From the first look — a red sweatshirt with black lace appliqués arranged like tiger stripes and worn with gently flared matching pants — it was clear that Huishan Zhang’s sweet ingenue had toughened up for fall. The striped motif, inspired by Imperial Chinese hunting dress, appeared again later on, printed on a white lace dress and teamed with a sassy caramel swing coat. The shiny black latex tights used throughout the lineup added a bit of S&M sex appeal.
In other silhouettes, scalloped hems formed a sharp point at the front of dresses and tops, a reference to ancient Chinese armor, while wave illustrations inspired the micro rainbow print used on silk dresses. One piece in particular — a fabulously oversize cream sweater with knitted coils and sparkles on the sleeves and front — will be on many a wish list.