Tag: Jen Kao

Jen Kao – Daring Devore Combinations

In a chilly, hazy hangar of a space, against a backdrop of gauzy white curtains, Stevie Nicks, and Joni Mitchell, a collection materialized wherein classic singer/songwriter leitmotifs like denim, plaid and devore were sent through Ms. Kao’s cutting tunnel. What came out the other side, once ingeniously stitched back together, was redolent of the past but defiantly new. “This season is about versatility. The clothes ask a girl – beg a girl to want to put it together for herself.” So said Los Angeles-based designer Jen Kao of her billowy, skin baring, hippie/jet setter Spring 2014 collection.

story by Lisa-Maria Radano
photos by Charles Beckwith

In a chilly, hazy hangar of a space, against a backdrop of gauzy white curtains, Stevie Nicks, and Joni Mitchell, a collection materialized wherein classic singer/songwriter leitmotifs like denim, plaid and devore were sent through Ms. Kao’s cutting tunnel. What came out the other side, once ingeniously stitched back together, was redolent of the past but defiantly new. “This season is about versatility. The clothes ask a girl – beg a girl to want to put it together for herself.” So said Los Angeles-based designer Jen Kao of her billowy, skin baring, hippie/jet setter Spring 2014 collection. Continue reading “Jen Kao – Daring Devore Combinations”

Jen Kao – Still In Shapes

I’ve said on many occasions that I believe that Jen Kao is one of the future superstars of American fashion. I encourage you to go and look through pictures from her first collection in the Fall of 2008 (unfortunately that season was slightly pre-modaCYCLE) to behold her growth as an artist. Her Fall 2013 Collection marks the first time that I walked away from one of her shows not 100% thrilled. To be crystal clear, there were many pieces that were extraordinary. Ms. Kao’s work with patches in both squares & triangles was clever & energizing. Her asymmetrically draped skirts in vinyl and leather were gorgeous. And the fabric choices of soft mixed with hard and glossy gave the collection and many of the pieces an alluring appeal.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Aeric Meredith-Goujon

I’ve said on many occasions that I believe that Jen Kao is one of the future superstars of American fashion. I encourage you to go and look through pictures from her first collection in the Fall of 2008 (unfortunately that season was slightly pre-modaCYCLE) to behold her growth as an artist. Her Fall 2013 Collection marks the first time that I walked away from one of her shows not 100% thrilled. To be crystal clear, there were many pieces that were extraordinary. Ms. Kao’s work with patches in both squares & triangles was clever & energizing. Her asymmetrically draped skirts in vinyl and leather were gorgeous. And the fabric choices of soft mixed with hard and glossy gave the collection and many of the pieces an alluring appeal. Continue reading “Jen Kao – Still In Shapes”

Jen Kao Has An Angle

Jen Kao’s Spring 2013 designs represented a clean break with her past romanticism. Incredibly interesting and bold, the collection rested on Ms. Kao’s play with angles and folds, as well as her use of very modern fabrics such as neoprene, latex and mesh. The clothing felt designed to instantly move the wearer beyond simple trends and into a front line position firmly ahead of the pack.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by  Rachel Reneé

Jen Kao’s Spring 2013 designs represented a clean break with her past romanticism. Incredibly interesting and bold, the collection rested on Ms. Kao’s play with angles and folds, as well as her use of very modern fabrics such as neoprene, latex and mesh. The clothing felt designed to instantly move the wearer beyond simple trends and into a front line position firmly ahead of the pack. Continue reading “Jen Kao Has An Angle”

Jen Kao – Fall 2012 – In Balance

The Jen Kao Fall 2012 collection brings together inspirations from vintage Far East, the Jazz Age, and English aristocracy, to create a collection of beautifully tailored pieces that could only be made in the present. This collection marks an evolution of the designer, her most street-ready collection to date.

view the full collection in our Photo Gallery

story by Sia-Alika Battle
photos by Aya Rosen & Ned Rosen
web editor Rachel Reneé

The Jen Kao Fall 2012 collection brings together inspirations from vintage Far East, the Jazz Age, and English aristocracy, to create a collection of beautifully tailored pieces that could only be made in the present. This collection marks an evolution of the designer, her most street-ready collection to date. Continue reading “Jen Kao – Fall 2012 – In Balance”

Jen Kao – Spring 2012 Review – Sunrise

Jen Kao’s collections always have a very pure feel to them. There is a sense of a wide and natural stream that flows unimpeded from her inspiration to her creations. This makes her collections feel charming and unadulterated. Always proceeding from a natural place, Kao’s clothing seems very accurately evocative of her collection’s starting point.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Adrianna Favero

Jen Kao‘s collections always have a very pure feel to them. There is a sense of a wide and natural stream that flows unimpeded from her inspiration to her creations. This makes her collections feel charming and unadulterated. Always proceeding from a natural place, Kao’s clothing seems very accurately evocative of her collection’s starting point. Continue reading “Jen Kao – Spring 2012 Review – Sunrise”

Jen Kao – Fall 2011

On your next night out if you’re going to leave an impression regardless by what you choose to wear, wouldn’t it be lovely to be a bird of paradise as created by the talented new designer Jen Kao?

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Freda Henry

All fashion is costume. Even if you try to not make a statement and put no directed thought into what you wear, you’ll end up expressing something about yourself. Call it compulsive communication, it just goes with being human. Of course it goes without saying that you ought to put thought into what you communicate through your clothes, even if it is only to convey something like professionalism. Designers think about what they want you to wear, and great designers think a great deal and give you an array every season with which to make powerful statements. Jen Kao’s Fall 2011 collection gives you the ability to speak volumes. From the orange and yellow glowing faux lava that lined the upstage runway, to her lush dreamscape palette of golds, purples, reds, and blues, the color drenched show cast quite the spell over the packed studio at Lincoln Center. Continue reading “Jen Kao – Fall 2011”

Jen Kao – Spring 2011 – New York

Jen Kao’s Spring 2011 collection offered proof positive that the Midwestern native has the vision and skills to become an international star. With this, her fifth collection, there has been rapid growth and a definitive shift away from easy body-conscious designs towards more high volume flowing shapes.

story by Seth Friedermann
photos by Charles Beckwith

Jen Kao’s Spring 2011 collection offered proof positive that the Midwestern native has the vision and skills to become an international star. With this, her fifth collection, there has been rapid growth and a definitive shift away from easy body-conscious designs towards more high volume flowing shapes. Continue reading “Jen Kao – Spring 2011 – New York”