Shiatzy Chen Spring 2026: Horsing Around

When most designers talk about East-meets-West, it’s often full of clichés. Only Shiatzy Chen, among a few others, can keep reinventing the wheel, giving it a fresh perspective on the subject matter every six months.

For spring 2026, Chen wanted to focus on her favorite period, the ‘70s in Taipei when the economy took off — along with the music, the culture land the way of dress on the dance floor — and produce an elevated, culturally informed take on that for today’s generations, who probably first heard of the brand from its doll-like ambassador Liu Yu.

There weren’t many heavily embroidered, proper looks for the matriarchs. The lineup this time leaned toward a younger, carefree vibe, with silhouettes borrowed from the hippies and boogie dancers. She paired a Chinese embroidered blouse with flared jeans, made a bomber jacket out of luxurious jacquard, and gave lace gowns a bohemian touch.

Equestrian elements were equally pronounced, as 2026 marks the year of the horse in the Chinese lunar calendar. Chen decorated the daytime ensembles with horse bridles, iron hoofs and offered her take on a saddle bag.

Other standouts included hippy floral trousers with lace, neon shirts with large lapels, a baby blue short Qibao dress, and a black and white sequin dress.