From the studio to the front row Tia Lee’s journey into the London fashion scene
See what the C-pop singer has been up to during London Fashion Week.
See what the C-pop singer has been up to during London Fashion Week.
London Fashion Week is known not only for an abyss of new design talent but also for the appearance of rising starlets of other sectors from the creative industries. From art to music– the front rows are full of emerging talent. Some might have noticed it throughout the last few years– the front row is changing.
To be precise, the crowd or the seating politics in the front row are visibly changing. What used to be the home of editors with notepads, stylists, buyers, or other industry professionals has now been disrupted with more celebrities, TikTok stars and other public figures. Having people outside the classical fashion space shows a democratic attitude by the brand and helps them define their customers.
This season, the global C-pop star Tia Lee stood out in a particular way. Besides attending the highly sought-after shows of David Koma, Richard Quinn and Moncler Genius, she also had the privilege to wear a Julien Macdonald couture gown from his F/W23 collection while in the front row of its showcase.
Julien Macdonald is a Welsh fashion designer primarily known for his commitment to the British fashion industry in the early 2000s. He obtained a master’s degree from one of London’s best art institutions – The Royal College of Art. Soon after he graduated, he went to work for Karl Lagerfeld in Paris as a head designer of the Chanel knitwear department. Later, he was the successor of Alexander McQueen as the creative director of Givenchy. Besides his approved industry experience, he launched his label in 1997, which, this season, finally made a comeback to London Fashion Week.
After the label’s four-year-long hiatus, Macdonald’s show was one of the most anticipated events in this season’s calendar. Besides Tia Lee, the front row was full of British TV stars, which could be down to his TV career. Bringing his expertise to the screen, the designer used to be a judge in Britain & Ireland’s Next Top Model. The show was glamour and extravaganza – he picked up just where he left off. Tia Lee, who had just lived through the breakthrough single of her career, called Goodbye Princess, was specially selected by the designer to dress in unreleased couture by the label to attend the show. She wore a delicate black lace dress with a flowing chiffon cape. Hand embroidered with crystals and paired with glitter heels, it caught the eye of the audience – and the cameras.
“It was an absolute honour to meet Julien Macdonald in person and receive the gorgeous dress just fresh off his latest collection,” confesses the C-pop star. “The intricate details are a testament to Julien’s passion for his craft, and I loved putting it on and watching a fabulous showcase of his latest work,” she continues. Since her breakthrough, Tia has been more recognised by the fashion space, defining her style through delicate femineity and glamorous details.
Adding to her busy schedule, Tia was also sighted at the Richard Quinn show, who built a reputation to be one of London’s most exciting fashion talents. The singer had the privilege to wear a coat from Quinn’s S/S23 collection, which was an all-black line-up honouring the death of the late Queen Elizabeth II. Her coat was a powerful, well-constructed piece with floral embellishments and encrusted beads. Rounding off her look, Tia was repping another British designer wearing suede platform sandals by Jimmy Choo.
Finally, Tia also appeared at the David Koma show, which enthused its attendees with a stunning view over London and the VIP setting of a red carpet. The starlet arrived in a shimmering two-piece suit over a bomber jacket and a pair of leather boots from his S/S23 collection. Like many other designers, Koma went to Central Saint Martins – after finishing his master’s, he entered the industry. He is well-known for dressing a-list celebrities like Beyonce or Taylor Swift and for his time as Mugler’s creative director from 2013 until 2017.
After phenomenal success with her single, which saw her becoming the fastest female singer to break 100 million views on YouTube within 20 days with a Chinese song, her stunt at London Fashion Week marks the beginning of the journey Tia Lee. In an interview with tmrw, she said, “I am looking to continue to share C-pop with the world and to express myself through other art forms, possibly fashion– internationally.” So, now fashion can be ticked off her list. We can only be excited to see what will be next for her.
