If you get excited when you see the latest ’fit posted by a member of Blackpink, imagine how it feels to be the designer who created it. Someone who now knows this feverish joy all too well is London-based Mimi Wade. Known for her super-cute, hyper-feminine designs, it was always going to be simply a matter of time before her pieces caught the eye of the fashion-conscious K-Pop sensations.
This week, it was Lisa, who can be seen wearing one of the Central Saint Martins graduate’s designs in an Instagram picture posted on Wednesday. Before that, the video for “Ice Cream”, the group’s collaboration with Selena Gomez, dropped to reveal Jennie wearing a Mimi Wade top, and the band has championed the designer’s looks in the past, too.
“Lisa is wearing the Glee top from my most recent autumn/winter 2020 collection,” Mimi told Miss Vogue of the K-Pop idol’s latest selfie. “I made it in collaboration with Warner Brothers [inspired by DC character Harley Quinn], from an upcycled vintage T-shirt with wild dogs printed on the front of it.” As you can see from the photo, this is no ordinary crew-neck. “The silhouette is inspired by cheerleader uniforms, but I deliberately chose materials to contrast with traditional sportswear — like Sophie Hallette lace and pink-stretch velvet ribbon,” Mimi explained. It’s no doubt just those sorts of details that will have appealed to Lisa’s forward-looking fashion sense.
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Lisa first opted for Mimi’s designs when she performed on stage in a look from her spring/summer 2018 collection, and the designer explains that it’s been a case of finding the perfect moment – and piece of clothing – to recreate that partnership ever since. “My team and I have a long-standing relationship with Blackpink’s styling team, and we’ve been working together to find the right moment to collaborate again,” Mimi said. This cute tee was just the ticket! Lisa added to the look with super-size hoop earrings, a cat-print headscarf and extra-long lashes.
As is the case with any designer-stylist relationship, just because a piece has been pulled for a client’s specific event or performance, there’s no guarantee they’ll actually wear it. “There are never any guarantees of what happens on set,” said Mimi. “But I did get a heads up ahead of the video going live, and I am so happy to see Lisa and Jennie wearing the pieces! The response has been absolutely overwhelming. It’s a dream come true, they absolutely brought my vision to life and it’s incredibly exciting.”
Mimi would love to see Blackpink in her feather cardigans.
Photo: Kate Green/BFC
Previously published on British Vogue
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Naomi Pike