Last night was the first evening for Portland Fashion Week. I had the most surreal (and amazing) day in my role as a PFW Style Collective Member. Today I’ll be attending two shows–as a matter of fact, I am writing this post while sitting in the gorgeous lounge section at this shows!
I’ve been MIA on the blog lately, which tears me apart since one of my goals (and something I recommend) is to stay more consistent with my blogging. I honestly can say that I’ve been working on some amazing projects and have been working on a ton of content. I just haven’t gotten it up! But, in this busy time in life I am all about forgiving myself and starting anew. I’ll get back to regular posting ASAP.
On to some snapshots of my day yesterday. I first headed over to our local Lucky Brand store to get style tips from two Lucky Brand stylists. I couldn’t believe that I tried on the first pair of jeans to get an absolute amazing fit! I’ll share more about this experience with outfit details soon!
After visiting Lucky, I hit PFW all dolled up in my new pair of complimentary plus size Georgia Weekender Jeans! I also wore an old, but favorite sparkly shirt from Old Navy and a favorite pair of booties… Also a few years old. I felt stylish (and comfortable) and didn’t feel out of place at all at Fashion Week. I’m hoping I am this happy with all of my FW looks! Also, super excited to spend time with other Portland area bloggers such as the lovely Sam Rosen (pictured below)
Thanks so much for reading and keeping up with this fun and crazy blog. I absolutely owe these amazing experience to you, my readers, and I feel so lucky that my work is paying off in such an unimaginably awesome way.
Disclaimer: I received free VIP tickets to Portland Fashion Week after being selected as a PFW style collective member. I did not receive additional payment. I also received complimentary goods from Lucky Brand. I did not receive additional payment. The choice to post was my own and all opinions, as always, are my honest opinions and only reflect my thoughts. Thank you!
How do you go to sketching and dreaming about designing buildings in Korea to having your wedding dress designs strutting the catwalk in Portland, OR? Well, you fall in love.
At least, that is what Portland wedding dress designer Sunjin Lee did! She met her husband (who also acts as her business partner in many aspects) in Paris, fell in love, and ended up trying on tons of wedding dresses with unhappy results. Her decision to try her hand at making her own wedding dress is what brought her to today, just a few years later!
A Modern Love Story
Of course, that is boiling down a romantic, long-distance relationship down to the nitty gritty there. The couple stayed contacted for nearly two years after meeting in Paris, Sunjin in university in Korea while her husband was in the states. The whole thing was sort of a romance that you’d read in a modern storybook. Strong female lead from traditional background with no intention of getting married really meets dashing, talented, and smart young man in a town far from both their homes. They fall in love to be parted by schedules, plans, and obligations. The young couple work for years, traveling back and forth, keeping their spark alive until they are reunited again. I’d read that book.
When Architecture and Gown Design Collide
I had the amazing opportunity to visit Sunjin Lee’s studio in Portland, Oregon to see her work and her work space. I also got to talk with her for an hour about life, love, and her passions. Her studio walls give glimpses into her love of architecture, Paris, fashion, and wedding dresses. She has bookshelves packed to the rafters with wedding and Vogue magazines. Two full walls lined with tulle, silk, embroidered, and beaded dresses. A wall covered in gorgeous sketches of buildings. It is a sight to see.
Sunjin Lee pointed out the sketches to tell me a story about meeting her husband. She pointed out a sketch looking up at the Eiffel Tower. All of the sketches are gorgeous.
“Wait,” you drew these!?” I asked. Yep, she drew them.
She tells me about going to school and training for a career in architecture. You can see her love for great architecture in the dresses she designs. She uses strong lines in many of her bodices, she plays with the shape and structure of the dresses using fabric and structure. She tells me how she lets designs of the past inspire her work. She points out a gorgeous high-low wedding dress with 3/4 sleeves, “this shape was popular in the fifties.” It is neat to see her crafts playing together so nicely.
Where it All Began
Sunjin Lee tells me how she got started in wedding dress design only 3 years ago. After trying on several wedding dresses she didn’t find exactly what she wanted. She also found out that having someone make her a specialty dress would take much more time than she had. So, she thought about what she wanted and decided that she could do it herself. And, boy did she!
She actually wore three wedding dresses throughout her wedding day in Hawaii. One of the dresses was a Nicole Miller dress (actually, the same dress I wore on MY wedding day!) and the other two dresses were of her own creation. She shows me one of the dresses she wore that had a mermaid skirt and had been hand-beaded by her with thousands of sequins and beads. She showed me how the beading worked its way up the skirt so it shimmered like water on a mermaid’s tail. Perfect for a beach wedding.
I promise that I’m trying to convince her to publish the photos of her own wedding day so we can all see the dresses in action!
Where She Works
Sunjin Lee’s work space is a home-sewer’s dream. She has a huge table ready for cutting, bolts and bolts of fabric piled beneath it. Ribbons, beads, threads, and other sewing supplies are available everywhere you look in the room. She shows me one of the items she seems most proud of… a shadow box with a dress sketch and material swatches.
“I give one of these to each of my brides with swatches of the material used to make their dress and a sketch of the dress they are wearing,” she explained. It would be an absolutely treasured keepsake for any bride.
Photo from Sunjin Lee’s website of her 2014’s editorial gallery.
Update
SunJinLee is now Haven Brill. Check out Haven Brill for the beautiful designs that were started above!
Disclaimer: I was not paid for this interview and studio tour. I am a part of the Portland Fashion Week’s Style Collective and will be receiving free VIP tickets to visit the shows. However, no post requirements were asked of us and this post was all my own idea and Sunjin Lee’s awesome story. All opinions are my own. Tickets to Portland Fashion Week are still available! Purchase tickets now to get in for just $20 or pay $30 at the door. There are 6 shows in total, 35 pop-up boutique shops, and 3 after parties. I hope to see you there!
From the Portland Fashion Week Announcement of the Style Collective.
Okay, okay… so it IS New York Fashion Week right now. And, like any young girl who loved the idea of her clothes walking the runway someday, I’m enjoying the coverages of the shows. However, I’m looking forward to NEXT week and Portland Fashion Week even more than hearing about this week’s NYFW coverage.
Way back when I was an editor for a small newspaper in Oklahoma I had the pleasure of attending my very first fashion show and covering it for my newspaper. It was a blast. It was for charity. It was a dream come true. My calves hurt for a week because I insisted on wearing my favorite heels though I was going to be up and down photographing the runway.
I’m even more excited about getting to visit the Portland Fashion Week next week as one of the show’s Style Collective members! But, you don’t need to be a style collective member to get in on the fun. Portland Fashion Week prices are so reasonable that anyone can go and experience what it is like to see a fashion show in person.
What I am Looking Forward to about Portland Fashion Week:
I’ll be attending 4 of the 6 shows: Bridal Fashion, Ready to Wear, Youth Fashion, and Dream Luxe show.
A diverse line up of models. From what I’ve been reading about the shows and from what I’ve seen so far we will have a pretty diverse runway line up in both race and sizes. There has been a lot of talk about the lack of diversity in both areas in fashion in general. I know that PFW is trying to make strides in the right direction in this area and hope to see it on the runway!
LIVE MUSIC!
Pop-up shops. How cool is it that you can actually purchase some of the things you are seeing on the runway at boutique pop-up shops at the show!? I think it makes runway fashion much more accessible to the everyday market. Granted, I’m sure that not ALL of the designs will be available (or affordable) but, I do like the idea that 36 mini boutiques will be out there for everyone’s shopping pleasure.
Cocktails! Hey, hey… there is a cash bar at the events so you can enjoy the runway and have a cocktail to boot. It is Portland afterall.
After parties! Need I say more? I do like a fun party.
Check out the fun on Instagram by checking out the #isitfallyet hashtag!
Tickets: All the ticket packages are sold out right now. But, you can get general admission seating currently for just $20 and that is good for the show of your choice and the after party! Children under 10 years old receive free admission with an adult. Shows are all ages until 10 PM, the after parties are 21+. GA tickets at the door cost $30 so get your ticket now! Purchase your General Admission Ticket to Portland Fashion Week or Find Out More By Clicking Here
To My Readers: I know that not all my readers are from the Portland area and this post might not be super interesting to everyone. However, over 40% of my readership is in the PNW and I want everyone in the area to know that they too have this opportunity. I’ll try my best to keep most of my coverage of this event interesting to the majority of my readership though! Also, I’ll still be sharing my normal party posts within the fun fashion posts!
Disclaimer: As part of the PFW Style Collective I am receiving complimentary VIP entry to some of the PFW shows and parties. I am not receiving further compensation. I applied to be a part of the collective because I truly love PFW and am excited about the strides the show is making in Portland’s fashion scene. My choice to post about the event is completely my own and all opinions are my own.
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