brand
Queenie Cao
Predominantly drawing inspiration from her imaginary fantasy universe, Chinese-born designer Queenie-Qinghe Cao is the creative brainchild behind the infectious and enchanting womenswear and jewelry brand Queenie Cao, situated in New York City. Her education diversifies across a variety of institutes and countries, including studying at China Central Academy of Fine Arts and Glasgow School of Art in Scotland, where she continued to explore fashion and jewelry design, and additionally attended Persons, situated in New York. Queenie Cao became established as a fashion and jewelry label in 2017 shortly after graduating, and today radiates an intoxicating playfulness that instills an infectious appeal, which targets the modern woman.
A charming dichotomy that consists of experimental and classic elegance effortlessly flows through her jewelry designs, where she can portray the brand’s avant-garde aesthetic amid structurally-sound groupings that are infused with beautiful material and bold colors. “Queenie Cao Jewelry pushes the unique space between fine and fashion jewelry,” expresses the designer, who, in partnership with photographer Runxi Wang, developed the innovative, alluring label. “Joyfully designed and handcrafted of sterling silver, each piece embodies innocence, purity, and elegance.”
Forever attaining a passion for applying stories and movies as visionary implements, Cao intersects the limitations of reality and immerses into a world of fantasy. She seeks to discover an unrelated or impossible thing to create possibilities and balance through her method, fake and surreal, romantic and gothic, beautiful and horror, something warped albeit captivating. When gazing at her designs, the influencer hopes that a sense of beauty and happiness will radiate, with the additional feeling of apprehension, which Cao portrays as “the feeling when you are jumping into Wonderland.”
While on her educational journey, Cao accumulated a collection of internships at some of the world’s most influential fashion houses including Oscar De La Renta, Proenza Schouler, Thom Browne, Jeremy Scott, 3.1 Philip Lim, and Jason Wu. Her designs have been worn by celebrities such as Cardi B, Janelle Monae, Lady Gaga, Mylie Cyrus, Katy Perry among others. Additional reflection of Cao’s fashion success has been printed and published in the industry’s top publications.
JARDIN transpires as Queenie Cao’s spring/summer 2018 jewelry collection, which employs the hand painted flowers typically witnessed on a vase. Unlike the real flower that arrives fresh and fragile, the designer aims to create a stronger and industrial edge. Vibrant, swirling ear cuffs, colorful and chubby pearl rings, golden and intricate filigree heart brooches with coordinating drop earrings, pink floral loops, silver floral vine rings with pearls, and a heart of thorns necklace collectively feature in the prettiest jewelry offering.
The theme effortlessly transitions into her ready-to-wear fashion collection and mirrors an identical aesthetic with regards to the botanical feel with a girly zeitgeist. Baby-doll pink dresses with the sweetest embroidered detail, metallic brocade playsuits and waistcoats are outfitted over white blouses, flared trousers, deconstructed gowns and tailored two-pieces delectably depict an ultra-feminine line that is wonderfully quirky and adorable in equal measures. Pretty, with acute attention to detail and craftsmanship, Queenie Cao is the upcoming name on everybody’s lips.
Words by Katie Farley
