Self-Portrait is having more than a breakthrough moment
Are you searching for the perfect dress to wear to that summer wedding, or a new cocktail dress? Self-Portrait is the label to pay close attention to.
Quickly gaining red carpet buzz, celebrities and fashion icons like Jennifer Lopez, Reese Witherspoon and Dasha Zhukova, Russian-American heiress and editor-in-chief of Garage magazine are coveting the brand.
Meet Self-Portrait’s Designer
Malaysia born and London based designer Han Chong has been in the fashion industry for over a decade. After co-founding womenswear label Three Floor in 2011 with Yvonne Hoang, Chong decided to take the leap on his own in 2013 with Self-Portrait.
“By this time, I had a lot of high-street experience as well as high-end, so I decided to mix the two”, says Chong.
Influenced by the works of Alexander McQueen and icons of the Sixties and Seventies, particularly the rock’n’roll styles of Bianca Jagger and Pattie Boyd, Self-Portrait has become a womens contemporary brand unlike any other in the business. Noticing a gap in the market for mid-priced yet elegant evening wear, Chong began creating feminine dresses and separates at an appealing and digestible price point.
“I could see such big potential in launching a contemporary brand that moves at the speed of the high street, but has a luxurious quality”, says Chong.
The label’s intricately-detailed garments involve the kind of technical work you would expect from a luxury brand, but dresses fall in the $500 to $600 range. You can wear them to work, out on the town and even to an event where everyone else is wearing couture. “Self-Portrait is the red carpet label that normal people can afford,” says Tyler McCall, Deputy Editor at Fashionista.com
The Self-Portrait Woman
The label is known for their feminine dresses and bold separates. Chong uses a combination of lace, embroidery and sheer overlays in most pieces and uses fabrics sourced mostly from Japan and Korea. That being said, the Self-Portrait woman is not afraid to stand out. She’s feminine and at the same time, sometimes she’s not afraid to play with gender and clothes.
“She definitely doesn’t want to blend in. She wants to light up, she likes attention because you get noticed when you wear Self-Portrait”, says Chong.
The Story Behind the Name, Self-Portrait
Self portraits have always had a specific role in art history, says Chong. Especially now, it’s about ‘selfies,’ it’s about the individual. Because of this Chong believed Self-Portrait to be both beautiful and fitting.
Self-Portrait Bridal
Self-Portrait’s debut Spring/Summer 2016 collection are like all of Chong’s other collections, modern and affordable. Appealing to the untraditional bride, the six dresses offer modern shapes with vintage details, and range from high-necked column gowns to off-the-shoulder, chiffon, ankle-skimming dresses. Each dress is crafted from bespoke workmanship with the aim to bring out the best in each bride.
“I wanted to take the stress out of bridal-gown shopping and create a range where there is no need to visit specialist bridal boutiques“, says Chong.
Chong’s interest in womenswear design came from unlikely beginnings. His parents own a beef jerky shop in Malaysia that they still run. He attributes most of his creativity from his aunt who is local painter. From early on, he was inspired by her creativity.
Spring/Summer 2015 has been Self-Portrait’s best-selling collection. Shop Self-Portrait on Italist.
About the Author
Alex English is the Head of Content Marketing at italist.com, building on a lifelong passion for fashion and luxury. After publishing a lifestyle blog for nearly ten years and obtaining an MBA in Milan at SDA Bocconi, one of Europe’s top business schools, he joined the italist team in 2019. His work since then has focused on upper-funnel messaging, brand storytelling, establishing italist as a thought leader in the space, and enriching the customer experience on the platform. Find him on LinkedIn.