The inspiring documentary Dressed showcases a deeper side to the often shallow world of fashion. The movie is a compelling story of a young Asian American fashion designer, Nary Manivong, who defied the odds of a broken childhood and homelessness to reach his ultimate dream, a show of his collection during New York Fashion Week. Check out the trailer after the jump.
“I think all of us have an inner fashion diva that wants to come out.” — Soyon An
ISSUE: Winter 2010
DEPT: Personalities
STORY: Anna M. Park
Real Style
She’s won Emmys in 2009 and 2010 for costume design for the Fox reality show, So You Think You Can Dance. (She uses them as bookends in her library.) She custom designed wardrobe for Carrie Underwood’s “Play On” tour this past summer. She styles Jay Leno’s band on The Tonight Show, and edits fashion for the art publication Jimon Magazine. And now with the 10th season of American Idol kicking off this January, Soyon An will be back on that hit show, styling contestants like she has for the past two seasons.
From cult status as co-host of G4’s Attack of the Show, to prime-time star on NBC’s Perfect Couples and The Daily Show with Jon Stewart, modern day Wonder Woman Olivia Munn has transformed from geek goddess to the new thinking man’s woman.
ISSUE: Spring 2011
DEPT: Cover Feature
Photographer Emily Shur
Wardrobe Monica Schweiger, monicaschweiger.com
Styling assistant Victoria Collins
Hair Jonathan Hanousek for Exclusive Artists/Kerastase
Makeup Amy Oresman
Location Pete’s Studio, Los Angeles, CA
Story Janice Jann
I bid thee farewell Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week and its more than 100 designers who previewed their fall 2011 collections last week in New York City. Though I did not attend, I will always feel like fashion is a part in me that taps well beyond the ready-to-wear clothes on my back. Okay, I lied because these are thrift finds I’m wearing, but here are eclectic fall and wintry looks from a few Asian and AA designers that will drive any trendmonger mad. Next Fashion Week stop, London (with Ashish, J. JS Lee, and more)!
Courtesy of Getty Images
Get ready for Shanghai Tang‘s new collection for spring/summer 2011: Metamorphosis. This luxury lifestyle brand has a global presence with more than 40 boutiques around the world, located only in the most prestigious shopping districts. It is one of the most recognized Chinese brands around the world, selling their merchandise in metropolitan cities like New York, Beijing, London, Paris, Las Vegas, Dubai, and of course Hong Kong, where it was originally founded in 1994.
Shanghai Tang S/S 2011 campaign.
Hailee Steinfeld’s tour-de-force performance as Mattie Ross in the Coen brother’s highly-acclaimed True Grit this year proves that the 14-year-old is a an acting force to be reckoned with. Steinfeld, who’s father is Jewish and mother is of Filipino-African American descent, has been racking up awards all season long.
Her red carpet appearances indicate another thing: this teenager is also a fashion force to be reckoned with! Let’s check out some of Hailee’s hottest styles.
At the New York premiere of True Grit, Steinfeld perfectly dressed her age in bouncy waves and a sparkly mini.
Steinfeld channeled True Grit‘s western wear in this black Victorian-styled dress and booties. We’re not totally digging the fuzzballs though.
The actress showed true grit by pairing turquoise pumps with a plum-hued frock. Simple but classy!
We wish we looked like this when we were 14! A sleek shift matched her sleeker side ponytail and even though the former model is already 5’11,” she was still daring enough to go higher with black strappy platforms.
This nude one-shoulder gave Steinfeld a total goddess-y feel.
The Golden Globes nominee was the epitome of grace in a white gown and tight ponytail. Forget Black Swan, we want a white one!
We only have one complaint about Steinfeld’s recent Oscar nod — that she wasn’t nominated for Best Actress. (Steinfeld is in the Supporting category.) But we still can’t wait to see what the stylish star is going to don for the biggest night in Tinseltown. And we’re hoping she heads home that night with the best accessory of all, the golden statue.
Asians already don’t have much of a problem purchasing Louis Vuitton…everythings. (Bags, wallets, belts, shoes, hats, you name it, they’ve got it.)
But if they did, LV’s new ad will send them straight to the stores.
The luxury label has announced its first-ever Asian male face and what a fine face it is. Meet 25-year old Taiwanese model, Godfrey Gao who appears in the spring campaign toting a Damier Graphite “Elvis” messenger bag. With the scruffy chiseled chin, smoldering stare and sun-kissed complexion, Gao is sure to dispel any notion that toting a man-bag is anything less than manly.
We know, we know, you’re welcome for this image.
Thanks to the Shanghaiist for the tip.
Boy, did the stars shine bright at KoreAm Journal‘s Unforgettable gala — and 20th anniversary celebration! — last month. Audrey checks out some of the stylish studs that strutted down the red carpet.
JuJu Chang and her clan were adorable. Look at those matching smiles!
Singer Ameriie looked like an angel. Ameriie also presented an Unforgettable award to baseball great, Chan Ho Park.
Lovely Lindsay Price (a former Audrey cover girl) nearly missed the party. She thought the gala was held at the Century Plaza Hotel in Century City, not Park Plaza in downtown Los Angeles. Despite the tardiness, Price was still red carpet ready.
Nicole Bilderback’s saucy red number lit up the winter night. Loving her matching red lips too!
Grace Park is a goddess. But you already knew that.
Rockin’ sneaks with cool tux? Check. Effortlessly chic one shoulder cocktail dress? Check. Super cazch semi-prom pose? Check. I wish I was this stylish when I was a teen!
They may be in basic black but Lisa Ling’s dewy, to-die-for cheekbones keeps her and hubby Paul Song’s ensemble anything but boring.
With that steely stare and jawline, who cares what actor Tim Kang is wearing?
For more of Unforgettable 2010 photos from Mas Chae, Tada Chae and Eric Sueyoshi, check it out here!
In our Winter 2010-11 issue, we introduced you to Ruby Veridiano, writer, speaker, arts educator, media personality and founder of the Glamourbaby Diaries, a writing empowerment program for Asian American college women. Here, more of our conversation with Ruby.
Photo by Chaz Cruz.
Audrey Magazine: OK, give us the basics.
Ruby Veridiano: Filipina-Chinese American, 27, born in Manila, raised in Sacramento, and currently residing in New York City. I went to University of California Davis, majored in Sociology of World Development with minors in Asian American Studies and Communications.
AM: You’ve been conducting writing workshops called the Glamourbaby Diaries, thanks to a grant by Asian Women Giving Circle. What are these workshops about, who’s attending, and why are you holding them?
RV: The workshops are for young women ages 14-20. I designed it for Asian American women as a space for dialogue about issues that they face. However, it is open to all women of various backgrounds. Right now, I have a group of girls from different backgrounds attending, which is great because it allows us all to learn from each other, and build solidarity between different communities. I held these workshops because I wanted to create an empowering place where women can view positive Asian American female role models that stand for something.
I’m also in the midst of planning the Glamourbaby Diaries speaking tour in the Spring of 2011, taking this program and compacting it into a one day event. I am excited to share this program and dialogue with future female leaders all across the U.S. next year!
AM: What does “glamourbaby” mean to you? Why that name?
RV: Ah, the term “glamourbaby.” Well, let me tell you how it came about. My friend once taped me speaking, and I kept messing up with all of these bloopers. I think I kept spitting and sounded like I had a lisp! And then I said, “Ah man, well…it’s not all glamour, baby.”
And much like most of life, it isn’t all glamour. Especially when you’re striving towards a dream, the path towards anything worth fighting for is filled with obstacles. Moreover, as an activist, there’s nothing glamorous about the injustice you witness and the disparity that you become aware of. But it’s about fighting through the struggle, embracing adversity to let it serve as a lesson of humility and perseverance, and continuing to represent something beautiful for your community. The people I consider glamourbabies are those who represent truth, love, and hope. They are influential, purposeful, visionary. They set trends and but more importantly, they set goals. They are aware of their power to inspire and act.
Read more after the jump.
Ever spot one of those super-stylish trends, but don’t know how it could possibly ever go with anything in your closet? Our resident student-by-day, stylista-by-night shows us how to take these trends and make them work with our everyday wardrobe. Her first tackle: lace-up booties.
My new-found love: my vintage lace-up booties. They’re not only easy to match with, but they also give an edge to my casual outfits. Plus, they’re comfortable and not hard to walk in at all; I can be in them for hours. Mine are Jeffrey Campbell’s Loggins that I bought in Nordstrom. Here are some of my favorite looks to go with my booties:
My booties paired with, from left, khakis, distressed denim shorts, and cuffed jeans.
Neutrals
Neutrals is another trend that’s been around for a while. When people want to wear pants for a casual look, they usually go for jeans. But I say try khaki; it gives you a more laid-back, relaxed feel. I paired my khaki pants with a white tank-top and a cropped vest.
Pants from Mango, tank-top from boutique in Hong Kong, vest from London Jean through Victoria’s Secret.
Distressed Denim Shorts
Since my booties are kind of vintage, I like to stick to the theme and match them with my distressed denim shorts. My legs aren’t long so my shorts tend to be really short. The booties already cut off a section of your legs that can be seen, so stay away from longer shorts or capris because they will give the illusion of short legs and you don’t want that! For my top, I wore a loose vest and a thin cardigan.
Shorts from boutique in Hong Kong, tank-top from Mango, cardigan from Bershka, belt from Esprit.
Cuffed Jeans
The typical way to wear denim with boots is to tuck them in, but cuffing them slightly can make your look more casual. The boots will stand out more especially if the color of your denim is similar to the color of your boots. To spice up my look, I went for a knit off-shoulder top.
Jeans from Bershka, knit-top from ArdenB.
Knee-High/Over-the-Knee Socks
Another trendy way to wear your booties is with knee-high or over-the-knee socks. They go well with mid-thigh skirts. For the winter, try woolen skirts. The ones pictured here are all from ASOS.
We’ve also compiled some of our favorite lace-up heeled booties that you can find online!
