Search

Friday Five With Jason Wu

Photo: Laurence Ellis

Jason Wu’s interest in fashion began at an early age, when he would use dolls as mannequins for the miniature garments he would sew. It’s taken the designer only ten years to create his internationally recognized brand of clothing. Merging classic American sportswear elements and couture, his collection is sold globally. Since debuting his Ready-to-Wear collection in 2007, Wu has been dedicated to making clothing that are beautifully crafted from the inside out. With a focus on quality and traditional craftsmanship, much of his collection is manufactured in New York using custom developed fabrics from the finest mills in France and Italy. Today Wu dresses some of the most influential women in the world, including First Lady Michelle Obama, Reese Witherspoon, Julianne Moore, Diane Kruger, Liu Wen and Christy Turlington, among others. In addition to fashion, Wu has been collaborating with luxury bath and kitchen fixtures brand Brizo® for a decade, starting with the Matte Black Jason Wu for Brizo™ Bath Collection. For Fall 2020, their partnership continues with the launch of the streamlined Jason Wu for Brizo™ Kitchen Collection in a signature Matte White finish. Today Jason Wu joins us for Friday Five!

Photo: Jason Wu

1. Rice
I grew up eating rice every day and it is definitely a must on the menu for me weekly (if not daily!). I also love to cook and have recently come up with so many ways to experiment and create dishes with rice, from the traditional Chinese Zongzi, Korean stirred fried rice cake or just a simple “everything in the fridge” fried rice that my mother used to make for us.

Photo: Courtesy of 111 Skin

2. 111 Skin Celestial Black Diamond Cream
I love a spa day at home and nothing is better after a busy day than to spend some time treating myself to an at-home facial. I love all of the products from 111 Skin, but my favorite is definitely the Celestial Black Diamond Cream—it’s rich, nourishing and so luxurious. I feel much fresher and more relaxed after some soothing skincare time, combined with some obligatory Netflix time.

Photo: Jason Wu

3. Travel
I love to travel and have been fortunate to visit so many different parts of the world throughout my life. While there is still a long list of places I’d like to go, I find that every time I get to experience a new culture I am immediately inspired. Being able to see new things and learn about traditions from other regions of the world has allowed me to become a fuller person. One of my favorite places to go is Tulum because it is just so beautiful and effortless—I usually come home with a full stack of sketches and new ideas. Japan is also amazing and I can’t wait to be back. It’s a culture full of modern innovation with impeccably preserved traditions, everything I see and touch has a story behind it and is always so beautifully executed.

Photo: Courtesy of Studio Mellone

4. Architecture
I caught the architecture bug from my mother, who did not have formal architecture training but had the best sense of style. I remember when we moved to Canada, she chose to buy a house built in the 1950’s and filled the entire house with vintage finds that she would get from markets and furniture shows. Back then I begged her for a new house, because all of my friends were living in new developments that all looked the same—I wanted to fit in. Years later, I find myself to be exactly like my mother! I search the world to buy rare, interesting furniture pieces that have a sense of history and a story behind it. I particularly love the mid-century era because it is my favorite era in design—I’m often inspired by the clothes of the same era in my designs.

5. iPhone
Everyone who knows me knows that I live and sleep with my iPhone. In fact, I don’t even own a computer! I use my phone as a kind of a digital journal, taking pictures of things that inspire me and also documenting new ideas and thoughts that I have at any time throughout a day—or sometimes in the middle of the night. I’ve also discovered so many great talents to collaborate with through social media. In fact, I am collaborating with an artist from Japan that I connected with through Instagram this coming season. I love the idea of human connection and through Instagram, I have been able to meet some amazing people who I would have otherwise never met.

Work by Jason Wu for Brizo:

New Jason Wu for Brizo™ Kitchen Collection

New Jason Wu for Brizo™ Kitchen Collection

New Jason Wu for Brizo™ Kitchen Collection

Kelly Beall is Director of Branded Content at Design Milk. The Pittsburgh-based writer and designer has had a deep love of art and design for as long as she can remember, from Fashion Plates to MoMA and far beyond. When not searching out the visual arts, she's likely sharing her favorite finds with others. Kelly can also be found tracking down new music, teaching herself to play the ukulele, or on the couch with her three pets – Bebe, Rainey, and Remy. Find her @designcrush on social.