Fashion insider

Image Source: Angela Wu

When Ashlyn So puts her mind to something, there’s no stopping her. Merely three years after attending her first sewing class at age 6, the fashion designer made her New York Fashion Week debut, presenting an enchanted forest-themed collection among designers five times her senior. And that’s just one of many accomplishments on her already-extensive résumé. Nowadays, 13-year-old Ashlyn is using her platform to speak out against the rise in hate crimes targeting Asian Americans, proving she’s ready to express herself with more than just a needle and thread. In honor of APIA Heritage Month, POPSUGAR caught up with Ashlyn about her fashion design endeavors and activism efforts, and the conversation instantly solidified our prior decision to include the talented San Francisco native on our 21 Under 21 list.

Ashlyn’s obsession with sewing dates all the way back to preschool. While her classmates played with blocks … Read the rest

Freeform’s latest psychological thriller Cruel Summer, produced by Jessica Biel, was filmed in Dallas, TX and takes place over the course of three consecutive years in the ’90s. Starring Olivia Holt (Kate Wallis), Chiara Aurelia (Jeanette Turner), Harley Quinn Smith (Mallory Higgins), and Allius Barnes (Vince Fuller), the cast is stacked with talent and all of the actors share a deep understanding of who their characters are. They worked with costume designer Taneia Lednicky (who also assisted on Friday Night Lights, while we’re talking high school storylines), to convey their personal evolutions from 1993 to 1995. The way these four kids process these trying, tumultuous years becomes so obvious through what they’re choosing to wear – and the objects they leave to collect dust.

We talked to Taneia, along with all four stars of the show, about collaborating during fittings and discovering designer pieces that fit right in … Read the rest

Could we have asked for better cochairs to lead the two-part exhibit for the 2021 Met Gala? All newcomers to the ball – which is hosted by Vogue editor in chief Anna Wintour – Timothée Chalamet, Billie Eilish, Amanda Gorman, and Naomi Osaka will take the reins at fashion’s biggest event of the year. The first segment called “In America: A Lexicon of Fashion” opens in the Anna Wintour Costume Center on September 18, 2021, and will be celebrated with an intimate red carpet pending government guidelines on Monday, September 13, 2021. This marks the 75th anniversary of the Met Gala, which is curated by Andrew Bolton.

Bolton summarized the theme of the two-part exhibit in a press release: “Over the past year, because of the pandemic, the connections to our homes have become more emotional, as have those to our clothes. For American fashion, this has meant an increased … Read the rest

If you’re familiar with Janelle Monáe’s style, then you probably know she tends to keep to a wardrobe of black and white on the red carpet. Monáe told HuffPost the color palette speaks to her background and history: “It’s a dedication to uniformity and I’m a minimalist by heart, but a lot of it had to do with me wanting to have a uniform like the working class, like my mom and my grandmother,” she explained. While we have seen the singer, songwriter, producer, and actress in color before, she mostly stays firmly dedicated to this look.

Her stylist Alexandra Mandelkorn, whom she’s worked with for over four years, told POPSUGAR that this fashion choice extends beyond events – like for her recent trip to Cabo San Lucas, Mexico, where Janelle wore black-and-white outfits with a vacation vibe. “Fun prints, embroidery, and sheer fabrics are all fab in black and … Read the rest

In the 1995 cult-classic film Now and Then, there’s a scene where the four main characters ride bikes and sing Tony Orlando’s “Knock Three Times” at the top of their lungs. The iconic moment plays on a loop pretty much every time I see a bike. Furthermore, it set the tone for what an achingly chic ride looks (and sounds) like. One thing I can’t help but notice, though, is the fact that none of the aforementioned actresses are wearing bike helmets. Not one! Sure, they’re pedaling down an empty road in the suburbs of Indiana, but what if a truck whizzes by? The Wormer brothers could come out of nowhere, armed with water balloons. Over three decades later, the lack of protective headgear still plagues my mind.

For this reason – in addition to general safety protocols – I always wear a helmet. And thankfully, there are tons … Read the rest

We know you’re searching for sunglasses shapes to add to your rotation year-round, so we won’t skimp on the trends you’ll want to get to know. We scoured the runways and checked the new arrivals from our favorite eyewear brands – Oliver Peoples, Linda Farrow, Le Specs, and Quay Australia, just to name a few – and uncovered the biggest looks of 2021. These styles may be even more important than your blue-light reading glasses because you can wear them outside and inside – inside, like, when you’re posing for an outfit selfie, of course.

This year, we’re not only seeing a repetition of certain shapes, but a re-creation of them. Futuristic designs come in all forms – some have frames that swerve or make waves at the sides, while others feature incredibly cool cutouts in the actual lens itself. Meanwhile, heavy metal is a trend, and we’re seeing yellow … Read the rest

Kamala Harris continues to break barriers in her career. On April 28, she stood behind Joe Biden as he addressed a joint session of Congress at the United States Capitol in Washington DC. Biden acknowledged the vice president and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi: “Madam Speaker, Madam Vice President. No president has ever said those words from this podium,” he said. “No president has ever said those words and it’s about time.” If that is not enough to make women and young girls all over the world feel confident, Harris’s bold stature and elegance in a cream Prabal Gurung pantsuit should help.

Harris chose to support the Singaporean-born Nepali American designer raised in Nepal and India at the most crucial time – when Gurung himself is using his platform to stand up against anti-Asian hate crimes in America and racism in the fashion industry. By working with Gurung on … Read the rest

Surprise! Frankies Bikinis has teamed up with tennis player Naomi Osaka to collaborate on her first-ever swimwear collection. The athlete showcases her sense of style in a range of swimwear designed in collaboration with the brand’s founder and Creative Director Francesca Aiello.

“For this swimwear collection, I really wanted to mix sporty and feminine, just like my own style. Francesca and I designed strong silhouettes in bold colors and also included a lot of playful prints and sparkly fabrics to add some femininity. I think there’s a little something for everyone in this collection, and that makes me really excited,” Naomi exclusively told POPSUGAR.

The collection will be released in two drops. The first drop will release on May 10 and focuses on “fun, girly prints and new silhouettes.” The brand will showcase new prints called “sweet pea” floral, “libra stripe,” and “candyland.” It will also be showcasing Naomi’s signature … Read the rest

Only three months after landing her first modeling contract, Ella Emhoff has launched her first official knitwear collaboration with designer Batsheva Hay, and the collection alone might make grandma chic 2021’s newest trend. After teasing the design process in early March – which involved collaborating via text, email, and Zoom – Ella and Batsheva have channeled 2000s pastel style into three pieces ranging in price from $150 to $280.

“Having the bright colors I love mixed with her traditional silhouettes; it was kind of the perfect melding of styles,” Ella said in a press release. “There’s not a real plan, it’s just intuition. It was really nice to work with someone else who works like that because it can be seen as an unorganized aspect, but it’s not. It just happens so stress-free.” The pair only met up once in person for fittings, making the finished collection a true creative … Read the rest

The late Diana, Princess of Wales’s iconic wedding dress from her marriage to Prince Charles in 1981 will go on display at Kensington Palace in London this summer. The ivory silk taffeta and antique lace gown designed by David and Elizabeth Emanuel is set to be the main attraction of the Royal Style in the Making exhibition curated by Historic Royal Palaces, which will also include never-before-seen archival designs by some of the most renowned royal couturiers of the 20th century.

Opening on Thursday, June 3, and until Sunday, Jan. 2, 2022, the Royal Style in the Making exhibition will give fans of royal fashion an up-close look at Princess Diana’s bridal gown. The era-defining design features an impressive 25-foot train, an 153-yard tulle veil, a dramatic collar, and puff sleeves detailed with ruffles and bows. In addition to Princess Diana’s historic dress, the exhibition will include original sketches, fabric … Read the rest