The Best (and Worst) of Men's Fashion Week

My latest for Sharp Magazine. Check out some of the hits (and major misses) that came out of the SS13 menswear shows this year. You can read the full article here. 

DIOR: A Million Flowers

Haute Couture is known for its impeccable level of artistry, detail and quality. Presentation is of utmost importance, and that includes more than just the gowns going down the catwalk. A venue can add so much to the look and feel of a collection, and this behind-the-scenes video of the Dior Haute Couture show proves just that. Raf Simons' goes all out for his grande debut at the house of Christian Dior, and to say the least, it is simply stunning. Not only does he stimulate the eyes with the beauty of the gowns and flowers, but also (what I would imagine) the sense of smell with walls and walls of a million flowers. Go hard or go home.

The Best of the London Collections SS13

England is very much known as a fashion capital in the world, but what I love most about its fashion scene is its incredible support and cultivation of new talent. I often find that it's a place where we can truly find unique and innovative design as many emerging designers try to carve out their own place in the industry. Home to the prestigious Central St. Martins College of Art and Design and iconic designers like Alexander McQueen, John Galliano, Christopher Bailey and more, British fashion has had a resounding impact on the industry and continues to do so every season. 

Hosting its first week dedicated solely to men's fashion (win for the boys!), I've rounded up my favourites from the jam packed week. Highlights would definitely be Jonathan Saunders and Xander Zhou, but take a look for yourself and let me know what you think!

Jonathan Saunders Spring 2013

Can we just discuss this look from Jonathan Saunders' Spring 2013 Men's collection?

My feelings for this stunning trench can be summed up in three simple words: NEED. NEED. NEED!

Take a look at the rest of the collection after the jump.

Spotted: Toronto Fashion Week

Day 3 at Toronto Fashion Week.

Source: The Hudson's Bay Company's B-Insider

Day 4 at Toronto Fashion Week

Source: Street Style Blog, Silhouetted Skyline

Day 2 of The ShOws. Seen with Fusion of Effects' Marcus Kan

Source: Fashion Magazine

Global Fashion Week Round Up

I gathered my favourite looks from the Fall runways of Paris, Milan, New York and Toronto and compiled them into a little gallery for Sharp Magazine, including practical style tips and analysis to help you wear them well. Take a look here. 

Fashion Week

Busy week coming up. Getting some good mileage out of my moleskine.

Instagram: @MrLanceChung

TOMKOW + CHUNG F/W 2011 (Behind-the-Scenes)

Back in September, one of my good friends, Brittanee, and I held our own show at Western Canada Fashion Week in a partnership with Goodwill Industries. Our task, as stylists, was to create a collection sourced entirely from Goodwill locations to showcase vintage fashion. Not only were we able to gain invaluable experience (ex. always have a plan B/C/D/E/F/G/etc.), but it was a great way for the company to rebrand and open itself to a new audience! You can take a look at images from our lookbook and runway show here. Anyway, throughout the process, we took some images of some candid moments behind the scenes. From hair and makeup to a segment on the Global Morning Show, I thought you might enjoy browsing through the pictures. However, be warned, some were taken on my extremely capable camera phone (note: sarcasm) and are notably blurry. Enjoy!

the Peacock Parade's "Off the Runway"

Canadian fashion is quickly on its way up. The underdogs in the industry, artistic minds like Joe Mimran (of Joe Fresh and Club Monaco fame) and Mark Fast are championing our nation's cause in an arena dominated by American and European designers. Although Canada may not be the first to come to mind when thinking of fashion, our nation boasts an impressive roster of talent that has received recognition and respect across a wide expanse of industries. Even with all that we have to be proud of, however, there always seems to be a lack of enthusiasm when it comes to buying Canadian and supporting domestic talent - a hurdle that has undoubtedly prevented many of Canada's brightest stars from achieving success.

Jan Gandhi and Nancy Sahota are the creative forces behind the Peacock Parade, an online destination for retail enthusiasts to delight in designer goods offered at discounted prices. Through their business, the two women recently launched "Off the Runway", an initiative that is as much about accessibility to consumers as it is about the cultivation of homegrown talent - something that I fully support and am so happy to see in the Canadian market.

Genette Salgado S/S '12

I realize i'm a little tardy to the party on this one, but any chance to highlight some great, local talent, and i'm on board! Genette Salgado is a designer of versatility, flare, and sophistication, key components that contribute to a formula for success. She recently showcased her latest collection, Not Fade Away, at Western Canada Fashion Week (which, by the way, is now the third largest fashion week in Canada), and did not disappoint!

TOMKOW + CHUNG F/W 2011 Collection

Finally! The images have come back and I can, at long last, show everyone the collection that we worked so hard on for Western Canada Fashion Week! Where do I even begin? My creative partner, Brittanee Tomkow, and I entered the Emerging Stylist competition for fashion week last year, which involved styling an outfit completely sourced from Goodwill Industries with a budget of $75. We ended up winning the competition with a colour-blocked outfit that reflected much of what was being shown on the international runways that season. Our ensemble ended up totaling just under $35 from head to toe and really displayed the fact that fashion need not always be expensive or inaccessible. As our prize, we were given the amazing opportunity to showcase an entire collection of looks, styled by us and sourced from Goodwill, for the Fall/Winter 2011 season!

TOMKOW + CHUNG

The show we put on for Western Canada Fashion Week went better than we hoped for, and could not have been any happier! I really want to show everyone the pictures that we took, but it looks like it's going to take about another week for us to get images back. However, i'd rather you see the images in the best possible way rather than see them early, so i'm happy to wait a little longer :)

Stay tuned!!

Tease

As a sneak peak to my upcoming show for Western Canada Fashion Week, here's a snakeskin satchel I found that will be featured when we (Brittanee and I) debut our collection on Friday, September 23rd! 

Oh, and we got it for only $7 ;)

If you're in town (Edmonton), come say hi and watch our show!

Doors open at 7pm, September 23rd at the Transalta Arts Barn 

10330 84 Avenue Northwest, Edmonton

(Afterparty at the Rack on Whyte Ave!)

Haute and Bothered

Oh, what wonders and opulence has the world of Haute Couture brought us now? Fall is right around the corner (thank god, I'm not sure how much more of this heat/humidity I can handle) and with it has come a surge of great fall fashion. Fall Couture Week just wrapped up and it did not disappoint! From Giambattista Valli's luxuriously voluminous collection to the house of Dior's revival sans fallen designer, John Galliano, it was an eventful time!

Milan Men's Fashion Week Pt.II

So

i've finally finished compiling some of my favourite looks from the Milan men's fashion week! For those quick to judge, keep in mind that I chose these looks for a variety of reasons. When looking at the outfits that are sent down the runway, one cannot just judge based on face value. You have to be able to see a look and have the ability to disassemble it, appreciating each piece for the contribution that it makes to the overall presentation of that outfit, or the contribution that it could make in another. You have to be able to imagine certain pieces in different settings. Perhaps in a beautifully stylized advertising campaign, perhaps in a whimsical street shot. Fashion and style are never singular formulas. That boldly printed D&G blazer may be a bit much for some, but it would look absolutely stunning in a magazine spread. Or perhaps that hot pink double-breasted blazer by Cavalli? Paired with a crisp, white button-up, some casual navy trousers, with the sleeves rolled up, and you've got a luxuriously casual look! These looks have been chosen for a multitude of reasons and are appreciated for their versatility! I encourage you to think outside of the box when looking at these pieces and try to imagine ways that they work instead of ways that they don't!

Milan Street Style

It's a busy time of the year for men's fashion, with design houses showing off their collections in the fashion capitals of the world. Today, we go to Milan with Tommy Ton to derive inspiration from the streets! Here are some of my favourites, from his shots! 

WCFW Emerging Stylist Competition

I recently participated in the Emerging Stylist Competition with my friend, Brittanee, for Western Canada Fashion Week’s spring/summer 2011 showcase - and came in first place!

Each article of clothing had to come from a Goodwill Industries store, as they were the official sponsors of the competition. In my opinion, this requirement was genius on Goodwill’s part, as it showcased their offerings to a new target audience (young, stylish, students) that people might not normally associate with the company. Personally, I was opened up to an entirely new world of vintage fashion, making for a very exciting experience!

Western Canada Fashion Week

An interview I had with Sandra Sing Fernandes, founder of Western Canada Fashion Week, for Lazy-Faire magazine.

Fashion is a word that is often synonymous with glamour and luxury. But what is often swept aside is the amount of hard work and drive required to give off such grandeur depictions. We recently sat down with Western Canada Fashion Week founder and director, Sandra Sing Fernandes, to talk about her work here in Canada’s fashion capital… Edmonton. Undoubtedly, a difficult market that Sandra has been able to work like Naomi Campbell on the catwalk. What we discovered was a very passionate woman, driven by her love for the arts and her community.