DMTBeautySpot

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Fawnia Soo Hoo, DMT.NEWS, DMT BeautySpot,

#DMTBeautySpot #beauty

Warning: Spoilers for To All the Boys: Always and Forever ahead.

In a bittersweet moment, the final Netflix movie adaptation of Jenny Han’s popular YA book series, To All the Boys: Always and Forever, brings the trilogy to a close. Cue the tears because our wordsmith dreamer, Lara Jean Covey (played by Lana Condor), is about to graduate from Adler High School. She’s at a crossroads: Will she attend Stanford with boyfriend Peter Kavinsky (Noah Centineo)? Or take her own path, perhaps at her “one East Coast option,” to which she applied to demonstrate to sister Margot (Janel Parrish) that she’s not “a failure at adulting.” As she weighs her options, Lara Jean experiences every senior’s rite of passage — and her signature pink-, cyan blue-, and yellow-filled wardrobe evolves as she gets ready to enter the new stage of her life.

The movie opens with a Covey family spring break vacation in Seoul. “South Korea was very colorful when we were there,” says the film’s costume designer Lorraine Carson, who went from the second installment straight into the third. With this in mind, she gave Lara Jean’s signature palette a bright, poppy, and energetic twist.

Fortunately for us, Lara Jean’s on-point accessorizing from the previous films continues in this installment. A bubblegum pink belt brightens up a brown, polka-dotted Forever 21 romper for a requisite noraebang (karaoke) session with Margot and Kitty (Anna Cathcart). For the look, Carson tailored the ‘50s-style bodice. “It was giving her a little more mature, more body-conscious [look from] before,” says Carson. “She’s coming into her own [now].”

Upon returning, Lara Jean finishes out senior year in deeper pinks, as opposed to earlier naive, soft pastels and longer hemlines. Lara Jean’s wardrobe also incorporates more vintage pieces than the sequel to showcase her creativity, individuality, and self-discovery. “Lara Jean has this flair for putting together things that she finds: vintage and things that she makes,” explains Carson. “So we incorporated more of her personality into these clothes. As she was maturing, the clothes are maturing.”

But Lara Jean has always been an old soul. Nowhere is this more clear than when she packs for another crucial milestone: the senior trip to New York City. “Aren’t these cute?” she asks her cool best friend Chris (Madeleine Arthur) while holding up chunky white sneakers. “They’re commuter shoes. New Yorkers wear them to the office and change when they get there. I want to look like a local.” Glancing up from giving herself a sparkly black mani, Chris retorts, “You’re going to look like a tourist who looked up ‘New Yorkers’ on Google.” 

Reflecting her efforts to cop a big city vibe, Carson upped Lara Jean’s wardrobe game with customized vintage pieces. “She’s a little more sophisticated because she wanted to fit in, coming from a small town in the Pacific Northwest,” Carson says. While sneaking out to Manhattan’s Little Cupcake Bakeshop with Peter, Lara Jean wears a preppy blue-and-pink windowpane plaid shirt, cut from a vintage dress. Carson used the excess fabric to create an adorable cuffed cap-sleeve. She paired the top with retro-inspired flat-front lavender trousers, from River Island, featuring a panel of very-Lara Jean ruffled bows. 

“[She’s showing] more of her own personality, and her own fashion sense coming into a place that is all about fashion,” says Carson.

The next day, while in Washington Square Park with Chris, Lara Jean connects with an NYU-bound Gen (Emilija Baranac), who invites them to a college rooftop party that looks way chicer than the sloppy Solo cup fests of my recollection. Lara Jean fits right in with her sunny yellow vintage dress, with delicate striping and dot patterns. For the look, Carson swapped out the original black buttons for “camera-friendly” marigold fabric-covered ones. “You can’t go out and buy it in the stores,” says Carson. “It’s what makes Lara Jean, Lara Jean.” A pink cotton belt and, yes, commuter-friendly white leather platform Keds add a contemporary touch to the otherwise-retro look.

Of course, Chris — who wants to visit CBGB (who wants to tell her?) and astutely observes, “We have all these stores in Portland” — knows how to perfectly dress for New York City with her ‘70s to ‘90s-influenced wardrobe. “We mixed together a bit of rock ‘n’ roll style and a bit of boho,” says Carson. “It was totally the personality that we were going towards from day one.”

In constrast to Lara Jean’s MTA-ready sneakers, Chris wears more Uber-around-Manhattan-appropriate sky-high brown platform sandals by Sallys Shoes. The rest of her ‘fit also pays homage to the Age of Aquarius: languid, high-waisted, elephant flare bell bottom jeans by Twenty Four, a front-flap mini belt-bag by Forever 21, and an aged Blondie concert tee. A kelly green wide-brim fedora finishes off the look. “It gave her individuality,” adds Carson.

But Chris goes full ‘90s, with a dash of Regency thrown in, after acquiescing to Trevor (Ross Butler)’s promposal. Carson shortened a deep green satin Faviana slip dress, with a lace-up back, to a below-the-knee length to showcase Steve Madden stiletto sandals (and gymnastic-level dance moves). The less formal length also leaned into Chris’s too-cool persona. “[She’s like,] ‘’I’m not dressing up. I’m putting this on. I just happened to have this in my closet,’” laughs Carson. Her punk-y take on 19th-century opera gloves completes the look.

Carson again created a custom look for Lara Jean’s prom moment, combining components of three dresses into one for her crystal-embellished and floral-embroidered lace bodice gown. According to her, the BFFs’ prom looks illustrate the effects of their transformative senior trip: “They had become a little more sophisticated.” 

Lara Jean’s fashion culminates in the heartfelt nuptials of Dr. Covey (John Corbett) and chic neighbor Trina (Sarayu Blue), who conveniently chose the To All the Boys signature blue and pink as her wedding colors. Complementing the bride’s blush BHLDN dress, the Covey sisters wear a spectrum of blues — starting with Lara Jean’s again-customized fit-and-flare matte satin dress, coincidentally from a prom line, Leena for MacDuggal. Carson amplified the skirt silhouette with a structured, flouncy crinoline underneath and accessorized with pink Michael Kors stilettos. “It made her stand out,” she says.

But, let’s be honest, Kitty — with her signature “feminist” nameplate necklace, playful printed tops, and talent for accessorizing — has always been the high-key fashion icon of the Covey family. So obviously, the youngest sister declared that she will wear a tuxedo. Carson tailored a single-button pantsuit by Theory, and, in lieu of traditional neckwear, tied a thin ribbon around the collar of a pale blue Uniqlo shirt. “Which was a very 1920s thing to do,” explains Carson. “I was trying to incorporate all these levels, in the tiniest way even, of different periods for the girls to make them a little more eclectic.” Carson then gave Kitty’s silver glitter Kate Spade Keds additional flair with silk laces.

Ultimately, Lara Jean decides to attend NYU, after falling in love with the city. The final scenes capture that moment of that special time in your life: feeling the excitement and anticipation to explore new experiences, relationships, and personal style. “You could just see her going into New York and going into all these great stores, buying things and mixing them together,” says Carson. 

The freshman English Lit major exhibits this through a new razored lob and fresh citrus-y color palette: an orange denim skirt from Aritzia’s Wilfred line and a fitted buttercream T-shirt from the Canadian retailer’s Babaton line. Even her sneakers elevate to Jasmine creeper platforms from the Browns Wishbone collection. “She was fitting into New York in her Lara Jean style,” says Carson. “That was her new start.”

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Law Roach’s Costumes Shine In Malcolm & Marie

Chinese Grandmas Are 2020's Fashion Icons

The Prom Costumes Have The Broadway Sparkle

DMTBeautySpot

via https://www.DMTBeautySpot.com

Fawnia Soo Hoo, Khareem Sudlow

#DMTBeautySpot #beauty

Warning: Some spoilers for The Prom below.

“Learn better faaah-shion…” Broadway diva Dee Dee Allen (played by Meryl Streep) condescendingly (yet deliciously) croons, during the opening reprise of “Changing Lives” in Ryan Murphy’s Netflix movie rendition of the Tony-nominated musical The Prom. Appropriately, she’s spectacularly clad in a fully sequined, amethyst purple caped pantsuit. Her showbiz cohorts are equally-well dressed: leading man Barry Glickman (James Corden) in a sparkling rhinestone-embellished aqua blue tux, showgirl Angie Dickinson (Nicole Kidman) in an emerald green sequin mini-wrap dress, and ‘90s sitcom has-been Trent Oliver (Andrew Rannells) in a raspberry Sardi’s bartender tuxedo. Thus begins Murphy’s blowout of catchy show tunes, slick choreography, and a fashion explosion of vibrant colors and sparkle, created by The Prom costume designer and frequent Murphy collaborator Lou Eyrich. 

The story follows the Broadway quartet as it embarks on a self-serving image rehab mission, after it decides to use its perceived big city celebrity clout to support Indiana teen Emma (Jo Ellen Pellman). The provincial PTA, led by the tightly-wound Mrs. Greene (Kerry Washington), canceled her senior prom because Emma planned to bring her girlfriend as her date. Consistent with Murphy’s previous projects, the Broadway lights-themed color palette lays the storytelling groundwork. Bookending the movie, the eye-catching jewel tones first differentiate the self-involved New Yorkers from the denizens of Emma’s hometown of Edgewater, Indiana; in the grand finale number, the colors bring everyone together.

“[Murphy] talked about the feeling of a big Hollywood musical and bright color palette of purples and pinks, aqua and greens [for the New Yorkers],” explains Eyrich — who’s won five Emmy Awards for her work on Murphy’s shows — on a call. “The rest was a neutral color palette to show the difference between the glitz and glamour of Broadway and real life in the Midwest.” It’s also the colors of The Prom logo (see top photo).

Bridging the two, the James Madison High School colors are a golden yellow — as worn by Emma singing “Just Breathe,” as she faces bullying from her classmates — and spirited aqua — a distant cousin of the blue-green theme in Ratched, that Eyrich also worked on. The two hues foreshadow the two worlds colliding early on, when Dee Dee and Angie wear mustard and aqua, respectively, as they hitch a ride to Edgewater on Trent’s non-Equity tour of Godspell bus.

True to form, Dee Dee claims two rows on the bus, while lounging in a divine marigold cape and matching trousers by Valentino. She brazenly kicks her feet up on the seat back before her, her ultra-chic Stuart Weitzman ankle boots on full display. “Dee Dee’s just a confident grand dame of the theah-tah,” says Eyrich, whose “huge mood board” for Streep’s character featured larger-than-life icons, from Shirley MacLaine to Mitzi Gaynor and Lady Gaga. “Ryan really wanted her to be bold and brassy, and just grander than she really is. Being kind of a washed-up theater actor, but she still has a lot of bravado.” 

Behind-the-scenes, Eyrich enjoyed a collaborative process with the triple Oscar and Emmy winner to devise Dee Dee’s chic trouser looks and her dramatic cape signature, which Murphy also famously loves. “Meryl loves to play with clothes, and comes into costume fittings just wanting to play,” says Eyrich, who estimates that she custom-built half of Dee Dee’s wardrobe and amplified show-stopping pieces with fur trims, fluttery feathers, tassels, and opulent embellishments. 

Dee Dee makes her grand entrance into the James Madison High gymnasium in a fur-trimmed red cloak accessorized with a pearl-embellished fedora. The group announces themselves as “liberals from Broadway!” to the bewildered and apathetic teen audience, while principal and Dee Dee stan Mr. Hawkins (Keegan Michael-Key) looks on in sheer star-struck delight. (Chronic Juilliard-name-dropper Trent arrives in a “New York City” T-shirt that might as well read: “interloper.”)

“We just tried to always make her the brightest one in the room. So the minute walks in the room, it’s, ‘Dee Dee’s here! It’s the Dee Dee show!’ She’s always theatrical,” says Eyrich. Referring to a glittery pink zip-up tracksuit Dee Dee wears for a fancy LED face mask sesh with Barry, Eyrich says, “Even with her sweatsuit, she had to wear her satin Moncler.”

The style of Angie, who channels a mod blonde bombshell aesthetic, was largely inspired by screen icon Brigitte Bardot — with a dash of ‘60s- and ‘70s-era triple threat Ann-Margret. “We were doing this one dance number, and Ryan loved the hat so much, he wanted it to be her signature,” says Eyrich, about the Breton cap Angie regularly dons to accent her sexy, undone French twist.

Arriving in Edgewater, Angie wears a mid-thigh-length mohair-wool Max Mara coat in aqua, matching (and to-die-for) croc-embossed over-the-knee boots, also by Max Mara, and purple tights. Highlighting her chorus line bonafides, Angie wears a lot of high kick-friendly mini-dresses adorned with fur and feather trim, sleek tall boots, and a plethora of hosiery, from translucent colors to fishnets. For her impromptu song and dance “Zazz” lesson, Eyrich custom-designed a black sheer blouse and miniskirt with tiers of saucy fringe to further emphasize Angie’s showgirl moves and impossibly long “antelope legs,” as Emma jokes.

Dee Dee patronizingly assumes the suburban teens need fashion help, but Emma already has a lock on self-expression through her own adorable, eclectic, and throwback-inspired style — even on a budget and in a small town without a Saks Fifth Avenue, much to Barry’s horror. “Emma just loves going to a vintage or a thrift store, which Jo Ellen likes to do in her real life,” says Eyrich, who incorporated Pellman’s own thrifted tweed coat into Emma’s costumes. “So just being able to throw things together and [create] her own style, and just to be her own unique self.” 

Although, Murphy did share a specific reference. “Ryan said ‘maybe a modern-day Annie Hall,” explains Eyrich. “We just didn’t want to go too on the nose with it.” So the costume designer worked natty menswear-inspired flourishes into a few choice daytime outfits, including the unexpected combo of a bright aqua short-sleeve boilersuit by Big Bud Press, over a beige button-down accessorized with a wide tie.

The neckwear theme threads into the ultimate inclusive finale prom, which Emma planned — and the enlightened Broadway vets funded out of the goodness of their hearts *and not as a PR move*. To proudly and openly attend with head cheerleader girlfriend Alyssa (Ariana DuBose) — who just came out to her mother, the aforementioned PTA head Mrs. Greene — Emma envisions wearing a vintage tux to prom. Or what looks like one, anyway.

Behind-the-scenes, achieving Emma’s sartorial goal was also a costume design endeavor. Eyrich and her team first tried a series of authentic vintage blue tuxedos. “They were cute, but we figured it’s been done before and wanted to make it our own,” says Eyrich, also noting that retro tuxes tend to appear more matte on-screen. “Everybody else is going to be glittery, sparkly, and satiny, so we wanted to up her look to fit in.”

Finding the finale-appropriate blue to both mesh with the Broadway colors and shine the spotlight on Emma also proved an undertaking. “We made a whole tux jacket and pants out of a different color and it was just too sky blue,” explains Eyrich. “About a week before [shooting], we decided we didn’t like the blue. We needed it to be more saturated aqua, so we found a different silk. It made a big difference.”

Eyrich also piped the ruffles of Emma’s tuxedo shirt in a matching hue, for extra dimension, but the skinny ribbon tie — the sartorial cherry on top — almost didn’t happen. “We were going to do a bow-tie or a tie, but it didn’t seem like Emma,” says Eyrich. “But then we found that sparkly ribbon at the nth hour, and we liked how it matched the ruffles.” The glittery silver platform sneakers gave a “thrift store nod” to the whole ensemble.

Eyrich meticulously plotted out which of the principals would wear each of the original neon lights color scheme for the finale, like Dee Dee in a sequin pink trousers look and Angie in feather-trimmed green-blue. But the typically pristine pastel pink-clad Mrs. Greene arrives to support daughter Alyssa in a body-skimming and harlequin-chevron patterned dress encompassing all the symbolic hues (top photo). Perhaps there’s a Saks in Edgewater, after all, because the resplendent look is from the British youth culture-inspired Gucci Resort 2017 collection.

Eyrich curated a few “contenders” for the final and meaningful dress. “But the minute that Kerry put that on, it was pretty much, ‘this is it.’ She was really gunning for that one,” she says. Although Eyrich admits she initially tried pushing Washington to a different multicolor look, just to allow for all the jubilant, arm waving and body-swaying choreography in the finale extravaganza, “Time to Dance,” but to no avail (and who can blame Washington?) “She’s like, ‘I’m wearing the Gucci and I will find a way to dance. Don’t you worry,’” laughs Eyrich.

“We just wanted a rainbow,” Eyrich adds. “Because throughout the whole movie, she’s in pastels and all put together. Then she has a change of heart. She realizes she doesn’t want to lose her daughter and that she loves her daughter — and loves everybody for showing her that love is the answer. She comes through the [rainbow] tunnel in her rainbow dress.”

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Chinese Grandmas Are 2020's Fashion Icons

The Dark Significance Behind Ratched's Costumes

Christmas On The Square Fashion Has A Dolly Charm

DMTBeautySpot

via https://www.DMTBeautySpot.com

Fawnia Soo Hoo, Khareem Sudlow

#DMTBeautySpot #beauty

From the scene- (and heart-) stealing seniors in Hustlers and The Farewell last year to the super-chic Fashion Grannies flexing on TikTok and Awkwafina is Nora From Queens this year, pop culture has been onto something I’ve known my whole life: Chinese grandmas are goals, with many valuable lessons to impart and embrace. With an eye for the practical and functional in the style department, they are also ones to copy — especially in 2020 when, thanks to a pandemic, the only people we’re dressing for are ourselves.

My late maternal grandmother (or Wai Po) had a consistent uniform: a Mandarin collar or mock neck top in a colorful print or luxe texture, elastic waist pants, and flat slip-on shoes. From the second she woke up and started her daily breathing exercises, she was always put-together. But her wardrobe also served practical needs: After my grandfather passed away, she raised three young kids on her own — and went on to rear three grandkids in Taipei. When she’d visit the States for extended summer visits — and we’d spend the days bingeing Chinese telenovelas, while enjoying the best snacks, like watermelon seeds, and American fried food — her versatile looks served as almost proto-loungewear. But for dinner parties and mahjong nights, Wai Po, who was always the life of the party, would dress up in elevated versions of her signature. I can still hear her boisterous laugh, amongst the constant clicks of mahjong tiles and the jade bracelets.

My paternal grandmother (Nai Nai) remains more of a glamorized memory, as she passed away when I was in elementary school. I do have recollections of spending summer vacations in Taipei and being impressed and slightly intimidated by her — especially after a stern scolding when I refused to go to Chinese lessons. A government official’s wife, she was proper and elegant, always in custom-made outfits, even at home. She pinned her hair back in a polished bun, carried leather top-handle handbags, and wore delicate jewelry. I remember her tailored Mandarin collar blouse and below-the-knee skirt sets — most notably a chic gold-and-black brocade ensemble to accompany my grandfather (Ye Ye) to an award ceremony.

The clothes became a gateway to tell stories about their immigration, about their lives as seniors in these urban centers, and a celebration of all those things.

valerie luu

Bay Area-based writer Valerie Luu and photographer Andria Lo also treasure sartorial memories of their family matriarchs who immigrated to North America. While on dim sum dates in San Francisco’s Chinatown, the two friends also delighted in the sense of style of the neighborhood seniors. Luu and Lo first documented their subjects on a popular Instagram account, Chinatown Pretty, which evolved into a recently released book, Chinatown Pretty: Fashion and Wisdom from Chinatown’s Most Stylish Seniors.

“They wore layers of color, like six shades of pink or four floral patterns, all in one outfit. So we wanted to know at first, like, ‘Where did they get their shoes? How did they put this outfit together?!’” explains Luu, on Zoom. “From there, the clothes became a gateway to tell stories about their immigration, about their lives as seniors in these urban centers, and a celebration of all those things.”

Chinatown Pretty features over 100 photographs of seniors in their own self-expressive — and very Instagrammable — outfits, accompanied by moving interviews. For instance, C.P, spotted on Manhattan’s Canal Street, skillfully wears three layers of floral button-downs while accessorizing with a purple bucket hat and a cross-body protected bag from the rain with an artfully-rigged “Thank You for Shopping Here!” plastic bag, Poppy Lissiman– or Demna Gvasalia for Balenciaga-style.

“We came up with [the term ‘Chinatown pretty’] to describe this eclectic patchwork of different patterns, textures, colors, eras, handmade, gifted, new, all in one outfit,” says Lo, also on Zoom. “Along with some very important value-driven accessories, like rain protection, sunglasses, gloves, and lots of these very utilitarian details.”

The Vancouver Chinatown section features Luu’s incredibly chic step-grandmother, Anna Lee, who retired and settled in Canada after an accomplished career in social work in colonial Hong Kong. In the book, Lee models her refined custom-made pieces, including an orange graphic-print shirtdress, exquisitely accented with jade-green buttons and belt-buckle, and an emblem-printed pussy-bow blouse tucked into tapered red trousers. The tribute in the book feels especially poignant, as Lee recently passed away.

“I inherited half her closet, and she gets to live on in my everyday wear,” says Luu, who recently wore her dress with a bequeathed faux fur coat to channel her “old world glamour” aesthetic. “It affects the way that I feel, and you dress for the way you want to feel. The way she felt to me was really graceful.”

Looking back, on my wedding day, I wore Nai Nai’s vintage gold Rolex and carried her ’60s-era metallic wristlet clutch. The leather was kind of peeling at the edges, but, to me, that felt worn-in and familiar. (I also re-wore Jimmy Choos I bought on sale with a gift card years earlier, which is a pretty Chinese grandma move, if I think about it.) I’ve been regularly wearing her classic diamond studs ever since my mom let me have them in college, although these days restyled in a mismatched way.

Chinese grandmas faithfully maintain and value their hard-earned (and beloved) pieces, which were often bespoke from the old country. The pieces connect back to their roots and celebrate their journeys, but also speak to practicality and value. Through their day-to-day living, these seniors are pioneers of the same artisan, DIY, and sustainability movements now commonly touted by city-dwellers.

“They’ve been growing fruit in their backyard. They’ve been going to the grocer every day for fresh produce and they take care of their clothes… so it lasts a really long time,” says Luu. Take, for instance, the recent uptick in crafting. Before knitting became a cool kid pastime on TikTok, my Wai Po was replicating a cute little crop top out of a Seventeen feature during my teen years.

Seattle-born Lori Tan Chinn, who plays the Lin family matriarch in Awkwafina is Nora From Queens, originally considered going into costume design, and would sew her own high fashion pieces in the ’80s. While Chinn’s own infectious, no-filter personality influences her character, Grandma, via her straight-fire — and often F-bomb-laden — improv talents, her equally spicy and resourceful fashion sense also makes a significant impact. On an expletive-filled trip to the bank with granddaughter Nora (Awkwafina), Grandma makes an extra swaggy statement in one of Chinn’s longtime wardrobe staples: a ’70s-era matching leopard print set from the now-shuttered Orhbach’s department store. On a whim, Chinn brought the ensemble on set to show costume designer Staci Greenbaum. 

“She flipped over it. I never thought they’d let me wear it, but yeah, fine,” shrugs Chinn, outfitted for our Zoom convo in a beaded collar in honor of Ruth Bader-Ginsberg (she has a few) and a “Carter 2020” sweatshirt. (She likens her style to Billy Porter’s, but in a scrappier, DIY-sort of way.) 

Chinn proudly shows me her treasure trove of beads amassed from ‘60s-era trimmings emporium Sheru, including a Ziploc bag packed with wooden bananas. (After an exhaustive online hunt, she snapped up about 300.) Greenbaum used the beads to further enhance Grandma’s leopard look and made her matching dangly earrings.

On a roll, Chinn excitedly brings out more Nora From Queens-themed trinkets, including a colorful charm bringing a Georgia O’Keefe painting to mind. “Do you know what this is?” she asks, with a mischievous smile. “… a vagina?” I ask, bringing my face closer to the screen. “Yeah!” responds Chinn, in the most Grandma voice. (Awkwafina kicked off her career with her viral YouTube video “My Vag,” and genitalia is a running theme on the show.)

For the premiere party, Chinn customized the lapels of her velvet Eileen Fisher robe-jacket with the vagina charm and other Easter Eggs, like a garbage can, a silver dumpling, and a penis referencing dad Wally’s (B.D. Wong) Instagram faux pas. She also splurged on sparkly Miu Miu heels. 

“Cost me my rent!” says Chinn. “I bought them on sale. But for the premiere night, I couldn’t resist.”

That bomb leopard outfit wasn’t the only real life-to-screen style crossover. During rehearsals, Greenbaum noticed Chinn’s penchant for wearing T-shirts with statements, like “Asians Don’t Raisin,” which Grandma later wore to close out the queef-themed episode six. (Vagina charms, see?) Of course, Chinn sees the humor in the tee — she even gifted co-creators Awkwafina and Teresa Hsiao their own — but the shirt also offers a practical efficiency.

“It’s all-black, too, so I don’t have to wear a bra,” says Chinn. 

Her collection of statement tees that don’t require undergarments includes one featuring Tina Belcher from Bob’s Burgers and the slogan “smart, strong, sensual,” to zip around town on her electric scooter (masked and armed with a helmet and first aid kit). In August, Chinn wore another shirt celebrating her Hoisan heritage to an anti-Asian racism rally hosted by rapper China Mac. The crowds also marched in support of the 89-year-old Chinese senior, who was attacked and set on fire in Brooklyn earlier in the summer. 

The COVID-19 pandemic has economically battered Chinatowns and Chinese-owned businesses. Hate crimes against Asian Americans have drastically spiked, as encouraged by loser POTUS 45’s xenophobic and racist hate speech. So the summer arrival of dark comedy Lucky Grandma offered timely and much-needed messaging, thrills, and laughs. Directed by Sasie Sealy and co-written with Angela Cheng, the indie film is both a love letter to Chinatown and the titular octogenarian, who chases her luck at the casino, while not realizing her true fortune lies closer to home. Crabby, chain-smoking, and truly gives-zero-fucks Grandma Wong uses her gritty street smarts and morning swim-honed dexterity to extricate herself from the potential misfortune. (The movie has also partnered with Welcome to Chinatown to raise funds for the community.)

Along with scouring the Chinatown Pretty Instagram, costume designer Aubrey Laufer and Sealy spent two weeks in Manhattan Chinatown searching for inspiration. “We were like fashion bloggers or The Sartorialist,” says Sealy, on a call. Grandma Wong’s lucky red puffer jacket (top photo), often worn over a printed shirt in a fortuitous color palette of reds and golds, serves a functional purpose, while also signifying an empowered “superhero cape.” 

But, my favorite Grandma Wong ‘fit is her scarlet red and floral-printed bathing suit. While the one-piece is sassy, with the V-neckline and flounce-y skirt, it’s her black dress socks with black rubber slippers combo that served as the pièce de résistance during a nail-biter steam room scene. My mind momentarily wandered as I considered translating Grandma Wong’s steeze into ankle socks, designer slides, and a printed baby-doll dress for a different (and not so life-threatening) occasion. 

But behind-the-scenes, Grandma’s cop-worthy post-swim lewk resulted from a practical request from the 85-year-old lead Tsai Chin, who is an accomplished — and very glamorous IRL — stage and screen legend on both sides of the pond and mainland China. (This cougar print top!) 

“Tsai basically did not want to take off her socks. She said that at her age, her feet get cold. So we were like, ‘Ok, you don’t have to take off your socks,’” says Sealy, adding, “She’s not unlike Grandma in many ways.”

Sure, the black dress socks served a purpose while filming, but, to me, they felt like a character choice to portray fierce, brazen, and definitely empowered Grandma Wong. Like her real-life cohorts, her inventive, yet utilitarian outfit tells a story, shows resourcefulness, and radiates an irrepressible spirit and energy — while also offering inspiration for others. 

“Don’t give a shit, don’t give a fuck [attitude], mixed with functionality, somehow equals really cool, really joyful pow,” says Luu. “That’s something I’m taking away from 2020.”

Like what you see? How about some more R29 goodness, right here?

An Update On The Darling Grandma From <em>The Farewell</em>

Awkwafina Is Actually 'Nora From Queens'

Lucky Grandma/ Is My Quarantine MDW Mood

DMTBeautySpot

via https://www.DMTBeautySpot.com

Fawnia Soo Hoo, Khareem Sudlow

#DMTBeautySpot #beauty

Winter is coming…and it’s going to be a long one. But that doesn’t mean you need to resign yourself to a life of fleece-y sweats and ‘90s sitcom binge-fests (although, sure, that will definitely be part of the itinerary.) Think of winter clothing as your motivation to keep up with those much-needed socially distant outdoor hangs, to revitalize your WFH ‘fits (yes, it’s time to put on some pants!), and to actually get excited for that Zoom holiday party.  

Luckily, H&M has everything you need for every “new norm”-specific winter activity — from cozy knits to croc-embossed booties to cottage-core floral blouses. And to make things even easier, we put together five looks you’ll need for everything you’ll be getting up to this season. Click through for proof winter isn’t something you need to fear — and then shop each outfit from home. 

Date Night

Whether you’re supporting your favorite local restaurant with dinner al fresco or takeout next to a backyard fire pit, layer (and snuggle) up in a velvety-soft lilac cardigan-as-a-top and preppy tartan scarf. Chunky Chelsea boots, a luxe top-handle bag and delicate gold pendants effortlessly elevate your date night ‘fit, while vintage-inspired denim keeps things just the right amount of casual.

Work From Wherever

Feel focused and put-together no matter where your office is — and be ready for that spontaneous Zoom invitation — in sleek, stretchy jeans that feel like sweats and an eye-catching floral print blouse that doesn’t need a ring-light. A set of statement rings add flair to your virtual presentations, while lug sole loafers and a croc-embossed tote take you from workday to socially distanced hangouts later.

Weekend Errands

Pair an oversize turtleneck sweater with slouchy cropped cords for a street style-meets-weekend errand run outfit. A plush oatmeal beanie and pointy-toe croc-embossed booties walk the line of practical and chic, while a quilted crossbody keeps you sporty-cool and nimble.

Socially Distant Outdoor Hang

Enjoy that precious time with friends outdoors (while staying six feet apart of course) in an oversize cardigan (paired with a tank or worn on its own), vegan leather leggings, a plush beanie, and cool kicks. A faux fur bag adds unexpected texture, while also holding your precious hand sanitizer and reusable bottle (because winter is still BYOB season).

Zoom Holiday Party

Saying “bye!” to 2020 will be a celebration like no other, even if the party’s virtual. So swap out your pajama pants for polished plaid trousers and brighten up that Zoom gallery view with a tucked-in camera-friendly lilac knit and layers of brilliant gold pendants. Lug-sole loafers stay profesh while keeping you comfortable when the remote dance party happens.

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DMTBeautySpot

via https://www.DMTBeautySpot.com

Fawnia Soo Hoo, Khareem Sudlow