The Lunar New Year is upon us – and designers sure know how to celebrate. In the last decade, luxury and lifestyle brands have found creative ways to celebrate the traditional East Asian holiday with merchandise inspired by the symbolic animal of the year. 2021 marks the year of the ox, which begins Feb. 12 and lasts until Jan. 31, 2022.
As designers offer a clever ode to the ox, we’re stocking up to fill our closets with 2021 trends.
You might be asking yourself what the Lunar New Year is, exactly, and why brands around the world are paying attention. Allow us to get you up to speed: The Lunar New Year marks the first new moon of the lunisolar calendars used in many East Asian countries. In China, the Lunar New Year is a time of celebration and fresh beginnings. The 15-day celebration kicks off on New Year’s Eve with a family feast – called a reunion dinner – and ends with the Lantern Festival. “It’s really a time for new beginnings, and family gathering,” said Nancy Yao Maasbach, president of New York City’s Museum of Chinese in America, in an interview with Oprah Magazine.
Now, you might be wondering why brands are suddenly honoring the ox. Unlike Western society’s monthly zodiacs, the Chinese calendar has an annual zodiac and a corresponding zodiac animal, which holds symbolism. According to one belief, Buddha promised gifts to all animals that would pay him homage. As the tale goes, only 12 animals came – and Buddha granted each with its own year in the zodiac calendar. And now, it’s the ox’s time to shine.
While the history of the holiday is fascinating, the fashion is just as exciting – so let’s dive into the best Lunar New Year fashion of 2021!
Gucci released its Doraemon capsule collection to celebrate the Lunar New Year. As Gucci details, the cartoonish character is a “cat-type robot sent from the 22nd century to help a young boy called Nobita with secret gadgets from his four-dimensional pouch.”
With over 50 items in the capsule collection, Doraemon emblazons an assortment of Gucci staples. The capsule includes handbags, coats, jackets, track pants, shoes and scarves with Gucci’s classic GG monogram pattern.
Gucci is located on the Lower Level near Nordstrom.
Red is the symbolic color of the Lunar New Year, so Fendi painted the town. From a signature peekaboo bag with a limited edition Fendi interior to the brand’s ‘wrappy’ – a scarf that can be tied to your wrist or your bag for an extra pop – Fendi is here to celebrate in style.
Fendi is located on the Lower Level near Nordstrom.
Get dolled up for the Lunar New Year with a limited-edition beauty collection from Givenchy. There’s nothing bolder than a red lip. Celebrate the holiday with Givenchy Le Rouge 888, a formula that will last up to 12 hours. The limited-edition lipstick blends Givenchy’s cult-favorite red shade (333 L’Interdit) with gold shimmer to celebrate the Lunar New Year with an extra dose of glam.
Seal the deal on your makeup look with Givenchy’s Prisme Libre N01 powder. Specially designed with new packaging to kick-off the Lunar New Year, this powder is the ultimate addition to your makeup arsenal. The four-shade loose finishing powder sets makeup while blurring pores, lines and uneven skin tone for up to six hours.
Givenchy is located on the Lower Level near Nordstrom.
Carry luck, happiness and good fortune everywhere you go with Coach’s Lunar New Year handbags, which feature a combination of striking electric red and brass. Crafted with the brand’s Signature canvas and buttery soft glovetanned leather, the bags are available in a multitude of shapes and styles, from playful squares and circles to classic totes and versatile crossbodies. Several pieces, including a bag charm, feature an adorable ox leaping over the moon towards a brighter year ahead, lending an extra touch of luck to the collection.
Set your sights on the bright future ahead with the Lunar New Year Wire Frame Round Sunglasses, which feature a confident combination of gold and red, plus 100% UV protection.
Coach is located on the Lower Level across from Macy’s.
Inspired by the aesthetic of the Lunar New Year, Adidas is bringing a fresh and vibrant take to the season. The Ox reflects strength, perseverance and reliability in Chinese folklore – signs of a great athlete. Adidas’ sportswear features ox-adorned prints and festive patterns for men and women.
Adidas is located on the Lower Level across from Zara.
