Greetings from the Air China Lounge

I missed the opportunity to write a New Year's post, but I won't wax poetic about resolutions or promises to write more. Instead, I'll wish you a Happy (early) Chinese New Year from the Beijing airport, where I await my flight to Hong Kong for Fashion Week and other adventures.

I'm surviving on Harper's Bazaar China and Cosmopolitan China, plus a delicious canned Nescafe to keep me perky.
Over the next week, I'll be exploring Hong Kong's growing fashion industry and its place in the global fashion scene--as well as its place in Hong Kong, the premier luxury shopping destination in Asia, and perhaps soon the world.

People visit Hong Kong from across the globe--and especially from Mainland China--to shop in the ornate flagships of the leading American, Italian, and French luxury brands. In fact, this year, preeminent brands like Prada and Coach listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange, and other brands are expected to follow suit to cement their place in the Asian market. I'm not just talking about fashion, either. Hong Kong is the destination for luxury apparel, handbags, eyewear, watches, art, and even wine.

At the same time, Hong Kong has its own independent designers, boutiques, and a massive Fashion Week featuring an exhibition of both fast fashion and couture. The majority of these designers aren't well known outside of Asia, but given the steep competition, I suspect that a designer who can do well in Hong Kong can do well elsewhere, too. I'm eager to see what I'll discover.

And, if I happen to hop over to Macao for a day trip, I'll certainly let you know about any sightings of the elusive Kim Jong-un.

A Purple Partnership

Last night, the Obamas hosted a state dinner in honor of South Korean President Lee Myung-bak and First Lady Kim Yoon-ok. It was certainly a day for the history books for both the United States and South Korea, as Congress passed the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement between the two countries the day prior. Of course, we knew First Lady Michelle Obama would wear something fabulous, and we knew it would be scrutinized.

From a fashion perspective, her Doo.Ri dress was frankly boring. It's a one-shoulder draped gown, which we've seen on Mrs. Obama many times and, honestly, in every dress shop for a few years now. The rich jewel tone is on-trend for fall, though it was taken from the Doo.Ri Spring 2012 collection just shown in New York in September.


Michelle Obama in Doo.Ri at the State Dinner honoring South Korea
Via Getty Images
The style does suit her well--but perhaps a little too well.


Michelle Obama in Peter Soronen at the State Dinner honoring Mexico in May 2011
Via Getty Images
From a political perspective, however, the gown was the perfect choice. It was designed by Korean-American designer Doo.Ri Chung, who is known for her flattering signature draping and minimalist tailoring. It's wonderful that Mrs. Obama is supporting a rising-star American designer, and importantly, a Korean-American designer. Earlier this year at the China State Dinner, Mrs. Obama was criticized for her seemingly random choice of an Alexander McQueen gown. This time, however, she played it safe with a conservative homage to the new partnership between Korea and the United States. After all, this partnership will have a huge impact on the products we trade, including fashion.

The Weekly Standard: Pants on Fire

As you know, I was in London last month for Fashion Week. Before my arrival, I was curious about how the economic and political situation in London would affect Fashion Week. Would the recent violent riots, the skyrocketing unemployment, and general malaise with the government and economy make for a dour event? I discuss this in my new story for The Weekly Standard, which can be found online here and in this week's print edition of the magazine. An excerpt:

The mood at Fashion Week last February was festive, in advance of the royal wedding—and the industry still has reasons to celebrate. Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge, is becoming a global style icon after getting married in a gown designed by Sarah Burton for the Alexander McQueen label. And London recently defeated New York, Milan, and Paris to be named “Top Global Fashion Capital” by the Global Language Monitor.

But could the city defeat the dour political and economic mood and put on a successful Fashion Week?

It took place, as planned, last month, and like previous Fashion Weeks, the clothing was luxurious and the parties were stocked with champagne. But it was apparent that many in the industry have been touched by the political and economic situation—and are working to show that the industry does more for London than make it look pretty.

Click here to read the whole thing--which includes a glimpse at Vivienne Westwood's latest collection, London's growing "ethical fashion" scene, and a very fabulous Fendi party on Sloane Street.

Washington Life: Brit Business Attire

Although it's incredible to see the British greats like Vivienne Westwood and Burberry, one of my favorite parts about London Fashion Week is discovering new and less well-known designers, as the city is a fertile ground of design innovation. Some of these designers are just outrageous, but some truly understand fit and elegance. For Washington Life, I profiled three relatively new brands to watch: Peridot London, Liz Black, and Muscat Vielma. I love these brands' beautiful fabrics and structured aesthetics, and I won't be surprised if they make names for themselves at Harrods or Harvey Nichols. Click here to read the whole thing.

Washington Life: London Calling

As you know, I've been at London Fashion Week, and my first piece of coverage was just published by Washington Life, the city's top luxury lifestyle magazine. On my first day in London, I noticed a clear trend of bright pops of color, making the fashion seem more like pop art than your typical runway show. In this piece, I take a look at the colors in the Spring/Summer 2012 collections of Sass & Bide, Orla Kiely, and Christopher Raeburn. Click here to read the whole thing.

Burberry Spring/Summer 2012

Greetings from London! I hope you've been following me on Twitter, and soon I'll have some coverage posted here and on some other sites. In the meantime, make sure you check back on Monday at 11:00 AM EST (4:00 PM London) for a live-stream of the Burberry show, which I'll be attending. I just popped in the Burberry Brit shop in Covent Garden, and the clothing is just beautiful with a posh British aesthetic, so I'm excited to see what Burberry has in store for spring.

Check back here tomorrow!

#BURBERRY

The Style Primary: Bachmann vs. Palin

We won't know for a long time who will win the 2012 Republican primary or presidential election, but regardless of the outcome of the 2012 presidential election, U.S. Rep. Michele Bachmann (R-MN) and former Alaska governor and 2008 Republican vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin will undoubtedly have an enormous influence on it. These two interesting women have already shown they are willing to break the mold, both in politics and in fashion.

So, who wins the style race?

In today's Washington Times, I examine this very question by pitting Michele Bachmann and Sarah Palin head-to-head in categories including "The Spotlight," "The Campaign Trail," "Formal Attire," "Shoes!," and "Signature Style." An excerpt:

If they’re like any other women in the public eye, they thought, at least for one second while brushing their teeth in the morning, about the image being projected by their appearance. We’ll never know if the sartorial choices of Mrs. Bachmann and Mrs. Palin are coincidence or part of a carefully calculated branding strategy, but either way, these choices give us insight into how these women view themselves and, perhaps, how they want voters to view them, too.

I hope you'll check it out online here or in the print edition of the paper!

P.S. I'm en route to London Fashion Week and I have more exciting adventures coming, so I hope you'll stay tuned!

Paul Smith's Quintessentially British Collection

In exactly one week, I'll be en route to London Fashion Week, but in order to pack, I'll have to first switch my closet from summer to fall. Last September, I had to layer every piece of clothing I brought on my trip plus spend way too much money on tights to save my legs from the British chill, and I plan to be prepared this time around. I've started my closet project, due to the odd weather in Washington, but it's not quite complete. Nonetheless, I already know that, instead of planning complicated outfits with a variety of handbags, jewelry, and shoes, I'm going to create a simple, signature look to carry me through the week.

I'm modeling that "uniform," if you will, after a collection I saw in London last season: Paul Smith. I'm not particularly preppy, but Paul Smith's modern prep-school looks spoke to me for both their simple chicness and wearable Britishness. The famous designer and tastemaker got his start in menswear, and his attention to cut and fit is evident in his womenswear, too. This year in my suitcase, I'll have tailored button-down shirts and blazers, slim-cut pants, boots, and a splash of cobalt blue or orange. (I'll bring a coat, of course, but a new statement coat is on my Oxford Street shopping list.)


Paul Smith Fall 2011


Paul Smith Fall 2011


Paul Smith Fall 2011


Paul Smith Fall 2011
As a reporter, I hate to gush--but the only thing better than seeing gorgeous clothing is seeing gorgeous clothing from a quintessential London Fashion Week show at the Savoy Hotel just off Trafalgar Square. I have butterflies thinking about my upcoming trip. And, I have a better camera this year, too.


Sir Paul Smith takes a bow.

The runway photos are my own.