**Trailer:**
Get ready for a wild ride into the world of fashion as Tokyo Fashion Week kicks off with a bold and unconventional start. Yueqi Qi’s off-schedule show at Shinjuku’s Yodobashi Church set the tone with a collection inspired by cats, chaos, and self-expression. Qi’s designs explore identity and empowerment, blending playful elements like neon lace bows, Victorian capelets, and gothic crucifix necklaces with futuristic touches. From bouncy babydoll dresses to alien-cool Alcantara pieces, the collection is a visual feast that transforms Y2K sea punks into space-age sirens. The showstopper? A mesmerizing macramé gown with tassels and a cat-eared hat, perfect for the red carpet. With her signature flair for finessing chaos, Qi proves once again why she’s a standout in the fashion world.
**Paraphrased Digest:**
Tokyo Fashion Week is set to begin next week, but Yueqi Qi’s show arrived early, taking place off-schedule at Shinjuku’s Yodobashi Church. Inspired by cats, the collection explored themes of identity and self-expression, focusing on the idea of who we are when no one is watching. Qi described it as a journey of emancipation through clothing, where the right outfit can empower the wearer with confidence. Drawing inspiration from Catwoman, she aimed to showcase a wild, chaotic identity refined into wearable art.
Known for her unique design language, Qi’s collection featured her signature elements: intricate lace trims, macramé details, and laser-cut accents. This season, she presented a mix of playful and edgy pieces, including babydoll dresses, fur-cuffed coats, Victorian capelets, and gothic crucifix necklaces. Neon green lace bows and a variety of skirts—bubble, pencil, ruched, maxi, and mini—added to the eclectic vibe. A standout piece was a grayish-blue miniskirt and capelet set made from Alcantara, a synthetic fabric typically used in luxury car interiors, embodying Qi’s knack for creating otherworldly, avant-garde designs.
The collection evoked a transformation from Y2K sea punks to futuristic, feline-inspired characters, with models strutting the runway with confidence and attitude. The finale featured a stunning black and brown macramé gown adorned with endless tassels, paired with a matching cat-eared hat, making it a red carpet-worthy masterpiece.
Qi’s own cat, Babi, who may have inspired the collection, was relaxing at her home in Guangzhou. “He’s very chubby,” she joked, adding a personal touch to the whimsical and imaginative world she created.