L.A. Mayor Picks Sergio Hudson and Burberry Taps Jun Ji-hyun
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HUDSON’S WIN: Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass suited up in Sergio Hudson for her inauguration on Sunday.
The first female mayor of L.A., Bass was sworn in by the first female U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris, who introduced her as “Madame Mayor.”
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The ceremony featured gospel duo Mary Mary, singer Chloe Bailey and poet Amanda Gorman, as well as Stevie Wonder, who performed “Keep Our Love Alive” and “Living for the City.”
For the occasion, Bass wore Hudson’s bright blue one-button blazer and skirt suit.
It was just the latest in a long line of power-dressing moves by the L.A. designer, who burst onto the national scene when former First Lady Michelle Obama wore his burgundy pantsuit to the inauguration of President Joe Biden in 2021. Hudson also dressed Harris in a black sequined cocktail dress and tuxedo overcoat for the inaugural ball.
Hudson said Bass already owned the pantsuit, and requested a skirt to wear to the event.
“I ran into someone who works for her recently while I was holiday shopping. We exchanged numbers and she reached out and said Karen wants to wear the suit, but she wants to wear a skirt,” Hudson said. “So I had my people in New York go through archives, we found the fabric and we made the skirt. My assistant flew it in the day before she wore it. It was a proud moment for me and my team.”
The wool gabardine suit was from a 2021 collection. “She’s a Democrat so, of course, she wanted to wear blue, but this was brighter, more tropical, to represent Southern California,” Hudson said. “L.A. has been very good to me, so I loved being able to do something to represent L.A.”
While many political women have chosen power pantsuits in recent years, Harris chose a skirt suit.
“It’s a pencil skirt but it’s not as tight,” Hudson said. “At this point we have a lot of experience making things for women in office, not just former first ladies, but women in power. They don’t want their clothes to be the first part of the conversation but they are women and they like fashion, so you have to give them a little something,” he said.
Asked why his brand appeals to female power players, he said, “It’s the stance we’ve taken on being an American sportswear brand and changing what that looks like. When people see my clothes, it represents a new generation of what’s here but also something they are familiar with. That’s why we’ve become a go-to.”
Bass defeated L.A. businessman and shopping mall magnate Rick Caruso in an election during which Caruso spent $100 million of his own funds.
At the inauguration, she described an “inflection point” in the history of a city hurt by the COVID-19 pandemic, a high cost of living, climate change and the homelessness crisis. But, she added, “L.A. magic is still here.” — BOOTH MOORE
STAR SIGNING: Burberry has tapped famed South Korean actress Jun Ji-hyun to star in the brand’s festive campaign.
Standing against a black background, the Burberry brand ambassador since September showcased different ways to dress for the holiday season for different occasions.
She wore the brand’s signature beige trenchcoat with the equestrian knight patterns underneath a leather jacket. In the other images, she paired a cardigan knitted with cute animal motifs with a pair of sparking shoes and a metal-embellished TB shoulder bag, a look that might work for Christmas parties in Seoul.
Jun also sported a voluminous curly shearling coat on top of a waxed cotton jacket and a matching miniskirt. She completed the look with a pair of leather boots and a monogrammed shoulder bag.
In the last image, Jun put on an oversize cashmere scarf with the equestrian knight design on top of her leather trench.
Jun rose to prominence across Asia with the romantic comedy film “My Sassy Girl” in 2001. Since then she has maintained a high-profile career. Her most notable projects include the Netflix zombie thriller “Kingdom: Ashin of the North” and “Snow Flower and the Secret Fan.” — TIANWEI ZHANG
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