Spring & Summer Collection

Futuristic designer Scherrer of Paris has unveiled its 2001 Spring/Summer collection of ready-mades for women, with black, white and gold emphasized, and rose pink, light purple and green strongly evident. "Bold and vigorous" is the promotional theme, a trend that should sit well with Beijing's fashion conscious who, according to the design house, tend to hide behind dullish clothing instead of enhancing their beauty and confidence by wearing more colorful clothing. Hence Scherrer's use of the likes of crepe, jacquard and lambskin in its new creations.

Scherrer, Shops L112 & 113, China World Shopping Mall.

'LIVING VIGOR' IN NEW TSE COLLECTION
TSE New York's unique spring/summer cashmere creations are now available in the Garden Court Mall at Oriental Plaza, and seem destined to be a hit with Beijing's fashion-conscious glitterati in particular because of the way they enhance a woman's charms and self-confidence. Simply, they are warm in design, reflecting the sun's seasonal reappearance.
The fashion house's opening was marked by four models showing the latest TSE cashmere products for spring and summer. TSE has two series of cashmere items: traditional garments which represent eternity, simplicity, elegance and the classic; and a range representing modernism, ambition and perfection. Both series allow wearers great freedom of movement.
Established in the United States in 1988, TSE lays stress on pouring what it calls "living vigor" into cashmere products, making it more animate and relaxing. The Beijing store joins well-established branches in San Francisco, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, Tokyo and Hong Kong.

TSE New York, Shop SS05, Garden Court Mall, Oriental Plaza, No.1 East Chang'an Avenue.

Since Fogal of Switzerland's Beijing debut at China World Shopping Mall last September, it has enjoyed great success though the design and quality of its lingerie and items such as stockings and pantyhose, new designs of the latter now being available here.
Men will find new ranges of silk, cotton, wool and even cashmere socks in various colors, along with specialist choices for golfers and other sportsmen. Women also have many new alternatives of stockings and pantyhose in net, silk and cotton.
The choices in lingerie are even wider, some 90 styles of underwear and stockings in 82 colors being available in cotton, silk, wool, and cashmere. Sheer, opaque ... it's all here for the discerning woman who wants to feel right "underneath" as well as with her outerwear. Fogal itself, founded in Zurich in the 1920s, is delighted at response to the Beijing store,sisters to which have long been established in the likes of Tokyo, Hollywood and Buenos Aires. The firm promotes lingerie as"something for everyone, whether it is practical, fun, sensual, classic, seasonal, or simply the latest in fashion trends".
Fogal stores adhere to long-honed customer service practices designed to make shopping there a smooth and helpful experience, a fact much appreciated among Beijing women in particular.

Fogal of Switzerland, Shop L118, China World Shopping Mall.

It's all about Esprit

Freshen up and lighten up as spring sunshine, and Esprit's casual fashions, between them warm your body and soul. That's the message from this fashion house's Spring/Summer 2001 collection makes its appearance in Beijing. Much on view in the ranges are best described as weekend wear which is both casual and comfy. Much thought has gone into the designs, which include mix 'n' match items that work well together, even if you change into new outfits throughout the day. And with this approach, what works well in spring adapts easily to summer. Bluebell and lilac, two colors synonymous with spring, are well favored for early spring, and go well with delicate pastels, navy, white, black and beige. From this palette, Esprit has created a powerful casual collection, the more so in that they embrace Paisley patterns, tiny liberty-style flowers, exotic tropical prints and country-club stripes and checks.

Esprit has outlets in most major shopping malls.

Designer Etienne Aigner was born in Hungary and found fame in New York at, in fashion terms, the advanced age of 46. Since then, his saddleback A (initial of Aigner) has become the synonym for the design and quality of his leather garments in particular. Along with his high reputation in the production of leather items, Aigner has also found wide approval for his scarves, neckties, perfumes, watches and sunglasses.

For 2001, Aigner's men's suits emphasize simplicity and lightness, a good range of which can be found in China World Shopping Mall. Men's accessories too are available, including matching footwear. Ties come in cashmere, silk or wool.
Women are far from forgotten, for Aigner also stocks fur coats, some adorned by peacock plumes. Accessories include handbags and purses in crocodile.
Etienne Aigner, Shop L133B, China World Shopping Mall.

Kurki Delivers True Celebration of Color

Finnish designer Marja Kurki's Spring/Summer 2001 Fashion Show at Beijing's
Henderson Center was just the thing to ease the winter chills from the audience's bones - a warm, foot-tapping atmosphere where catwalk displays were combined with dance and live music. The coldness outside was quickly forgotten as people got into the upbeat mood created by artistic Kurki, who is widely known for her strong, bold colors.

Her major theme for spring and summer is light and color, her collection being a true celebration of the latter in particular. So Beijing's best-dressed women should watch out for Kurki's seasonal reds and pinks, fuchsia, purple, different shades of yellow, turquoise, and orange.

This collection followed two main routes, Tropical and Romance. Kurki's tropical designs were inspired by nature and real life in Africa and Latin America, expressed through the use of strong, rich colors and patterns reminiscent of wild animals and salsa. Highly colorful and intense, this section of the collection acknowledged the independence and freedom of New Age individuals.

Kurki is far from alone in appreciating that everyone has their own definition of romance, ranging from somewhat passe red roses to candle-lit dinners or adventurous safaris to the world's countless untouched wildernesses and jungles - places where people fulfill their dreams. Kurki's romantic theme is expressed through soft pastel colors and abstract, dreamlike patterns of flowers and curved detailing. Romance, she feels, is without limits, both in content and scope.

To illustrate this, her scarves for the season come in a variety of sizes and materials and with many new features. "Brook" carries a reminder of flowing water, made from thin, double-wide Fuji. Twice as wide, in fact, as traditional scarves. "Echo" is a double-sided scarf of a new and thicker crepe de chine. The patterns of both sides are mutual reflections, just like the echo that comes from a distance in the mountainous terrain of Kurki's home country.

At the end of 2000, fashion was widely characterized by simplistic and minimalist design, dominated by dark colors and simple patterns. As we enter the new century, these trends will gradually disappear, to be followed by the reappearance of more expressive designs.

Bold patterns are also coming back into vogue, and large flowers, stripes and graphic patterns seem set to take us back to the swinging 1960s. Decoration such as embroidery and sequins are other elements reappearing after at least a decade off the fashion map.