Designer: David Tupaz; Photography: Jaime Lim; Model: Naomi Parisette

The Model Teacher

Naomi Parisette's Dual Life of Fashion and Education

BY LAURA HENKEL

At 4 a.m., the world is still quiet, but Naomi Parisette's alarm sounds. She slips out of bed before her 6-year-old daughter Emily stirs, moving softly through the house. The ritual is always the same: packing Emily's lunch, checking lesson plans, brewing a cup of tea. On the table sits her model bag, packed the night before with water, herbal teas and a few healthy snacks. Her outfit is a simple black — what she calls her "casting uniform" — practical enough for the classroom and easily elevated for a photo shoot or runway later.

By 6 a.m., she pulls into the school parking lot, one of the first teachers to arrive. The fluorescent-lit hallways soon fill with the sound of lockers clanging, sneakers squeaking and laughter bouncing off tile floors. By 2 p.m., the bell rings and she's racing to the train station, slipping into a parking garage in Nassau County and catching the Long Island Rail Road into Manhattan.

During Fashion Week, the cycle stretches late into the night. By 11 p.m. or midnight, she is finally on the train home, crossing the darkened island before her head hits the pillow — only to wake again at 4 a.m. and begin anew.

"Organization and planning are key," Parisette said. "I live on the adrenaline rush."

At 48, Parisette has carved out an unlikely path: high school teacher by day, runway model by night. To outsiders, the two worlds seem opposed — one grounded in structure and intellect, the other in glamour and spectacle. To her, they are deeply connected.

"At first glance, being a teacher and being a model seem to occupy different universes," she said. "But when you look closer, they share similarities. Both are about expression, identity and challenging norms."

From Hand-Me-Downs to Haute Couture

As a teenager, Parisette papered her bedroom walls with glossy ads from Vogue and Cosmopolitan. She studied the models with fascination, as if decoding another world.

"I loved the beauty and artistry behind fashion ads," she said. "I wanted to be those ads — they were artistic and glamorous."

But her reality was far from glossy. Raised by a single mother in a poor household, she wore hand-me-downs and was often bullied. Those hardships, she says, forged her strength.

"Growing up with just my mother, I learned so much from her about endurance and resilience," Parisette said. "She molded me into the woman I am today. I do not believe that if I had not gone through those hard times, I would be where I am now. It takes facing challenges, overcoming them, believing in your inner strength and trusting a higher power and destiny. There was an inner dream that never left me, a fire that remained despite life's twists. I've had to work hard for every moment, and that gives me appreciation for what I have. I'm forever grateful to the universe, God and my angels for every blessing."

At 17, she longed to move to New York and model, but her mother insisted on college. It was a detour that delayed her dream, yet it would lead her into education — her second calling.

A Teacher Who Builds Bridges

In the classroom, Parisette is as committed as she is empathetic. Her students see someone who both challenges and understands them.

"I absolutely believe that every struggle I endured has made me a better human being," she said. "I'm a more empathetic teacher — down to earth and relatable to my students."

Her influence has extended far beyond her lessons. For more than a decade, she advised Westbury's National Student Council, guiding students as they raised funds for Diaspora Girls' Senior High School in Ghana.

"My students come from a community that also struggles, and asking them to give back was a big ask," she said. "But every year, they did. They knew the girls in Africa had even less. Over a span of 14 years, we built a bus shelter, a water well, toilets, an outdoor science pavilion, sent feminine hygiene products so the girls wouldn't miss class, even jerseys so they could form a soccer team. They saw what a big impact our efforts had."

The Ghanaian students responded with gratitude, sending thank-you letters and, one year, a hand-carved wooden clock that hangs in her classroom.

In her words, "That clock is a reminder of them. Just knowing I helped makes my life meaningful."

Her influence rippled back home, too.

"Seeing students graduate is always a proud moment," she said. "But seeing one become an English teacher because they wanted to be like me — that was the biggest form of flattery and such a humbling experience."

Facing Death, Choosing Life

For years, Parisette gave everything to others, leaving little for herself. Then her body gave way.

"I was in the hospital with my kidneys and liver failing, fighting pancreatitis after emergency gallbladder surgery. Lying there alone, I thought: This is it. This is how my life ends. I replayed my life in my head and realized I had been living for others, doing what was expected — not what was my passion. I went to college for my mother. I wanted to take a year to model. I still wonder, what if I had? Would I have made it then? Hindsight is 20/20."

The near-death experience became a turning point.

"After that stay, I threw myself into hobbies I'd always wanted to try: skydiving, rock climbing, kayaking," she said. "I've always loved adrenaline and being a little risky. My spirit loves to feel free. Even now, you see it in my photo shoots — I'm the girl darting through traffic for the perfect shot. Going through loss, being at rock bottom, reshapes who you are. I've lost my entire family in four years, I've lost jobs, friends, love, but I still believe in love. I faced death itself and chose to live with courage. As my mom would say: 'Have your good cry, take a deep breath and start again.'"

Faith, she says, underpins it all. "I'm forever grateful to the universe, God, my angels, for every blessing."

First Steps on the Runway

Her first runway show was fittingly for charity on Staten Island.
"I was excited and nervous but also cool and collected," she said. "I felt at home on the runway. I was doing what I loved, finally, and there was overwhelming happiness."

From there, she stepped onto bigger stages: New York, Los Angeles and Miami fashion weeks.

"New York is competitive — you can face thousands at castings," she said. "LA and Miami were arranged ahead, which meant less stress. Walking the runway for Art Hearts in LA was one of my favorites because it's such a long and wide runway."

Fashion as Storytelling

For Parisette, fashion is more than fabric — it's narrative.

"Fashion is undeniably an art form," she said. "Designers are artists who use fabric as their medium. A collection is storytelling. A runway show isn't just clothes — it's performance, with art, music, choreography. From history, we see clothing as power, protest, identity. Punk in the '70s was rebellion. Couture was status. Fashion is art that functions immediately — it's how we present ourselves to the world."

At 48, her presence on the runway challenges fashion's obsession with youth.

"For so long, fashion was geared to the young, marginalizing older individuals," she said. "But things are changing. Designers now feature mature models — Jacky O'Shaughnessy, Carmen Dell'Orefice — and brands like Stella McCartney and Chanel show style is ageless. Age is just a number and doesn't define beauty or drive."

Her philosophy is clear: "Fashion should empower, not confine."

Neon Vests, Healing Light

One of her most personal runway moments came at a fashion show in Miami in 2024, held during the festivities surrounding Art Basel.

"My father and I had been estranged since I was 5. He reappeared after an Alzheimer's diagnosis. Helping him clean out his car, I found all his neon work vests. I knew he wouldn't return to work. I gave them to designer Jose Alexander, who upcycles clothing. He turned them into a neon dress. I walked that gown down the runway. Jose made something beautiful from a complicated situation."

It was reconciliation stitched into fabric — fashion as memory and healing.

Between Chalkboards and Catwalks

Some days, Parisette moves from red pens to couture gowns in a single breath.

"Grading essays requires patience and analysis. Couture is artistry and drama," she said. "The mental switch is sharp, but both are fulfilling in different ways."

Her daughter Emily takes it in stride.

"She's proud but down-to-earth about it," Parisette said. "Sometimes she'll see a magazine cover and say, 'Wow, you're on the cover, Mommy! You're so pretty.' She loves playing dress-up, and walking around in my heels is one of her favorite things to do."

For her students, discovering their teacher's modeling career is equally surprising. She uses it as a lesson: you don't have to fit into one box.

Recognition and Renewal

In 2024, the Chick-fil-A Leader Academy named Parisette one of 10 outstanding educators nationwide.

"I was beyond shocked," she said. "My students and colleagues had secretly sent in videos. Hearing their words was so moving — it's a memory I'll cherish forever."

Designer: David Tupaz; Photography: Jaime Lim; Model: Tiffany Chang

Soft Power, Loud Heart:

Tiffany Chang on Identity, Resilience and Redefining Leadership

By Laura Henkel

Tiffany Chang is not your typical changemaker. She is something far rarer. A Stanford student, nonprofit founder and crowned Miss Asia USA, Chang is the kind of leader who navigates high-pressure spaces with both poise and purpose. But beyond the accolades lies a story of quiet grit, cultural duality and a deep commitment to creating meaningful impact.

In this wide-ranging, intimate Q&A, Chang opens up about what it costs to live between worlds and what it takes to lead from them. She speaks candidly about moments of doubt, the unseen labor behind her successes and the power of softness in spaces that often demand perfection. Through her words, we see not just a role model, but a real person: someone who is still becoming, still questioning and still choosing to show up fully, even when it's hard.

For anyone who has ever felt like they had to split themselves to fit in, Chang offers a different model: one built on wholeness, empathy and redefining success on your own terms.

ORIGIN & INFLUENCE

Chic Compass: Who did you look up to as a child, and what parts of them do you now see in yourself?

Tiffany Chang: Growing up, I looked up to two incredible women: my mom and my ama (grandma). My mom is like superwoman. She runs her own business, works full time and yet somehow never misses a moment, whether it's a school event, a late-night pageant rehearsal or just being there when I need her most. She's the most selfless person I know, and I've inherited her drive and deep sense of responsibility to show up fully for the people I care about.

My ama is the matriarch of our family. Every day after school, I'd go to her house, and she became my moral compass. She taught me the values I carry with me today—kindness, perseverance, humility and resilience—often through the simplest moments: playing puzzles, teaching me how to read or just talking about life. She gave me the heart behind everything I do.

Chic Compass: When did you first realize you were living in two worlds, and what did it cost you to exist between them?

Tiffany Chang: I realized I was living in two worlds the moment something I treasured—my culture—became a source of shame in someone else's eyes. After I proudly played the Chinese zither, a classmate scoffed, "Are you going to wear that embarrassing oriental costume and play that weird instrument again?" I remember feeling a rush of humiliation, anger and confusion, but mostly, I felt small. I couldn't find the voice to defend myself. That silence echoed the same feeling I had in English class, where I felt like every discussion was a test of worth, not a place to be heard. I wanted to speak, but self-doubt kept pulling me back, like pressing the gas and brake at the same time.

These experiences made me question: Would I ever be enough? Living in between meant constantly translating not just language but value. It cost me my voice for a while. But reclaiming that voice, through public speaking, advocacy and redefining what it means to be both Asian and American, has been the most powerful part of my journey.

Even in the spaces they didn't fully grasp, they believed in me. And that belief became my foundation.

TRANSFORMATION & RESILIENCE

Chic Compass: What's a moment you wanted to quit but didn't? What did it teach you about grit, grace or even surrender?

Tiffany Chang: There was a moment during the Miss Asia USA competition when I seriously questioned if I belonged. Behind the glamour, I was battling imposter syndrome, comparing myself to women who seemed so effortlessly confident, polished and perfect. I remember standing backstage, crown slipping, lashes half-off, thinking—what am I doing here? I felt small, messy and not enough.

But instead of quitting, I paused. I reminded myself that I wasn't there to be perfect—I was there to be real. To show the little girls watching, especially Asian girls, that representation doesn't require perfection. I walked back onstage, heart pounding but grounded in something deeper than nerves: purpose.

That moment taught me that grit isn't always loud. Sometimes it's quiet. It's continuing to show up when every part of you wants to shrink. It's grace, allowing yourself to feel the fear and do it anyway. And it's surrender, not to failure, but to the truth that you're allowed to take up space even before you feel "ready."

Chic Compass: You navigate extreme expectations across cultural, academic, visual and emotional realms. Where do you go to feel fully human?

Tiffany Chang: I feel most fully human in the quiet in-betweens, like coming back home from school, spending time with my family and laughing over inside jokes with my sister. It's not on the stage or in the spotlight, but in the small, ordinary moments where no one's watching and I'm not performing. That's where I can exhale.

I also find grounding in the places that raised me, especially my grandma's home. I find the most zen in the presence of my grandma. There's something about the way she moves through the world—slow, intentional, steady—that reminds me to breathe. In that space, I don't have to excel or impress, I just have to be present.

When the expectations feel loud, when I'm balancing academic pressure, cultural identity, pageant presentation and everything in between, I go back to those roots. The moments that remind me that before the crown, the resume or the title, I was already enough.

Chic Compass: If perfection was no longer the price of admission, how would you show up differently in pageantry, at Stanford or in life?

Tiffany Chang: I'd let people see the messy middle more often—the part where I don't have it all figured out, where the crown tilts or I trip over my words in class. I think so much of my life has been shaped by the pressure to prove I'm worthy: the perfect student, the perfect spokesperson, the perfect daughter balancing two cultures. But in chasing perfection, I sometimes left little room for grace.

Without that pressure, I'd show up with more softness. I'd ask more questions instead of always trying to have the right answers. I'd be less afraid to raise my hand in a lecture or walk onstage without every detail being polished. I'd let myself take up space as I am, not just when I feel like I've "earned" it.

Because at the end of the day, the most powerful version of me isn't the perfect one—it's the honest one.

VALUES, PURPOSE & UNSEEN LABOR

Chic Compass: Your résumé is impressive. But what's the hardest thing you do that no one claps for?

Tiffany Chang: The hardest thing I do, the thing no one sees or claps for, is learning how to be kind to myself when I fall short. It's picking myself up after a rejection, a bad day or a quiet breakdown, and choosing to keep showing up anyway. It's rewriting the voice in my head that says I'm not doing enough, not being enough.

There's no applause for the nights I sit with self-doubt and still choose to believe in the bigger picture. No trophies for staying grounded when comparison creeps in. No spotlight on the quiet work of healing generational expectations or navigating spaces that weren't built with people like me in mind.

But that inner work—the work of unlearning, softening and forgiving—is what makes everything else possible. It's what lets me lead with empathy, perform with heart and pursue big dreams without losing myself in the process.

Chic Compass: When you think about success, whose definition are you using, and how has that evolved?

Tiffany Chang: For a long time, I chased a definition of success that wasn't mine. It was a mosaic built from my family's sacrifices, cultural expectations and society's highlight reels—good grades, prestigious schools, picture-perfect achievements. I thought success meant being chosen: winning the award, getting the title, being told I was enough.

But over time, especially through moments of burnout, self-doubt and quiet victories, I've started rewriting that definition. Success, to me now, is about alignment. It's not about how many people clap for you, it's about whether you're proud of who you are when no one's watching. It's the courage to build a life that reflects your values, even if it doesn't look like anyone else's blueprint.

Today, I define success as living with integrity, showing up with heart and leaving spaces more inclusive and inspired than I found them. And that version feels a lot more like me.

Chic Compass: Share a belief you hold that might make others uncomfortable, yet remains undeniably true for you.

Tiffany Chang: I believe that softness is a form of strength and that femininity and leadership are not opposites. In a world that often celebrates loudness, dominance and hustle, I've found that my greatest impact comes from empathy, vulnerability and emotional intelligence.

Some people see compassion as weakness or pageantry as superficial. But I've seen firsthand how storytelling, cultural pride and even a crown can be powerful tools for change. I don't believe I need to shed my softness to be taken seriously—I believe I can lead with it.

It might make some people uncomfortable to rethink what power looks like. But for me, it looks like using my voice to make space for others. And it feels like knowing that being fully, unapologetically myself is the most powerful thing I can do.

Chic Compass: What are you currently unlearning?

Tiffany Chang: I'm currently unlearning the idea that I have to earn rest. For so long, I equated productivity with worth, like every minute not spent achieving was a minute wasted. Especially as a woman of color in high-achieving spaces, I felt this constant pressure to prove myself, to justify every opportunity I received.

But I'm learning that rest isn't a reward, it's a requirement. That I don't have to hustle to deserve peace or dim my needs to stay palatable. I'm unlearning the myth that vulnerability makes me less capable and instead realizing it makes me more human, more grounded, more whole.

And maybe most importantly, I'm unlearning the belief that I need to fit into existing definitions of leadership, success or womanhood. I'm building new ones on my own terms.

Chic Compass: What problem in the world keeps you up at night, not because you're expected to care but because you genuinely do?

Tiffany Chang: The problem that keeps me up at night is how many people feel unseen in their pain. Especially in a world that's constantly online, we've become good at curating highlight reels—showing the picture-perfect parts of our lives—and bad at checking in with what's underneath. I think about the quiet battles people face: the student who looks put together but is falling apart inside, the immigrant parent who never talks about their stress, the teen who jokes to mask anxiety.

I care about mental health not because it's trendy to talk about it, but because I've lived it. I've seen what it's like to push through panic attacks in silence, to feel like you have to be "on" even when you're unraveling. And I care deeply about building a world where people don't feel like they have to earn their pain or hide it.

It keeps me up at night that so many people feel like they're suffering alone. And it drives me to keep creating spaces—online, in my nonprofit, through storytelling—where being vulnerable is not only allowed but honored.

CREATION & INTELLECTUAL CURIOSITY

Chic Compass: Stanford is known for innovation. What's one idea or experiment you're obsessed with right now?

Tiffany Chang: I'm currently obsessed with reimagining innovation through the lens of human-centered design. So much of the tech world is driven by what's technically possible, but I'm far more interested in what's personally meaningful. At Stanford, I've been exploring how we can design solutions that don't just work, but truly work for people, especially those who are often overlooked.

One idea I'm exploring is how we can integrate principles of human-centered design into AI and sustainability. For example, how might we create edge AI tools that support elder care not just efficiently but empathetically? Or rethink product design for accessibility not just as an afterthought but from the very beginning?

To me, innovation isn't just about inventing new things. It's about deeply listening, noticing what people need and building with heart. I want to create tools, systems and experiences that don't just impress users but empower them.

CULTURE, COMMUNITY & CONNECTION

Chic Compass: How do you stay connected to your culture in a world that often tries to flatten it into a buzzword or trend?

Tiffany Chang: I stay connected to my culture by returning to the people, rituals and stories that shaped me, not the polished version you see on social media, but the lived, everyday beauty of it. It's in the way my ama (grandma) arms wrap around me whenever I come back home, the smell of lu rou fan simmering on the stove and the moments when we speak Taiwanese at home in between generations. It's in the small decisions, offering food before taking it, choosing humility over recognition, that carry the values I grew up with. Culture lives in those details, not in grand gestures, and that's where I find my deepest sense of belonging.

I also stay grounded by always showing up for and supporting my community, attending Taiwanese and Asian cultural events, creating content for awareness, volunteering, supporting local organizers and uplifting others who share pieces of my story. These aren't just events, they're living threads that keep our heritage alive and evolving.

In a world that often reduces culture to an aesthetic or hashtag, I remind myself that culture is not content. It's not something to perform, it's something to protect, to live, to pass on. I stay rooted by researching my heritage and using my platforms, whether in pageantry, tech or storytelling, to celebrate it with depth, not decoration.

Representation isn't just about being seen. It's about being understood. And staying connected to my culture means choosing depth over display every time.

Chic Compass: What does sisterhood mean to you, and where have you found it most unexpectedly?

Tiffany Chang: To me, sisterhood is about showing up, not just when it's convenient, but when it's hard. It's the kind of bond that says, I see you, even when the world doesn't. It means holding space for someone else's growth, cheering loudly for their wins and sitting quietly with them through their lows. Sisterhood is not just shared identity, it's shared intention.

I've found sisterhood most unexpectedly in pageantry. From the outside, it might seem competitive or surface-level, but behind the scenes, I've met some of the most generous, vulnerable and supportive women. Women who help zip up your dress before going onstage, fix your lashes when you're too nervous to breathe, and remind you who you are when self-doubt creeps in. That solidarity, among women who are often judged or underestimated, has been one of the most powerful reminders that sisterhood can thrive even in the most unexpected spaces.

PHILANTHROPY & MISSION-DRIVEN WORK

Chic Compass: What was the moment that inspired Madhatter Knits, and how has that mission changed you as much as it's helped others?

Tiffany Chang: Madhatter Knits began when I was in the 6th grade and I knitted a small hat. At the time, my cousin was volunteering at the San Gabriel Valley Medical Center and had just visited the NICU. We realized these beanies were the perfect size for a preemie's head, fighting for their very first breath, especially since a lot of their warmth escapes through their head, making it difficult for them to keep their body temperatures stable. We started with our first donation of 160 knit hats during Christmas of 2014 to the Children's Hospital Los Angeles. With the mission to give preemies and their families love, warmth and support, Madhatter Knits was born.

What started as a simple gesture grew into a global movement. We've now donated millions of handmade hats around the world and grown immensely with international chapters, but what's changed me most isn't the scale; it's the stories. It's the moms who write to us saying the beanie helped her feel like her baby wasn't just a patient, but a person. It's the volunteers who found healing in creating something with their hands.

Madhatter Knits taught me that impact doesn't always start with strategy, it starts with heart. It showed me that leadership isn't about having all the answers; it's about inviting others into the solution. And it reminded me that care is a powerful form of resistance, especially in a world that often moves too fast to notice the smallest ones among us.

Chic Compass: What do you hope Madhatter Knits, or any future project you start, represents in the bigger picture of how young people can make a meaningful impact?

Tiffany Chang: I hope Madhatter Knits shows that you don't need to have a title, a budget or years of experience to start something that matters. You just need heart, a clear "why" and the courage to begin. We started with four people and an idea that felt too small to be world-changing…until it wasn't.

In the bigger picture, I want Madhatter Knits to represent what's possible when young people stop waiting for permission and start building from empathy. I hope it reminds others that "impact" isn't reserved for people in boardrooms or on big stages. It starts in everyday decisions, small acts of care and the willingness to solve problems you care about.

Whether it's a beanie, a business or a movement, I want young people to know that their lived experiences are valid blueprints for change. If our work can empower others to believe that they, too, are capable of meaningful impact, then we've done more than knit hats. We've stitched together a ripple effect of possibility.

MOMENTUM & VISION

Chic Compass: What does power look like to you when no one is watching?

Tiffany Chang: Power, when no one is watching, looks like integrity. It's how you treat people who can't do anything for you. It's the choice to do the right thing, even when it's inconvenient, unrecognized or uncomfortable.

To me, real power is quiet. It's found in the discipline of showing up for your commitments when no one's holding you accountable. It's in the care you give to your community without expecting applause. It's in staying grounded in your values when the spotlight's gone and the crown is off.

It also looks like self-compassion, the ability to be kind to yourself on the days you don't feel strong. Because if you can lead yourself with grace, you can lead others with empathy. Power isn't just about influence, it's about consistency, character and choosing love over ego.

Chic Compass: What's something you've never said in an interview before, but feel safe enough to share now?

Tiffany Chang: Sometimes I feel lonely in the rooms I once dreamed of being in. From pageant stages to Stanford classrooms to boardrooms full of opportunity, I've found myself surrounded by people, applause and momentum…yet still feeling like I'm carrying something no one else sees. The pressure to keep achieving, to keep representing, to keep holding it all together, it doesn't always leave space to just be.
I think there's a version of me that people see, polished, high-performing, always "on." But the truth is, I still have to remind myself it's okay to rest. It's okay to not always be strong. And it's okay to say "I'm struggling" without feeling like I'm letting someone down.

What I've learned is that vulnerability isn't something to outgrow. It's something to grow into. And I'm learning to find power not just in what I accomplish, but in being honest about what it takes to get there.

Chic Compass: If your story was a manifesto, what would the title be, and what's the first line?

Tiffany Chang: Title: "Soft Power, Loud Heart"

First line: They tried to measure me by how well I fit, but I was never meant to fit; I was meant to reshape the space.

Chic Compass: Imagine this article becomes a time capsule. What would you want 80-year-old Tiffany to remember about the version of you today?

Tiffany Chang: I'd want 80-year-old me to remember how hard I tried, not just to succeed, but to stay true. That even when I was unsure, I kept showing up with heart. That I was learning how to be bold without being hardened, ambitious without losing softness, and proud without letting ego take the wheel.

I'd want her to remember the late nights filled with self-doubt, the small wins no one saw, the courage it took to speak up even when my voice shook. And most of all, I'd want her to remember that this version of me loved deeply, my family, my community, my culture—and built from that love, not in spite of it.

Because at the end of the day, titles fade, applause quiets, but the why behind it all, that's what I hope she never forgets.

Designer: Jason Beaver; Photographer: Montano; Models: Kei & Alyssa

Las Vegas Lights Up with Rave-Inspired Fashion Show Ahead of EDC

BY DAVID TUPAZ

Las Vegas kicked off the 2025 EDC weekend of musical festivities with a night of fashion at Area15. Produced by biteSiZeD multiMedia, Dreamsickle featured its first-ever rave fashion show, powered by eight extremely talented local designers who were eager and overjoyed to present more than 60 looks on their Yellow Brick Road runway in front of an energetic crowd.

Highlighted by the incredibly talented Jason Beaver, Debra Storey, Indigo, Heather Freels, Kapria Robinson, Heather Thomas, Chloe Stafford and Wild Muse styled by Dae Thomas, these local Las Vegas up-and-coming fashion stars understood the assignment and gave many attendees—who were planning to attend this year's EDC festivities—fashion inspiration for their outfits heading into one of the biggest weekends of the year in Las Vegas.

Beeva, by Jason Beaver, shone with a colorful and succinct collection that turned heads when Beaver created his signature green mustache into an oversized accessory garment and matching sombrero. Debra Storey's Blazzian collection brought her Cowboys vs. Aliens segment, which highlighted both her love for Beyoncé's "Cowboy Carter" album and the current style wave, coupled with an extraterrestrial-inspired showcase that made for a show-pleasing set.

Indigo, with her Indigo Jerseys line inspired by her love for the NBA, was highlighted by a crowd-pleasing basketball-net-like train that slid down the runway, much to the delight of the showgoers. The youngest designer and UNLV student, Kapria Robinson, and her Nadamuze brand delivered a collection highly favored by most of the Gen Z attendees who came out to get inspiration for EDC.

Heather Thomas and her SCATHED fashion brand took a darker, goth-like couture inspiration and created both wedding and funeral themes for her set, which provided an awesome contrast to the show's mainly colorful ambiance. Chloe Stafford's Chloetry Design collection brought a fun, couture feel to the mostly rave fashion event with bright, vibrant dresses.

One of the most memorable collections of the night was presented by Area15's in-house rave fashion boutique, Wild Muse, styled by the incomparable Dae Thomas and her Vangaudy Haus. Thomas went big and bold with butterfly wings, mesh capes and festive makeup presented by her team, who revved up the EDC energy for all to see.

Curated for club kids and upcoming EDC ravers, the typical runway fashion show was turned upside down with charged-up dance music, trippy animations on the venue walls and sassy models who encouraged the crowd to stand up and scream for them as they stomped, danced and posed throughout the event.

David Tupaz Pays Tribute to Karl Lagerfeld at Los Angeles Fashion Week

ARTICLE BY CHANELLE HAYES | DESIGNS BY DAVID TUPAZPHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME LIM, LIQUID STAR PHOTOGRAPHY

Los Angeles Fashion Week, powered by Art Hearts Fashion, presented the collection of David Tupaz, the only established fashion and couture designer based in Nevada. His latest work is a tribute to the late legendary designer Karl Lagerfeld, known for his iconic tenure at Chanel.

Anna Wintour, editor-in-chief of Vogue, recently featured nine of the world's top designers to interpret Lagerfeld's style in celebration of his fashion legacy. Tupaz continued this homage in his Fall 2025–26 collection, honoring the creative force behind one of the world's most recognizable fashion houses.
Lagerfeld, who became creative director of Chanel in 1983, modernized the brand with his "Ode de Mademoiselle Coco" vision, building on Coco Chanel's turn-of-the-century legacy. Today, Chanel remains one of the top French fashion houses in history.

Tupaz's interpretation featured the classic black-and-white palette with subtle touches of red, accessorized with layers of gold chains and pearls—signatures of Coco Chanel. The collection also highlighted the camellia flower, one of her favorite symbols.

Branching into menswear, Tupaz introduced a unique twist: transforming Chanel's iconic chains into hand-knitted scarves, a detail that drew applause on the runway. His reinterpretation of Chanel's classic aesthetic is both timeless and modern.

After the show, during backstage interviews with media and press, Tupaz shared his heartfelt dedication: "To my dearest maestro, Karl Lagerfeld … I hope I made you proud."

Photography of the full collection was captured by Jaime Lim. — Los Angeles Fashion Week, March 20, 2025

A Fairy Tale Wedding for Daddy's Princess

BY JEFF GUEST / PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY OF JASMINE JOHN PHOTOGRAPHY AND SUSIE MAGIT

Every father dreams of his daughter someday meeting her Prince Charming and giving her a magical wedding fit for a fairy tale. Shaina Guest met Brandon Shamieh during their first year at the University of Nevada, Reno. They dated throughout college but took a few years apart when she relocated to Virginia for a job.

But fairy-tale love is strong, and she soon found herself back in Nevada, then near his home in Northern California, rekindling love's flame. Eventually, he proposed, and Daddy's dream became a reality.

They were married on a gorgeous fall afternoon on the grounds of the beautiful Everline Resort & Spa in Lake Tahoe, California. The impending sunset, "God rays" lighting, and mountain backdrop combined to create a magical motif worthy of such a joyous occasion.

She wore a wedding gown specially created according to her wishes by renowned fashion designer David Tupaz. The dress, made from Italian Peau de Soie satin, was intentionally simple yet elegant to accentuate the bride's beauty. The cape and hood, made from Venetian lace with glittered glass beading, added an element of whimsical fantasy, which, combined with the dress, evoked the imagery of a princess in an enchanted forest.

A dinner reception followed in the Everline ballroom, kicked off by traditional Arabic drummers and punctuated by a song sung by the bride and her parents. A not-so-traditional breakout portion of the father-daughter dance followed. All in all, it was a day and night to remember.

But isn't that the point? Weddings are much more than just an excuse for a party. They're a moment frozen indelibly in the memory of everyone who participated in or witnessed the blessed event.

Even though she's married and living "happily ever after," she will always be her Gram's special granddaughter and her mother's darling daughter. But to me, she will always be Daddy's princess.

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Glam: Vanessa Saldana
Hair: Lillian Glover
Florist: Candlelight and Roses

Designer David Tupaz acknowledges the audience and celebrates his Swim Week Las Vegas collection presentation.

Swim Week Las Vegas

ARTICLE BY DAVID TUPAZ / PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARK GUNTER

As the American fashion industry strengthens domestically, Las Vegas emerges as a key player in the fashion landscape. The inaugural Swim Week Las Vegas, held Aug. 15-19 at Resorts World Las Vegas, showcased collections from designers worldwide, presenting the latest trends, colors and style direction for swimwear. Swim Week Las Vegas, powered by Art Hearts Fashion, will become an annual fixture to complement Fashion Week Las Vegas, where international designers present their collections. Concurrently, the prominent WWD MAGIC and Sourcing at MAGIC conventions were held in Las Vegas, drawing in industry professionals, buyers, media and the press.

Metropolitan Fashion Week

A World of High-Fashion Masterpieces

ARTICLE BY DAVID TUPAZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME LIM, LIQUID STAR PHOTOGRAPHY

As the epitome of American fashion, Metropolitan Fashion Week delivers exceptional productions at legendary locations, including fine art museums, historic mansions, Warner Bros. Film Studios, City Halls and esteemed gardens across the country. Led by CEO Eduardo Khawam and his husband Paul Jaramillo, this esteemed organization has steadfastly maintained its commitment to excellence since its inception. Designers vie for invitations to showcase their creations at Metropolitan Fashion Week, which has established itself as a venerable institution through strategic partnerships with influential entities, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions and arts organizations. The latest event, held at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library & Museum in Simi Valley, California, showcased a musical masterpiece collection featuring international designers, followed by David Tupaz's haute couture collection. Tupaz, a renowned Las Vegas designer, received the Excellence Award for his consistently inspiring and elegant designs, which he showcased over two decades in prominent fashion capitals. His work embodies modern sophistication, elevating American fashion to new heights and earning him acclaim as an emerging genius of American couture.

Sue Wong's Goddess Couture

Spring/Summer 2024

Article by David Tupaz | Designs by Sue Wong
Photography by Jaime Lim, Liquid Star Photography

California designer Sue Wong has unveiled her Spring and Summer 2024 collection, featuring classic cut dresses with an explosion of prints in unexpected color combinations. These wearable ensembles are perfect for summer soirees, offering women a stylish and sophisticated look for resort dressing.

With decades of experience in the fashion industry, Wong is known for her couture evening gowns and red carpet creations and has dressed numerous notable personalities. Her approach to fashion is rooted in the belief that women who wear her designs are ultimate goddesses. As a woman designing for women, Wong's unique and beautiful creations are at the forefront of American style, showcasing her expertise in understanding what women desire and what flatters them.

A veteran American designer of Asian descent, Wong's designs blend exotic and cultural elements, making her one of the great California designers today, as captured by fashion photographer and artist Jaime Lim.

David Tupaz - Fall 2024-25

L.A. Fashion Week Powered by Art Hearts Fashion

Article by Jaime Lim | Designs by David Tupaz | Photography by Jaime Lim, Liquid Star Photography

The only established fashion and couture designer in the entire State of Nevada, representing Las Vegas in every significant Fashion Week in the country, David Tupaz surprised the runway with a blast of colors for his Fall 2024-25 Boutique Collection during LA Fashion Week powered by Art Hearts Fashion.

The palette of vivid hues usually seen for Spring and Summer collections dominated the catwalk with models in fun ensembles of Fire Engine Reds, Canary Yellows, Fuchsias, and Emerald green, accessorized with bright color-dyed faux furs and knitted gloves.

David explained, “Fall fashions usually bring the blacks, greys, browns, burgundy, camels to major runways worldwide...I wanted to change that basic and typical approach and make Fall alive with colors. Why not?”

And sure enough, the fashion audience agrees! Roaring applause greeted every model coming out, indicating that David’s latest collection will indeed be the new trend for the Fall 2024-25 season!

DESIGNER: ADOLFO SANCHEZ // MODEL: AISLINN MCINERNEY // PHOTOGRAPHY: JAIME LIM // HAIR & MAKE UP: PAUL MITCHELL SCHOOL - PASADENA, MAKEUP DESIGNORY

The Romance of Hollywood Never Dies

ARTICLE BY DAVID TUPAZ // DESIGNS BY ADOLFO SANCHEZ
PHOTOGRAPHY BY JAIME LIM, LIQUID STAR PHOTOGRAPHY

The Romance of Old Hollywood brings designer Adolfo Sanchez to a nostalgic mood. His stunning collection is reminiscent of the days of the Great Hollywood movies we can never get enough of, where the woman’s demeanor and her clothes displayed a rare elegance not often seen today.

Adolfo Sanchez’s bold colors’ impact delivers a rich palette of jewel colors mixed with basic primary hues. Old Hollywood has always been an inspiration for most fashion designers, from the legendary designer Valentino to Maestro Giorgio Armani, both of whom credit Old Hollywood movies as the driving force for their creativity.

Adolfo Sanchez indeed captures the essence of Old Hollywood but with a modern twist as his collection for 2023 graces the fashion pages of Chic Compass.