Chinese luxury brand, Blanc de Chine, held its Fall/Winter 2013 show in its 673 Fifth Avenue boutique this Sunday. The collection was inspired by the ancient city of Dunhuang, an oasis in the Gobi desert along the Silk Road.

The key muse for the women’s collection was the flying Apsaras, the female spirit of the clouds and waters and a symbol prominent in Dunhuang art. According to Dunhuang legend, the Apsaras are able to fly without wings with the support of floating fabric and ribbons, We are reminded of our friend the Apsaras in the way the silks flow softly down the runway and light and airiness of the draped cascading jackets.

The womenswear collection also featured silk tunics and maxi dresses with mandarin collars reminiscent of Chinese qipao dresses. The color story consisted of inky blues, jade green, turquoise, black and indigo juxtaposed with earthy brown, beige and ox blood. My favorite piece was the French grey belted wool coat, which was paired with an asymmetric dress. I love its clean lines and timeless silhouette.

The line is ideal for a sophisticated woman who prefers elegance to boxy suits to the office. The separates and knee length dresses can be worn to work then straight out to a show, dinner or cocktails. While the full length dresses are more suitable for formal evenings, making the line suitable for any occasion.

The men’s collection featured coats and jackets inspired by robes from the Tang Dynasty. Mirroring the women’s collection, the men’s collection used the same color pallet and also featured tunics, and mandarin collars in some of their woven button up shirts and jackets. The sizzle was in the textures Blanc de Chine used. One of the jackets featured a sleek tuxedo silhouette, while in contrast another jacket was made of navy velvet. The men’s collection was very modern and ranged from casual to formal.

The overall aesthetic for booth lines was sleek and refined. I thought every piece in this collection was very wearable with perfect balance of form and function.

After the show, guests enjoyed dim sum and plum wine to celebrate Chinese New Year. The models posed for pictures and many of us stayed and mingled to ring in the year of the year of the snake.

– Heather Duge