Fashion Week

Asian models from fashion week

When Devon Aoki made her big debut into the fashion world, I questioned why? how? and again WHY? Sure, I was excited to finally see an Asian face in the fashion spreads but why, why in the world HER? I had non-model FRIENDS who were far prettier and taller than Devon all around me. Why did the fashion world choose and embrace Devon with her freckly round face, perma-frown and short stature (5’7” is nearly midget sized in the modeling world and only Kate Moss was able to get away with it still to this day). And here Devon was suddenly gracing the covers, walking the catwalks and gaining international fame all the while inadvertently representing Asian beauty for us all.

photo from listal.com

I likened Devon to Alek Wek another quizzical ethnic newbie on the fashion front. Both were loved for their untraditional beauty and extreme racial features. “Exotic” (I hate that word) is the euphemistic term I’d use to describe their quote unquote beauty. That’s why I get so excited whenever I see “real” Asian beauties grace the runways.

This year we had several noteworthy examples.Liu Wen, the first Asian to walk the famed Victoria’s Secret Runway is both tall (5’10”) and stunning.

photo by Jeffrey R. Staab

photo from imaxtree

photo: Tank

And who can forget Daul Kim,(photographed above) Karl Lagerfield’s muse and featured model in his Chanel videos.

Project Runway’s alum, Daniel Vosovic’s presentation during NY fashion week fall 2010 surprisingly showcased ONLY Asian models. With the exception of his runway show though, Asian models were scarce (not surprising).

At every fashion week that I attend, I always play a solitary, secret game of “Where’s Waldo” except instead of Waldo, I’m looking for the elusive Asian model. Though challenging, this game is usually short on fun ‘cuz usually after finding 1 girl, it is game over. Here are some of the girls I spotted throughout the week.

me with Hyoni (winner of Ford's Supermodel of the year)

photo from style.com

photo from Susan S. Choi

photo from style.com

photo from Susan S. Choi

photo from style.com

Apparently other people were playing this game and spotted other Asian faces on the NY runways too. Here’s a quantitative summary showing total number of shows each of the top Asian models walked this past Feb 2010:

Bibi S: 1
Bonnie Chen: 7
Carolyn Gao: 4
Charlene Almarvez: 11 [open: 1]
Daisuke Ueda: 1
Danni Li: 9
Daniel Liu: 1
Dinara Chetyrova: 6
Emma Pei: 8
Eugenia Mandzhieva: 9 [opened: 1, closed: 1]
Gwen Lu: 1
Hyoni Kang: 11 [opened: 1, closed: 1]
Irene Kim: 1
Jasmine Yan: 6
Jenny Shimizu: 1 [closed: 1]
Kiki Kang: 2
Lakshmi Menon: 6
Lela: 6
Liu Wen: 22
Liu Dan: 3
Noma Han: 2
Paula Kawanishi: 1
Philip Huang: 5
Ping Hue Cheung: 5
Selina Khan: 5
Shi-Han Hsiao: 3
Shu Pei: 23
Tao Okamoto: 23 [closed: 1]
Wang Xiao: 1

Who’s your favorite and why?

Mimkho recreates Von Trapp fashions

in Fashion, Fashion Week

I viewed a bunch of emerging designers this past fashion week, one that still stands out in my mind is Mimkho, a NY-based designer who reportedly looked to her Russian roots for inspiration. I had to wonder if she didn’t just steal from The Sound of Music instead. Wearing old world fabrics reminiscent of what you might find hanging over granny’s windows, Mimkho’s models marched militantly down the runway.

photos by Susan S. Choi

Given that the”1917 revolution, WWII, and the Communist Era” were themes that she explored, the model’s stomps and serious expressions were right in line.

New York Fashion Week: Goody Bag Memories

in Fashion, Fashion Week

Gone are the good ole’ days when fashion week meant a cabinet re-filled with fashionable freebies. Below is a sentimental sample of what one week of fashion shows USED to yield.

Yes, that’s DKNY branded champagne, and no free magazines weren’t included in this pictorial summary.

My favorite freebies were always the certificates for spa, restaurant and gym experiences.

FabCam -Japan Fashion Week in NYC

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Fashionistas from Japan Fashion Week in NYC (Soho Feb 18, 2010)

FabCam- NY Fashion Week

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Fashionistas flock to NY fashion week and use the Bryant Park tent walkways as their own personal runway. Here is just a glimpse of the glamour inside.

Annamaria Chen

Rachel Fabra

Rachel Wang

Crystal Renn

Leckie Roberts

Annie Lee

FabCam – NY Fashion Week

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Fur fabulousness inside the Bryant Park tents 2.17.10

Celebrity sightings at Kardashian Bebe show

in Fashion, Fashion Week

photo by Susan S. Choi

The grey hoodie dress hid the hair but it sure wasn’t hiding her badunkadunk. Though she stood at the opposite end of the room, I instantly recognized that famous bubble butt and knew the Kardashian knockout had arrived (late 35min. to her own Bebe show at that but she had ARRIVED!

photo by Susan S. Choi

“I’m wearing an outfit from our line. I think we just wanted stuff that was sexy and edgy and represented me Kourt and Khloé.” – Kim

Other celebrity sightings included fellow reality stars from “Housewives of NY”, “The Jersey Shore”, Jay Manuel and the petite ninja warriors from America’s Next Top Model.

“I think the show went really well. Everyone was so anticipating this line and you know it’s been a long morning of excitement. It’s always a big rush backstage and I’m just so glad that I was able to sit in the front row and enjoy the show and just see how the pieces fit on the models and you know, when they’re walking, the flow of it and you know it was such a great feeling to sit in the front row and know that these are my pieces that I’ve designed and um it’s really really a great feeling.” – Kim after the show

Here’s a video of Kim getting interviewed (it seems she’s not the best at using proper sentences). If you see the Asian girl wearing pink in front row, that’s me.

Jay Manuel at Kardashian Bebe runway show

in Fashion, Fashion Week

From the lack of attendance, it seemed the press wasn’t brave enough to scurry through the NY blizzard for Kim Kardashian’s Bebe fashion show. Scary weather means lots of empty front row seats for me to “have” to fill! Today, I sat opposite Jay Manuel from America’s Next Top Model and felt compelled to shoot him and his lovely Prada murse.

Here’s a video that features Jay getting interviewed (AND me and Susie sitting front row off to the right of the model’s entrance area!)

Here are some of the nicer looks from the show. Very Kim (i.e. short, tight-fitting, sexy and party – ready). Perfect partnership. Sitting across from Jay allowed me to capture both the fashions from a front-row view and Jay’s reactions to each and every look.

Goody Bags

in Fashion, Fashion Week

Bebe goody bag contents:

black tote bag ( I must have collected a hundred of these totes through the 10years of fashion weeks that I’ve attended)
Bebe perfume (uh can you say “re-gift?”)
sample of Kim Kardashian’s new perfume (smells great, sort of reminiscent of Tom Ford’s men’s cologne though)
Tigi Volumizing hair spray (awesome. I could use new hairspray)
coupon for Toni & Guy (in Hoboken NJ? yea right..)
heart shaped candies (couldn’t be cuter)
Pop chips (I’m so addicted to these, I went out and bought a big bag for me to munch on at home!) Brand managers, take note: product insertions into goody bags really DO work

Mimkho goody bag contents:

Russian chocolate bar and candies
after party invite (not attending)
buttons that I’ll never wear

(basically a very big bag for a whole ‘lotta nothing)

America’s Next Top Model – Petite Ninja Warriors

in Fashion, Fashion Week, MODELS

Tyra affectionately called her America’s Next Top (petite) Models the “Petite Ninja Warriors.” I call them simply cute. They made their front row appearance across from me this morning at the Kardashian Bebe show.