At the Artbeam, one of Fashion Week’s venues, New York-based designer Vivienne Hu showed her third collection. Hu’s clothes were seductive, sophisticated, shapely and well received.
With a background in investment banking and business, her decision to make a career in fashion stems from her zeal for fashion and her love of all things creative. Her brand was established with her debut collection shown in 2012, after she received her fashion degree from Parsons the New School of Design. Her design and industry experience comes from working with Oscar de la Renta and Yigal Azrouel. She has a flagship store in Soho and has worked steadily to build her business. She dresses celebrities for the red carpet, and her designs are also featured in various magazines. Altogether, Hu has shown collections for 11 seasons. (And it was nice to bump into hair specialist James Harris while waiting for the bus uptown. He was working on another show by a designer featured in the TV series “The Real Housewives of Atlanta.”)
Hu’s looks exhibits an impressive blend of European classic elegance, New York urban glamour and Asian exoticism. They are both feminine and edgy, catering to a modern independent woman who wants to dress with unique style for all occasions. Hu was named Swarovski Collective Designer 2016, and during New York Fashion Week, she was also named one of the “Eight Up and Coming Designers to Watch.” Six of her spring-summer 2016 designs were revealed on the runway. Several styles were enhanced in brilliant Swarovski crystals studding across many pieces paired with organic, abstract shapes. The designer used flowing silhouettes and asymmetric hemlines for looks that were both feminine and free-spirited. There was a special nod to soft colors and pastel tones.
In details, her use of tulle, contrast colors and draping was extraordinary. This line was opulent. Good Show!