Fashion for squares

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-11-28 10:24

After the world was wowed by the National Day parade in Tian'anmen Square, young people in Beijing came up with the idea of "square fashion", which combines the latest trends and functionalism.

Local fashion company Eve de Uomo was in charge of all 10,000 costumes in the parade. Chairperson Xia Hua says square fashion takes the stylish and useful elements in costumes at the parade, and has rearranged them into a new line.

Xia says the most important feature of square fashion is function. There were thousands of children who had to stay in the square for more than 20 hours, holding flowers and banners. Xia's team created a pair of trousers with seven pockets.

"Children could put all they needed during the day in seven pockets, saving them a lot of trouble," Xia says. "This will certainly become in vogue next season."

Currently, adults can also find these slim-cut seven-pocket pants from the men's brand Notting Hill. The brand copied the style of the pants children wore in the square.

Costumes of the female soldiers' marching squad also influenced women's wear this winter. Curved cap peaks and white berets are now seen in the latest collections of H&M, Zara and Mango. Pink and white are popular this season, because they reprise the suit-like pink outfits, with white inner shirts, belts and boots.

"These light colors deliver feminine beauty well. Pink and white are ladies' colors," Xia says.

Other square fashion trends are Mao-suits and red-star dcor on dresses. Though the style is traditionally Chinese, it can be mixed-and-matched in a modern way.