SHANGHAI TANG @ AW2013 Men & Women Collection

SHANGHAI TANG AW2013 Men Collection is a desire to dress stylishly, comfortably and occasionally surprise and delight. From refined basics to luxurious pieces, it is a season for flashy extroverts and quiet introverts alike. Pre-Fall introduces minimal styling and precision cutting in a classic palette of blues and navy accented by floral print shirts and bright colours, such as lemon yellow, burnt orange, bright pink and emerald green. Colour blocking turns to novel fabric blocking on shirts and knitwear plackets, jacket sleeves and double-face outerwear. Bright pants continue to be a key item, this time in soft baby corduroy.

Entering Fall, it’s all about layering and eclectic fabric mixing, such as a tweed jacket with padded nylon sleeves and a tailored cotton blend coat with an attached contrasted nylon vest. Highlights include Lattice print scarves and handkerchiefs. The spectrum brightens with flashes of colour, such as a vibrant Chinese red Mandarin blazer. For Winter, suit jackets are shorter and have normal western lapels that can be worn flipped up or down. Other highlights include performance outerwear inspirations and double cuff hems. A\ luxurious wool coat is lined in fur. Softly structured jackets echo Spring/Summer, offering new lightness and comfort in double-face fabric that requires no lining. The palette ranges from saturated, jewel-toned moody blues and plums to dark greens, which also colour the new dark floral print.

The signature Shanghai Tang stand-up collar receives an update with a sharper, slimmer fit. Silk suits are tailored from an opulent macro-motif foulard pattern. The new mandarin-collared tuxedo jacket is crafted from a printed paisley - this year’s velvet. Tuxedo jackets worn with simple tees and Lattice print silk effect a Chinese modernity that is uniquely Shanghai Tang. Trousers and shirts in the new, paper-weight leather emphasize the directional nature of the collection, looking more designer than biker chic.

The women collection exuding jet set glamour, Fall opens with graphic, minimalist pieces. From a clean palette of black, white and red, two-tone prints, stripes and colour blocking evoke the Sixties and the age elegant of travel, updated by distinctively modern Chinese silhouettes. The qipao is presented in a new Ornamental Stripe print, and a Shantung silk shift features embroidery and hand-finished embellishments. A Rock ‘N’ Roll vibe transforms traditional Chinese robes into Fall must-haves, such as paper-weight Italian leather pieces. Recalling Modern Art of the era, graphic panels of black, white and red on Mandarin collar knits and scarves create a directional colour blocking effect.

 Romantic, abstract prints inspired by China’s natural wonders imbue timeless classics with grace, spirituality and modernity. The imperial crane, symbolising immortality and longevity, is depicted in the painterly Feathers print; the plumed pattern is embroidered on the contours of a qipao, as well as the cuffs of a Mandarin collar jacket. Plumage continues on the new Feather Bowling Bag in quilted leather with jade hardware, and the fabulous Feather Clutch in ostrich with a chain strap. Floral Stamp inspires an ethereal and light mood. Knits come in exquisite new designs, from intricate Chinese flower embroidery to silk panelling and elaborate jade beading inspired by traditional architecture.

The feminine Waterfall jacquard in graduating water tones comes in an opulent metallic jacquard tee designed to be worn on its own or eclectically layered with other coloured, textured prints. Watercolour Ikat, for example, is a modern tribal in bright teal or fuchsia used to craft glamorous qipaos, blouses, cigarette pants, and scarves. The abstract Waterfall design also shines in silver beads on the Waterfall Clutch and Waterfall Belt. Chinese heritage is revisited in novel ways with unique embroidery on dresses and tops.

The Silk Road, the legendary crossroads of trading cultures, provides exotic inspirations for FW2013. Tribal prints come in vibrant hues of blue, teal, orange, fuchsia and heather grey. The Watercolour Ikat print on luxurious silk brings a distinctive, chic look to qipaos, jackets and coats; while the geometric Micro Ikat adds colour and texture to classic tunics and tops. For the ultimate winter scarves, the Kaleidoscope Ikat is printed on sumptuous, warming cashmere in impactful colours such as purple, camel and orange.

As temperatures cool, Shanghai Tang introduces refined, unique outerwear, including boiled wool capes with bamboo-shaped carved jade buttons. Finishing any ensemble with flair, the new suede bags of the season include the Jade Sling hobo, and the Eternity Mini handbag in black, orange or navy. Classic shearling outerwear is re-imagined in rich new crocodile-embossed grey coats, as well as chic shearling jackets inspired by traditional Chinese robes. Cashmere coats take on a new level of opulence with elegant embroidery and trims. Bags also receive a textured update with the Jade Twist Satchel and Box Clutch now available in a stunning, embroidered lotus canvas with leather trimming.