This article first appeared in The Edge Financial Daily, on February 2, 2016.

Chinese New Year is right around the corner and it is time for the usual reunion dinners and festive cheer. Besides the endless eating sprees and get-togethers, it is also an exciting time to debut new items in your wardrobe. This year’s Lunar New Year-inspired collections are diverse — some offer traditional attire with a modern twist while others incorporate the subtlest hints of festive details in their designs, like speckles of red and monkey-themed elements. 

Here are some ideas on dressing to impress during the celebrations.

Contemporary meets traditional

Go classic and opt for a cheongsam this festive season. The cheongsam, that can be worn long or short with the iconic collar and thigh-high slit, dates back centuries ago yet remains an elegant attire of choice today. If the traditional qi pao is your yearly go-to attire, try one with a contemporary twist for a change.  

Instead of a body hugging silhouette, the A-line skater skirt from Christy Ng’s 57th Street ready-to-wear collection is a flattering cut for the food frenzies that are synonymous with the festivities. The top half of the dress retains the traditional aspect with embroidered floral designs while the bottom half with its generous proportions are comfortable and forgiving. A more daring choice would be the two-piece outfit from the Soulbound CNY collection of ShoesShoesShoes. Using cheongsam-like material, prints and patterns, a mandarin collared-top is paired with shorts, for a one-of-a-kind outfit.

Zodiac signs 

Legend has it that when the Jade Emperor held a swimming race to determine the zodiac calendar, the goat, monkey and rooster completed it together on a raft and were declared the eighth, ninth and tenth zodiac animals respectively.

You can carry this playful and mischievous zodiac animal along wherever you go with the Alfred Dunhill silk ties that feature repetitive monkey motifs and come in an assortment of colours, the monkey charm from Diane von Fürstenberg, which can be attached to a handbag or the casual tee from Paul Smith. For those in search of a true collectors’ piece, splurge on Perrelet’s limited edition Turbine Monkey watch, which is finely decorated with the 12 Chinese horoscope signs, highlighting the monkey at 6 o’clock with a touch of red.

Red accents

Believed to signify prosperity and good luck, you can hardly go wrong with the colour red during Chinese New Year. But if this bold hue is not your cup of tea, try incorporating it in your wardrobe with crimson coloured accessories, bags and shoes instead.

Auspicious symbols

In Chinese culture, the number eight is often associated with luck, prosperity and success. H&M’s sweater and Superdry’s Osaka 8 T-shirt feature this lucky number in a striking colour palette. Alternatively, add some sparkle to your ensemble with jewellery like the peony pendant from Poh Kong’s Shining Riches collection or DeGem’s Lotus range — the blooming peonies are believed to represent good fortune, while lotus flowers are believed to symbolise purity and enlightenment.