CHINESE NEW YEAR 2013

By Eva Fydrych

The Year of the Snake

Bulgari turquoise and white enamel snake bracelet, 1967 (Source: Bulgari)

The Chinese New Year 2013 has been enthusiastically celebrated with colour and style, to mark the arrival of the Water Snake - which Chinese astrology considers powerful and associated with the notion of Karma. 

The Lunar New Year, also known as the Spring Festival, begins on February 10 and marks the start of the Year of the Snake, according to the Chinese zodiac. The event is celebrated by billions of Chinese people world wide from the first day of the first month of the lunar year and ends with Lantern Festival on the Fifteenth day.

Celebrations Around the World

Source: Jay Directo - AFP/Getty Images

Performers take part in a dragon dance on the eve of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Snake, in China town in Manila on February 9, 2013. The Dragon Dance is usually performed during the Chinese New Year to bring in good luck and prosperity

Source: REUTERS/Chaiwat Subprasom

Traditional Chinese dancers wait to perform ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Suphan Buri province, about 65.2 miles (105 km) north of Bangkok February 8, 2013. 

Source: REUTERS/Samrang Pring

The head of the dragon dance costume is seen as Chinese Cambodian men perform in celebration of the upcoming Chinese Lunar New Year in front of the Royal Palace, Phnom Penh February 9, 2013. 

Source: REUTERS/Damir Sagolj

Women buy clothes ahead of the Chinese Lunar New Year celebrations in Bangkok's Chinatown February 9, 2013.

Source: Feng Li - AFP/Getty Images

A Chinese paramilitary police officer dressed as a Qing Dynasty servant before a re-enactment of an ancient ceremony of Qing Dynasty emperors praying for good harvest and fortune during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at the Temple of Earth park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China. 

Source: REUTERS/Jason Lee

Snake toys are displayed for sale at a temple fair to celebrate the Chinese Lunar New Year at Ditan Park (the Temple of Earth), in Beijing, February 9, 2013.

Source: Feng Li - AFP/Getty Images

Chinese folk artists perform during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair. 

Source: Lintao Zhang - AFP/Getty Images

Chinese folk artists prepare to perform during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at Dragon Lake Park on February 9, 2013 in Beijing, China. 

Source: Lintao Zhang - AFP/Getty Images

Chinese folk artists prepare to perform during the opening ceremony of the Spring Festival Temple Fair at Dragon Lake Park.

Source: Feng Li - AFP/Getty Images

Visitors stroll near the trees decorated with red lanterns ahead of Chinese New Year celebrations in Beijing.

Source: Hoang Dinh Nam - AFP/Getty Images

A calligrapher writes down best wishes for the lunar new year or Tet in Vietnamese, for customers outside the Temple of Literature in downtown Hanoi on February 8, 2013. Vietnamese will have from this week-end a nine-day long Tet holiday, the longest ever lunar new year holiday provided by the Vietnamese government. 

Source: REUTERS/Edgar Su

A Sentosa Island staff volunteer prepares to pose for photos after the completion of a 100m (328 feet) long sand snake sculpture, entitled Glittering Snake Trail by Singaporean sand sculptor JOOheng Tan, during a media preview of the Sentosa Flowers festival on Singapore's Sentosa Island February 4, 2013. A total of 128 staff volunteers took part to help colour the snake, which forms the Chinese character "Fortune", with colour-dye sand. The flower festival, which will usher in the Lunar Year of the Snake, will be opened to the public on the eve of the new year on February 9.

 Source: Suhaimi Abdullah - AFP/Getty Images

People walk through the entrance arch during the public opening of the 2013 River Hongbao Festival at The Float at Marina Bay on February 8, 2013 in Singapore. This annual event is an integral part of Singapore's Chinese New Year celebrations and showcases larger-than-life lantern displays.

Source: Amber Bracken/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

A dancer performs the face-changing dance during Chinese New Year festivities at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alta. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013.

Source: Amber Bracken/Edmonton Sun/QMI Agency

Wayne Lee wears a festive hat during Chinese New Year festivities at West Edmonton Mall in Edmonton, Alta. on Saturday, Feb. 9, 2013. 

Source: Edmonton Sun, Global Post, IB Times

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Fashion & Beauty Inspiration

MAC Year of the Snake Collection is defined by a palette of vibrant shades and shimmering finishes. 

Detail of Diana Vreeland's iconic gold, white, and pink enamel snake belt.

Rachel Weisz in a 2012 Bulgari advertisements (Source: Bulgari)

Diana Vreeland wearing her Bulgari enamel snake belt as a necklace for a portrait taken in

the red room of her New York City apartment.

A diamond, emerald, and gold snake watch-bracelet made circa 1967 (Source: Bulgari)

Alexander McQueen De Manta Clutch, SS 2010

Alexander McQueen De Manta Clutch, SS 2010

Prezzo Snake Print Clutch

Photo courtesy of The Daily Buzz

Photo courtesy of The Budget Fashionista

Styling Tip: Contrary to Pantone's colour prediction, in the Year of the Snake, red is the primary colour choice. Have a look at our Pinterest page to get more fashion inspiration!

"Haven Snake" editorial

Editorial: "Heaven Snake", Interview, June/July 2011

Photographer: Craig McDean, Model: Zuzanna Bijoch, Styled by Karl Templer

All photos courtesy of Interview

All photos courtesy of Interview

All photos courtesy of Interview

All photos courtesy of Interview

All photos courtesy of Interview

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR!

Last year's fashion inspiration: THE YEAR OF THE DRAGON

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