Matron of Style is back at it again to give you the low down on what went down on Day 2 of Viet Fashion Week 2016.
Let me tell you, loves, the vibe was way different! It was a little bit quieter, a little more mellow. I arrived to Cynthia Bui, designer, and her models pre-occupied with the press wall, and I slipped right passed them to secure my spot with my in-house photographer. But first, a head-to-toe shot of my Day 2 ‘fit:
#SunInMyEyeTho
I had the pleasure of sitting next to two fab bloggers. Check them out:
Ted Nguyen, Travel Blogger | Ted Nguyen Twitter
Noah Fairbanks, Entertainment Blogger | Noah Fairbanks Twitter
We chatted it up from all things Vietnamese to my old entertainment stomping grounds (Fun Fact: I am a former Costumer / Wardrobe Stylist). Both Ted & Noah’s aura was so positive and laid back, even when VFW had a few production hiccups. I flashed back to my own production days and cringed at the stress Runway Entertainment must’ve been feeling. They forged ahead in record time though and the show went on. Bravo! And I’m not talking about Andy Cohen or Real Housewives of Bolsa here! Day 2’s lineup consisted of:
- Quynh Paris, Paris FR
- Christy Pham, Garden Grove, CA
- Cynthia Bui, Garden Grove, CA
- Jacky Tai Couture, Westminster, CA — Yaas, Tai showed again! Turn down for what???
Quynh Paris is a designer known around the world, I’ve learned. She is a graduate of the prestigious fashion school, Mod’Art International, Paris and also ranked in the top five of Top Designers by Fashion Asia, 2013.
Her collection that night “[unveiled] designs more suitable for everyday life,” boasting “sensual and powerful” silhouettes according to Viet Fashion Week. Below are looks I’d wear in real life…
After an intermission, it was time for Pham Collection by Christy Pham’s curtain call. As you may recall, my IG was excited to see this beauty’s talent! Pham is an emerging ao dai designer having designed Ao Dai’s in college. I respect the hustle one hundred. But when her collection started to walk the catwalk, I was so disappointed. MAJOR SAD FACE. I wanted to love her because Matron of Style is all about chic bride’s incorporating our heritage. But I did not understand her aesthetic nor her mix of materials. I didn’t get a story from her nor was taken on a whimsical journey.
I got served clashing prints, choppy proportions, overuse of trims and embellishment, construction issues (Yes, I could see them from my seat) and overall presentation misses that could’ve easily been fixed with a steamer! I’m not a Project Runway judge, but with years of styling and manufacturing under my belt, these details were difficult to ignore.
In addition, Pham switched gears drastically going from flowy materials to a heavy tweed that I wasn’t quite sure where to place. I was confused by whether or not she was going for street style with her high-low, a retro ode or just straight Chanel-fail! And for full disclosure, it’s not that I am not a fan of tweed ao dai‘s, I just was not feeling Pham’s interpretation of it!
In all realness, putting together a runway presentation is not easy. Hell, showing samples at Market or a trade show isn’t either when you have Buyers scoping your line. For those unfamiliar with the fashion industry, Market + Trade Show = Get orders or die trying!
On a positive note though, these were Pham’s best looks:
I see great potential in Pham, but I had a hard time understanding her point of view. For Matron of Style, it was an overall miss.
Third up for the night was Cynthia Bui. From press preview day, I was already ogling over her use of contemporary materials so I was equally excited to see her presentation. She mixed bridal gowns with wedding ao dai’s and even showed men’s ao gam. To top it off, even children models got in the mix with the Vietnamese heritage. Below is her collection in it’s entirety…no waiting!
Bui is on-trend with the straight across neckline
Bui on-trend again with straight across neckline and use of 3D florals
Hands down my fave! I’m usually not a fan of yellow, but this works beautifully! Imagine if this were in combination of a Bride’s wedding colors?
Cynthia Bui’s collection was a joy to watch! I probably had a dorky smirk on my face! haha She gave you so much range and worked with materials that were both traditional and contemporary. I’m a sucker for sparkle and her usage was eye catching and flattering.
Closing Viet Fashion Week was Anh Jacky Tai. He was back for round two showcasing an expansion of his talent with a couture collection. Below are highlights:
Viet Fashion Week 2016 was a great experience overall! I am so proud of all the milestones by Runway Entertainment and fully support them in all their endeavors. This is an amazing platform for Vietnamese Designers and I am so thankful for the opportunity to attend and cover the event. Talent wise, I’ve gotten to know the designers a lot better and even reacquainted myself with our community. When you move 20 miles south from Little Saigon, the everyday surroundings are completely different. Getting back in the neighborhood will help Matron of Style guide chic Vietnamese Brides toward designers that will fit them best. Planning a traditional Vietnamese Wedding or engagement is not easy, but when you have a talented designer making you feel like a platinum bride, all the stress just melts away.
As they say in show business, “that’s a wrap!” See you again next year, VFW! Heart you!