Markgong Tops: The Best Pieces Right Now

I am drawn to designers who build a whole character around the clothes. Mark Gong graduated from Parsons School of Design and launched his New York namesake label in 2018. His central woman is the GONG GIRL, who is curious, independent and resilient, and who is not interested in dressing to please. The label's own story gives the clothes a point of view before I even get to a silhouette.

The early collections show how wide that point of view can stretch: Western references, camping, ruffles, beading and a tension between menswear and feminine dressing. That mix of playful storytelling and assertive shape still makes sense with the pieces here, from printed tees and metallic collars to detachable belts, studded pants and bags with sculptural clasps. I went deeper on a related idea in AREA Tops & Dresses: The Best Pieces Right Now.

The brand sits between Shanghai and New York, and its Fall/Winter 2025 show in Shanghai leaned on tailored looks, a velvet cape and wry nods to fame. I like that balance. Clothes can have a sense of humor and still take up space.

These tops give the GONG GIRL several ways to be noticed without one formula. The Lace Halter Neck Bodysuit and Metal Buckle Halter Cowl Neck Top put the neckline up front, while the Tie-back Shirt With Metallic Pointed Collar makes a sharper entrance. The Loveride Retro Print Tube Top and Floral Embroidered Tube Top change the story through surface detail, and the Fun Ride Printed T-shirt and Jealous Baby T Shirt are the casual end.

I would style one assertive detail at a time. Picture her in the Knotted Long Sleeved Top with simple dark trousers for a gallery opening, or a graphic tee with jeans on an ordinary afternoon. Let the top talk and keep the jewelry spare.

The detachable belts are what link these pieces for me. The Faux Leather Pencil Skirt With Detachable Belts gives the belt a strong role, while the Cross Stitch Embroidered Skirt With Detachable Belt takes the idea somewhere more decorative. The Dust Faux Leather Floral Imprinted Tube Top With Detachable Belt and the Faux Leather Floral Imprinted Tube Top With Detachable Belt pair a sculptural surface with the same removable accent. If you want to keep going, Atlein Dresses: The Best Pieces Right Now is the one I would read next.

I would treat the belt as the styling choice and not pile extra ornament around it. Wear a tube top with plain trousers, or let the skirt carry a quiet knit. I would try the silhouette both with and without the belt before deciding which proportion feels like me.

The bags are a compact way into Mark Gong's taste for hardware and surface. The M Grace Bag brings a leopard note, the Large Embroidered Metal Clasp Bag is all embroidery and clasp, and the Small Cowhide Leather Metal Clasp Bag keeps that hardware smaller. The clothes turn the volume up: the Faux Leather Studded Flared Pant, Faux Leather Fringe Pant and Studded Flared Jeans all make the leg line part of the look.

For a last layer, the Beaded Velvet Fringe Trimmed Cape has movement, and the Faux Leather Floral Imprinted Baseball Jacket is the casual cut. I would pair one expressive piece with a clean base. In my fashion dreams, the M Grace Bag and Studded Flared Jeans are plenty for a late dinner. What I would skip is wearing the cape and the fringe pant together.

What stays with me about Mark Gong is the insistence on personality. A graphic tee, studded flares or a velvet fringe layer can each tell a different story, but they share a refusal to be anonymous. I would start with the piece that feels most like my own version of the GONG GIRL and build around it, rather than trying to copy a whole runway look. Although I suspect I will end up starting with the bag.