Chinese celebrities who performed at this year’s Lunar New Year Gala were seen in luxury brands including Valentino, Gucci, and Hugo Boss.
Na Ying and Faye Wong’s song was the most expected performance by Chinese people this year. Photo: VCG
Each year since 1983, China’s state-owned television network CCTV has aired the live-broadcast of a variety show, known as the Spring Festival Gala. The Gala is the most viewed TV show in the world, attracting over 700 million viewers each year, a number that dwarfs the Superbowl audience of 103 million this year. China uses the Gala to signal its political, cultural and social priorities — an ill-judged blackface skit, for instance, was meant as soft-power support for China’s investment in Africa — but it has also become an opportunity for luxury brands to place their products.
On social media, Chinese viewers of the show keenly discussed the luxury brands worn by different celebrities participating in the event. Despite it being China’s grandest national showcase, almost all the brands worn were foreign.
Scroll down to see which brands were worn by 20 different Chinese celebrities at this year’s Spring Festival Gala.
Tong Liya (left) in LANYU and Chen Xiao (right) in Emporio Armani. Photo: VCG
Chen Xiao and Tong Liya
Chinese actor Chen Xiao and actress Tong Liya performed at the opening of the program. Tong chose to dress in LANYU, the namesake brand of the country’s haute couture designer Lan Yu, while Chen Xiao wore Armani.
Na Ying in Givenchy. Photo: VCG
Na Ying
Na Ying is one of the most popular and prestigious pop singers in mainland China. She has attended the Spring Festival Gala 10 times. This year, she chose to dress in Givenchy.
Faye Wong in Titi Kwan Studio. Photo: VCG
Faye Wong
Singing with Na Ying was another Chinese legend, Faye Wong. In China, Wong is well-known for her impeccable singing skills and fashion taste. Though she has spent much of ther time out of the spotlight in recent years, her popularity has not diminished. Wong featured in ad campaigns for Celine in 2004, but this time around she wore a custom outfit designed by Titi Kwan.
Dimash Kudaibergen in Burberry. Photo: VCG
Dimash Kudaibergen
Dimash Kudaibergen is from Kazakhstan. He rose to fame in early 2017 as a participant in a singing competition hosted by Hunan TV. It was the first time for him to perform on the Gala, and he dressed in Burberry.
Tan Weiwei (right) in Dior. Photo: VCG
Tan Weiwei
Tan Weiwei is a famous singer from Sichuan province. She wore Dior.
TF Boys. Wang Yuan (left) in Givenchy, Wang Junkai (middle) in Dolce & Gabbana, Yi Yangqianxi (right) in Roberto Cavalli. Photo: VCG
TF Boys
TF Boys is an unbelievably popular boy band, with fans of all ages. Wang Yuan wore Givenchy, Yi Yangqianxi wore Roberto Cavalli, and Wang Junkai, who is the brand ambassador of Dolce & Gabbana, showed up in their signature suit.
Yang Yang in Gucci. Photo: VCG
Yang Yang
Actor Yang Yang is best known for his role as Jia Baoyu in the television adaptation of China’s most important novel The Dream of Red Mansions. He is boyishly handsome, a quality that makes him “little fresh meat” (小鲜肉) in China. He wore a Gucci suit.
Jam Hsiao in Ports 1961. Photo: VCG
Jam Hsiao
Taiwanese pop singer Jam Hsiao is loved by fans for his extraordinary music talent. He wore a suit by Ports 1961.
Zhang Bichen in Valentino. Photo: VCG
Zhang Bichen
Upcoming young singer Zhang Bichen wore Valentino.
Zhang Yixing in Gucci. Photo: VCG
Zhang Yixing
Zhang Yixing was a member of Korean boy band EXO. He is best known as a dancer, and in recent years has participated in several reality TV shows. Zhang wore Gucci.
Leo Ku in Raf Simons. Photo: VCG
Leo Ku
The well-known Hong Kong singer Leo Ku chose Raf Simons.
William Chan in Hugo Boss. Photo: VCG
William Chan
Another young singer, William Chan was dressed in Hugo Boss.
Li Yifeng in Valentino. Photo: VCG
Li Yifeng
Another “little fresh meat”, actor and singer Li Yifeng wore Valentino.
Zheng Kai in Gucci. Photo: VCG
Zheng Kai
Zheng Kai gained popularity after starring in one of the most well-known Chinese reality shows, Keep Running. His suit is from Gucci.
Qin Hailu in Max Mara. Photo: VCG
Qin Hailu
The award-winning Chinese actress Qin Hailu was dressed in Max Mara.
Wang Kai in Bottega Veneta. Photo: VCG
Wang Kai
The upcoming young actor Wang Kai in Bottega Veneta.
Jerry Yan in Shiatzy Chan. Photo: VCG
Jerry Yan
Jerry Yan is a well-known Taiwanese TV star. He collaborated with Taiwan’s Coco Chanel, Shiatzy Chan, for his outfit.
–This article originally appeared on Jing Daily.
