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As a designer whose collections tend to be reminiscent of her native culture, Vivienne Tam's spring 2013 runway was no different. Sticking to her East-meets-West aesthetic, she took on the five elements of Chinese cosmology—metal, wood, water, fire, and earth—and presented geometric designs.
"Fire is triangle, metal is circle, the earth is a square or rectangle, water is the wave, and wood is the columns," Tam told ELLE.com. "It's all based on the five elements in shape, form, and texture."
The color palatte was a mix of black, ivory, jade, vermilion, champagne, and azure blue, with pops of metallics. Generously cut silhouettes featured burnout sweaters, loose-knit tees, cropped pants, and geo-sheath dresses.
"Instead of following the trends, I like to create things that have personality and give the person energy, but at the same time, are fashionable," explained Tam.
Making its debut on the runway was Tam's collaboration with TSL Jewellery, a line boasting exquisitely crafted pieces. Serving as a perfect counterpoint to the clothing, the chunky pieces were comprised of garnet, gold, wood, and metal.
Although her ensemble would prove to be a solid indicator, Tam revealed which of the elements she is partial to. "My favorite is the fire element. I'm water, [but] I need fire to charge my energy. That's why I'm wearing a red color!"