There aren't very many college students out there who can say that they've worked alongside the editors of Marie Claire, been inside the New York headquarters of LOFT and Rimmel London and produced their very own runway show. And there are probably even fewer who are chemical engineering and biochemistry double majors.Well for Austin's own Diya Liu, all of the above apply.
Liu was selected as one of the four Marie Claire Front Row Challenge finalists last summer from a nationwide pool of hundreds. Each of the four finalists was given the opportunity to produce and style a runway show featuring the LOFT holiday collection for their campus.
Liu's show took place at The Mohawk downtown Nov. 17. The show, which was packed to the brim with eager attendees, went off without a hitch. Her event represented the last in the Challenge series of runway shows.
Put in charge of everything from styling the looks to casting the models to selecting the music, it's clear that all of her hard work definitely paid off. Liu was announced the winner of the Front Row Challenge earlier this afternoon.
As the winner, she will be given the chance to intern with Marie Claire, LOFT and Rimmel London in New York City during the upcoming summer.
For a more in-dept look at the Front Row Challenge, click here.
Prior to the show, we were able to catch up with Liu about her experience with the competition. Check out our interview below!
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So what was the most exciting part about the Challenge for you?
DL: What was most exciting for me was actually going to New York and producing the show. It was basically an internship experience condensed into two days, and it was really stressful but really exciting at the same time to be exposed to so many industry insiders and being treated like just another professional, someone else in the industry. That was the most exciting part for me, just to get that experience because I feel like it’s kind of one in a lifetime.
Did you have any experience working with fashion shows previously?
DL: In terms of working for a show I’ve done modeling, which is actually the most intimate way of getting to know the show just because you get to see the fittings, you get to be there for makeup and hair early in the morning, and you have to be there backstage experiencing the panic and the tension right as the show’s starting and during the show.
What were the biggest challenges or constraints that you faced in planning it?
DL: There’s always the two sides of putting on a show like this, versus putting on a show for New York Fashion Week or Paris Fashion Week, because at end of day it’s not just how fashion forward and how creative the outfits are. You have to think about the marketability of each outfit and each piece that you use. You can’t use a blue fur coat just because you think it’s beautiful, because chances are most UT students will not think the same thing. You have to think about the marketability, and I think that’s really the biggest constraint in putting on a show like this versus putting on just a usual fashion show.
So what did you hope attendees would take away from your show?
DL: There’s various levels. On the first level, that the campaign is successful. That attendees take away the fact that LOFT clothing is gorgeous, versatile, that they want to go out and buy it. And that would definitely be the biggest point. But you know, there’s other more subtle points. Like the fact that someone in a science major without a formal education can do something like this, can pull a show like this off. Or the fact that UT, a campus known for its sports, can do something like this. And Austin can be fashionable, can be stylish.
What was your inspiration for the looks?
DL: For inspiration I kind of wanted to showcase the versatility of the pieces, that you don’t just wear it one way. Something that you can wear to the office can be layered to be something that you wear on a night out with your friends later. Definitely versatility was one of things that I was most focused on. Also most of my inspiration for me in general has always been street style.
What are some of your current favorite fall trends?
DL: For fall I’m really excited about jewel tones. After season after season of first black and then white and then different shades of nude and beige and shell, I’m excited that we’re finally seeing color again on the runways. Jewel tones, very deep purples, deep blues and greens. Gorgeous tones.
You run a very successful style blog, In Her Stilettos. How did you get started with that?
DL: I spent a lot of time reading other people’s websites and I’ve always been interested in everything creative, so I just decided to start a blog Christmas break of 2010. Because I felt there was a void for people who weren’t headed in the fashion direction or in the creative industry already, but still enjoyed dressing up. I feel like everyone that did have a fashion website was either already a stylist or a model or an art major or a musician, everyone creative. And I feel like that’s a little misrepresentative because it’s kind of giving off this image that people in other industries, like science for example, industries outside the creative world, should not dress up or should not express themselves through personal style.
Any advice for aspiring fashion bloggers?
DL: I know this is kind of cliché, but just don’t start a blog because you want to get free stuff. Don’t start it for the fame and the perceived glamour I guess. If you’re not passionate about it, at some point you’re just going to be bored and give up.
So this was a big fashion opportunity, what do you think it means for Austin’s industry?
DL: I feel like with social media and music and indie film and all the other sources of creativity, I think it’s definitely very possible that Austin is going to be a future place for people to experience a different side of fashion. We will never become like the LA version of fashion or the New York City version of fashion, but I think Austin will develop into a unique perspective on fashion.
