Miss Couturable

Wristlets are the best arm candy

2012-08-28T00:36:00.001-04:00

My favorite grey Alexander Wang camera bag got sabotaged on a freak cruise boat accident, which means I'm without a practical and small bag for special occasions and for hopping across the street to frat row. (I wish I were kidding, but as senior year approaches, I'm strangely nostalgic for the college debauchery I evaded for the past two years.) I've been eyeing this Proenza Schouler PS11 wristlet-clutch from Net-a-Porter -- did I mention that orange is one of my new favorite colors? Orange is warm and toasty and perfect for autumn, when the scarves start to come out of the woodwork and sweaters are no longer covered in mothballs.

I'll take this over pumpkin pie, please.

ex.oh.ex.oh

Miss Couturable

Au revoir, acne!

2012-08-17T20:07:00.000-04:00

I don't remember a time when I had clear skin. On the first day of fourth grade, I came to class with a giant red oozing zit on my nose.

"Do you, like, not wash your face? Is it not in your culture?" asked a friend who turned out not to be a friend by eighth grade. She undoubtedly thought I was a peasant straight off the rice paddies of China. (But yeah, "friend"-from-fourth-grade, Chinese people do wash their faces. Who do you think we are? French aristocracy from the 18th century?). I walked around the playground with my hand covering my face in shame. At that point, I would have rather Voldemort branded me with the Dark Mark on my forehead than grow a pimple on my face.

I've been to multiple dermatologists, some of whom tricked me into expensive and useless light treatments. My current dermatologist is awesome and way more glamorous than me. Yesterday, she wore hot pink Manolo Blahnik open-toe stilettos. She is also Asian, is way older than me, and has way better legs than me. My first dermatologist was a guy with really hairy arms and grey chest hair that looked like fur sticking out of his shirt. He was useless and kind of gross. Wouldn't you rather trust a dermatologist in Manolo Blahniks anyway?

Anyway, while I was studying abroad in Paris for the past seven months, I picked up a couple tubes of Avibon vitamin A pommade from la pharmacie. French pharmacies are unbelievably chic. In America, people go to Duane Reade and CVS for a bag of Doritos and a bottle of Herbal Essences shampoo. In France, people go to the pharmacy for amazing -- and affordable -- products that you'd find in specialty stores elsewhere. I had read about Avibon via GOOP, and because I love Gwyneth Paltrow and have even once tasted the CLEAN cleansing program she's crazy for (I felt like I was drinking sandpaper but if Gwynnie swears by it and looks the way that she does, who am I to judge?), I had to try it.

Avibon looks like Vaseline but smells like a bouquet of roses. Vitamin A, as you may know is retinoic acid, which is used for anti-aging, fighting wrinkles, erasing scars, and clearing acne. The only ingredients are lanolin, which is why it's moisturizing and not drying like most retinol creams, and vitamin A. You should smear it all over your face before bed, which makes you look like a yellow Martian. It's not really attractive, but I am a big fan of looking ugly at home when no one can see you. It makes going out into public a more dramatic affair.

My acne problems are too disastrous for a simple over-the-counter pommade to solve (we'll talk about that another day), but it has cleared up much of my scarring and has kept my skin moisturized at night without more zits than usual. It only costs about €7 (or less!) at the pharmacies in France, but most online shops sell it to foreigners for over $25 per tube. I'd recommend you find a French penpal (or better yet, lover) so that they can pick it up for you. And when you do, please let me know so I can put in an order, too.

Do you have any budget drugstore/pharmacy favorites? Especially ones that look gross but work better than bathing in virgins' blood?

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Lazarus 2012

2012-08-17T19:12:00.000-04:00

I am resurrecting this blog. Be warned -- you should have zero expectations. I don't. I am about to start my senior year of college in two weeks, and I still haven't finalized my class schedule. Or bought my books. Or finished my fellowship applications for post-graduate study in Europe. Or lost the weight I gained in Paris from eating baguettes and Nutella for breakfast. (I'm working on it.) I did, however, secure an internship for the fall semester (beauty and health department at Teen Vogue).

In other words, I don't know in what direction I'm going to take Miss Couturable -- but I hope you'll accompany me on my senior year of college at Columbia University, where I'm really trying to become a Real Person. You can read Miss Couturable for fashion/lifestyle commentary that mirrors my actual life, and NoelDuan.com for 3am musings when I'm panicking about midterms in the deep crevices of the library. Do you have any suggestions? What do you want to read about? I will consider anything that doesn't involve incriminating photos that my grandchildren will see. (Unless they'll think I'm a badarse grandma!)

It's been a while! How have you been?

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Music Obsession: Tara Priya

2011-07-23T14:02:00.005-04:00

Every year of high school, on the last day of the academic year, we sat through an excruciatingly long awards ceremony. My freshman year, at the awards ceremony, I found myself sitting next to a senior. Her name was Tara Chandra, and she was one of the smartest, prettiest, and most enigmatic seniors I had ever admired from far away in the hallway. She sang for the jazz band and once did an amazing rendition of Wicked's "Defying Gravity." She had won numerous prestigious writing awards and once, she gave a speech in front of the entire school about apathy and about political action. That was the only student speech that moved me all year. Most importantly (to me, as a wide-eyed freshman), she was attending Columbia University in the fall. She was going to New York, which seemed like the perfect place for her.

She won the English award that year, and I remember the entire auditorium cheering loudly for her, with teachers nodding their heads and smiling with pride. She was everything I wanted to be in three years.

I did end up giving two speeches in front of the school -- once my junior year, and once my senior year. And I never won a single award at school, but I did end up going to the same college as she did. And I did rediscover my passion for writing in high school, though I never won any prestigious writing awards.

After Tara graduated early from Columbia (magna cum laude, natch), she started to pursue her music career. Now, she is professionally known as Tara Priya.

It wasn't my intention to write about Tara Priya on the day of Amy Winehouse's death, but now I consider it fitting because Tara considers Amy to be one of her greatest influences.

I'm no expert on music (much less widely accepted "good" music), but Tara's EP has been on repeat on my playlist for the past two weeks. It's catchy, genuine, and heartfelt music. At the very least, you'll see why I was both intimidated and in awe as a 15-year-old freshman, sitting next to that confident senior with the brunette curls, who seemed ready to conquer the world.

You can listen to her EP and download it for only $3 here. I've also attached her new music video, "Rollin'." Hopefully it brings a bit a soulful joy to your heart amidst all the tragedy in this world.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Refinery29 remembers us college students!

2011-03-10T10:18:00.002-05:00

While many of my friends are jetting off to tropical islands, European countries, or back home for spring break, I'm staying in the city, where I intend to eat good food, visit museums, shop, catch up on work, and sleep all day and night. So, no, no need to pity me.

Just in time for spring break, Refinery29 is launching its new college column! The first article is about what to pack for your spring break trip.

Anyway, I'm super excited about this because I know a lot of fellow students who read Refinery29, but sometimes it's hard to relate when you're not dressing for a 9-to-5 job or you can't always afford to head downtown for an $80 entrée. Not that it stops me.

ex.oh.ex.oh

Miss Couturable

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-02-14T21:41:00.004-05:00

So, while I'm spending my Valentine's Day having intimate relations with my laptop, you may have more ~~exciting~~ raunchy plans (but statistically not likely if you also go to Columbia).

Refinery29.com asked me to publicize their latest Reserve, in which you get two 13-pack of condoms from Sir Richard's Condom Company for only $13 -- shipping included. Also, 25% of the proceeds is donated to Partners in Health. And apparently four of the boxes have diamond earrings from Simmons Jewelry. Sweet deal.

But anyway, erm, I'm heading to the library to ~~hook up in the stacks~~ celebrate my singleness with other single stressed-out friends. Happy Valentine's Day! At the very least, love yourself.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Are you Pretty Amazing?

2011-02-05T13:47:00.004-05:00

If you've always wanted to be on the cover of a magazine (and you're between ages 15 - 22 in the United States), you should definitely enter Seventeen's Pretty Amazing Real-Girl Cover Contest, sponsored by Neutrogena.

The winner appears on the cover of the October 2011 issue, wins a $10,000 scholarship, and goes on a trip to New York City -- sweet deal, right? All you have to do is fill out a short form and write a short paragraph or two (no more than 1,000 characters -- that's like 300 words) about why you're "Pretty Amazing."

I know I have awesome (and gorgeous!) readers who have accomplished amazing things, so please let me know if you've entered! And hey, feel free to share your accomplishments with me. I'm always interested in learning more about you (and being in awe of you!).

ex.oh.ex.oh

Miss Couturable

How bad do you want it?

2011-02-04T21:40:00.003-05:00

Today, I was the last one to leave the office at my internship because I was frantically doing some work to lighten the load for my boss. My eyes were slightly bloodshot, I'm quite sure that my eyeliner was smeared, and I had not eaten for over eight hours. Still, I toiled on because it was the least I could do to help, in anticipation of New York Fashion Week.

When I got home tonight, I decided to skip the Friday night parties for a quiet night (er, weekend) of rest. While browsing Fashionista, as I do every night, I was intrigued by the comments on the post, "Blair and Dan 'Intern' at W Mag on Gossip Girl and We Debunk the Myths."

Someone commented, "From my magazine experience, the dumbest interns come from the most top-ranked schools." In response, someone else commented, "Because they always feel they're too good to be doing lowly intern work."

In response to that, someone commented:

The truth is that being from a top school translates in to expectations of (at times impossible) excellence and the additional pressure/drive to do well. I could argue that interns from top schools are used to hard work, more so than everyone else, and perform better; however, I know better than to make a blanket-statement like you just did.

So, speaking from a limited personal viewpoint, I don't think Ivy League fashion interns à la Blair Waldorf and Dan Humphrey (or me, for that matter) are necessarily better interns than non-Ivy League students. You don't need a perfect SAT score to return shoes to Dior -- although a sense of direction would be helpful.

However, I do think there are a lot of high expectations when you go to a "good" school -- both from yourself and external influences. If I can write a 30-page paper on German philosophy, I can properly use the Xerox machine, right? Conversely, you also feel the pressure to prove that you're not just book smarts. What's the point of acing calculus if I miscount the fashion week invitations?

And then, in academic settings, you feel the pressure to prove that you can be book smart and fashion-savvy. It's a constantly nagging feeling of needing to prove yourself which I am all too familiar with. I want my professors to know I'm serious about school and I want my employers to know I'm serious about fashion.

I do know of fellow schoolmates who have quit fashion internships because they thought the tasks were "beneath them" -- but these same schoolmates have also quit non-fashion internships with better pay, such as in investment banking. They don't speak for everyone.

The rest of us are extremely grateful for our internships, and we don't mind staying later or doing extra work or fetching coffee, as long as we get to be there. For me, at least, internships keep me sane -- they're a productive break from academia.

ex.oh.ex.oh

Miss Couturable

Shop my wardrobe and save the world

2011-01-30T09:06:00.006-05:00

I am somewhat of a pack rat and a hoarder, so throughout the years, I have accumulated more clothes than I can fit into my pocket-sized dorm room closet.

Luckily, I-ELLA, an invitation-only marketplace where you can sell your wardrobe and shop from other wardrobes (including celebrity wardrobes such as that of Selita Ebanks!), is hosting its College Week, in which you can shop from the wardrobes of your fellow stylish college students. The best part about I-ELLA is that a portion of the proceeds go to non-profit organizations.

They asked me to participate, and so I am selling a few select pieces from my wardrobe, from a pair of Nanette Lepore booties to a classic Lacoste polo to a never-worn-before pair of J.Crew sandals -- all at tiny fractions of the original retail price.

So, if you're a dress size 0 and a shoe size 36 or 36.5 (or you have a friend who is), shop my closet here (they also did a brief interview with me here). To join, you can use referral code COLUMBIA.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Uniformity, not conformity

2011-01-28T22:48:00.003-05:00

I attended the press preview of the Gilt Groupe Warehouse Sale tonight, and in between eating e.e. cookies and convincing myself not to purchase a pair of Rick Owens shoes in my size (college campuses are not the most fashion-friendly places -- not even Columbia), I picked up this Shipley & Halmos blazer with a fantastic sheer paneling on the side and in the back. Originally $545, it was now $125.

My friend picked up a giant faux fur coat (only $75) -- and as we stood in the dressing room with our pickings, we reminded ourselves that we were technically on self-imposed shopping bans. The two of us, having become close friends on the first day of freshman year because we liked each other's clothes, were really trying to veer away from impulse purchases this year. She, having lost an expensive new pair of Balenciaga sunglasses, and I, already running out of closet space in my dorm, were not in the best shape to be buying new clothes.

Additionally, we were exceptionally predictable in our picks. Amongst our friends, I am known for owning all sorts of tailored and structured blazers and jackets, and she is known for her beloved propensity towards fur -- unfortunately for her, even her faux fur pieces attract sneers from many of our fellow leather-wearing and meat-eating Columbia students (yes, I'm pointing fingers).

We finally decided to purchase the pieces, because we knew these were pieces that we would wear a lot. $125 for a statement blazer isn't so shabby when you wear blazers all the time, and $75 for a fur coat is a good deal when you wore a fur coat to the sale in the first place.

Is it wrong to know what you like and to stick with it? We think not. At the end of the night, we considered ourselves lucky in knowing what works with our style and finding pieces that fit into the formula. I wear my blazers frequently, much more than I wear any cardigans or t-shirts, and she later discovered tonight that her new fur coat was the warmest coat she has ever owned.

Experimentation should be encouraged, but there is a simple joy in realizing what your style is. I would like to think of it as a step toward growing up. Also, it was cute that we understood each other's preferences.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

When we all need that pick-me-up

2011-01-26T21:13:00.005-05:00

I sometimes wonder what fashion editors were like back in college. For the most part, I like to imagine that they were always stylish, coiffed, articulate, and experts at walking in five-inch heels. In the cases of editors like Teen Vogue fashion news director, Jane Keltner de Valle, I'm quite sure that's not too far from the truth.

Anyway, she attended Barnard College, so I asked her to write a letter to the readers of Hoot, Columbia University's student fashion magazine. It was published in the Fall 2010 issue starring Tinsley Mortimer, which you can read online here. Even if you don't attend Columbia or Barnard, I think you can gain a lot of inspiration by reading this letter:

Dear Hoot reader,

Full disclosure: When I was asked to write this letter, although very flattered, I was a little stumped. I didn't have the “typical” college experience. Never been to a frat party or a football game. My extracurricular of choice was WWD (fashion industry bible) not DDD (popular Greek house of worship).

Part of the reason I chose to attend Barnard is because I'm a strong believer that education extends far beyond just the campus gates. As a native New Yorker, I grew up with the Metropolitan Museum in my backyard. I never learned how to drive because I never wanted to have to forfeit all the merits of a pedestrian culture (street-as-runway being a central one). After touring various schools across America, I came to the conclusion that going to a first-rate college in a second-rate city seemed counterproductive. Within Columbia's gates on 116th Street is a historic academic enclave that appears totally cut-off from the city around it. You can barely even see the high-rises that lie just beyond. But as soon as you exit onto Broadway, all of New York City is at your feet.

I attended my first fashion show spring semester of freshman year. A friend at Parsons had a ticket to Daryl K, and she was too sick to attend so she passed it along to me. (Brief fashion history lesson: in the late ‘90s, Daryl K was pretty much what Alexander Wang is today—the coolest young designer in New York.) The fashion show was held in a huge industrial warehouse on the West Side Highway with rough wood planks for a runway. I can't remember if my friend's ticket was seated or standing, but it didn't matter. As soon as I walked in, I positioned myself right next to the photographers’ pit, and proceeded to photograph each and every look that came down the runway. I still have a photo album with all the images (this was back in the old days when pictures were taken with film, and developed not downloaded).

I started interning at W and Women's Wear Daily at the end of my freshman year. The subway commute from Columbia to the offices on 34th Street was only twenty minutes, but when I exited I was in a totally different universe. Whenever I wasn't in class, I was there. Other interns would arrive in June and leave in August, but because I was there year-round I became a part of the staff. Sophomore year, I remember receiving a call in my apartment on 110th Street asking if I had a passport. They needed someone to deliver a dress to a photo shoot in Poland that night. I wrote my first byline article about a year and a half into the internship. Meanwhile, at Barnard and Columbia, I sought out fashion- and journalism-specific classes to balance out my Victorian literature and art history classes. I took an incredible class on the history of fashion with Valerie Steele, the director of the museum at FIT. And I remember writing a comical piece about a Fendi sample sale for one of my journalism classes.

My college experience wasn't typical, but I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world. I also don't think I could have gotten it anywhere but Columbia University. I've been the fashion news director at Teen Vogue for a little over six years now, and it's no coincidence that two of my best interns were Barnard students. One is now the online editor of Teen Vogue, and the other graduates this May. I have no idea what she'll do next, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't keeping my eyes on her!

Best,
Jane Keltner de Valle
Fashion News Director of Teen Vogue

I keep this letter in a box of inspiration (with other knickknacks).

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

P.S. That online editor of Teen Vogue is the gorgeous Naomi Nevitt, and she has a pretty sweet Tumblr too.

Barter system: votes for bad haiku

2011-01-24T12:17:00.001-05:00

Sometime in my insomniac state last night -- between finishing up a philosophy write-up, convincing myself not to buy a pair of Proenza Schouler boots (verdict: still debating with myself), ranting about my frivolous pet peeve, and finally dozing off to bed at 6:30am (and then waking up at 7:30am for class), I decided to enter Refinery29’s and COVERGIRL’s Hunt For The Next Big Style Blogger. The winner gets a trip to New York City (although, I guess I'm already here -- lucky me), a $1,000 cash prize, and most importantly (and the reason why I entered), a guest blogger gig at Refinery29.

Basically, I read Refinery29 obsessively (I even bought my Oberon Design iPad cover because one of their articles) and I've also been a huge fan girl of the infinitely cool editor Connie Wang, from back in her Pretty Legit days (You mean she was once an awkward Asian college student who spent too much time on the internet too?!).

So, if you have five seconds and a Facebook account, I would be so grateful if you would vote for me once here. As of right now, I'm one of the more recent entries, and I'm Noel from New York. The most popular blogger has 240 votes so far (and I have two, ha) -- but hey, it's worth a shot. I get more than 240 views a day, at least.

In return, I will write you a bad haiku (if you request one -- and you tell me about yourself. Otherwise it would have to be a bad random haiku.). Merci beaucoup!

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

P.S. I'm slightly better at writing about style than I am at writing haikus. Vote for me and we can keep it that way.

Monsieur Vuitton never designed clothes

2011-01-24T04:56:00.005-05:00

(Photo Credit -- LuxeMont)

Yesterday, someone asked me what my pet peeve is. I thought about how I don't like peeing in public bathrooms or how I don't like when people reply to emails without reading them thoroughly, but in actuality, one of my biggest pet peeves is when people say Louis Vuitton is their favorite fashion designer.

It's not that I don't love the fashion house, Louis Vuitton -- I can even appreciate the revolutionary nature of the ubiquitous monogram canvas. I can appreciate the business genius and prowess of luxury goods conglomerate LVMH. I can appreciate Marc Jacobs.

I just can't stand when people don't realize that Louis Vuitton is not a fashion designer -- but a fashion house. In fact, the real Monsieur Vuitton designed flat-bottom trunks with trianon canvas, and I'm pretty sure most people aren't talking about him.

But I could be mistaken. Maybe these people are talking about the luggage designer from the 1800s. I can also appreciate a good suitcase.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

An Education in sartorial transformation

2011-01-22T09:07:00.009-05:00

I'm obsessed with the British film, An Education, and starring the ever-so-coquettishly-ethereal Carey Mulligan playing smart schoolgirl Jenny -- she's playing Daisy Buchanan in the 2012 adaptation of The Great Gatsby, by the way. One of the best lines in the book, uttered by Daisy, is "All right... I'm glad it's a girl. And I hope she'll be a fool -- that's the best thing a girl can be in this world, a beautiful little fool." Good stuff, Fitzgerald.
Anyway, a couple of my high school friends found An Education to be atrociously boring, but I beg to differ, as not only do I have a penchant for coming-of-age films and novels (A Tree Grows in Brooklyn comes to mind), but also I really enjoyed the contrasts between Oxford-bound schoolgirl preppy and worldly belle du jour, as evidenced in Jenny's costume. Set in 1961 England, it plays upon the excitement and confusion of growing up in a modern society that threatens to be torn down by nuclear bombs every day. It's about romantic love and disillusionment and falling in love with the world again. And realizing that your dowdy-looking Cambridge-graduated high school teacher might be right about some things after all.
The costume is designed by Odile Dicks-Mireaux, who worked with the director, Lone Scherfig, to brilliantly weave together the concept that clothes provide transformation of identity. While the expensively-dressed Helen, played by Rosamund Pike, looks sophisticated and worldly, she fails to exhibit Jenny's self-introspection and education. For example, when Jenny first meets her at a concert, Jenny begins speaking in French, assuming Helen would understand her. Additionally, the camera shows Jenny blissfully appreciating the music while Helen stares dumbfounded at the stage.
But still, much attention should also be given to Jenny's schoolgirl dress, for even if you don't care much for the A-line skirts, who can deny the whimsical yet serious pleasure of a leather satchel bag?
I own one myself, in red, made by the Cambridge Satchel Company in Cambridge, England. Individualistic as I think I am, I got my initials monogrammed on it in gold emboss. It is technically called a batchel (briefcase and satchel combined) because of its top handle, but you can also buy the traditional satchel without the handle.
The batchel is superb for heavy school books and it'll make you feel smart -- even if your mind is flitting off to a world of dazzling balls, scandalous French music, and memoir-worthy escapades.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Guess who's back?

2011-01-16T14:19:00.004-05:00

(Photo Credit -- Sharon Wu)

Six months later, I am making a spontaneous return to misscouturable.com -- while maintaining my personal blog at noelduan.com. I didn't even think of returning back here until this morning, when I found myself accumulating emails from readers like you, telling me how much the Miss Couturable archives have meant to you.

I don't deserve to be the one who changes your life. I'm a 20-year-old college student who is busy trying to figure out her own life, after all. I really didn't -- and still don't -- have much time to offer you as much as I'd like to on this blog. Most certainly, I'll be at fashion week, but I don't have enough time between shows and classes and work and The Good Things in Life to post my own thoughts on each show I attend.

I stopped posting here because it didn't seem fair to you. I didn't have time to provide constant fashion week coverage or even a daily post. I didn't think I had much to offer anymore.

But, for some reason, some of you found usage in the archives. And whether you were reading to procrastinate or you wanted college application tips, I'm glad my blogging was not in vain.

I miss this blog, and I'm returning back to this blog because I finally realized what I can offer you: A glimpse of life (and fashion) through my eyes. It's not that different from the life of any other college student who has a penchant for Marni jewelry (and frankly, I know quite a few), but maybe some of you would like to share your stories with me as I share mine with you -- as many of you have already done through email with me. We may not always agree with each other, but we will always have something to say.

So, bonjour, hello, and 你好.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

P.S. The above photo is from Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week back in September. I'm on the far right, sitting with two of my genius and stylish friends from college (and a third who is taking the photo). We sat across the runway from Robbie Myers, the editor in chief of ELLE. Just goes to show that fashion (and life) is more fun when you're with people you love, and you never know who is facing you -- so remember to dress well and smile.

Good-bye misscouturable.com, hello noelduan.com

2010-07-17T00:02:00.003-04:00

It was last October when I accidentally renewed the domain, misscouturable.com, for two more years. "Well, I guess I'll be obligated to blog until then," I said to myself.

But that's not right. Personal blogs shouldn't feel like obligations, which is why I am discontinuing misscouturable.com.

I started this blog in high school as a diversion to make summer listlessness a little more bearable. I didn't think I could meet so many amazing people through blogging. I didn't think I would get thick skin through comments. I didn't think Miss Couturable would become, essentially, a part of my identity.

And frankly, it will always be a part of me. My friends will probably always make fun of me for ending every post with "ex.oh.ex.oh," after all. I will never delete this blog, for it is a reflection of years of immaturity, burgeoning maturity (well, hopefully), creativity, frustration, inspiration, and wonder.

I am now blogging at noelduan.com, which is still under construction. Why? Because as much as this blog is a part of me, I have grown beyond my voice as Miss Couturable.

I'm getting teary-eyed as I write this, because I have had some amazing experiences through this blog. You, my readers, have shopped with me in New York City, eaten North Korean food with me in Beijing, and attended my 18th birthday party in San Jose. The power of the internet is frightening, but beautiful at the same time. Yet, in spite of these amazing experience, I began writing on misscouturable.com less and less -- but I never stopped writing. I wrote for publications, I blogged for other websites, I wrote in my private journal, I wrote letters to loved ones, and I sent plenty of emails. And admittedly, I really missed you all -- but I didn't have the time or energy to continue anymore.

After all, Miss Couturable is just one layer of me. I'd rather share all sides of me with you.

With noelduan.com, I will be writing for myself -- but hopefully, with some value to readers. There will still be fashion posts, but there will be other posts, which you may or may not want to read. Feel free to email me if you ever need anything or just want to talk. Merci beaucoup, everyone!

And, for the last time:

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Not really in North Korea

2010-07-12T00:45:00.004-04:00

I spent the past six weeks in China, where Blogger, Foursquare, Twitter, Tumblr, and Google Documents are blocked. Nonetheless, while my social media life was waning, I was busy experiencing real life in one of the most diverse countries in the world. Jokes about how "all Chinese people look the same" aside, China is a country made up of many mingzu ("tribes" or clans) and foreigners. I visited Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai during my six weeks there. A trip to Tibet was planned, but alas, sickness stopped us in the tracks.

The four weeks I spent in Beijing were filled with new experiences -- especially in the culinary area. One of my readers and a new friend, Viii, brought me to a North Korean restaurant owned by the North Korean embassy. All of the waitresses and hostesses were the prettiest, most-educated girls from North Korean, who were sent down to Beijing to work as waitresses and "ambassadors" of North Korean -- and the rumors say, as spies too. The restaurant was eerily reminiscent of a Chinese restaurant from the 1980s, from the ornate chandeliers to the giant wall paintings. A small television, playing clips from a North Korean musical performance, aired in the background.

As you may know, North Korea is one of the most isolated -- and poorest -- countries in the world. While they call themselves a socialist state, a totalitarian regime is more appropriate. Every single one of the waitresses and hostesses wore a pin with a photo of their "Dear Leader," who they call their "father."

Not only did they speak Korean, Chinese, and English, but also they played musical instruments and sang traditional Korean songs. I have uploaded a video I hastily took with my half-broken camera, in case you are curious.

As an American, it is very unlikely that I will have a chance to visit North Korea -- but hey, I ate their food, talked to their people, and visited their pavilion at the Shanghai World Expo. I am closer than I was two months ago.

Before this trip, I had the conception that North Koreans would be like characters straight out of 1984 -- I had never met a North Korean, but I had seen videos of their rhythmic gymnasts and traffic patrol officers. After eating dinner with Viii, and watching these girls laugh and giggle and wrinkle their brows like any other recent college graduate, I realized that I -- and most of us -- will never truly understand the lives of the North Koreans -- but I can understand them as fellow human beings.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

P.S. For more information about North Korea, searching "North Korea" on YouTube is a great way to start. Also, check out Noko Jeans -- designer jeans made in North Korea.

Woohoo(t)

2010-05-21T17:48:00.000-04:00

Ever since I was a high school student, I had been a fervent admirer of BARE, UC Berkeley's award-winning student fashion magazine. Putting together any magazine, after all, is no easy feat -- from attaining the funding to scheduling photoshoots, students have a lot of hurdles to jump. On top of a full course load and the bittersweet nuances of the adolescent years, BARE is a time-consuming but worthwhile activity for the students who dream of following the legacy of their fellow Cal brethren, from Humberto Leon and Carol Lim of Opening Ceremony to the Rodarte sisters.

Once upon a time, Columbia University had a student fashion publication too. It was called MODE, and Marc Jacobs was once on the cover. It died more than 10 years ago, but this year, I met a group of students who wanted to resurrect the presence of a fashion publication on campus.

Hoot faced a lot of set backs this year. We applied to every single grant foundation on campus -- only to be rejected but all but one. One group even rejected us because we looked "too organized and proactive to be in need of funding." CUarts took a chance on us. Most companies would not trust us with their samples for photoshoots (really, a bunch of college students asking to borrow clothes?). Many beauty companies sent us samples to help us prep for our photoshoots. Makeup Artist Jennifer Nam gave us a free photography makeup lesson.

Most of our staff had never written an article before. I was lending out my digital voice recorder left and right. Those of us who had never interned at a magazine before did not know how to request samples. Some of our design team staff had never used Adobe Photoshop or Adobe InDesign before. Many of our bloggers had never written a blog entry before.

We had a lot to learn, and we're still learning.

Not only have we launched the issue in digital form, but also we have scrounged enough money to be in print.
We've launched a new website and blog, and we're determined to keep growing and learning as members of the Columbia University community!

In any case, Hoot hopes to prove that within our student population, students can be substantial and smart, and still find pleasure in the frivolous.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

"Remember Now" by Karl Lagerfeld for Chanel

2010-05-11T14:14:00.001-04:00

As final examinations come to an end for most of you (I finished yesterday), Karl Lagerfeld's new short film, "Remember Now," should be the perfect launch into summer.

May you have a few early-morning dance parties, sparkly knits, and good laughs of your own.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Happy Mother's Day!

2010-05-09T19:10:00.001-04:00

All women become like their mothers. That is their tragedy. No man does. That’s his. - Oscar Wilde

My mother is not a glamazon with a walk-in closet full of Manolo Blahnik pumps and Givenchy gowns. My mother taught me nothing about wearing make-up beyond washing my face every morning and night. My mother has never shared stories about her first kiss with me. My mother is not a size 2. My mother does not speak perfect English. My mother does not have a wedding ring.

My mother was valedictorian of her graduating class in college. My mother gave up her dreams of becoming an artist for a career that could put bread on the table for her children. My mother works six days a week. My mother has two Master's degrees. My mother still wants to travel the world.

She once told me that she still regrets dragging me with her to her college classes and laboratory sessions, where I often sat in the corner, with a book or two. I don't think she realizes that without waking up at 7am every morning with her for a full day of classes at age four, I would not have understood the importance of education as much as I do now. I read my first book, See Spot Run, in the laboratory, as she spliced genes.

I learned how to record lectures on tape as I sat with her in the dark auditorium.
I learned how much perseverance paid off, as she replayed her lecture tapes over and over again because she couldn't understand the professor's rapid English. I learned how to put up with tedium as she analyzed the same mice cells over and over again, every day.

My mother never stopped believing in me.

In many ways, we are from two different worlds. She does not understand why I dress the way I do. She doesn't understand the lyrics to the songs I listen to. She has only been to New York City once.

But, if what Wilde says is true, I am looking forward to turning out like my mother, for my mother has an undying passion and love that never runs out, even when her back aches from a day of treating her patients. Thank you for everything, Mumsies -- I cannot wait to be home in four days.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

I never left high school

2010-05-08T10:35:00.000-04:00

A couple weeks ago, after a Sunday brunch with high school friends at Riingo in Midtown East, I wandered into the mass pandemonium that was Lord & Taylor on Fifth Avenue. I really should have headed uptown to start studying for my final exams, but instead I was surrounded by fresh-faced 16-year-old girls and their high-heeled mothers, sipping sparkling water and pink lemonade. I met up with Chelsea of Pink Rock Candy and Arabelle of Fashion Pirates -- ironically, Arabelle is the only one of us who is in high school. Ah, well, it's swell to be young at heart, no?

Lord & Taylor was launching "Prom-a-Palooza" -- consisting of a makeshift fashion show, 25% off prom dresses with free basic alterations, and three exclusive dresses designed by Parsons alumni: Hannah Haien Lee, Nicki Cozzolino, and Samantha Sleeper.This was my favorite dress, designed by Hannah Haien Lee and retailing for a reasonable price of $300. Paired with Betsey Johnson lace ankle boots, it offered a sugary sweet confection of a dress. I would have added a pair of motorcycle gloves and a simple string of pearls to complete the look.
Samantha Sleeper designed this nontraditional dress. While the outrageous skirt can easily be glammed up for prom, it could be suitable for future nights out with a tailored blazer and a nonchalant attitude.
And, of course, for the girl who reluctantly shows up to the dance and intends to leave after 30 minutes -- only to dance the night away against her prior discretion -- Nicki Cozzolino designed this short number. It's a bit short for a school dance, so you better wear tights or leggings with that.

In between mouthfuls of miniature cupcakes, I started thinking about my high school proms, and how I rarely have an opportunity to wear frothy, frilly dresses anymore. While I may have left these days behind for the collegiate world of dangerous minidresses for clubbing and "themed" clothing like "anything but clothes"for frat parties, I could not help but feel slightly nostalgic for the days of yonder, when I shopped (and fought) with my mother for an age appropriate dress.

For those of you in high school who are going to prom this year, I offer you three pieces of advice, as someone who went to junior/senior prom every year of high school and had wardrobe misshapes almost every year (I guess I don't learn my lessons very well):

Get alterations done. If the dress is a bit too loose on top or it drags too far past your feet, please seek a tailor. You've spent so much time shopping for the perfect outfit -- don't let it go to waste. A night of dancing can easily be ruined if you're too busy pulling up your dress or tripping over your date's feet.
Eat before the dance. Yes, you're probably thinking that you don't want a "food baby" in your awkwardly-posed studio photos, but you need the energy for dancing.
If your dress rips or a button snaps, don't worry -- no one's looking. Frankly, prom is very self-indulgent; after the initial glances at your outfit, no one else is going to care that your strap accidentally broke. Bring an emergency sewing kit in your clutch, get a good friend to stitch you up in the restroom, and forget about it for the rest of the night.

And as always, send me photos! I'd love to see what you wore to prom. Stay safe!

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Being Asian in the fashion industry

2010-04-26T14:03:00.010-04:00

(Photo Credit -- Sharon Shum)

That's right. That's me with some of my heroes in fashion, art, publishing, business, and entertainment: Joe Zee (Creative Director of ELLE), Carol Lim (CEO and Co-Founder of Opening Ceremony), Arabelle Sicardi (Blogger for Fashion Pirates), E.J. Samson (Online Editor of Teen Vogue), Humberto Leon (Creative Director and Co-Founder of Opening Ceremony), Ujjwala Raut (former face of YSL cosmetics and first Indian model to walk Victoria's Secret), Tina Chai (freelance stylist and a graduate of Columbia University), Phillip Lim (do I need to explain who he is?), Patrick Li (Creative Director of Li, Inc.), Aya T. Kanai (freelance stylist and former editor of Nylon and Teen Vogue), and SuChin Pak (MTV Correspondent).

All fantastic, articulate people -- and Asian American, to boot. I could barely sleep last night. I shook Phillip Lim's hand, Ujjwala Raut gave me a kiss, SuChin Pak gave me a hug, and I told Joe Zee that I stalk his Twitter obsessively.
In case you didn't know, I organized a panel discussion at Columbia University, "Asian Americans in the Fashion Industry," where some of the top figures in the fashion industry came together and spoke to the public about their experiences (tickets were $5 each and proceeds benefited the Tibetan Village Project to help victims of the Yushu earthquake in China). This was in partnership with Asian Pacific American Awareness Month and Hoot magazine, in which I serve as Arts Chair and Co-Editor in Chief, respectively.

(Photo Credit -- Anna Cooperberg)

The event was moderated by SuChin Pak, who is one of the coolest girls I have ever met. Not only did she rock that cashmere dress, but she has a talent for facilitating conversation. I mean, that's why she's a television personality, right? Needless to say, I now have a huge girl crush on her.

(Photo Credit -- Sharon Shum)

Anyway, the point of the panel discussion was to spread the idea that Asian Americans are succeeding in the fashion industry because they are talented -- not because they fulfill a special niche of "Asian Americans." We opened up the majority of the panel discussion to audience questions, since this is one of the few opportunities for us plebeians to talk to the fashion greats.

To my slight dismay, most of the questions from the audience members were along the lines of, "How do I become like you and can I please have an internship or job?" I sat on the aisles listening to students attempt to impress Joe Zee and Phillip Lim with a long list of Asian designers that they need and analysis of the fashion industry. I was expecting more questions along the lines of, "How has the fashion industry changed for the new crop of Asian American designers?" Maybe just because that's what I'm interested in, but I felt that we weren't able to go in-depth into the topics that we aimed to discuss because of the "How do I become like you and am I impressing you?" comments from the audience members.

However, I can't blame them. This is one of the few opportunities that these students have face-to-face with some of the most influential and successful figures in fashion, and I can understand why students brought their resumes and portfolios and asked "self-masturbatory" (not my words) questions. However, I've decided that in the future, I will be filtering questions beforehand. I would like to give some of the other panelists more time to talk too, instead of audience members repeatedly trying to impress Joe Zee and Phillip Lim.

Additionally, an issue that I wanted to address -- that Arabelle Sicardi already pointed out in her blog -- is that Issey Miyake, Rei Kawakubo, and Yohji Yamamoto are not Asian American designers. Someone in the audiences asked why there is a dearth of truly groundbreaking Asian designers like Miyake and Yomamoto and why Asian fashion is not thriving (for example, Takashimaya closing down in New York City).

Well, frankly, look at Phillip Lim, Richard Chai, Alexander Wang, Derek Lam, and Jason Wu -- they are well-known designers not because they design Asian fashion, but because they design well. As Phillip Lim said during the discussion, "You can't redesign the t-shirt," and there is nothing wrong with that (although I would say Alexander Wang's t-shirt line is his own take on the basic).

He went on to explain that so many students, coming out of Parsons and Central Saint Martins, think only of concept and forget about context. "Watch the master do his work," he said.

I do feel that a common misconception that people have is that if you're Asian or Hispanic or Black, you're expected to incorporate some of your "culture" into your work. Is that really necessary? We have great designers like Vivienne Tam to embrace the merger of East and West. We have great designers like Rei Kawakubo to push into the avant-garde. And we also have great designers like Phillip Lim who design for their clients. And there is nothing wrong with any of them. They're all achieved success for staying true to themselves.

To be successful, you need to be good at what you do, no matter what your ethnic background is. And if you're Asian, you're not obligated to bust out the dragons and lotus blossoms. Just look at the speakers from last night.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

P.S. For more coverage, check out these articles from Columbia Daily Spectator, Style.com, MochiMag.com, and genuine incongruity.

Also, thank you so much to all 300 of you who showed up! Expect more in the future.

Invitation to Asian Americans in the Fashion Industry

2010-04-18T12:05:00.004-04:00

I do not usually get this excited over campus fashion events -- and I may be biased because I'm organizing the event. Nevertheless, I have been working day and night for weeks on this event, and I would like to personally invite all of you, in the New York City area, to come.

Panel Discussion: Asian Americans in the Fashion Industry
Hosted by Columbia University's Asian Pacific American Awareness Month and Hoot Magazine

Sunday, April 25th, 2010
6:30pm - 8:30pm
Roone Arledge Cinema
Alfred J. Lerner Hall
Columbia University
2920 Broadway
New York, NY 10027

Speakers include:
SuChin Pak, MTV Correspondent (Moderator)
Humberto Leon, Creative Director and Co-Founder of Opening Ceremony
Carol Lim, CEO and Co-Founder of Opening Ceremony
Joe Zee, Creative Director of ELLE & Stylist (newest confirmed panelist!)
Tina Chai, Stylist
Aya T. Kanai, Stylist
Phillip Lim, Fashion Designer
Patrick Li, Creative Director of Li, Inc
Ujjwala Raut, Model
EJ Samson, Online Editor of Teen Vogue
Arabelle Sicardi, Fashion Blogger of Fashion Pirates

Refreshments will be served.

Columbia University's Asian Pacific American Awareness Month and Columbia University's first and only fashion publication, Hoot Magazine (hootmag.org), is hosting a mega-panel discussion with top Asian American figures in the fashion industry in order to promote the education and discussion of fashion and careers in fashion. In accordance to this year's theme, "Deeper," we hope to dive deeper into exploring the different ways in which Asian Americans have made revolutionary contributions.

The limited number of tickets (only $5 each) can be reserved through the TIC box in Lerner Hall or online at https://www.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/8095855. You may also purchase your tickets and pick up your will-call tickets at the door, but please be aware that seating will not be guaranteed last-minute.

A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Tibetan Village Project to aid in relief for those devastated in the Yushu earthquake in China.

RSVP on Facebook and invite your friends here:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=105120179527908

Please email apaam@hootmag.org for more information or press passes.

Basically, this is going to be a fun event, and you should all attend! And say hello to me if I'm not running frantically all over the building. You do not need to be Asian to come celebrate the achievements of people like Phillip Lim, Joe Zee, and SuChin Pak.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

Change of plans

2010-04-06T21:35:00.005-04:00

Everyone and their mother (literally) has read the recent article from the New York Times, "Growth of Unpaid Internships May Be Illegal, Officials Say," by Steven Greenhouse. My fellow schoolmates, many of whom are unpaid interns in the fashion industry like me, and I have laughed about how our parents called us after reading the article, demanding that we seek compensation from our employers. The Ivy League student that "spent an unpaid three-month internship at a magazine packaging and shipping 20 or 40 apparel samples a day back to fashion houses that had provided them for photo shoot" was close to home for many of us.

It's funny because, well, none of us would dare ask our employers for compensation. The fashion industry is all about paying your dues, and the internship opportunities are more apprenticeship than internship -- your job is to make your boss' job easier. You definitely learn a lot and you learn to think for others.

"It's not enough to be booksmart. It's even more important to be able to do the smallest menial tasks with full competence," said my mother, when I was helping her sort files last summer.

The truth is, though, it can get expensive being an unpaid intern. When I was interning for Seventeen, the summer before my senior year of high school, I spent over $2,000 on summer housing, not including my budget for food and transportation.

This upcoming summer, I am interning for a fashion magazine in Beijing, China -- unpaid, too. My mother just called me to inform me that plane tickets will cost about $2,000, and that doesn't even include housing, transportation, and food in Beijing, one of the most expensive cities in China today.

"We support you, but this will be the last summer that you're allowed to do anything unpaid," she said.

Understandable. After all, I go to school in New York City and I can do all the unpaid internships that I want during the school year, without any additional financial burden on my parents.

Additionally, I understand how my parents feel -- my friends who are interning in the finance industry are making about $10,000 this summer. They have comparatively much less experience in the finance industry than I do in the fashion industry, but I am unpaid and will most likely always be unpaid as an intern.

The truth is, this system is not fair to students. Many students cannot intern at all because they cannot afford to -- because they're working part-time jobs to pay for college. However, for every intern who is unwilling or unable to work unpaid, there will be ten interns who are willing to. And it continues.

I've learned a lot in my internships, and I wholeheartedly believe in making sacrifices to achieve your dreams -- but my parents end up being the ones making the financial sacrifices. And that's not fair to them.

So, I don't know what I'm going to do about future internships. I am going to continue to intern during the next three school years, but I can't work full time in the summer after this upcoming summer anymore. Is this going to hinder my fashion magazine dreams? Will it appear that I am less dedicated?

Well, I think summers should be used to explore new things. So, this summer I am improving my Chinese, working at a Chinese fashion magazine (unpaid), and exploring China. Next summer? Perhaps I will put my business and analytical skills to work and try to get a consulting internship. Or try my hand at finance. During the school year, I will continue to intern in fashion and try to learn as much as I can.

So, Mum, there you have it. Hope this compromise appeases you. And while I was initially frustrated that this basically shuts me off from all the summer magazine internships in the city, this may just be an excuse for me to explore the world and learn even more things to complete my education.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable

P.S. What is the best internship you've ever had? And what was the best thing you've ever done for a summer?

Panel Discussion: Voices of American Fashion

2010-03-31T23:52:00.001-04:00

(Photo Credit -- guestofaguest.com)

As you may know, I love Pulitzer Prize-winning fashion journalist and Washington Post Style Editor, Robin Givhan.

So it grieves me deeply that I have an important class at the same time that she will be speaking at the Cooper-Hewitt, National Design Museum (2 East 91st Street) tomorrow (April 1st).

However, you don't have to miss it. She will be speaking on a panel discussion called "Voices of American Fashion" with with past National Design Award Winners Francisco Costa (Women's Creative Director of Calvin Klein Collection), Yeohlee Teng (designer of YEOHLEE), and Maria Cornejo (designer of zero + maria cornejo) about their work and the role of fashion in contemporary culture. Their designs will also be on display from 5:30pm to 6:30pm in Design USA: Contemporary Innovation.

The icing on the cake is that the event is free for students. But even if you're not a textbook-toting fashionista, you can get in for $15 or $10 for seniors/members. Just register here.

Maybe I'll sneak in a glimpse or two on the live webcast here.

ex.oh.ex.oh
Miss Couturable