After fashion-forward Shanghai, Beijing shows seem stuck in reverse gear
Many collections in Beijing Fashion Week’s opening days gave a nod to the qipao, Mao suit and imperial styles, albeit with modern twists and some romantic flair, as if designers were working in another era
Beijing Fashion Week began on Tuesday, with catwalks full of models in mostly rebooted traditional Chinese outfits and gowns. While the just-ended Shanghai Fashion Week aims to present the most contemporary Chinese fashion and style, it seems the Beijing event – for which the audience is largely domestic – is stuck in another historical era, despite some quite beautiful construction and romantic flair.
Catwalk collections in the Chinese capital have so far been largely based on the qipao, cheongsam and Mao suit or inspired by Chinese imperial fashion, with what seems rather piecemeal efforts at modernising them. It’s hard to deduce much about where Chinese style is going from these early shows.
NE Tiger presented silky qipaos, skirts and traditional tops in satin – all shortened and loosened for a more modern silhouette. The effect was undeniably kitsch and cute, if a little predictable.
