mattchupicchu /

In this Lunch Break Chat, my mom (& ultimate inspiration) talks about her love for art, fashion and design, as well as her thoughts on raising me as a child.

When did you discover your love for art and design?

I started drawing when I was a child, more so out of habit rather than passion. It wasn’t until I joined an arts organization in college that I discovered my love for fine arts. Similarly, I discovered my love for design, specifically interior design, when I studied aboard in the U.S. It’s been years of exploration, and the older I get, the more I am able to combine both fields into sources of inspiration for designing my own jewelry and clothes.

What does creativity mean to you?

Creativity is expressing your inner imaginations and dreams. While it can be inspired by daily life, it always has an element of desire.

Who inspires you?

No one in particular inspires me. (I say she probably inspires herself more than anyone)

Any favorite designers?

Raf Simons when he was designing for Dior and Alber Elbaz.

Describe your fashion style.

My style combines classical and modern designs. But most importantly, the clothes have to be practical and suit my skin tone and body shape. View Post

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mattchupicchu /

Pictured: Printed shirts by Robert Graham (available here)

We all know the saying, life’s a b**** (or beach, if you’re kind of punny), all too well. What if we replaced that dog-word with another one that also starts with a b? There’s beauty, bliss and blast. Ah, blast- an adventure that’s filled with moments of thrill and surprises. Done. Life’s a blast is the next b****. It’s these simple shifts in our language choices that influence those around us tremendously, including ourselves. I realized over the past few years that speaking positively, makes the heart/mind internalize it and forces you to become what you put out in this world.  View Post

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mattchupicchu /

Pictured at Washington Square Park in a See by Chloe blouse 

Graduation seasons is the perfect time to be cliché and get away with it. You know, be true to yourself, fight for your passions,  be resilient and the list goes on and on. With so much advice from so many well established individuals, it’s easy to wonder what really matters. And while most focus on specific character traits, the overarching theme is simply be open-minded. That’s it. When you are emotionally in-sync with yourself and are receptive of new experiences, you naturally make the most of who you are, the opportunities and even the “failures”. I personally found this to be the most helpful in my past four years at NYU Stern, since it allowed me to break past group think, build my own path and overcome those inevitable roadblocks. Being open-minded opens doors to the futures we often narrow and beat down; yes, knowing what comes next helps, but only with open minds and hearts, do we fully embrace the bright futures and possibilities ahead of us.

-Matt Chu

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mattchupicchu /

Here I wear a Simon Miller kimono (available here) and Dries Van Noten trousers (similar here) to go grocery shopping.

In the current retail scene where there are too many goddam options, we’re constantly told how to make smarter shopping decisions. And yes, most of them are practical and encourage us to buy the classics and cut the statements, an advice that’s reiterated in multiple variations. But before thinking that’s the most financially sound option, perhaps it’s worth inspecting why we wear what we wear, rather than jumping to conclusions about our “irrational” shopping habits.  View Post

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mattchupicchu /

Hand sewn vest by Adam Dalton Blake, skilled in wildly imaginative and colorful designs (see his work here and here)

The topic of youth always seems like a touchy subject- either we have it, but we’re frustrated with it, or we’ve lost it, but it remains a state of desire. Either way, it doesn’t encompass the sense of stability and contentment that comes with adulthood. In that respect, youth is almost always temporary, perhaps due to its nature of becoming rather than being. But what about the becoming that makes it so desirable? Let’s take a quick short study: View Post

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