By Kat Stoeffel 3/21/12 8:45am

Shindigger

Richard Chai, Shu Pei, Liu Wen, Phillip Lim

Eastern Exposure: Asia Society Celebrates Asia Week at The Plaza

The Observer was about halfway through our black rice and bok choy at the Asia Society’s Asia Week kick-off gala on Monday night when iGavel online auctioneer Lark Mason plucked our dessert spoon off the table and politely asked us to tell him about it.

Mr. Mason, a frequent appraiser on PBS’s Antiques Roadshow, was enlisting us to play along in mock version of the show.

We found the spoon while cleaning out our dead grandmother’s attic, we lied. We have a feeling it’s important.

Mr. Mason turned the spoon slowly in his hand.

“Manufactured in China, in the 1930s, for American export. She probably received it as a wedding gift,” he said matter-of-factly. “But I’m sure it has a lot of sentimental value.”  Read More

2/10/12 8:30am

Fashion Week Observed

11 Photos

Style-go-to Robert Verdi taking his seat for Duckie Brown

The Men of Fashion Week

Richard Chai had a few things going for him on day one of fashion week. Foremost, he worked the denim and blue “utility” angle to solid results with his menswear; mixing in study car coats and an interesting selection of steel/charcoal color-block separates. His “Love by Richard Chai” line for women, shown intermittently, was a bit rosier, with floral merlots and boho flares… Not exactly to our liking—but wait a minute! The Observer did a double take after a quick scan of the Stage venue at Lincoln Center. “There are more Power Gays in this room than at Le Bain on a Thursday night in September!” cried one friend seated next to us. A discussion of “who exactly attends these downtown men’s runways shows?” ensued… Read More

2/09/12 9:43am

Fashion Week Observed

McMillan at the Richard Chai Love Spring 2012 Fashion Show

Model Miles McMillan Strikes a Pose

Fresh off the runways in Milan and Paris, model-newcomer Miles McMillan (who walked in Dior, Etro, John Varvatos, Costume National and Damir Doma—to name a few) is gearing up for another strong season of shows and parties in New York. The Observer hunted him down to find out what life is like when you’re so in-demand. Read More

By Irina Aleksander 6/08/10 8:30pm

Hayden Christensen Brought His Grandmother to the CFDAs

Last night, at the CFDA awards, the Daily Transom found itself seated next to designer Richard Chai and his guest, actor Hayden Christensen. “This is quite a night out for me,” Mr. Christensen told Mr. Chai when they first sat down and the awards hadn’t started yet. 

The duo arrived with an elderly woman who Read More