Fashion Roundup

image from America's Next Top Model's show at the Workers' Cultural Palace

Yohji Yamamoto Fashion Show in the Forbidden City

With all eyes on China, Beijing-based events seem a sure-fire winner in terms of garnering publicity. Although recent cancellations have been disappointing for event organizers and potential attendees alike, one major international event which did go ahead was a fashion show by Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto. Held in a small temple within the Forbidden City complex (the Workers' Cultural Palace to be exact - also the venue at which tonights Olympic Song 100 Day Countdown to the Olympics Party will be taking place), Yamamoto showcased a one-of-a-kind 60 piece Y's collection, and launched the Yohji Yamamoto Fund for Peace. The clothes were then auctioned off at the Beijing hotel on Saturday, with all proceeds going towards the fund, which aims to foster creativity amongst promising Chinese designers by sending them on a 2-year training scholarship to Europe of Japan. The foundation will also sponsor a female Chinese model to debut during Paris Fashion Week.

The event, proceeding as it does Hu Jintao's visit to Japan in early May, is another indicator of the improved state of Sino-Japanese relations and was jointly organized with the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC). Given the diplomatic goals of the event, the Beijinger found it a little surprising that all the models were flown in from abroad, and that representatives from the Chinese media were rather thin on the ground, although upcoming Chinese designer Xander Zhou was there, having dressed the rather natty looking Dutch embassy representatives.

The show was striking, not least because of the dramatic background. The contrast of traditional Chinese architecture with sharp neon strip-lighting and a stark industrial, minimalist runway really hit home the challenges faced when it comes to bridging gaps of this scale. However, as implausible as the setting was, the marriage did seem to work. The stark contrasts were again reflected in the collection itself, which saw trademark Yamamoto black coupled with bright flashes of color, and soft billowing fabrics juxtaposed with harsh, tailoring. Yet, they managed to blend seamlessly, and the end result was something oddly beautiful.

Beijing's second Zara store now open

One year after opening their first store in Beijing and a couple of weeks after unveiling a branch in Tianjin, Spanish fashion chain Zara continues it's expansion into the Chinese market with a second store opening in Xidan's new Joy City Mall earlier this month.

Beistyle Fashion Show Tonight

The festivities kick off with a cocktail party at the store (located just above Eric Paris Salon on Sanlitun Houjie) from 6pm before moving to the French restaurant and book library at 9pm for a presentation of their new collection. You’ll need to reserve for the show at Le Petit Gourmand which includes dinner for RMB 100.

Links and Sources
The Beijnger Blog: Fendi on the Wall
Mind Meters: Y's在太庙
People.com.cn: 著名设计师山本耀司设计的Y''s北京太庙开秀 (images)
New York Magazine: Controversy Foreseen for Yohji Yamamoto's China Show
Telegraph: Yohji Yamamoto: Historic Fashion Initiative
Yohji Yamamoto Official Site
The Beijinger Directory: Zara
The Beijinger Forun: Zara is Open
China Retail News: Zara Opens Flagship Store In Tianjin
BBC: Zara's owner reports sales surge
that's Beijing: Buy The Way: Zara
Zara Official Site(no Chinese)
Sina: 中粮集团布局：大悦城欲成西单商业地标(image)
MySpace: 蛋蛋的博客 (image)