Dress up for the Dragon

It’s the Year Of The Dragon and with it comes clothes with traditional and artistic influences, writes Sushma Veera

WELCOME the Year Of The Dragon with a new wardrobe of traditional and contemporary fashion. Classy, sophisticated,  and elegant — these words aptly describe the wide range of collections offered by different brands for shoppers who are celebrating the Lunar New Year.

ODE TO ART

Metrojaya ushers in the Water Dragon with a chinoiserie themed collection that reflects Chinese artistic influences and bright, colourful lanterns.

Cape Cod offers crisp and simple button-down cotton shirts, rolled up shorts, cosy must-have cardigans, culotte dresses and timeless blouses in vibrant yellow, crimson, orange and khaki as well as red and blue hues.
The Passages collection incorporates detailed embroidery and jacquard techniques to complement the festive occasion and create a refined taste, while Somerset Bay uses narcissus and peony flowers to symbolise women with confidence and beauty. Check out the hand-embroidered qipao. They are vintage in style and yet, reflective of modern, quiet luxury.

For a sensual and sophisticated look, blouses and dresses from Emmanuelle feature a flourish of feminine trimmings with its sequined neckline and pleated bodice.

MYTH MAGIC

Inspired by the exuberant spirit and colours of the mythical dragon, Parkson is paying homage to tradition by offering styles that will wow at any event, be it for the reunion dinner, visiting loved ones or simply catching up with friends. Bold colours dominate the numerous collections which feature patterns and motifs that reflect the past, yet are chic and sassy enough for the present.

Monica Quen weaves tradition and urban styles together in a collection that pays homage to the past but with modern lines and tailoring. Mirabelle, Upfront and Monsoon stay true to your fashion sense by offering bright and beautiful pieces.
Complement your look with the wide range of accessories and shoes available at the department store.

For your better half, no colour can be too bright for a festive season that celebrates vibrancy and vitality. Be it tops, bottoms, watches or shoes, take your pick from an array of international brands such as United Colors of Benetton,  Desigual, Rip Curl, Boxfresh and Santoni.

FABULOUSLY FLARED

Debenhams’ Spring/Summer 2012 collection focuses on fit and flare, with inspirations from the 1950s mixed with modern interpretations. The full skirts feature bold border prints while slim crop trousers come in an array of colours and printed Capri pants are set to be a big trend.

You can sport the 50s look with cute cardigans and neat jackets, or choose the graphic bright colours used by Jasper Conran on chic pencil skirts and slim Capri pants. You can also choose from candy-coloured pastels and bloom prints on Red Herring or make a statement with strong colour florals on dark background and border prints.

The fitted and flared dresses and the printed crop trousers are not to be missed. Other pieces include glamorous dresses and tunics, and hem dresses and tie front shirts.
Linen clothing with loose fitting necklines, jerseys and lightweight shorts take charge, while contrasting batik prints create excitement in the men’s collection. Vertical and horizontal stripes and vibrant and warm pastel shades seem to be some of the key features in the range.

CLASSIC TOUCH

Mayfair Designs offers a comprehensive Chinese New Year collection to suit all tastes. Whether it is ready-to-wear or made-to-measure, you have an excellent range to choose from.

Designer Leung Thong Ping is inspired by fabric more than anything else and loves to focus on the spectrum of happy colours to create a range to welcome the Year Of The Dragon.  The latest is the flared top and the flared qipao in fine lawn (thin cotton that’s suitable for our hot weather).

As always, Mayfair designs are classic, comfortable, flattering and carefully made in-house by its highly skilled team. The attention to fabric choice, colour combinations and traditional finish make the Mayfair product instantly recognisable, giving it cult status across borders.

The collection can be worn with jeans and stretch tube skirts to update the look.
                                                  

 

Embroidered long sleeve shirt with long pants from Passages

 

These embroidered cotton cheongsams by Somerset Bay can also be worn on other occasions

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