Photo: Courtesy of Joanne Hong

Hello, everyone! My name is Joanne, and I’m an emerging contemporary women’s wear designer. I was born and raised in Stillwater, Oklahoma and moved to New York City a year ago to pursue my dream of creating my own clothing line. I basically left all that was comfortable in my life: my family, my friends, and everything that I know to be here. But this past year has been one of the most amazing years of my life! Follow me as I go through the ups and downs of launching my own line. I hope I can inspire you to follow your own dreams (whether that’s in fashion or another part of your life!). I didn’t always know I wanted to be a fashion designer. I grew up watching my mom make beautiful quilts but never thought I would have the patience to sew. I thought that being a marine biologist would be fun because of my love for animals. My love for fashion quickly surfaced when I started college. After I took my first sewing class, everything just clicked and fell into place. After I graduated from Oklahoma State University with an Apparel Design and Production degree, I launched my own line, JOLYNN by Joanne Hong. I stayed in Oklahoma for the next two years and sold my line at the Little Black Dress in Tulsa. Because I was the only one sewing the samples as well as all the garments for the store, it was a bit challenging trying to grow my company. That’s why I decided that the next big step would be to move to NYC—the fashion capital of the world. It truly is one of my favorite places in the world.

Here’s a sneak peek of two dresses from my Fall 2012 line:


Photo: Courtesy of Joanne Hong


Here are two dresses that I custom made and designed:


Photo: Courtesy of John Vu

This past year has definitely been life-changing. I’ve had the most amazing support from my mom, dad, and brother to pursue my dream as well as overwhelming support from all of my friends from back home and my new friends that I’ve met here (shout out to Kevin and Krista)! It also helps that one of my biggest supporters happens to be my roommate and one of my best friends from home, Lyn. Her and her boss, Mercedes Gonzalez, from Global Purchasing Companies, have helped me take a step closer to making my dream reality. I was chosen to be one of 20 emerging women’s wear designers to show my fall 2012 collection at Launch Pad at MAGIC in Las Vegas next month!! So, the last couple of weeks I’ve been so busy preparing for MAGIC. I finished making my collection about a week ago, and I have a photo shoot planned for next week. I’m going to post pics from the shoot in my next blog! So check back next week! I hope that you all continue to follow me on my journey, and I would definitely love to hear from you too! ‘Til next time… Joanne For more info about Joanne and her new line, check out her website, Facebook, or shoot her an e-mail at joannelynn.hong@yahoo.com!

Ryan McGinley for Edun Despite its celebrity cred, Edun’s always taken a somewhat surprisingly indie route when it comes to advertising.  Though Bono and his wife, Ali Hewson, star in Louis Vuitton’s Journey ads, you’ll never see their famous friends involved with the stars’ own sustainable collection—until now. For spring, they’ve enlisted hipsterdom’s favorite photographer, Ryan McGinley as well as rockstar English visionary, Jefferson Hack.  Hack served as creative director on McGinley’s shoot, which features six species of butterflies indigenous to Africa.  The arthropods flit alongside the label’s eco-friendly spring picks, like easy drawstring shorts and crisp white shirts. Though he’d probably call himself an artist first, McGinley’s never been one to shy away from an ad campaign.  His collaboration with Tilda Swinton for Pringle of Scotland’s spring 2010 advertisements might have been his most famous, but he’s also shot for brands like Club Monaco and Nina Ricci.  This time around the photog eschewed a famous face, which may be a good thing given that whatever they’re doing seems to be working.  The label—of which LVMH bought a 49% stake in May 2009—is posting double digit growth each season and this spring it will be carried at both Bloomingdales and Neiman Marcus for the first time—right on the heels of a pop-up shop opening in Paris’s Le Bon Marché late next month.

Photo: Imaxtree Deadline‘s reporting that Katy Perry will star in a 3D movie about her life. Though they call it a feature, it sounds more like a documentary in the vein of Justin Bieber’s Never Say Never. Perry was filmed with 3D cameras while on tour last year and the movie will cover her childhood—her strict religious background is well documented—and her rapid rise to pop fame. The movie’s set to come out this summer. Of course, the best part will be the press tour on which Perry will embark to promote the movie. Though her taste has evolved, it’s still unpredictable and oh-so-fun to watch.  Aside from the Manish Arora and Jean Charles de Castelbajac she’s bound to throw on for interviews and late night talk shows, we’re hoping she’ll turn toward couture (making a July release ideal!).  The one shouldered overall-like thing at left, from Givenchy’s winter couture collection, would be a great place to start.  And Valli’s pink floral number? It’s perfectly Perry.

Photo: ImaxTREE

Fashion houses have been sweating it up, and the invites are already rolling in. In less than two weeks, the fashion world will take over New York City for one of the year’s most anticipated events: Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week, running from February 9 to February 16. Designers, celebrities, editors, and fashion lovers will all flock to the tents at Lincoln Center to get a first look at the spring/summer collections. With over 90 designers showing their stuff, here are the collections we’re most excited about (now we just need to snag a ticket!): February 10 Rebecca Minkoff When: 3 p.m. Where: Theatre

 


Photo: ImaxTREE

Rebecca Minkoff may be known for her perfectly sized and styled handbags, but her clothing is also a perfect fit for the 20-something urban chic sophisticate: luxurious and glam yet casual and vintage looking. Hilary Duff, Hayden Panettiere, and Lindsay Lohan have all been spotted in her designs. Charlotte Ronson When: 7 p.m. Where: Stage



Photo: ImaxTREE

We’ve harbored a major girl crush on this talented Brit ever since she her first showing at NYFW in spring 2009. Sister to DJ Samantha and music producer Mark, this fashion-forward Ronson incorporates the same casual and cool laid-back vibe into her clothing as her sibs do in their music. February 12 Timo Weiland When: 9 p.m. Where: Studio



Photo: ImaxTREE

Add Timo Weiland to your list of designers to watch. After launching a neckwear line in pre-fall 2009, the designer expanded to a full collection womenswear and menswear fashioned with wild and exotic prints reminiscent of the classic European paintings he so adores (Weiland studied European history as an undergrad at Vanderbilt). February 13 Betsey Johnson When: 6 p.m. Where: Theatre

 

Photo: ImaxTREE

Betsey Johnson’s runway shows are just as over the top as her designs (she’s known for capping off each one with a cartwheel!) With prom on the brain, don’t miss getting a first look at this season’s amazingly embellished party dresses. February 14 J.Crew When: 9:30 – 10:30 a.m. Where: Studio



Photo: ImaxTREE

J.Crew is definitely one of our go-tos for closet staples—we can’t get enough of their preppy East coast style. Last season, the retailer impressed with a series of schoolgirl looks that could be worn to school with a pair of patent leather loafers or at night with a pair of heels and a clutch. February 15 Whitney Eve When: 9 a.m. Where: Studio



Photo: ImaxTREE

This marks Whitney Eve’s first solo show at NYFW, and we’re curious to see what the former reality TV star/budding designer is cooking up. Her line boasts eclectic, girly pieces as well as androgynous, menswear-inspired looks—all styled with an array of unique patterns and colors. According to Port, her collection has “grown so much over the years.” Here’s hoping this year brings some good changes!

Kate Moss dismisses rumors of an autobiography in an interview with the Times.  Sounds like we’ll have to wait quite a long time to hear the story of her life.

Photo: Sandro

Last month, Sandro sent out invitations to their New York Fashion Week party, in honor of the Bleecker Street store that opened late last year. Upon RSVP, there was mention of Dree Hemingway. Turns out the model (and famous literary spawn) has designed a ten piece capsule collection for the French brand. The boho collection was inspired by Hemingway’s youth, spent in Idaho, and—from the t-shirt at left—looks very Isabel Marant-like.  Look for the collection in stores this spring. Meanwhile, Hemingway’s also been tapped to host a dinner in honor of Dannijo alongside ManRepeller’s Leandra Medine as a kick off to New York Fashion Week.  Wonder if we’ll see her on any runways this season?

Photo: Getty

While we are complete advocates of  the don’t-talk-to-strangers-no-matter-how-cute-they-are policy,  a study completed by Purdue University has shown that a upward glance and a coy smile might actually be good for you. Researchers found that avoiding eye contact when walking past someone or looking over their shoulder, away from them or “looking at them as if they were air,” has a negative effect on others and can make you feel disconnected. According to the study, you don’t even have to smile to feel more in tune with others, which can lead to feeling better about yourself. Researchers wrote that “people who had gotten eye contact…with or without a smile, felt less disconnected than people who had been looked at as if they weren’t there.” Eric D. Wesselman added, “These are people that you don’t know, just walking by you, but them looking at you or giving you the air gaze—looking through you—seemed to have at least momentary effect.” So next time you’re tempted to glance at the cutie you see everyday after fourth period, don’t turn down the opportunity. It might just make your day and his.

de Sola with her design Partner, Karla Martinez

Ever wonder what a designer does all day? We asked designer, Cecilia de Sola of Piamita, who’s based in Santiago, Chile, to write it all down—on one particularly busy day.

8:00 AM Coffee and papers. This is the bit of time I take each morning to catch up on news, read my blogs, keep up with friends, and deal with any personal things before moving on to work-related matters.

9:00 AM I am at my desk going through emails and my to-do list for the day. We are changing a few things on our website this month so today I am going over layouts and approving revisions to be uploaded on Piamita.com by the end of the week.

10:00 AM It’s still 8AM in New York, so I have a Skype conference call with my partner Karla [Martinez] about our AW 2012 lookbook shoot options, confirmed market appointments, and the design of a new jacket we are working on for the collection. Noon My little bit of luxury for the day: an hour long private pilates class with my friend Carlota Bouquet.


Photo: Piamita

1:30 PM My trusted seamstress Maria Teresa arrives to do fittings for some of the pieces we are working on for the AW 2012 collection.

3:30 PM I review different cotton options and colors for what will be resort 2012.

4:00 PM I go to our factory to check in on the fall fabrics that have arrived for our samples and to oversee some of the cutting and other details related to our SS 2012 production that is well underway. It’s very busy here as we have to perfect some blouses with the seamstresses and pattern-makers before they can be sent down the production line. All requires a lot of attention to detail, patience, and teamwork.



Fabric bolts at the factory

6:00 PM Still at the factory! I have now moved on to focusing on the details of the AW 2012 collection—we’re in the process of perfecting our samples in time for market week.

8:00 PM Back at my desk, I answer emails and put some calls in before the end of the day in New York. I am constantly working with people in three different time zones so I try to get back to everyone I need to before signing off for the day.

9:30 PM I prepare dinner for me and my husband and then happily escape into the latest episode of Downton Abbey.

Photo: Sofia Coppola for H&M

Here’s the first look at H&M’s print campaign for their hugely anticipated collaboration with Marni. We already know that it launches in March, and that they’ve hired Sofia Coppola to creatively direct the campaign and accompanying video. Now we know that Imogen Poots stars in the dreamy shots and that the gold brocade suit (dress?) above will retail for around $90. Also, that the partnership will be feted in LA (a new locale for H&M) with a huge party the day after New York Fashion Week.  Sounds like London has new competition…