Sichuan Street Style - Throwback Hanfu Fashion

My Dad is traveling around the Sichuan province of China this month. He sent back a few photos of the Chinese street style trend he was surprised to see. Young students everywhere were donning silky robes in the style of historical Hanfu.
While most vintage fashion lovers rarely wear clothing dating back more than the last century, the Hanfu styles of this trend have not been worn in 400 years. The fashion fans are not wearing ancient ancestors garb, many are shopping for updated versions readily available online. They are not wearing them like cosplay. I initially thought perhaps they were emulating historical soap operas.
According to students interviewed in the South China Morning Post, Hanfu fans wear this trend as a way to connect with their roots and past. It is a sense of pride in their identity.
It is hard to imagine Americans dressing up as pilgrims on the street, heading to class or office. That doesn't stop designers from trying to send pilgrim fashion and prairie style down the runway every few years though.
Whether you are knowledgable about the Han people or Chinese history, the style of the Hanfu fashion is quite pretty. Flowing robes and embroidery look elegant and comfortable as far as style trends go. I also like the idea that students are wearing these outfits as a way to identify with their past and ancestors. With the way the United States is divided right now, I am wondering how fashion influencers here would incorporate patriotism and history into their street style, and whether that is possible without controversy?
What do you think of wearing traditional dress as your go-to work outfit? Could you pull off a vintage style that is four centuries old?
I can't wait to see what other trends emerge after Hanfu fashion for Sichuan street style.

photos by David TW Leung

This article - "Sichuan Street Style and Hanfu Fashion" - was featured on Links à la Mode fashion roundup by Independent Fashion Bloggers.
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NY FASHION WEEK: Vivienne Tam Spring 2014

Vivienne Tam took the city out of the girl and placed it right on her back. She opened the show with a city silhouette backdrop. Possibly Shanghai, home of Tam’s inspiration for this season’s collection?

Tam begun her 40 piece collection with crisp, simple forms, balanced by intricate lotus flower patterns, thoroughly evident in each incorporated look. The first few looks’ black and white palette leveled the detail of patterns.

This collection was all about delicate subtlety, the barely-there cutouts whose existence takes a second glance to confirm. From printed lotus shirt to short pleated skirt, the A-line cut dominated most looks.

What I’ve also noticed trending in other shows is the conservative top form. Straight or horizontal, high necklines and collars covered up what the midriffs and short skirts reveal.

Colours evolved from simple black and white, to pastels, to loud blood orange, to a blue and green hue, with a return to the black and white in the last two looks. The well executed color gradation allowed a successful progression and change without overpowering the elaborate cutout flower patterns, free form slash lines and the occasional  (one time) sheer top print image.

Tam’s success came through her collection sequence, I felt I evolved with the collection, moved from day to night with the exquisite color movement.

I loved the simple structure of the pieces, free flowing and fitted. Simple shoes and lack of accessories helped propel and focus the eye towards intriguing colors and slick cuts. Remember, less is more!                                      - Niko Nelson

original photos by David TW Leung

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VLOV Spring 2013

How do you like the new year so far?  I felt like I had neglected the guys for a bit.  VLOV is a menswear label from China looking to make a splash stateside.  Their spring 2013 collection at New York Fashion Week was relaxed but elegant.

The pieces consisted of easy, shorter jackets, linen blazers, leather jackets with asymmetrical zippers.  Shorts and longer pants with a slim, but relaxed fit.  Light knits looked really comfortable.  The color palette had a lot of cool greys, neutral beige, black, blue and dark olive.  A few of the proportions looked a little off to me, and that might be because the fit was tailored to the Asian market.

Footwear was a simple leather sandal.  Large man-purse totes were the bag of choice on this runway.  I'm not sure this will catch on with the gents in this country, but I personally would love one for myself.

Happy 2013 guys!

photos by Mariana Leung

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Fabulous Headpieces of the Chinese New Year Parade

It's the Year of the Dragon.  Look out for a baby boom from those who celebrate the Lunar New Year.  On Sunday afternoon, NYC's Chinatown was host to a glorious display of cultural pageantry to celebrate the big holiday.

While you can usually count on colorful processions of dancing dragons and confetti canons, most people don't looks to the streets as a runway for great hairpieces and hats.  Some spectators wore  classic embellished chopsticks.  While riders on the floats donned millinery made from flowers, pearls, fur and jewels.

The Easter parade in New York has always been a showcase for flamboyant chapeaux, but this is street fashion with a little more depth. The accessories here were worn in tribute to the tribes and performing arts of China.  A fortuitous occasion indeed.

Photos by Mariana Leung

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VLOV - China's Menswear Hope

China was where designers were knocked off, now they are luxury brands fastest growing market.  With all of those resources, where are their mega-labels?  VLOV, which stands for Victory & Love is the award-winning menswear brand by Qing Qing Wu.  Priced to be affordable to a middle-class rice point, he aims to compete with Calvin Klein and Hugo Boss on his turf.  

The designer presented his vision at NY Fashion Week in Lincoln Center with an easy palette of black, charcoal, light grey and pops of bright blue.  There were some 1980's references of wet-look nylon jackets mixed in with zipper details and edgier jacket/shorts combos.  I don't know if the looks here will be too forward for middle-America, but they did get compliments from the more fashionable International fans in the audience.  

It's a longshot, but wouldn't it be a coup for a Chinese designed label to outsource to the USA for production? Just imagining.  But hey, NY designers, Save the Garment Center and keep manufacturing on your home turf!

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