Living Well With Laura Kim
As one half of the creative genius behind not one but two beloved New York fashion brands, Laura Kim has her work cut out for her. The co-creative director of both Oscar de la Renta and Monse (along with Fernando Garcia) has helped to establish a modern era of elegant dressing, one that’s artful instead of stuffy, and has earned her fans amongst both celebrities and fashion insiders. But, while Kim may be best known for her design works, she also has a not-so-hidden talent: cooking. If you scroll through Kim’s Instagram feed you’ll find photos of gowns and glamorous events posted alongside banana bread, mushroom tarts, and traditional Korean recipes (Kim lived in Seoul as a child). Some of the ingredients Kim even collects from her own burgeoning at-home garden — another passion of hers.
Recently, Kim had the chance to combine her many interests in a way, partnering up with St-Germain and James Whiteside, the Principal Dancer and Choreographer at the American Ballet Theatre, to create Fleuriste St-Germain, a flower shop and community gathering spot in Soho. “Fleuriste St-Germain aims to be a floral wonderland for guests, full of special cocktails, wonderful conversation, and special performances by my lovely collaborator James and other dancers, who will be wearing costumes originally designed by Monse,” Kim explains of the pop-up. With New York Fashion Week less than a month away, it may seem a daunting task to take on, but as Kim explains it, the project is more energizing than anything else. “I love creative collaborations. I’m sure this will leave me very inspired.”
For Kim, the project is not only an opportunity to bring together her own New York community — friends like Prabal Gurung and Phillip Lim attended the opening night — but is also a chance to bring together her wide range of talents and interests while also celebrating her Asian heritage (more on that below).
Ahead, as part of TZR’s ongoing Living Well With series, Kim shares more about her favorite recipes, the fashion splurge she’s eyeing, and why she thinks a garden is the ultimate mood booster.
What’s your go-to secret weapon when you want to look and feel good?
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