Perhaps style is something itemised by the western culture. In oriental culture it could be a way of doing something or following of a particular manner.
Arts and Culture
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In reply to BillySoh:
What you said put a perspective on style. I think the fashion industry, the way it operates, is a Western invention. In Asia they never had a fashion system operates in such a frantic way to crank out new looks every season.
Speaking of chinese style, this was my interpretation of chinese style. Its a fashion story that I did for WE magazine and this is one of the images.
The concept is based on one of the cornerstones of Chinese folktales, “The 24 Filial Exemplars” epitomize what to the ancient Chinese was the most important value of all-namely, caring for one’s parents’ needs. Though the stories, with their tales of sacrifices and bravery, will eventually be viewed with more cynicism than admiration, the fact that these are acts of supreme selflessness still serve to awe.
In modern times, the same fervency can perhaps find a parallel in the absolute devotion of the fashion industry. Be they connoisseur or victim, fashionistas are giving our forebears a run for their money in their relentless pursuit of fashion perfection. Imagine then, our tales of filial piety transposed to modern times, adapted to our obsession with the big “F” word. The rebirth of devotion, the renewed obsession, while filial piety was their religion, fashion will forever be ours.
By interpreting elements of classical Chinese culture in a contemporary manner, we’re hoping to not only spotlight developments in the East, but also to create a new paradigm for Chinese fashion. This project can only be a harbinger of things to come if we can highlight the growing connection between eastern culture and western fashion - to give, in other words, a face to the development of contemporary Chinese fashion.
To have a long dress tailored by the famed Shanghainese expert tailors is still an exquisite ideal for every grown Chinese woman. To think the traditional long dress only have been around for little more than a century, but its appeal is massive, and its ability to evolve with time and change but still retain its core design, much like the kimono, is something to be treasured, they have no labels, the long dresses and kimonos, no logos to show and flaunt. Western fashion industry is to establish your name as a fashion designer, until the last 30 years, there's no such fashion industry in Asia, no famed local fashion designers, there were only expert tailors, craftmen who devoted themselves to the perfection of measurements, the lines, the fabrications, the details.
In reply to KaWai:
What the western fashion industry has taken itself into sounds distantly like assembly line industrialisation. Both cheongsams (long dresses) and western high fashion serve equally well in society as status symbols and as hallmarks of good taste. Just so that no labels were made out of the cheongsams then, and only the ones with truly good taste would be able to identify that expert tailor to cut and sew that special dress.
...I dont know about the rest of the people...but what I sense most is that chinese traditional designs have more often than not ..and in general, been adapted and used in such a way that it has certain association with something kitsch...but if designers were to take the refined spirit reflected in the way the high elite used to dress ...one comes across something really exquisite...the great sense of femininity....delicassy and the balance in aesthetics...that is what I would personally call Chinese Style....and the essence of its spirit ....
Just like Japan has but in its case it has always being faithfull to its traditions....up to the 21st century....
In reply to Galileo's Universe:
I think in villages and in cities the styles would be slightly different, also in different regions since China has all sorts of geography. Northeast and southern parts the aethestics are not the same. Traditional Chinese styles in architectures and clothing, art, music, have gotten most inspiration from nature. The kitchness is a more recent thing started perhaps in HK modern life and I think that's derived from certain spontaneity and casualness, trying to fit all the new, western elements into modern Chinese way of life, and for most people they don't study it too much, they just incorperate and make it fit, make it work, and kitchness is the end result of an unstudy harmony. The essence of tradtional spirit is not so much in the work itself, often it's in the way of life, in the cooking, in the family gathering, celebration...
also tradition has been evolving throughout its history. There had been massive migrations, certain villages traditions have been lost or evolved in order for the people to keep it alive.
..it is because of that that style is most likely to survive among the elite...of course that is dabatable, that style is passed from generation to generation...dictating the general line...and the variations are indeed the elements added from different geographical parts....the spirit of fashion and style was in the past also about class structure...
.... we could aslo go into how textiles were used to make the distinction among the classes...defining style and aesthetics...all that had influence on how style developed...in the past in Europe the Royal Courts always lead the way on the syle of the day...