It isn’t hard to admit that there comes a sense of relief from ringing in a new lunar year that promises to bring peace, a clean slate, and (hopefully) the return to life as we know it. The fashion industry is no exception to the times we’ve endured, and the 2021 Lunar New Year celebration brings a welcome distraction from a life of “unprecedented times” and N-95’s. Special edition collections released by beauty and fashion brands alike carry a few common themes that are sure to lift the spirits and let down the bank accounts of many — so let’s take the Ox by the horns and discuss the trends that one can only pray will soon see the inside of a full-capacity room.
The first trend to bloom on the runway is that of the Republic of China’s official flower, the plum blossom. The flower has been showcased proudly on everything from buildings to airplanes, so its fashion debut is long overdue. The flower represents resilience in times of hardship due to its ability to grow in even the harshest of winters, a perfectly appropriate emblem for the year upon us. The well-loved foliage can be seen in Ugg’s lunar collection, as well as on packaging for Fresh’s botanical-infused makeup line. It’s also been seen captured by brands such as Fendi and in the paws of Gucci’s Lunar New Year mascot, manga comic cat, Doraemon.
Potentially influenced by Doraemon’s brightly colored fur and supported by basic color theory, another trend for Lunar New Year collections is the classic cyan color. This pigment sits comfortably within a triadic color scheme accompanied by red and yellow gold, the celebration’s symbolic colors. This makes cyan more than eligible to be featured on the newest Coach bags, collaborative Gucci sweaters, and Doc Martens Oxford loafers. The color represents immortality and the season of Spring, two things we can only hope the year of the Ox brings with it. Regardless of where you celebrate this year, this vibrant hue is sure to bring a modern twist to any traditional celebratory garment.
And what good is a cherry-blossom-littered, cyan-colored, celebratory garment without a makeup look to match? Aside from countless new skincare collections inspired by the Chinese New Year, shimmering shadows and bold lips have also come into play. Gold and red are nothing new for the celebration. Still, beauty brands like Bobbi Brown and Clinique have found a way to modernize the classic color palette by adding blinding glitter elements. Compared to the previous year of the Ox, where 2009 trends included bubblegum gloss and smokey eyes, this year presents a much more sophisticated approach. The ever-adored red lip is paired with a glistening highlight and glamorous gold eyeshadows to match.
Whatever this lunar year brings you, rest assured that you will face it in style. With newfound confidence in the latest threads, at least one thing is guaranteed: you will never be underdressed for another Zoom meeting again.
Words by Mandy Olivieri
Graphic by Day Toscano