Teaism: Ji Cheng SS13

Ji Cheng's striking SS13 collection at London Fashion Week explored the calming facets of tea. Tea is considered an art form in China, and when I travelled to Shanghai for China's first International Debutante Ball at the beginning of last year I found my love of tea growing as I sampled the subtle nuances of the different brews.
I was extremely curious to see the collection the moment my invitation, tea leaves and all, arrived. The catwalk show itself was a calm and soothing experience comprising of muted warm tones and natural greens and a few surprise looks in black; a breath of fresh air inspired by the vasts fields of tea in rural China.
The shaping within the clothes was exquisite with gently curving asymetric lines, peplums and intricate geometric patterns created within the fabrics, along with a host of intriguing textures. Sheer fabrics also created a sensual allure. The elegant take on the rice hat finished off the looks with a delicate scarf tied round the head.
Cheng takes Chinese culture and transforms it with Western tailoring to create striking clothes capturing a timeless elegance and creating a fresh take on tradition in this beautifully soft, feminine collection.

LFW Look of the Day Two: Ji Cheng

Continuing on from yesterday, day two of London Fashion Week saw such an incredibly exciting array of shows and here is my catwalk look of the day! After Ji Cheng's striking AW12 collection in February I was enamoured with the mix of cultural heritage and modern innovation in the Chinese designer's work.
The invitation for this show was amazing, featuring an oversized tea bag no less- just the thing to relax with in the midst of a hectic week of shows and presentations. It also gave an intriguing hint at the theme of a collection entitled Teaism, though more on that in my full show review at a later date. I particularly love this look for its sheer elegance and how the stunning skirt reminds me of a Victorian bustle. The headwear throughout was absolutely gorgeous and made such a lovely touch.

Zen Awakening: Ji Cheng AW12

Ji Cheng's lavish AW12 collection was a supremely elegant, luxurious affair, wonderfully combining the Chinese designer's cultural heritage with innovative modern techniques. The fabrics varied from raw browns and cassock to high shine futuristic concoctions. The gorgeously fiery vermillion reds were so vibrant and full of life, whilst a crisp yellow shirt and warm orange details also caught my eye. In Chinese culture of course the vivacious colour red symbolises joy and good fortune.
I cannot tell you how much I loved my trip to Shanghai at the beginning of the year. It was the most amazing experience to take part in the first International Debutante Ball there, the city is just so vibrant and I had an incredible time. The bustling city is Ji Cheng's base and she uses elements of daily living in a celebration of life. She often incorporates the symbolic Chinese character XI (Double Happiness) into her designs and works to deliver a message of contentedness.
The collection saw satisfyingly short silhouettes, including one gorgeous cosily woven jacket I'm quite besotted with, and also gracefully fluid long ones. There was a lovely emphasis on the cinched in waist harking to traditional Chinese dress, from simple but stand out block colour sashes to ornate hanging tassels.
The show marked the first time Ji Cheng has presented her work in London and I hope to see a lot more of her! I loved the meeting of Eastern and Western cultures, creating one gorgeously sleek, modern collection.