NYFW Fall 2012 Concept Korea Fashion Collectives Presentation

I took the red eye to New York on a Thursday night, touching down at JFK in the wee hours of the early morning. I arrived at Lincoln Center for New York Fashion Week at 11am, sleepy eyed and running on pure fashion adrenaline. Although it was my second NYFW visit,  I was just as excited to be there as I was in the fall, locking eyes on the trend setting and covetable street style of the nation's fashion elite while aweing over the impeccable creations birthed by the design world's brightest and finest.

My first show was the Concept Korea Fashion Collectives Presentation. The showcase featured the Fall 2012 collections of formidable Korean designers Doho, Lie Sang Bong, Resurrection, Son Jung Wan and Steve J & Yoni P. Although I love the theatrics of viewing a live runway show, it's much easier to see and photograph the details of each piece at a presentation, as the models are standing still, allowing the guests to examine every inch of the fabric draping their gazelle-ish frames. It's definitely a bit of a zoo-like atmosphere thinly veiled behind the glamour of fashion.

Lie Sang Bong's Fall 2012 collection was inspired by traditional Korean stone walls built by stacking pieces of stone in different sizes and shapes. The architectural structures combined with organic shapes and lines translated into an interesting mix of fabrics and details, blending the harmonious combination of surfaces, spaces and lines.

Steve J & Yoni P's Fall 2012 Collection is a reflection of the changing times. The designers tapped into their imaginations, searching for pieces that were "functionally" futuristic. Forget bulky astronaut suits and think bright knits, silken slinky dresses and quilted leathers complete with star-studded embellishments and rocket ship insignia. The future is bright!

Song Jung Wan has always been one of my favorite designers. For his Fall 2012 Collection, the designer was inspired by fadeless flowers growing in frozen garden, focusing on the juxtaposition of the bright and vibrant flowers against the monochromatic color of snow. The mood of the collection is romantic and feminine and right up my sartorial alley.

Doho, a NYFW newcomer, combined artistic design with rhythmic silhouettes and handcrafted textures for her Fall 2012 collection. I love the designer's unique interpretation of traditional styles resulting in fresh, wearable and classic pieces that reflect the designer's fresh perspective and affinity for the past.

A gilded zoo, no?

Personal Style Outfit Post-Interim

I'm back from the tents at Lincoln Center and the halls of the Las Vegas Convention Center! The epicness of New York Fashion Week and the Magic trade shows were bundled into a week of non-stop fashion and partying! I have so many pictures to share and stories to tell. While I attempt to organize and categorize the memories, the moments, and the fashion, here's an outfit post, aka a NYFW/Magic filler post.

photos by Kevin Russell Teves

Top: Purchased from a boutique in Little Tokyo

Leopard Shorts: Sway Chic

Tan Booties: Michael Antonio

Personal Style Outfit Post-Winter Creamiscle

I'm currently freezing in New York! These pictures were taken a few weeks ago in LA, shot during summer-like weather. I'm getting warmer already just looking at them!

Photos by Kevin Russell Teves

Top: Rachel Comey

Pants: Topshop

Serpent Bracelet: Cara Couture

Statement Necklace: Lia Sophia

I hadn't seen or worn my Rachel Comey ruffled sweater tank in years so I was very happy to have spotted it in the back of my exploding closet. The nude wide leg pants were a purchase from Topshop during my last trip to New York. It was love at first sight for the pants, but surprisingly, this was the first time I'd worn them!

New York Fashion Week Fall 2012 Winter Outfits Sneak Peak

I'm leaving for New York tonight!!!! I truly feel blessed to have the opportunity to attend New York Fashion Week again. I had a blast this past fall and was thoroughly inspired by the fashion, style and vibe that permeated every inch of Lincoln Center.

Although I'm beyond excited to see the Fall 2012 shows, I have to admit, I'm not a fan of cold weather. And I'm even less of a fan of packing and dressing for cold weather. All those layers create such unnecessary bulk. Not cute! What can I say, I've definitely been spoiled rotten by the ever so temperate and always sunny LA weather. I guess you can say I'm a lightweight when it comes to heavy packing. Perhaps that's why it took me the course of three nights to pack for my NYFW trip! Putting together four days of warm, cute and perfect winter outfits requires a heavy dose of fashion editing and planning. Here's a sneak peak of my heavy duty items.

1. Karen Kane Casino Jacket
2. Ann Taylor Loft  Fur Vest
3. ASOS Olive Cape
4. Vintage Shearling Sweater Jacket
5. ASOS Shearling Leather Aviator Jacket
6. Karen Kane  Red Blazer

1. Karen Kane Leopard Maxi Skirt
2. James Jeans High Waist Skinny Leg Jeans
3. Vintage Turquoise Pleated Maxi Skirt
4. Linden Leather Leggings

Isabel Marant High Fashion Kicks

Never in my life have I desired sneakers until I saw these. If sneaker couture exists, this would be it.

Isabel Marant Bekket Sneakers, $680. Suede with hidden two inch heel. It may be sold out everywhere, but I'll find a way...

My Infatuation Grows-Alexander Wang Accessories

I went to Barney's this morning and spend half an hour looking through the A. Wang accessories. I love the color departure from black and the material variation. Dalmatian print on ponytail hair. Bright red textured wallets. Bring it ON!

Personal Style Outfit Post-Fur on Print

This past weekend, I worked with photographer Kevin Russell Teves on a fun photo shoot. He's such a sweet guy, super easy to work with and has a natural eye for great shots!

Top: Collective Clothing

Fur Vest: The Loft

Jeans: J Brand

Python Cuffs: Kara Ross

Hong Kong Roundup-Travel Post

My week in Hong Kong turned out to be a good balance of work and play. I was there for a licensing show as part of my job as a fashion lawyer involves drafting and working on license agreements. At the show, I spent the better part of my time chatting with potential licensees, a task that's surprisingly quite draining. Socializing, conversing and being "on" for eight hours a day is a challenge, especially when I had to use my first grade level Mandarin at times. It was a productive show and definitely a treat to hear so many positive feedback and interest in our brand from Asian territories. After all, money has shifted to the east. You get China, you're golden.

Flying business class on Cathay Pacific was a treat as their amenities are equivalent to that of first class on other airlines I've flown on. I had my own individual pod that folded into a bed. It was designed with complete privacy in mind. As I couldn't see my fellow passengers, it felt like I was traveling solo on the open sky.

Travel essentials-roomy purse, reading materials, iPad.

I'd never been impressed with much less taken pictures of on-flight meals before, but this was different. The multiple course lunch was delicious from start to finish, with the pork belly placed at the peak of the palate crescendo. It was the juiciest and tastiest pork belly I'd EVER had! Pairing it with Isareli cous cous was genius.

The red bean cheesecake was amazing, but then again eating anything with red beans injects my veins with excitement.

The hustle and bustle presence of the city is quite contagious. Even though I was functioning on less than five hours of sleep every day, I felt invigorating and completely eyes wide open. A sense of intensified energy permeates the city. In Hong Kong, everyone is on the go.

I spent my free time going to business dinners at amazing restaurants, albeit most of them were not Chinese restaurants. I had a free afternoon to wander the streets of Causeway Bay, one of my favorite HK shopping destinations. I didn't buy any clothes but did manage to hit it hard at Sasa, HK's resident beauty shop. They carry the best assortment of makeup, skincare products and beauty accessories from Japan and Korea. And they happen to be on every street corner in Causeway Bay. As the selection varies from store to store, I quelled my beauty anxiety by hitting up eight Sasa in about two hours.

                                   A sampling of my SK-II purchases. Prices in Asia are 40% cheaper! 

I love Japanese eyelash glue. It's easy to use, non-messy and holds as strong as concrete.

I'm currently in my falsies phase and cannot stop obsessing over them! Even though I only bought five different kinds of lashes in Hong Kong, I must have looked at and analyzed over 100 pairs! I will post a review once I start using them.

You haven't liquid eyelined until you've used the long lasting ones offered by various Japanese brands. Once applied, they are tattooed on your lids but easily come off with a few drops of water. If you live in LA, you can find these eyeliners at various makeup boutiques in the San Gabriel Valley. Contact me if want to know where to find them

I just can't resist the appeal of sparkly pink eyeshadow palettes, pink glittery polish, and plumping nude lip gloss.

Young by Yoyo Yeung Spring 2012 Collection Preview

Last week I attended the Spring 2012 collection preview of Young by Yoyo Yeung at her downtown LA showroom. The inspiration behind the collection was mother nature, focusing on its strong elements of water, sun and earth. I admired each of the boldly colored designs infused in slippery silk materials while sipping on champagne, nibbling on cupcakes and chatting about fashion with some of my favorite LA fashion bloggers. Living the fab life has never been so sweet!