In the Mood for a Neo Asian Love
Every season, like clockwork, something stylistically powerful takes hold of me—and for the next few months, I find myself in a sort of creative trance. I unconsciously start blending everything I find with that one source of inspiration.
So today, I want to share what’s been driving my stylistic choices over the past three months.
It all started back in early January when I decided to rewatch In the Mood for Love. Yes, I know—it always seems to begin that way for everyone, doesn’t it?
But this time, the film didn’t let me go. And with Lunar New Year just around the corner, themed content began pouring in with twice the intensity. First it was a special Adidas capsule, then Zara Kids (I often find inspiration in children’s clothing!). When I couldn’t find anything I liked in online stores (everything was sold out!), I spiraled into a rabbit hole on Etsy and Vinted.
Suddenly, my saved folders were overflowing with embroidered flowers, dragons, qipao, and Mandarin collars. I wanted it all.
And then, as if on cue, the universe kept throwing the most incredible books at me: Chinese Dress in Detail and Fashion and the Floating World—both absolutely stunning.
Still, I try not to shop impulsively (well, not too impulsively), so I gave myself a moment to reflect.
That’s when I realized—despite all the obsession—I rarely wear prints or embroidery near my face. At most, they show up as a middle layer, softened by something more neutral or sporty on top.
Then came the solid-colored tops in East Asian silhouettes. Of course, it all started with Signora Miuccia. Prada has had at least four collections inspired by Asian themes over the years. My favorite? SS2003, where the East meets sport, jacquards mix with satin and scuba—it’s genius. I have a few pieces and a bag from that collection and have been chasing the perfect lime green coat or dress ever since.
I’d also been quietly hunting for the sandals from Prada’s Japanese SS2013 collection for years. And this spring, I finally found them—in pink!
Everything clicked when I came across a lime qipao trimmed in pink.
But April came, and I realized I had nowhere to wear this fantasy just yet (at least not until I get a tan!). So I began looking for something more low-key and wearable for everyday life.
I started searching for Mandarin-collar jackets in unusual fabrics—denim, velvet, corduroy—and, of course, stumbled upon… Giorgio Armani. Naturally.
His collections often include silk shirts or velvet jackets with subtle stand collars—and more.
But my biggest discovery on the resale front was Shanghai Tang—a brand that reimagines traditional silhouettes in unexpected fabrics. I even started dreaming of getting a toggle-fastened shearling coat or padded winter jacket.
That’s where I found my ideal indigo cotton workwear-style jacket.
Since I wasn’t planning to wear it solo (it was still chilly), I instinctively layered it over a men’s pajama shirt from Zara Home (yes, I wrote about my pajama styling tricks here).
And just a couple days later, imagine my surprise when Haider Ackermann appeared on the Fashion Neurosis podcast in almost the exact same pajama-and-workwear color combo!
Scott reminded me who else often uses this styling trick—the one and only Robert Rabensteiner, whose aesthetic has always been a big influence for me.
In the end, I bought another men’s silk shantung shirt in a pearly hue (also found it on Vinted) and decided to wear all three layers together. And now it’s officially my favorite everyday uniform.
Hopefully, by summer, I’ll be ready to show you my lime-and-pink dream look and will have moved on to a new inspiration.
But for now — I hope you’re already out there, somewhere on resale platforms, searching for the perfect In the Mood for Neo Asian Love outfit.
Shanghai Tang takes me back to HK in the 90s, and yes, to Wong Kar Wai's classic. I still have one of ST's jackets with a mandarin collar, but not much else. The denim work jacket is classic.
This makes me so happy as a Chinese person - from Hong Kong too! Wong Kar Wai lends our city such romanticism. There is also nothing like a well-made qipao or Mandarin jacket - they may be lime green / bright pink but, when done right, there will always be a quietness about the piece no matter how flamboyant the design, a whisper of elegance.