The Young and the Restless
When Pedro Lourenço’s fashions hit Paris Fashion Week, the front row would never guess that his avant-garde fashions and modern aesthetic was the product of a 19-year-old boy. Growing up in São Paolo, Lourenço started designing and putting together his own shows at his family home. The son of designers, he was no stranger to flea markets and fabric sales. A glimpse at his futuristic pieces makes one wonder if these youngsters really hold the key to the fashion future. Below are three kid contenders that are shaking up the industry, from the runway stage to the computer screen.
Fashion Designer: LaQuan Smith
Like Lourenço, LaQuan Smith knew at the young age of 13 that he’d rather be hitting the sewing machines than the basketball courts. He was rejected from fashion schools but refused to give up his passion. When he received an internship with BlackBook magazine, he may have taken advantage of the situation… He confessed to the New York Daily News, “It was so evil but I used to check her mail and go to events as [Elizabeth Sulcer].” However, it was Smith showing up as the 6-foot-1 party crasher that got him noticed. Decked in all his own fashions, his nights out were an opportunity to get known by the top of the game. That’s how he met Kelly Mills, a well-connected publicist, that eventually got him dressing the hottest pop stars from Rhianna to Lady Gaga. At age 21, Smith debuted his runway looks on February 14.
Makeup Artists: Blair and Elle Fowler
Transforming the models at Minnie Mortimer for New York Fashion Week, no one would know that these two sisters were barely adults and the youngest makeup artists the show has had. At the ages of 16 and 21, Blair and Elle Fowler have quite the cult following from their DIY beauty series on YouTube. Even though they blended in among the pros, Blair learned a valuable tip, “Pack more black! I noticed that most of the makeup artists, hair stylists and press backstage was wearing black, while I was in my bright pink shirt. I stood out like a hot pink sore thumb!” she told StyleList. It seems the last thing these artists should be worried about is blending in.
Blogger: Tavi Gevinson of Style Rookie
Tavi’s About Me reads, “Wears batman capes and oversized hats. Scatters black petals on Rei Kawakubo’s doorsteps and serenades her in rap. I wish I was Daria but I get too excited about things like candy to be deadpan all the time.” Google Tavi Gevinson and images of an impeccably dressed girl, in kimono prints and coke bottle glasses, pop up on the screen. The 13-year-old’s blog, Style Rookie, is a fashion addict’s diary with everything from musings on runway shows, parallels to Sendak, to commentary on nudity and other newsworthy bits. Speaking of news, Tavi made headlines in 2009 when she skipped school to attend NY Fashion Week and landed the most desired ticket, a seat at Marc Jacobs runway show. On March 7, Tavi told her readers that she had the privilege to speak at the Independent Fashion Bloggers Conference alongside blog heavyweights BryanBoy and Susie Bubble. She talked about what separates them from traditional journalists and the opportunity they’re given as young bloggers, “The same way teenagers can start a Flickr account and be noticed by a magazine, or a band can start a MySpace and be picked up by a label, blogs will act as jumping-off platforms for people that want to work in the industry.”
Tagged in: bloggers, tavi, pedro lourenco, blair and elle fowler, laquan smith, youth in fashion,
Purple Neon
