YMC fw13

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pushBUTTON: Surface Asia Magazine

This is the latest article that I wrote for the June/July issue of Surface Asia magazine about Korean label pushBUTTON.  You can see my friend Noma Han who walked for their AW12 in the silver suit above left.  

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seoul fashion week fw12 highlights

Seoul Fashion Week has come and gone and for the second season in a row I wasn't able to make it over to Korea to see it for myself :(  Big time sad face for that.  I sometimes just want to stick my head in the sand and pretend that my life there never really existed so I can make the best of London, but Korea keeps on creeping into my life so forgetting about it is impossible.


Korean menswear, as I've said plenty of times before, is SFW's most successful player.  However this season some of the womenswear designers upped their game and presented really strong collections as well.  Below are a few of my FW12 favorites from the week.

Resurrection by Juyoung Lee added a military twist to her standard rock goth garments this season.  The almost floor length olive green jacket with leather sleeves above is mouthwatering perfection.

Irony Porn(o) designer Han Dong Woo presented another monochromatic collection of grey, black & white under the title 'Subversive Sexuality', showing us a mix of tailoring and somewhat unisex apparel. 

Choi Bumsuk presented a very sporty & streetwear feeling collection for General Idea this season under the theme 'After Games', inspired by hero's of the 1960's Winter Olympic Games.

Groundwave is always a favorite and again presented a modern version of traditional Korean outerwear.  The quilted jackets were exceptional and the models looked heavenly as they walked barefoot amongst the clouds.

Roliat's FW12 collection was based on a functional mutation of woolen jackets and padded jumpers.  The military inspired outerwear was styled with wide trousers cropped above the ankle along with hiking boots.

Leigh, another strong menswear label, presented under the motto "Brightness co-exists with darkness, and the darker it gets, the brighter the light shines".  I love how he paired cropped coats over a longer suit jacket, something that can easily look awkward but here wear quite well.

pushBUTTON presented a loud and proud collection of pattern, oversized shapes and vivid colour.  Gotta get me a pair of those round mirror lens frames that Noma Han is rocking on the left.

Inspired by the western film 'Bandidas', Johnny Hates Jazz presented an urban cowgirl collection in mainly red & blue tones.

Opening the 3rd day of Seoul Collection, one of Korea's most celebrated designers Lie Sang Bong sent models down the runway with a large black dot on their face echoing the stone like patches found throughout the collection.  Dyed fur, sheer fabrics and lace were also dominant.

Known for their fun and light hearted presentations, Steve J & Yoni P have accumulated a large fan base in Seoul including many a celebrity who were seen in the front row.  This years 'Functional Futurism' collection was a mashup of color, pattern & texture including some fun detachable leather peplum overskirts.


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korean boys fw12

It's nice to see a few familiar faces at the menswear shows in Milan & Paris this season. NOMA HAN, no stranger to the runway in New York & Paris, walked in both the Lanvin (above) and the Alexis Mabille FW12 shows in Paris while HAN SU KIM was in Italy for the Missoni and Dirk Bikkembergs (one of the famed Antwerp Six) collections.  I modeled with both of the boys when I was living in South Korea so it's nice to see they are doing a good job of breaking into the western fashion scene.  

Noma Han for Alexis Mabille FW12

Han Su Kim for Dirk Bikkembergs FW12

Han Su Kim for Missoni FW12

Me with Noma backstage at Resurrection FW11 during Seoul Fashion Week.

Han Su and I backstage at BON SS11 during Seoul Fashion Week.


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resurrection fw 2011/12 by juyoung lee

Music is a key ingredient in Resurrection's collection each season so it's no surprise pop stars like Lady Gaga, Marilyn Manson & the Black Eyed Peas regularly wear designer Juyoung Lee's rock'n roll inspired creations. This years styling was again a rock goth mix, but each outfit could easily be deconstructed & paired with basic jeans or a tee shirt. Brown, blue & green tones led to a finale of blacks in multifunctional garments such as long jackets with zips that transform into suit jackets. I loved the crucifix zips adorning the jackets I got to wear as well as the frayed sweaterless turtlenecks. Mad Hatteresque top hats with feathers & pleated skirts of various lengths were seen on both the male & female models as was a generous use of fur & even a bit of fluffy mohair tartan plaid. Resurrection's dark, edgy look was a welcome break from the multitude of preppy looks seen on most other Seoul runways.


designer Juyoung Lee celebrating backstage with model Noma Han & a glass of Voga.


She wears killer heels.


actor Jung Gyu Woon / 정겨운 with singer Jessica from Girls Generation / 소녀시대
















































































For more runway pics from INAPAD.com click HERE.

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