What Would You Wear?
Fashion blogger Jessica Wang is wearing all the right outfits… in her home. As the global pandemic continues to crush the normal avenues of displaying fashion, Wang proves the supply and demand to look and feel good has never stopped.
She’s pivoted from the fast-paced life of the fashion world and made her own home her runway, showcasing different looks from her couch, her hallways and sometimes alongside her family members. We love following Wang for helping us to remember fashion is alive and well. Basically, our clothes should not be collecting dust! Here’s a look at some other noteworthy fashions as featured in Sophisticated Living magazine.
Ivan Young S/S 2021
New collection imagery from designers Ivan Young and Bella Belle are just the eye candy we need to break up the sweatpants and t-shirts monogamy! A native of Guangzhou, China, Ivan Young says his interest in fashion began at an early age, and he grew up watching his mother and grandmother make clothes for the family to wear. He created his first garment as part of his university studies and went on to found his eponymous company in 2017, with an initial mulberry silk collection focused on essential pieces with clean silhouettes. Today, his bi-annual collections encompass both evening and ready-to-wear.
"It's the best of both worlds," he explains. "Evening wear offers a chance to get all dressed up and indulge in something luxurious, while RTW makes little pieces of that luxury more easily accessible." The designer describes his client as someone aware of her feminine power as well as the importance of self-love. "A lovingly made garment is really something that I believe every woman should allow herself to experience," says Young. Ivanyoung.com
Bella Belle: Photos by Laura Gordon Photography
Founded by a pair of best friends who met in high school, the brand is renowned for its embellished shoes, emphasizing bridal—and even more beloved for its focus on comfort. After commiserating about the difficulty to find flats that are dainty and not frumpy and elegant heels that weren't painful to wear, the pair aspired to lend a handmade aspect to their looks. Counter to fast fashion principles, Bella Belle's designers are inspired by elements that evoke emotions and senses, carving out a niche with a distinctive handmade approach where each beading and embroidery is handsewn and hand-cut. Their 3D floral embroidery technique is inspired by Japan's Sakura blooms, while patterns in crystal beadwork call to mind the bubbles in a glass of Champagne. This level of embellishment is inimitable by factory machines; they are more fluid, artistic, and exquisite as one might expect from a luxury brand. Bellabelleshoes.com
