UPDATE YOUR WARDROBE FOR SPRING / SUMMER WITH THESE KEY PIECES
Dorothy Perkins: Pink One Shoulder Body - £18- Lilac Split Skirt - £25 - Suede Clutch Bag - £30 Camel Tassel Tie Heels - £35
The weather is heating up and the sun is beginning to peak its head out again which means we can peel of some layers, show a bit more skin and lighten up the colors in our wardrobe. Here are some easy updates to make you spring / summer ready!
​OFF THE SHOULDER
Whether it's in a dress or a top, off the shoulder is having a major moment. Check out the pieces below for an instant sexy wardrobe update!
ASOS Minimal Off The Shoulder Wrap Back Top Co -Ord
Retail: £32.00 GBP
ASOS Minimal Off Shoulder In Stripe
ASOS Minimal Cold Shoulder Top
ASOS Off Shoulder Stripe Sundress
Dorothy Perkins £28.00 GBP
KAFTAN DRESS
​A dress that will work hard for you from spring until summer is the Kaftan dress! Wear it in spring with a denim or leather jacket, through to summer as a beach cover up. In the day wear with sandals, in the evening add a pair of heels.
Meng 100% georgette open shoulder dress MENG's exclusive beachwear collection
​LACE
Lace can be tricky to pull off, but a when worn right, looks classic and sexy. Check out the below for some must have buys.
Dorothy Perkins: White Lace Shirt Dress £75 €99 White Espadrille Sliders £12 €15
ASOS TALL Midi Prom Dress In Lace Retail: £70.00 GBP
ASOS Premium High Neck Top In Lace
Cropped trousers and culottes are still going strong as we head into spring and are perfect for that transitional weather. Also a fab way to show off a sexy pair of heels!
Dorothy Perkins Navy Wrap Jacket £35 Navy Cropped Trouser £25 Black Lace Up Sandals £39
ASOS Premium Culotte Trouser £38.00 GBP​. These culottes might look scary to wear, but paired with a black midi top, or black blouse will look stunning for a spring evening out.
French Connection Denim Culottes : £28.00 GBP
With a huge 70's influence this spring, florals are the simplest way to update your wardrobe. Get your hands on a bell sleeved floral blouse, pair it with jeans and a heel for the perfect boho vide.
ASOS Geo Floral Lace Top £48.00 GBP
ASOS Floral Print Tiered Top £38.00 GBP
​NEUTRAL hues
Nothing looks more fresh than beige and cream combos, and there's no better time to lighten up your look with some of these gorgeous buys!
Dorothy Perkins White Broderie Top - £26 Brown Croc Split Skirt - £28 Suede Clutch Bag - £30 Earrings - £8.50
Dorothy Perkins Brown Suede Shirt Dress £120.00 GBP
Dorothy Perkins Pink Suede Utility Dress £90.00 GBP
Dorothy Perkins White Broderie Top - £26, Brown Croc Split Skirt - £28, Suede Clutch Bag - £30, Earrings - £8.50
Dorothy Perkins Tan Suede Lace Up Boots £39.00 GBP
Dorothy Perkins Tan Suede Clutch £30.00 GBP
Dorothy Perkins Nude Suede Heeled Sandals £29.00 GBP
NEVER STRAY FROM CHIC WITH MENA LOMBARD LA FASHION WEEK SERIES: THE INTERVIEW
Photographer: Eduardo Von Garcia, HMU: Khadine Ali, Model: Kristina Tsirekidze
LA fashion week was brimming with talent. For the full week, gorgeous collections sashayed down the runway. However a collection that stayed with me long after the show was over was a collection that was named after the designer herself, Mena Lombard, a name I have no doubt you'll be hearing a lot more of in the future, and her collection was nothing short of exquisite.
A citizen of the world but currently based in Miami, Mena was clearly influenced by the vibrant nature of Miami with her beautiful use of color, whilst the collection had a grounded 60's influence, including items with a chevron print, a gorgeous flared jumpsuit, and faux fur pieces. Not to mention my favorite pieces, the stunning coats that wafted their way down the runway. With exceptional construction that created a beautiful almost train like effect at the back of one; the entire collection was the perfect blend of old Hollywood glamour, with a touch of Audrey Hepburn as an influence and Parisian chic at its finest. Yet Mena ensured every piece was so wearable in real, everyday life, which is not as easy as it sounds.
Photo by Jung S. Kim. Courtesy of FWLA. Copyright 2016 UCA, LLC
Photographer: Eduardo Von Garcia HMU: Khadine Ali Model: Kristina Tsirekidze
After seeing the incredible collection, I just had to meet Mena and find out more about the inspiration behind her collection. The next day, I drove to the apartment Mena had rented for the duration of fashion week in downtown LA. Mena greeted me in the lobby wearing one of her own creations, a stunning colorful shift dress which looked beautiful against her long dark hair. As I enter the apartment I am introduced to Mena's lovely sister, Vicky who is traveling with her. Mena and I sit down on the couch as I tell her how much I loved her show, "Thank you!" she says with genuine excitement. I'm bursting with questions and want to get straight to it and ask Mena all about her background and how she came up with such a stunning collection.
Meeting with the stunning Mena Lombard in LA. Mena is wearing her own Mena Lombard dress.
​"I come from the corporate world", Mena tells me, "but after my daughter was born I wanted to be more creative. It was very important to me. I was born in Uruguay and it didn't seem realistic to be in fashion so I studied business, which I don't regret at all." Mena continues, (but later) "I was done with the corporate world, so I started taking classes at the arts school in Florida. I have always known how to sew, my mum, my whole family knew, but I really wanted to get into the Italian way of cutting garments so that's how I ended up in Milan. I studied cutting, pattern making and production. It gave me a huge overview. The business side, I've always had it, because business is business whatever the area of industry, so marketing wise and a whole bunch of things I already had, so that helps me. I am the type of person that can sketch a collection and then sit down and talk about budgets." Mena's background seems have helped her an incredible amount. Her collection is a reflection of the wardrobe of a chic working woman, with pieces that could take her from the office to an evening event. The collection also has the inclusion of weekend pieces that are practical whilst still ensuring her customer (as Mena's tag line goes) "Never strays from chic!" Hearing that Mena's background was from the corporate world doesn't surprise me at all, but only leaves me wanting to find out more about Mena and what brought her to this point.
How did you like studying fashion in Milan? It must have been amazing!
I loved Milan! It felt like home. My family comes from Italy. They went to Uruguay because of the war; they just left Europe as it was crazy at that time. But we have always had that big huge Italian influence. I see my family as totally Italian. From the way we express our feelings, to the way we dress, to the way we talk, to the way we are always in touch with each other. My sisters are my best friends. We are very Italian in that way, so Milan felt so natural, you just fit in. I mean of course being in a gorgeous city helps! Creatively it's very interesting. It fuels your inspiration, so of course that helps a lot. Our family comes from Selerno, which is south but still, Italy is Italy.
You are now based in Miami. How do you find the fashion scene there?
Miami is totally vibrant, the weather and the people are always happy. So I can relate to that. I am also all about color. I love colors! I love prints, I feel very good in Miami in that sense. (However) I have a very European way of dressing. I like to wear shoes, and sandals are just for the beach. I am that type of way. So I still have that European influence and I think that's what really helped me to move around Italy.
You really are a citizen of the world having travelled so much and lived in different places. How has travel influenced you as a designer?
I think that it has really helped my approach to be very cohesive. Culture inspires style. When I get an inspiration, it doesn't matter what it is, it could be the 60's like this collection, it doesn't matter. I get very involved in it. It's not only about fashion, it's about architecture, it's also about what was going on in politics and socially, that kind of thing, I get very involved. I like that because I've found when you travel you really get to know so much about other cultures and other people. It's not just about what you think you know or what is right or what fits. There is so much that can work. There is so much that you can learn and that can help you grow, so to me travel is my influence.
I think you can really see that in your collection, the color from Miami, the cut very tailored, lending itself to a European aesthetic, but mixed with old Hollywood glamour. Is there always a constant inspiration and DNA to your brand or does it always change?
The DNA of the brand is always chic!
(I quote Mena's tagline) "Never stray from chic!"
Yes It's so true! I always say that but it's so very me. Never do that! It doesn't matter where you're going or what you're doing. Never stray from chic! It also has to be comfortable. That's why I wanted to go to Italy, to learn about the pattern making and how they cut everything. Fit, it has to be on point. It's extremely important. It's also about quality. I like to work with quality materials and of course it has flavor regarding color or patterns. But it's always sophisticated. I like sophistication. Sophistication can be simple. It's not about the complicated sophistication, it's more about the timeless sophistication. For example coats are a huge thing in my line. And I live in Miami! I have a whole bunch of coats. I love designing coats. I love putting them together, I love coats! That's something that I always do.
My favorite color combination, although I love color, to me nothing speaks more chic or sophisticated than black and white combinations, so I always have a black and white color story. I always do that. I would say it's about being chic, but about being timelessly sophisticated.
Photos (above) by Jung S. Kim. Courtesy of FWLA. Copyright 2016 UCA, LLC
I couldn't agree more! Congratulations on having your collection stocked in New York from February last year. How was that process for you?
It took a lot of time, to put it together and to make sure it worked took a lot of time. But I don't mind. I'm not in a hurry. I want to do things right. I want to do it the right way. This is not only about my brand, but it's my name. I put my name on it and I would never do anything that has my name in it that doesn't have the best of me. So I don't mind that it took a while.
I am selling through stores and boutiques there and I am about to launch my e-commerce site, I have my website of course, but I am working on turning it into an e-commerce site. I have had a lot of requests to do that. With social media now you can reach everyone and a lot of people will write and say, "I want to buy this! Are you in Paris? Are you in Spain?" I want to be able to reach everyone. So the e-commerce site is a great way to be able to do that.
I've also been talking to more stores, one in New York, and this trip I've been talking to some in LA, which I'm very interested in (being stocked in LA). Everything is moving so fast I wish there were 50 more hours in the day!
Where internationally would you like to expand out to?
​Of course South America, it's my hometown. Obviously it's a goal to be there and also Europe. I studied fashion there, my heritage is from Europe, it is such a big influence so I would love to be stocked there and also Asia, it's such an interesting market.
One of Mena Lombards stunning coat creations
​Photo by Jung S. Kim. Courtesy of FWLA. Copyright 2016 UCA, LLC.
Mena's trademark Valentina Coat (Photo credit www.menalombard.com)
What inspired this collection and specifically the gorgeous Valentina coat? (pictured above)
It's funny, the Valentina was actually the first piece I designed. It's called Valentina because it was worn by Valentina Ferrer, she is Miss Argentina and she was invited to the Pink Party that was here in LA and she wore that coat. I designed it for her but it has somehow become a trademark for me and when I spoke to Fashion Week LA they specifically asked me to show that coat. It's cut and constructed in a very particular way. I wanted a coat that would naturally open when you walk and it does its job very well!
Valentina Ferrer, Miss Argentina was the face of your lookbook, how did you both come to meet?
We met at a photoshoot before she became Miss Argentina. We became friends, so when this whole Miss Argentina thing happened we spoke as she had a TV special and she needed a whole bunch of changes for that TV special so she called me and that's how it happened. She is the featured model of the lookbook, and she's gorgeous by the way. Excellent model and a lot of fun to be with!
Did you launch the everyday collection and the couture collection at the same time?
I launched the couture first, then the ready to wear, the idea of the ready to wear was to have another option, but they come from the same designer, so you can travel in between them. You can wear a coat from one collection and a dress from the other collection. I wanted them to be able to interact. The ready to wear is of course more for everyday. It's focused more on the type of clothing that I really love, which is the type that you can dress up or down, so you can wear it all day. You can wear it to run errands, to have meetings, to go to cocktails. It's very easy wear, very nice, but it just adapts to your lifestyle, and not the other way around. That is key.
Is the Couture collection only order on demand?
Some pieces are on demand, it's couture, so it's harder; the production is very different to ready to wear. Some dresses we will be able to have in stock, most pieces will have to be on demand.
How would you describe a Mena Lombard woman?
Of course sophisticated, independent, confident. I like the woman that has no trouble being in the spotlight because I design clothes to put that woman in the spotlight. So it would have to interact very well. She's funny and she loves life and she never strays from chic!
You have travelled so much. Where is your favorite place?
That's very hard. I am very emotional so I get attached to people and places. I am very attached to Buenos Aires, I love that city, it's so vibrant. I love Montevideo, I was born there and part of my friends and family are there. I love going back home, it feels so right. I love Italy, my grandparents were from there. Everytime I go there I feel like I have them there telling me all their stories. It's so beautiful.
I love Paris. I think in another life I lived in Paris. I am the type of person that gets lost everywhere, I am so bad at it, you have no idea, but I never get lost in Paris! So I'm sure in another life I lived there. Maybe I was even a taxi driver there! I never get lost, I know that city so well. My husband always asks me, "Are you sure you aren't from here?" (laughing). I get very attached so I don't know if I would choose a place. That's why I say I am always open to people and places. Home is home.
Now that LA fashion week is over, are you already starting to think about the next collection?
Yes, my sister knows actually (Mena looks at her sister and laughs), we already started sourcing. I am always sourcing, all the time. Looking at fabrics and colors asking for swatches. We've already done that. I cannot help it, and I love it! It's a sort of excitement that I get. I already have ideas and colors. I am getting into the mood for spring / summer, so yes I already started.
Can you share what any of your inspiration might be?
Well, I don't know yet, I am not that far yet, but I did get very interested in a certain array of colors that surprisingly were not bright. They are colors but not bright colors. They are more pale so it could be interesting. More of a muted color. It would be interesting, an interesting approach to a spring / summer collection with muted colors. Let's see how it turns out!
How would you describe your own personal style? Are you always dressed up?
I don't think it's a case of being always dressed up or dolled up, you know? It's a matter of wearing the right piece for the occation. That's why I was telling you I like comfortable fashion, clothing that can be dressed up or down. They type that really follows your lifestyle. I like to look nice, let's put it that way. I like to fix my hair and make sure that my pants fit and my shoes go with my dress, that kind of thing. The little details. I like that, I cannot avoid looking at that and those type of details.
Does your style change when you travel?
I get very influenced when I travel, it opens your mind. You cannot help it, I think you get wiser when you travel and you get to learn so much. The world is such an amazing place and it can teach you so much. It's all about growth and truly I believe in evolution. I like to evolve, in every trip and every collection, every year I like to evolve and look back and say I am proud of every single collection, but say that each collection has become a little bit better. It doesn't matter what, it could be in the cut, the quality, in creativeness, in the story you're telling. Regardless of what it is you're improving, I want every single collection to be evolving from the last.
Where would you like to see your brand in 5 years?
I would like to have Mena Lombard in different countries, not only in America. To be able to sell in Europe, in South America, in Asia. I would really like to be able to make it a global brand. Also for people to recognize the name. It's very important, to be related to sophistication and to style and to a certain particular style that speaks about you and your own fashion ideas. I would like to be recognized that way.
Just before I leave, Mena takes me to the wardrobe to check out some of the collection and try several of the pieces on. They look and feel even more stunning up close. I tried the coats on and they fit like a glove. The material is so luxurious and the construction of the coats are out of this world. The details on the sleeves make them even more unique with their turned back cuff and the beautiful flow of the coat as they are both fitted yet flow at the back. The material and cut is pure perfection. I can't wait to see where Mena takes her brand and hope to see it grow globally in the next few years as she helps women, "Never stray from chic!"
For more information on Mena Lombard visit:
Website: Mena Lombard
Instagram: Mena Lombard
MENA LOMBARDS GORGEOUS COUTURE COLLECTION VIDEO
​Mena Lombard's Spring/Summer 2016 RTW Collection
​Fall/Winter 2016/17 Couture Collection at FWLA
Photos by Jung S. Kim. Courtesy of FWLA. Copyright 2016 UCA, LLC
PERFECT CORp REACH 200 MILLION DOWNLOADS FOR THEIR BEAUTY APPS IN LESS THAN TWO YEARS!
Perfect Corp Celebrate 200 Million Downloads
Photo credit: Perfect Corp.
​I recently interviewed Alice H. Chang, CEO of Perfect Corp. on the success of their Beauty Apps, YouCam Perfect, YouCam Nails and YouCam Makeup.
This week the company have now reached a new record of downloads, announcing on March 9th that their suite of beauty apps, have achieved the impressive milestone of 200 million worldwide downloads in less than two years after their initial launch.
More than 30 million (1) photos are taken and edited every day using the App suite and as a result this has made Perfect Corp one of the top 10 fastest growing App developers in the world! (2)
The success of the beauty Apps has seen Perfect Corp. become one of Flurry from Yahoo's top 20 app developers globally. Speaking of the incredible news, Alice H. Chang, CEO of Perfect Corp. said "I am personally delighted to announce that we've reached the 200 million downloads milestone for our family of beauty apps in such a short period of time," continuing, "Our team is dedicated to building a truly revolutionary, interactive beauty platform that allows women everywhere to discover, refine and share their personal style and, foremost, to feel good about themselves. We want to extend a huge thank you to our enthusiastic community of beauty lovers whose support and feedback drives us forward as we aim to develop the most pioneering technology and transform the world of beauty."
Perfect Corp. Apps stand out from others by engaging their users, and making their Apps a truly interactive experience, allowing beauty lovers to virtually try on makeup, as well as current trending looks, create a conversation with other beauty lovers, and even purchase the beauty and fashion products through online and offline channels.
YouCam Makeup as reported previously in Eurasian Vogue, with its accurate technology allows millennial beauty lovers to virtually try on true-to-life makeup products against the true complexion of your skin, as well as currently trending looks on their own faces immediately and in real-time.
In such a short time, YouCam Makeup has quickly established itself as the #1 makeover app in the world with over 120 million downloads and ranked the #1 photo and video app in over 56 countries' App Stores with over one million five star ratings in the Google Play Store!
To download YouCam Apps visit your smartphones app store and Type 'YouCam'
Click below for more information on:
Perfect Corp
BeautyCircle
YouCam Instagram
Perfect Corp Youtube channel - For their latest looks.
Research source:
1 Internal data source, March 2016.
2 Data from mobileCore.com, September 2015 through February 2016.
PERFECT CORP: INTERVIEW WITH CEO ALICE CHANG.
Alice Chang CEO of Perfect Corp.
Every few years there is an App that takes the tec world by storm, something that sets the internet alight and draws users in their droves to hit the download button. However it's rare to have an App that is both incredibly technologically advanced but also has both the fashion industry and beauty industry clambering to find out more about it.
Well step up Perfect Corp, the company who've created three incredible Apps, YouCam Perfect, YouCam Nails and YouCam Makeup. YouCam Perfect allows you to take a perfect beautified selfie, blemish free and perfect lighting, YouCam Nails, an App that allows you to take a blank canvas (the nails on your hands!) and create your own perfect nail designs. And then last but no means least (in fact my personal favorite) YouCam Makeup- Simply take a selfie, and instantly apply makeup to it. Having partnered up with some of the top beauty brands you can try the latest eyelashes by Ardell, foundation, blusher lipstick, and eye shadow, by Elizabeth Arden, all of which can be tried and tested and then purchased online.
The Apps technology is so accurate that the makeup is applied as though it had been done at the hands of the most talented of makeup artists and there is now even an option to color your hair and see if the color suits you before committing. Incredible, I think you'll agree?
Well, the fashion and beauty world certainly does, Perfect Corp managed to secure a partnership with The Daily Front Row during fashion week, and YouCam Makeup even featured the looks on the runway from Chanel (Oh So Coco) to Versace (Venus) allowing users to try the looks from the runway for themselves, no wonder the App has one numerous awards including App of the Year in 2015 Appy Awards in the Fashion & Apparels category.
The Apps aren't just a faze for fashion week though, with YouCam Makeup going from strength to strength as Perfect Corp continue to see the downloads increase. In addition they have created BeautyCircle, a community for fashion and beauty lovers who can share their favorite fashion and beauty looks, and beauty articles other readers would enjoy - a Pinterest for fashion and beauty if you will.
Even publications such as InStyle magazine are using BeautyCircle and a select few invited bloggers have been given the title of 'Beautyist' on BeautyCircle, as featured writers on the App and are using it to publish articles and share information.
Just to give you an idea of how big YouCam Apps have become and how incredible their team is; They have 150 employees, global offices in New York, Shanghai, Japan, Germany and San Francisco. YouCam Makeup has become the number one App. They have almost one million downloads globally every single day, YouCam Makeup is ranked Top 10 apps of App Store's 'Photo and Video' category in 151 countries, and to top it all off, this success has come just 16 months after its initial launch.
An example of a before and after picture with added YouCam Makeup- all products available to buy online.
Two weeks after downloading the Apps myself, I had the wonderful opportunity to visit the Perfect Corp Head Office in Taipei, Taiwan to visit the fantastic team and meet the incredible mastermind behind the Apps, Alice Chang.
When I first meet Alice, I'm bowled over by how welcoming she is, and despite running such a huge company, with their latest Apps being such a knock-out success, she is incredibly down to earth. The perfect balance of a women in charge of a hugely successful company, but the right sprinkling of excitement for the success of their Apps, and understanding of their female customer to know what drives them, and what gets them excited about revisiting their incredible Apps everyday.
Alice is aware that the success of the Apps has been truly remarkable, but she is certainly not resting on the laurels of its current success. Alice is constantly looking at the next opportunities with the App and knows the possibilities are endless.
As I interview Alice, we are just two weeks away from the Oscars and the team are finalizing the technology to replicate Amy Adams makeup look among others, so she and the team are constantly working on updates, no wonder Vogue Paris has featured them and above all this, the app is completely free, Alice tells me, "Now, in this economy, it has to be. There are beauty Apps, but I knew we could do better. I saw problems that could be perfected. I wanted to be able to create something where girls could take a beautiful photo and want to keep it for themselves." Alice tells me that the App only took ten months to develop. "We already had the technology here, our technology team here is so good." Good is an understatement, having tried out other Apps as research they didn't come close to the precision and options that YouCam Makeup has.
I ask Alice, why makeup? Does she feel it is a form of expression for girls? "As a girl I loved going to department stores and trying on makeup, so I wanted to create this in a virtual world. Then I can bring it into the real world. That's when I felt I could work with real brands. You don't have to go into a department store and try it anymore, you can try it virtually and then buy it." Due to how advanced the technology is it is a very real version of what the final product looks like on you, seeing it next to your own skin tone, and complexion it certainly allows you to experiment more. "It helps for girls who wouldn't normally wear makeup" Alice says.
I tell Alice that I'm also a huge fan of BeautyCircle, that has not just created images, but also a space for women, bloggers and publications to create a communication and social circle with shared interests. "I love Pintrest, I just look at the fashion. It wasn't enough to just have content, I wanted to invite brands to create premium content for beauty lovers."
I ask Alice if they have thought about doing the same thing they are doing with makeup for fashion? I would love to be able to 'try on' items in an App before I buy. "We would like to." Alice says enthusiastically "But the technology for that is much harder with so many different cuts of clothes. We are looking at starting with t-shirts though." More immediately however, Alice is looking at expanding into accessories, sunglasses, nail polish brands, rings and watches, "We have more brands coming in." I ask how the brands are responding? Incredibly well by all accounts? "There is a fundamental demand. It's difficult for brands to reach out to millennia's." Certainly Perfect Corp seem to have found the ideal way, YouCam Makeup has been so popular that Alice was in Paris the week before I meet with her and is flying out to New York the week after our interview to meet with more brands.
Perhaps an added reason for the popularity of the App is the social aspect of it, not only are users creating gorgeous looks but users are able to share them with other users for them to try. "Everyone can become a beauty expert" Alice tells me, smiling. With such a strong I.T background, Alice and the team admit they are still learning about the beauty industry but they are now "able to mix high tec with high beauty." Perfect Corp are even dipping their toe in the water of the TV industry, now working with the most popular TV drama in Taiwan to recreate the looks on the TV show through the App, I ask if the production company approached them, "No" Alice tells me, "They approached us." Proving what an incredible reach the App is having.
With future plans to expand into the U.S With features in magazines such as INSTYLE's - Get The Look readers only used to be able to try the looks real life having physically purchased all the products, but now users can try it on their phones before committing to all the products. "We have had the technology for twenty years. It is faster than previous software, and totally different. Every three weeks we make improvements and every 5-10 weeks we update with looks such as The Oscars, NYFW. We have a calendar that has a 6 month plan of release." One of the latest being 'Horoscope' themed looks.
It's so unique to have such a feminine, fashion and beauty driven product that is as exciting to the tec world as it is to the beauty and fashion world. A few weeks after I met with Alice even Silicon Valley was discovering the wonder and success of YouCam Makeup.
In San Francisco on February 18, 2016 –Yahoo CEO Marissa Mayer, in her keynote at Yahoo's Mobile Developer Conference presented YouCam Makeup as one of Yahoo's top partners, highlighting not only the incredible download rate of the App, but also the significant amount of time users spend on each session. It's so incredible to see such high technology mixed with beauty and fashion in a way that has never been done before.
Having met Alice in the midst of her working day, I can't tell you how impressed I am with what she is accomplishing. A true inspiration for women, showing that a we can both enjoy beauty and fashion but still have an incredible talent for business. Alice is juggling both the business development as well as constantly working to keep up with the latest makeup and fashion looks for her customer, a never ending feat. Such an incredible pioneer, with such a remarkable resume and business foresight that is catering to the new millenniums, a combination, which is proving to be unstoppable. I can't wait to see what they do next!
YOUCAM MAKEUP VIRTUAL MAKEOVER
SKETCHΔROUND : COLLECTION REVIEW
Kan and Priscilla, the designers behind SKETCHΔROUND at their Hong Kong Studio
I first interviewed SKETCHΔROUND back in 2014 not long after their launch. Now several collections in, I am standing in their studio in Hong Kong to check out their latest collection, a week before they are due to head off to Paris for the Paris Trade shows. Now standing in their studio, and seeing the pure luxury of the brand, I am in no doubt Parisians and the rest of the European market are going to love them.
The brand first caught my eye when I read they launched as a completely unisex line. I wondered how they would make this possible. To make the same piece look both feminine on a women but masculine on a male? Well SKETCHΔROUND have somehow absolutely achieved it. Their previous collection is made up of simple but detailed pieces including long shirts and wide leg trousers in black which when caught in the right light have a very slight sheen to them, subtle but effective.
The new collection also features some gorgeous wide leg trousers in white with a matching top, which would look perfect on both a male in summer with a pair of loafers, or flip-flops and for women would be perfect with a pair of wedges swanning around St. Tropez, paired with their matching white top.
White unisex wide leg trousers. The top can be worn loose for men, or pulled in with the U-lock to give more shape for women
Another standout piece from the collection are the gorgeous hero coats they have created. One a gorgeous lilac, another a deep blue and lastly a rich burgundy red, all with top pocket detailing, a belt made from a material that would ordinarily be reserved for the straps on bags, pulled together with their U-Lock clip, a trademark for this season. Each jacket comes in three different sizes, short, mid-length and long, the long one being the most formal.
The Lilac jacket in the shorter length, featuring the U-Lock and thick waist belt detailing.
​You see with SKETCHΔROUND it's all about the detailing. Priscilla, one of the designers behind the line tells me,"Each collection we try and find new and innovative ways to change the details, like the button finishing or the seam finishing. We try and explore at least one detail for each."
This season it is all about the U-Lock to replace zippers and buttons. The previous collection was the "Investigation of this, and the new collection is taking it further" Priscilla explains. Even the edges of the collar of their tweed like jacket, has double facing material which has been finished to keep the edges exposed giving it a rich and interesting detail.
"We tried to find the language behind the garment body and the human form. We used the U-Lock on the sleeves of the shirt, on the neck and to see how we could change it to use it in different forms. As we do a unisex line, we had to make sure it fits both men and women. The U-lock comes undone and you can adjust the length of the taping." Priscilla says.
Mid length coat, in luxe deep burgundy.
As with all their pieces, the taping and the interlock sections are adjustable to make it more fitted for women if preferred or looser for men.
Even the classic shirt features the U-Lock detailing on the sleeve so they can be turned into a three-quarter length sleeve if preferred, with an intricate button detailing on the cuffs, for added detail as well as a U-Lock feature on the back of the shirt.
​There are also some more casual pieces in the collection, the design duo have played around with fringe and layering black fringe material under white. For this piece, they handpicked each corner to fray it, I wasn't kidding when I said SKETCHΔROUND are all about the details!
In Hong Kong checking out the latest SKETCHΔROUND collection
Ater reviewing the collection I take a seat in SKETCHΔROUNDs studio to discuss the evolution of their brand since first launching…
Would you say you have kept to the same aesthetic and DNA since first launching?
Yes, I think we have stayed the same. We are always looking at our main message, decent details, we try to minimize things but we want all the exquisite details but still have them as a minimal look. With our collection we always keep that in mind.
It is getting more mature but at the same time we know how to make it more functional for mass production.
You and your partner Kan, both studied in London, do you think your style has influenced you both as designers?
Studying in London, you do see lots of styles. In Paris and London they love new brands, weird and interesting designs. Studying there we saw more styles and inspirations. It gives you more brain storming moments, but when it comes to marketing you need to know what will sell in the HK market and you can't go too far from that.
Your brand is so unique in that the collection is unisex. Would you say that when design the collection this has limited you or the opposite and made designing a wider and more varied collection easier?
We always wanted to make a unisex collection and to have an exploration of this, men more of a rough fashion, women more feminine. Our collection doesn't have any gender barriers and is neutral. When men wear it then it looks masculine, when women wear it, it looks feminine. We look for shapes that work for both. We just make things neutral. It can't be too feminine or too masculine. The U-Lock has helped to tighten the shape. In the first collection we did a loose cut belt, and on both men and women it looked good. It just fits with them and their personal style, so (for this collection) we thought about what we could do to adjust the shape.
With this, I leave the designers to complete the rest of their preparation for their Paris trip. I simply love the classic (with a twist) wardrobe staples they've created. Pieces that perfectly match with their previous collections as beautiful additions to your wardrobe, that can live on in your wardrobe for years to come.
For more information on SKETCHΔROUND click the below:
SKETCHΔROUND's Website
SKETCHΔROUND Instagram
SKETCHΔROUND Facebook
BLIND BY JW- NEW COLLECTION REVIEW
I first interviewed Jessica Lau and Walter Kong, the two designers behind BLIND by JW, back in 2014, just over two years after the launch of their company.
Even as a brand new company the DNA of Blind by JW was strong, and today, sitting in their new studio in Hong Kong, the collections have only grown in strength. Here I check out their stunning new collection and take the opportunity to catch up on what's changed for them as a brand since they first launched…
Jessica Lau and Walter Kong in their new studio.
Blind, known for their use of graphics hand drawn by Jessica Lau and finished with Walter Kong's computer effects to make digital prints are still a huge feature on their new collection.
With European fairytale, Alice in Wonderland as the inspiration of their previous collection, this one features the Chinese fairytale, 'The Tiger Story" as the source of their inspiration.
The previous collection was certainly more romantic in it's hues, using their signature colour of baby blues and pastels however I adore the use of bolder and stronger colours in this new collection. This time they are using electric blues and burgundy's giving a much sharper feel.
The collection is still uber feminine with it's mix of textures and patterns with Blind's signature strong silhouettes, but this collection uses sharper angular edges and hem shapes.
The entire collection has a more energetic feel about it using unexpected mix of fabrics such as jacquard and double knit.
Two of my personal favourite pieces are their coats, the first is the electric blue coat, with stunning hand drawn digital print adorning it. Certainly a stand out piece, the second, a gorgeous pink luxe jacquard material coat, with it's interwoven soft greys and gorgeously luxe feel.
The new collection, inspired by the 'Tiger Story' features much bolder colours than Blind by JW's previous collection
​The brand have recently secured a pop up store in Hong Kong's International airport which give their customers an opportunity to see a wider range of their collection which has more of an every day appeal. Jessica tells me she wants customers to be able to wear a piece to work that takes her all the way through to the evening.
The collection features pencil skirts as well as leggings, all featuring their staple block print for a slimming fit. The collection always features a crop shirt, with it's asymmetric shape, longer at the back and as always featuring the print at the front.
As Blind by JW are several collections in now, I ask them what they've learnt since their first collection.
"We need to grab our audiences attention, whilst still balancing our aesthetic and pleasing our customer." As for working together, "We balance the east and west. We design together, walk through the print, the fabric the silhouette and the story."
Back when I interviewed the duo in 2014, they said to me they wanted to change the way people saw Hong Kong designers, and let the world know that Hong Kong is a place of real fashion and talented designers. I ask Jessica if she feels this has been achieved, "We have a long way to go to letting international people know that there are great Hong Kong designers, but we are getting there" I ask if launching the company is different to what they had thought it would be? "Starting the company is different to what we had imagined. Designing is actually 20% of what we do, PR is mandatory. You learn a lot from your peers. Hong Kong is small but there are a lot of designers and people look out for you. They want you to improve. Also the Hong Kong economy isn't going well but there is more light coming through, people who are coming through Hong Kong want to come to Hong Kong and get something from Hong Kong. If I wanted to get something from a Korean brand I would go to Korea."
Having spent most of her life in London, I ask Jessica if her personal style still has elements of London style in it? She laughs, " I don't want to lose my London style. I go back to London to see what's going on. Don't get me wrong, London isn't better it just makes (my style) a little different. I like the fun of England. To not take it too seriously, that's why we are mixing prints and textures but we are bringing people personality; more colour, more happiness." Jessica continues, "It's great having Walter as a partner. Sometimes we test the market and we don't know if it will work. He is from Hong Kong, and I grew up in London so I don't always know."
Although the brand has always appeared to be a strong one, Jessica tells me in the early days a friend said she didn't understand it, so they thought about the fairytale aspect, so the 'Blind' was what was happening outside and they were lifting it to reveal an incredible world out there. So is this a lesson they've learnt? To seek others opinions, "Yes, don't be afraid to ask other peoples opinions. You sometimes need outside people. The reactions have been really great, sometimes the silhouette doesn't work and that feedback as helped production sampling.
Now Blind by JW is four years old, I ask what kind of women their customer is? "They are so different" Jessica tells me "Mother, daughter, even grandma. It starts with the daughter, and then the mother sees it and it looks good on her. We are amazed at the audience range. We see their face, the happiness, that's what we want, just to know our brand is strong and it brings people happiness."
Jessica and Walter proudly make everything in Hong Kong, and will continue to use the fairytale design in every collection going forward. Jessica passionately tells me, "We hope we're helping this positive energy to continue, wearing the clothes is wearing a dream." And having seen the collection up close, I couldn't agree more. ​
Checking out the collection... In love with those coats!!