In Hong Kong I am an extra large female, in Australia I am extra small. Why?

As an expatriate one thing which you will have to come to terms with is differing body images. As a 166cm tall woman (5'6') and weighing about 50kg I am not large by Western standards although in Hong Kong I was physically larger and taller than many men were. It shakes up your self-image. My mother, who is curvy, felt obese when walking down the streets of Hong Kong. When you are confronted with a 41kg woman who is about 5 foot tall with a 24-inch waist, you definitely feel big. And trying on clothing that comes mid-way up your calf rather than being full length just hammers it home.

The best options then for clothing are either to go to a tailor (either in Hong Kong or in China, which is just across the border and an easy day trip) or else rely on mail order. A friend of mine used to gather together international catalogues and then would host a party - we would pick our outfits and do a group order saving on shipping costs as we would get a discount for bringing quantities into the country.

So what is hard to get in Hong Kong as an expatriate female?

1. Jeans - they are always too short and anything over a 31 leg is virtually impossible to buy (although Kookai occasionally offers a 34-inch leg).
2. Track or sweat pants - same problem - the legs are too short.
3. Shoes - A number of friends had great difficulty with finding shoes over a European shoe size 40. You can get them made to order near Happy Valley or in Admiralty near Pacific Place otherwise. High heels are also difficult to buy. Anything seriously high is virtually impossible and choices starts petering out around the two to two and a half inch mark.
4. Larger sized lingerie/sleepwear/clothing. Be honest - are you curvier, bustier than a small Chinese woman? If the answer is yes, you will need to think about your options. Marks & Spencer offer a range of sizes but in Hong Kong this is not as comprehensive as in the UK as the market is smaller. Check out Dollarsaver (the freely mailed listing of what's what in Hong Kong for additional expat sized clothing shops).
5. Unpadded bras. Difficult to come by unless you pay for Calvin Klein. Chinese women tend to be modest and have a preference for padded cups.

And what is easy to get?

1. Swimwear. Many of the clubs run travelling swimming costume shows and suits are imported from around the world and then sold on a regular basis. Check out magazines such as Dollarsaver for details.
2. Handbags, wallets, accessories - they are everywhere and much cheaper to buy locally. Designer goods are also well priced.
3. Handmade items - suits, trousers, skirts, shirts.
4. Spectacles and eyewear are cheap.
5. T-shirts and sweaters - Bossini and Giordano offer an excellent, quality range of clothing - great for children or as wardrobe boosters.

Shopping for clothes! Just part of the overseas experience. Contact HSBC Bank International Limited at www.offshore.hsbc.com or www.offshore.hsbc.com/1/2/international/how-can-we-help-you for information about the financial opportunities that you can also experience whilst living and working abroad.