Shiatzy Chen AW24

Fast and furious they came down the runway, one after another moving at a pace that I had difficulty keeping up with because there was so much to appreciate in each look. Considering how large this runway was, they really did not have the time to give everybody a good look. But from what I saw, this collection was tight and impactful. There was both simplicity and complexity within the collection. This paradoxical way of being has been the calling card for the label for the last 45 years.

Shiatzy Chen was founded in 1978 Taiwan by husband and wife, Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia and Wang Yuan-Hong. They started with traditional Chinese dress for women and expanded it to menswear in 1987. In 1990 Wang Chen Tsai-Hsia went to Paris to study Western dressmaking and she reinvented the entire label into what we know today. A combination of eastern and western dress, illustrating the finest of both. The beauty is in the details and that is well depicted in this AW24 collection. There were so many fine embellishments and painted details that one could miss if they weren't paying absolute attention to the runway. Colors for the season are black, grey and cream with a pop of the colors of wealth, purple and gold.

Amongst all of the structured and tailored suiting and coats there were some very feminine ruffles, silk charmeuse and strappy laced gowns. There was a floral motif throughout the collection and the painting of the garments reminded me of pottery. There were pieces in leather but mostly in black. Only one dress appeared in a beautiful indigo color, which I would have liked to see more of. The ivory and white looked so elegant against the gold and black. This collection felt very expressive and fast-paced. Made for a lifestyle that would go through several changes a day. With this company's background in textiles, there was no lack of ingenuity in that department. It would be amazing to go to the flagship store in Paris the next time I'm in town and see these up close.

For more about Shiatzy Chen, click HERE