The Chinese New Year is almost here and millions of people around the world are getting ready to chime in the Year of the Monkey. This year, according to the Gregorian calendar, the festivity will take place between the 7th and the 13th of February 2016.
In Chinese culture, the Monkey symbolizes irrepressible curiosity and creative energy and is characterized by intelligence and wit. Therefore, the Year of the Red Monkey should be a dynamic one in which many things get done. In the traditional Chinese mind, the monkey has no inhibitions, guilt and is a hyperactive animal. The downside of the monkey is that monkeys are considered to be opportunistic, not all that trustworthy and shadowy tacticians. Therefore, given the very polarizing elements that describe monkeys in the Chinese culture, the Year of the Monkey is set out to be a year during which anything can happen. Therefore, the advice of many Chinese astrologers is to take calculated risks, as you never know where things may lead.
And that’s a great advice when it comes to fashion and accessories as well. Know the rules, but break them with aplomb and make your own rules. Go with your gut and you might discover new sartorial lands.
To celebrate the Year of the Monkey, we have created two Chinese New Year Inspiration Boards, which you can use to create new outfits, pick new décor for your home or create something yourself.
You can find a lot of inspiration in the Chinese New Year, especially if you know a few things about it…
Here are 6 fashion lessons we have put together that were inspired by the Chinese New Year:
Chinese Belief: It is said that you need to clean up your home before the Chinese New Year, so that you start the year fresh and clean.
Fashion Lesson: Keep your outfits simple and elegant, especially if you want people to see you for who you are, such as during job interviews, at work at school.
Chinese Belief: The Chinese New Year is all about red decorations. In Chinese culture, red is a symbol of good luck.
Fashion Lesson: Red is definitely a lucky color; and this has been proven. Scientists have shown that men who are dressed in red are seen as more powerful and attractive by other people. Our advice is not to go head to toe in red, but a red shirt or a red pair of shoes will draw the right kind of attention.
Chinese Belief: The lucky number in Chinese culture is 8.
Fashion Lesson: Make sure that you have 8 go-to accessories in your wardrobe. These are: a belt, a tie, a tie clip, a watch, a wallet, a scarf, a hat and a leather bag.
Chinese Belief: Wear traditional Chinese clothing made from silk on New Year’s.
Fashion Lesson: Wearing high-quality fabrics will make you not only look good, but feel good as well. Silk is definitely a material you should have in your wardrobe.
Chinese Belief: Gold is a good color to wear during the Chinese New Year.
Fashion Lesson: Style up any outfit with a metallic accessory. Metals (gold, silver and everything else) are neutrals, so they go with any color of clothes and with each other. It is OK to wear both gold and silver at the same time.
Chinese Belief: Avoid black during New Year’s celebrations.
Fashion Lesson: Force yourself to make your wardrobe more colorful and avoid wearing only neutrals.
The Chinese New Year can be not only a great start for a new year, but also for a new wardrobe. There’s a lot you can find in this holiday. Even doing something as simple as taking some well-known, yet deep Chinese beliefs and translating them into your fashions is a great way to bring some change into your life and bring out the best in you!
Fraquoh and Franchomme
P.S. We want to hear from you! What fashion lessons do you take from the Chinese New Year? Do you celebrate the Chinese New Year? Share your feedback, questions or thoughts in the comments below! For more articles on style, fashion tips and cultural insights, don’t forget to subscribe to Attire Club via e-mail or follow us on Facebook or Twitter!