Outstanding or Outrageous? Best of China Fashion Week

Today is the last day of Mercedes-Benz China Fashion Week A/W 2013 in 751 D-Park. This season's shows came just as all eyes were on China's first lady, Peng Liyuan, who, unlike prior Chinese female politicians, has shown a great interest in the domestic fashion market. Hailed by media as China's first "glamorous first lady," Peng showed up for a diplomatic visit to Moscow with a handbag made by a generally unrecognizable Chinese brand. The Chicago Tribune writes:

The anonymity of her bag, in particular, works in her favor. Luxury handbags, especially those made by well-known brands like Louis Vuitton or Christian Dior, are viewed in China as symbols of not only status but corruption and excess.

We'd guess that if there's anything that would make Peng proud, it would be Wang Zhixian exhibiting Chinese culture through fashion with her elaborate bamboo cutout dresses. Wang, a Beijing Institute of Fashion Technology graduate, took first prize at China Fashion Week's annual Young Fashion Designers Contest.

Meanwhile, everyone has been talking about Alex Wang, who captivated audiences with the Beijing debut of his slate-toned eveningwear collection and makeup artist Mao Geping bedazzled his models' eyes with elaborate explosions of rainbows and rhinestones. But the wow factor doesn't stop there. We leave you with some of our favorite looks from the season below.

Photos: Chinafashionweek.org