Leading the best-dressed guests at the 2024 Fashion Awards were actress Gemma Chan and model Lara Stone in lingerie-frilled bodycon numbers from Self-Portrait and Christopher Kane’s recent collaboration. The line was released in November as the first edition of Self-Portrait’s residency program, and has been a serious hit among fashion insiders, a phenomenon that has, in turn, created a cult around its mastermind Han Chong. A good atmosphere has been created. In fact, it was a fashion journalist whose clothes the designer seemed most thrilled to be wearing that night. She walked the red carpet, nine months pregnant, in stretch-knit columns with scrunchie cut-outs. “It was very empowering to see,” the designer said. “Women are amazing.”
Christopher Kane’s capsule exceeded all sales targets, but that’s beside the point – its most valuable result has been returning a sense of creative freedom to the self-portrait. “The fashion system is tiring, but this gives us an opportunity to step outside its limitations,” Chong said. “I want Self-Portrait to make money so that the residencies can continue to be passion projects.” The designer’s Pre-Fall collection will undoubtedly yield a few more bucks, offering an accessible, mix-and-match wardrobe for the professional woman who loves fashion, but has less time to plan her outfits. Is. The houndstooth blazer is easily paired with a bubble-hemmed mini in lilac and burnt-orange taffeta, a cropped trench coat with a sheer-knit maxi dress and a swim-inspired bandeau with a denim cargo skirt. Shortcuts to looking good in a jiffy, most pieces can be tossed into carry-on and brought back to life without a single crease.
Rhinestone-embellished slips and cowl-neck dresses with tactile leopard-print surfaces would do well on the event circuit, but Chong has, for the most part, dialed down her signature razzle-dazzle. “Girls don’t want to dress up that much,” she said. “Our trainees go to parties wearing hotpants and hoodies.” It’s a high-low approach to twisting codes that informed Self-Portrait’s first windbreaker debut — here styled with a flared kick-pleat skirt — to drop-shoulder bombers paired with slogan tank tops to pussy bow dresses. And layered on costume jewels. It walks a fine line: “If it’s too fashionable, it doesn’t belong,” Chong said. “Of course, I want to inspire, but it has to be achievable.”
