What the Year of the Horse Means for Your Shopping Cart
According to the Chinese zodiac, the Year of the Horse is finally here. Let's talk about it.
In the Chinese zodiac, each year carries its own symbolism, and hearing that 2025 was the Year of the Snake piqued my interest, prompting me to learn more about the culture. The description that came along with the Year of the Snake accurately described what my year looked like. It was a painful shedding that led to what felt like a rebirth, and once I tapped into its meaning, my social media feeds were filled with people explaining why my year went the way it did.
What follows the Year of the Snake is something that very much excites me: the Year of the Horse. It's described as a shift forward. Think movement, independence, momentum. We lost the baggage we needed to in the Year of the Snake and now are ready for the best year of our lives. As a fashion person, I just couldn't help but wonder how can I apply this mindset to my shopping cart.
Shopping with Year of the Horse energy isn't about chasing what's new. It's about momentum and choosing pieces that earn their place in your closet. They're items that feel confident without being loud and are flexible enough to carry you across seasons. The goal isn't reinvention; it's forward motion built on thoughtful, intentional choices.
Before we start talking about the pieces I'm convinced have Year of the Horse energy, I wanted to share more about what Lunar New Year means to the community that has been celebrating it for their entire lives, not just when it's trending on social media. I spoke to four AAPI founders about what their Year of the Horse is looking like and thoroughly enjoyed hearing their answers. Read what they had to say below.
Amy Liu, founder of Tower 28 Beauty
What does the Year of the Horse traditionally represent to you, personally or culturally?
The horse represents vitality, luck, and momentum—all things we hope to invite into the new year. Lunar New Year is deeply rooted in tradition for our family. We clean the house and get haircuts before the New Year, donate extra things so there's no clutter, and we eat a lot—steamed fish, dumplings, and everything that brings wealth, health, and an auspicious new year.
The Year of the Snake is often associated with reflection and strategy, while the horse represents movement and momentum. How does that transition resonate with how you're approaching this year?
After a year of clearing space—physically and mentally—the Year of the Horse feels like a fresh start. It's about moving forward with intention, energy, and optimism, knowing we've created room for what's next.
What's one item you own that truly embodies movement and the Year of the Horse in your life?
My makeup bag. I've been traveling a lot recently, so it's always rotating through new products I'm testing, essentials I rely on daily, and my travel essentials. It reflects how my life looks right now: always evolving, moving forward, and adapting with intention.
Julie Chung, MD, eye surgeon and cofounder of T3
What does the Year of the Horse traditionally represent to you, personally or culturally?
To me, the horse represents optimism, momentum, and openness. As an Asian American, Lunar New Year is a meaningful opportunity to reconnect with traditions passed down through generations while also honoring how those traditions evolve in a new cultural context. The horse feels especially hopeful, a symbol of forward movement rooted in continuity.
The Year of the Snake is often associated with reflection and strategy, while the horse represents movement and momentum. How does that transition resonate with how you're approaching this year?
After a year marked by economic uncertainty and careful reflection, the transition into the Year of the Fire Horse feels energizing. It's a moment to look ahead with renewed confidence, embracing opportunity, community, and growth while staying grounded in intention.
What's one item you own that truly embodies movement and the Year of the Horse in your life?
My calendar. Between traveling for work, balancing time with family and friends, and cultivating community for T3 and beyond, it reflects how movement this year isn't just physical. It's about bringing people together, sharing culture, and creating momentum through connection.
Lillian Tung, cofounder and CMO of Fur
What does the Year of the Horse traditionally represent to you, personally or culturally?
The Year of the Horse represents energy, adventure, and forward motion. Lunar New Year has always been an intimate, family-centered holiday for us, one where tradition stays constant even as the world around it changes. The horse feels symbolic of that balance: honoring what grounds us while welcoming excitement and momentum for what's ahead.
The Year of the Snake is often associated with reflection and strategy, while the horse represents movement and momentum. How does that transition resonate with how you're approaching this year?
After a year of reflection, the horse feels like an invitation to lean into motion—to move with confidence and curiosity. It mirrors how I'm approaching this year personally and professionally: grounded in tradition but ready for more adventure and forward progress.
What's one item you own that truly embodies movement and the Year of the Horse in your life?
Our family dining table. It's where the eight-course Lunar New Year meal comes together, where traditions are passed on, and where generations move forward together. It's a constant in our lives, but it's always filled with motion, conversation, and celebration.
Rebecca Zhou, founder of Soft Services
What does the Year of the Horse traditionally represent to you, personally or culturally?
I was born in 1990, the Year of the Metal Horse, and I've always felt spiritually aligned with my zodiac. This year feels especially potent. The fire horse emerges from the Year of the Wood Snake, symbolically shedding what no longer serves us and running at full speed into what's next.
The Year of the Snake is often associated with reflection and strategy, while the horse represents movement and momentum. How does that transition resonate with how you're approaching this year?
The shift feels powerful. The wood snake asked us to shed what no longer serves us, while the fire horse arrives ready to move at full speed. This year feels like permission to act, to trust what's been learned and run forward without hesitation.
What's one item you own that truly embodies movement and the Year of the Horse in your life?
The calligraphy scrolls my uncle writes for our family each year. They're visual reminders of motion—brushstrokes capturing intention, progress, and blessing. They ground me while encouraging forward movement.
Now, shop the pieces that have Year of the Horse energy.
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The charm on this bag says it all.
Gucci Horsebit hardware will be your lucky charm this year.
The bag charm I'm convinced will get you major compliments.
This graphic tee couldn't have come out at a better time.
The perfect talisman to wear in honor of what 2026 could bring.
Consider a trench coat like this to be a workhorse in your wardrobe for 2026.
In case you didn't know, red is Lunar New Year approved.
How pretty is this?
This jacket was made for Lunar New Year… literally.
Horsebit everything, okay?
On placed flashes of red and gold into these sneakers for good luck ahead of the Lunar New Year.
Now this is perfection.
My ideal Lunar New Year attire.
A wardrobe workhorse indeed.
