Sung Kang pitches JUMP shoes

Asian American collabo at its finest. This collabo involves actor Sung Kang, fashion shop JUMP, the crew from Arowana Films, and online retailer Zappos.com.

Sung Kang was hired as the spokesperson for JUMP shoes's Fall/Winter 2008 campaign. A bunch of print ads were created with Sung Kang wearing the stylish shoes (like the one above). Adding to the print campaign is a series of six short films shot by Arowana Films (the guys behind the some of the music videos for Far East Movement, Jin, and Lyrics Born). You can see part of the JUMP short film series below.

Since JUMP is selling shoes, who are you going to work with online? JUMP partnered with Zappos for their online shop to utilize Zappos' reputation of impeccable customer service and fulfillment capabilities.

Here's one of the most popular JUMP styles - Cosmic

Buy the JUMP Cosmic Shoe

Sneaker Deluxe

Indie Exec

Officer Couture




More on JUMP
Jump has built an impressive global presence in over 30 countries from its beginnings in Taiwan. It was there that the Chen family established the brand in 1975. The brand gained popularity in the mid 90s when Chinese celebrities, shopping at Mirabell, Hong Kong’s largest footwear chain, began discovering Jump’s sporty take on the platform wedge. As its fame grew in Hong Kong, footwear powerhouse, Belle Group, began distributing Jump in exclusive department stores in China’s major cities. Today, Jump continues to be recognized as a fashion leader in China’s developing market.

Jump has now arrived in the US to solidify its global brand presence and truly offer footwear, for the people, the world over.The Jump experimental store in SoHo is the brand’s first arrival point in the US. Located in New York at 89 Spring St., it is a strategic move to test the brand’s directional product in one of the world’s foremost fashion environments.

The 800 square foot store provides consumers with an opportunity to experience the Jump brand brought to life. It features Jump’s collection of footwear for men and women, already experiencing considerable success globally. Customers are invited to enjoy a delicious cup of coffee courtesy of Jump and to shop and relax in an environment a cut above the typical shoe store.

With the success of the SoHo store, plans are in place to open more flagships in key markets throughout the country. Through these stores, Jump hopes to reinforce its brand presence, build its consumer following and increase traffic to its retail partners.

JUMP store in NYC SOHO

Tila Tequila Halloween Party

Tila Tequila hosted a fashionably frightening Halloween fest and celebrated her 27th birthday on Friday, October 31. The spooktacular soirée was held inside Christian Audigier The Nightclub at Treasure Island in Vegas. The TV star of A Shot at Love posted clips of the event online. Her costume was an Asian fairy.

Tila Tequila Halloween Party

Olivia Munn's Halloween Costume in Complex Magazine

For a Halloween spread in Complex Magazine, G4TV host Olivia Munn dressed up in some cool costumes. Above she is dressed as a sexy librarian, but could also pass for Sarah Palin as well.


Dressing up as Chun-Li is getting ahead of the curve. The Chun-Li movie won't come out until next year. (See Kristin Kreuk in Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li.)

See more of Olivia Munn's Halloween outfits here. We just want to know where is her Princess Leia costume. She was dancing with Danny Choo the Tokyo Dance Trooper in Shibuya last month.

Olivia Munn's Halloween Costume in Complex Magazine

HP Mini Vivienne Tam Digital Clutch

High fashion meets high tech. We first got a glimpse of the Fashion Designer Vivienne Tam's HP Laptop last month. It has been quickly billed as the first Digital Clutch. We got word that you can get the fashion inspired laptop sooner than expected. Due to huge demand, HP is moving up the production of the Digital Clutch to get it in your hands before the holidays! You can reserve yours today by calling 1-800-230-5752 or online at www.hpdirect.com/minivt. By making a reservation now, you are guaranteed the opportunity to purchase an HP Mini Vivienne Tam Edition in early December.


Here's some of the product specifications:
* 10.2" High Definition display
* Under 1-inch thick
* Just over 2 pounds
* Windows(r) XP Home with SP3
* Intel(r) Atom(tm) Processor

The price is $699.99 with protective Vivienne Tam silk sleeve.

HP Mini Vivienne Tam Digital Clutch



The top of the notebook is gleaming red and bursting with peony flowers. The peony design is meticulously carried inside the notebook, under the keypad. The notebook also features a complementary embroidered storage sleeve that helps keep the exterior protected while being carried as a clutch, as well as an attachable peony charm.

This is a sleek, thin, light, and stylish "digital clutch". The HP Vivienne Tam Special Edition notebook represents the first time a computer company has partnered with a globally renowned designer to create a notebook PC that offers all the style and power needed for a delightful technology experience. Tam also worked with HP to design the notebooks accessories and packaging.

Angela Jia Kim on Tim Gunn's Guide to Style

Korean American Angela Jia Kim has a closet full of frilly ball gowns and baby doll dresses, however such items will not launch her into the business world. Leaving behind a successful career as a concert pianist and forging ahead as the CEO of her new luxury spa company, Angela has come to a turning point in her life and knows she needs to dress the part. Unfortunately, Angela's taste in clothes is governed by the deep insecurities she harbors about her body. Tim and Gretta's challenge is to persuade a reluctant Angela to see herself in a different way. Fashion help from: hairstylist Ted Gibson, fashion designer Reem Acra, and makeup artist Scott Barnes.

Having No "Real" Clothes - Angela just launched a new organic company but has no idea how to dress for that role.


Where Are They Now: Angela - Tim Gunn and Gretta's visit with Angela has left a positive mark in her life.


More about Angela Jia Kim:
Described as a superb colorist with playing that is "full of life and fantasy, pianist Angela Jia Kim has delighted audiences around the world in recital, orchestral, and chamber music performances. Maria Curcio, the eminent protege of Artur Schnabel, described Angela as a real virtuoso of the instrument [with] astonishing artistry at the keyboard. She went on to predict that Ms. Kim would represent her country on the world stage as one of the great musicians of our time.

In addition to performances in major cities such as New York, Washington D.C., Chicago, Paris, Warsaw, Toronto, and Montreal, Ms. Kim's performances have been featured on PBS Television, Japans NHK telecast throughout Asia, CBC Radio broadcast throughout Canada, Chicagos WMFT-FM (Dame Myra Hess Concert Series), New Yorks WNYC, and Washington D.C.s Voice of America. A recent recital in France was reviewed by Le Pays, which reported, an exceptional performance of a pianist with an international reputation: Angela Jia Kim's performance evoked immense shivers of emotion by every person in the audience The success of this performance led to a re-engagement as the cornerstone artist of the inaugural Festival Jeune Talents in July of 2002. In 2002-03, Ms. Kim will be touring North America with Dances and Fantasies, a program that includes music by Mozart, Ravel, Schubert, and Liszt, which she recorded for commercial release on the Mir Classical label. She will also be devoting a significant portion of the season to chamber music and other performances with her piano trio, Trio Movado, at the prestigious LaJolla Chamber Music Festival and the Laguna Chamber Music Festival.

A native of Ames, Iowa, Ms. Kim was honored with the award for Best Interpretation of French Music by the French Piano Institute in Paris, which led to performances of the music of Debussy, Ravel, and Poulenc at Salle Cortot in Paris and at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C. She has also been recognized for her interpretations of Mozart by winning the grand prize at the Mozart Festival Competition in Illinois. As a result of her prize-winning performance in the Debut Young Concert Artist Competition, Ms. Kim gave a recital that was broadcast across Canada as part of the CBC Radio program, Music from Montreal. In addition, she has been the recipient of awards and grants from the New York and Iowa Arts Councils.

Ms. Kim has performed as an orchestral soloist with the Des Moines Symphony Orchestra and the Waterloo-Cedar Falls Symphony Orchestra, among others. Following her performance of the Grieg Concerto, a reviewer from The Waterloo Courier wrote, Electrifying with great delicacy and rich colors Kim's playing of the concerto was the best I have ever heard She played with as much feeling as any pianist I have ever heard.

Ms. Kim's first musical experiences came at the age of four, studying piano with her mother. At five, she gave her first performances and began studying the violin. She was invited to perform Mozart at an international festival in Chicago at the age of nine. While a student at the Eastman School of Music, she was the winner of the Rising Stars Competition, which led to chamber music performances at the Skaneateles Festival, and she was also the recipient of the prestigious Eastman Performers Certificate. Her teachers include Marc Durand, Lee Kum Sing, Barry Snyder, and Chiu-ling Lin.

Jeannie Mai hosts Dude, Where's Your Style?

Dude, Where's Your Style? is a Style Special airing on The Style Network. In this show, a frustrated girlfriend turns to Jeannie Mai in order revamp her boyfriends lazy, frat boy look in time to meet her judgmental best friend. (You may recognize Jeannie Mai from StirTV.)

Jeannie Mai hosts Dude, Where's Your Style?

XXX : Forbidden Love Story

On October 11, 2008, Italian design company Diesel threw 17 simultaneous parties live as they happened around the globe for its 30th anniversary. (That's how you get the XXX) During the party in Beijing, a short film by Alexi Tan (director of Blood Brothers) was shown starring Liu Ye and Gao Yuan Yuan with music by Miho Hatori. See the mini site for XXX : Forbidden Love Story. The short film went well with the party theme with peep shows and dancing girls.

XXX : Forbidden Love Story


At the Diesel BEIJING XXX party, you can see XXX : Forbidden Love Story running on the screen

Designer Alexander Wang at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

"Anyone can get all dressed up and glamorous, but it is how people dress in their off days, that are the most intriguing." It's during these in-between, wayward days when a person's true style emerges from their everyday life, forming the basis of Alexander Wang's collection...where clean, classic, luxurious and refined silhouettes are introduced to an urban street provocative ideal. Like the collection itself, the girls he dresses stand out, but not in the obvious ways...more like the black sheep in a crowd - inspiring, surprising and slightly mysterious. The directive in Alex's vision is upholding your own individuality, and breaking the conventional idea of a predictable "uniform." A tee shirt and jeans can be just as sexy and stylish as an evening gown. The ways in which his clothes are unabashedly styled and worn are as imperative to him as the clothes themselves. Alex's love for contrasts is reflected throughout the collection with juxtaposing notes of street and luxe, sexy versus androgyny, and where vagabond meets a street-smart modernist.

As a Native Californian, Alex was born and raised in San Francisco and has a Chinese-American family heritage. At the age of 18, he moved to New York City where he attended Parsons Design School and partook in a variety of internships. By his sophomore year, Alex was already designing the first collection of his label Alexander Wang, which was predominately knits. He launched his full womens collection in 2007, selling internationally to over 150 boutiques and retail stores. Now at 24, Alex resides in New York City's Lower Eastside, where there is never a shortage of inspiration in music, life, reality and culture. In 2008, Alexander Wang was recognized by the fashion industry with the Ecco Domani Emerging Designer Award, and most recently, by his peers, with a nomination for the 2008 CFDA Swarovski Womens Wear Designer of the Year Award.

Runway highlights from Alexander Wang at Fashion Week New inYork, Spring 2009.

Runway highlights from Alexander Wang Collection

Designer Thuy Diep at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

The label Thuy (pronounced Twee) is a true reflection of the designer and her life experiences. Vietnamese American Thuy Diep was born into a family of tailors. As a child, under the direction of her mother and father, who ran a tailoring school and custom-made clothing shop in her native Vietnam, Thuy began honing her tailoring skills at an early age. She developed a love for well-crafted clothes. Extended family members further surrounded her upbringing with virtually all aspects of the fashion world. One could say that fashion design in in her blood.

Moving to the United States, Thuy was exposed to a whole new world of diverse values and aesthetics—which would shape her stylistic philosophy. Thuy's education (Brown University) and early professional career (Pricewaterhouse consultant) laid the groundwork for her creative and entrepreneurial passions.

Returning to school—and back to her first love, fashion— Ms. Diep attended Parsons School of Design. Following graduation, she held diverse jobs in the fashion industry, including a position with a New York-based Parisian atelier, providing draping and pattern-making services for high-end designers ( Carolina Herrera, Peter Som, Zac Posen). Her design experience includes work with several New York-based young designers, such as United Bamboo.

At the encouragement of virtually everyone she worked with, she formed the self-named label "Thuy". Producing designer women's ready-to-wear clothing, Thuy has come full-circle to her tailoring roots. Mixing casual chic with understated romantic sophistication, Thuy’s designs highlight form, craftsmanship, and subtle -yet dramatic- details. Her creations reflect a woman of beauty and intellect, one with an artistic and eternally-youthful soul.

Thuy lives in New York and works at the Thuy Studio and Showroom - a tranquil and inspiration space dedicated to facilitating Thuy's designs - located in the SoHo area of Manhattan.

Runway highlights from Thuy Diep at Fashion Week New inYork, Spring 2009


Thuy Diep Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

More Fashion Week Asian American designers Spring 2009 Collection

This week we profiles several Asian American designers for Fashion Week in New York. Showcasing their latest designs include Vivienne Tam, Richard Chai, Phillip Lim, Anna Sui, Naeem Khan, Vera Wang, Chris Han, Peter Som. Here's a few more Asian American designers:

Jason Wu



Yeohlee Teng


Derek Lam

Designer Peter Som at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

Peter Som's aesthetic of unstudied elegance and refined sexiness has brought a fresh point of view to modern American fashion. Peter grew up in San Francisco, a city known for its easy, relaxed sophistication. His parents--both architects--instilled in him the ideals of purity of form, function and composition. Today, Chinese American Peter continues to draw from these early influences as he designs clothes for tasteful women with that same spirit of effortless elegance, luxury and allure.

Peter excelled in Art History and Art when he attended Connecticut College and chose to continue his studies at Parsons School of Design. While at Parsons, he apprenticed with two of America's most revered designers - Michael Kors and Calvin Klein. After graduating, Peter honed his skills in the design room of the legendary Bill Blass. In 1997, he was recognized by the CFDA as a rising young talent in it's first-ever Scholarship Competition. Isaac Mizrahi awarded Peter the Parsons Gold Thimble for his work in the school's prestigious Designer Critic program while Lord & Taylor reaffirmed his potential in its annual Dress Competition. In 2002, Peter was nominated for the CFDA Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Talent. In 2004, Peter Som was among the 10 semi finalists in the Vogue/CFDA fashion fund initiative. In 2005, he was nominated for a second time for the CFDA Swarovski Perry Ellis Award for Emerging Talent and in 2006 Peter was among the 3 finalists nominated for the Cooper Hewitt National Design Award for Fashion Design.

Peter Som made his stellar debut at Seventh on Sixth in the Bryant Park tents with his Spring 2001 Collection. Since then, his clean, unfettered yet feminine clothes have been winning accolades from buyers and critics alike. Cathy Horyn of the New York Times identified Peter as “one of the best young designers working today.” Peter's collections have been included in editorial features in major fashion publications, including Vogue, W, Elle, Harper's Bazaar and InStyle. In response to Peter Som's Spring 2007 collection, Vogue's Andre Leon Talley writes “it became emphatically clear that he has moved to the head of his generational class. Magna cum laude, in fact.”

In July 2007 Som announced his return to the house of Bill Blass, this time as creative director of the iconic American brand. In this role, he will oversee the company's entire women's collection, including all owned and licensed divisions. His first collection for Bill Blass is expected to be for pre-Fall 2008.

Peter's following includes a new generation of stylish celebrities and starlets, among them Scarlett Johansson, Claire Danes, Camilla Belle, Mandy Moore and Ginnifer Goodwin.

Having emerged as one of the leaders of a new generation of American designers, Peter Som has a foundation on which to establish a modern luxury fashion and lifestyle brand, reinterpreting the tradition of Great American Sportswear for a new generation.

Runway highlights from Peter Som at Fashion Week New inYork, Spring 2009

Peter Som Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

Designer Chris Han at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

Runway highlights from Chris Han at Fashion Week in New York, Spring 2009.

Chris Han Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

Designer Vera Wang at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

In 1990 Vera Wang founded a design company that not only reflects her lifelong love of fashion, but also celebrates the romance, sensuality and spirit of modern young women.

A native New Yorker, Vera Wang grew up surrounded by fashion, often accompanying her mother to the world's most stylish boutiques. After a career in competitive skating and studies at Chapin and Sarah Lawrence, Vera discovered her own love for design while at the Sorbonne in Paris. She joined Vogue and at age 23, became the youngest fashion editor ever. After 16 years, Vera moved on to Design Director of women's accessories for Ralph Lauren.

It was her own marriage, however, that ultimately inspired her to start her own business. She introduced style and modernity to wedding gowns, creating the foundation for a luxury fashion brand that has since expanded into various related categories. Vera Wang collections are positioned in the highest end of the luxury market. Customer appeal is high: driven by an artistic modern and luxurious design style, couture-like quality and a high level of customer service. Vera Wang collaborates with leading global partners. The company directly employes over 200 people and manufacturers the majority of its bridal collection in company-owned workrooms in the United States.

In 2005, the prestigious Council of Fashion Designers of America named Vera Wang as Womenswear Designer of the Year. Vera Wang resides in New York City with her husband and two daughters.

Runway highlights from Vera Wang at Fashion Week New inYork, Spring 2009.


Vera Wang Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

Designer Naeem Khan at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

Designer Naeem Khan is quickly becoming the newest name in fashion with his loyal following including some of the most stylish celebrities and socialites in the world.

Born in India, Naeem Khan cultivated his knowledge of textiles growing up under the watchful eyes of his father and grandfather, both well known throughout the country for designing intricate and luxurious clothing worn by the royal family members and other social notables. As a teenager, Khan moved to the United States where he apprenticed for renowned fashion house, Halston. After his time there, Naeem went on to launch his own business, designing casual separates and cocktail dresses under the Riazee label.

In 2003 Naeem Khan launched his eponymous collection consisting of impeccably tailored cocktail suits, embroidered caftans, and glamorous dresses. His gowns are often embellished with beading, mirrors, and other specialty treatments that are distinctive to the label. The designer’s loyal fan base ranges from megastars such as Jennifer Lopez and Beyoncé to socialites and royalty like Queen Noor of Jordan. Naeem Khan is currently available in 100 stores throughout the world, including prestigious retailers such as Bergdorf Goodman, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus. His designs are always sophisticated, luxurious and timeless.

Runway highlights from Naeem Khan at Fashion Week in New York, Spring 2009


Naeem Khan Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

Business Week's Most Powerful People in Fashion - Asian edition

We found Business Week's Most Powerful People in Fashion. They highlight 10 fashion innovators who are out to change the world. (They profiled two people in one, so technically 11 people.) About half the people on the list are Asian. Take a look at the list below.


Phillip Lim
High-profile designer Lim uses all-organic cotton and sustainable silk to make the gowns and coats in his Go Green Go label, bringing eco-chic to consumers and showing that high fashion can be earth-friendly, too.


Yeohlee Teng
Teng pushes the boundaries of fashion design by using high-performance materials—such as cotton blends that resist spills—in her hip, elegant clothes. But Teng doesn't use these fabrics as a gimmick; she uses the materials as inspiration for the shapes and styles of the garments, putting function before form.


Issey Miyake and Dai Fujiwara
The cutting-edge Japanese designers continue to experiment with a proprietary software-driven design process that weaves entire pieces of clothing with no sewing necessary. Although not yet mainstream, their "A-POC" (an acronym for "A Piece of Clothing") process could conceivably transform garment manufacturing.


Vivienne Tam
Hewlett-Packard (HPQ) enlisted Tam as a high-fashion partner this year. The company asked the New York-based designer to help develop a small notebook computer aimed at women. Tam didn't just pretty it up with exterior graphics; she also designed interface elements. In New York, she sent models down the runway holding the computer as a clutch bag.

Vivienne Tam talks backstage at 2009 New York Fashion Week

Designer Anna Sui at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

Anna Sui's collections take you on a creative journey that is unparalleled in the world of fashion. Mixing vintage styles with her current cultural obsessions, she effortlessly makes hip and exuberant original clothes. Whether Anna's inspiration is Victorian cowboys, Warhol superstars or Finnish textile prints, her depth of cultural knowledge is always apparent. "When I'm interested in something, I want to know everything about it," she says, "I need to know what's behind it all. I really enjoy that process." Anna's constant search for new ideas and challenges keeps her ahead of her times. She's a true trendsetter to whom stylists and editors look for direction. The boundless energy and creative ingenuity of her runway presentations always make her shows a high point of New York Fashion Week.

The career of Anna Sui is a classic American success story. "You have to focus on your dreams, even if they go beyond common sense. How could this young girl from the suburbs of Detroit become a success in New York? It was always that dream," she says. Today Anna Sui has 32 boutiques in five countries and her collection is sold in 300 stores in over 30 countries. Anna still has the same love of fashion that she did when she was a little girl. At age four, she decided that she would become a designer and started to make her own clothes. She mixed a very serious approach to learning her craft with eccentric ideas, such as vowing to not to wear the same outfit twice in one year. "I was completely obsessed," she says, "I don't know how my parents put up with me." Before the end of her senior high school year, she was accepted to Parsons School of Design in New York. After two years at Parsons, Anna styled with friend Steven Meisel and designed for several sportswear companies before launching her first collection in 1980.

Anna Sui's business continued to grow throughout the 1980s, and in 1991 she premiered her first runway show. The following year she opened her first flagship store on Greene Street in Soho. The boutique's vibrant mix of black Victorian furniture, purple walls, papier mache dollyheads and rock n' roll posters closely reflects Anna Sui's personal decorating style and has been the model for all of her shops. The late 1990s was a time of significant growth for Anna Sui; she embarked upon a hugely successful expansion in the Far East, where she quickly established a huge cult following. She also launched cosmetics, fragrance, shoe and accessory licenses. Her devotion to detail is apparent in every one of her products, which are all intimately connected to her world. Her iconic make-up packaging and fragrance bottle design have even become collectors' items.

Anna Sui is known for her commitment to the things that move her. Her devotion to rock and roll makes her clothes perfect for a rock and roll superstar, and her runway soundtrack is one of the most anticipated each season. Her love for shopping has made her an authority on the best shopping in every city, and her passion for interior design created a visually stunning NYC apartment. Following her own inspiration, Anna Sui continues to inspire. She is living her dream.

Runway highlights from Anna Sui at Fashion Week in New York, Spring 2009.


Anna Sui Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

Designer Phillip Lim at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

Phillip Lim debuted his eponymous collection, 3.1 phillip lim, in the fall of 2005 to instant success, both critically and commercially. Now entering its third year, the line is available in over 250 boutiques and department stores nationwide, and represented in 26 countries worldwide. An inaugural presentation of the fall/winter collection kicked off New York Fashion Week with glowing reviews. Widespread recognition and declaration of Lim’s talent quickly followed. In January 2006, Fashion Group International awarded Lim first place in the Women's Designer 'Rising Star' category. Then following in July, the Council of Fashion Designers of America and Vogue magazine nominated Lim as a finalist for the prestigious 2006 Fashion Fund Award. Now 2007 is proving to be a year of even deeper significance. Spring saw the introduction of menswear, and the first free standing 3.1 phillip lim store opened in July on Mercer Street in New York City.

The store, which carries the men's, women's, and accessories collection, establishes a foundation for plans of retail expansion both domestically and abroad. 2007 has also marked Lim being honored with the CFDA Swarovski Award for emerging talent in women’s wear, his recognition as a finalist for the Fashion Design Award of Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum, and his second nomination as a finalist for the Council of Fashion Designers of America/Vogue Fashion Fund Award. This year will also bring the launch of 3.1 phillip lim kid’s wear and an eyewear collection, produced by the European luxury eyewear company, MODO.

As for his background, one might say, fashion found Lim. While studying finance at California State University of Long Beach, it became evident that Lim was sitting in the wrong classroom. A switch in majors led to an internship at Katayone Adeli, which led to a full time job as design assistant. Lim parted ways with Katayone Adeli after assisting her for over a year and a half. Soon after he met his future partners, and quickly became co-founder and head designer of the label Development. After four years at Development, Lim, 31, departed to launch his most personal collection to date with business partner and friend, Wen Zhou, also 31. This meant switching coasts to New York, where he now works and resides.

3.l phillip lim’s raison d’etre is making beautiful clothes with added touches of madness, striving towards the imperfection. The result is a creation of individual looks that are unexpected, unplanned, but completely relevant.

Accordingly, Lim says, “3.1 is about clothes that refine instead of define. A refinement that’s a bit classic in attitude, but imparts a sense of individual style, without looking or feeling forced. Confident, unidentifiable, chic, and most of all effortless."

For Lim, the design process begins by absorbing shapes, colors, and textures from his surroundings and personal experiences and mixing them with luxurious fabrics and thoughtful nuances. The fabrics include tissue weight cashmeres, laundered cottons, washed silks and brushed wools. Additional richness and life is added to the 3.1 aesthetic through a complete range of accessories, including shoes, boots, belts, bags and seasonal signature accessories. Understated, cool, and polished, Lim continues to redefine the rules of fashion.
Runway highlights from 3.1 Phillip Lim at Fashion Week in New York, Spring 2009


Phillip Lim Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

Designer Richard Chai at Fashion Week Spring 2009 Collection

A New York native, Korean-American Richard Chai began his career in fashion at an early age with a prestigious internship at Geoffrey Beene while an undergraduate at Parsons School of Design. Upon graduation, Chai continued his studies at the Lissa School in Paris, where he also worked as a sketcher at Lanvin.

While working at some of the industry’s top fashion houses, including Donna Karan and Marc Jacobs, Chai developed a strong design philosophy with an emphasis on the importance of construction and attention to detail. In September 2001, the designer was appointed Creative Design Director of all TSE brands, including men's, women's and TSE Say, marking the first time in the company's history that one person oversaw all brands. He's been nicknamed the "Wonder Boy".

In September 2004, Chai launched his eponymous collection to rave reviews. His debut showcased the designer’s minimalist aesthetic and reflected his fine-tuned sensibility and penchant for clean lines and classic craftsmanship. Utilizing old-world techniques of construction and innovative tailoring, Chai continues to set himself apart from his contemporaries. Strong architectural references and intricate details reveal the emphasis he places on the craft of making clothes and deliver a look that remains modern, sophisticated and quietly feminine. (He was also one of People Sexiest Man Alive in 2004.)

In 2005, Chai was honored with the annual Ecco Domani Fashion Foundation Award, in recognition of his emergence as a new talent in fashion design. In 2007, the designer’s achievements were further recognized as he was inducted as a member of the CFDA.

Richard Chai has become a fashion favorite of editors and celebrity fans including Kate Hudson, Blake Lively, Sarah Jessica Parker and Christina Ricci.

Richard also has a line at Target. The exclusive Richard Chai for Target collection is part of the GO International initiative at Target. GO International, which provides affordable luxury from world renowned designers, will feature the Richard Chai for Target collection in select Target stores nationwide and online at Target.com.

Runway highlights from Richard Chai at Fashion Week in New York, Spring 2009 Collection


Richard Chai Collection at New York Fashion Week - Full runway video

Chatting w/Richard Chai about his new Collection At NY Fashion Week

Fashion Designer Vivienne Tam's HP Laptop

World-renowned fashion designer Vivienne Tam and HP are rocking the technology and fashion world. Today, they announced the two are working together to create a special edition laptop notebook positioned to become the ultimate tech accessory for fashionistas around the globe.

Vivienne Tam and HP unveiled the design of the new must-have digital clutch on the catwalk today at Tam’s fashion show during New York’s Fashion Week at Bryant Park. The HP Vivienne Tam Special Edition notebook represents the first time a computer company has partnered with a globally renowned designer to create a notebook PC that offers all the style and power needed for a delightful technology experience.


The top of the notebook is gleaming red and bursting with peony flowers. The peony design is meticulously carried inside the notebook, under the keypad. The notebook also features a complementary embroidered storage sleeve that helps keep the exterior protected while being carried as a clutch. Tam personally designed the finishing touches, including an elegant embroidered HP Vivienne Tam sleeve that will ship with the notebook to help keep the exterior protected.

Here's a shot of the laptop's "enter" key complete with a double happiness logo.


The peony design features a unique blend of Asian and Western cultures, antiquity and modern style, technology and fashion. It was inspired by Tam’s “China Chic” style, which is recognized from the runways in Milan to the Olympics in Beijing and represents her personal mantra to live well and be beautiful.

“When I was approached by HP to create a special edition notebook, I could see the design in my head instantly,” said Tam. “The notebook is a true reflection of the needs of a modern woman who cares about fashion but is also passionate about her technology. I wanted to create a notebook that would appeal to women of all ages, ethnicities and income levels across the globe.”


“The peony is the national flower of China. They are beautiful and symbolize prosperity, good fortune and happiness,” said Tam. “Their many layers are similar to a modern woman who is as savvy in expressing herself with her personal style as she is with weaving technology into the fabric of her rich and multi-faceted life.”

“With ‘China Chic,’ Vivienne Tam reinterpreted traditional Chinese art into a global fashion trend,” said Satjiv Chahil, senior vice president, Worldwide Marketing, Personal Systems Group, HP. “With her spring collection, Tam has helped HP take the personal computer from a necessity to a lifestyle and fashion ‘must have.’”

The HP Vivienne Tam Special Edition notebook is expected to be available early next year. Available January 2009 in North America, with worldwide rollout to follow.

If you can't wait til next year, you can take a spin at the “Tech chic” virtual experience. In addition to working with Tam on the new notebook design and accessories, HP today launched a fully integrated virtual experience to help fashionistas around the globe find design inspiration online. HP has created a virtual catwalk, a designer tour hosted by Tam, and a “design bot” gadget inspiring users to dress up their computers with Tam-designed wallpaper, screensaver and icons – all of which are available now in the United States and in early October worldwide. You can take a look at the Vivienne Tam Virtual Catwalk.

Runway highlights from Vivienne Tam at Fashion Week New York, Spring 2009.


Full Runway video from Vivienne Tam at Fashion Week New York, Spring 2009 About Vivienne Tam

Vivienne Tam is a leading designer fashion house founded in 1994. The company produces, designs and markets women’s contemporary apparel distributed in major department stores, specialty stores and independent boutiques throughout the U.S. The company also has a strong presence in the Asia Pacific region with over 30 freestanding stores and in-store boutiques.

The Vivienne Tam brand’s unique positioning – designs that meld the aesthetic and feminine mystique of Asia with the spirit of the modern world – is well recognized in both the U.S. and Asia. The company’s philosophy is to create harmonious clothing that enhances one’s personality while at the same time provide fashionable clothing for modern women that is beautifully designed, superior in quality, wearable, easy to travel with and affordable.

Sheena on America's Next Top Model

Sheena Sakai, 21, from Honolulu, Hawaii will be the only Asian American in America's Next Top Model Cycle 11. Her current occupation is Hostess/Go-Go Dancer and resides in Harlem, New York. She got her first break in Hawaii when promoter Rick Rock hired her to be a go-go dancer for his Friday night party at Pipeline Cafe.

Sheena Sakai also goes by the stage name Sheena Satana when she is singing. She was featured on "Tha Word" from Hawaiian rapper Krystilez’s latest album “The O”

Sheena Sakai talking about America's Next Top Model


Sheena Satana in "Tha Word" music video

Asian YouTubers Get That Look

JC Penney created a back to school marketing campaign entitled "Get That Look". With a theme of "The Breakfast Club" - one of pop culture's ultimate teen movies that is currently experiencing a resurgence among today's youth - the campaign highlights the array of lifestyle brands available at JC Penney. Created with Saatchi & Saatchi New York, the campaign features both traditional and non-traditional media components. The mainstream campaign can be found here.

What's interesting with this campaign is that the grassroots online version of "Get That Look" has college age Asian American Youtubers as spokespeople. Among the four Asian American used include Kina Grannis (HAPA - Japanese), David Choi (Korean), Natalie (Filipino), and Kevjumba (Chinese). JC Penney fused the popularity of these YouTubers with the fashion and style of each person. Kina Grannis and David Choi created a duet entitle “my time with you”. They also each created their own music video. Natalie and Kevjumba utilize their comedy as part of the campaign. Also of note is that the whole Asian American version is run on xanga.com, a site where many teens blog.

Check out the Get That Look - Asian American edition here. You can also vote on the best outfit and could win a $400 JCPenney gift card.

What do you think of the campaign?

Natalie in the Get That Look campaign


Kevjumba in the Get That Look campaign

Jerry Tam out of Project Runway 5

It's one and done for designer Jerry Tam on Project Runway 5. The first challenge (same as the first task in season one), the designers had to create a dress using materials purchased from a Gristedes grocery store. The designers were given 30 minutes and $75 to shop for items, and then one day to complete the dress. After the first episode aired, the only Asian designer in this season is out.

Here's Jerry Tam's Bio:

Growing up in Butte, Montana, Jerry dreamed of coming to the big city and found his home in the fashion world. He's been working in the industry for seven years. With only two years of design education, including time at both Parsons School of Design and the Fashion Institute of Technology, he has worked with Imitation of Christ, Perry Ellis Women's Wear, and Zac Posen. All of his work has lead him to the creation of his own label, FORM, which he launched three years ago in New York City. Inspired by intrinsic architecture, FORM uses natural fabrics for both warmth and aesthetics.

Here's a recap of the first episode of Project Runway 5

Kimora Lee Simmons gets the kids

	Ming Lee
	Aoki Lee

"The Insider" obtained court papers that show Kimora Lee Simmons, 33, has won sole custody of her two daughters - Ming, 8, and Aoki, 5. The half Japanese and half African American CEO of Baby Phat will have the legal authority to make decisions regarding her daughters' health, education and welfare. Hip-hop mogul Russell Simmons, 50, gets the girls one week out of every eight and time for summer vacations & holidays.

Russell Simmons will pay Kimora Lee $20,000 per month per child. (That's almost $500k per year for both kids!!!) The child support will be paid until each girl reaches age 19 1/2, becomes emancipated, dies, marries, becomes self-supporting, no longer lives with Kimora Lee Simmons, joins the armed forces or if the court later orders otherwise. Also he is required to purchase or lease a new car that is valued at no less than $60,000 for the use and benefit of his daughters once every 24 months.

Here's a post by Russell Simmons on his blog entry entitled "Russell Sets The Record Straight"

You you want more Kimora Lee Simmons, you can watch her on "Kimora: Life in the Fab Lane"

Grace Park in Complex Magazine

The Grace Park photos from Complex Magazine look very awkward. Considering the magazine is backed by Mark Ecko, we would think that it would be ....well, more stylish. Photos aside, you can read the article about Grace Park in Complex. After Battlestar Galactica ends its run, you can catch Grace park in A&E’s extreme intervention drama The Cleaner starting in July.

Watch behind the scenes footage of Grace Park's photo shoot


Pop quiz for Grace Park about robots as she wears a I heart robots t-shirt

19th Annual Corporate Dinner

The Chinese American Service League's (CASL) 19th Annual Corporate Dinner Benefit “Building Futures. . . Housing Dreams” takes place at the Hilton Chicago. This year's event will include a Special Asian American Fashion Show featuring the works of nine different Chicago area designers. Held in conjunction with the celebration of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, the event is expected to attract more than 500 leaders from Chicago's business community and raise over $250,000.

Here's some of the Asian American designers for the fashion show:
Cyndi Chan (www.malabarboutique.com)
Michelle Tan (www.michelletan.com)
Medini Joshi (www.helenyi.com)
Anna Fong (www.anna-fong.com)
Calvin Tran (www.calvintran.com)
Kevin Vong (www.kevinvong.com)
Sujata Gazder (www.sujatagazder.com)
Vatit Virashpanth & Itthi Metanee (www.vatititthi.com)

See a sample of the designers: