raised in the Middle East, she honed her craft in Dubai, crafting communication strategies for luxury brands across the Gulf. Follow her on Instagram @tarasobti.
