If you're going to have a fashion crisis, it might as well be at a Balenciaga show. So learned Mark Bryan after nabbing an invite to Balenciaga's spring/summer 2022 show in Paris-a reward for a year of breaking the Internet by rocking up to his engineering job in a skirt and stilettos.
For his first big fashion show appearance, he chose a dramatic black ankle-length quilted puffer jacket with an off-the-shoulder neckline from Berlin menswear brand GmbH's fall 2021 collection. He paired it with a pair of black Jimmy Choo boots with 95mm-high heels. A kind of hybrid between a ball gown and a designer sleeping bag, the voluminous, zippered coat had been dispatched down GmbH's runway with a bare décolletage. But Bryan added a black shirt and tie-a decision he would come to rue at the star-studded after-party. He started perspiring profusely and fled outside to the sidewalk to cool off. I sat down, and next thing I know, I'm waking up face down on the concrete with people standing around me, he recalls over Skype. I had passed out.” He was whisked by ambulance to a Paris hospital to overnight it under observation, and tests showed nothing more serious than a case of dehydration and poor fashion judgement. It was a pretty different experience, he says.
The whole past year and a bit, in fact, has been a pretty different experience for the 62-year-old Texan-born robotics engineer, who now lives in Crailsheim, Germany. Just as the grandfather of four was looking towards retirement, a completely new career path as a social media influencer opened up before him.
This story is from the May 2022 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Sign In
This story is from the May 2022 edition of Harper's BAZAAR Singapore.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 8,500+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Sign In
Follow The Sun
HELENA LEE savours an epicurean adventure in Portugal, come rain or shine.
Crafting The Future
Luxury brands are carving out pathways for the next generation of makers to keep artisanal traditions alive and thriving.
An Oasis For Healing
Creative consultant Tracy Phillips' home is a perfect representation of her dynamic and multifaceted personality.
FINE & DANDY
Move over, hype-beast. Designers and celebrities alike are embracing big dandy energy this season.
LIGHTS, CAMERA,PASSION
Korean actor and heartthrob Lee Min Ho talks about the difference between Hollywood and Korean productions, taking on as many roles as possible, and why he's saving the Northern Lights for later.
HOROSCOPE
Time for self-love and patience. Following the solar eclipse on the 8th, this will be a defining month for you. Look beyond the results of personality quizzes and get real about who you are.
THE HOUSE THAT FRED BUILT
FRED, the jewellery Maison that Fred Samuel created, pays tribute to his philosophy of life, light, and an unmistakable bold aesthetic in the art and pioneering craft of precious gems.
PHYSICAL 100
KENNETH GOH looks into the development, mastery and skill that go into Cartier's Trinity 100 collection as he savours the best of the best at the Maison's headquarters in Paris.
DREAM CATCHER
Encased in monogram and gleaming with pride and joy, the legendary LOUIS VUITTON trunk makes its way Down Under to crown the best in the world of tennis. KENNETH GOH reports from the Australian Open.
Colour Me Happy
Spark joy and confidence in your life with a little colour.