2026 W China Annual Gala: A Tale of Two Cities in Shanghai
The 2026 W China Annual Gala: A Tale of Two Cities took place in Shanghai, with guests embracing this year’s ‘Golden Age’ theme. You may remember last year’s event, when Ni Ni and Dilraba blew us away in Robert Wun Couture. This year, the red carpet delivered another impressive display of couture, vintage fashion and references to Shanghai’s glamorous past.
A Mint Moment
Elaine Zhong wore a mint-green Zuhair Murad Spring 2026 Couture gown, with the embellished bodice and oversized satin sleeves giving the look a sense of occasion that tapped into the theme.
Old Hollywood Elegance
Cecilia Liu embraced the ‘Golden Age’ theme in an ivory Elie Saab Fall 2025 Haute Couture gown. Between the off-the-shoulder neckline, floral embellishments, sculpted silhouette and vintage-inspired hair accessory, this was one of the evening’s most convincing interpretations of the dress code.
A Familiar Fashion Moment
Cecilia Yip wore a chartreuse Maison Margiela Fall 2026 gown, which we previously saw on Hsieh Ying-Xuan during the Venice Film Festival. The exaggerated sleeves, black opera gloves and coiffed hair certainly fit the vintage mood. This colour is such a mood lifter.
A Modern Take On The Qipao
Esther Yu Shuxin wore a custom Lwenx design that reimagined the traditional cheongsam with a sculpted breastplate. The green floral bodice and yellow satin skirt made for a striking combination, while the white fur stole and vintage hairstyle brought the look back to the evening’s theme. This was easily one of my favourites.
Glinda Goes To Shanghai
Liu Haocun wore a pink strapless Ines Di Santo ball gown from the designer’s Wicked: For Good capsule collection, designed with Glinda in mind. We were always going to get a princess moment on this red carpet, and Liu delivered.
Prada Plays By Its Own Rules
While almost everyone else embraced traditional eveningwear in keeping with the theme, Ma Yi Li went in a completely different direction in Prada. Her pinafore-style dress screams mod rather than Golden Age, but as we know from the Met Gala, not everyone is going to adhere to the dress code.
The Vintage Standout
After her memorable Robert Wun Couture appearance last year, Ni Ni could easily have gone for another extravagant gown, but she stayed on theme with this vintage 1940s qipao. I’m so enamoured with the colourful floral embroidery and how the red pumps pick up the colour of the lining. This was one of the most convincing interpretations of the ‘Golden Age’ theme. I love everything about this.
Black And Gold
Had it not been for the gold embellishments on Seven Tan’s Tracy Couture gown, she would have been in danger of disappearing into the backdrop. Thankfully, the gold detailing gives the black gown enough contrast to make an impression.
Feathers And Fabulousness
We love a woman who can fully commit to a look, and that is exactly what Stephy Qi did in this Kamila Aitana creation. A mini dress with a mighty long feathered cape, she served up one of the more extravagant looks of the evening. I love that she committed to the vintage hairstyle, which completed the wonderfully playful look.
A Colourful Couture Moment
Mckenna Grace brought Almée Couture into the mainstream, and here we see Sun Yi presenting another interpretation of the label’s romantic aesthetic, where intricate embellishments meet a flowing tulle skirt.
Too Much Theme?
Was Tamia Liu on theme? Yes, but there is almost too much going on with this Phong Dinh design. I think the embellished dress with its tulle accents was enough. Adding a pale-pink fur stole and a parasol tipped this over the edge for me.
Standing Out In Silver
Teresa Li wore a vintage Elie Saab silver brocade ensemble, with the black fingerless gloves adding an unexpected edge, while the diamond jewellery and retro hairstyle gave the look an Old Hollywood finish.
Velvet With A Vintage Twist
Tiffany Tang’s Standing Ground Fall 2026 Couture gown featured the sculptural detailing and draping that make this label so distinctive. To bring this contemporary design back to the ‘Golden Age’ theme, the actress added a black fascinator. I love the contrast between the modern silhouette and the vintage styling.
A Familiar Louis Vuitton Silhouette
I’m sure Victoria Song’s custom copper satin Louis Vuitton gown needs no introduction, because only Nicolas Ghesquière could dream up such a creation. The sculptural skirt continues his fascination with this particular silhouette, which instantly reminded me of Erin Doherty’s Louis Vuitton gown at the 2026 BAFTAs.
Purple Reigns
Yan Ni’s violet Rhea Costa gown screams Golden Age, but the black floral hat is very Mary Poppins-esque. I don’t think the two work together. The gown already has enough character with its oversized bow neckline, so I would have preferred to see it without the hat.
Turquoise Treasure
Yang Mi’s Zuhair Murad Fall 2014 Haute Couture gown met its match with that stunning blue and green gemstone necklace. This would have been a perfect combination had the neckline been strapless rather than asymmetric. The necklace deserved an uninterrupted neckline.
A Study In Navy And Ivory
Zhang Xiao Fei wore Saiid Kobeisy, delivering a look that felt suitably grand for the occasion. I love the navy and ivory combination, which gives the gown a regal quality. The pearls were a beautiful choice.
Act I
Tennis player Zheng Qinwen delivered two looks, beginning with a silver Zuhair Murad Haute Couture gown that I struggled to get on board with.
Act II
But I much preferred her second look by Robert Wun Spring 2026 Couture. The scale of the design felt especially appropriate for the occasion, and I wish she had worn this on the main red carpet.
Black On Black With White
Again, it’s the small details that allow Zhou Dongyu’s custom Louis Vuitton black gown to stand out. The voluminous sleeves, cut-out shoulders and sheer skirt did just enough to make this interesting. The white Capucines bag created a sharp contrast, although I’m not convinced it belonged with this particular look.
Thanks to celebs_fashion_style for collaborating with me on this article.
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