This story is part of the August 18 edition of Sunday Life. See all 15 stories . Each week, we quiz a prominent person about their style and the inspiration behind it.
Ahead, Designer Courtney Zheng. “I wear a lot of black and lean into a grungy aesthetic.” How would you describe your style? Androgynous and sleek.
I wear a lot of black and lean into a grungy aesthetic. What’s the oldest thing in your wardrobe? A crazy, Wild West-inspired leather coat with orange flames on it from the Acne Studios’ spring/summer ’22 collection. And the most recent addition? A Simone Rocha nylon bum bag with Harajuku-style bows.
This oversized “Elva” sweater from Courtney Zheng matches her personal style. What would you wear ..
. on a first date? On my first date with my boyfriend, I wore ivory-coloured, fitted, tailored trousers with a slinky silk halter-neck top and By Far strappy mules ..
. on a plane? Tracksuit pants with a souvenir sweatshirt I buy from the airport – a “New York” sweater from JFK, for example. I collect them, partially out of convenience, but it’s also comfort.
And because I’m usually travelling with two huge suitcases full of samples, I wear my heaviest leather coat and boots ...
on the red carpet? A slinky bias-cut gown, a tuxedo suit, or something structural and dramatic by Chinese couture designer Guo Pei who designed Rihanna’s yellow, feather-trimmed Met Gala gown. What’s your favourite fashion era? The most referenced in my designs is the �.