Big note up front: I am a white person and am not an authority on what is or is not racist against AAPI folks. That being said, this is a guide that avoids cultural appropriation to the best of my ability and focuses on the general aesthetic proclivities and fire stylings in the movies of Wong Kar-wai, a director/screenwriter/producer triple threat from Hong Kong who is one of my favorite artists of all time.
If it’s aligned with your cultural heritage, for the love of god PLEASE rock a cheongsam layered under a sheer tee like my favorite WKW character, Blondie from Fallen Angels, does in the most perfect scene located at a McDonald’s of all time.

Another note: I am a nonbinary person who tends to shop in women’s sections as I am small and my sizes tend to be located there, but all of these tips/concepts are genderless and I’ll pull from various sources to suggest specific clothing items you can purchase.
Last note: I pull from all sorts of sources for fashion inspiration. I cannot afford a $1000 suit jacket and probably neither can you (if you can, uhhhhh please contact me and we can… talk…). I’ll try to include at least one sale/”affordable” (to normal people working shitty underpaying jobs like most of us) item per section, but this is all just inspiration and I am sending the thrifting angels to rest gently on your shoulder and guide you to a $15 dupe of that jacket STAT.
This “guide” will focus on characters from Fallen Angels, Chungking Express, and In the Mood For Love as they are my three favorite WKW films (in that order)! I’m gonna approach this by collecting my thoughts and suggestions under headings of specific design/fashion choices WKW uses throughout his film, such as:
Red, Green, and Yellow



Kar-wai is known for his use of concentrated, intense color in his lighting design that does a lot of heavy lifting in terms of storytelling and mood-setting. The colors that reappear most frequently in both lighting and costuming are red, yellow, and green. Red connotes sensuality, violence, and vitality, yellow lightheartedness and potential energy, and green growth, “nature,” and activation.
It’s an easy bet (doesn’t make it any less sick when pulled off with innovation) to choose one of these colors and make it the centerpiece of a look like Michelle Reis and Faye Wong, above, both do, matching lipstick and sunglasses respectively to their fits. Matching something small and unexpected to the largest colored piece you’re wearing gives an air of intentionality and levity to any outfit and is a simple, low-stakes way to incorporate some of WKW’s extremely deliberate color play into your day. Match your main color to your goals for the day (if you’re studying for the bar exam, green. If you’re going to visit your grandma, yellow. If you’re planning the murder of a loved one, red).
The REAL fear-factor-level styling work comes in when you combine more than one of these three colors while trying to avoid “Christmas syndrome” or looking like you’re cosplaying as a Rasta flag. In the lowest image above, the warm lighting makes Maggie Cheung’s blueish B&W cheongsam look decidedly green, and somehow it still works with the bright read coat she layers over it. For the sake of argument, let’s pretend the dress is actually green.
This is some high-level style fuckery and works for two reasons: the ratio of red to green is so high and the difference in brightness is so stark. When mixing any combo of red/yellow/green, choose one of the colors to be the source of “light” in the outfit–as high-saturation, bold-hued as possible–and make sure the other color/s are either much paler or darker/murkier. Avoid patterns in the bright piece and gravitate towards them in the duller pieces. If you successfully pull off a look with all three colors featured, please send pics and I will shower you with praise and boundless wonder.
Potential selections:

Longsleeve Rashguard W Contrast Stitching Red

The Puppets Brocade Suit Jacket





Green & Black Len Lye Edition Satin Printed Dress

Khaki Len Lye Edition Satin Printed Dress
Make Greyscale Interesting


As someone who lives in NYC, I see and wear many all-black/B&W fits, and many are decidedly BORING (including my own, what can I say, I am obviously talking out of my ass when it comes to fashion, maybe don’t listen to me…). The key to making greyscale looks un-boring is to harness the properties of light, as we have already established WKW is masterful at, via texture, layering, and light-catching accessories.
Don’t you dare go out rocking a white tee/tank + black jacket without adding a subtle or un-subtle chain around your neck to grab light and create some motion around your clavicles. Transmascs and Italians of NY already know this rule and have been owning it for decades.
Instead of a plain black coat or blazer, get one with grey pinstripes like the one Blondie “dries” with toilet paper for The Killer (Leon Lai) in Fallen Angels. Instead of plain black trousers, wear leather (I recommend keeping them baggy to create more texture and light play amongst the creases and avoid falling into the Forever 21 circa 2009 aesthetic). Adapt the rebellious teen girl/Michelle Reis technique of wearing black undergarments under a white shirt or dress. Add a pearl choker and/or a wide, tight black headband right on the hairline. B&W outfits set off skin tones and facial expressions, so make sure your visage is front and center. If you don’t believe me, check the tapes.

Potential selections:




Black Chiffon Twist Short Sleeve Blouse




Large Paperclip Chain Necklace
Layer Weirdly



Horizontal stripes + vertical stripes? Yes. White over black? As we have discussed, please go ahead. Sheer skirt over shorts or miniskirt? Yes, but keep the skirt minimally voluminous to mimic the Faye flow. Patterned tank/bustier situation under a white button-down? Please. Baggy khaki jacket over baggy striped shirt with a baggy tie? Hell yeah. Being a cop? Ewww.
Potential selections:

Multicolor Championship Stripe Shirt

Beige Textured Brushed Recycled Overshirt Jacket


Black & Beige Striped Woven Alexia Trousers

Optical Stripe Gabardine Skirt

Sheer maxi skirt with side zip slits


Cotton Broadcloth Long-Sleeve Shirt
Same Shape, Different Pattern



To really “get into character,” try building a capsule wardrobe consisting of one shape profile (i.e. boxy short-sleeve button down + non-voluminous maxi skirt a la Faye or tight dress like Su Li-zhen) and multiple patterns. Su Li-zhen’s 20+ differently-patterned cheongsams are the real star of In the Mood For Love.
The sameness of the shape creates a continuity that makes pattern choices seem even more intentional and poignant. You are the protagonist of your life, and this wardrobe technique will emphasize that. Complete each day’s look with variations of the same accessory (tiny sunglasses with different-colored frames, a huge hair clip in several colorways, different iterations of a specific shape of handbag) to drive this point home.
Potential selections:
Just… Find Me This Shirt


I don’t have much to say about this now-extinct Tank Girl shirt other than the graphic is perfect, the coloring is perfect, the fit on Takeshi Kaneshiro’s shoulders and chest is perfect, and if someone ever makes a well-constructed bootleg I will pay a truly sickening sum of money to get my paws on it.
Potential selection:

Beauty: Be Polar


WKW’s hair and makeup looks tend towards the simple but dramatic as best exemplified by Faye and the Killer’s Agent. The former’s tiny bangs emphasize her seemingly makeup-free face (I would recommend going actually makeup-free, as the “natural” makeup look is not as WKW-aligned as a simply bare face, shiny from sweat or tears) and the latter’s glorious bangs-down-to-there make her dramatic red lip seem as though it’s emerging from under a curtain like the lips that open the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Moderation is not the name of the game here. Be melodramatic in your hair and makeup choices. You can always choose a different look some other day.
Things to Avoid If WKW Character is Your Goal Look
- Sweats (wear trousers and a comfy suit jacket as per The Killer in Fallen Angels or a tiny shirt and maxi skirt like Faye in Chungking Express. Just as comfy, but these characters would not be caught dead in Champions.
- Pink, purple, orange, and brown (khaki works)
- Polka dots (I will die on the hill that you should be avoiding these in general)
- Flannel
- Moderation in your beauty choices
- Logos
- Color blocking
If All Else Fails

Pop on a trench coat that covers everything (you don’t even need to wear anything underneath if you’re really down bad), sunglasses not optional, wig if you so choose, and get out the door and into the moody, hellish, hopeful dreamscape that is Wong Kar-wai’s world. It’s also yours.
Potential selections:

Shower resistant longline trench coat with belt

Double-Breasted Hooded Trench Coat


❤ HR
FAQs
What is the aesthetic of Wong Kar-Wai? ›
Wong Kar-Wai is the grandmaster behind the vibrant, dreamy, sensuous aesthetic of Asian cinema. His penchant for a moody, high-contrast mesh of colors translates so well on film, it steals the narrative's spotlight.
How many dresses does Maggie Cheung wear in in the mood for love? ›“We had 20 to 25 dresses for Maggie for the whole film. Because we cut the film short, it becomes like a fashion show; she changes all the time.” Naturally, the fashion community responded to such eye-catching designs.
Why is Wong Kar-Wai so famous? ›Today, Wong is primarily renowned as an art film auteur, yet his films traverse genres from melodrama to martial arts. In particular you can see the traces of his past in the Hong Kong film industry with early films As Tears Go By (1988) and Days of Being Wild (1990), riffing on the tropes of gangster cinema.
Does Wong Kar-Wai use scripts? ›He has a unique style of filmmaking. "He shoots his films without scripts and we shot 'The Grandmaster' also in that way. We didn't know the whole story in the beginning but we started understanding it gradually with each day on the set," Ziyi told PTI.
Can Wong Kar-Wai speak English? ›In Hong Kong, the family settled in Tsim Sha Tsui, and his father got work managing a night club. Being an only child in a new city, Wong has said he felt isolated during his childhood; he struggled to learn Cantonese and English, only becoming fluent in these new languages when he was a teenager.
What do girls in Euphoria wear? ›Think long shorts paired with crop tops or funky printed shirts with jeans and Converse. Lots of Converse. Rue's shirt is a vintage M&G top. You can't buy it anymore, but there are some similar options below.
What is Jules style called Euphoria? ›Bivens describes Jules's style as “wildly expressive with a penchant for layering”. Her character is still exploring and figuring out how to be comfortable in her own skin.
What is the fashion style in Euphoria? ›Viewers who can look past the graphic and divisive nature of “Euphoria” might find something unexpected: inspiration for their next outfit. The show's look—sparkling makeup, skater comfort and revealing, early 2000s-ish outfits—is smack in the middle of the zeitgeist right now.
What does red symbolize in the mood for love? ›In western countries such as France and US, red is thought to be the colour that represents love and passion because it is the colour of blood. However, just as it represents the fiery passion of life, it can also symbolize danger because of that same association.
Where should I start Wong Kar-wai? ›The best place to start: Chungking Express
Wong has a reputation as the master of melancholy romance but he knows how to make you laugh too. Chungking Express (1994) is the best example of this as well as being a gentle introduction to his signature style.
What camera did fallen angels use? ›
Runtime | 2 hr 1 min (121 min) |
---|---|
Color | Color |
Aspect Ratio | 2.35 : 1 2.39 : 1 |
Camera | Arri Alexa (Arri Master Primes.) Arri Alexa Mini, Zeiss Master Prime and Fujinon Alura Lenses Arri Alexa SXT, Zeiss Master Prime and Fujinon Alura Lenses Panasonic EVA1 Panasonic VariCam LT |
''Fallen Angels'' is an offshoot of ''Chungking Express'' without being a sequel.
Which movie shot in Wai? ›Wai is where Chennai Express , Dabangg , Singham , Ishqiya and Omkara were filmed.
Is World of Wong Kar-Wai a 4K? ›World of Wong Kar-Wai, somewhat unpredictably, proves to be his boldest artistic statement we've seen in a long time, and not everyone is pleased with the results. The reason for this is the brand new 4K restorations of Wong's most beloved film ares supervised by the director himself.
Why is Wong Kar-Wai an auteur? ›A sor- cerer of memory, he is the master of repetition, style, the modern, and postmod- ern. With only eight films over the last fourteen years, Wong has, in his young career, created a distinct genre that has earned him the status of a great auteur.
What dialect of Chinese is in everything everywhere all at once? ›At the end of the day, EVERYTHING EVERYWHERE ALL AT ONCE is really just a story about acceptance. (Just a little side note: The grandfather is speaking Cantonese while Evelyn, Waymond and Joy are all speaking Mandarin.
Is Hong Kong part of China? ›While Hong Kong is part of China, the policy has given the Special Administrative Region (SAR) a high degree of autonomy.
Who is the fat girl in Euphoria? ›HBO's hit show “Euphoria” has been praised for its representation of fat women in the character Kat Hernandez.
How do I look like a euphoric character? ›- Olive Linen Look Shirt Playsuit. ...
- Long Sleeve Green Mini Dress. ...
- Green Nightwear Set. ...
- Mint Green Mini Dress. ...
- Oklahoma Outfit. ...
- The Zip-up Hoodie & Trousers Combo. ...
- Graphic T-shirts. ...
- Chuck Taylor Converse.
Gender. In June 2021, creator of Euphoria Sam Levinson stated in an interview that Rue is non-binary.
Who has the best style in Euphoria? ›
In fact, one look at those shoulder-length gloves of hers proves that Maddy is the undisputed queen of Euphoria fashion.
Is Jules from Euphoria mentally ill? ›Since Jules was about seven or eight, she dealt with bouts of depression, anxiety, and self-harm largely stemming from gender dysphoria, which eventually led to her mother taking her to a psychiatric hospital against her will at age 11.
What do I wear to a Euphoria party? ›- Black slip dresses. One of Euphoria's most iconic season 2 looks was the black slip dress Maddy wore for her birthday celebration. ...
- Matching, colorful outfits. ...
- Vividly patterned dresses. ...
- Plaid minidress. ...
- Casual guys' wear.
Euphoria is rated TV-MA for drug use, nudity, violence, and language which means some content may not be suitable for kids under 17.
Is there no dress code in Euphoria? ›Even with all of its nuanced, down-to-earth portrayals of modern high school life, “Euphoria High” – a.k.a. the nickname for the series's fictitious East Highland High School – has no f--king dress code, meaning almost none of the series's iconic fashion moments could ever happen at most IRL – well, at least without ...
Who turned down Euphoria? ›We can't imagine the ethereal, whimsical, manic pixie dream girl character being played by anyone other than Hunter Schafer, but the Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes actress initially declined the role for Season 1.
What colors cause anxiety? ›High A-Trait students were significantly more anxious while viewing blue, red, and green than were the low A-Trait students and blue produced significantly more state anxiety than did either yellow or green.
What colour means love? ›Pink symbolizes love and romance, caring, tenderness, acceptance and calm.
What do you call a person who loves color red? ›Energetic. Having a personality color red means you're a determined person who takes action and are not afraid of taking risks. You're a go-getter. People who like red color are assertive, vigorous, prone to impulsive actions, and have variable moods. You radiate such energy, making it exciting to be with you.
What should I watch before 2046? ›You don't really need to watch anything before The Mandalorian. They do a good job ensuring it stands on its own. If you wanted to understand back stories and some of the more complex relationships then Star Wars Eps 1–6, the Clone Wars cartoon, and Rebels would be good to fill that need.
Should you watch Chungking Express before fallen angels? ›
Since Fallen Angels contains Easter eggs references to Chungking Express, which was released first, watching the movies in accordance to the sequence of its release will enhance your experience of watching Fallen Angels. What are some super sad Chinese romance movies?
How do I start Bresson? ›- Au hasard Balthazar (1966)
- Diary of a Country Priest (1951) production still.
- A Man Escaped (1956)
- Pickpocket (1959)
- Mouchette (1967)
- L'Argent (1983)
Sign in to vote. Fallen Angels by Wong Kar-Wai is an exhilarating piece of cinema. While it's not as "perfect" a movie as 'In The Mood For Love' in the traditional sense, it has a kind of messy punk-like nature which just always appeals to me.
What should I watch if I like Jennifer's Body? ›If You Like 'Jennifer's Body,' Watch the '00s Werewolf Precursor 'Ginger Snaps'
What should I watch if I like Big Hero 6? ›- Moana. There's so much to love about Moana that it's hard to know where to start. ...
- Onward. ...
- Zootopia. ...
- Coco. ...
- Inside Out. ...
- Wall*E. ...
- The Iron Giant. ...
- The Fox And The Hound.
There are two methods for digital printing on glass: UV-curable printing, and digital ceramic printing. Digital UV printing technology uses organic inks and employs ultraviolet light to cure (dry) the ink on the glass surface. The technology enables unlimited color combinations.
What is CC wide time? ›You can create this effect using combinations of several effects, or you can try to use the CC Wide Time Effect, which is a temporal blur that designed to enhance the motion appearance of any object that is shot against a stationary background.
What is a step Print? ›Step-Printing is basically the duplication of a film frame. When applied to a frame sequence the duplication of multiple film frames stretches the running time of the sequence which creates a sense of slow-motion.
When was Fallen Angels banned? ›In 1999, “Fallen Angels” was removed from the Laton, CA Unified School District because the novel about the Vietnam War contains violence and profanity.
What was the Fallen Angels original name? ›The Latin word lucifer, as introduced in the late 4th-century AD Vulgate, gave rise to the name for a fallen angel.
Does Fallen Angels have a movie? ›
Fallen Angels is a 1995 Hong Kong neo-noir crime thriller drama film written and directed by Wong Kar-wai.
Why is Zhiwu mute? ›The character He Zhiwu, who is mute but able to communicate with the audience through narration, tells us he became mute after eating a tin of pineapple with a past expiration date.
Will there be a Fallen 4? ›Ric Roman Waugh directed the third film in the franchise, Angel Has Fallen, and will be returning for the fourth film, which has already received a green light.
Is Fallen Angels family friendly? ›Parents Beware
While this book is written at a deceptively easy reading level (about 5th grade) it is NOT for any age teen. There are plenty of good books about the Vietnam War that do not use vulgarity, profanity and graphic violence. The author didn't even serve in Vietnam -- it is entirely fictional.
Being the iconoclastic 'poet of time,' Wong Kar-wai is extolled as a leading figure for his postmodernist style of visually unique and emotional resonant film works.
What is Anna May Wong's legacy? ›Her legacy
Wong has previously been recognised for her impact on the film industry. In 1960, she was the first Asian American actress to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Wong has admitted to Murakami's direct influence on his work, particularly Chungking Express, remarking that “Haruki Murakami was very popular in Hong Kong then, and because Kaneshiro Takeshi is half Japanese, I thought it would be funny to have his voice-overs written in Murakami style”.
Why is Kurosawa so good? ›Through his influences and achievements, Kurosawa became one of the first true international filmmakers, inspiring several generations of filmmakers who would explore notions of genre and identity in film. Throughout its history, Japan has always championed its culture above outside influence.
Why is Kurosawa black and white? ›There are economic reason probably, but black and white cinematography is an art form unto itself. Kurosawa's films are a testimony of his mastery of this art form. Subtle gradations of shades of grey and stark contrasts of black and white to illustrate mood, tendency and literal foreshadowing.
Why was Anna May Wong so important? ›Wong Liu Tsong (January 3, 1905 – February 3, 1961), known professionally as Anna May Wong, was an American actress, considered the first Chinese-American movie star in Hollywood, as well as the first Chinese-American actress to gain international recognition.
What is postmodernism style? ›
Postmodernism is an eclectic, colourful style of architecture and the decorative arts that appeared from the late 1970s and continues in some form today. It emerged as a reaction to Modernism and the Modern Movement and the dogmas associated with it.
Who is the father of postmodernism? ›French post-structuralist philosopher, best known for his highly influential formulation of postmodernism in The Postmodern Condition. Despite its popularity, however, this book is in fact one of his more minor works.
What are the three key principles of postmodernism? ›Pluralism, relativism, and opposition again fundamentalism and objectivism are of postmodernism's philosophical fundamentals in various philosophical areas.
What is the Indian equivalent of Hollywood? ›The most widely recognized Hollywood-inspired nickname is Bollywood, the informal name for the Hindi language film industry in Mumbai (formerly Bombay), Maharashtra, India.
What is Wong's ethnicity? ›Wong | |
---|---|
Title | Sorcerer Supreme |
Occupation | Sorcerer |
Affiliation | Masters of the Mystic Arts |
Nationality | Nepalese |
He is of Chinese descent, with family from Hong Kong. Wong attended Lincoln High School, where he discovered his love of acting and starred as the lead in numerous school plays, before attending San Francisco State University. He received an honorary doctorate from San Francisco State University on May 27, 2022.
What is step printing? ›What is Step-Printing ? Step-Printing is basically the duplication of a film frame. When applied to a frame sequence the duplication of multiple film frames stretches the running time of the sequence which creates a sense of slow-motion.