My parents [Silvana and Stanley Ho Sau-nan] were in the garment business and when I was young, they often took me and my siblings to their offices and factories. At their workplace, I learnt about design and the production process of garments and developed an interest in fashion from there.

My mother was also into fashion when she was younger. On Sundays, after our family lunch, she would take us shopping. When I got married, she gave me the long feng gua [a traditional Chinese bridal garment also known as qungua] that she wore at her wedding. I wore it to my wedding tea ceremony. The intricate and elaborate embroidery on the gua is amazing.

My early fashion inspirations were from movies, movie stars and great singers. Some of the trends that I embraced included the torn sweatshirt worn off the shoulder à la [1983 film] Flashdance. I was inspired by Brooke Shields and her hair bands; Kate Moss and Gwyneth Paltrow when they wore slip dresses in the 1990s; the boldly coloured outfits by Versace; and the body-hugging looks by Alaïa and Thierry Mugler worn by so many celebrities in the 1980s and 1990s. Over the years, through trial and error, I’ve learnt from my fashion mistakes. It takes practice and experimentation [to get your look right]. Now, I understand what colours suit my skin tone and will select silhouettes that complement my figure.