Watching Chinese costume dramas and comedies as a little girl, and later, studying Chinese history in university, Shanghai was always portrayed as a glamorous, sort of like Paris or New York in the west. Though China had its problems in the middle of the twentieth century, it has changed a great deal over the past 20 years and Shanghai is, once again, cosmopolitan and sophisticated. It is no wonder that Hugo Boss chose the city to show the BOSS Fall-Winter 2013 collection.
The show, which was presented at the newly-opened Power Station of Art, a contemporary art gallery in the city (think Toronto’s Power Plant), was also streamed online and well-attended by celebrities, from both Asia and the west, including Chow Yun-Fat and Carrie Mulligan. In addition, bloggers, such as Wendy from Wendy’s Lookbook also went. The upcoming collection was classic BOSS, featuring gorgeously cut suits for men and women as well as more formal wear and looks that can be easily transformed from day to night. The colour palette ranged from dark, cold weather classics to buttery yellows and other brighter shades for both men and women. While these shades might appeal to the Asian and European markets, I am unsure how they will play out in North America. I think as a continent, we are a bit more conservative when it comes to menswear.
In addition to the “main” collection, two pieces – a simple, yet beautiful teal dress for women and a dark suit for men – were available to pre-order while the show was on. Only 100 pieces of each was made for worldwide availability. The dress, which is very simply cut in the front, but a bit dressier at the back with its fringe, making it possibly overwhelming on a small frame, small statured individual. Length may be another issue, but it is something that is easier to remedy. The cut is not to the point that hemming would significantly alter the shape.
Prior to the showing, two videos, called “Shanghai Affairs” and which starred Taiwanese model and actress Lin Chiling, who was educated in Toronto at the Bishop Strachan School (which also happens to be my alma mater) and the University of Toronto. The videos are part of Hugo Boss’s digital campaign.
Photos courtesy of Hugo Boss
