Stylist and brand consultant, Kim Bui Kollar knows a thing or two about style and managing a wardrobe. The founder of Banck Creative and long time collaborator with designer Phillip Lim, Kim is known for her sense of style and unique point of view.
Street style photographers love her and while she dreams of collaborating with Rihanna and having a concept store with a twist, day to day it’s all about styling clothes to make them hers.
1) Describe your style in 3 words
Cool, chic, nonchalant, unexpected. In that order. Oh wait, that’s four words!
2) What’s the most precious item in your wardrobe and why?
I have a black Ossie Clark dress that Phillip Lim gave me. I don’t know where he got it from but I suspect he got it for me because anyone who knows me well, knows that my spirit animal is the 70s. I call it the Goddess dress. The dress is long, sleek but cool because of the matte black crepe with a sneaky up-to-there-slit. I wish the dress could speak to me — to tell stories of where it’s been and the parties it went to during the Swinging 70s. The dress looks surprisingly simple but has so much attitude when worn.
Photo: Pinterest
3) What’s your go to outfit?
My navy Brioni three piece suit in tropical wool mohair.
Photo: Kim Bui Kollar @aka.kimbui
4) Favourite piece you bought recently and why?
That would be a toss up between a Christopher Esber blouse and skirt outfit or this Kwaidan Editions outfit that looks like a uniform but with exaggerated proportions. Maybe it’s because I am so busy as a working mother of three, I like the idea of a style uniform that says “put together with a look, but not trying too hard” and I feel like these looks do exactly that.
5) What is the best fashion advice you have received?
Know your lengths and proportions—this makes such a difference in terms of how clothes look on and how features can be accentuated or concealed. I call it “fun with silhouettes!”
6) Who are your style icons?
Kate Moss, Chloe Sevigny, Rihanna, Bianca Jagger, Princess Diana.
7) Personal style signifier
Pants under skirts or dresses.
8) Less or more?
More of the same so people know what I am really going for.
9) If you could have anyone’s wardrobe whose would it be and why?
Natasha Goldenberg -— she has exquisite taste.
Photo: @ngoldenberg
10) If you were an item of clothing what would you be?
I would be a pair of Paul Andrew stiletto boots with peacock feathers. They are these beautifully made pair of classic stiletto booties with the perfect pitch and an unexpected billow of feathers. She starts out classic and then reveals a surprise!
11) Where do you love to shop?
Amarees in Newport Beach, Joyce in Hong Kong , Blake in Chicago, The Way We Wore in Los Angeles, Le Monde de SHC in Shanghai.
12) Favourite fashion apps?
Vogue Runway, Instagram, Net-A-Porter.
13) If a museum asked you to donate one item from your wardrobe that represented you what would it be?
A black satin midi bias skirt by John Galliano from the 90s. The most simple and perfect item of clothing ever. The most difficult items to design are the simple ones.
14) What will we never find in your wardrobe?
I would not say never, it’s how it’s styled to make it mine. I get sent some pretty interesting garments that I may have not picked off a rack, the fun part is making it work, I guess that’s what being a stylist is all about.
Photo: Kim Bui Kollar @aka.kimbui
15) What’s your number one fashion rule?
I like things that are extra but I don’t care for fussy clothes that don’t fit well. Fashion should be fun but i think it’s important to always feel like yourself.
16) What is your dream project?
I would love to have a concept shop and make a film with beautiful interesting people featuring all of the amazing things from the shop. This is the complete opposite of how our short attention span behaviors are now, but I think this could be incredibly interesting. Creativity always wins.
17) Dream collaborator?
Rihanna.
18)Three people that I follow on social media:
@styleheroine – who is so creative, glamorous, and a wonderful person
@wannacoo – of BOYY Boutique because I think she has such great style and I love her bags.
@adakokosar – I think she has amazing style. Plus her shoe collection is fantastic!
Follow Kim Bui Kollar on @aka.kimbui
Cover photo: Kim Bui Kollar photographed by Moeez Ali
