Faye Wong’s Cult Fashion Looks, From Margiela to Vivienne Westwood

We look back at the Canto-pop queen’s boldest looks—and the fashion brands she wore before they were cool

Is there anyone cooler than Faye Wong? From being a muse to filmmaker Wong Kar-wai to collaborating with dream-pop pioneers Cocteau Twins, the Hong Kong musician has always forged a unique path to stardom.

While Wong’s status as the queen of Canto-pop is as undeniable—she holds a Guinness World Record for best-selling video game theme song for 1999’s Eyes On Me—she’s also known for a daring sense of style.

In true Leo fashion, Wong has boldly experimented with her outfits across her three-decade career. Reflecting her unconventional tastes, her wardrobe is an Instagram fashion archivist’s dream, boasting avant-garde brands like Yohji Yamamoto, Rick Owens, Helmut Lang and Raf Simons. With the help of stylists Thomas Chan and Titi Kwan, Wong wore Margiela before “Tabi boots” entered the mainstream vocabulary, and understood the cult appeal of a Vivienne Westwood corset before Pinterest existed. Oh, and did we mention she’s a Philophile?

In celebration of her 54rd birthday today, we take a look at Wong’s singular style and all the covetable fashion pieces that would have made her an Internet It-girl today.

1. Vivienne Westwood dog print corset, 1992

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Before they became popular with the likes of Bella Hadid and Kourtney Kardashian, Wong performed in a Vivienne Westwood corset from the brand’s “Always on Camera” fall/winter 1992 collection. This one is distinguished by its puppy print, taken from the art of 18th-century English painter Thomas Gainsborough. Wong’s accessories, featuring layers of beads and a cross necklace, was also an edgy styling trick borrowed from the godmother of punk.

2. Plastic slip dress and mohair knit crop top, 1993

In a look that is quintessentially ’90s, Wong wore a see-through slip dress and a crop top to perform at a music awards in 1993. It has certainly lived on in fashion moodboards: 29 years later, a similar outfit was worn by pop star Olivia Rodrigo for her Sour tour.

3. Ann Demeulemeester backless top and leather pants, 1996

Wong threw on another daring look when she returned to the stage in 1996, this time pulling off a full look from Ann Demeulemeester’s spring/summer 1996 collection that made her resemble a rockstar.

4. Ann Demeulemeester asymmetrical jacket, 1996

Wong demonstrated her penchant for the Antwerp Six designer yet again by wearing this striking suit jacket that came with only one shoulder.

5. Yohji Yamamoto Harlequin coat dress, 1997

For the cover of her self-titled album, Wong transformed into a goth goddess by wearing a long checkerboard coat from Japanese designer Yohji Yamamoto’s fall/winter 1997 collection.

6. Helmut Lang top and slit skirt, 1997

Wong certainly embraced ’90s minimalism, as this Helmut Lang ensemble she wore for a magazine shoot shows us.

7. Raf Simons cobweb knit top, Jurgi Persoons skirt, Jeremy Scott’s sole-less heels, 1998

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Avant-garde Belgian designer Jurgi Persoons had only opened his eponymous label two years before Wong sported one of his pieces, which is extremely telling of the singer’s pre-Internet intuition of what’s cool. Besides styling it with a Raf Simons grail piece, what makes this outfit all the more impressive are the sole-less shoes from Jeremy Scott: Wong is the only person to wear them off the runway.

8. Maison Martin Margiela sweater, 1999

More minimalism, this time courtesy of the cult fashion label formerly known as Maison Martin Margiela.

9. Custom Titi Kwan knit dress, 2010

BEIJING - OCTOBER 29: (CHINA OUT) Faye Wong performs during her concert at Wukesong Indoor Stadium on October 29, 2010 in beijing, China. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images)

Above Photo: Getty Images

Besides sourcing pieces from the edgiest fashion brands around the world, Wong also turned to her longtime stylist Titi Kwan for dramatic ensembles to take to the stage in, like this voluminous textured dress.

10. Alexander McQueen skull dress, 2011

XI AN, CHINA - DECEMBER 23: (CHINA OUT) Singer Faye Wong performs on the stage at Xi'an Qujiang International Conference and Exhibition Center on December 23, 2011 in Xi An, China. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images)

Above Photo: Getty Images

A year after Alexander McQueen’s death, Wong performed in a dress from the British designer that featured his famous skull motif.

11. Custom Titi Kwan crystal chandelier dress, 2011

TAIPEI, CHINA - JANUARY 21: (CHINA OUT) Chinese singer Faye Wong performs during her concert at Taipei Arena on January 21, 2011 in Taipei, Taiwan of China. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images)

Above Photo: Getty Images

Forget swinging from the chandelier; Wong sang in one for a concert in Taipei, a feat achieved with the design brilliance of Titi Kwan and over 10,000 sparkling Swarovski crystals.

12. Céline turtleneck and pleated skirt, 2016

BEIJING, CHINA - SEPTEMBER 09: Singer Faye Wong attends a press conference for her concert on September 9, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo by Visual China Group via Getty Images/Visual China Group via Getty Images)

Above Photo: Getty Images

Even when dressing down, Wong opts for a fashion label unlike any other: old Céline, helmed by Phoebe Philo. The singer is a known fan of the brand, having made rare public appearances to attend its fashion shows.

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Topics

faye wong margiela maison margiela yohji yamamoto vivienne westwood raf simons helmut lang celebrity style rick owens alexander mcqueen