ALANI SS12 in Surface Asia magazine

This is a small article I wrote for the 7th issue of Surface Asia magazine about Korean menswear designer Kim Jae Hwan and his label ALANI.  


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alani ss12

Inspiration for the ALANI SS12 menswear collection by Korean designer Jae Hwan Kim / 김재환 took shape in the form of a chair. Not just any chair mind you, but one known famously as the Zig Zag Chair by German industrial designer Gerrit Thomas Reitveld, one of the principle members of the Dutch artistic movement De Stijl. This zig-zag shape was echoed in color blocked suits and paneled shirts. Coated denim was sharply tailored to appear crisp yet comfortable. Another smart and very wearable collection.  

































For backstage photos from ALANI SS12 click HERE.
For ALANI FW11/12 click HERE.
For ALANI SS11 click HERE.


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ALANI f/w 2012 sweatshirt project

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chadchad of the day 1.9

white shirt / Ryul + Wai
embroidered rope necklace / handmade
black drop crotch pants / W Dress Room
skull & crossbones socks / no brand
lace up sandals / Alani
black suede jacket with leather detailing / no brand


Coco Rosie is playing in Seoul tonight and I knew I wanted something bold to wear to the show. The inspiration for this necklace came from browsing through the looks of Andre J. from Manila on Lookbook.nu. His styling is dramatic & whimsical and he always has very unique jewelry & ornate jackets.  A favorite look is a layered & jewelled bib he created.  So when I was picking up a few supplies at the Dongdaemun fabric market yesterday and came across these embroidered rope details, I knew I had to try to create a similar look for myself.  Here is a before & after look at the embroidery:


/ It actually started out as 3 pieces - 2 black, 1 white, which I sewed together.


/ I moved the tassle to the bottom of the bigger piece then added black chain.


I definitely won't be wearing these gorgeous red-soled sandals by Korean designer Alani (which I wrote about in my previous post) out to the show tonight. They are way too new and pretty to be stepped on by hundreds of concert-goers, but I knew I couldn't wait until the weather was warm enough in spring to incorporate them into an outfit. Instead I matched them with these cute skull & crossbones socks I found at a street vendor in Seoul. I thought it was a long shot to pair these ribbon lace ups with socks of any kind but I was pleased to see they actually turned out to make a great combination!

ps. thanks to my roommate Andrea for taking the photos!

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gift from ALANI designer jae hwan kim

Yesterday I shot a lookbook for ALANI by Korean designer Jae Hwan Kim / 김재환. As a thank you he gave me the lace up ballet flats that I wore in his last collection during Seoul Fashion Week. I am so in love with these you have no idea. The shiny black leather, the vivid red sole, the ribbon that laces halfway up to your knee - beautiful. I can't wait until the weather is warm enough to rock these.




Take a look at his last two collections here:

ALANI SS 2011 at Generation Next
ALANI FW 2010 at Generation Next


Also here is a sneak peak of the geometry inspired photoshoot for ALANI's next lookbook.  The square pants & shorts are such a wild idea and surprisingly keep their shape very well.  The leather detailing on the casual sweaters is minimal and clean and I'm a huge fan of the gold, faceless watch and the detachable collars & hoods worn over the sweaters.







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New Designer 2010 by Arena Homme+

/ I was chosen along with 7 other foreigners living in Seoul to model & be interviewed in an editorial in Arena Homme+ December issue about new men's designers in Seoul. I wore clothes by ALANI designer Jae Hwan Kim / 김재환. Below are links to photos I took of his last two collections, the translated interview and some of the other new designers:

ALANI SS11 @ Kring, Generation Next
ALANI FW10/11 @ Kring, Generation Next

Kim Jae Hwan, a Central Saint Martins fashion graduate & London Fashion Week participant, targets the UK fashion scene. Unlike many other young designers, his aimed customers are men in their 40s. Following the Bauhaus theory of 'Less is More', his designs display a fine combination between masculinity and femininity. Men's wear with mature designs for mature men has never before been seen in Korea like this.

"Women in Korea are almost indistinguishable in terms of how they dress and are too obsessed with decorating themselves pretty. In that sense, I value men's fashion's in Korea higher than women's. Avant-garde, yet classic designs are superb. This outfit has a cold, clean-cut design but is made of wool to balance out the coldness. The baggy trousers and subtle gradation of color and fabric are also impressive." ~Chad, fashion blogger~


Leigh by Sang Hyun Lee / 이상현


unbounded Awe by Won Jung Gu & Gun Young Yang / 구원정 & 양근영


Tailorable by Ho Bin Kwak / 곽호빈


SLWK by In Woo Lee & Hyun Suk Lee / 이인우 & 이현석


Jehee Sheen by Jehee Sheen / 신지희

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alani ss11 by jae hwan kim

designer Jae Hwan Kim / 김재환 / www.thealani.com

/ Kim Jae Hwan's primary design philosophy is 'Less is More'. His collection was my favorite among Generation Next last season and kept impressing me this season and I was very happy to not only be in his show, but be his lookbook model as well.  Silky & transparent feminine fabrics were used with even some of the cuts being quite women's wear inspired but it all retained a very retro 60's Beatle-mania British masculine feel.  The color palette was black, grey & white with a refreshing pop of bright red on the soles of beautifully made black patent leather ballet flats with satin lacing above the ankles.  Wide leg trousers were worn with ankle boots and highwaisted shorts were perfectly styled with knee high black socks and sock garters. /

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