Red has always been the go-to color for festive Chinese-themed occasions like birthdays and Chinese New Year (CNY). Welcoming the year of the snake is no different, with this animal sign representing the most enigmatic out of the 12. I should know because I was born in the year of the snake. Known to be quite the charmer, I am expecting this year’s energy to influence everyone to dress up a little more, embracing their inner elegance.
And speaking of dressing up, if there’s one color that dominates my closet, it’s definitely red or any shade close to it such as pinks and oranges. So I’m sharing three of my favorite CNY looks from the past few years. First up is a deconstructed bronze suit layered over a red mesh dress, paired with Aquazzura heels in a vibrant combination of fuchsia and red suede, accessorizing with a red Hermes Kelly. For a more casual but festive look, I picked a red shirt from Giordano featuring a CNY greeting in gold foil, paired with a red tulle skirt, cinched with a gold mesh scarf, and completed with Bottega Veneta espadrilles. Finally, a beautiful salmon-hued eyelet dress by Rajo Laurel, a gift from my parents, which I kept laid-back with Melissa flats.
To inspire your own CNY looks, I reached out to some stylish personalities to share what they will be wearing and why they chose these outfits. Whether it’s a tribute to family heritage or a fresh take on the classics, their styling tips will surely help spark ideas for your own festive CNY outfits.
For CNY, I’ll be wearing a dress from Love, Bonito. It has a timeless design that comes in the auspicious shade of red which represents luck and happiness—perfect for family get-togethers. Before greeting the new lunar year, I also visit the salon to get a haircut for a fresh start.—Chelsea Robato, content creator and business owner
Top of my wish list is this China edition CNY jacket with knot buttons. It is perfect for CNY celebrations. This pair of Amiri sneakers with snakeskin detail is a great nod for the year of the snake. I’ll also be wearing an oriental floral scent to pay homage to the lunar new year, Tom Ford Soleil Niege. —Sidney Yap, fashion stylist
I’ll be wearing a simple red top with jeans since we will be visiting temples and I want to keep my red outfit appropriate. For my makeup, I’m planning to do a clean makeup look to highlight my red lipstick. —Jocelyn Yang, content creator
When I was growing up, my mother would always tell me that it’s always important to wear something new on CNY so that you’ll have something new the whole year. We also wear bright colors, but since my grandmother just recently passed away less than a year ago, tradition dictates that we have to wear muted hues.
This year, I decided to go for a fresh and easy look. For my top, a new white octopus shirt from the Loewe collaboration with Japanese artist Fujita. I’ll be pairing it with a denim jacket from Loewe which I got from my recent trip to Dubai with wide leg pants in light mocha from Ami. Accessories would be a Loewe puzzle bag and oversized sneakers by Alexander McQueen. —Mannis Peña, founder and creative director, Cakes by Mannix
For this year's CNY, I want to be a bit more dressed up and in theme, but still modern and casual. Instead of simply wearing a casual red top, I’m switching it up for a see-through top with lace detail—my modern casual take to the traditional cheongsam. I’ll be pairing it with my other casual pieces that I use often to balance the look. —Cess Tan, content creator