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CHRISTMAS GIFTING GUIDE FOR THE FASHION LOVERS IN YOUR LIFE!

11/23/2019

If you’re looking for something different to buy this Christmas for your fashionista friends, sisters, mothers (or even yourself) check out some of these incredibly unique designers and their collections, whether it’s bags, jewellery or a beautiful piece of clothing, we’ve got you covered!

APEDE MOD

Most of us have been there, found a standout bag, that looks stunning but when you put it over your shoulder you can already feel the weight of it and that’s before you’ve even put your essential items in there. For founder of Apede Mod, Claudia Lin, it was a problem she'd not only experienced, but wanted to rectify, saying, "It’s hard to find a lightweight bag that is stylish yet functional!" So with Apede Mod, Lin created the solution.

Apede Mod are stunning lightweight bags that don’t compromise on style for practicality, whilst blurring the lines between masculine and feminine. With qualities that are traditionally associated with feminine bags; intricate leather detailing, bright colours and luxury and bringing in features more associated with masculine bags, such as the clean lines and multifunctional compartments, the result? It’s feminine meets masculine, elegance meets utility” say the designer.

With quality being of the utmost of importance to the Lin, “Every fabric, every zipper and every stitch is handpicked and done by true artisans.” For the perfect bag in both design and quality, that you'll be able to wear everyday and years from now, look no further than Apede Mod.

For more information visit

www.apedemod.com

TELL NO LEYES

Looking for a classic and sustainable handbag line? Tell No Leyes is the perfect brand for you. Founder and designer April Paterson was at The Palace of Versailles when she fell in love with the mouldings, so much so that she decided to create a brand that would feature these details on the products in her collection but unusually creating them within the body of the material using leather moulding technology. Paterson has drawn a fine line between minimalist and luxury in her collection that is also sustainable.

100% made in Italy and as the brand doesn’t ship any components to Italy they have kept their carbon footprint low. All the while ensuring each artisan is working in a safe and fairly paid environment. The tannery used is run on solar power and no dye is put back into the local environment. Slow fashion, classic pieces that are timeless, elegant and consciously made makes Tell No Leyes is a brand to keep your eyes on!

For more information visit: www.tellnoleyes.com

KATELYN zHANG

"Katelyn Zhang tells the story of women empowerment through her elegant and comfortable pieces". Zhang, a graduate of Savannah College of Art and Design, Zhang was born in Hang Zhou, China. Her newest collection entitled, “北冥有鲲", is from a famous Ancient Chinese poetry The designer says it's “A Happy Excursion” -“In the northern ocean there is a fish, called the k’un, I do not know how many thousand li in size. This k’un changes into a bird, called the p’eng. Its back is, I do not know how many thousand li in breadth. When it is moved, it flies its wings obscuring the sky like clouds.”

The prints featured in Zhang's collection resemble water and rumble fish whilst the silhouettes used in her designs further tell the story of female empowerment. Creating a dialogue and bringing together the style of the East and West, as well as the Chinese and Western cultures, her collection and talent is truly remarkable.

For more information visit: http://www.katelynzhang.com

ASHLEY CARSON DESIGNS

Ashley Carson learned to make jewelry in a small store in Florida, little did she know then that it would change her life and would see her move from Florida to NY to LA as she launched her own jewelry line.

After taking the jewelry class in Florida, Carson began designing pieces for herself and was amazed by the amount of women who loved her pieces, so much so that they literally bought them straight off of her body! In 2014, Carson moved from Florida to New York and now resides in Los Angeles where she sells her namesake brand, Ashley Carson

Shop Ashley Carson's trendy yet timeless jewellery that celebrities like Hailey Baldwin have been seen wearing as well as pieces that have been featured on the runway at New York and Paris Fashion Week.

For more information visit: www.ashleycarsondesigns.com

POSH TOTTY

Personalised Mixed Gold Mini Russian Ring Necklace

Posh Totty is a very special jewellery company that founder Alice River Crips created in 2004 that focuses on the three elements of personalisation, that being honesty, empowerment and positivity. With their core values revolving around creating meaningful pieces that go against our fast-fashion, consumerist culture by making gorgeous pieces with the emphasis on creating jewellery, “We feel (is) part of a meaningful process. We believe that a purchase should hold significance for our customers, and continue to do so for years to come."

In 2002 and with just $60 in her pocket, Crips moved to Mexico, eventually finding work with a group of local Mayan jewellers. Here she says, “I was taught the basics of jewellery making, which planted the seed for my future career. After nearly two years I finally earned enough money to pay for a flight back home to the UK.” With her new skills of making jewelry and full of inspiration, Posh Totty was born. Creating pieces that are fully customisable with names, dates and birthstones.

Posh Totty even has a collection in partnership with Women for Women, named 'Share A Hug' with proceeds going to the charity. Women for Women are working to support women and children affected by war and conflict.

For more information visit:

www.poshtottydesigns.com

GEORGINA HERRERA

All jewellery by Georgina Herrera

Ring by Georgina Herrera

If you're in the market for statement fine jewellery made with 24 KT gold or sterling silver with gem stones and some with Swarovski, you need to check out Gerogina Herrera. All her pieces carry a flower design symbolic of Herrera’s Mexican heritage. Stunning pieces that are vibrant, yet classic, statement and empowering that represent the designers pride in her culture and her zest for life. Herrera has even created incredible wearable body jewellery such as a beaded vest that is nothing short of a work of art. With such a beautiful array of fine jewellery within her collection, there truly is a piece for everyone.

For more information visit: www.georginaherrera.com

TULIP KURDI

Tulip Kurdi is a beautiful brand that artfully merges high fashion hair accessories and turbans into pieces that can be worn both for special occasions and everyday. With each piece hand folded and wrapped with most pieces shrouded in gems such as sapphire, coral, turquoise, silver and gold.

Stacy Fan wearing Tulip Kurdi head band (pictured with Olivia Palermo)

Rooted in Syrian, Turkish and Kurdish roots, these are evident in the pieces drawing on inspiration from her rich textile legacy of these two cultures.

For more information visit: tulipkurdinewyork.com

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FIDM X BLACK DESIGN COLLECTIVE POP-UP

11/17/2019

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(Left to right) TJ walker, Angela Dean, Kevan Hall: Founders of the Black Design Collective

As a champion of new and emerging designers and as an editor who is so passionate about trying to shed light on them, I constantly see how hard it is to break into the fashion industry. At least from the periphery I witness the struggle. Add being a person of color on top of the everyday challenge’s other designers face and that struggle becomes even harder.

That’s why it’s not only necessary but so important that the incredible Black Design Collective exists. Co-founded by Angela Dean, Kevan Hall and TJ walker, the Black Design Collective is there to help designers of color break into the fashion industry. Offering scholarships as well as real tangible advice to designers, giving them the opportunity to learn more about the logistical steps it takes to break in or to elevate their business to make it even more of a success.

On Saturday 11th November I was invited by FIDM who was hosting the Black Design Collective’s first annual pop-up showcase to meet the three founders as well as some of the emerging designers who are now a part of the Black Design Collective.

(FIDM event photos by Tyler Curtis ABImages)

Stacy Fan at the Black Design Collective Pop-up.

Kevan Hall

I first speak to co-founder and designer, Kevan Hall who has dressed everyone from First Lady Michelle Obama to Charlize Theron and Viola Davis. Hall tells me, “We started this organization for several reasons, we wanted to be able to mentor young design students and not only students but also colleagues who might have questions like, ‘How do I market my collection? How do I take my business to the next level? Where can I find zippers and buttons, where are the good pattern makers?’ So we really came together as a community to support and uplift one another. And secondly, we wanted to start a scholarship fund. We started one to help design students pursue their dreams of being either a fashion designer or a costume designer. So this year we gave a $10,000 scholarship fund to a design student, Devert Monet Hickman, Ruth Carter the costume designer Oscar winner for Black Panther gave him that scholarship back in April. We also are creating a platform for designers to be able to sell their clothing online under the Black Designer Collective banner. So people will be able to shop the homepage and link to the designer’s websites, so that is something that is in the works. And then we do workshops and seminars and things that have to do with funding and financing. We really look at the scope and ask, what is the need of the designer? How can we help them move their business and inform that and expose their talent to the world?”

Kevan continues, “It’s a legacy, what can we do for the next generation of designers to work at a very high level”

Kevan Hall has his own incredible collection that really is about fitting into a woman’s life. Ponte dresses that are both comfortable and keep you looking put together. Taking his woman from the office to the bar with office appropriate dresses that will look just as good for a dinner with friends. Easy to wear pieces that are designed to either be worn from head to toe looks, such as his trouser twin set top / pantsuit perfect for work or as separates at the weekend. Blazers that can be worn over dresses, or over a pair of jeans. Stunning white shirts that can be worn with workwear trousers or for an evening event paired with a ball gown skirt. Silhouettes that represent those who like more of a bodycon style as well as those who are more inclined to a softer more billowy aesthetic. All sizes and all ages are covered.

For more information visit: www.kevanhalldesigns.com

Angela Dean: PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE BLACK DESIGN COLLECTIVE. FOUNDER OF DEANZIGN / SHAPED BY AN ANGEL

For Dean, whose incredible career in the fashion industry has seen her dress celebrities including Halle Berry, Jada Pinkett Smith and Queen Latifah for the 30th anniversary of “Essense” Magazine, started up the Black Design Collective when she heard Nelson’s Report that African American’s spend 1.2 trillion dollars consuming fashion. Dean felt that they needed to come together as a community to see how she could bring more awareness to black designers, Dean tells me, “I have been in the fashion and entertainment industry for over thirty years, I was the original creator of Madonna’s bullet bra. Gaultier did a rendition of it for the tour but I had done the original and no one ever knew that so I never got the credit for it. Unfortunately if you weren’t able to afford a great publicist, have the money to really get your name out there in the days when I was coming through, they would just take it and not acknowledge you at all because you weren’t of a certain named brand. I just continued to do my work and just continued to add to my body of work. So when I got with everyone and asked them, did you have 1% of that 1.2 trillion, or if they even had even a half a percent of that, and of course everyone’s answer was no, so we started to just become aware that we really needed to come together as a community to bring awareness to the fact that we exist and that we are consuming dollars, especially African American’s, are very stylish people, they wear a lot of amazing clothes, they create their own amazing looks, a lot of that has come from the trenches of us and them being creative. So we should be able to know that they exist so they can have a choice.”

Dean continues, “Ruth Carter is a friend of mine and I had noticed that she had never been recognized for her body of work. She’s got various awards for movies but she hasn’t been recognized for her body of work. I thought that was super important.”

This ignited something in Dean, and she told Kevan that they needed to go to FIDM to see if they would be interested in hosting an event. FIDM jumped on board, and so the pop-up came about, bringing in other designers that represent the history and relevancy to the world. Taking on this mission, Dean tells me she wants to spread it not just in America (starting with Los Angeles and New York), but eventually with the hope of rolling it out globally by 2022. “We want to create generational wealth the way the Ralph Lauren’s have and the Valentino’s have, we deserve to have those opportunities.” Dean’s incredible vision is exemplified in front of me as I see the wonderful designers she has already touched with the Black Design Collective, her vision and her drive to pay it forward.

“Collectively we can do so much more than we can individually” Dean says, “So we can have a bigger voice like we see today. We are able to see all the beautiful work of some of the selected designers and this is just a small portion of it.” FIDM have been a huge supporter as Dean tells me, “We have to thank FIDM because they have been one of our major supporters and sponsors for these types of events and they have just embraced our community and embraced us. Kevan and I are alumni’s and we went to Toni (Tonian Hohberg) the owner and told her what our plight was and she was all in from the beginning.”

TJ Walker, Ruth E. Carter, Devert Monet-Hickman (receiving the Black Design scholarship) Angela Dean and Kevan Hall

Angela Dean THE DESIGNER

As I speak to Dean about her beautiful collection that she has brought to the pop-up today, she tells me just one of the stories she has from her rich career in the industry, that of her and Nat King Cole, “I did her album Unforgettable. I remember sitting in the driveway of her house, sitting in her BMW listening to her CD, I’ll never forget it, of her and her dad singing together.”

Dean continues, “I do a lot of bespoke, but I have also started to do ready-to-wear. I go from evening, to the aesthetic of what I think is important. I am a classic designer but I love beautiful fabrics and clean lines.” However Dean lights up when she tells me about her biggest accomplishment to date, “I have created a shapewear line called Shaped By An Angel.

I created and designed these shapewear designs based on the five most common body types. So they are customized to the various body types. And the panels I’ve put in work to accentuate those various areas that are problem areas and they are compression. So it’s compression shapewear which helps with blood flow, reduces cellulite, our fabric is very high-end, in terms of the fact that it keeps you from having bacteria, keeps you cool and fresh, you can work out in it so they have a lot of various different properties, it just shows the various ways you can transform the body. It has been one of the highlights of my career. This is a passion now for me. I have done the entertainment business, I have done custom work, but there is nothing like changing a woman’s body and mindset instantaneously. You can put on a dress and feel great but if you have got on a great shaper, oh my god, it changes the game. I don’t care how big or how little you are, if you can change their shape you’ve got something special.” Indeed she does.

For more information visit: www.shapedbyanangel.com / www.deanzign.com

TJ WALKER

One of the co-founders of Black Design Collective as well as a FIDM instructor and co-founder (along with Carl Jones) of streetwear brand, Cross Color which is currently celebrating its 30th anniversary with an exhibition at The California African American Museum in Los Angeles has a lot to celebrate. With a celebrity following including the likes of Will Smith, Snoop Dog, Tupac Shakur, Cardi B and Bruno Mars the collection Walker is showing today he tells me, is based upon “The project we did back in the 90s. We started in 1989 and this celebrates our 30th anniversary of the brand. The baseball top is based on the one that Bruno Mars wore on the stage at the Grammys when he performed.”

Walker continues, “We are really excited about (the pop-up) it’s one of our first steps in actually showing people locally that we have local black designers, that are not only making clothes here in Los Angeles but actually located here in Los Angeles. We want to make people aware that we actually have fashion here too. Not just the East Coast and Europe, but here too!”

To find out more visit: www.crosscolours.com
https://www.blackdesigncollective.com

THE DESIGNERS

SERGIO HUDSON

A stunning luxury women’s ready to wear label that is both designed and produced in Los Angeles. With a collection that includes incredible statement pieces as well as and classic wardrobe staples that manage to be both timeless and fashion forward at the same time.

Hero pieces include the tuxedo jumpsuit, as well as their backless little black dress which will look as fitting 50 years from now as it does today. With celebrity fans including Rihanna, Jennifer Lopez, Serena Williams, Kendall Jenner and Amal Clooney.

For more information visit: www.sergiohudson.com

Charles Harbison / HARBISON COLLECTION

A beautiful collection that plays around with the male inspired trend, “Allowing her to occupy the space in a masculine way whilst maintaining her femininity.” This includes stunning outerwear, a skirt that has an apron at the front that doubles up as a skirt in style, playing around with a toughened up feminine silhouette. The collection also explores graphics and color blocking, jackets with leather detailing and art blocking pieces which are now synonymous with the HARBISON brand. A beautifully unique dress that is both structured but lightweight which makes it perfect for warmer climates or even when considering what to pack when traveling. Often dresses with this kind of structure can weigh as much as a coat so it’s refreshing to find a dress that has all the beautiful structure of a thicker dress without that weight.

Harbison still has a lot of fun with his collection, with unique color blocking as well as unexpected texture detailing on some of the pieces including a color block detailed skirt.

For more information visit: www.harbisoncollection.com

GEOFF DURAN

Duran has created a truly unique brand consisting of custom suiting, with impeccably tailored shirts. The idea behind each shirt being, you don’t need a tie to wear one. The detailing on the collar of the shirts as well as detailing throughout the body is giving men far more options than previously offered by menswear brands. Duran noted that the first thing men do when they leave the office and go to a lounge, is take off the tie and undo the collar. To feel more relaxed, yes, but also to look a little more cool. His shirts give a “non-conforming attitude and juxtaposition of tailoring and sportwear”.

This collection is inspired by the French Military uniforms from the 1800’s. The gold chain detailing is inspired by hip-hop; the use of the gold chain was very popular and has helped inform the pieces in Duran’s collection, it also symbolizes the high medals of the high-ranking officials. Another distinguishing feature of the brand are the diamond details on the collar pin on the shirts. Paying homage to the state Duran is from, Arkansol, also known as the unofficial diamond state, (the state flag even features a diamond on it). The three stars represent the three principles of Duran’s brand which are excellence, continuity and society.

Duran’s brand builds meaning to everything that he creates. This collection is called the M5K, which is short for the Mandarin five thousand. The mandarin, collar has Duran’s own take it on it, disproportionate and set with a more casual finish, with no button. Going back full circle as to why Duran created this collection, no tie, required and the button, well it isn’t even there. The M5K informal collection shirt is a tuxedo style made, as with all the shirts, with prima cotton, the purple colors in the inside of each shirt represent passion and the green represent creativity. One of Duran’s favorites, the M5K Super, inspired by medieval movies such as 300, Duran always loved the costumes with the breastplates to protect themselves. So much so that he’s created a shirt that translates that breastplate on to his shirt but on a diagonal to mimic the diamonds, but gives it a superhero feel. Jon magazine featured this shirt in one of their editorials.

I even got a sneak peek at Duran's next collection and if possible, it’s even more stunning than his current. With one knock out shirt that is going to be a limited edition in the collection, Geoff Duran may well become your go to brand if you really want a shirt that’s going to make you stand out from the crowd.

www.geoffduran.com

OKERA BANKS / OTG ESSENTIALS BY OKERA BANKS

Celebrity stylist and designer, Okera Banks saw a need to create a collection of women’s clothing that she simply couldn’t find on the market. She is a busy woman, going from being a mom, a caretaker to her mother, to going on set where she works as a stylist, and may even then have an event to go to in the evening and she needed, required her wardrobe to work hard to get her through each of these situations in her life all the while allowing her to be comfortable and to feel sexy and most importantly do it with ‘swag’. Banks’ collection is here for, “Today’s swaged-out and sophisticated entrepreneurs, fashion conscious trend-setters and travelers on-the-go who want comfort and ease with impeccable style.”

Banks was literally designing for herself and for other women like her as she tells me, “One thing that never dies is comfort. It started with a tube dress, I was like I can’t find a tube dress when I need a tube dress, so I made one, so it happened very organically. I had other designs in me, and people really responded well to it. They were like, can I get that? We are all working women, some are moms, some aren’t but we all have this life that moves and we just sort of forget about ourselves, we wear t-shirts and jeans or workout wear. I mean I love a good pair of sweatpants but they aren’t clothes. How do we hold on to looking chic after life happens?”

Banks found the solution. The pieces in the collection can be mixed up and changed up. Add a pair of pumps to the jumpsuit and throw on one of Banks’ fuchsia pink swag jag or a leather jacket and you’re ready for a night out. Change the same look up with a pair of sandals, pull the bottom of the pantsuit up and you have an outfit ready for the beach. A collection of clothes that works for your life and works for you, but most importantly is comfortable whilst still giving you that swag.

For more information visit: www.otgessentials.com

melena ruth / melena ruth design

Melena Ruth has created a beautiful collection of bags, many of which are made up of tapestry that are made by women in South Africa. Ruth is slowly introducing tapestry from other places in the world. The one that she is introducing first is one from Guatemala. With a selection of clutches, backpacks and work bags.

Her inspiration in starting up her brands was the hand embroidery. Ruth wanted to find a way to give back to the people in Africa. Most of the women there live on under two dollars a day and she thought if she could take what they make it make it into a beautiful piece, then she can share the proceeds of the profits with them, with the main goal Ruth tells me, “Of sending their girls to school, so that’s the story of why I wanted to start it up.”

Model : Kennedy Zimet

Made up of Italian leather, and made in Los Angeles these stunning bags are pieces you can feel good about buying and look beautiful wearing.

For more information visit: http://www.malenaruth.com

BT TAYLOR / BT TAYLOR JEWELRY

Artist, child activist and poet, Taylor came to make jewelry, initially just for himself. It was peaceful for him. However when he was wearing his jewelry people would want to buy it from him, literally buying pieces from him off of his own body! So Taylor created his own collection. His inspiration is indigenous people from around the world. His one of a kind jewelry is hand-crafted using semi-precious gemstones, metals and ethnic beads.

Taylor has been working with incarcerated children for over twenty years, and even now gives jewelry classes to the children that he works with. Taylor tells me that he loves being a part of The Black Design Collective, signing up as soon as he could and learning so much from the workshops that have been made available to him.

WARAIRE BOSWELL / WARAIRE

Jasmine Williams representing the brand at the pop-up

Designer Waraire Boswell

Designer Boswell is primarily known for his suiting, as well as more relaxed pieces. However Boswell’s most current collection, and all those going forward are unisex.

Included in the collection are some PJ suits, some t-shirts, and jackets. The collection balance both comfort and luxury for both men and women. Included in the collection is fine suiting and striking loungewear.

Boswell was inspired by those who aren’t comfortable in suits but didn’t necessarily just want to wear joggers. Standing at 6 foot 7, the designer had a growth spurt from his eleventh year in high school to his senior year and because he couldn’t find clothes that fit, this served as an incentive to start his own brand. Now going on to his seventeenth year as a designer, Boswell’s fans include Jay Z, LeBron James, Kobe Bryant.

For more information visit:

https://waraireboswell.com

With thanks to FIDM and the Black Design Collective.

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"fASHION IS A LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN... LET'S TALK" EURASIAN VOGUE

CHRISTMAS GIFTING GUIDE FOR THE FASHION LOVERS IN YOUR LIFE!

APEDE MOD

TELL NO LEYES

KATELYN zHANG

ASHLEY CARSON DESIGNS

POSH TOTTY

GEORGINA HERRERA

TULIP KURDI

FIDM X BLACK DESIGN COLLECTIVE POP-UP

Kevan Hall

Angela Dean: PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE BLACK DESIGN COLLECTIVE. FOUNDER OF DEANZIGN / SHAPED BY AN ANGEL

Angela Dean THE DESIGNER

TJ WALKER

THE DESIGNERS

SERGIO HUDSON

Charles Harbison / HARBISON COLLECTION

GEOFF DURAN

OKERA BANKS / OTG ESSENTIALS BY OKERA BANKS

melena ruth / melena ruth design

BT TAYLOR / BT TAYLOR JEWELRY

WARAIRE BOSWELL / WARAIRE

By
STACY FAN

SUBSCRIBE TO EURASIAN VOGUE:

EURASIAN VOGUE ON INSTAGRAM

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"fASHION IS A LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN... LET'S TALK" EURASIAN VOGUE﻿

CHRISTMAS GIFTING GUIDE FOR THE FASHION LOVERS IN YOUR LIFE!

APEDE MOD​

TELL NO LEYES​

KATELYN zHANG​

​ASHLEY CARSON DESIGNS

​POSH TOTTY​

GEORGINA HERRERA​

​TULIP KURDI​

FIDM X BLACK DESIGN COLLECTIVE POP-UP

​Kevan Hall

Angela Dean: PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER OF THE BLACK DESIGN COLLECTIVE. FOUNDER OF DEANZIGN / SHAPED BY AN ANGEL

Angela Dean THE DESIGNER​

TJ WALKER ​

THE DESIGNERS ​

SERGIO HUDSON​

Charles Harbison / HARBISON COLLECTION

GEOFF DURAN ​

OKERA BANKS / OTG ESSENTIALS BY OKERA BANKS

melena ruth / melena ruth design

BT TAYLOR / BT TAYLOR JEWELRY

WARAIRE BOSWELL / WARAIRE

BySTACY FAN

SUBSCRIBE TO EURASIAN VOGUE:

EURASIAN VOGUE ON INSTAGRAM

EURASIAN VOGUE ON INSTAGRAM​Archives

SIGN UP FOR EURASIAN VOGUE'S NEWSLETTER

"fASHION IS A LANGUAGE OF ITS OWN... LET'S TALK" EURASIAN VOGUE

APEDE MOD

TELL NO LEYES

KATELYN zHANG

ASHLEY CARSON DESIGNS

POSH TOTTY

GEORGINA HERRERA

TULIP KURDI

Kevan Hall

Angela Dean THE DESIGNER

TJ WALKER

THE DESIGNERS

SERGIO HUDSON

GEOFF DURAN

By
STACY FAN

EURASIAN VOGUE ON INSTAGRAM

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