At Shanghai Fashion Week, CT Liu’s CPlus Series typically commands attention with a runway show. But this season was different. With fewer presentations on the schedule, designers like Liu opted for showrooms over the catwalk, prioritizing commercial appeal to navigate uncertain economic times.

Liu’s designs usually lean into full-fledged fashion spectacle—flowing dresses, shimmering gowns, a touch of eveningwear—so a lookbook presentation wasn’t his first choice. Still, he embraced the challenge, using his showroom as a backdrop between buyer meetings and doubling down on styling that blends streetwear maximalism with the cheeky, early-2000s energy of American Apparel. His models, faces dusted with glitter, looked like otherworldly creatures or sci-fi extras. Even if the absence of a runway felt palpable, the collection’s strong identity compensated for it. Whether a tailored skirt suit, a sequined dress, or relaxed gray sweatpants, each piece had a clear sense of the person who might wear it.

During a walkthrough, Liu admitted there was no grand concept—just a focus on creating fun, wearable, and sellable clothes. And that’s a worthy goal. While the lineup included plenty of his signature party-ready pieces, he also made a convincing case for daytime versatility. “She’s the boss, but she’d rather close a deal in Y2K style than a stuffy suit,” he quipped. The collection featured draped-collar knits, fuzzy shaggy sweaters, sharp-shouldered tailoring, balloon-hem blouses, sheer sequin-covered separates, and painterly florals on button-downs and shearling jackets. In a season dominated by corporate minimalism, Liu proved you can keep your edge while dressing for work—and everything else.