F ASHION LIFESTYLE ART ENTERTAINMENT May 2012 FREE TheThe BCBGBCBG MAXAZRIAMAXAZRIA WWomanoman SteffiSteffi HuHu MissMiss ChinatownChinatown USAUSA WhereWhere toto StayStay inin NewNew OrleansOrleans Sephora’sSephora’s SummerSummer SizzlesSizzles yellowmags.com FROM THE EDITOR IN CHIEF I was invited to participate at a speaking event by the Student Events Center Asian American Culture Committee at the University of Texas – Austin several weeks ago. The title of the event was called InspirAsian: Redfine Your Generation. A cupcake store owner, associate municipal judge, architect, social worker and author also participated in the program along with me. Strangely absent were doctors, engineers, technology geeks and lawyers. The “Main Event” of the program occurred later in the evening and was particularly well attended by a group of more than 500 enthusiastic Asian American students; apparently, the three guys who comprise Wong Fu Productions are very well known and very popular. In fact, they have more than one million Youtube subscribers with more than 200,000 views per day. While we have not covered this program in the magazine, it did have an impact upon me that I wanted to share with you. The InspirAsian program was decidely an anti-stereotype program. It resonated with me because, in essence, Yellow Magazine is also a promoter of Asian-American anti-stereotyping. It is remarkable how many successful actors, models, writers, designers and others have acknowledged parental resistance as they endeavored to pursue their passion and dreams and NOT enter one of the traditionally accepted professions such as medicine and engineering. As we evolve as Asian-Americans, each new generation embraces the possibilities of their potential that will take them in every direction, many of which are not the ones that would have been acceptable to their grandparents and, possibly, their parents. Change is inevitable and it is welcome. It does not overwhelm and totally obliterate one’s culture – it enriches it on so many levels. Photo by Collin Kelly Stereotypes are interesting to consider. Just because there is a stereotype certainly does not mean that it does not have a basis in undeniable truths. It is not by coincidence that so much humor surrounds the more prevalent stereotypes. In fact, one of the videos produced and shown by the guys from Wong Fu was their production Kung Fooled which I encourage everyone to watch on Youtube. It will knock you out with laughter. While it was produced by Asian-Americans and is about Asian-Americans, it is meant to be enjoyed by EVERYONE. Happy Asian American month! V. Hoang The color yellow has played a recurrent symbolic role throughout the history of Asian culture. It symbolizes the earth that sustains all life, yet has been embraced by Buddhist monks as an expression of unchallenged power. Such is the role of yellow: always revered but in different ways under different circumstances. The mission of Yellow Magazine is to introduce our readers to the artistic , fashion, lifestyle and entertainment contributions made by Asian Americans. It is our hope that the depth and breadth of the topics and events we cover do justice to the pride that the color yellow has represented throughout the millennia. As the editor in chief of Yellow Magazine, my last name is Hoang, which also means yellow. Just as I am proud of my name, I am proud of my heritage, and proud of Yellow Magazine. Editor in Chief V. Van Hoang, President of MV Media Editor Creative Director Henri Merceron Jeff Martin Cultural Editors Website Vuthy Kuon Leo Sipras Tricia Volore Assistant to the Editor in Chief Health Editor Ashley Vu Ivy Yang Contributing Photographers Travel Editor Mitchell Alexander Matt Sims Thang Nguyen Wine Editor [email protected] Philip Cuisimano Timothy Frederick Music Editor timothyfrederick.com Tyler Merceron Shehla Z. Shah shehlazshahphotography.com Lifestyle Editor Peter Tham Chau Nguyen-Todd Fashion Photographer Beauty Editor Debbie Porter Tree Vaello Fashion Stylist Fashion Editor Vico Puentes Vi Hua Hair and Makeup Contributing Writers Jen Marine Deanne Nguyen Photographer Assistant Leo Sipras Brent Bruni Comiskey Ashley Vu Business Manager Karla Montejo Publisher MV Media Publisher/Managing Director Frank Perez Advertising 713.528.6000 x103 [email protected] Yellow Magazine 1990 Post Oak Blvd. Suite 815 Houston, TX 77056 p 713.528.6000 f 713.228.3186 yellowmags.com Yellow Magazine is published monthly. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or part of the magazine is strictly prohibited without the permission of the publisher. Yellow Magazine is not responsible for any unsolicited materials submitted. Subscriptions to Yellow Magazine may be purchased for $36/11 issues. Mail check to: Yellow Magazine, 1990 Post Oak Blvd., Suite 815, Houston, TX 77056. © 2012 MV Media On the cover Blazer by Givenchy, available at Neiman Marcus Dress by Vera Wang, available at Atrium Necklace by Alexis Bittar, available at Neiman Marcus Earrings available at Little Bird Model: Doa May 2012 FASHION A Stylish Future Beyond Bandages BCBG MaxAzria by V. HOANG I had the pleasure of meeting Lubov Azria, creative director of BCBGMAXAZRIA Group, at a luncheon at the beautiful home of Lucinda Loya. She shared with me that her love for designing started at a young age when she watched seamstresses making dance costumes and that respect plays a big part of being successful when working with your husband. What inspired you to become a fashion designer? Actually, I did not want to be a fashion designer. I started out in dance and realized I spent more time in the costume area with the seamstresses. I thought it was amazing that you can actually make clothes. As I am very good in art, I wanted to be an art historian and teach. But my parents pushed me into fashion because that was the second thing I liked. And they were right. Lucinda Loya, Lubov Azria Are there similarities between dance and fashion design? I think there are a lot of similarities. You need to be disciplined, consistent, How is it to work so closely with your husband? and learn how to inspire yourself. Finally, you have to learn how to evolve Fantastic! I think the number one thing that you have to have is respect with change. for one another. Respect is the most important thing. Sometimes, it is How did BCBGMAXAZRIA Group come about? What was it about Herve greater than love. And the way we work, Max’s office is at one end of the Leger that appealed to you so much that you acquired it? building and mine is on the other. We meet when we have to create things. At the time, it was a great opportunity to buy a couture label from Paris. When you are creating, you are excited and talking about ideas. After that, We were very excited about taking a chance even though we were not we separate. Max is global and I am detail oriented. I design all the clothes aware of the bandage dresses or what Herve L. Leroux was doing at that and he plans the business growth. Max is 62 years old. He is my teacher time. When we bought the brand, we really tried hard to work with Leroux and my mentor, so he has a hand in everything that I do. but he had other ideas. So, when we took the brand in house, we waited about 8 years before we re-launched it because we had to learn the technique needed to create the bandage dresses. They may look simple The BCBG girl wants to be known but they are deceptively more complicated to create. They are created using more of a knitting process than a cut and sew technique. Each band based on her intelligence and is applied by hand onto a mannequin without the use of patterns. her beautiful clothes. With HL, Are you planning to keep the bandage style dresses for the Herve Leger BCBG brand? there is sex appeal and the Yes, of course. We don’t want to get away from the bandages. Since we are not the original creator of the bandage dresses, we sort of updated seduction that comes with it. the look for modern day wear. We want to stay true to our customers when we design clothes. We do not design for editors; we design for our Where did you get the inspiration for the 2012 spring collection? customers who want to look and feel beautiful. The inspiration was from tracksuits because spring is all about a sporty How do you describe the BCBG woman versus the Herve Leger woman? and active lifestyle. Although they are very similar, the big difference between the two is And where do you normally get your inspirations? confidence. I think the BCBG woman is worldly, classy, and elegant. She From art, music, and television. knows herself and she wants her clothes to be more comfortable to better suit her lifestyle. The HL girl wants to be on center stage and to be noticed. What are the three items that a woman should always have in their The BCBG girl wants to be known based on her intelligence and her closet? beautiful clothes. With HL, there is sex appeal and the seduction that Definitely, a little black dress, a great pair of flats (like ballerina flats) and comes with it. a rocking motorcycle jacket. You can make anything work with those items. Do you describe yourself as a BCBG or an HL woman? Name the one thing you cannot live without? Depends on the day… My iPhone! I love it. And air. Photos by Karen Dressel for Lastnightpics.com for Dressel Photos by Karen 4| May 2012 MUSIC Symphonic Music To Our Ears Frank Huang by V.