Fernanda Ly: The Girl with the Pink Hair

Fernanda Ly: The Girl with the Pink Hair

Photo Source: x

Fernanda Hin Lin Ly, the Aussie model with hair reminiscent of Pepto Bismol, came into the spotlight after Louis Vuitton's creative director Nicolas Ghesquière kept her off limits to other designers for two seasons. Her iconic appearance at his AW16 and SS16 shows rocked the world and left us yearning for her flawless Sailor Moon aesthetics. Since the LV shows, Fernanda Ly has graced the covers of four Vogue magazines, an i-D magazine, and most recently, the cover of CR Fashion Book.
There is important cultural significance to the rise of Ly's popularity as well. According to Teen Vogue, "All of Australia’s most notable models — including Elle Macpherson, Miranda Kerr, and Gemma Ward — are white. This is curious given that plenty of nonwhites call Australia home." In fact, Ly, whose parents are Chinese, grew up in a predominantly Asian neighborhood. Her rise this fashion month has marked her as the only nonwhite Australian model to make it big. And here's the thing: she didn't need the millions of followers, that perhaps Kendall and Gigi did, to rise up in the industry.

Vogue Japan cover by Ezra Petronio, Vogue Australia cover by Nicole Bentley

CR Fashion Book cover by Mario Sorrenti, Vogue China cover by Patrick Demarchelier

Vogue Italia cover by Mario Sorrenti and Craig McDean, i-D cover by Mario Sorrenti

At the age of 15, Ly attempted to go bleach blonde but, much to her dissatisfaction, the result was a coppery orange. It wasn't until two years later at the age of 17 that she would make the iconic switch to cotton candy pink.

Photo by Tommy Ton for Vogue

According to her interview with i-D magazine in February, her favorite modeling job so far hasn't been for top designers such as Louis Vuitton, for who she was a muse, but shooting with online retailer NastyGal. According to her, this favoritism was brought by NastyGal's generous supply of cookies on set.
Speaking of cookies, Ly's quirks don't end with her unusual pink 'do. She has an utter appreciation for the sweet things in life-- literally. She loves sweet treats, especially ice cream. Her instagram as well as her interviews reveal her obsession with scones, latte art, and other café desserts and sweets.

Right: Ly at Louis Vuitton FW15 show, Left: Ly's street style (photographed by Tommy Ton for Vogue)

In addition to her love of bakery treats, Ly is deeply fascinated with architecture. She was an architecture student at a university in Sydney until she took a leave of absence to pursue her career in modeling, but she does plan to go back to the field in the future. "Clothing and fashion, buildings and architecture, they come hand in hand," she said to CNN Style, and revealed architecture was a mutual interest between her and LV's Ghesquière. Her favorite structures include Notre Dame (which turned her onto architecture), St. Mary's Cathedral in Tokyo, Church of the Light also in Tokyo, the Morimoto Restaurant in New York City, Bridge of Aspiration in London, and the Optical Glass House in Japan. Her interview with CNN Style revealed her utter intelligence on the matter, and she spoke only with the utmost eloquence.

Photo Source: Ly's instagram @warukatta

Fernanda Ly has walked a total of twenty-five shows as of the time this article is published. She's walked for Rihanna's recent Fenty x Puma show, as well as Dsquared, Dolce & Gabbana, Ermanno Scervino, Giamba, Max Mara, Fendi, Simone Rocha, Vera Wang, DKNY, Zimmermann, and --of course-- Louis Vuitton. According to Dazed, it's the “'vastly different cultures and people you are able to encounter while casually waiting for a casting' that Ly most enjoys about her work, a positive byproduct of the widening acceptance of both racial and stylistic difference supported by the industry’s biggest houses." 

She continues to dazzle us with her baby pink locks, confident walk, and intellectual insights. We can't wait to see and hear more of Fernanda Ly in the future.

Kendall Jenner: Not En Pointe

Kendall Jenner: Not En Pointe

Photos by Miguel Reveriego for Vogue Spain

Alas, we are never finished talking about Kendall Jenner.

The internet exploded this week with outrage from ballerinas and dancers around the world in response to Kendall Jenner's video shoot with Vogue Spain. In the video, Kendall is rather quirky as she dances (? we're not really sure what she's doing) and while narrating some inspirational sentiments, such as: "I've always been adventurous, so I love doing stuff like that-- I don't know, just stupid stuff. I love walking around; being able to be free."

Photo via Kendall's video shoot with Vogue Spain

What's the outrage? Kendall's odd ballet antics dumbfounded dancers, who then took to social media to voice their anger. The main complaint was that Jenner was appropriating ballet culture. Perhaps the most notable critique came from Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller, who stated on Instagram, "...I cannot be a fan of this shoot. There are so many amazing dancers in the world… Kendall Jenner is not one of them! Shame on Momager, Kris Jenner!!!" Indeed, this Vogue shoot would have been a better opportunity to feature many amazing ballerinas who have years of expertise and hard work under their belt. At the very least, a model trained in ballet, such as Karlie Kloss, should have played the part. As Twitter user @ohsolucee stated, "Ballet dancers don't train 7+ hours a day, 7 days a week, to be represented by Kendall Jenner & her dodgy feet."

Kendall in her Vogue Spain video shoot

However, ballet appropriation is not the only controversial aspect of the video shoot. Ballerinas being portrayed by thin women is, for a large part, unrealistic. As Isha Aran of Fusion stated, "Both the fashion and dance worlds risk promoting harmful body image, so attempting to pass someone off as a ballerina on the sole merit of being skinny is not just reductive and insulting. It’s actively harmful." Professional ballerinas and dancers often have built, muscular frames and toned muscles. There has been, however, extreme pressure in the ballet industry for dancers to be very slight and thin, prompting a campaign in 2014 called "Take Back the Tutu." The campaign aimed to combat pressures ballerinas face, such as body image, eating disorders, and beauty.

A video posted by Misty Copeland (@mistyonpointe) on Aug 8, 2016 at 2:53pm PDT

Proper ballet form, via Misty Copeland (@mistyonpointe)

A few weeks ago, I discussed other issues I have with Kendall in the industry and how her success is mainly due to nepotism. More eyes were opened after Jenner's video shoot with Vogue Spain, and she has now been bombarded with claims of appropriating ballet culture. It's important to recognize that Jenner, along with her Kardashian sisters, have been appropriating black culture for years. Just over a week ago, Kendall walked down the runway of Marc Jacob's SS17 show wearing dreads (you can see them here) and then showed them off later on her Instagram. However, the outrage that was sparked from this was little in comparison to the response to her Vogue Spain video. Perhaps it's not only time to question Kendall's presence in the industry, but our response to different levels of appropriation as well.

NYFW: The Stills

NYFW: The Stills

As NYFW comes to a close, here are some of the highlights from those days of chaos.

Katie Gallagher's "Eclipse" at Foley Studios. 

Yours truly outside VFiles pre- getting kicked out of their show with Kye (it's a looooong story). 

Baron Von Fancy's pop up in NoLita (it was overpriced and overrated but still quite cute and the event.)

My best friend, Anh, with our new most prized procession (they gave them away for free at the pop up and we couldn't resist a good Lil Yachty). 

Sam from 101topnotch in front of VFiles on day 2 looking ethereal. 

Anh and I taking a coffee/cake break as we go through the Katie Gallagher shots from the other night.

Skaters in SoHo we were crushin on (I also want to take a moment to appreciate how willing they were to let us photograph them due to their killer fits). 

The NYFW Color Palette

The NYFW Color Palette

Atmosphere at Altuzarra SS17. Photo via Vogue Runway. Edit by author.

New York Fashion Week wrapped up this past Thursday, and its shows were unique, artistic, and—as always—very entertaining. One cannot help but notice the recurring color palette in each show, so let’s take a look at this season’s colors of choice and dive into their significance in the industry.

Photos via Vogue Runway

Whites and Creams: Complete. Pure. The color of perfection. Purity. Wholeness. Innocence. Completion. Neutrality. White awakens openness, growth, and creativity as the color is completely reflective. According to Empower Yourself with Color Psychology, “Many people use white as a recall of their youth and innocence. It reminds them of a time when their lives were easier and less complicated.” We cannot help but agree as this season’s displays the color in youthful styles. White also represents new beginnings; perhaps its use this season marks a shift in trends and changes in the fashion industry.

 

Photos via Vogue Runway

Pastel Blue: Serenity. Calm. Spirituality. “Psychologically associated with air, lighter blues have a calming effect,” according to Color Wheel Artist. The use of pastel blues this season indicated cleanliness and mimicked the feeling of fresh air. In a world as chaotic as it is today, such a breath of fresh air is very much needed.

Photos via Vogue Runway

Olive: Space. Wisdom. Peace. Compassion. Hope. As stated by Vibrational Energy Medicine, the color olive is “the feminine archetype of compassion, wisdom, acceptance and understanding and modeling it to others.” For women’s ready-to-wear shows, olive green in a collection seeks to empower women and represent their strength.

Photos via Vogue Runway

Bright Red: Energy. War. Danger. Strength. Power. Determination. Passion. Desire. Love. As an emotionally intense color, red is used to indicate courage as well as danger. Along with olive green, red gives the impression of female empowerment and strength. Bringing red into a collection grabs the audience’s attention, and creates a sense of dominance.

Yeezy Designer Makes Trash Chic

Yeezy Designer Makes Trash Chic

Photo via Tumblr, edit by author, Preston on left and West on right

Zoolander will come to life in Heron Preston's NYFW show.

The character of Mugatu, played by Will Ferrell, in the aforementioned film created a collection he termed "derelicte." He describes the concept as "a fashion, a way of life inspired by the very homeless, the vagrants, the crack whores that make this wonderful city so unique."

Mugatu creating the "derelicte" look, photo via Twitter

At least, the New York Post will have you believe Preston is creating a derelicte show, as their headline proudly declares: "Fashion Week Designer Decides Dumpster-Chic is a Good Idea."

However, this is not the full story. Preston, celebrated for his collaborations with Kanye West and Nike, is using this upcoming collection to support New York's Department of Sanitation (DSNY)'s efforts to reduce landfill waste. See Preston's full explanation in his Instagram post below.

Between 1624 - 1798, New York City never gave any real attention to waste management. Streets were literally covered in dirt, mounds of manure, rotting animal carcasses and raw sewage. New Yorkers were literally poisoning the very city they lived in. Eventually a highly contagious yellow fever epidemic swept the city. People were putting their sick loved ones in the gutters to die in fear they would catch it too! The city's horror was the motivator to clean up realizing health and cleanliness were linked. The DSNY "caduceus" trademarked logo is a reflection of that time and why they decided to identify with it. Most of us however recognize this symbol from the medical industry where it is mainly used. This also explains why the DSNY is located in the NYC DEPT OF HEALTH building at 125 Worth St. 📸 @alifeinadiary #hpc0x30 #dsny #uniform #workwear

A photo posted by HPC TRADING CO (@heronpreston) on Aug 26, 2016 at 10:10am PDT

Photo via @heronpreston on Instagram

Heron Preston, according to a DSNY spokesman, was inspired to create an eco-friendly collection earlier this summer when swimming in the Mediterranean and getting tangled in a garbage bag.
Preston's ready-to-wear collection will be composed of repurposed DSNY uniforms (as the show itself is adequately titled "Uniform"), to bring well deserved recognition to hard working DSNY employees. These employees serve as many as 8.5 million people in New York City. Extending this recognition, Preston's show will be held at a city-owned facility, DSNY's Spring Street Salt Shed, that is usually off-limits to the public.

A photo posted by HPC TRADING CO (@heronpreston) on Aug 25, 2016 at 1:39pm PDT

Photo via @heronpreston on Instagram

As for the collection itself, Preston is recycling old DSNY employee uniforms. From the uniforms, Preston will create looks using patches of the neon green and orange uniforms next to screen-printed graphics, as is his typical fashion.

I worked with Robin Brooks, Executive Director of Strategic Communications + Marketing at the DSNY to help me secure uniform donations from sanitation workers. She put out the call and before I knew it, oversized green garbage bags full of used uniforms started to arrive from workers all over NYC. This was a coaches jacket I found in one of the bags donated for the project by Deputy Chief Albano.

A photo posted by HPC TRADING CO (@heronpreston) on Aug 25, 2016 at 2:52pm PDT

Photo via @heronpreston on Instagram

Want to attend the event? According to Complex, "25 tickets to the event will be sold for the hefty price of $2,030 each. Rest assured that money will go to a good place, though. DSNY will put the money towards a foundation for New York's garbage workers and an 'educational museum' full of artifacts and old equipment that goes all the way back to the 1800s." If you're looking to purchase, Preston's publicist states that "The unisex gear will be available online and in pop-up stores." You can find Preston's store here.

Matt & Nat: F/W 16 Accessory Review

Matt & Nat: F/W 16 Accessory Review

All photos courtesy of Matt & Nat's online lookbook

Finding chic, comfortable and fashion-foward accessories can be complicated if you are looking for a high quality, eco-friendly brand that boasts elegance. MAT(T)erial & NATure is a Canadian brand that prides itself with its trendy vegan products. “Live beautifully” is their mantra, as they believe that appreciating the humanity, creativity and positivity found in all of us is essential to moving forward in this world.

These accessories, such as hand bags, wallets, shoes, briefcases (and so many others) carry a sophisticated and impressive style, while still acting versatile and can be worn and used for any outing. The colors range in all shades of neutrals, nudes and tones you would find in nature. While the hand bags and backpacks are built to address the comfort of the wearer, they also come in various sizes to accommodate different needs for space and lifestyles. 

What makes Matt & Nat’s clever products even more irresistible is the process of their creation. Like mentioned earlier, the brand is gratifyingly considerate of the environment. All of Matt & Nat’s accessories are created without animal resources, and are constructed with sustainable materials like rubber, cork and nylons. Even the inside lining of the handbags is manufactured out of one hundred per cent recycled plastic bottles. Although the price can vary in expensive ranges, it is worth investing in Matt & Nat products because not only do they deliver a high quality product that will last you a long time, you are helping the environment and encouraging others to do so also (all while looking up-to-date with fashion). 

Just like it is important to treat the environment kindly, Matt & Nat says building relationships with workers within the company is something they focus diligently on. The factories host exceptional work conditions for all, and they say they intend to strengthen the conditions in the future. Matt & Nat encourages its employees and consumers to upcycle, volunteer for greater matters, and overall, “live beautifully”.

Years ago I bought a wallet from their Dwell collection, and I am still happily using it. More recently, I purchased a sandy colored handbag that can be worn crossbody or simply held by the handle. It adapts to all my work, school and social needs, while fitting my disaster of personal belongings. Personally, I do not think you can go wrong with choosing any of Matt & Nat’s endless products. However, if you are in need of more convincing, check out their sleek website and read a bit more of their story on http://mattandnat.com/.