Feng Chen Wang AW24
On the Rue de Rivoli, one of the glitziest areas in Paris we all gathered for the Feng Chen Wang show. While waiting outside it was hard not to notice the tents of the homeless lined up against the building. The sharp contrast of the homeless against the fashionable youth was a stark image that I'll remember for a long time. The irony is, we were all there at the same time in this timeline to experience that moment. Our perceptions and purposes might have been different but it was all the same moment nonetheless.
This collection transforms the Chinese tea culture into a fashion collection. The underlying themes were respect for nature and traditional culture while conveying contemporary values. There is a sense of freedom and confidence in this collection from one who is proud of their traditions and is eager to share them with the world.
Some of the prints that you can find in within this collection were originated from traditional Chinese watercolor paintings. The colors of the garments were rich caramels and deep burgundies, they represented the brewing stages of tea. One of the best details of the show were the small handbags that resembled teapots. A detail that one might miss unless they were paying attention, and perhaps in front row.
Throughout the collection there was a lot of give and take, meaning that the silhouettes were ranging from large and loose to cinched and corseted. This juxtaposition of different comfort levels added another layer to the collection. I truly enjoyed the traditional cultural elements of the collection and look forward to seeing where this personal evolution of Feng Chen Wang ends up for next season. Based on her free thinking metamorphosis, the future will probably be a complete wild card.