Vivienne Tam puts China, Kazakh chic on NY runway

Chinese-born New York designer Vivienne Tam
sent a glorious fall/winter 2016 collection down the runway on a snowy
night,
influenced by China’s western border, central Asia and the Caucasus.

As snow and ice coated the streets of Manhattan, Tam treated the
fashion
set to a blaze of pattern and rich colors evoking indigenous cultures from
Xinjiang, Kazakhstan, Turkey and Russia.

The collection showcased ancient and modern ikat patterns reminiscent
of
carpets and tapestries, and she made great use of patchwork, particularly in
suede skirts, jackets, coats and dresses.
The stand-out signature look for the season were sensational pleated lame
skirts and maxi dresses in crystal that sparkled and shimmered, and were
also
copied in scarves.

Flowers and medallions were embroidered onto suede, wool and leather.
There
were sequins, and fire cloud embroidery applique on a mesh dress. Capes have
been big this season and Tam’s were jacquard.

It was a riot of green and burgundies, blacks and burnished pewter,
with
shimmering silver and bronze metallics. There was a mandarin collar
patchwork
leather jacket in black, red, yellow and green.
Hers is a look that is versatile and cross-culture, featuring baggy
gaucho
pants, oversized trousers, mesh and knits that could be worn by women
desiring
to cover modestly — or indeed anyone.

Vicky Jeudy
from #OITNB tries on one of our favorite looks from the #SS16 VIVIENNE TAM
collection! @vickyjeudy #vickyjeudy #viviennetam

A photo posted by Vivienne Tam (@viviennetam) on Feb 13, 2016 at 1:16pm
PST

Born in China, Tam moved to Hong Kong when she was three years old
where
she says her upbringing in the then British territory sowed the seeds of her
east meets west aesthetic.
She debuted her first collection after moving to New York in the 1990s,
and
her designs can be seen at New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art and
London’s
Victoria and Albert Museum.

Fashion Week organizers have in the past summed up her brand as China
Chic,
and her collections are available in dozens of boutiques and scores of
department stores worldwide. (AFP)