For brides, it’s all in the details

This season’s nuptial fashions fall on opposite sides of the aisle: ethereally sweet and rustic chic, or softly structured and urbane.Yet despite the different silhouettes ― Vera Wang boho, for instance, is all about empire waists and slip-dress sheaths, while a city ceremony might star a cleaner Reem Acra frock with trumpet skirts and peplums ― modern gowns are united in the details.Sequins, pearls and beading are hand sewn on the simplest of gowns in dazzling geometric patterns. The sparkle, r

July 9, 2014

Not an ordinary chair

Along the “design promenade,” the curved, flowing passageway inside the Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul, visitors pass by stylish, unique chairs. Some take a look, while others hardly notice them and go straight into the exhibition space. The DDP staff recommends visitors pay attention to the chairs, designed by 112 furniture designers from 30 countries around the world. “Visitors are not sure whether the chairs are just decor objects or real chairs that they can sit on. The chairs displayed he

July 7, 2014

Master of textile art, flavoring past with present

Choi Ae-ja, adjunct professor of Korean traditional costume at Konkuk University Graduate School of Design, has been selected the “Korea Arts and Culture Master” of traditional craft in fabric dyes. The title recognizes her excellent craftsmanship of extracting natural dyes of colors that are produced only through chemical dyes. The honorable designation is awarded annually by the Korea Art and Culture Organization, one of the largest and oldest associations in Korea to promote Korean culture an

July 3, 2014

Delicious mix of food and crafts

Cooking doesn’t end when the food comes out of the oven. The finishing touch ― serving it on stylish dishes ― is necessary to elevate the culinary experience.Refined and creative tableware by Korean craft designers and artisans, which create a sophisticated dining experience, is now on display.Organized by the Korea Craft and Design Foundation and opened on Wednesday, the event is the biggest market and showcase of various craftwork made by Korean artisans across the nation. It is easily accessi

June 26, 2014

Urban greenery redefines cityscape

Modern architecture has created the same gray skyline in metropolitan cities, losing the link with the nature that surrounds them. Inviting nature back into the city can offer the sense of comfort that nature provides and give a unique character to cities, according to Toyo Ito, winner of the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2013. “Modernism and the technologies architects apply to their buildings make them look alike. Imagine a man living in a modernized building and surrounded by furniture and a

June 24, 2014

Mirror, mirror: Style meets activity trackers

Eight kilometers equals approximately 10,000 steps.How do I know this?Because just as I made it to the 8-kilometer mark on the Kelly Drive loop Saturday morning, the teeny LED lights in my red Fitbit Flex started doing the happy dance. And the silicone wristband ― reminiscent of cyclist Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong bracelets ― vibrated.I stopped for a smoothie and did some grocery shopping. And when I got home, I synced the Flex to my laptop and ― drumroll, please ― my grand step total was 18,14

June 18, 2014

Modern meets traditional at London menswear shows

LONDON (AP) ― In the world of women’s fashion, London often plays second fiddle to other style capitals ― it lacks the allure of Paris’s haute couture or the polish of Milan’s luxury labels. Yet when it comes to dressing gentlemen, no city can rival the British capital’s heritage. Steeped in a rich history of tailoring for kings, army generals and the world’s wealthiest men, London is now being marketed as the home of men’s fashion ― the original birthplace of the tuxedo jacket, the bowler hat a

June 18, 2014

Team sheds light on architectural differences between two Koreas

Deviating from past editions, this year’s Venice Architecture Biennale asked all 66 participating countries to respond to a common theme ― to focus not on architecture itself but on architectural “history” in order to examine how different nations adapted to modernity in design over the last century.The Korean Pavilion has spotlighted differences in the architecture of South and North Korea since national division, for which it was awarded the Golden Lion for Best National Participation on June

June 13, 2014

Bug-free, cooler fabrics highlight summer apparel lines

Shopping for a summer wardrobe can be tricky. Style choices are simple: it’s either short-sleeve or sleeveless shirts, normal-length long pants for men and shorter pants for women. The trick is how to look chic while staying cool in the hot, sticky weather. To achieve both style and cool effects, one essential is a summer fabric that uses the latest innovative technologies to keep the body temperature down. Some basic fabrics that give wearers a cool feeling include linen, fabric made from the f

June 11, 2014

First lady’s fashion raises question: Who pays?

WASHINGTON (AP) ― Michelle Obama’s fashionable clothing has become something of a given in her five-plus years as first lady. Yet her wardrobe still is the subject of endless public fascination and one long-simmering question: Who pays for those incredible outfits? It’s no small matter. Her high-low fashion choices mix everyday, off-the-rack fare with custom creations from top designers whose gowns can run into five figures. In recent weeks, Mrs. Obama has turned heads with a forest-green Naeem

June 4, 2014

[Weekender] More than a piece of jewelry

As more people are choosing clothes and jewelry that highlight the wearers rather than specific brands, jewelers have started creating one-of-a-kind jewelry that can showcase the wearer’s personal history. Jewelry designer Jung Soo-yeon, who launched her jewelry brand Tanello in 2000, says she has succeeded in attracting both foreigners and Koreans in Seoul looking for such unique jewelry. “I focus on the private feeling that the jewelry can give to the wearer,” said Jung in a recent interview w

May 23, 2014

Polishing the image of factory-built homes

AKRON, Ohio ― Factory-built homes have long suffered from an image problem.But it’s time for that image to change, representatives from the industry say.Tim Williams, executive director of the Ohio Manufactured Homes Association, thinks people may be surprised by the homes if they see them.“People think they’re just trailers,” he said. “If they see it, I think they’ll realize the benefits” in terms of affordability and quality.These aren’t the shoddily built tin cans of old. They’re well-constru

May 21, 2014

A rare look at North Korean architecture

In Pyongyang, there are none of the narrow alleys that are commonly found in old cities. Instead, streets are up to 50 meters wide, lined with buildings with perfect symmetry. They are among major features of socialist architecture. Architecture in North Korea is little known to the world. North Korean architects have been out of the spotlight, as they are not considered as individual, independent artists, but workers who follow “Kim Jong-il’s Architectural Theory,” a set of architecture guideli

May 20, 2014

[Herald Interview] Florist Audrey Oh on haute world of flowers

In her newly minted shop in Seoul’s Cheongdam-dong, florist Audrey Oh starts arranging marigolds, blue delphiniums, shepherd’s purse and stonecrop into a vibrant, spring-appropriate bouquet.The veteran floral designer’s swift movements make it look deceptively easy, yet the marriage of near-violet blue with ruffled golden orange, the carefully spaced exclamations of yellow-green, are portrait-worthy, serving as a testimony to her years of experience.“I like natural and simple designs,” said Oh,

May 14, 2014

Brides take bouquet-making into their own hands

MINNEAPOLIS ― When Natasha Cronen got married last September, she knew exactly what her bridal bouquet would look like, down to the petal.That’s because she’d made it herself, two days earlier, along with all the other flowers for her wedding.Cronen, of Woodbury, Minn., and her bridesmaids gathered at Market Flowers near the Minneapolis Farmers Market to craft coral and white roses into bouquets, centerpieces, corsages for the bride and groom’s mothers and grandmothers as well as boutonnieres fo

May 7, 2014

Some women daring to explore shades of gray

AKRON, Ohio ― It was bound to happen ― you’ve found your first gray hair. It may remind you that the internal clock is ticking. You make a mental note to call the hairdresser for a dye job.Or do you?Silver or gray is trending now in fashion, accessories and home decor. And while some local stylists say going gray naturally may be a trend, others say it can make a woman look 10 years older.Before you squeeze that tube of Vidal Sassoon on your locks, examine your shade of gray.“I have one client w

May 7, 2014

Old world glamour in black and white at Met gala

NEW YORK (AP) ― Old-style glamour ― especially in black and white ― ruled the night air as stars of Hollywood and the fashion world converged on the Metropolitan Museum of Art on Monday evening for the annual Costume Institute gala, the biggest event on the New York fashion calendar.This year, the glamour quotient was raised a notch: Whereas last year’s theme was punk, this time women were focusing on flowing gowns, and men were asked to dress in white tie ― full evening dress, including tails,

May 6, 2014

[Weekender] Menswear undergoes smart evolution

Spring has brought versatile items and light colors to menswear, allowing men to be free from formal dress and try new style combinations. Blazers and pants that are both adaptable to formal and casual looks are gaining popularity. Fresh, light color shades are lifting the mood for the warmer weather.“The casual vibe has been prevalent in menswear for the past couple of seasons, and the hybrid items that can either work in formal and casual situations have been popular,” said Lee Hyun-jung, dire

May 2, 2014

[Weekender] ‘Style is all about how you put things together’

Korea is one of the best markets in the world in terms of the number of fashion-conscious male customers, according to Filip Ekvall, the CEO of H&M Korea. The Swedish CEO talked about his personal fashion style, Korean men’s fashion taste in comparison to other countries and suggestions for spring items in a recent email interview with The Korea Herald. The following are excerpts from the interview.Korea Herald: What is your fashion style? Filip Ekvall: I love classic. Classic can be fun, not bo

May 2, 2014

[Weekender] Men’s love for accessories

More Korean men are becoming fashion-conscious. They’re willing to invest in their appearance, especially in accessories, said the CEO of an international fashion accessory brand. They are still conservative, but are rapidly opening up to new ideas and trends, which is promising for many fashion businesses, said Robert Tateossian, founder and CEO of Tateossian London. “I have noticed that Korean men are very fashionable, wearing skinny jeans and great hairdos on the street. The market is definit

May 2, 2014