mattchupicchu /

Self portraits taken at home. Pictured: See by Chloé blouse, The Row pleated maxi skirt

It’s been a tough week for everyone. From routine disruptions to witnessing how incapable our system AND people are with curbing the pandemic, there’s no doubt all of us are on edge. I grew up in Asia when SARS happened, yet the severity this round feels unprecedented and overwhelming; job losses, lack of medical care, disrespect for others and mental instability are all hindrances we cannot deny.

As much as I’m tempted to keep checking notifications to stay in the know of every update, I found myself needing to turn off the tweets, the BREAKING NEWS and the various social commentaries my digital peers present. Yes, we are all somewhat responsible, but also taking care of our minds and bodies is equally important. So whether that means taking my workouts indoors or continuing my creative passions on restricted means, finding a balance of education and self-care is crucial. So if you find yourself enraged or anxious over what’s happening in the outside world, take the time to talk and care for a loved one, rediscover an old hobby, or whatever it takes to calm you, because one day we will return to normalcy and we will all have a greater appreciation of the normal life we took for granted. Stay strong, all.

-Matt

mattchupicchu /

In a digital age where connectivity means everything, I found myself craving a momentary tech-divorce. Sure enough, ten minutes into our drive at Yellowstone park, all transmissions were cut off, exposing a raw (but well-maintained) landscape that engulfed my senses. Although I was still in the car enjoying the AC’s breezy gusts, I felt heightened and visually absorbed my surroundings more than ever. In this gallery, I explore the park’s sites with fashion pieces that were inspired by Mother Nature herself.

(1/5) Explosive palette by The Great Prismastic (the largest spring in Yellowstone) & color-blocked Dress by Marni
(2/5) The Grand Canyon at Yellowstone & mock-neck blouse by Jil Sander, “Horse Frightened by a Lion” painting trousers by Stella McCartney
(3/5) Ice peak mountain ranges at the Grant Teton National park & repeat ensemble
(4/5) Golden hour by the Yellowstone Lake & Bambi trench by Burberry, Safari playsuit by N°21, satin pumps by Dior
(5/5) Bambi in the headlights capture at the Lake Yellowstone Hotel parking lot

-Matt Chu

mattchupicchu /

pictured: Richard Quinn duchess satin floral coat, Balenciaga floral knife boot

When I started this blog three years ago, the idea of having a sizable social audience felt impossible given the saturated blogging market. Well here I am, 374 Insta posts, 183 outfits later, standing at 100K!! It hasn’t always been easy to keep up, since I still work full-time in corporate America, but the creative fulfillment I’ve derived from ensembling outfits, ideating shoots and producing them has been a highlight of a life time. After two years in the corporate life, I’ve realized how rare it is have a hobby that fuels your passion and has a larger purpose, so I’m incredibly grateful for that.

photo set collaged from 55 past photo shoots

Larger than myself, this milestone is an important testament to the movement that is true to my heart: genderless fashion. Had there not been a market for it, my blog probably would have never taken off. But in our increasingly accepting society, it’s shown again and again that people aspire to see people dress for themselves. No gender norms and no insecurity that many times cause fashion to be dull. For me, that means wearing a dress if I think it’s pretty, regardless of whether it flatters me or whether most people think dresses are for women only. Those are incredibly empowering moments that I want to continue to embody; to visually mold our perceptions of gender and identity for our society to become even more accepting and inclusive.

friends pictured left to right: Karen Reyes, Stephanie Pan, Jordan Ji, Emily Kao and Kat Hsu. not pictured: my incredible mom, dad and brother, Anami Nguyen, Olivier Canovas, Robin Zhao, Nina Skoko and special mention: Stephanie Zheng, Tiffianie Qian, Areta Chen

Of course, all of my accomplishments are only possible because of supporters like you and my family and friends who spend time engaging with my posts and help my vision come true. Nothing’s ever a one-man show, and in my case, my close friends (pictured above) and my family have shown so much patience in helping me take photos and providing constructive feedback. Without you and them believing in me, I would not have as much perseverance in maintaining this high maintenance hobby. So on this special milestone, I wanted to thank you for allowing me to do what I do and hope that you stick around for years more worth of beautiful content.

A visual representation of what support looks like

xx Matt

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mattchupicchu /

Maison Margiela Sequined tulle dress via yoox, Stella McCartney white toe cap boots

If you’ve read my Fall/Winter trend report, you’ll know that I’m very into silver and sequins for this season. While escapism is always top of mind, this time it’s beyond the sun and beaches- we’re aiming for the stars. Inspired by retro sci-fi films that get the future all wrong, but manage to make fashionable statements for the 90’s and 2000’s, I take visual cues to portray a Martian landing on Earth (above) and the Martian attempting to exercise (below). While these may not be the everyday workwear, you’ll be sure to catch me wearing these space age ensembles during the next Space X launch.

left: Jil Sander PVC flats, right: Pihakapi shearling azure biker, Isabel Marant coated silver pants both via yoox, MR x Net-a-Porter gold boots

-Matt Chu

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mattchupicchu /

Another season and another trend round-up. Although Riccardo Tisci’s Burberry and Hedi Slimane’s Celine were the most anticipated shows, both designers played it too safe and therefore felt irrelevant to today’s imaginative times. So instead, here are 9 top trends that are fresh and here to stick around next spring summer.

I. The Artist Print

From left to right: Dries Van Noten, Marni and Dolce & Gabbana. Images via Vogue Runway

This seasons it’s all about bringing your kindergarten creativity back into your prints. Forget micro or uniform prints – it’s time to channel our inner artists, be bold and collage contrasting visuals fearlessly. Let your body be a walking canvas and you’ll feel like a piece of art too. Francesco Risso’s Marni is a knockout for this trend.

II. Fishermen Netted Fringe

From left to right: J.W.Anderson, Ports 1961 and Dion Lee

Designers have quiet beach towns on their minds for SS’19. While fringe is never really out of fashion-fashion, the netted fringe this season takes on a more artesanal approach. Resembling fishermen knits, these nets feel down-to-earth, yet very much still statement making. Jonathan and Natasa of Ports 1961 repeatedly iterate these fringes throughout their shows gracefully.

III. The Cristobal Baby Doll

From left to right: Marc Jacobs, Annaliese Griffith-Jones (Parsons MFA) and Valentino

The Cristobal effect isn’t having an impact just on Balenciaga: it’s practically everyone this season. From hyper volumed at Marc Jacobs to minimal grace at Valentino, the baby doll dress is reviving in various forms. Almost like counteracts to practical fashion, these dresses speak innocence and playfulness in a time of extreme PC-ness. View Post

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