Shiatzy Chen, a master of the East-meets-West sensibility, looked to the glitz and glamour of the Tang dynasty for fall 2026, with an emphasis on the movement of bodies, fabrics and light, and the beauty of jade. It is a gemstone that holds a special place in Chinese culture, often associated with qualities such as virtue, purity, protection and immortality for thousands of years.
The show at Palais de Tokyo unfolded like a scroll, with brand ambassador Liu Yu sitting front row alongside the newlywed celebrity couple Handian Chen and Lulu Huang.
Models walked down as if they were characters in palace outings and landscape paintings, donning looks with modern silhouettes inspired by Ruqun, a garment style from the Han dynasty, and high-waisted Tang dress.
Color was a key part of the storytelling, too. A palette of orange, green and gold conveyed imperial warmth, offset by white-green and white-red pairings that nodded to the Jadeite Cabbage in the National Palace Museum in Taipei, one of the most sought-after items in the collection.
Jade also appeared as both talisman and texture across the collection: tiny inlays softening brushed denim, donut-shaped buckles worn close to the body, and jewelry that shifted from necklace to brooch. Overall, the collection carried a luminous, almost mineral clarity that kept the opulence in check.
