WHEN it comes to Self-Portrait and the genius of Han Chong, we know all our favourite classics are going to be elevated and reimagined – and as per usual, we were not left disappointed. The night-time pieces exuding elegance and sultriness transitioned into the whimsy and ebullience of the daytime pieces. Whilst staying true to his romantic identity, he has given us a collection for the modern woman: statement and edgy but still amorous and paragon.
The show opened with a classic dichromatic combination of black and white. Clean, sharp and versatile. This season is characterised by its tailoring, but “with a Self-Portrait twist” and its tuxedo-inspired jumpsuits, suits and coats. In contrast to his previous collections, this one had fewer lace pieces, instead, opting to use lace as an addition rather than a central focus. Moving away from his stiffer details, Han Chong brings us a mature collection: we have moved from feminine sweetheart to metropolitan it-girl.
The lace trimmings on the leather shorts, the sweetheart neckline and the dresses added a lingerie-like finish to the pieces. The seductive nocturnal pieces dramatically contrasted the up-beat and charming nature of the double-gingham, mixed prints and striking colours of the daytime outfits. Seemingly reviving the ‘70s, an emergence of pussybows and warm-toned sunglasses made an appearance.
Stripes and florals have been the distinguishable hallmarks of Self-Portrait’s prints, but Han Chong has added another one to his roster: gingham. Layered gingham replaced the former collections’ layered knits, adding new dimension and graphics to archetypal silhouettes.
Models paraded down the runway with a subtle, but what we expect to be the new it-accessory: black sheer knee-high socks – a staple we know will be seen during the next fashion week.
Famous for understanding the relationship between textures and prints, the brand did not disappoint. After all, it wouldn’t be a Self-Portrait show without fine-knit, crocheting and structured velvet. Ending the show with a canary yellow velvet dressed over a metallic fine-knit turtleneck jumper, Self-Portrait really exemplify that when it comes to layering, they know how to do it best.
by Robyn Ngan