Photo, OH SHOOT (behind the seams)

Me in Aaron outfit #2

Woe is the man who pinches his thumbs at the seams.
Woe is the man who pokes himself whilst trying to sew,

WHOA is the man who was a stylist for the first time ever!
Yes, I was the stylist for this very important cover shoot for KoreAm Journal.
So in a post previous to this ss a picture of our Asian American heart throbs, Leo, Aaron, and Justin.

Yes, that’s me in the middle. I was the stylist for the shoot and let me tell you, being a stylist is extremely difficult!

So I’ll make this post AS SHORT and succinct as possible.

but to get off my chest:

In my humble opinion, I am extremely proud of these three, men who are play roles that weren’t specifically meant for Asian American men. For instance, in the Sisterhood of Traveling Pants 1 & 2, Leo plays Brian McBrian, a character, who in the books, is described as being tall, lanky, and blond. In The Wackness, and upcoming film co-starring Michael Cera and Aaron Yoo, Nick and Norah’s Infinite Playlist, Aaron plays a gay character who’s “Asianness” is overlooked. Justin Chon plays a character in Just Jordan who actually is the highschool basketball star (a breakthrough I feel, for any Asian male) who plays along black athletes (do you see how big it is for him to be the star baskeball player/hot shot?)

Anyway, like them or not, I definitely feel that these three are paving the way for other Asian males who want to breakthrough into Hollywood.

My respects.

Back to the photo shoot.

It was so completely chaotic and stressful. My duties included having a vision for what the three were to look like, what their second outfit would entail, and also making sure the clothes fit their images and bodies.

Having never met any of them, I had no clue what their styles were, how to style them, and if they would actually like the outfits.

For Leo, I felt that he had a classic look to him and that he’d look good in bright jeans, a Topman button up, and driver’s cap. For Justin, I put him with a fedora, Club Monaco bright blue pants, a red Topman cardigan, and a striped tank. For Aaron, I imagined him in a American Apparel pink V, skinnies, jean vest from London, and a Japanese belt.

We pulled a lot of the clothes from Justin Chon’s streetwear boutique, The Attic

and the rest, was from either 1) purchasing it 2) or finding places to pull from.

Putting an outfit together sounds easy, fun, and cathartic almost. Putting an outfit together from shirt, pants, accessories, overcoats (hoodies,) hats, watches, SHOES, for other people, is a nightmare.

After pulling everything together, I had to test each of the outfits on, and the photographer for the magazine, Eric Sueyoshi, had to take test shoots.

So after pulling the clothes, I had to completely change into every possible outfit and then needed to take a picture.

Me in Leo's outfit #2 (don't laugh) oh yeah, we chose the BLACK shoelaces...oh yes, my legs aren't THAT short?? uh..

Yes, in EVERY angle possible.

To put a long story short: being a stylist is veryyyy tedious, but I suppose rewarding.

Take a glimpse at the MESS I made:

Getting their racks ready

It took all of me NOT to steal those Creative Recs...

Notice my Blue + orange bag. haha