Lisa N. Hoang to Debut S/S 17 Collection at Skylight Clarkson
Lisa N. Hoang is an emerging designer with some big ideas. “Sustainability” is an important aspect to her vision, and — just to make things more fun — her collection will be available for purchase at Nineteenth Amendment immediately following the show.
The women’s ready-to-wear staple collection, “The Debutante,” will take place at 2 PM, September 9th, at Skylight Clarkson Sq., and will feature romantic detailing with day-to-night transitional pieces.
“LNH is taking a new approach to couture fashion and sustainability by creating a fluid collection,” says Hoang. “Wear one smart style during the day, and then layer another piece at night for a fresh look, thereby increasing wearability while decreasing the impact on landfills.”
A California native, and current North Carolina State fashion textiles and design student, Lisa N. Hoang’s NYFW debut is sponsored in part by Kenneth Shuler School of Cosmetology and produced by IMG and LDJ Productions.
Lisa N. Hoang previously showed her emerging designer collection at Charleston Fashion Week 2016 as a top-featured designer. Attendees included NYFW creator and international consultant Fern Mallis, and designers Cadet, Creatures of the Wind, and Tracy Reese, to name a few.
The collection will be available on a “see now, buy now” basis, for order through Macy’s emerging designer partners Nineteenth Amendment immediately following the show.
The inspiring story of Reshma, acid attack survivor
Reshma, a 19-year-old Indian girl, survived an acid attack. Now she’ll be making modeling debut at FTL Moda during New York Fashion Week, and her journey will be in a new documentary, with the help of you and Kickstarter.
Two years, ago when she was just 17, Reshma Qureshi’s brother-in-law attacked her with acid. Reshma was seriously disfigured and lost her left eye. With the help of Ria Sharma, founder of the volunteer network Make Love Not Scars, Reshma found the courage to fight and speak out for all women who are victims of acid attacks.
Reshma found the courage to speak out for all women who are victims of acid attacks.
In India there are about 1,000 acid attacks every year. Make Love Not Scars aims to help the victims and to create awareness in order to stop the sale of acid.
Reshma has now been invited to walk her first fashion show at New York Fashion Week in September 2016 by NYFW producers FTL Moda.
Reshma has now been invited to walk at New York Fashion Week in September 2016.
Reshma has never been outside of India. She will officially debut as a model on the 8th of September. It will be an incredible adventure.
The Documentary Project
Now team of award-winning, young professionals want to tell Reshma’s story. The producers say: “We believe it should be told. It’s powerful and inspiring. It’s a story about courage, love, and most of all, hope. That’s why we decided to make a documentary film about it.
“The documentary RESHMA will follow her week in New York. Throughout the whole documentary, her narrating voice will share her thoughts, memories and dreams with us.”
Find out more — and how you can help — at their Kickstarter page.
Willow Smith in a tattoo choker, very much a nineties lookDon’t worry, in spite of what you may think, the choker isn’t a ’90s nightmare, come to entrap our necks yet again — mainly because it’s not an accessory from the ’90s. The controversial neckpiece (you either love or hate the trend, it seems) originates further back in history than a mere twenty-or-so years.
Mesopotamians and Ancient Egyptians were the first to don the iconic pieces — though obviously not of the plastic tattoo variety. Worn pragmatically, as protection for the neck, as well as as a symbol of power and status, the choker has been around the fashion cycle and back many times. Chokers encompass multiple cultures, demographics, and time periods, making them an exceedingly interesting piece of jewelry to investigate.
Ancient Egyptian Choker (via MFA.org)
During the Renaissance, chokers made a comeback as a stylistic choice for higher class citizens and, later, they were popular during the 1700s in Europe. As time went on, the manner in which one wore a choker could mean multiple things. Commoners wore red ribbons for countrymen who were victim of the guillotine and, by the 1800s, a single black ribbon around the neck meant prostitution. Thus, a strange clash between higher class and conventionally “virtuous” women and lower-class women emerged as the accessory evolved.
Commoners wore red ribbons for countrymen who were victim of the guillotine.
Scandal regarding the appearance of chokers in art burst forth, especially when Degas’ paintings of ballerinas often featured the scandalous black ribbon.
L’Étoile by Edgar Degas
Degas’ paintings of ballerinas often featured the scandalous black ribbon.
However, the most influential woman to wear a choker was Queen Alexandra of Denmark in the mid to late 1800s, who brought the popularity of chokers to a boil. As a long-standing royal and, finally, a queen, her influence in fashion made the choker a popular neckpiece. She was often seen wearing elaborate chokers.
Alexandra of Denmark
Not all chokers at the time were decorative; as usual, the choker often had a function. Wearing the pieces for more than a show of power (though that, in itself, is an excellent reason to don one), Germans and Austrians wore “goiter chokers” called Kropfkettes, between 1840 and 1870 to hide less-than-attractive bumps on their neck due to iodine deficiencies. While beautiful, they were an example of womanly innovation when faced with physical issues, much like the imaginative scarf wrappings of cancer patients.
This is a Kropfkette that Austians and Germans wore circa 1840-1870 to hide lumps on their necks from iodine deficiencies. (c) Victoria and Albert Museum, London
In the 1920s a resurgence of the choker began once more with Art Déco fervor. Most notably, master glass designer René Lalique created dreamy and complicated pieces, a breathtaking collection of chokers now spread amongst museums. One can imagine the liberated women of the Lost Generation feeling powerful when wearing their chokers with their daring bob haircuts.
’20s icon Josephine Baker wearing a choker
Finally the choker as we know it best made a comeback in the ’90s, where it graced the necks of goth queens, high schools rebels, and young girls looking to follow the trend. Drew Barrymore, Winona Ryder, Britney Spears, and anyone else in the spotlight were seen wearing chokers, inspiring envy.
The choker is back now, but they’re not quite like the chokers we’ve seen in the ’90s. Instead, they echo the history of the choker; its tribal beginnings, its ribbon promiscuity, and its tattoo-rainbowed joy. Many contemporary designers are now crafting stunning choker necklaces collections that pay homage to this rich heritage while incorporating modern twists and materials. It is as much of a rebellious accessory as it ever was, encircling the necks of influential and powerful women everywhere. The choker is not simply a trend cycling back; it is a testament to an ideal, to the woman who ought to intimidate you.
A beautiful warning sign that you’re dealing with feminine ferocity.
The choker is back now, but this time they echo the history of the choker.
René Lalique, 1906-08. France. Via Calouste Gulbenkian Museum, Lisbon.
(Photo: Brad Triffitt) Beauty is only skin deep. Except — we suppose — for beauty of the soul. So, we guess you could say skin-deep beauty, specifically, is really only skin deep. Unless you have both kinds, in which case: um, that’s a lot of beauty. But we digress. Fortunately, you won’t have to pick apart semantics at the new Fashion Week Beauty Lounge, by Next Artists in conjunction with Fashion Week Online and FTL Moda.
The lounge will be held at FTL Moda’s NYFW venue, Space 404. There will be beauty products, beautiful people (inside and out), and lots of gifts and fun to leave you feeling great for the rest of the day, week, month … maybe beyond.
No invite? No problem! We’ll be bringing you LIVE, exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage of the Next Artists / FWO Beauty Lounge, with Next’s top models, celebrity hair stylists and makeup artists, and VIP guests of New York Fashion Week.
We’ll be bringing you LIVE, exclusive behind-the-scenes coverage.
Next Artists — a division of Next Models — is, of course, part of the legendary talent agency founded in 1989 by Faith Kates with Joel Wilkenfeld. They’ve represented an incredible range of talent over the years: everyone from Alexa Chung and Alice Dellal, to Jessica Alba, Lana del Rey, Suki Waterhouse, and many others.
I always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer,” says Angelys Balek, “but it was always important for me to create each piece of clothing as a work of art.” And her dreams have come true — as a trained painter and a visual artist at heart, Balek’s designs look just as stunning on clothing as they would on the walls of a museum.
IVY, the world’s first ‘Social University,’ will feature Balek’s Spring | Summer 2017 line in a special Fashion Week presentation at the High Line Hotel hosted by Miss USA 2015, Olivia Jordan.
Balek, who grew up in Thailand and studied design in London, has earned international recognition for her innovative synthesis of fine arts illustration and fashion-forward design. In 2013, she was nominated as a finalist in WGSN’s Global Fashion Awards, reflecting the breakout success she has since garnered. Her work has been featured in fashion publications including WWD, Marie Claire, Elle, Lucky, and Harper’s Bazaar, and she continues to build a red-carpet clientele of Hollywood’s leading stars.
Schooled originally as a painter, Balek won’t compromise when it comes to combining her crafts, holding fashion to the standards of contemporary painting practices. She incorporates her original artwork into a complex process of manipulating fabric and texture to create nothing less than ‘wearable art.’ And her jet-setting lifestyle (Balek maintains a flagship store in Bangkok and production in New York) is echoed in her designs, which draw upon both eastern and western influences to achieve a universally striking aesthetic.
IVY’s upcoming presentation with Balek will feature models tastefully showcasing her work for IVY members, VIPs, press, and fashion influencers. In anticipation of this special event, we sat down with Balek for an inside look at her process, perspective, and plans for the future.
Q: Was there a designer or artist who inspired you most to become an artist-designer yourself?
It’s hard to choose just one designer that inspired me, to be honest. I grew up completely enamored with fashion, spending any free time I had looking at fashion magazines and studying the colors, textures, and styling of the looks in the editorials. That inspired my own imagination and prompted me to start drawing and painting on my own. I always dreamed of becoming a fashion designer, but it was always important for me to create each piece of clothing as a work of art — I love to paint in a more abstract style and it only seemed natural to use my own paintings and art as the basis for my designs.
It was always important for me to create each piece of clothing as a work of art.
Q: Can you describe the “Angelys Balek woman”?
The Angelys Balek woman is a strong, empowered female who can freely celebrate her individuality, always confident in her self expression. She is feminine and playful, yet also artistic and bold. We aim to mirror that tenacity with our one-of-a-kind prints, designed to make women feel beautiful but still comfortable.
The Angelys Balek woman is a strong, empowered female.
Q: What would you say differentiates your designs from other designers?
I am a fine artist — my prints, embroidery, and shapes all manifest inside me first and in the form of abstract fine art before being transferred to our fabrics, which I don’t think many designers do these days. My prints tend to be more complex to execute on clothing because, like my paintings, there are layers and layers that build the final result. My work is very personal and I love that many of our clients really understand this and choose to wear our designs for that reason — they feel connected to the pieces.
My work is very personal.
Q: What have been the most difficult challenges you’ve faced?
One of the most difficult challenges we’ve faced as a company is growing our brand over the years and having the patience to wait for it to truly become recognized in the market. Additionally, coming up with the original artwork that will serve as the basis of the prints season-after-season, as well as executing the final product to my standards can be challenging, but that’s also fun and exciting at the same time.
Q: What has been your proudest moment or a time you were particularly excited about someone wearing your designs?
I think with each collection that is completed, I reach a new proud moment so really seeing the brand evolve and my vision come to life season-after-season is the most rewarding part of what we do. Hopefully, after my first show during New York Fashion Week I will reach my next proud moment as showing the collection to so many people at once in such a fantastic setting has always been a dream of mine.
Q: What do you believe in that you don’t think everyone else does?
That’s a tough question as it’s hard to know what anyone else believes in, however, I believe in my artistic process and the fact that I can push myself to be a better designer with each season. I think as a designer, your job is never really done.
Q: What is the one idea that you want to impart to everyone in the world or impact you’d like to leave as a legacy?
Develop your own design aesthetic and sense of branding. Focus on your vision no matter what might shake your passion along the way. Celebrate your core values and unique point of view.
Celebrate your core values and unique point of view.
Q: What do you aspire to do next with your brand?
It’s been exciting to grow our company into a true global luxury lifestyle brand that offers products across many categories including ready-to-wear, swimwear, and accessories. We hope to expand more in the swimwear and accessories categories globally, as well as explore other products that would work well with our original prints.
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IVY is the world’s first Social University, dedicated to education and inspiring the next generation of leaders. To join IVY, please visit ivy.com.
Since September 2013 during London Fashion Week, the Lady K Production team has bought international designers to the forefront.
Now in its second year, House of iKons gives a platform to designers around the world, helping them reach media, press, buyers, high profiled clients, and joining forces with Fashion One TV, giving global coverage to designers to 100 million viewers worldwide in more than 120 countries. House of iKons
They’ve aligned themselves with London Fashion Week biannually, celebrating the 40th anniversary of The Prince’s Trust. Being appointed as one of The Trust’s ambassadors, CEO Savita Kaye of House of iKons is not just raising funds through her fashion shows, but proactively fundraising with The Trust — and most importantly — highlighting this royal charity’s work with young people.
In addition, House of iKons shows have taken place in Los Angeles, Beijing, Dubai, and Abu Dhabi.
For February 2016, more international designers — from as far as China and LA, to up-and-coming British designers — graced the catwalk. The last fashion week show was a huge success; 14 designers under one roof in one day did not just exhibit couture from around the world, but sold and furthered celebrity endorsements.
Designers have been signed to departments stores around the world, and are working with major celebrities such as JLo, Katy Perry, Lady Gaga, Paris Hilton, Britney Spears, and Tyra Banks, to name but a few.
House of iKons hwas created as platform to launch emerging designers to the next level. Models and presenters who have taken part with the House of iKons shows here in London, Dubai and Los Angeles have also benefited, working in TV, film, and hosting their own TV shows in Hollywood.
This September, House of iKons will pay tribute to one of the biggest iKonic music legends the world has loved, experienced and lost … PRINCE. BritRox on Sky TV will be airing the show to 400 million viewers worldwide in over 76 countries.
Sponsored by KSAVI, HoD, Maria Golfinopoulou, and Beauti-fly. Afternoon
Opening of afternoon show: Prince Tribute by House of iKons team
DESIGNERS
1. Lisa Jayne Millinery (Grand Opening)
2. C-Atomic by Geeta Handa
3. Gabriella Gambetta
4. YEN
5. Ann-Celeste London
6. Links by Gwen
7. I love Four Seasons by Emilia Walls
8. FFolaji London
9. Kyree Forrest
10. Reka Orosz (Grand Finale)
Music entertainment by CANDENCE Evening
Opening of evening show: Prince Tribute by House of iKons team
DESIGNERS
1. Yama (Grand Opening)
2. Forever Devine
3. Shaleena Nowbuth
4. House of Maya
5. Rocky Gathercole
6. Raffealla
7. Boastie of London
8. Haus of MoHawk
9. Sajda by Suman
10. Mitch Desunia (Grand Finale)
Celebrity athletes are quickly becoming some of our most visible style icons. (See FWO writer Claire Stemen’s analysis of the NBA draft.) SI’s Sports Style Swipe gives us a look at how well they are — or aren’t — scoring big in the arena of style.
Celebrity athletes are quickly becoming our most visible style icons.
They start by taking a look at some of the style choices of Cam Newton of the Carolina Panthers (whose outfit our publisher thinks is actually a pretty rad, but YMMV), Rob Gronkowski of the New England Patriots, and Deandre Hopkins of the Houston Texans.
Alexa Chung Has a New Line Coming. What Will It Look Like?
(Photo: Brandon Clark/ABImages for Neiman Marcus)Model turned style icon Alexa Chung is starting her own fashion line. Cue the madness. Chung has been increasingly popular over the years, her signature cat-eye and quirky style — with that perfectly-mussed hair — sending most fans into a frenzy to capture her “je ne sais quoi.”
What would an Alexa-led line even look like?
With collaborations with Eyeko, Madewell, AG Jeans, Marks & Spencer, and Superga under her belt (they were riotous successes), we have only a taste of what Alexa can do.
I propose a set of predictions, then, in light of previous style choices and consistent Alexa Chung trends:
1. A dash of menswear.
This is Alexa’s calling card: menswear inspiration. Trousers, button-down blouses, and boyish shapes make up the sea of ensembles that Alexa is known for. I would be shocked to find anything less than that signature lean towards menswear. If it’s a collection of 1950s Dior “New Look” restored, I don’t know what I’ll do.
Despite usually favoring boyish or androgynous pieces, there’s always a sneaky ruffled shirt or Peter Pan collar in Alexa’s repertoire. One day she’s got a classic “le smoking,” and the next it’s a glittering ball gown. I feel I can safely count on some mini dresses and ruffles.
There’s always a sneaky ruffled shirt in Alexa’s repertoire.
3. Something childhood affiliated that somehow we all relate to.
In her collaboration with Marks & Spencer, Alexa created “The Edna Shirt,” which was apparently created since it is “reminiscent of Alexa’s childhood painting apron.” The story itself is personal and cool — plus, we all had a giant shirt from our early days. Another wonderful anecdote — and a subsequent piece — is something I’m hoping to see, and then promptly sigh nostalgically at.
“Jumper,” meaning a nice pullover sweater in America. There’s a story about a navy-colored jumper from an ex-boyfriend in her fabulous book It, which pretty much convinces us that we all need one … now. And — because not everyone can date a man with fabulous navy jumpers — let’s hope Alexa makes one. Just for us!
Okay, “dungarees,” if I’m sticking with the British-English terms. We all thought overalls were so lame. Then Alexa wore overalls and suddenly there are overalls in my closet. Alexa is the queen of this tricky look — it’s all about the fit, and I know I’m too lazy to dig through the mire of on-trend overalls to find the Chung-iest. What with her AG Jeans collaboration, we saw overalls shorts, skirts, and full-length pants combos. What else will she do? Overall-maxi dresses? Overalls with overalls for your knees? The possibilities are endless.
We all thought overalls were so lame. Then Alexa wore overalls.
Neiman Marcus presents Alexa Chung for AG Personal Appearance on January 22, 2015 in Beverly Hills, California (Photo: Brandon Clark/ABImages) / Via http://blog.neimanmarcus.com
6. A phrase on a shirt that we never knew we needed.
Sacred monster. J’ai du vague à l’âme. (“My soul is in the waves.”) Things you want imprinted across your chest, so that people raise an eyebrow in confusion. Alexa always has the coolest phrases on her shirts and sweatshirts. No amount of digging through thrift store boxes will satisfy my envy. A few suggestions for phrases: J’ai mal à la tête. Slippery Boulder.
You know that white t-shirt you’ve been searching for from the beginning of time? The one that wouldn’t be too thin and sheer, or too long, or too short? I’m not sure it exists, even after digging through my boyfriend’s affects. I am, however, fairly suspicious that Alexa has such blueprints.
Hats are difficult to pull off. They’re statements and draw plenty of attention, so wearing them becomes a nervous operation. Alexa wears hats that were cool fifty years ago, or were a common sight on newspaper boys.
It all started in February; I was invited by close colleague and celebrity stylist Jen Abraham to a Style Fashion Week show by a designer named Corey Woods. Always a steadfast supporter of anything Jen is involved in, I accepted the invitation and made plans to be there. The night of the show, I had a full schedule and didn’t think I could make it in time. Fortunately I did, and that’s when YEROC sunglasses first entered my fashion vision.
The show was well-curated, with all-white garments to allow for the construction, color palette, and overall look of the sunglasses to be appreciated. I saw some that immediately caught my eye and made a note to ask Jen to introduce me to Corey. She did — although it was a brief meeting due to the hectic montage that is backstage. Jen did manage to give me two pairs to see if they worked.
Chris Collie wears Yeroc shades
A few days pass, and it’s a cold but sunny day in New York, so I decided to wear one pair of the shades — the Ice Colter editions. I turned on my camera to snap a shameless selfie to see how they looked, which I then decided to post on Instagram. Immediately a stream of likes came in, then direct messages asking where could they buy them, followed by more comments. Needless to say, those sunglasses became my new favorites. I loved the fact the frames were outlined in clear see-through sheer white, and how the shape of the lenses fit the frame of my face.
Immediately a stream of Instagram “likes” came in.
Fast forward to present day, when I was invited to the SS17 launch of his new HANGAR collection, in a private location in Midtown. Arriving in time to see the models walking off and Corey taking his walk down the runway, it was time to see the sunglasses up-close backstage.
The HANGAR collection impressed me with the unique framework of the sunglasses coupled with the detailed intricacy of the lenses’ shapes and colors. I kept my eye on three particular pairs of shades that I felt represented the excitement of this new collection. Having been seen on countless celebrities such as Beyoncé, Rihanna, Kim Kardashian, Pitbull — and the list goes on — I was honored when he told me, “Chris, take whichever ones you want.”
At that moment, it made me even happier for his success. Even though he’s been on A-listers, he hasn’t forgotten the true fans of his sunglasses. The launch event was filled with a “who’s who” of different industries, such as Fatima Ptacek who is the voice of the world-known Dora the Explorer. The diverse attendees only further lent truth to the notion that these glasses were resonating with people from all walks of life.
The next day, I chose which of the three new pairs of shades I wanted to wear for a bright sunny summer day — like a child who can’t wait to take his new toy outside. The reactions continued to increase.
During Corey Wood’s SS17 show, I had a chance to catch up with him and ask a few questions to dig deeper into the creative process: how the collection came to be, and his take on fashion overall.
Q: How does this collection differ from your previous ones?
Of all the multimodal, multifarious forms of my previous collections, my current HANGAR collection is by far the most delicate. There is a metaphorical message braided in each one of my collections. In the instance of this one, levitation and elevation are explored. Therefore, I infused those elements into the physical construction of the eyewear. The HANGAR collection is comprised of hanger-like wiring balanced with brilliant metalloid foils.
In HANGAR, levitation and elevation are explored.
The physical hanger is a utilitarian staple in our wardrobes; it literally holds organizes and preserves our fabric adornments. Hangars harbor airplanes and private jets. Since I am uplifting and elevating people to a whole new aerial-like dimension of eyewear — a new vision; a greater overarching sight, while combining those airy physical elements in conjunction with the lightweight thinness of an actual hanger — I have aptly named it the HANGAR collection.
Q: What do you think resonates with celebrities to make them gravitate toward your brand?
Fashion has always been a visual demonstration of your imagination.
Hence, my aphorism, “Standing out is a natural consequence of being an icon.” To be iconic is to be the human embodiment of a lightning bolt; a powerful physical exclamation point that makes an unforgettable and impressionable statement. My celebrity clientele express to me in a plethora of dialects one irrevocable point: “I can be fashion-forward in your eyewear.” I am forever grateful to have so many of them in my life at the forefront, championing my brand.
I am forever grateful for my celebrity clientele.
Q: How do you see the accessories market evolving in the next five years?
The evolution of the accessories market will rival clothing in the forthcoming five years. I predict seasons of pieces so histrionic they will overpower the ensemble itself, leaving you to ponder the irreversibility of the accessory.
The creation of YEROC transcends the physical matter of the actual eyewear; it is a physical, static symbol of my vision for an enhanced, sharper future. That vision will continue to propel me to design pieces that will not dissolve in the trends of time, but sustain and withstand through actual time. The big picture of Corey Woods is a limitless puzzle; in which I create worlds within worlds, piece by piece.
Q: How did you decide fashion was your path while holding two masters in other fields?
I was born a creator.
Ever since I could think, I have been constructing things in my mind with the thought of physically executing these things. The pursuit and attainment of higher education has quenched my aridity for knowledge. I am an eclectic individual, whose mind is equipped with a multivariate palette. Art has always been a cornerstone of my life, from the onset as a very young child. I am still that boy with the deluxe box of Crayola colored pencils, except now my hand is much more deft, and dexterously skilled.
Q: Do you feel you are reaching your immediate goals within fashion?
Goals are never-ending. The majestic and encrusted jeweled road to fashion is an endless path. I am fortunate to be traversing this tantalizing highway of heightened high-fashion and visualized physical imagery in a world that I am proud to call my own; a world that I can now view through the lens of my YEROC glass.
Lisa N. Hoang is an emerging designer with some big ideas. “Sustainability” is an important aspect to her vision, and — just to make things more fun — her collection will be available for purchase at Nineteenth Amendment immediately following the show.
Of all the multimodal, multifarious forms of my previous collections, my current HANGAR collection is by far the most delicate. There is a metaphorical message braided in each one of my collections. In the instance of this one, levitation and elevation are explored. Therefore, I infused those elements into the physical construction of the eyewear. The HANGAR collection is comprised of hanger-like wiring balanced with brilliant metalloid foils.
