With New York Fashion Week kicking off next week, the industry cabals will be traversing in numbers from all sorts of far-flung locales, but this migration can hardly compare with the one set to touch down in China for the two-week New Year’s celebration. Billions are expected to gather with their families for the annual lunar holiday starting next Monday, culminating in reunion dinners, fireworks, parades, and other traditional festivities to ring in the Year of the Monkey.

Before the first serving of hot soup is served, one of the country’s chicest denizens, stylist and editor Leaf Greener, lets us in on how she’ll celebrate differently this year, which Chinese designers she’ll be repping at New York Fashion Week, and how she pulled her New Year look together (and yes, it does involve an embroidered monkey).

For the first time in my life, this Chinese New Year’s Eve I will be on a flight fromShanghai to Paris for a LVMH Prize meeting. I have never spent the holiday on an airplane before. I am not a workaholic, but this time I am afraid I can’t say no. I am doing consultancy work for the LVMH Prize, and I will be sure to bring more young Chinese talents to apply for this amazing honor. During New York Fashion Week, I’ll also wear some of my favorite Chinese designers like Ms Min, Chrisou by Dan, and Jourden, together with new pieces from Western designers.

A typical holiday for me would be celebrating Chinese New Year with my dad in Beijing, where I was born, or to stay in Shanghai and celebrate with my uncle and my friends. We make dumplings and eat hot pot for dinner. These foods are a symbol of traditional culture in China, and Chinese New Year is all about reunion: with your family, with your friends, and reconnecting with your roots.

A Festival Mood

Fireworks at Tiananmen Square in Beijing and temple festivals are my favorite traditions. At temple festivals we see the variety of the Qing Dynasty and eat local snacks. I could never set off the fireworks—I am too scared of them—but I enjoy watching them light up the sky, like passing comets.

For me Chinese New Year is not about dressing up, it’s about dressing down a little bit, chillaxing with family at home. Why not wear a beautiful Chinese pajama to celebrate in? This is a traditional Chinese silk pj with a hand-embroidered monkey, designed by my friend Ms Min. I’ll wear a pearl necklace with it and some antique jade bracelets from my grandmother, too.

My airport look is very simple. I will be wearing a pair of cashmere jogging pants and a cashmere hoodie from my boyfriend’s brand, YorkHolm. I love cashmere. It’s the best thing to wear for a long flight—warm and comfy, also very chic!

If I receive enough money—fingers crossed—I want to buy a political Pop Art piece by Chinese artist Wang Guangyi. As a gift for my father, I’ll play a composition by Beethoven on the piano. I think the most personal gifts are the most precious ones.