"You Can't Wear That!"

If the Asian fashion landscape for 2004 can be summed up in one word, it would be "contrast." A recent fashion week in Hong Kong saw models strutting down the catwalk in items such as a sheer hot pink scarf with gray suit lapels stitched on to form a faux collar (courtesy of And Then ...), a knit cap festooned with baby toys (Aeju), and an ensemble made up of a thick knit wool skirt and a luridly turquoise silk top (Tell U What).

While most of the madness will stay on the runway, fashionistas are injecting...