Embracing Fortune with Colourful Eyewear
Today is indeed the first day of Chinese New Year and the festivity goes on for 15 days. It is a big celebration in the Chinese calendar and a festival bursting with tradition and symbolism. I used to love Chinese New Year as a kid growing up in Hong Kong and I do miss it very much. It just feels so special, and I love all the preparation we used to do as a family to welcome the new year.
To celebrate Chinese New Year, I think it is the perfect opportunity to talk about colours and their significance during the festive period, ushering in prosperity and luck. As we welcome the Year of the Snake, let’s explore why red and gold dominate the festivities and what colour to avoid during this period.
Red and Gold: The Quintessential Colours of Celebration
Why Red?
Red, is the colour of Chinese New Year, symbolises good fortune and joy in Chinese culture. Believed to ward off evil spirits, red is the must have colour during the festivities—from decorations to clothing. For eyewear, incorporating red frames can be both a fashion statement and a nod to tradition. Whether you opt for bold, all-red spectacles or subtler touches like red accents on temples, your style will be as auspicious as it is striking. Here are a couple of MGAM favourites.
Valley Eyewear in Style Brigada £299
Anna-Karin Karlsson in style La Croix £545
The Golden Touch
Gold represents wealth and prosperity; therefore, it is another very important colour to wear during Chinese New Year. Integrating gold into your eyewear during the festive period not only adds a touch of elegance but also invites the energy of abundance. Gold frames or even just gold detailing can elevate your look, making any outfit celebration-ready. Here is one of MGAM favorites; the beautiful, elegant details can definitely elevate your look during this festive period.
Anna-Karin Karlsson in style Costa Romantica £830
Colours to avoid during Chinese New Year
During Chinese New Year, certain colours should be avoided as they are believed to bring bad luck. The obvious colour to steer clear of is black, which is associated with misfortune and mourning in many Asian cultures. Wearing black during Chinese New Year is thought to invite bad luck for the coming year. This rule also applies to any dark colours like navy, grey or brown.
Another colour to avoid is white, which, despite its positive associations in some contexts, is traditionally worn during Chinese funerals and thus linked with mourning and loss. Therefore, it should be avoided during the festive period.
When it comes to Chinese New Year if you are unsure, the general rule is to wear bright and energetic colours such as yellow, orange, vibrant purple, and pink. Avoid these colours in a darker shade too; basically, the brighter, the better for Chinese New Year.
On that note, I would like to wish everyone a Happy Chinese New Year and here’s to the year of snake. I hope it will bring you good health and good fortune for the year ahead.
Glasses: Check out Valley eyewear for style Brigada and Anna-Karin Karlsson for style La Croix and Costa Romantica.