Femme Noir by Phong Hong Debut at Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week Fashion Angel Awards Emerging Designers Runway Show

Everyone in the family has always known my cousin Phong was talented. But last week, when Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced that he was one of three "emerging designers" who received the inaugural Fashion Angel Award from the City of Los Angeles and the Department of Cultural Affairs, it was even more wonderful that my cousin had this opportunity to show off his skills.

His new Femme Noir Collection debuted at the Downtown Los Angeles Fashion Week Fashion Angel Award Emerging Designers Runway Show at the Geffen Contemporary at MOCA.

Phew! What a mouthful. Can I get a "whoohoo!"?

So excited! The show didn't begin until designer Randolph Duke, who was on the committee who picked the winners, showed up.






I've always wanted to see my name in highlights.




You'll have to excuse my crappy photography. I was in the second row and faced the runway from a side angle. Plus, why do runway models have to move? That's why I photograph food. Food doesn't move. Er, well, it shouldn't anyway.

And I love that people always try to look all contemplative when watching fashion shows.

The first look is "Lily of the Valley": Folded edgy bodice with textured ruffle top skirt. Built-in vintage gold belt detail. Vintage ivory top and pearl colored skirt. Silk.




Those shoulder blades. I guess models don't read food blogs...




"Forget-me-not": Sheer yoke with puff sleeves on fitted silhouette with hand-crafted raw-edged silk made to look like feathers. Black belt. Vintage nude color. Silk.




Oops! Missed one. The girl walking away is "Sweet Magnolia": Unique ruffle top on fitted dress with raw-edged columns. Vintage nude color. Silk.

The dress walking forward is "Fallen Leaves": Strap dress with pleated bodice and a skirt made with raw-edged chiffon leaves. Pale pink color.




"Bouquet of roses": Sweetheart-draped bodice with black satin belt and a skirt filled with hand-twisted raw-edged roses. Pale pink color.

Darn it! This is one of my favorites and my photo sucks.




Here, just look at the flier and see what the dress really looks like when it's not moving too fast for me to shoot.




Gah! I shouldn't've tried to film with my left hand while shooting with my right. I'm missing everything!

"Belladonna": Black and gold sweetheart brocade dress with sheer yoke. Poufy pleated skirt. Silk.




"Black orchid": Strap dress with a bodice of hand-crafted raw-edged silk made to simulate feathers. Black pleated skirt with violet feather print. Silk.




"Primrose": Hand-braided asymmetrical goddess dress with a continuous braid that wraps to the center back. Violet color. Silk.




"Violet Ivy": Asymmetrical sheer lace chiffon mini dress with a balloon sleeve. Violet color. Silk.




Finally! I got a decent shot that showed some detail. Look at those gorgeous roses. "Heirloom rose": Chiffon pleated bodice and skirt filled with hand-twisted raw-edged roses. Dark violet color.







You can see the quick run-through at the end of the show in my YouTube video.




Now, for some reason with the run-through at the end, I started taking slightly better shots. Or, er, well, at least shots that showed some detail.

"Forget-me-not" again.




"Belladonna."




"Black orchid."




"Primrose."




"Violet ivy."




"Heirloom rose."




There goes those shoulder blades again. I guess I'll never be a model. Well, mostly because I'm vertically challenged, but I just love food too much.




Yay! Congrats Phong!




When they get up and running, you can find information about the Femme Noir Collection on the website. Meanwhile, you can also check out his MidnightMare line.




Didn't everything look so dreamy and romantic? I've seen all the dresses up-close and they're so detailed and exquisite. But it's not just me! I'm not biased just because he's my cousin.

I ran into Quoc of YeahManh, whose friend S of Paisley Petunia, was how I found his blog in the first place. Anyway, during the show and before meeting me and finding out he's my cousin, she tweeted, "Femme Noir by Phong Hong is to die for! Would wear every short, romantic, rosebud dress he sent down the runway."

Whoohoo!

Check out YeahManh's way better pictures of the fashion show.

Anyway, while we were waiting in the reception area before the show, I noticed new aluminum Coke bottles. OK, I had a big purse and managed to sneak out a few bottles because I thought they were so cool.




Then in the weird world of coincidences, right afterward, I got contacted by Liz, who does their PR, asking if I'd like to give away some aluminum Coke bottles to my readers.




So quick giveaway! Leave a comment and TWO readers will receive one of each limited edition bottle of Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero. Not only are they retro cool, the bottles also stay colder, longer. Sorry, only open to US residents. Please say "Coke" somewhere in your comment if you are eligible and you'd like to win. Otherwise, I'll just assume you're commenting on my way awesome cousin. :)

I'll take entries up to 11:59 p.m., Sunday, October 18. Please check back to this post to find out if you've won.

If you're not a blogger, please leave an email address or some way for me to contact you.

Sarah, commenter #25, please email me your address by Sunday regarding the McCormick & Schmick's giveaway. If you don't contact me by then, I'll draw for another winner.

Updated October 19, 2009:

Thanks to Random.org, I've picked the two winners to receive aluminum bottles of Coke, Diet Coke, and Coke Zero.

They are...

#13 Nathalie!

A small note about the drawing:
(#16 was disqualified since it was the second comment by the reader (I was only going to take her first comment's position if she was randomly picked.) and the next person on the list didn't mention Coke, so I assumed they didn't want the prize. So I drew again, and since #16 popped up again, it was easy to exclude that again.)

So I drew again and the second winner is #14 Jan Frederick!


Please email your mailing address to me at wanderingchopsticks (at) gmail (dot) com so I can pass it along to Liz so she can send you your prize.

And because I did not hear back from Sarah regarding the McCormick & Schmick's giveaway, I drew again. Did you comment on the original post? Check and see if you won!

*****
1 year ago today, How to Make Bechamel Sauce.
2 years ago today, Fessenjan (Persian Walnut-Pomegranate Glaze) with Roast Duck.