Doo.ri Chung is part of the wave of young Asian American designers who have conquered American fashion in recent years. Doo.ri is of Korean descent. She is a graduate of the New School and worked at Geoffrey Beene before launching her own line. She is one of the earliest recipients of the CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award, which she won in 2006. Prior to that she was a finalist in 2004.
She made headlines recently when the first lady Michelle Obama handpicked one of her designs from her spring 2012 collection to wear to a state dinner for the South Korean president at the White House. The gown, goddess dress-inspired, is a purple confection with an asymmetrical neckline and a bejewelled waist. Days after that, Macy's announced that it will be launching a Doo.ri collaboration for its Impulse line in February 2012. Designers like Matthew Williamson, Giambattista Valli and Karl Lagerfeld have all teamed up with Macy's.
Below, Doo.ri talks about her current obsession, makes a case against ridiculously high shoes and gives a shout out to her team.
When I wake up... I need a good chai tea latte to start the day off right.
Before I go to bed... I watch The Daily Show and Colbert Report, if I can stay awake.
A well-dressed man/woman... this was said best by Coco Chanel: "The badly dressed woman, people remember the clothes. With a well-dressed woman, they remember the woman."
Women should always... wear shoes they can walk in.
Men should never... wear too much cologne.
The best thing that's been said about me... is I make a mean Pasta Fagioli.
The biggest misconception about me...is I can do it all. I have a wonderful team of people around me to get the job done.
If I weren't doing what I'm doing today... I would be a glass blower. I have been obsessed with terrariums lately but have a hard time finding interesting vases to put them in.
My legacy... lies with my child.
A great idea... is always waiting to be born.
Botox is...not really for me.
My mother... is the most selfless person I know.
The soundtrack of my life... would fill a 30-gig iPod!
The future...will always hold promises of a better tomorrow.
Happiness...is kissing my baby's big fat cheeks.
There's a time and place for... coming to terms with certain truths.
There is too much...wasted potential.
In the end..."the love you take is equal to the love you make."
Photo courtesy of Doo.ri Chung