“The modern woman is ready for the return of sexy. No more of that quiet luxury,” said Han Chong at a resort 2025 appointment. The designer, who built up Self-Portrait with fun, colorful, Instagrammable pieces, decided to diversify this resort offering with a bit more edge and grunge than the usual. Replacing the cutesy pastel mini dresses of previous seasons were lace teddy negligee babydolls and ultra short hot pants that Chong is determined to make part of the new “going-out” uniform of the party types that frequent his brand.
Chong, who has a deep understanding of his customer base, made sure that evening pieces were not only pretty but also photogenic. “Normal sequined pieces lay flat against the fabric, but for me, I know my customers,” explained Chong. “I have to make my clothes photogenic, which means I have to maneuver some of the sequins in different directions so that they catch the light and sparkle of camera flashes.” For daytime options, Chong included some “basics” that are anything but basic. Classic blue jeans got the bow treatment with subtle rhinestone embellishments, while hoodies came in luxe cashmere blends for an elevated touch.
