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Artistic style in Taiwan

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

I recently attended a (small, social-distanced) art event in Taipei and wanted to share the wonderful outfits worn by the two speakers, artist Michael Lin and curator/artist Jau-Lan Guo. Fab examples of looking professional yet interesting. The details really worked: her shoes were beautifully polished and studded; his suit pants had a drawstring waist. (Note that I wouldn’t normally share pics of strangers online without asking their permission, but these two were speaking at a public event so I figure their outfits are in the public domain...)

Behind them is Lin’s reinterpretation of a traditional Hakka cloth pattern, with Japanese elements added as a nod to Taiwan’s history as a Japanese colony. Also beautiful!

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Dressing

28 replies

Latest reply was from rachylou

Jaime

(website)

Veteran

Fabulous! Thanks for sharing. I especially like the first outfit - volume on volume with a twist! (I agree with you about the public aspect of their appearance.)

Isabel

Veteran

This is great ! Thank you for posting.

Synne

Veteran

Professional yet interesting, exactly! Very cool.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

It’s hard to see in the photo, but the mans suit is seersucker. Such a great “casual formal” idea.

Sally

Veteran

Wow. Taiwan is one place I would love to go to, and perhaps teach someday. The style of both artists are effortlessly cool.

Angie

(website)

Fashion Stylist

You had me with the doggie on the shirt and Japanese artwork! I see artistically professional too. Loving the Sporty Luxe vibe of the suit.

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Sally, DO come to Taiwan if you are interested in the region! (Once travel is possible, of course). It is a fantastic place and very unique because of its cultural mix.

I am going to be a “visible attendee” at a professional art event next week and will absolutely be stealing inspiration from these looks. I am finding it so hard to get dressed these days, so I need inspiration and also plenty of time to play around!

Bijou

Veteran

So fabulous! I can see you wearing clothes like this too, you have that artistic edge to pull off these looks with authenticity.

smittie

Veteran

Seersucker suit — great idea.
Jessiecams are you a yoga instructor in Taipei?! How glamorous!

Helena

Veteran

Absolutely beautiful - the outfits and the fabric display. Even the lady in the first row, with her black and white dress, is making me drool a little.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

Wonderful proportions! I actually saw a woman today dressed in a similar silhouette (rounded hem top & wide crops) but as a more casual iteration (with the addition of the hat & shoes) & with the black & white reversed. I admire HK street style but can never pull it off myself, so I took a photo from behind for my own future copycat reference (no face visible) but if you aren't comfortable with this, just let me know & I'll delete it - no worries

PS - Taiwan is one of my favourite spots in East Asia. I stayed in Taichung for a bit before Taipei, & enjoyed the cultural juxtaposition. Just make sure you bring stretchy pants with you if you go though, @Sally

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Peri

Veteran

I want that greyhound shirt!!!

lyn67

Veteran

Wow, really love them both-effortlessy professional but approachable and fun! A rare example of this kind! Thanx for posting!

Sally

Veteran

Thank you Jessikams and Zaeobi for the info on Taiwan. I love Asia and want to go back to teach there ( I did teach in Japan years ago). I realise that each country has its differences, but i have two friends from Taiwan (one is my ex yoga teacher and the other is colleague who is a gifted musician) and they both recommend it. The seasons and scenery seem like NZ .

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Bijou, thanks for the vote of confidence. Actually I can really see Shevia in this kind of cool professional outfit too.

Smittie, I do teach yoga as a side hobby! But my “real self” is an artist/architect living in Taipei. Glamorous is the goal when I can get myself out of my yoga leggings...

Helena, that’s the museum director you’ve spotted- she looked just impeccable in her sheath dress.

Zaeobi, love the casual version of the outfit. Thx for sharing! I lived in HK about 10 years ago and it was so great for street style.

Suz

(website)

Veteran

Ooh, I love this! Really simple, cool outfits and what a great backdrop. Loved learning the bit of history of its genesis.

Jonesy

Veteran

Interesting, eye-catching style on both of them, and the backdrop is gorgeous! I always love seeing how artists dress and present themselves. I had a seersucker suit once--now I wish I hadn't gotten rid of it :).

Roxanna

Veteran

Gosh I love this - just the jolt of inspiration I needed thank you!

viva

Veteran

So beautiful and quite inspirational. I agree with Helena that the outfit of the woman in the audience is quite gorgeous too!

Anonymous

Ooh great wall!

rachylou

Veteran

Very cool and interesting. Michael Lin’s suit is... literally a ‘sweat suit’?

Also interesting: the Hakka pattern with Japanese elements... what, lol, is the Hakka part? *Off to Google Hakka patterns.*

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

Rachylou, OMG it's so complicated --because Hakka people have been transient for so much of their history, they've picked up all kinds of foods and styles and other cultural elements from the places they've been along the way--I find it really hard to wrap my head around it all despite years of trying to understand

Anyway in the case of cloth it's mostly the very bright colors and the splashy florals.

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@Sally when I was teaching in Brazil, I was looking at opportunities in other parts of the world - I had a friend from Taiwan & a friend from Hong Kong both telling me I should go teach in their countries. Eventually I found the right job for me in HK (I prefer teaching adults) but I do often wonder what my life would be like if I had picked TW instead. Oh well, I'll go for regular visits instead (COVID notwithstanding). I do some similarities with NZ too - like the fact that you could do a trip to see all the beautiful scenery around NZ & TW in about 2 weeks (in TW it's often done via cycling than a road trip, though).

@Jessikams Oh nice, what were you doing in HK? Also an artist/ architect/ yoga teacher? I can see opportunities for those here too I remember a lady in my office would regularly wear those Kangol bucket hats - I could never pull that off (let alone at work!) but HK is indeed great for street style inspiration (especially where you least expect it!)

@rachylou I had the same question as you There's still some Hakka influence here in HK but it's not spoken about as much in everyday situations - I'd say Singapore is great for learning about the nuances, & especially the food (but I think that's true for every type of food there, lol!)

Ok thread hijack over (sorry!) You may now return to your regularly scheduled fashion discussion

rachylou

Veteran

Ok. Whoa, this is so interesting! I’m deep diving... read something about Hakka women only wearing blue blouses traditionally... my one auntie has been getting into Hakka cuisine... I have to run this all by her... I never knew those florals were considered Hakka specifically!

Jessikams

(website)

Veteran

@zaeobi Taiwan is welcoming so many folks who are exiting HK because of the political situation there- it’s a time of big change for sure. When I lived there (in Wanchai) I was teaching some architecture programs at HKU. Not yet into yoga then!

Zaeobi

(website)

Veteran

@rachylou Ooh interesting - I never knew about that either but actually, thinking back to when a friend took me to a Hakka restaurant, the waitresses were wearing blue blouses! Does your auntie have Hakka heritage, or just a general interest?

@Jessikams Yes, I know some HK folks who have actually gone over to TW already to set up houses there for the incoming exodus... It's turbulent for sure, with people not knowing if they'll be able to leave (they want to restrict people from exiting HK on a BNO passport - I have non Chinese friends who *only* have a BNO, & will essentially be stuck here because of it...)

Oh nice, I actually teach there too (though not in architecture) - what a small world, haha! I started doing yoga here actually, from staff courses

(Edit: Sorry for the thread hijack! I'll stop commenting )

Jenni NZ

Veteran

This has got rather off topic but very interesting! I just read Wikipedia all about the BNO passports.
Nice to see you Jessikams! The artwork appeals to me more than the fashion actually but that’s OK.

rachylou

Veteran

That sounds really difficult with the BNO... I don’t know if being non-Chinese with only a BNO makes the situation worse or better... I just remember my grandparents’ story of being kidnapped by PRC operatives in Hong Kong in the 60s because of their ethnicity and in disregard of their nationality...

I don’t know if my auntie has any Hakka heritage. She may just be into it because my grandfather was Hakka. (She’s married to my dad’s younger brother.)