Liz Chan blog

Elvira 't Hart's wearable clothing sketches

2013-01-27T13:25:00.000-05:00

As with a lot of design work, sometimes the most interesting aspect is the sketch before the final product. Fashion designer Elvira t' Hart had the brilliant idea of bringing her 2D drawings to life into a wearable 3D product. Using a laser cut technique, her collection is simple and graphic while possessing that hand drawn rawness of unfinished edges.

On her site, she says, "A lot of details contained within the first sketches are lost during the process of designing and executing clothing. The clothing takes characteristics from the sketches: outlying lines, lines that trail off into nowhere and empty or unfinished areas. An image is reduced to lines, planes and areas which do not have to be fully formed or finished in order to portray their ultimate meaning: it stimulates the imagination."

Check out her collection and sketches on her website.

Nature vs Nature

2012-11-04T13:21:00.000-05:00

The month of October has been quite a month for me. My best friend and I went on a trip to Iceland for an adventure. It's a BEAUTIFUL country with purple mountains, majestic waterfalls, and relaxing thermal hot springs. Everywhere felt so pristine and untouched, like we where in a whole other world. It's such a stark contrast to the concrete playground of New York City. We both felt so at peace getting out of the city and being surrounded by all of the volcanic island's natural wonders.

One of the main reasons why we came to Iceland in the first place was because we had hoped to see the Northern lights. We waited and waited, but never saw the aurora borealis, despite waiting for hours in complete darkness. But the millions of stars that we could see in the clear night sky made the wait worthwhile. Nature can be so amazing.

However, nature isn't always so kind.

After returning to New York, hurricane Sandy wrecked havoc on the east coast. I was lucky and still had electricity, water, heat, and a roof over my head. But many were not as fortunate. All of downtown Manhattan and parts of Queens, Brooklyn, and Staten Island had no power (and many people are still without it). People have lost their homes and because of sewage, oil, and debris, do not have any clean water or food. As the weather gets colder, they expect the death toll to continue to climb. It pains me so much to see my beloved city crippled.

If you can help, then please donate! These are people like you and me who've lost everything and could use some kindness and generosity right now. Here is a link to a list of some resources where you can contribute:

Donate or Volunteer Now!

Thank you all!

Photo of Manhattan taken by photographer Iwan Baan for New York Magazine

Runway Roundup (Spring 2013 Ready-to-wear)

2012-09-20T18:17:00.002-04:00

It's Fall Fashion frenzy! With New York and London fashion week behind us, and Milan fashion week in full swing, I thought it might be fun to compile a roundup of some of my favorite outfits thus far. From the gowns that made me swoon, to the chic tailored separates I'd don in a heartbeat, here is a countdown of looks I love.

Vera Wang
That blue dress is in one word...AMAZING! Just look at all that detailing! I loved her entire collection because everything was so rich in texture. Looking to India for inspiration, Wang combined sumptuous colors of chartreuse, amethyst, and gold, with brocade, Chantilly lace, and cotton eyelet. The result is perfect for the modern woman who is strong, but still wants to look pretty with incredible details.

Burberry Prorsum
Jewel toned metallics and bright ombre pieces really made this collection stand out to me. I like that something very cool and futuristic was reinterpreted for spring with juicier hues. The colorful sunglasses and see-through satchels added a fun finishing touch.

Vivienne Westwood Red Label
I'm not sure which I like better: The wild and fun retro 1950s vibe, or the Andy Warhol-esque painted makeup. Once again, Vivienne Westwood pushes the envelope of the unexpected with a ladylike collection that is anything but tame.

Badgley Mischka
Everyone loves the beautiful and glamorous gowns that Mark Badgley and James Mischka design each year. The dresses in this collection were, as usual, absolutely divine. But what really stood out to me were the separates. It goes to show that you CAN look just as stunning in a very wearable tailored blazer with sheen or a shimmery pair of pearlescent slacks.

BCBG Max Azria
Who knew that leather harnesses layered over delicate lace and crepe could look so elegant and seductive? "I don't think you need to show a lot of skin to be sexy," Lubov Azria said backstage. This rings true nowadays as lengths become longer, silhouettes become looser, and sexiness can be as subtle as a sheer slit here and there rather than a too-short tight-fitting mini dress.

Proenza Schouler
How I love these digital prints! Patterns of trees, ocean waves, and even faces are collaged and sliced so that they become abstract. There is so much energy and vivid color in this collection. It's no wonder that young designers Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez were able to open their first long-awaited store on Madison Avenue earlier this month.

Marchesa
And finally, the maximalist in me squealed in delight as usual upon seeing Marchesa's spring 2013 collection. Over-the-top embellishments, hand embroidery, lot's of fringe, and jewel encrusted tights? YES, PLEASE! Like Vera Wang, designers Keren Caig and Georgina Chapman found their inspiration from India. Who's approach did you like better?

All photos via Style.com.

Whimsical photographs by Lissy Elle

2012-08-23T23:32:00.001-04:00

Beautiful, whimsical, innocent and yet dark, these photographs by Lissy Elle capture both our imagination and anxieties that come with exploring a world that is both lovely and lonely.

Lissy writes on her site: "Nothing inspires me like childish things. Tutus and tea parties. Porcelain dolls and Disney movies. The love of learning and exploring that we as adults lose along the way. Walking through a forest barefoot. Talking to yourself in a silly voice. Building forts during a thunderstorm. Battling dragons and monsters in your mind. Coming home, safe and sound, and turning your adventures into art."

Neon Blocking

2012-08-16T00:05:00.001-04:00

The end of summer is near, and every fashionista is currently looking forward to building her new fall wardrobe. As for me, I am just not ready to put away all my neons and brights quite yet. In fact, why not go all out and close the summer with a great big bang (or two) of color?

In New York, there's only so many days out of the year where you can carelessly go out in an airy sundress and not have to worry about a jacket or what color tights to match with your outfit. So enjoy it, embrace it. And if you get sick of it quickly, just know that fall is right around the corner before you know it.

Photographs by Hansen Hanggodo
Dress, belt, and bracelet from Forever 21. Nude pumps from Ted Baker. Necklace vintage from Etsy. Nude quilted chain strap purse from ASOS.

Liz's Pinterest Picks vol. 1

2012-08-06T22:28:00.001-04:00

Welcome to volume 1 of my grab bag of visual eye candy gathered from my pinterest boards. I thought it would be fun to mix in some assorted posts with inspiration "one-offs." If you're not on pinterest yet, I highly recommend it! It's one of the best tools out there right now for gathering, organizing, and sharing all the things you love. From photos and recipes to home decor ideas and beauty DIY tutorials, it will definitely get your creative juices flowing in every aspect of your life.

Don't forget to follow me on pinterest!

Please! Magazine editorial by Nagi Sakai

2012-08-02T13:20:00.000-04:00

How simple, yet dynamic, is it that a strategic splash of paint can transform a fashion editorial into something more unexpected? Shot by Nagi Sakai for Please! Magazine, I love that the paint adds bright pops of color over the more muted palette of the photograph. The placement of the crackled paint over the models' faces gives that feeling of anonymity, which keeps your eye engaged in trying to visually fill in the blanks.

Five months in...

2012-05-26T13:43:00.000-04:00

It's been almost five months since I've started my job at InStyle...and it's been great! I've learned so much during the past few months, and there's no better feeling than seeing the finished product of your hard work on practically every newsstand. I love that my job also relates to fashion, style, and beauty, which makes designing the pages so much more fun.

Check out the June issue with Charlize Theron on the cover. I created and customized a very "sexy" font that is used throughout the feature stories. To create that sexy feel, I gave the letters sleek curves with a dramatic contrast of thick and thin lines.

Here in New York it's our first official weekend of summer. The weather is beautiful, and I'll be enjoying a day outside in a little floral sun dress. (By the way, you can probably tell that I've totally joined the Instragram bandwagon) Enjoy your weekend everyone!

Paper flowers by Lyndie Dourthe

2012-05-22T16:56:00.000-04:00

Spring yields us some gorgeous blooms. But if you're looking for a beautiful bouquet that will last all year round, then take a look at these gorgeous flowers, handmade by french artist Lyndie Dourthe. Each delicate bloom is constructed entirely out of hand-painted paper. It's almost as if she's taken a watercolor painting and brought it to life as a 3-dimensional object. I am amazed at how beautifully crafted these are!

Lyndie Dourthe has other beautiful hand-made objects on her portfolio site. Check it out!

Dana Tanamachi's Chalkboard Lettering

2012-04-30T13:25:00.001-04:00

Dana Tanamachi is not your typical chalkboard letterer. Her specialty lies in her elevated sense of mixing playful typography with a retro flair. I love that her skills appear in many mediums, from magazines and catalogs to products and signage. She's worked with many clients such as West Elm, O Magazine, Google, Everyday with Rachael Ray, and The Ace Hotel.

Below is a time lapse video of one of her signage installations with The Ace Hotel. Check it out if you want to see her process!

Spring is in the air

2012-04-17T23:17:00.012-04:00

The weather has been an amazing 80 degrees the past few days in New York. My photographer friend Hansen Hanggodo and I decided to have a little fun with a shoot. I've always been a fan of brights....this season's trends have made it so much easier for me to shop for all of my favorite colors :)

With an outfit this colorful, Hansen decided to play around with a simpler background. Some of the buildings we came across had some interesting lines and grids with subtle textures, cracks, and nuances in the concrete.

This last photo is probably my favorite. Compositional wise, it has a lot of "white space"....but that space is anything but pure white, which is why I find it interesting. There are signs of age and history, and that's the beauty of an old concrete jungle.

Top, clutch, and jewelry from Forever 21. Skirt from Zara. Suede pumps from Nine West at Endless.

"To have & to hold" a stop motion by Jessica Polaniecki

2012-03-27T14:17:00.003-04:00

Hey guys! I wanted to take a moment to share an endearing stop motion film by my personal friend, Jessica Polaniecki. She is a very talented artist who's worked with some great clients such as Sesame Street and Lady Gaga. What's even more amazing is that all of the puppets, props, and sets in her films are each handcrafted and built by Jessica herself! "To have & to hold" is about a woman who's loyal possessions aid her throughout her life. If you like the film, then I ask that you please vote for her so that it will be aired on television! It would mean a lot to both me and her if you can offer your support.

VOTE FOR JESSICA'S FILM HERE:
http://www.thirteen.org/sites/reel13/category/vote/

EDIT: Thanks everyone for voting! Although Jessica' film did not win, she is grateful for everyone's support.

Stop motion is an art form that should never be lost!

"Faith" by Paul Cassidy

2012-03-22T22:19:00.007-04:00

This fashion editorial, appropriately named "Faith", was shot by Spanish photographer Paul Cassidy and art directed by Pablo Perez Sanmartin. Models are bathed in beautiful soft, glowing light, the kind you'd witness only at dusk. I like that this softness is juxtaposed with the bolder styling. The clothes take on very constructed graphic shapes full of sculptural curves and angles that are anything but delicate, but certainly divine.

See the rest of the photos here.

Places & Spaces

2012-02-06T00:56:00.005-05:00

The space you live in can be a great source of inspiration if you create a beautiful environment for yourself. I recently moved into a new apartment a few months ago, and I've been so busy that I haven't had the chance to really decorate and make it my own. For the past few days, I've been turning to sites like pinterest to look for some ideas. I'm starting to realize a pattern in the images I save: I love 1) vintage photo frames 2) feminine details, like pretty glass perfume bottles, floral patterns, and sheer fabrics 3) beautiful ways of storing, organizing, or displaying things

Dream shoe closet, anyone?
What kind of spaces do you like? What would your dream room, apartment, or house look like? And if you have any great blogs or sites, definitely let me know in the comments :)

Photos via pinterest and SF Girl by Bay

Jason Wu for Target haul

2012-02-06T00:16:00.004-05:00

As a lot of you probably already heard, the Jason Wu collection at Target debuted earlier today, and it was CROWDED. I woke up early to go there a little after the store opened and people were already grabbing armfuls of clothes and accessories. Luckily, I did get my hands on a few items that I really liked. Overall it was an interesting experience getting swept up in the shopping frenzy, but well worth it.

I have to say that I was pretty impressed with the quality for most of the items. No loose threads, pretty solid stitching, no fraying raw edges...and the prices were so affordable. This collection is both classic and modern retro, feminine chic and sporty, all crafted with his timeless style of clean lines with elegant details.

Most of the items are sold out now, but I hear they will restock in another week or so (plus people will soon start returning items that they grabbed and realize don't fit). So there are still opportunities if you didn't get a chance today to get your hands on some Jason Wu.

Yayoi Kusama's magical rooms

2012-01-22T13:34:00.008-05:00

Yayoi Kusama is a japanese artist who is known for using polka dots as a motif in her sculptures, installations, collages, and paintings. Below is one of her most recent projects that is being shown in The Queensland Gallery of Modern Art in Australia. The installation consists of rooms made to look like a typical household painted completely white. Then for two weeks, she gave out different colored polka dot stickers to children for them to place wherever they pleased. The result? A beautiful transformation from a blank sterile canvas to something colorful, whimsical, and almost unreal.

Maroquinaris Zoologicae by Billie Achilleos for Louis Vuitton's 100th birthday

2012-01-14T21:43:00.008-05:00

Would you dare butcher a bunch of Louis Vuitton bags to create art? For their 100th anniversary celebration, Louis Vuitton commissioned artist Billie Achilleos to do just that. As painful as it sounds to hack up some monogrammed Speedy's, wallets, and belts, the end result is what the fashion house calls Maroquinaris Zoologicae, an amazing transformation from luxury leather goods to a zoo of different animals and creatures.

From Billie's blog:

"Each animal highlights an element in the design of the products. The Armadillo was to highlight the soft yet durable quality of the leather. The Chameleon displays the variety of colour. The Grasshopper is constructed from products with zips and poppers that make satisfying noises like that of the musically gifted insect. And finally my favorite, the Beaver, who’s functionality chops wood, builds dams…and provides cleaver ways of organising ones life in men’s bags and wallets."

Check out the rest of the critters here.

FABRIC project by Stéphanie Baechler

2011-12-28T23:15:00.005-05:00

The FABRIC project by Stéphanie Baechler has a very interesting process, one that involves taking a 3D object, turning it into 2D, and then translating it back again into 3D. The artist first takes pieces of colored fabric and hangs them on the wall in different patterns and arrangements. She then photographs them, and then proceeds to print those photographs onto new sheets of fabric. The result is very interesting imagery that captures all of the mesmerizing folds and shapes that are so often overlooked. There is a short video documenting her process below, and it is very inspiring to watch.

Fabric Project from Hochparterre on Vimeo.

Holiday windows

2011-12-22T20:56:00.006-05:00

The holidays are upon us! Sadly, I caught the flu, so I am home sick right now :( but at least I got a chance to snap some pictures last week of the window displays in front of Bergdorf Goodman. Every year, the big department stores in New York like to set up elaborate and fantastic displays, each beautifully done by talented artists and set designers.

Of course, the holidays are never complete without a trip to FAO Schwartz, the giant toy store in midtown that makes me feel like a little kid again. (No, I didn't get the bear...if only!)

Everyone have a happy and safe holiday this year! I am going to get some rest so that I can get better and hopefully make it home in time for Christmas.

xoxo
- Liz

"La ídola" by Fab Ciraolo

2011-12-20T16:59:00.009-05:00

I am loving this illustration done by Fab Ciraolo. Maybe it's the modern-vintage feel or the dreamy color palette. Or maybe it's because it has slices of cake floating around in a surreal fashion. I can't quite put my finger on it. I just love the way pattern is used everywhere from the background to her skirt, and even to obscure the subject's face.

Also, I wanted to give a thanks to the style blog, Be In Style for choosing my blog as an editor's pick award. Yay!

Best Blog on Style and Fashion

Figure paintings by Simon Birch

2011-12-15T23:48:00.005-05:00

Although these paintings were done back in 2008, I have just recently discovered these figure paintings by Simon Birch. The ones I selected for this post are my favorites from this series. I like that the figure is more abstracted and ambiguous than some of his other paintings. This ambiguity achieved by his brush and palette knife techniques really helps express the motions and energy being exerted by the figure's actions.

California Dreamin'

2011-12-13T01:48:00.006-05:00

I just returned from a lovely trip to California. I stayed mainly in the L.A. area and got a chance to experience the whole package: beautiful sunsets day after day, exploring the art scene at Downtown L.A. ArtWalk, eating my first In-N-Out burger, and driving along the Pacific Coast Highway. It was nice to get out of New York for a week and escape the cold for some of that west coast sunshine. Now I'm back, and getting ready to take on what's left of 2011 :)

USED Magazine - where fashion meets art

2011-11-30T10:58:00.011-05:00

USED Magazine is a new biannual created and art directed by the U.K. creative agency Useful. The publication, launched recently, explores the relationship and interaction between fashion and art. Full of beautifully executed fashion photography, art feature stories, and interesting typography, the magazine is both sophisticated and edgy in its own visual aesthetic.

Sweetstruck

2011-11-26T16:50:00.005-05:00

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I spent the last few days back with my family and friends in my hometown Wilmington, Delaware. I had LOT'S of turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes, and best of all.....fall themed cupcakes! My sister brought over a dozen of these beauties from Sweetstruck Cupcakes. They looked so pretty and were delicious.

Pumpkin cupcake, Sweet potato cupcake (topped with marshmallow), Caramel apple pie cupcake (with apple filling), and Cinnamon Bun cupcake with cream cheese frosting.

I didn't do any black friday shopping....for me, relaxation = avoiding crowds and long lines. I'll actually be flying out to sunny California in a week for a vacation, so I'd rather have a little extra spending money for then ;)

Hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving weekend!

Style Diary - Challenges of Modeling

2011-11-16T16:39:00.014-05:00

The leaves are falling and pretty soon, it's going to be Thanksgiving in a week! It's been awhile since I've updated on what projects I've been up to, so here we go. I recently styled and modeled for a photoshoot shot by Hansen Hanggodo. As an aspiring art director and photo shoot stylist, I wanted to practice two things: 1) putting together looks and 2) knowing what it's like to be in front of the camera for a change. As someone who is always working behind the camera and has directed models before, I wanted to experience and better understand what it's like to actually BE the model. Let me tell you....modeling is NOT easy, even though it may look like it. It's hard work and I was exhausted by the end of the day.

Overall, I had a lot of fun putting together looks. Some of many challenges I had to face while shooting: being on my feet all day in heels, posing outside for hours in the (very) chilly weather without a coat, continuously shifting and changing poses, and trying to stand on grass without my stilettos sinking in the ground. Plus, that whole thing about "smiling" with your eyes? Try doing that for 5 hours straight :P

What do you guys think of this look? More photos from the shoot to follow