The First Lookbook

Putting a spotlight on emerging Asian and American fashion designers, specializing in both womenswear and menswear as discovered by Stephanie Michelle Hendrawan.

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

“Where Love is Illegal” Human Rights Group To End Anti LGBT

The topic of gay marriage has always been something that can be considered as taboo in the Indonesian community. It’s not uncommon for an Indonesian to hide their homosexual identity, as the society will immediately shun them for it. I can remember during high school that a dear friend of mine was so afraid to tell anyone about the idea of him being gay due to continuous slurs from the ‘jocks’ that will abuse someone who they think are acting gay. I was the only person that he could confide into when I realized that he was struggling with his identity with the fear of being justified and punished for something that he was identified with. 

Even though I am not a homosexual or a transgender, needless to say, some of my best friends and some of the most awesome people I’ve met are in the category of LGBT. When the news broke that U.S. has finally legalized same sex marriage, the feeling of envy started to swarm through my LGBT friends who know that such liberal thing will never happen in our country that we call as home. It was not until one day when I was standing in the middle of a road filled with people filling the air with joy and gratitude in New York City last summer during the gay parade and I saw a sign that says, “Where Love Is Illegal” (WLII). 

Upon seeing the sign, I began to research about the foundation and some of the stories posted there about how people were being isolated from a community due to their so-called ‘sickness’ brought tears to my eyes. I immediately remember my best friend from high school who had to face his fears of being known as gay by our friends, each time he attend school. WLII started as a photo based project by award-winning photographer and human rights activist Robin Hammond. 

WLII believes that prosecution based on sexuality or gender identity must end. The program also believes that stories have the ability to connect and transform people’s thoughts to have open minds and change policies to end this LGBT discrimination. Read some of the heartfelt stories here.

If you know anyone who are facing discrimination due to their gender or sexual identity, defend them! For those who discriminate against them are the ones that deserve the punishment indeed. It’s definitely time to end this outrageous issue as love knows no boundaries, and one should not live in loneliness, excluded from any communities. 

Want to learn more on how to support the cause? Click here.

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

5 Asian Models Who Dominates Global Fashion Presence

As reported by Fashion Gone Rouge, for the past several years, fashion has started to embrace Asian models as countries like China, Japan, and South Korea becomes an important element in the global market industry. Make no mistake, these five Asian models are here to stay as the fashion industry has shown their love through featuring their faces in some of the big brands’ campaigns, magazine covers, and runway shows. 

See the full list below.

Liu Wen

Nationality: Chinese

Major Breakthrough: Liu Wen rose to fame after being the first Asian model to serve as an ambassador for Estee Lauder. Besides her beauty contract which began in 2010, Liu has appeared in campaigns for notable brands such as Roberto Cavalli, Tiffany & Co. and La Perla to name a few. 

Liu Wen also walked the Victoria’s Secret runway show in 2012, making her the first Chinese model to appear in the broadcast. 

Liu Wen has also been credited as the first Asian supermodel thanks to her oriental appeal that the global fashion industry has grown fond of. Karl Lagerfeld is also a fan as Liu Wen has appeared in Chanel Runway shows numerous amount of times.

To know more about Liu Wen, follow her at:

Instagram and Twitter: @liuwenlw

Fei Fei Sun

Nationality: Chinese

Major Breakthrough: Fei Fei Sun has landed major advertising campaigns throughout her career by posing for brands like Dior and Louis Vuitton. 

Fei Fei has also covered top magazines like Vogue China and Vogue Italia. Her cover of Vogue Italia marked the first time that a model of East Asian descent has appeared on a solo cover for the publication.

To know more about Fei Fei Sun, follow her at:

Instagram and Twitter: @feifeisun

Tao Okamoto

Nationality: Japanese

Major Breakthrough: Tao Okamoto has appeared in campaigns for brands like Ralph Lauren, Emporio Armani and Zac Posen.

In 2013, she made her first major acting debut in “The Wolverine” where she appeared alongside Hugh Jackman. In 2009, Tao landed on the cover of Vogue Japan where she had an entire issue dedicated to herself–making her the first Japanese model with this distinction.

To know more about Tao Okamoto, follow her at:

Instagram and Twitter: @taookamoto

Soo Joo Park

Nationality: Korean

Major Breakthrough: Despite her late start in modeling, Soo Joo Park has landed ad campaigns for top brands including Chanel and Tom Ford. 

She is most well known for her signature platinum blonde tresses that led her to become the first ever Asian spokesmodel for L’oreal, joining the ranks of Lara Stone and Karlie Kloss. 

In addition, Soo Joo Park has already walked for some of the major big brands in fashion such as Moschino, Tom Ford, and Chanel, alongside Cara Delevigne and Kendall Jenner.

To know more about Soo Joo Park, follow her at:

Instagram: @soojmooj

Twitter: @soojoo

Irene Kim

Nationality: Korean

Major Breakthrough: Irene Kim studied textile design in New York City’s very own Fashion Institute of Technology when she made the move to pursue her passion in fashion. 

Most well known for being the “girl with the rainbow hair”, Irene Kim has become an international household name becoming the global ambassador for Estee Lauder and Calvin Klein.

To know more about Irene Kim, follow her at:

Instagram and Twitter: @ireneisgood

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Not Just A Label x Made In NY Pop Up Recognizing Emerging Fashion Designers

Not Just A Label (NJAL), a global network of contemporary designers who fully support the rise of emerging fashion talents is launching its first retail pop up space in Waldorf Astoria, New York this week. Slated to open from this Friday through Dec. 13, the NJAL project is part of the New York City Economic Development Corp.’s Made in NY Fashion Initiative. 

As reported by WWD, the project will showcase a selection of 100 of New York City’s most notable emerging designers, culled from more than 250 designer nominations and 1,000 product submissions from institutes all over the United States. 

The event also marks the first New York City-sponsored pop-up of fashion industry, as it will be open to the public on Dec. 4, with a party hosted by the 150 designers taking part. The pop-up will be the first retail space in New York City for Siegel’s Not Just A Label, an international B2B and B2C digital platform that promotes emerging design talent. The project is in cooperation with Mayor Bill de Blasio’s Made in NY Initiative.

Stefan Siegel, CEO and founder of NJAL said in an interview with WWD, “This project gives even the youngest New York designers an opportunity to realize the dream of showcasing their collections to this incredibly influential city.” 

The project will also feature a series of workshops led by industry leaders, educators, influencers and celebrity designers such as CFDA chief executive officer Steven Kolb, People’s Revolution founder Kelly Cutrone, fashion consultant Julie Gilhart, designers Thom Browne, Kenneth Cole and Rag & Bone, as well as notable members of Parsons School of Design The New School and the Fashion Institute of Technology.

The Made in NY program was created for the city’s fashion industry in early 2015 to acknowledge the economic importance and influence of the sector, and support early thriving companies and designers. It also aims to bridge the gap between the industry and those who come to New York City in order to start their careers.

In case you’ve missed the submission to participate in this project, fret not, there will always be next year! You can participate and submit your designs here for future reference. 

Follow Stefan Siegel for more updates on the project:

Instagram: @notjustalabel

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“When The Force of Fashion and Food Awakens” By MrLessy

I am pleased to share with you that the first guest blogger to takeover my blog, TheFirstLookbook, is none other than Kevin Lessy, Indonesian based Lifestyle blogger and a dear friend of mine that has successfully marked his presence in San Francisco.  

The 23-year-old lifestyle blogger is widely known as @mrlessy​ who have gained praises for his ability to capture food beyond the visual aesthetics that are appealing to his 7k and counting followers to date. 

Read below to read Kevin Lessy’s takeover of my blog!

Hello, TheFirstLookbook readers! I’m Kevin and I’m thrilled to takeover today’s post for my friend, Michelle Hendrawan. As a lifestyle blogger, I’ve been so exposed with the emerging trend of lifestyle instagram posts, where food and fashion are usually put together within a picture.

The lifestyle blogging scene definitely knows its audience, and I’m taking San Francisco as an example for this how-to tips due to its vibrancy and eccentricity that dwell into the San Francisco lifestyle. I’ve realized that there are more engaging activities between me and my followers when there are some fashion aesthetics being put into the pictures of food that I take. Therefore, I started to incorporate posts that complement the food itself with accents and colors to add more stylistic features into my posts.

I’ll use an example that Michelle and I collaborated together for our instagram post when we went to Mr. Holmes Bakehouse (their cruffins are to die for by the way!). When we took the pictures, which of course, garnered unwanted attention from other people who are lining up early in the morning to get their hands on the famous cruffins, we used some accessories to complement the simple shape of the cruffins itself. 

Cruffins are a croissant muffin hybrid for those of you who do not know of it… Anyhow, with the shape of a muffin, we added gold accents from Michelle’s hand accessories as well as the colors from her outfit so that it helps to highlight the contours of the cruffins. 

This way, my post would be much more interesting as it differs from what other people have been taking of the norm cruffins shots.

So in order to capture or recreate pictures that can still be fun and fashionable at the same time, keep in mind these few tips:

1. Definitely create a visual contrast and choose vibrant colors - not only will these will make your food and fashion pop out from each other, but it also makes the picture visually more appealing. 

2. Create a sense of space - a simple layout on a white marble table with a few tea, kouign amanns, shades, some flowers in a vase, bracelets, cute phone case and your hand with rings will create a sense of a stylish afternoon tea at b.patisserie (just like this post by a dear friend of mine, @cyneats). 

3. Be creative - it doesn’t have to be pretty and all serious, sometimes make it fun. Michelle and I also did a shot where we made the cruffin look like it was the bag’s hat using her Acne Studios clutch. Since the clutch had a cute face design on it, we figured that it would be fun to use the cruffins as the clutch’s hat accessory. Just make sure to use the hashtag #cutecruffinhat to differentiate your post. 

4. Do an over headshot a lot - imagine yourself sitting on these steps by the park, and you have a cute dress, shoes, ring, and hat on. These contrasting colors will complement a delicious sandwich/salad or whatever lunch you have in your hands. Just take a shot from the higher step :) 

Photo Cred: @cyneats

5. You don’t have to be embarrassed - us bloggers tend to not care what other people think, so we WILL stand on the chairs and make yourself look stupid, but we’re doing it for the audience - so… why not? Who cares?

6. Be funny - use your imagination with your things. For more interesting shots, here are a few more ideas, do some behind the scene shots of you taking a picture with your fancy camera taking the picture of the food with some cool outfit. 

So there, those are a few tips to add a little color to your pictures. Lifestyle is supposed to inspire and influence other people, so have fun and start shooting!

P.S: I’m pleased to say that the possibility of me and @mrlessy collaborating on more lifestyle instagram posts that combine fashion and food altogether seems more than likely. So stay updated for our future collaborations that will be featured in both @thefirstlookbook and @mrlessy to see #IndonesianInvasion in San Francisco! 

To know more about the ways to take noteworthy pictures, follow @mrlessy through his instagram and stay tuned for his upcoming post on secret menu all around San Francisco’s notable restaurants!

Read more of Kevin Lessy’s posts here.

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

Five Southeast Asian Fashion Labels You Need To Know

As reported in my previous post, Asian designers are on the rise to enter the global market that allows them to gain international media exposure to showcase their fashion talents. Household names such as Thailand-born Thakoon Panichgul and Prabal Gurung who was born in Singapore have proven that Korea and Japan are not the only two countries in Asia who you should be looking for style inspirations.

What separates this list of five Southeast Asian designers is that they are embracing their roots instead of eschewing them for a global approach, which makes them much more interesting as international brands. These five labels have managed to fuse together the influences from their diverse cultures in creating clothes that appeal to the global market while still incorporating their respective cultural design aesthetics. 

Disaya

Disaya Sorakraikitikul is a Thailand native who honed her skills as a fashion designer in Central St. Martins, London. During her studies, Disaya was given the opportunity to train with John Galliano and is highly influenced by London and the unique creative element embedded within the city. This influence is revealed in all her works and collections, which illustrates her quirkiness and eccentricity alongside femininity and elegance. Her namesake label, Disaya offers ready-to-wear and jewelry collections that complements the silhouettes of feminine and playful.

Instagram: @DISAYAOFFICIAL

Shop her collection here.

Sretsis

Stretsis is founded by three sisters, Pin, Kly, and Matina Sukhabuta who handle the brand’s creative direction, marketing, and jewelry, respectively. This 12-year old brand that was born and bred in Thailand received numerous press thanks to its line that boasts ethereal designs that are feminine and whimsical. Stretsis is also associated with its trademark whimsical prints with progressive textile development that is always steering towards constant avant-garde experimentations.

Instagram: @sretsisofficial

Shop their collection here.

Exhibit Store

Founded by Yoyo Cao and Angie Chia who have established their names as two of the most sought-after style inspirations in Singapore, Exhibit Store focuses on offering androgynous and minimalist clothes for women. Both Yoyo and Angie does minimalist chic with comfortable loose-fitting staples with fun details. This hyped Singapore fashion line had just recently offer worldwide shipping for international customers to get their hands on these affordable clothing pieces.

Instagram: @exhibitstore

Shop their collection here.

Peggy Hartanto

Indonesian born, and raised in Surabaya, Peggy Hartanto moved to Sydney where she graduated with BFA of Fashion Design in Raffles College of Design and Commerce. Soon after graduation, Collette Dinnigan, Australian designer who have also marked her presence in the international market, took notice of Peggy Hartanto’s talents and skills. In 2011, Peggy Hartanto created her own fashion label using her own name that uses the concept of contemporary women fashion that complements her skill of innovative fabric construction techniques.

Instagram: @peggyhartanto

Shop her collection here.

Toton The Label

Founded by Toton Januar and Haryo Balitar, Toton The Label is anything but “effortless”. Offering unique twist on women’s fashion by drawing inspirations from Indonesia’s natural beauty and diverse culture, the label emphasizes on mixing traditional elements with modern and sophisticated look. Traditional elements from Javanese clothing such as Kebaya collars are incorporated throughout the collection.

Instagram: @totonthelabel

Shop their collection here.

Get familiar with these five rising Southeast Asian designers who are on their way to mark their presence in the global fashion industry. 

Stay tuned for more news about emerging fashion designers by following my blog, TheFirstLookbook.

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

Emerging Designers Are Getting An Extra Room in Net-a-Porter

Amidst all the high level of competition, the rise of emerging designers trying to penetrate the market with their contemporary labels are continuously brimming. Contemporary fashion market itself showcased the result of reacting to the stylish consumers’ demands that want to own versatile clothing that they could wear on a daily basis while still having the essence of luxury in the clothing.

  Take for instance contemporary retailer, Opening Ceremony, who has been distributing clothing items of their own private line as well as from designers who offer contemporary lines that could be sold at a more reasonable price point as opposed to the high-end luxury items sold over in Bergdorf Goodman. 

For those of you who like to shop, Net-a-porter is a name that could be as familiar as your monthly PG&E bill payments showing up in your mailbox. If you ever shop at this online luxury retail, you should be prepared to see a wider range of contemporary labels being offered at the site (expect more collections from Self-Portrait and Tibi to name a few).

Net-a-porter’s Vice President of Buying, Sarah Rutson revealed to Fashionista.com on their recent interview that a retailer couldn’t grow if a retailer only sells haute couture, as the industry is too limited in size. 

Read the except below to learn more about the shift in consumers’ demand that are gearing more towards upcoming designer labels.

On Expanding Net-a-Porter’s Contemporary Section:

It started for the fall 2015 [season]. Net-a-Porter has an extraordinary designer ready-to-wear business, but I felt that contemporary was really highly under-potentialized, especially with the opportunities to build exclusive collaborations with contemporary brands — it's far easier to do than with designer brands. From a business standpoint, the designer brand margins are much lower than contemporary brands, so that's important.

And fundamentally, it's about really engaging with the customer. We all buy — it's a much overused word but a reality — high/low. No one wears designer price points head-to-toe. And now that Net-a-Porter is 15 years old, shipping to 170 countries, we've got a new customer base and a younger customer base, so there's quite a number of things we can do there.

On Particular Brands That Rutson Invested In:

We have had extraordinary results with Marques Almeida and Elizabeth and James. Self-Portrait also — we're tripling, quadrupling our buys and still not seeing a ceiling. We want to make sure when they open the Net-a-Porter boxes, there's extraordinary product inside. It's not just about cheaper product.

On Designs Chosen from Contemporary Designers:

The criteria is always the same: to build a good product architecture, making sure there's good/better/best, making sure you're looking at the coat business, tops, pants, what percentage of the business is going to be blouses, dresses, skirts. Then obviously there are certain brands that are very strong in certain categories. That's about the edit. We're not here to buy a bit of everything from brands, we're here to buy the best from the brands.

On Consumer’s Buying Behavior Towards Contemporary Pieces:

Actually what it's doing is layering into the customer we already have, giving her opportunities to shop high/low. It's bringing in a newer customer and a younger customer as well. We're here not to be one-dimensional, but to service the modern woman today, and that's how a modern woman shops.

What's really interesting is that the designer brands are looking at the price architecture as well to bring in a newer customer base. You can buy designer handbags now at around $800 — you used to never be able to get that from a designer.

On Net-a-Porter’s Broader Price Range:

It's been quite organic in certain respects. It's been really refreshing for me that the customer has noticed. Word spreads very, very quickly, and I think our advantage at Net-a-Porter is the fact that we curate so well, and curation in the contemporary arena has to be very, very strong because there can be a lot of noise in there. We're not here ever to be a mono brand for any brand.

Do you agree with Net-a-Porter’s decision to expand its contemporary range of designer items? 

Keep in mind that as an emerging designer, you should identify your design aesthetics, and who knows, your label might appear under Sarah Rutson’s radar soon, and voila, you can be featured in one of the most prominent online retailer in the world!

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

First Look Into Louis Vuitton Series 3 Exhibition in Singapore

After months of extensive planning, building and, not to mention, buzz and expectation, the Louis Vuitton Series 3 Exhibition will officially open to the Singapore public on November 28.

To kick-off the exhibition, a red carpet grand opening was held last night in the South Crystal Pavilion at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands. Korean superstar CL was in attendance, as well as pink-hair stunner, Fernanda Ly, and Tao Okamoto, the Japanese actress who stole the show in The Wolverine.

The likes of Margaret Zhang, Kim Cam Jones, and Singapore’s very own style influencer, Yoyo Cao also attended this star-studded event.

As I’ve mentioned in my previous post, the exhibition will showcase Louis Vuitton handbag curators that would personally perform the making of the French House’s Petite Male and Dora handbags for the attendees.

In addition, the rendition of Louis Vuitton’s Fall 2015 Runway Show is celebrated as every girl’s dream to have a walk-in full of Louis Vuitton wardrobe.

Displaying the fall/winter 2015 collection, some things you should look out for include this intricately embroidered dress with jellyfish and eel drawings as well as the iconic LV flowers and diamonds, the sheep fur coat worn by Freja Beha Erichsen in the runway show, as well as a vermillion crocodile skin Petite Malle that is oh-so-covetable.

For those of you who want to attend the event, the admission is free, but be sure to RSVP online through here.

And for those of you lucky Singaporeans who have attended the event, use the hashtag #lvseries3 to share the inside look to this incredible exhibition (I’m jealous to say the least!). Enjoy the exhibition while it lasts :)

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

Three Things To Know About Louis Vuitton Series 3 Exhibition

After its successful exhibition in London in October 18 2015, Louis Vuitton jumped ship to Southeast Asia’s tiniest country, Singapore to hold its second exhibition of the unexpected Fall 2015/16 Ready To Wear collection. 

According to Buro247 Singapore, these are the three things to know about the first exhibition from Louis Vuitton being held in Southeast Asia.

1. Louis Vuitton's 'Series' exhibitions were created to showcase the runway show for people who did not attend Paris Fashion Week.

'Series 1', which was held in Shanghai and Tokyo in September 2014, was sparked from an idea by creative director Nicolas Ghesquière after his first runway show for the brand; that is, fall/winter 2014. In short, each 'Series' documents Ghesquière's design process for each of his runway collections. For 'Series 3', the designer will bring a reintepretation of his third show for the house, the fall/winter 2015 collection, to greater heights.

2. It takes a really, really detail-oriented person to create the Petite Malle and Dora

But all for the better. Ghesquière's known for his uncompromising attention to detail and high standards of quality, which is evident in the exhibition's step-by-step construction journey of the Petite Malle and Dora: From materials, to techniques used, and innovation applied. Expect three rooms dedicated entirely to unveiling secrets behind Louis Vuitton's craftsmanship.

3. The location had a lot to do with the decision to make Singapore the second and last stop for 'LV Series 3'

To be staged in the South Crystal Pavilion at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands, the venue pretty much sealed the deal: It is parallel to the brand's one-and-only Island Maison in the world. Coupled with the fact that Singapore stands as a tradition-meets-innovation city, it's a prime spot for Louis Vuitton to look back at the past, be in the present, while also looking towards the future. It sure is a far cry from the exhibition's previous London home: The brutalist concrete block, 180 The Strand.

For those of you who are interested in attending the event in Singapore, LV Series 3 Exhibition will be held at the South Crystal Pavilion located at The Shoppes at Marina Bay Sands from 28 November to 23 December. 

Admission is free — register online here to skip the queue.

To know more about LV Series 3 Exhibition in Singapore, read the next post from TheFirstLookbook to get the first look of the star-studded event. 

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

How To Be The “Perfect Hostess” For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving might be daunting for a host to entertain his or her audience be it for a supportive bunch of friends and family that will subconsciously create a pressurizing atmosphere. The stakes are even higher as this most celebrated holiday is all about two things: food and gratitude. Above it all, there is also this persistent ideal of being the “perfect hostess” that glides from kitchen to table and back again clad in pearls and silk slippers to refill champagne flutes, instead of lurching into the kitchen in their favorite trainers and hair-scrunch in search of what actually smells like burning from the kitchen. 

Vogue recently gathered a few tips from two Asian American celebrity chefs who have made their household name in America on how to stay on point to be the so-called “perfect hostess”.

Kristen Kish

Born in Seoul, South Korea, Kish worked as a model in her high school years. Ultimately, Kish followed her passion to become a chef by attending Le Cordon Bleu in Chicago, earning an A.A. in Culinary Arts. Kish’s talent was first recognized through winning Season 10 of Top Chef.

On Her Personal Style: Very simple. Maybe too simple at times. I have to be able to move and eat. When I’m cooking at home, typically sweatpants and a T-shirt. If I have to impress, I’ll wear a button-down, probably a tad oversized. I usually forgo an apron at home. Grease stains mean I was working—and too many means I’m not doing my job properly. I will be the friend among a dinner party that isn’t dressed up. Homes are supposed to be comfortable.

On How To Handle Being Both Hostess and Chef: Kitchens have always been the hangout during a dinner party; I think of myself as part of the kitchen. Chatting, cooking—and I can’t drink and cook at the same time. Working in restaurants for the majority of my career means I have a “get it done” mentality and no wine until after my work is complete. I clean as I go, but the aftermath of dinner dishes, I do what I can to pass those responsibilities off. And I’ll typically try to find someone to make me a grilled cheese. After cooking the meal I don’t really want to eat it. I nearly have an entire tasting menu with all of the bites and tastes I have during the process. Everything tastes better cooked by someone else, unless they are a shit cook. But I do my best to avoid asking those dinner guests.

On Her Favorite Cooking Playlist or Background Dinner Music: This is hard. Depends if it’s among friends and we are looking for a party to last into the night. Maybe a little Bieber. His shit is catchy. I’m a sucker for a good beat. Van Morrison. Jazz and soul are always a great medium—love big brass and raspy voices.

On Her Favorite Thanksgiving Cocktail: Campari and soda. Or a nice bourbon.

On Her Pro-Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving: Prep ahead of time—organization and mise en place. Do a little bit at a time in the days leading up to Thanksgiving. Stage as much as possible, so when your guests arrive, you are basically throwing it in the oven, finishing sauces . . . or focusing on basting your turkey. It doesn’t have to be daunting. Keep it simple and tasty, clean as you go, and stay organized. Make prep lists. The goal is no stress—oftentimes easier said than done, I know.

Follow Kristen Kish for more tips on how to be the perfect hostess:

Twitter: @KristenLKish

Instagram: @kristenlkish

Hannah Cheng and Marian Cheng

Sisters Hannah and Marian Cheng might be very well known for their creation of Mimi Cheng’s Dumplings in New York City. The two sisters took their mother’s recipes by celebrating the authentic Chinese Dumplings style that can easily make every Chinese people feel as if they are eating home cooked food. Born and bred in China, the Cheng family migrated to Manhattan when the two sisters enrolled into college with the tradition being continued and shared to New Yorkers to this very day.

On Their Personal Style: A comfortable pair of broken-in jeans and a light, airy sweater with my everyday kitchen apron, which usually has a bright floral pattern or a rooster on it (I was born in the year of the rooster).

On How They Dress Up for Their Guests: The transition from cook to fellow diner is tough because it’s all about juggling multiple projects and timing everything perfectly. When things go smoothly, I have all my cooking timed to be ready in about an hour. The key is to set a schedule for the two or three days leading up to Thanksgiving. Prep the things that you can early, such as cranberry sauce. A classic pumpkin pie is a must, as well as an apple pie or a pear tart. Thanksgiving isn’t the time to get crazy or experiment with untried recipes. Stick with the classics. With my two sous chefs handling the sides, it gives me time to make myself presentable for our guests. That definitely means a shower, change of clothes, a quick blowout, smudge of eyeliner, mascara, a little blush, and a swipe of red lipstick. Lipstick automatically raises the glam factor. We never want guests to see us rushing around! A tip for guests: Never show up earlier than the time indicated on our invitation—it’s stressful for your hosts.

On Her Favorite Cooking Playlist or Background Dinner Music: We love Nina Simone. Anything jazz

On Her Favorite Thanksgiving Cocktail: Straight Bulleit on the rocks. It’s a warming and cozy liquor that doesn’t leave you with a terrible sugar hangover.

On Her Pro-Tips for Hosting Thanksgiving: Making sure that there is plenty to eat and take home. One of the best parts about a Thanksgiving feast is enjoying the leftovers for a few more meals. The hostess always makes sure that glasses are filled, plates are full, and conversation is lively. Planning ahead is important. At this point in my life, I have the planning and preparation planned down to the half hour, so our Thanksgiving dinners are always enjoyable. No last-minute rushing about. Find the best-quality ingredients that you can and the ingredients will speak for themselves. It’s our tradition to go to the Union Square farmers’ market for everything, including the turkey. Make sure you preorder, since the pasture-raised gems sell out fast. Order at least a case of wine, depending on how many people are coming. We enjoy Pinot Noir or a Carignan for our meal.

Follow The Chengs for more tips on how to be the perfect hostess:

Twitter: @mimichengs

Instagram: @mimichengs

Happy Thanksgiving everyone! May you become the perfect hostess this year! Love, TheFirstLookbook

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

3 Ways To Hire Fashion PR Agency For Emerging Designers

Crosby Noricks, author and founder of PR Couture and brand strategist took into notice how most of emerging fashion designers may find it difficult to find the right media exposure to showcase their collections. In her recent article, Noricks presented three ways for emerging designers to hire Fashion PR agency on a limited budget.

1. Choose a monthly retainer with a boutique agency The traditional model of hiring a fashion PR agency involves paying a certain amount of money up front each month. This may come as a really costly budget for young fashion talents as the hours they get depends on the hourly rate of the practitioners working on their behalf. For instance, if you are paying $1,000 and the publicist charges $100 an hour, which equates to 10 hours of work done against your retainer a month. Most smaller boutique agencies consider $2,500 per month to be the minimum price, while larger agencies may consider $10k per month for the starting point. Retainers typically require a commitment of at least three months, usually six. This is because PR is cumulative and requires consistent work and outreach to secure the best results. Read my post on the top five boutique PR and Showroom agencies for potential retainers.

2. Retain a publicist that allows price leverage based on your specific needs Short-term project will be less costly than a long-term PR project that is based on a fixed cost for a limited amount of time. Projects may occur as an added cost with a retainer client who needs extra media coverage. Some PR agencies allow their clients to leverage based on their specific needs, thus, many PR agencies are now showcasing collections from young fashion talents into a presentation as opposed to the traditional way of holding a runway event.

3. Negotiate for compensation based on coverage According to David Oates, President of Stalwart Communications, the traditional PR model of paying on performance is going out of fashion. This is due to the uncertainty of the public relations strategy being able to guarantee sales as the outcome. Retainers aren’t measurable and therefore agencies aren’t accountable to clients in the same way that marketing or law firms have had to be. Therefore, it is crucial for emerging fashion designers to know that their specific goals are met with the right amount of money being spent on the particular publicist.

The decision to work with a PR agency should be made after a thorough research phase and compared against current capabilities and specific needs. Each agency has its own personality, expertise, quirks, and set of services, so it's worth taking the time to find the perfect fit! 

Follow Crosby Noricks of PR Couture to know more about how to hire the right publicist for your label:

Website: prcouture.com

Twitter: @crosbynoricks 

Facebook: facebook.com/crosbynoricks

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#prayforparis: Fashion Community Mourn Through Social Media

The unfortunate tragedy that took place last Friday, November 13, 2015 in Paris, the fashion capital of the world, gathered viral reactions from the fashion industry. As reported by NYTimes, the world watched and listened in shock as reports emerged of a wave of horrific terrorist attacks killing at least 127 people. French President François Hollande spoke in a television addressing the following statement, "The attacks were planned and organized from abroad with help from inside France."

ISIS is said to be the one responsible for this devastating attack and the world is in great fear of what to come next from their threats.

As the fashion capital and grand finale for fashion week, the fashion community has been quick to respond showing their concern and love for the city through social media. This does not only include French-based designers, as Asian-American designers such as Prabal Gurung and Thakoon immediately showcased their concerns and mourning. Opening Ceremony founders Carol Lim and Humberto Leon also took part through the company’s instagram post showcasing their mourning with the caption: #prayforparis. 

With the Haute Couture SS16 and the men's runway shows for FW16 happening in eight weeks, the French fashion community will have security uppermost in their minds this time around. The thoughts and prayers of the world are with them.

Follow the hashtag #prayforparis to see more updates from all around the world. 

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Top 5 PR And Showroom Agencies Showcasing Emerging Fashion Designers

As an emerging fashion designer, associating your brand to big specialty stores or department stores with a yearly contract can feel daunting and young designers often struggle with immediate results in profitability and sales expectations. Thus, many young designers now have tried to look for other viable options that allow them to increase their brand awareness without having too much risk of folding in the first year of building their own label. 

For those of you who are on the first step to getting your namesake label out there, look no further than to contact a Fashion PR Company that also transcends as a showroom. Thefirstlookbook is happy to report the finding of five PR and Showroom companies in the nation that will be more likely to distribute labels from upcoming fashion labels. Expect these five PR and Showroom companies to be your ultimate supporter and your golden ticket to get your name out there to the press as their clienteles consists mostly of stylists and press continuously looking for under the radar fashion talents. 

Read below to find out more about the top five PR and Showroom companies in the nation!

1. Steven Alan Showroom

Steven Alan might be known as a household name that is associated closely with the term casual cool in the world of shirting by many fashion insiders. However, his ability to recognize talents from emerging designers was procured by his idea to launch Steven Alan showroom in 1997. With the mission to assist emerging and established brands in maximizing their wholesale sales in a right manner, Steven Alan showroom now houses under the radar labels such as Lover, Marissa Webb, and Clare V to name a few. 

The showroom is dedicated to grow and nurture both emerging and established brands across a wide spectrum of apparel and accessories in New York City and Los Angeles. 

Perks: Steven Alan Showroom has their own blog with Q&A profile article on each of the designers that they represent. Click here to view the blog.

Locations: 

87 Franklin Street New York, NY 10013 p 212 219 3305 f 212 219 3327

860 South Los Angeles Street No.614 Los Angeles, CA 90014 p 213 489 4452 f 212 219 3327

Contact Info:

Samantha Smith 

Email:[email protected]

Phone: [phone]

Click here to learn more about Steve Alan’s clients and its services.

2. 495News

Based in Manhattan, New York, 495 News was established in 2000 as a Public Relations and Showroom Company. With an addition of its office and showroom in Los Angeles, 495 News has outgrown itself to be one of the best PR and Showroom agencies to scout new fashion talents. With the mission to represent up and coming designer brands with distinct and original style, 495 News now houses some of the most coveted young fashion labels such as Public School, Tim Coppens, and Common Projects to name a few. 

Centering upon menswear and womenswear ready to wear clothing items, 495 News has garnered many press attentions from various stylists, press, and wholesale buyers who are constantly seeking for contemporary fashion labels. 

Perks: If your label is represented by 495 News, an about page will be established for potential buyers to get a quick information on the designer’s design aesthetics. In addition, each designer will be assigned with their own specific sales and press representative contact listed on the about page. A great way indeed to increase your brand identity to the right potential buyers! 

Locations:

NEW YORK SHOWROOM - 495 Broadway 5th Floor, New York, NY 10012

LOS ANGELES SHOWROOM - The Cooper Building, Lobby F, 860 S. Los Angeles Street, Los Angeles, CA 90014

Contact Info:

For Inquiries: [email protected]

Phone: [phone]

Click here to learn more about 495 News and its services.

3. Williamson PR & Showroom

Denise Williamson founded Williamson PR Consulting and Showroom in 1998, and the company has grown to be one of the most sought after branding and marketing consultants in the nation. Williamson’s experience in the fashion industry has enabled her to have great eyes for emerging fashion talents through her time working in big brands from the likes of Anne Klein, Calvin Klein, and Joseph Abboud.

Williamson’s one-on-one approach allows her to focus on each individual designer under her care with services that specifically cater to their needs, expectations, and goals. Williamson takes into account her team’s ability to continuously innovate techniques to help brands stay savvy and relevant in the fashion industry (read the press here). Such a close-knit relationships that Williamson has built over the years with notable clients such as Trovata, Jen Kao, Kimberly Ovitz, Raf by Raf Simons, and Madeleine Thompson! 

Perks: Williamson prioritizes in optimizing the best possible media exposure for emerging designers with a limited budget. Williamson’s close relationship with each of her clients help her to know the best possible way for young fashion designers to showcase their collections be it through presentations or a simple meeting with potential buyer. 

Location: 

119 Mercer Street, 2S, New York, NY 10012

Contact Info:

Email: [email protected]

Click here to read more on Williamson PR and Showroom’s news and its services. 

4. Negri Firman PR

Negri Firman was originally a Milan-based PR Agency built by Silvia Negri Firman in 2008. Its presence in the Italian market has been widely recognized that ultimately led them to an opening of their second office in New York’s SoHo neighborhood. To date, Negri Firman represents a number of international fashion labels such as Ter et Bantine, Hache, Giulietta NY, and Chiara Ferragni.

BONUS INSIDER INFO: For you my beloved readers, I have actually been in Negri Firman’s showroom and it looks fantastic! The people are great over there (Carolyn Batista, Negri Firman’s Press and Digital Manager is the sweetest person that you’ll ever meet), and their items are definitely exclusive as each of the designer items are distributed in a limited quantity. 

It doesn’t hurt as well to have their showroom standing beside big brands retail stores such as Stella McCartney and Louis Vuitton in SoHo district as it will definitely help high foot traffic to view your collections, should you be interested in having them as your PR representative. Location:

110 Greene Street Suite 1103, New York, NY 10012 Tel. [phone]

Carolyn Batista: [email protected]

Chelsey Peppe: [email protected]

Note: Mention my name, Stephanie Michelle Hendrawan, for referral and they will definitely be willing to assist you. Trust me, you are in good hands!

5. Showroom Seven

Founded by one of today’s most important fashion moguls, Karen Erickson, Showroom seven employs a full-time staff of eight with an office that functions as a cooperative effort to increase awareness for start-up designers. In an interview by NYmag, Erickson admitted that she is addicted to start-ups because “it always moves on to the next thing”. So, for those of you readying yourself to build your own label, Erickson might just be the right person to start her addiction towards your label. 

Aside from Erickson’s passion in ensuring that young designers are able to get their media exposure, the sales staff and managers of Showroom Seven are very well acquainted with the needs of their potential buyers, as well as the market’s current trends. Erickson’s showroom is centered upon the spectrum of women’s ready to wear and accessories with notable clients such as DAY Birger et Mikkelsen and Erickson Beamon.

Perks: Before market week, specific meetings are held for each designers represented by the sales staff where necessary information and changes needed are shared. Similar to Williamson, Erickson knows that most upcoming designers are on a limited budget, so Erickson set up a monthly press fee that are negotiable while still catering the needs for each of the designers.

Locations:

New York - 263 Eleventh Avenue, New York, NY 10001. T: [phone]

Los Angeles - 8551 Santa Monica Blvd.West Hollywood, CA 90069. T: [phone]

Contact Info:

New York:

Leslie Goodrum [phone] [email protected]

Porsha Summerville (646) 619 - 6830 [email protected]

Los Angeles:

Quinn Rees [email protected]

Click here to learn more about Showroom Seven and their services.

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Meet Victoria’s Secret 2015 Newest 13 Angels and Costume Designer, Serkan Cura

Most of you have probably noticed that the annual Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show is probably one of THE most talked about fashion shows outside the fashion industry spectrum. Aired earlier tonight in CBS, this year’s show marks the celebration of the lingerie business empire in having 13 first-timer models that will walk the runway to make their debut as the newest Victoria’s Secret angels.

For those of you who want to see the livestream of the pre-show, watch it here.

In addition to giving you all the details about the preparations and behind-the-scenes in the fashion show production, thefirstlookbook will also put a spotlight on the lucky thirteen models that have deserved the title of Angel. 

Below is the list of the lucky thirteen angels that are walking the runway: 1. Bridget Malcolm 2. Bruna Lirio 3. Flavia Lucini 4. Gigi Hadid 5. Kendall Jenner 6. Leila Nda 7. Leomie Anderson 8. Megan Puleri 9. Pauline Hoarau 10. Rachel Hilbert 11. Sanne Vloet 12. Valery Kaufman 13. Vita Sidorkina Click here to learn more about these new angels.

Now, back to the show...

One of my most favorite look will be the blinged-out, bespoke Swarovski lingerie creation that was made with such intense craftsmanship by Parisian coutourier, Serkan Cura. The Paris-based coutourier have worked with Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show costumes for the past three seasons. 

Cura told WWD, “I take all the measurements, I make all the composites. It’s why you can see that everything fits perfectly, and the Swarovski crystals won’t hurt the model’s skin. We gave so much energy and passion into each look.” 

The corset that Hunt will be wearing is nothing of ordinary as it is handmade by Cura himself and adorned with more than 90,000 crystal embellishments. 

Personally, I think that Serkan Cura’s designs for this year’s costume is truly magnificent. My favorites would be the American Angel, Snow Angel, and the Fireworks Angel (Talk about details and exquisite handmade craftsmanship!). 

Click here to learn more about Serkan Cura, the mastermind behind the Angels’ costumes. 

See how Cura’s sketches came to life below:

And of course, who can leave out this year’s $2 Million Fireworks Fantasy Bra that Lily Aldridge wore? 

The $2 Million Fireworks Fantasy Bra is adorned with more than 6,500 stones including diamonds and yellow sapphires, and is set in 18-karat gold. No wonder it took 700 hours to be made by Geneva-based luxury jeweler, Mouawad.

Click here to learn more about Mouawad. 

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Tex Saverio Brings Indonesian Couture to Global Markets

Born and bred in Jakarta, Tex Saverio is not a typical Indonesian name that gives a queer feeling towards fellow Indonesians who first heard about this talented persona. The amount of exposure that Saverio has gained caused many Indonesian fashion design veterans to frowned upon his actual talents and credibility that started at such a young age. 

Such exposure was received by the young designer who clad himself in a uniform of black suit, jet-black straight hair that resembles a character straight out of a manga comic when Lady Gaga wore his black tulle gown from his Spring/Summer 2011 collection in the May edition of US Harper’s Bazaar back in 2012. 

Having graduated from Bunka and Phalie Studio in Jakarta, Saverio’s fashion career launched officially in 2010 through the label Tex Saverio Prive, which was oriented toward haute couture designs. Three keywords that describe his design aesthetics are: dramatic, theatrical, and spectacular. It came to no surprise that many has labeled him as “Indonesia’s very own Alexander McQueen”. Other than Lady Gaga, Kim Kardashian has also worn a dress he designed specifically for the reality star for Elle’s Magazine photo shoot in February 2013 as Kardashian graced the cover of the said magazine. 

And of course, who can forget about the wedding dress that Saverio designed for Jennifer Lawrence in “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire”? Saverio received enormous amount of coverage and publicity thanks to his creation of magical white gown with organza corset and stunning Swarovski crystal embellishments that left many in awe upon seeing it on the movie screen. 

Eschewing traditional Indonesian aesthetic codes, Tex does, however, draw on the impeccable craftsmanship of local artisans to imbue his garments with a contemporary take on local heritage. 

With a string of awards to his name: Winner of the Mercedes-Benz Asia Fashion Award 2005, Inspiring People Award 2011 by HP, Amica Indonesia Awards 2011 – Most Talented Young Fashion Designer, Tex’s visionary approach and unique aesthetic has won him a cult following. His incredible creations will soon be more readily accessible in a new incarnation as a ready-to-wear line, which he is launching with the help of his business partner Faye Liu.

Having launched his ready to wear collection in 2014 that are meant for his international customers, Saverio has definitely raised the platform for Indonesian fashion scene to be accepted and recognized in the global fashion industry. In an article by Jakarta Post, Saverio stated that his ready to wear collection will be focused more towards the upscale market in the US, Europe, as well as in Asia itself. 

“The House of Saverio will not only be an Indonesian fashion brand, but will also be a global lifestyle brand. It’s going to be an empire,” said Saverio who has successfully showcased his recent collection in Paris Fashion Week.

It is truly an honor to have such talented in the Indonesian fashion scene and thefirstlookbook cannot wait to see how Tex Saverio will open the pathway for other emerging Indonesian fashion designers to follow on his footsteps onto the global market.

Follow Tex Saverio for more updates on his collections:

Website: www.texsaverio.com Instagram: @texsaverio​ Twitter: @texsaverio​ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/officialtexsaverio

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The Anticipation for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II” Finally Kicks Off in Paris

The anticipation for the blockbuster “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II” has finally started. On November 9, 2015, the cast of the cult movie gathered together for their Photo call in Paris. Evidently, Jennifer Lawrence, who plays as Katniss Everdeen showed up with a leg-revealing number from Christian Dior Haute Couture Fall 2015 collection. 

Lawrence’s tiny waist was complemented with a silver belt, along with sultry lace booties that the Dior spokesperson successfully pulled together. 

On the contrary, Lawrence’s co-star, Woody Harrelson who plays as Haymitch Abernathy showed up in a somewhat pajama get-up that will surely enraged Effie Trinket (a role played by Elizabeth Banks). The 54 year old actor sure knows how to play his part in the fashion capital of the world, Paris. Harrelson decided to show up to the photo call event wearing a pair of loose-fitting plaid pants, a gray long-sleeve tee, charcoal patterned socks, with absolutely no shoes in sight (horrifying moment if Trinket was there!). 

On a more positive note, for those of you hardcore fans out there, click here to see major #ThrowbackTuesday on The Hunger Games Saga. 

Tickets are available right now through fandango.com. Click here to purchase your tickets for “The Hunger Games: Mockingjay Part II” NOW!

Personally, I will never forget the amazing wedding dress that Katniss Everdeen wore during “The Hunger Games: Catching Fire?” (Who would ever, honestly?)

Such an amazing dress was showcased in the movie and thefirstlookbook is proud to say that the mastermind behind this ethereal gown is none other than Tex Saverio, an Indonesian based fashion designer who have certainly helped to bring exposure to Indonesian fashion scene. 

Click here to learn more about Tex Saverio. 

[thefirstlookbook-blog]

Four Under The Radar New Fashion Labels To Watch Now

Refinery29 has been known to watch over the so-called ‘underrated’ American fashion labels that are sure to become a household name in the next upcoming years. This time, the website has managed to list down four American fashion labels that will be on every stylish women’s shopping lists.

To further add the credibility of these four under the radar fashion labels, all four of them have been selected for the CFDA Fashion Incubator that nurtures emerging fashion designers to become the next big thing in the fashion industry. In addition, these four labels have also been distributed by some major retailers such as Barneys New York, Moda Operandi, and Bergdorf Goodman, to name a few.

Read below to learn more about these four underrated fashion labels.

1. Nomia: Womenswear Fashion Label New York based womenswear designer, Yara Flinn created Nomia since 2009. Nomia is fully concentrated in offering sophisticated yet minimalistic apparels that are influenced by art, architecture, and utilitarian workwear as well as cultivating the juxtaposition of androgynous look. Nomia credited the collection as embracing the complexity of modern woman. Neutral palettes, clean lines, and sleek minimalism are three keywords that practically summed up Nomia’s design aesthetics.

Click here to view Nomia’s collections

2. A Peace Treaty: Accessories Fashion Label Created by Farah Malik and Dana Arbib, A Peace Treaty was founded in 2008 in the effort of preserving disappearing craft traditions. A Peace Treaty centered their staple items in woven scarves, artisanal jewelry, and caftans that have been picked up by stores such as Saks Fifth Avenue. In addition to that, A Peace Treaty has also collaborated with notable fashion designers such as Jonathan Simkhai. 

Click here to view their collections.

3. Isa Tapia: Fashion Shoe Label Born in Puerto Rico, Isa Tapia has honed her skills at Marc Jacobs and Oscar de la Renta before heading to Italy to pursue her passion in the art of shoe making. Tapia placed her past experiences in being Ann Taylor’s accessories director. Three keywords to describe Isa Tapia’s design aesthetics are colorful, surreal, and exuberant.

Click here to view Isa Tapia’s collection. 

4. Misha Nonoo: Womenswear Fashion Label Born in Bahrain and raised in London by an Iraqi father and English mother, Nonoo’s multicultural upbringing exposed her to a diverse collection that puts her as one of the most sought-after fashion designers to watch. Nonoo made her debut collection in NYFW Fall/Winter 11/12. In addition, Nonoo was named as Forbes’ 30 under 30 in the Art & Style category and Crain’s New York Business 40 Under 40 Business.

Click here to see her collection.

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Yoyo Cao on The Success of Being Singapore’s Fashion Influencer

Known as yoyokulala, Yoyo Cao, a Macao born fashion influencer who pursued her career in fashion as a fashion blogger in Singapore has garnered a cult following of 115k followers in Instagram to date. 

With an average of 5,000 likes per picture that Yoyo uploaded, it has come to no surprise that her sense of style has been acknowledged internationally with her appearance in Fashion Week cities. Most recently, Yoyo Cao has been voted as one of the Top 10 Best-Dressed People from Fashion Month on The Cut. 

In an interview by Her World Plus, Singapore Fashion and Lifestyle magazine, Yoyo Cao sat down to weigh in her success at 26 year-old as she recently established her label, Exhibit Store that will be available internationally through online distribution starting this year. 

“I felt there was a gap in the market. People were buying either very cheap or very expensive clothing, so I thought there would be room for my label,” said the 26-year old. 

Yoyo further elaborated on the goal to bring exposure to Singapore fashion scene by inspiring women to dress simply but powerfully. Of course, Singapore women could not agree more as Yoyo has also been appointed as L’Officiel Singapore magazine’s ambassador, where she attends and covers major fashion shows around the world to represent the said magazine. 

What is more interesting is that Yoyo is an actually self-taught fashion designer, where she attained a bachelor’s degree in business in one of Singapore’s private institution as opposed to learning specifically about fashion design. Yoyo relies on the growing platform of social media to communicate her ideas on how to mix and match clothes that she finds inspiring. 

Her intention to set up an instagram account was not to make a name out of her style but instead, on how to educate Singaporeans on how to style themselves differently. However, when she first posted her first ever picture on Instagram, she has managed to garner  ‘hundreds of likes’, which later inspired her to create an account that centered upon her own individual style that are recognized not only in Singapore, but around the world.

Click here to read the full interview with Yoyo Cao. 

To learn more about her style advice, follow this raved about fashion influencer through her instagram:

https://instagram.com/yoyokulala/?hl=en