Fashion
Kim Kardashian accused of ‘Asianfishing’ on Instagram
- Several Reddit users in the r/KUWTK subreddit accused Kim Kardashian, 41, of “Asianfishing” in her Instagram post on Tuesday, where she promoted Tiffany and Co.’s latest Lock collection.
- “She looks Asian here, it’s really strange,” one comment read, while another user wrote in their reply, “She's trying to give herself a less long oval face from what it looks like. It's dumb because we all know what she really looks like so what's the point?”
- Another user pointed out similarities between Kardashian’s latest picture to those of her sister, Kourtney Kardashian, for the latter’s vitamin and supplement brand, Lemme.
- “Hmm, looks like [she] used the same face filter/procedure as Kourtney’s ‘Lemme’ candy-in-the-bath shoot. They both look Asian. Also, yawn. This era Kim is so boring,” the user wrote.
American socialite and businesswoman Kim Kardashian is being accused of “Asianfishing” in one of her latest Instagram post.
Several Reddit users in the r/KUWTK subreddit accused the 41-year-old “Keeping Up with the Kardashians” star of donning make-up that makes her look Asian in her Instagram post on Tuesday promoting Tiffany and Co.’s latest Lock collection.
NCT’s Jeno teams with designer Peter Do to become first K-pop artist to open New York Fashion Week runway show
- NCT’s Jeno is the first K-pop star to open a runway show at New York Fashion Week.
- Vietnamese American luxury designer Peter Do joined forces with SM Entertainment's first initiative at the fashion event.
- Do’s collection focuses on the concept of time and includes personalized invitations in the form of memory boxes, containing a CD mix featuring SM artists that Do listened to as a child among other items.
- Red Velvet’s Seulgi will be a guest of honor, and SM trainees Shohei and Eunseok will debut at Fashion Week on the runway.
NCT’s Jeno became the first K-pop artist to open a runway show at New York Fashion Week, thanks to Vietnamese American fashion designer Peter Do.
Do previously styled fellow NCT member Johnny for the 2022 Met Gala, but this is the first initiative from SM Entertainment at the iconic annual fashion event in New York City. Scheduled for Sep. 13, Jeno will help highlight Do’s Spring/Summer 2023 collections.
Chinese influencers are posing by Ikea lockers for photos as part of ‘American high school’ trend
- Ikea China has allegedly banned Chinese influencers after the “American high school” trend became disruptive to other shoppers, according to Chinese tech investor and analyst Rui Ma.
- The trend, called "Meigaofeng" (American high school style in English), is currently popular on China’s version of Instagram, Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book).
- As part of the trend, influencers dress up in American high school uniforms like those worn in “Gossip Girl” or “The Princess Diaries” — coat, white buttoned long sleeves, pleated skirts, tie and all — and pose in front of the lockers in Ikea.
- The blue lockers are meant for customers to store their belongings while shopping. Some Xiaohongshu commenters have complained that the influencers are causing much disruption to their activities.
- “It’s really annoying,” one Xiaohongshu user complained. “The last time I went to Ikea, I wanted to see the furniture exhibits, but a group of teenagers was taking photos, so I couldn’t get a good look.
A new online trend has flooded Chinese social media platforms with images of influencers dressing like preppy American high school students and posing in front of Shanghai Ikea lockers, much to the chagrin of shoppers.
The trend, called “Meigaofeng” (American high school style in English), is currently prevalent on Xiaohongshu (Little Red Book), China’s version of Instagram. Several accounts on Weibo, such as Jimu News, have also reported on the trend.
Jun Ji-hyun becomes Burberry’s first South Korean woman ambassador
- Hallyu superstar Jun Ji-hyun, known as Gianna Jun by her international fans, has been appointed by Burberry as its first female ambassador from South Korea.
- Burberry described Jun as “the best actress to portray Burberry House which has been representing classic and timeless elegance for 160 years."
- Jun, 40, joins a growing number of South Korea Burberry ambassadors, including EXO's BaekHyun, footballer Son Heung-min and actor Yoo Ah-in.
- The “My Sassy Girl” star recently appeared in several successful projects, including “The Thieves,” “Legend of the Blue Sea” and “Kingdom: Ashin of the North.”
- “It is a great honor to be announced as Burberry’s ambassador,” Jun said. “Burberry is known as a brand with a rich history and traditions and aims to innovate in line with our ever-changing times, which is what I am trying to convey to the audience as an actor.”
Hallyu superstar Jun Ji-hyun is the new face of Burberry.
The British luxury fashion brand announced on Thursday that it had appointed the “My Sassy Girl” star as its first female ambassador from South Korea.
Vogue Korea erases all traces of controversial Blue House photoshoot
- South Korean model Han Hye-jin and Vogue Korea have faced backlash for holding a provocative photoshoot at the country’s former Blue House.
- The Blue House is South Korea's former executive office and home of the president.
- Han and several other models were criticized for several reasons, including wearing Japanese attire in a traditional and historical landmark.
- The model has since disabled comments on her Instagram account, and Vogue Korea has erased all traces of the photoshoot.
All traces of a Vogue Korea photoshoot held at the Blue House featuring model Han Hye-jin have been deleted following backlash.
On Aug. 22, Vogue Korea released photos of Han and several other models posing in different areas of the Blue House, South Korea’s former executive office and residential home of the president.
Hanae Mori, designer known for butterfly motifs and empress’ wedding gown, dies at 96
- Japanese designer Hanae Mori died at her Tokyo home on Aug. 11 at the age of 96.
- According to the Hanae Mori Office, Mori developed a mild fever a few days before her death, although a specific cause of death was not given.
- Known for her butterfly designs and film costumes, Mori also designed uniforms for Japan Airlines flight attendants, bank employees and high school students.
- The late designer also created hundreds of costumes for Japanese films.
- She is survived by two sons, a daughter, seven grandchildren and several great-grandchildren.
Hanae Mori, a Japanese designer known for her butterfly motifs, film costumes and the wedding gown of Japan’s empress, died at the age of 96 on Aug. 11.
The Hanae Mori Office stated that Mori had developed a mild fever a few days before her death, although a cause of death has not yet been revealed. A private funeral was held with family, and a public memorial service may be held.
‘The most expensive trash bag in the world’: Balenciaga stokes ridicule with $1,790 trash pouches
- Balenciaga is currently making headlines after releasing a trash bag-inspired drawstring sack that costs $1,790.
- The bag, officially known as the “Trash Pouch,” first appeared in the luxury fashion house’s Winter 2022 collection show in March.
- In an interview with Women's Wear Daily, Creative Director Demna Gvasalia said he could not miss the opportunity to make “the most expensive trash bag in the world.”
- Balenciaga has positioned itself as a trendsetter for the absurd in recent years and sparked a similar controversy in May with its “extremely worn” sneakers.
Just months after drawing flak in China and elsewhere for $1,900 “extremely worn” sneakers, Balenciaga has once again stirred the pot with the release of what it claims to be the world’s “most expensive trash bag.”
The drawstring sack, officially known as the “Trash Pouch,” debuted during the luxury fashion house’s Winter 2022 collection show in March but went viral just recently after becoming available in-store.
Dior sparks appropriation backlash in China for skirt that resembles ancient wraparound garment
- Fashion label Dior was accused by Chinese state media of cultural appropriation for allegedly basing the design of its recently launched skirt on the Chinese horse-face skirt, a wraparound garment originating from the 10th century Song dynasty.
- Called the “ma mian qun,” the skirt features pleated fabric on both sides and became popularly worn by women during the Ming (1368-1644) and Qing (1644-1911) dynasties.
- “The so-called Dior silhouette is very similar to the Chinese horse-face skirt. When many details are the same, why is it shamelessly called a ‘new design’ and ‘hallmark Dior silhouette’?” an opinion piece from state-run outlet People’s Daily read.
- A description on Dior’s Hong Kong site described the clothing item as a “flared skirt” with “pleated style” as “a hallmark Dior silhouette, the mid-length skirt is updated with a new elegant and modern variation.”
- Currently priced at HK$30,000 (approximately $3,820) at the brand’s physical stores in Hong Kong, the Dior skirt has since been marked as “sold out” on the Hong Kong site and taken off the mainland China site.
A Chinese state-run media platform has accused French luxury label Dior of cultural appropriation for allegedly basing the design of its recently launched skirt on a piece of ancient Chinese clothing.
According to the People’s Daily, the mid-length skirt Dior branded as its “hallmark silhouette” has a striking similarity to the Chinese horse-face skirt, a wraparound garment originating from the 10th century Song dynasty.
Jimmy Choo celebrates Sailor Moon 30th anniversary with $13,000 boots covered in 19,000 crystals
- In celebration of the 30th anniversary of “Sailor Moon," British fashion house Jimmy Choo revealed a crystal-encrusted pair of limited-edition, fuchsia-colored boots on July 1 featuring 19,000 Swarovski crystals.
- The boots first went on display at the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Museum event in Tokyo’s Roppongi neighborhood.
- A pair of the crystal boots will cost 1,796,000 yen (approximately $13,123).
- The boots will be on display at the Sailor Moon Museum until Dec. 30.
British fashion house Jimmy Choo revealed a pair of limited-edition, fuchsia-colored boots covered in approximately 19,000 Swarovski crystals in celebration of “Sailor Moon’s” 30th anniversary.
The knee-high boots feature “Sailor Moon’s” signature crescent moon at the top of the boot and a 10-centimeter-tall heel (approximately 3.9 inches). The boots were first put on display exclusively at the Pretty Guardian Sailor Moon Museum in the Roppongi neighborhood of Tokyo, Japan.
Crocs accuses Daiso of copying its classic clogs design with $3 knockoffs in lawsuit
- Crocs is suing Japanese discount store Daiso for allegedly copying its classic clog design and selling knock-off versions of Crocs.
- The company, which is represented by Washington, D.C.-based law firm Arnold and Porter Kay Scholer, filed the complaint in a California District Court on June 15.
- The complaint said in part that Daiso has attempted “to free-ride and trade on the significant goodwill developed by Crocs through its innovative footwear."
- Crocs’ new lawsuit came almost a year after Crocs sued 21 companies in July 2021 for infringements of its registered trademarks.
Crocs is suing discount store Daiso in the United States, accusing the Japanese retailer of copying its classic clogs design.
The complaint, filed in a California District Court on June 15, claims that Daiso created and sold knock-off versions of Crocs called “Casual Sandals for Men” and “Lined Casual Clog.”
Shein a ‘major threat’ to US specialty retailers, new survey finds
- Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) Evidence Lab's Global App Monitor reported that Chinese retailer Shein’s app is now the “most downloaded" shopping app in the U.S., mainly due to the online store’s affordable pricing.
- UBS, which surveyed 7,500 consumers in the U.S., Germany, China, Japan, South Africa, the U.K. and Australia, discovered that Shein's average consumer is “female, younger, and lower-income.”
- Shein started selling wedding dresses in 2008 and has since grown into an international brand and fast-fashion retailer currently valued at around $100 billion.
- "The data also causes us to believe Shein is a major and increasing threat to US specialty retailers… as well as Department Stores and Off-Price retailers," noted the report.
- The company, which ships to over 150 countries and territories, reportedly made around 100 billion yuan (approximately $14.9 billion) in revenue last year.
Chinese retailer Shein’s app is reportedly the “most downloaded” shopping app in the U.S. and poses a major threat to specialty retailers in the country, a new survey has found.
In its latest report, Union Bank of Switzerland (UBS) Evidence Lab’s Global App Monitor highlights that Shein’s affordable pricing is the main reason why customers are buying its products.
New ‘mabuhay’ kicks from Vans shows off Filipino culture, ‘Checkerbayan’ pattern with Philippines flag
- Filipino American artist DJ Javier collaborated with Vans to design three new pairs of shoes celebrating Filipino culture.
- The new Vans x DJ Javier shoes have Filipino-inspired design features, such as the Philippines flag, sampaguita, carabao, mabuhay, aspins, salakót and Lapulapu.
- The Sk8-Hi top and Slip-On VR3 SF shoes were all launched June 12 on Vans’ website and have already sold out in most sizes within a week. Fortunately, another batch of shoes will be released along with the Slide-On Sandals in early July.
Filipino American artist DJ Javier collaborated with skateboarding shoe company Vans to design three new pairs of kicks celebrating Filipino culture.
Raised in Goleta, California, DJ Javier began developing his artistic career in high school. His bold artworks marry graphic design and fine art and can be found across the nation in cities like Los Angeles and New York.
