This ensemble is inspired by the HMong Green detailed pleated skirt, focusing on a modern fit with a high low cut skirt, royal blue lace corset and two-tone marine indigo and gold corded belt, accented with a metallic bow tie and mini "xaub" earrings (traditional Hmong necklace). All skirt detailing is organically handmade in the same spirit as the traditional HMong Green skirt.
About the Little Black Shhh… Clothing Collection:
Little Black Shhh… is Os.Couture by Ka Oskar Ly's Fall/Winter 2012 collection, a play on the little black dress and black tie affair, mixing and molding our feminine and masculine perceptions and alter egos based on clothing, who wears and how we wear it. The collection was initially sparked by the need to increase visibility, awareness, and acceptance of the Hmong and Asian Pacific Islander (HAPI) Lesbian Gay Bisexual Trans and Queer (LGBTQ) community, specifically in Minnesota when the anti-marriage equality amendment was introduced to the 2012 Election MN ballots. Our community was barely ready to come out, how were we supposed to talk about same-sex relationships, let alone marriage? Little Black Shhh… was created as a project to raise and embrace this community and its allies.
LBS showed at Fresh Traditions Fashion Show VI (hosted by Center for Hmong Arts & Talent – CHAT) with over 400 people in attendance. The amendment was successfully defeated that year. However, the marriage equality movement campaign continued in order to pass marriage equality statewide in Minnesota. This continued building on the momentum to successfully recognize LGBTQ unions on the federal level.
The LBS collection was possible through the work with Shades of Yellow (SOY) which lead the Hmong LGBTQ movement from 2003-2017. The collection was captured in two photo series to document HAPI LGBTQ and allyship measuring how far we have come. See more of the collection Part Un and Part Deux.
Photographer: Karen Nou Yang
Hair and Make-Up: Ka Oskar Ly
Model: Vanessa Vu