Talent: Lauren Nguyễn. Photographer: Tom Marvel. Top, skirt and scarf: RVNG Couture. Necklace: Deliguoro. Bracelet: Ettika. Shoes: Victor de Souza.
Lauren Nguyen’s love for fashion began very early. Her first introduction to fashion did not come from the runway or glossy magazines, but from her family.
As immigrants to the United States, her parents brought with them Vietnamese traditions: a love of clothes and a belief in dressing as a form of self-expression. From an early age, Lauren and her three sisters were always carefully dressed by their parents whenever they went out.
But the lesson their parents passed on was never simply about dressing well. They taught their daughters that taking care with your appearance is also a way of showing respect for the people you meet. And each of them represented not only herself, but her family as well.
Perhaps that is why, for Lauren Nguyen, fashion has never been only about appearances.
Dress: Bibhu Mohapatra. Earrings and ring: Erickson Beamon.
The dress her father made
One of Lauren Nguyen’s clearest fashion memories comes from middle school. For a school dance, her father made matching metallic mini dresses for Lauren and her twin sister, Chloe. The two girls wore them with four-inch heels.
Their classmates had only ever seen Lauren in T-shirts and jeans. Suddenly, they were looking at a completely different girl. Lauren laughs: “Both versions of my style felt equally authentic, but it was fun and exciting to me that you can play with the way others perceive you through clothing.” Clothes, after all, can change the way we look without changing who we really are. For a girl who would later become a model, it was a discovery that came remarkably early.
Top, skirt, shoes and handbag: Carolina Herrera. Earring: LNB Jewellery. Belt: Lizzie Fortunato.
The sisters on the Gucci runway
Lauren Nguyen and Chloe Nguyen started modeling at 15. Back then, they often appeared together. It felt natural: the sisters had grown up side by side and had done almost everything together. Entering the fashion world together made both girls feel more comfortable.
Dress: Alice + Olivia. Gloves: Victor de Souza. Bracelets and earrings: Lizzie Fortunato. Headpiece: Kat and Clarese.
Then came Gucci.
In 2022, Lauren and Chloe made their runway debut in Alessandro Michele’s Gucci Twinsburg Spring/Summer 2023 show.
Lauren recalls: “It’s one of my most cherished memories. It was the Gucci Twinsburg show, and we walked it with 67 other pairs of twins, many of whom were also making their runway debut. All of us were in the same hotel together for a week (which must have been a crazy sight for the other guests), and it was uniquely special to be a part of something so exciting with my twin, alongside so many other twins experiencing the same thing.”
Dress: Manuel Tiscareno. Necklace and earrings: Showroom Seven.
From “We” to “I”
Being a twin also meant learning how to become an individual. When Lauren first started modeling, it felt more natural and safer to be seen together with Chloe.
As they grew older, however, their experiences began to differ. Their separate modeling careers gave each sister the space to discover who she was. Interestingly, that independence did not pull them apart. It made their relationship stronger.
Even their personal styles are different. Chloe is more of a “party girl” and is currently loving an ’80s moment. Lauren is more of a “homebody.” Her ideal outfit is something that makes her feel as if she is on a relaxing vacation. The sisters still share plenty of clothes, though.
“Finding our INDIVIDUAL SELVES strengthened OUR BOND in a new way, and I LOVE that we bring our own PERSONALITIES, PERSPECTIVES, and ENERGIES to the table.”
Dress: Prabal Gurung. Cape: Pier Antonio Gaspari. Neckpiece: WMN. Earrings: Iza by Silva D’Avila. Gloves: Theo. Bracelet: Erickson Beamon. Rings: Nickho Rey. Shoes: Claudio Merazzi.
A new haircut, a different Lauren Nguyen
Since Gucci, Lauren has worked with Vera Wang Fragrance, Coach, H&M and other names. But one of her most memorable transformations began with her hair. She went from long black hair to a bleached pixie cut for fashion week.
Lauren thought it would simply change her appearance. Instead, she found herself dressing differently, presenting herself differently and even seeing herself differently.
The new hair also expanded the range of characters she could play in front of the camera. That is part of what Lauren loves about fashion: the possibility of exploring another version of herself without losing who she really is.
Jacket and dress: Sara Wong. Dress: Zimmermann. Earrings: Helene Quan. Necklace: Erickson Beamon. Gloves: Laurel DeWitt. Rings: Randa Choueiri Jewelry.
Vulnerable in front of the camera
Before every shoot, Lauren begins by imagining the feelings and emotions of the woman she is about to become. The clothes, hair and beauty help the character gradually emerge. Music on set does the rest.
But the camera has taught her something else. Standing in front of it can make you vulnerable, because you are allowing someone to observe you from very close range.
Lauren gradually discovered that allowing others to see those vulnerable parts of herself can also be a form of strength, and a way to grow.
“Expressing MYSELF in front of the CAMERA has helped me DISCOVER my confidence in OTHER ASPECTS of my life.”
Dress and pants: Zimmermann. Earrings and necklace: Showroom Seven. Boots: Pons Quintana.
The diversity of Asian beauty
As a Vietnamese-American model working internationally, Lauren does not believe representation simply means putting people from many different backgrounds into the same campaign. “I love stories and campaigns that capture who people really are in their everyday settings, especially ones with real families and friends.”
Lauren has also noticed a change in the way fashion represents Asian beauty and identity since she began modeling. “Asians are not a monolith, and I’m glad to see that brands and industry professionals are becoming more sensitive to that and more inclusive of different ethnicities and backgrounds.”
Look: Victor De Souza. Earrings: Cristina Sabatini. Rings: Lizzie Fortunato.
The beauty that brings us closer
Lauren has always believed that beauty comes from showing love and respect to yourself and to others. As she has grown older, that definition has become broader. “I find the most beautiful things are those that connect us with each other or make us feel more human.”
Ask her what she hopes people will one day say Lauren Nguyen brought to fashion, and she chooses just one word: “Reality.” Life does not need to be perfect to be beautiful just as it is.
Jacket and dress: Sara Wong. Dress: Zimmermann. Earrings: Helene Quan. Necklace: Erickson Beamon. Gloves: Laurel DeWitt. Rings: Randa Choueiri Jewelry.
Outside modeling, Lauren Nguyen is also curious about acting. In her own words: “Maybe an acting class. It seems vulnerable and terrifying, but that’s what intrigues me.”
From the little girl in a metallic mini dress made by her father to the young woman walking the Gucci runway beside Chloe, Lauren Nguyen has lived through many versions of herself. But perhaps the most interesting version is still the one the camera has yet to see.
Who is Lauren when no one is watching? She describes herself with a charmingly simple answer: “A girl who overthinks everything and has too much to say. 😊”
Dress: Bibhu Mohapatra. Gloves: Laurel DeWitt. Rings: Cristina Sabatini, Keren Wolf. Bracelet: Luv AJ. Shoes: Claudio Merazzi. Headpiece: Kat and Clarese.
Photographer/Producer: Tom Marvel @tommarvelphotography.
Talent: Lauren Nguyen @laurensicle from Kollectiv Management @kollective_mgmt.
Stylist/Creative Director: Lisa Smith Craig @lscstyling.
Lighting Director: Pierre Bonnet @jpierrebonnet.
Makeup: Romero Jennings @romerojennings.
Hair: Linh Nguyen @linhhair.
Nails: Casey Herman @caseynails.
Digital Tech: David Gannon @davidgannonphotography.
Casting: Bobby Gutierrez @nycbobbyg.
Lighting Assistant: Sarah Schneider @sarahbschneider.
Photography Assistant: George Santos @gspepe | Michele Swain @michelewilhelminaphotography | Helen Chi @misshelenchic.
Styling Assistant: Essence Carson @essencecarson | Tiwa Lee @_tiwa.
Studio: Untitled NYC, New York, NY @un_nyc.
Gravity Backdrops @gravitybackdrops.
Retoucher: Cosmic Pixels @cosmicpixels_nyc
Harper’s Bazaar Việt Nam
