WHISPERS of the East echo through Snow Xue Gao’s most recent collection, Dream of the Red Chamber. In the face of adversity and the recent government shutdown which caused the designer to be unable to attend her own show, Snow Xue Gao reflects upon this through her continuous blending of cultural dress. Displayed at the Museum of Chinese in America, a venue which aims to preserve and celebrate the history of Chinese life in the US, Snow Xue Gao brings us a collection that reminds us of this – just in time for the Lunar New Year.
Drawing inspiration from the designer’s upbringing in the Chinese capital and the recent years she has spent in New York, it was fitting that she utilised the work of the Qing dynasty painter, Sun Wen who made a similar supplication in the hopes for unity.
Returning with her classic blend of east-meets-west with the contentious combination of Chinese-style silk dresses entwined and spliced with structured suit jackets, the designer is making as much of a political statement as she is representing herself and her art.
As silk printed with scenes from the Qing novel Dream of the Red Chamber wafted down the runway, we are left in awe. Juxtaposed with the 80’s rigidity and conformity of office-wear, our imagination is reignited. The mixture of floral brocade and plaid conspire to make us revaluate and consider the current climate of social affairs.
The Chinese designer communicates cross-culturally in a refined and elegant fashion through a display of intarsia knits, habotai slip skirts, printed silk loungewear, brocade and structured suits. Accessories were kept minimal with only the addition of the auxiliary embroidered silk mules – yet another homage to the Qing.
Snow Xue Gao honours her heritage, her new home and her identity through Dream of the Red Chamber.
by Robyn Ngan
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