With a firm nod to the ladylike silhouettes of the Fifties, Huishan Zhang seemed to have the debutante daughters of his sophisticated client base in his sights this season, as he continued on a trajectory toward a more youthful look and away from the ultra-elegant after-dark dresses that he’s known for.
The kitschy calligraphic letters churned out by Chinese street artists, which were re-created in brightly colored crystals, made for tongue-in-cheek embellishments, like on a yellow shift dress that sported the letters of the designer’s name. A white cotton shirt had a crystal monogram H (for Huishan) and was worn with a vine-embroidered blush organza skirt, puffed out by tulle underlayers.
The calligraphed letters also appeared on pale-gray cotton jacquard high-waisted trousers and a matching cropped short-sleeve jacket that had a Hepburn-esque ingénue effect.