Inspired by the eruptive joy of the Lunar New Year—and set amid Cai Guo-Qiang’s famous gunpowder paintings—we’re celebrating 2023 with exciting silhouettes and lots of eye-catching jewelry. 新年快乐!
SPARKLING INTEREST
Muted tops and shimmery bottoms strike a daring, delicate balance. Model He Cong wears a Valentino top, skirt, and shoes. Model Sherry Shi wears a Valentino top, pants, and shoes. All at Valentino boutiques. Fashion Editor: Gabriella Karefa-Johnson.
Photographed by Theo Liu, Vogue, Winter 2023
HARE APPARENT
Framed by Cai Guo-Qiang’s Snow Lotus No. 1 (2020), model Sora Choi leaps headfirst into the Year of the Rabbit wearing a graphically embellished Louis Vuitton dress, tights, earrings, and necklace; select Louis Vuitton stores. Tory Burch shoes.
GIVE IT A WHIRL
Aboard a pedicab sprouting colorful paper lanterns from Cai’s Fireflies—a 2017 public art project in Philadelphia—Shi wears a Loewe dress and shoes. He wears a Bottega Veneta dress, gloves, shoes, and earrings. Choi wears a Bottega Veneta top, skirt, shoes, and earrings.
Photographed by Theo Liu, Vogue, Winter 2023.
RED ALERT
In a pedicab from Fireflies, He wears a Bottega Veneta dress, gloves, and earrings. Choi wears a Bottega Veneta top and skirt.
IN THE PINK
He cuts a cool figure against the jolly motif of Cai’s Pink Poppy No. 2 (2021) in her layered Simone Rocha bodysuit, top, and necklace; simonerocha.com. Calvin Klein jeans; calvinklein.com.
LONG SHOT
When it comes to setting a festive tone, nothing does the trick quite like a plunging back, a high slit, and thrilling, swoon-worthy color. Choi wears a Versace dress and shoes; versace.com. Swarovski necklace.
PET PROJECT
Cuddling up to a darling new friend, model Yumi Nu shows off her one-shoulder Michael Kors Collection dress; michaelkors.com. Jennifer Fisher earrings.
AS YOU LIKE IT
Backed now by Cai’s elaborate Welcoming Pine: Project for the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony (2022), Choi kicks up her heels in an asymmetrical Ferragamo dress and shoes; ferragamo.com. Ariana Boussard-Reifel x Jason Wu earring.
GOLDEN HOUR
Picking up the metallic tones in Welcoming Pine: Project for the Winter Olympics Opening Ceremony, Nu wears a Blukei dress. Paula Mendoza Jewelry hoop earrings. He wears a Proenza Schouler top, skirt, and shoes. Saulé earrings. Shi wears a Ralph Lauren Collection dress. Jack Vartanian earrings. Choi wears a Altuzarra dress. Jimmy Choo boots. Jennifer Fisher earrings.
HIGH CONTRAST
Roaming Cai’s sprawling New Jersey property—which includes a Frank Gehry–designed main house, a 14,000-square-foot studio, and an authentic chashitsu for Japanese tea ceremonies—Choi keeps things light and bright in a Prada top, skirt, and shoes; prada.com. Paula Mendoza Jewelry earrings.
WALK THIS WAY
As they strut past Cai’s Heaven Complex No. 3 (2017), Choi wears an Alexander McQueen dress, boots, earrings, and ring; alexandermcqueen.com. Shi wears a Dior dress and tights; Dior boutiques. He wears a Kim Shui x Marina Hoermanseder bodice; kimshui.net. Jason Wu Collection top and skirt; jasonwu.com.
EYE CANDY
Pictured with Heaven Complex No. 3 (2017), He wears a Kim Shui x Marina Hoermanseder armor top. Jason Wu Collection top and skirt. Svnr earrings.
FULL TILT
On the home stretch in her Balenciaga dress and pantaleggings (balenciaga.com), Choi ekes out a little downtime with Cai’s exuberant Poppy Hallucination: Year of Rabbit (2022).
FLOWER POWER
Over in Cai’s studio—a converted horse barn—Choi surveys the progress on Poppy Hallucination: Year of Rabbit in a Peter Do gown; modaoperandi.com. Jack Vartanian chain necklace.
In this story: hair, Charlie Le Mindu; makeup, Fara Homidi.