It’s still 70 degrees people. Here are some Spring 2012 inspirational ensembles from one of my favorite designers, Detroit-born with Chinese ancestry, Anna Sui. (Part 1)
Photos from nymag, annasui.com
Other Keywords: famous asian fashion designers, famous asians, nyfw, new york fashion week spring 2012, polka dots, shorts, high waisted shorts, black, red, purple, violet, fur, 1940’s, one piece pant jumper
Derek Lam’s millenial fluorescent hues of yellow, coral, and turquoise collected with a brown leather revival, thick white hemmed blue jeans, and a neutral brushed camel is genius for Spring 2012. ROCK ON.
Honestly, I never thought I’d ever wear the brown Carlito’s Way jacket I bought in the East Village past 1997 (though, truth be told, I kept it - and yes, it still fits!); nor did I ever think I’d actually find inspiration for that brown leather shin length skirt my mother bought me 10 years ago. I can wear my vintage turquoise earrings and ring with that ribbed orange tank top somewhere at the bottom of that “I might still wear that” pile. And all of these I can and will wear early fall. Muhahaha.
Photos via nymag. More on Derek Lam, who is of Chinese descent.
Other keywords: famous asian fashion designers, famous asian designers, famous chinese fashion designers, famous male fashion designers, famous asian male fashion designers, chinese fashion designers, chinese-american, new york fashion week spring 2012, nyfw, @DerekLamNYC
Taiwanese Alexander Wang and his Spring 2012 ready-to-wear collection above. Maroon, red, or crimson embellished bolero and minis. Wow. Also, how adorable is he? His Fall 2011 is below. Ideas from the basics in the closet are a-spawning.
More on Alexander Wang: Wiki
Photos via nymag
Other keywords: Chinese fashion designers, famous asians, famous asian fashion designers, taiwanese fashion designers, male fashion designers, nyfw, new york fashion week, spring 2012, fall 2011, grey, black, maroon, crimson, red, satin slit cuts, embellished jacket, bolero, pedal pushers, shorts, mini dresses, urban chic, bomber jackets, fur collared jackets, quilted cape jacket, lace up boots, sheer tuxedo blouse, black wool turtleneck dress, sheer black tuxedo top, slits
How is it possible that such a combination of colors can convey such a tasty texture? A movable feast of fashion!
Peter Som, who is of Han Chinese descent, was raised in San Fransisco and describes his designs as “effortless elegance and refined sexiness”. Note how Som’s collections naturally evoke a retro mod aesthetic; he honed his skills designing for Bill Blass. 
Fall 2011 - THOSE BOOTS!!!
Photos via nymag
Other Keywords: famous asian fashion designers, male fashion designers, chinese fashion designers, famous asians, famous chinese men, peach, blue, yellow, orange, dresses, model Liu Wen (in the flowy blue slit dress, spring 2012, at right in 2nd photo set above)
![Ruby Neilam Salvador Adams
(aka Neile McQueen-Toffel) is a Filipino-American actress, singer, dancer born in the Philippines, July 10, 1936, and is of German, Spanish, English, Chinese, and Filipino descent. Adams spent 18 months during WWII imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines. [Family photo above via] Adams gained national attention by age 20 when she starred in Bob Fosse’s Broadway production of “The Pajama Game”. A string of legends such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, hand selected her to star in their Broadway productions. Film and television features soon followed. Adams’ MGM publicity photo c. 1960 [via]Adams married actor Steve McQueen just four months after they met in 1956. Adams wrote about her 15-year marriage and 24-year friendship with McQueen in her book, My Husband, My Friend. [via]In 1963, McQueen told LIFE magazine, “With strangers, I can’t breathe…But I dig my old lady…” MCQeen and Adams in a Sulphur bath, Big Sur, 1963. Photo by John Dominis. McQueen and Adams stylin 60s mod [via]McQueen and Adams in Taipei 1965 [via], photo by Doris NiehMcQueen and Adams at home [via]McQueen and Adams poolside in their Palm Springs bungalow, 1963. Photo by John Dominis. [via] Sources & more: Life, book excerpts, book press release, Wiki, IMDbOther Keywords: famous filipinos, famous asians, famous asian dancers, famous asian singers, famous asian actors, chinese-filipino, mestizo actors, steve mcqueen’s wife, steve mcqueen’s love, formidable asian women, asian female performers, asians in broadway, 1960’s mod photos, famous filipino-americans, mixed asian, hapa](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_lppwd6UWUb1qa172uo1_r3_400.jpg)
Ruby Neilam Salvador Adams
(aka Neile McQueen-Toffel) is a Filipino-American actress, singer, dancer born in the Philippines, July 10, 1936, and is of German, Spanish, English, Chinese, and Filipino descent. Adams spent 18 months during WWII imprisoned in a Japanese POW camp in the Philippines. [Family photo above via]
Adams gained national attention by age 20 when she starred in Bob Fosse’s Broadway production of “The Pajama Game”. A string of legends such as Rodgers and Hammerstein, hand selected her to star in their Broadway productions. Film and television features soon followed. 
Adams’ MGM publicity photo c. 1960 [via]
Adams married actor Steve McQueen just four months after they met in 1956. Adams wrote about her 15-year marriage and 24-year friendship with McQueen in her book, My Husband, My Friend. 
[via]
In 1963, McQueen told LIFE magazine, “With strangers, I can’t breathe…But I dig my old lady…” 
MCQeen and Adams in a Sulphur bath, Big Sur, 1963. Photo by John Dominis. 
McQueen and Adams stylin 60s mod [via]
McQueen and Adams in Taipei 1965 [via], photo by Doris Nieh
McQueen and Adams at home [via]
McQueen and Adams poolside in their Palm Springs bungalow, 1963.
Photo by John Dominis. [via]
Sources & more: Life, book excerpts, book press release, Wiki, IMDb
Other Keywords: famous filipinos, famous asians, famous asian dancers, famous asian singers, famous asian actors, chinese-filipino, mestizo actors, steve mcqueen’s wife, steve mcqueen’s love, formidable asian women, asian female performers, asians in broadway, 1960’s mod photos, famous filipino-americans, mixed asian, hapa
Photographed by Raphael Mazzucco in Boracay Island, Philippines. Swimsuit by Elizabeth Southwood for Sauvage. 
Photographed by Raphael Mazzucco Boracay Island, Philippines.
Photographed by Warwick Saint in Peter Island, British Virgin Islands for Sports Illustrated. Swimsuit by Lybethras.
Photographed by Warwick Saint in Peter Island, British Virgin Islands. Swimsuit by Jean Paul Gaultier.
Other Keywords: Famous Asian models, models of Asian descent, Asians in sports illustrated 2011, sexy Asian models (seems redundant to say so, no? :)
Photo: Huffpost
Saturday, June 4, 2011 - Paris
29 year-old Li Na becomes the first Asian-born Chinese, man or woman, to win a Grand Slam singles title. Beating defending champion Francesca Schiavone of Italy, 6-4, 7-6 (0) in yesterday’s match, Li is now projected to rise from the 6th to the 4th seed in women’s tennis. The Wuhan, China native said this was a “dream come true”. More on Li Na and her victory.
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Announced Sunday, April 25th, 2010 - Writer, Director, Executive Producer, MTV and HBO veteran, Cynthia Hsiung, won the Boston International Film Festival’s Indie Spirit Best Director Award for her film Are You For Great Sex? Lead actress of the film, Jessica Caban, won the Indie Spirit Best Actress Award. ROCK ON GURRRLS!!! 
Are You For Great Sex lead actress Jessica Caban, writer/director/exec producer, Cynthia Hsiung, and lead actor Walter Vincent at the TriBeCa Grand Hotel private screening, New York City in February 2010. [Photo by Phil Nee]
Hsiung revealed that the feedback she received on the film was not only full of accolades, but also full of personal and private experiences. People divulged stories they hadn’t shared with anyone else and thanked her for making them feel less alone. In turn, Hsiung felt honored and privileged to be on the receiving end of such personal accounts. That Hsiung was able to ellicit such a reaction from her audience with her movie is perhaps one of the reasons why this film is a must see.
I will only tell you that it’s based on a true romance between two lovers with an undeniable sexual chemistry. It’s pretty delicious. I’ll leave you with one clip from the movie below. I found the best way to see this movie is to know as little about it as possible ahead of time. Like a virgin, touched for the very first time : ) I made it through the wilderness…
Keep your eyes peeled for Are You For Great Sex? in the film festival circuit this spring and summer. I will be posting updates and more info about Cynthia Hsiung as more news arises. For now I’m going to say ROCK ON and CONGRATS! to the multi-talented, Queens raised female writer/director of Chinese descent.
Thanks to Cynthia for giving me the first exclusive online interview!
Other Sources: IMDB, BIFF
Other keywords: famous asians, famous asian, asian female directors, boston international film festival, BIFF
