When reading up on last week’s top style stories, separating journalistic neophytes from industry veterans can be a laborious task – luckily, I caught up with one of the latter to give me the full scoop (and then some). You know her from MTV back in the day, and doing red-carpet duty for Access Hollywood, but recently, SuChin Pak has been scouring the city as DailyCandy.com’s latest correspondent. In between presentations and parties, I caught up with Pak to chat luxe layers, Lin-sanity and the power of a power belt.
Julie Bensman: New York Fashion Week is over! What were some personal highlights?
SuChin Pak: Catching up with friends that don’t live in NYC is always the best. I’ve been a huge fan of LA-based stylist Chriselle for a while now and we got to catch up on shoes, boys, and everything in between over the best bowl of soba noodles at Cocoron in the LES. That and, of course, being wildly distracted with Jeremy Lin!
JB: What are the three biggest trends you’re spotting for Fall 2012?
SP: Luxury. And by that I mean the mixing of different textures, knits, silk, metallic, and lace, layered and chopped up together: Rebecca Minkoff, Derek Lam, J.Crew, and Rodarte all had huge elements of this trend. By far, though, seeing the Prabal Gurung collection made me salivate. From heaven to hell, he captures light and dark in one dramatic swoop.
JB: Which labels would we find in your closet?
SP: More United Bamboo than anything. Opening Ceremony, Zara, J. Crew, YSL in heavy rotation. I have a lot of vintage costume jewelry from the best kept secret, Estate Jewels by George and Raf. It’s amazing what one small broach can do to a simple J. Crew cardigan.
JB: What’s the best piece of style advice you’ve ever received?
SP: If you have a power belt and heels on, everything else is just in-between stuff. I’m a big believer in mixing highs and lows.
JB: Which celebrities nail it every time on the red carpet?
SP: Charlize Theron never fails; Nicole Richie and Joel Madden always make it their own; and Gwen Stefani often gives me goose pimples.
JB: Fashion aside, what projects are you currently working on?
SP: I’m doing a lot of trend and style pieces for E! and Access Hollywood for DailyCandy and I’m continuing to write, develop, and pitch for DailyCandy every day. We’re starting the new season for Hester Street Fair, my outdoor shop and eat market in the Lower East Side. Doors open officially April 28!
JB: Fashion and food, the best of both worlds! Where are some of your favorite NYC spots?
SP: I rarely leave the 10-block radius of the LES; Cocoron for soba noodles; Sons of Essex for a good night out that doesn’t involve a lot of fuss; and An Choi for Pho cravings… Of course, in the warmer weather, there’s nothing like digging into a Luke’s Lobster Roll at Hester Street Fair. As far as shopping goes, I love the vintage at New World Order, seeing the delightful surprises at Top Hat, and Opening Ceremony to make sure you’re in touch with what’s what!
JB: What’s the last thing you Googled?
SP: Cat Breading
Fashion and food, felines and food…it all sounds good to me.
Xoxo,
Julie
