Kelsey Lu Makes a Major Impression With This CVFF-Approved Gown
When Kelsey Lu performed at the new Manhattan performance venue the Shed in April as part of its opening concert series, dedicated to celebrating the enduring influence of African-American music, Lu knew that she had to wear something special to honor the spirit of the event. “I remember wearing Christopher John Rogers at the Shed performance,” Lu says of the grandiose, goth-chic gown that she pulled from the young New York-based CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalist. “It was a momentous event that I’ll never forget and the dress mirrored that sentiment.”
But that night, Lu remembers that she had to choose between two gowns by Rogers: and this weekend, for a similarly impactful event, she wore the runner-up. Performing in Martha's Vineyard at Long Point Wildlife Refuge as part of artist Doug Aitken’s “New Horizon” project, Lu wore a lime green tulle concoction with a portrait of a woman hand-painted onto it by artist Drake Carr. Aitken’s ambitious multifaceted art event extends across Massachusetts, but it’s all centered around a reflective 100-foot-tall hot air balloon that reflects the earth, sky, and water that surrounds the state. Each time the balloon touches down, a happening takes place—it started off on the dunes in Long Point with a conversation on creativity, and it ended at Field Farm in Williamstown with a panel on the future of our culture.
The particular night that Lu performed, the programming was focused on climate change, with ecologists and financial historians discussing potential measures to protect the scenic New England coastline and beyond. “Humans are taking up space all over this planet, and bringing beauty and distraction along with it,” Lu says of the event. “The whole ‘New Horizon’ project is being presented as a response to climate change and spreading awareness on it and how we can help respect it.”
As for her whimsical gown, Lu notes she’s been trying to wield her footprint on the earth in a more positive way. “I’m all about taking up space these days,” she says of her decision to wear the over-the-top gown. After wearing Rogers at the Shed, Lu deemed this occasion just as worthy of such an impressive piece. “I also was in competition with that big ol’ hot air balloon,” Lu jokes. “So we had to come to a level playing field, ya know what I’m sayin’?”
Originally Appeared on Vogue
