Financial adviser Hia Jing, 27, who always dresses up for Chinese New Year, says he has already chosen his outfits for the first two days.
They are a cream pleated tee from Issey Miyake paired with grey pants and a pair of black leather shoes from Grenson for day one. On day two, he is planning to wear a white Topman T-shirt, a pair of black jeans and red sneakers from the Louis Vuitton x Supreme collection.
He remembers his most elaborate outfit consisting of a formal suit with a bright red Comme des Garcons jacket. "I thought it looked really festive, but I was later told by my relatives that I looked like a valet. I've since toned down my outfits."
Go textured
The extreme end of the textured outfit trend was seen on the runways, with big ruffled skirts and dresses with layers of tassels.
In real life, opt for more subtle alternatives by keeping the tassels, embroidery and textured fabrics to one or two key items. This is a great way to add dimension and embellishment to the outfit without going over the top.
For men incorporating textured fabrics into the outfit, choosing accessories made with different materials and getting some iron-on patches can be a good way of sporting the trend.
FOR HER (left)
1. Jacquard top with long fringe, $25.90, from Zara
2. Fitted skirt with diamond pattern, $14.90, from Mango
3. Garland resin necklace, $159, from In Good Company
4. Mbeads beaded bag with fringe, $560, from Maje
5. Embellished pom pom sandals, $46.90, from Charles & Keith
FOR HIM (right)
1. Batik camp collar shirt, $209.30, from Future Classics x Fabrick Lab at Kapok
2. Olive green pants, $89.90, from Zara
3. Straw hat, $19.95, from H&M
4. Knitted casual portfolio, $79.90, from Pedro
5. Black leather woven bracelet with axe detail, $39, from Rugby & Co
6. Firecracker patch, $6.90, from Pew Pew Patches at Naiise; Good Days Ahead patch, $7.40, from The Paper Bunny at Naiise; Hot Dawg patch, $8.90, from Mokuyobi Threads at Naiise
7. Denim slip-ons, $119, from Rivieras at Kapok
Go floral
Two myths to get out of the way: 1. Vintage floral prints are tacky or old-fashioned. 2. Men cannot wear such prints.
Firstly, florals can be edgy and modern. To avoid the thrift-store granny look, women should swop the trailing skirts and long dresses for fitted pants, rompers or jumpsuits.
To achieve a bolder style, clash the prints. Pick a head wrap, a bag and a pair of shoes with different but complementary floral patterns to make a statement. The trick is to make sure each piece has at least one key colour in common with the rest of the ensemble.
Secondly, men can go floral too - but not head to toe. A shirt with a structured floral design paired with plain pants is a good balance. Accessories with a similar pattern can also be a subtle way to incorporate the trend.
