Dallas-based fashion designer
Lucy Dang has a LOT to celebrate. She got engaged to photographer
Brandon Lyon this past October. Then in January, the pair found out they were BOTH
nominated for an
FGI Rising Star Award which features Dallas’ up-and-coming fashion leaders who are already breaking into national fashion headlines. Lucy was nominated on the fashion category and Brandon in the photography category. Dang recently held a private preview of her Spring Collection at her studio at South Side on Lamar. Among those in attendance were fellow designer Elizabeth Anyaa, stylists Jeanette Chivvas, Dora Chu and Eric Oliver Jr., The Fashionistas' Dan Pritchett, DFW Style Daily's Leah Frazier, Jackson, and Mindy Loll of Savoir Luxe. Dang's finance, Brandon Lyon, entertained guests by snapping photos. I think he meant it to be like serious headshot sort of thing, only no one was in a serious mood which resulted in some hilarious photos (see photos below). Guests got to view 4 gowns displayed on mannequins that showcased the style and vibe of her new direction. Modern Southern couture is what came to mind when I viewed these Scarlett O'Hara-worthy frocks.
Someone hand me mah pearls... The winners will be announced and the rest of the collection will be unveiled during a runway show at the FGI Rising Star Awards held on Galleria Dallas’ iconic ice skating rink on Thursday, February 26 at 6 p.m.
Click the link, buy a ticket and meet me there.
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| Photography © Esther Huynh 2015. To see more of Esther's photos from this event, click here |
So, what's Lucy Dang's story? When she was just a year-old, her parents fled Vietnam and smuggled her into the United States wanting freedom and a better life for their child. She grew up in the Dallas-area and like many young designers moved to New York City after graduation from University of North Texas, College of Visual Arts and Design. She took full advantage of the opportunities presented her and strove to learn from each experience. At Nicole Miller, she gained valuable experience with production and pattern making. From her time at Rebecca Taylor she learned about product development and gained insights about mass production from Dillard’s. These experiences in New York ignited Lucy’s passion to launch her own brand. Her UNT classmates,
Khanh Nguyen of
Nha Kahn and
Shirin Askari had already successfully launched their labels in Dallas, giving her the courage to follow in their footsteps and forge her own path. She moved back to Dallas in 2011 and shortly after the Lucy Dang brand was born.
In 2013, Belk was seeking emerging talent that embodied its brand and heritage for their second annual Southern Designer Showcase. Dang
entered and was selected from over 300 nationwide applicants as one of the competition’s eight winning designers. As a result her collection, Lady by Lucy Dang was sold in 40 Belk flagship stores, as well as online at Belk.com this past spring.
A lot has happened in a short time for this talented designer. Dang celebrates this year with a new husband, a continued design career that's moving in an exciting new direction and later this year... a BABY! On top of that, she's just cute as a button and a super nice person. I couldn't be happier for my friend and look forward to wearing more of her designs and following her success. You can learn more at
http://lucydang.com.
