August 21, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

All Grown Up 

August 25, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

The daughter of a Chinese-British graphic designer and a British housewife, the 174cm Alexa Chung was “discovered” when she was 14 by a London-based modelling agency. The experience that many girls her age dreamed of, however, didn’t sit well with the teenager. According to Chung, her parents were unsupportive of her taking up modelling as a profession, she was asked to pose semi-naked when it was unnecessary and she was also deeply affected by criticism about her appearance.

Chung’s career took off when she started to appear in a slew of music videos and TV shows in 2006. Her playful personality, witty dialogue and spontaneous reactions on camera earned her celebrity status. She debuted her own US show on MTV in 2009 – a daily, live talk show called It’s On with Alexa Chung – followed by the show Gonzo with Alexa Chung on UK screens a year later. 

Her personal style brought her as much attention as her TV appearances and she was hounded by photographers for street snaps. She loves to mix and match styles, and she often wears masculine pieces that exude a touch of femininity, such as an oversized suit combined with a shiny pair of Mary Janes. Her love of flats, as well as her iconic play-it-cool gesture – crossing one foot over the other in front of the cameras – made more and more people call her “It girl”, a term originally used to describe beautiful young women who don’t flaunt their sexuality. 

Chung frequently appeared on the best-dressed lists, on magazine covers and in the front row of fashion shows. In 2009, when she was just 25, British handbag brand Mulberry created the Alexa satchel, inspired by her, and the bag soon became the brand’s most sought-after. She received a string of acclaim and recognition from industry leaders; Anna Wintour called her “a phenomenon” and The New York Times dubbed her “the Kate Moss of the new generation” – she even beat out Moss for Vogue’s best-dressed title in 2009.

From 2011 to 2013, Chung took home the British Fashion Council’s British Style Award three consecutive times; the public-voted award “recognises an individual who embodies the spirit of British fashion.” The year she turned 30, she became the face of Parisian fashion maison Longchamp, landed one of her largest campaigns with L’Oréal and released her first book, It, which openly discusses the formation of her style. 

After numerous co-branding projects with the likes of AG Jeans and Madewell, she officially became a fashion designer with the launch of Alexachung, backed by London-based private equity investor Peter Dubens. At the show for her debut collection this May in North London, Chung opted for a glittering green gown. Some of the familiar styles that she likes to wear were spotted throughout the collection, such as Mary Janes, the workwear jacket, Peter Pan collars and Asian inspiration galore. All the pieces are free of fur, Angora hair and exotic skins.

Style on a Budget

August 25, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

Kimono Dreams

August 25, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

A Day for Dhela

August 25, 2017 / by Kitty Go

After being out of the fashion business for three-and-a-half years, what brought you back with Dhela? 

My Japanese distributors for Issa came to me and encouraged me to get into business again, because they couldn’t find the long and short dresses in easy shapes, which I used to do for Issa. There had to be a gap in the market – or else they wouldn’t have come to me. This is also why my first distributors and standalone stores are in Tokyo. 

Tell us about your creative process.

It’s quite complicated in that I do everything myself. Prints are one of my strengths, so I design and develop them myself in China. Contrary to what many people think, there are Chinese factories that do small quantities better and more efficiently than Italy. If I just bought stock prints, my brand would have no exclusivity. 

Aside from the exclusivity of prints, what makes your brand stand out? 

Most of my collections are printed in primary or bright colours, cut into flattering shapes. Nature has always been my main source of inspiration. In fact, I’ve decided to give 1% of my profits to save the Amazon forests because I’m Brazilian – and the Amazon is a wonder and link to the world. Also, I love jacquard knits and I do them very well. Right now, only 30% to 40% of every collection is knits, but I will move into 50-50 territory soon. 

The Best of Resort 2018

August 25, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

Chanel

Keywords: ancient Greece ◆ column-heeled strappy sandals ◆ the goddess dress

Dundas

Keywords: baroque ◆ falling silhouettes ◆ embellished kaftans

Etro

Keywords: paisley and blossoms ◆ oversized silhouettes ◆ Africa-inspired 

Off-White

Keywords: feminine lace ◆ naturalistic ◆ the workwear jacket

Paco Rabanne

Keywords: basic yet different ◆ asymmetric ◆ fluidly soft

Keep Cool and Look Good

June 30, 2017 / by Jean Vonka

Images above: Lorene (Donna Reed) confronts Prew (Montgomery Clift) at a party in From Here to Eternity (1953)

Oscar Wilde once said, “Looking good and dressing well is a necessity. Having a purpose in life is not.” However, summer is a particularly challenging season, sartorially speaking. As the temperature rises, there’s a temptation to sacrifice elegance for comfort. 

But think twice before grabbing your favourite T-shirt and slipping into some old sneakers. Marc Lauwers, the head of Lanvin’s bespoke shirt workshop, knows his stuff about the sartorial rules. When asked how to endure the heat and humidity with elegance, he answers: “A true gentleman doesn’t care about the cold and heat – he is above climatic contingencies and looks good whatever happens.” After a dramatic pause, Lauwers adds, “If you can’t help but feel warm during summer, there are some appropriate outfits that may help. But let’s be clear: tank tops and shorts aren’t an option.” 

Smart summer style starts with lightweight clothes that breathe well and keep you cool. “Silk, for example, dries very fast and insulates from both heat and cold,” says Lauwers. “Once you’ve tried silk shirts, it’s hard to go back to basic ones.” For suits, linen is the ultimate summer fabric – and what’s more dashing than a tobacco linen suit paired with a light shirt? 

Yet, linen tends to wrinkle easily and its typical laid-back look may not be suitable for every workplace. “Cotton-linen is a nice alternative: it’s easy to care for, needs little ironing and wonderful to wear when the temperature soars,” says Lauwers. And surprisingly, one of the best fabrics for summer is wool broadcloth, which stays cool and fresh while looking more formal. “Unfortunately, wool feels a bit crispy and not everyone appreciates it,” he says. “The truth is that you should try many fabrics to figure out which one you prefer.”

As warmer weather approaches, sleeves become a controversial topic. To roll them up or not: that is the question. Historically, rolling up your sleeves was a sign of a man going to work – or to fight. Showing off your biceps is still a sign of manliness, but if you simply want to be in the happy-hour mood, don’t roll your sleeves over your elbow. “In my opinion, no sleeve should be rolled up,” says Lauwers. “It’s commonplace to say that rolled sleeves cool one down, but it’s an illusion. On the contrary, once rolled, the fabric is thicker and warms you just where you’re supposed to sweat the most: at the crease of your elbow flexure.”

When asked about short-sleeved shirts, Lauwers says, “They don’t deserve the bad reputation they have and can be a good option. Trust me, when one goes to the beach, a nice short-sleeved shirt always looks better than a T-shirt. But please, leave your tie at home and don’t wear a jacket over it – that would be a terrible fashion faux pas.” There are two other key tips to stay cool in a shirt: wear it over your trousers and choose one with a convertible collar that elegantly folds back into lapels when worn in an open style. Alternatively, why not pay tribute to 1953’s From Here to Eternity and don a vintage Hawaiian shirt? 

When deciding on the best pair of trousers for summer, make sure that its shape lets the air comes through. Slim trousers promise you long and sweaty days. “Concerning the fit of trousers, summer is the season for large pleated trousers, preferably high-waisted: they are way more flattering than the hipster ones that dramatically shorten your silhouette,” says Lauwers. 

And don’t forget to keep your socks on, gents – summer and winter alike, they’re indispensable. Summer is the perfect time to set aside those grey and black ones and to inject a little colour in your look; green, orange or even pink socks are welcome. “Do I need to mention that one must wear long socks?” says Lauwers. “They don’t keep one too warm and hide leg hair when one sits comfortably on an armchair.” 

Ready-to-Ear

June 30, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

Start with colourful and tribal

This combination is delightfully enjoyable: think mysterious motifs, the hedonistic vibe (courtesy of the eye-popping neon colours) and the sparks of chemistry between the mixed materials – beads, raffia, threads, feathers, quartz stones, miniature shells, freshwater pearls and more. For those who fancy longer earrings, the tinkly sound when you move and the tingly sensation when the tassels brush your neck are two more delightful reasons to put a pair on.

Slip ’Em On and Party

June 30, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium

Ragdoll LA

June 30, 2017 / by China Daily Lifestyle Premium