Oriana Sun definitely knows a little something about love and maybe even more about the perfect date night look. As a vibrant social media personality, Oriana is known for her spontaneous TikTok street interviews and spot-on taste in style. While her forward take on fashion is nothing new for the Milan-based Chinese influencer, her engagement to Italian fiancèe Niccolò Pocchini puts an extra spark of love in the air for this year’s Qixi festival, a celebration rooted in the ancient Chinese love story of a goddess and a human. In preparation for her upcoming wedding, we sat down with Oriana to talk all things love, fashion and the enticing beauty of intercultural relationships.
You have been doing street interviews on TikTok since 2021, the earliest renditions showcase subjects’ best model walks and ask them to describe their ideal girlfriend/boyfriend. What inspired you to ask people this?
Although the content of my social media is about fashion, my intention is to show the attitude of young people towards life, so I’m often interested in young people’s attitudes and thoughts towards love. Although it may seem a bit “gossip”, it is indeed a topic that many people are concerned about nowadays.
What’s the best thing about being in love in Milan?
Freedom – no one will judge you. I can get the utmost respect which is what I lacked when I lived in other countries. People are diverse and so are their choices. In Milan, even if I walk around with a boyfriend my grandfather’s age, no one will look at me strangely. In Milan, I just love and enjoy myself!
How did you fall in love, and when did you know Niccolò, your fiancee, was the man you would marry?
Oriana： We met on Tinder (special thanks to Tinder, hahaha), which is a very modern way of meeting people. I dated different guys before I met him, but all ended in failure. Just like most young men on Tinder, I didn’t fall in love with him at first sight after I met him offline, but I was attracted to him because of his personality. I have never met a guy who is so energetic, polite and smart. But it wasn’t love, it was his special personality that made me want to know him better. Of course, it was partly due to the fact that he was chasing me so hard (he had a good eye). We had just been dating for a week when he carefully asked me:” Are you my fidanzata (girlfriend) now?”, which shocked me a lot. In Italy or in foreign relationship cultures you have to date for a long time before confirming a girlfriend so seriously. I answered: ” What? （with a face of confusion）……we’ll see”. In general, I’m a rational person. I will definitely try everything before getting married. Then the epidemic came, so we decided to live together. I moved into his house and later we raised our cat son Jiojio together. Gradually, I found that living together is very harmonious and he is a very reliable person – a person who could be considered for marriage. Although we are both fiery Aries, in my outbursts, he was calm and optimistic to appease me, in his outbursts, I was the same to appease him. Of course, we also have quarrels, but we always calm down right afterward, without overnight hatred or coldness. Moreover, he always encourages me, supports me and gives me the greatest affirmation, which always makes me confident and makes my work and life better and smoother. I’m a person who clearly knows what kind of partner I need, I know what kind of person is suitable for me, and I’m basically sure that if I miss out on him, I will never meet such a suitable person in my life! So I realized that the man for me had finally arrived…
Niccolò： Just a couple of weeks after our first date, we decided to take some days off together in the south of France in the area between Menton and Monaco. We had some of the most relaxing and beautiful moments together, enjoying hiking and walking along the Promenade le Corbusier, an area facing the Mediterranean Sea very well known for its charming atmosphere, flavors, and skyline. There I took to Oriana to dive, and underwater I caught her a beautiful red starfish. We were underwater together and – it was her first dive – she looked into my eyes (as much as possible while underwater), full of emotion and joy. It really touched my heart, and here we are today haha!
If your love story was a book, what would the title be?
Oriana: “The Man in the Life” or “The Fate”， hahaha, it is old but very suitable.
Niccolò： “History of a saint; Oriana Sun and her partner the restless Maestro Pocchini”.
How do you combine the Chinese and Italian cultures in your relationship? What is your favorite part of Italian culture and your partner’s favorite part of Chinese culture?
Oriana： First of all, I’m glad that my fiancée is a very open-minded person who loves and is willing to accept different cultures, so we don’t have a problem integrating. We often travel in China and Italy, particularly to some niche cities, in order to get into the real life of the locals and experience the most local way of life of the two different cultures. We also share with each other the hottest topics of the moment in our respective countries. I love the culture of the old Italian fashion houses, their exquisite attitude towards dressing and the elegance in every gesture. Niccolò’s father, who is always very particular about his outfit, even now at almost 80 years old, still wears suits of various colors every day. He is such a gentleman.
Niccolò： Contrary to common perception, Chinese and Italian cultures are similar in many ways. Both Oriana and I are skilled hobby cooks for example, so the cross between the two culinary traditions was the first knot that tied us together.
Italy is the history, China is the future. Cities such as Chongqing, and Shenzhen, besides the obvious Shangai and Beijing, are the most steampunk oniric trips you can do while traveling! Robotaxis, food and services 24/7, 350 mt skyscrapers over small villages, chaotic clubs, amazing historical spots known to few outside China (I visited several and they can challenge some of the 7 wonders of the world), give a full immersion into a world that travels at the speed of 100km/h all the time which is quite thrilling. I consider myself lucky to know how China is in reality, and I’m guessing the world will start visiting and discovering this incredible country in the next three to five years, as commonly as it is now to visit Japan. Going to China means discovering how Europe might be in 20 years.
How have your celebrations of the Qixi festival changed from when you were a child to the present day in Milan?
When I was young, I liked some superficial rituals, such as sending roses, but I don’t really like roses, I wanted to have them only because everyone else did, but now I care more about what I truly like in my heart. Qixi Festival is not limited to traditional forms, it can be a favorite meal of my hometown’s northeast (Chinese) cuisine, a glass of wine at home, or a robot vacuum cleaner（which I really need it right now, hahaha).
What does your perfect Qixi date night look like, and how do you choose the right look?
When it comes to evening wear for Qixi, the first thing that comes to my mind is red, because red is a very representative Chinese color, it’s both traditional and passionate, and it’s also very similar to my personality. So my Qixi outlook must be bright red! But I will also have some black and white with it. This way it won’t look too much, and it will keep the elegant and generous temperament that red brings, and the style can also accentuate the body lines, full of restrained sexiness.
Do you have any current date night plans?
Coincidentally, this year’s Qixi happens to be my good friend’s wedding, so on the evening of Qixi we should be celebrating with friends, which is the so-called double happiness. My dress is just perfect, it fits the theme of Qixi and is very suitable for attending a wedding party. Perfect!
You’ll be getting married in China at the end of August. How did you decide on the date and location?
We will hold our wedding in China and Italy respectively. This August, we will hold a wedding in my hometown Tieling in Northeast China, and then hold a wedding party in Italy next year. We chose August for our wedding in China because it happened to be a national holiday in Italy. Our Italian friends could come to China to attend our wedding and visit China at the same time. I wish more people would come to China to see its thousand years of culture, its speed of development and my hometown which I’ve always been so proud of because there are still a few stereotypes of China abroad. Although it will be tiring to hold weddings in both places, we want our relatives and friends to feel our happiness – no one should be left out!
What are you looking forward to the most about your upcoming wedding?
Oriana： I’m looking forward to everything! I think a wedding is a great opportunity to bring together friends who are usually hard to see! For me, it should be more of a grand party rather than a ceremony to show to others. In China, due to parents’ urging to get married, weddings sometimes become a ceremony to show off. So I want to get rid of the burden of modern Chinese weddings and make it more of a joyful experience for friends and family. I think Italian weddings are very good in this respect, everyone can have fun and enjoy themselves at the wedding, which I think it’s the meaning of the wedding. So our wedding will keep the traditional part of a Chinese wedding and combine it with Western style. In the two days after the wedding, we will also take friends to local places so that everyone can have fun!
Niccolò：I’m most excited to marry my love Xiaoya Oriana! Aside from this, we organized a huge fireworks show at the ceremony and I’m the first to be curious to see it!
Cheers from Milan <3
Photographer: Bianca Venturelli & LuLu
Special thanks to Oriana Sun and Niccolò
