{{Short description|American fashion designer}} {{Use mdy dates|date = March 2025}} {{Infobox fashion designer | image = Phillip Lim, Copyright Ed Kavishe.JPG | caption = Phillip Lim in his spring 2009 collection | name = Phillip Lim | birth_name = Pheng Lim | birth_place = Thailand | birth_date = {{birth date and age text|16 September 1973}} | death_date = | death_place = | education = | label_name = 3.1 Phillip Lim| }} '''Phillip Lim''' (born '''Pheng Lim'''; September 16, 1973<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.vogue.com/voguepedia/Phillip_Lim|title=Phillip Lim|work=Voguepedia|publisher=Vogue|access-date=17 September 2013}}</ref>) is an American fashion designer. Lim is of Chinese descent whose parents immigrated to the United States from Cambodia during the Cambodian genocide.<ref>{{cite web |author=Bee-Shyuan Chang |date=September 14, 2011 |title=Phillip Lim: "We Live By The Dress, We Die By The Dress" |work=Fast Company |url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1777619/phillip-lim-we-live-dress-we-die-dress |access-date=January 2, 2017 |publisher=Mansueto Ventures}}</ref><ref name="NYMag">{{cite web|url=http://nymag.com/fashion/features/34973/index1.html|title=Mr. In-Between|publisher=New York magazine|author=Amy Larocca|date=19 July 2007 |access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref> Lim co-founded and worked at the Los Angeles-based fashion label Development from 2000 to 2004. In the fall of 2005, he co-founded ''3.1 Phillip Lim'' with friend and business partner Wen Zhou, becoming the company's creative representative.
Lim has garnered both critical and commercial success with his eponymous line. The Council of Fashion Designers of America awarded Lim the 2007 award for Emerging Talent in Womenswear for his work at 3.1 Phillip Lim.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.teenvogue.com/industry/designer/PhillipLim |publisher=Teen Vogue |author=Jane Keltner| title= Designer Bio: Phillip |work=Teen Vogue | access-date=2008-12-12}}</ref> In 2012, he was awarded the council's Swarovski award for Menswear.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://cfda.com/cfda-fashion-awards|publisher=CFDA| title= CFDA 2-12 Awards | access-date=2012-12-29}}</ref>
==3.1 Phillip Lim== {{Infobox company | name = 3.1 Phillip Lim | logo = | type = Private | foundation = 2004 | founder = Phillip Lim and Wen Zhou | location_city = | location_country = | location = New York City | locations = | area_served = | key_people = Phillip Lim, creative director | industry = Fashion | products = | services = | revenue = {{US$|60 million}} (projected 2011)<ref name="diplomat">{{cite web |url=https://thediplomat.com/new-emissary/2011/01/07/asian-american-fashion-wave/ |title=Asian-American Fashion Wave |author=Ulara Nakagawa |author-link=Ulara Nakagawa |date=7 Jan 2011 |work=The Diplomat |access-date=7 January 2011}}</ref> | operating_income = | assets = | equity = | owner = | num_employees = | parent = | divisions = | subsid = | caption = | homepage = {{URL|www.31philliplim.com}} | footnotes = }} thumb|3.1 Phillip Lim gold jacket with black buttons, 2010. 3.1 Phillip Lim is Lim's fashion label.<ref>[http://www.ruixinxin.com/3-1-philip-lim-fashion-designer-trendy-fashion/ 3.1 Philip Lim Fashion Designer]</ref>
===Collections=== For the line's fall 2006 collection,<ref name="F2006">{{cite web|url=http://www.style.com/fashionshows/review/F2006RTW-PLIM|title=3.1 Phillip Lim (Fall 2006 Collection)|publisher=Style.com|author=Laird Borrelli|date=2006-02-07|access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref> Lim aimed to "inject some 'street elegance' " into his designs. Laird Borrelli of ''Vogue'' praised his work as a "pretty-but-cool clothes" that "don't try too hard".
Lim's spring 2007 collection,<ref name="S2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/S2007RTW/review/PLIM|title=3.1 Phillip Lim (Spring 2007 Collection)|publisher=Style.com|author=Nicole Phelps|date=2006-09-10|access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref> His first runway show was praised as "lovely" by Nicole Phelps of ''Vogue'', who said Lim proved himself to be an "accomplished tailor". His clothes were romantic and predominantly white, with occasional navy and floral elements. Phelps noted Lim's "knack for combining the dressy and the casual", saying that "Lim knows how fashionable women want to dress".
The line's fall 2007 collection was inspired by socialite Edith Bouvier Beale and meant to embody what Lim called "pedigree minus prudence".<ref name="F2007">{{cite web|url=http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/F2007RTW/review/PLIM|title=3.1 Phillip Lim (Fall 2007 Collection)|publisher=Style.com|author=Nicole Phelps|date=2007-02-04|access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref> In what Phelps described as Lim's "most ambitious collection by far", Lim showed prep-school plaids and debutante-inspired dresses.
For his Resort 2008 collection,<ref name="R2008">{{cite web|url=http://www.style.com/fashionshows/collections/2008RST/review/PLIM|title=3.1 Phillip Lim (Resort 2008 Collection)|publisher=Style.com|author=Nicole Phelps|date=2007-07-03|access-date=2009-03-15}}</ref> Lim revisited his standby motifs.
His fall 2009 was inspired by the youthquake movement of the 1960s in England. Lissie Trullie's band performed live on his runway.
His spring 2010 fashion show, held on September 16, 2009, as part of the New York Fashion Week, was very well received, Lauren David Peden of ''Vogue'' reviewing the clothes as "delightfully modern, exceptionally detailed looks", "enhancing a woman’s femininity without getting all girlie-girl saccharine",<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.co.uk/shows/spring-summer-2010-ready-to-wear/31-phillip-lim|title=3.1 Phillip Lim (SPRING/SUMMER 2010 READY-TO-WEAR)|publisher=British Vogue|author=Lauren David Peden|work=British Vogue |date=2009-09-16|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> and Mark Holgate adding that Lim was "able to martial all the salient ideas of the season into brilliantly effortless, and wonderfully special, pieces".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/vd-new-york-spring-2010-mark-holgates-favorite-31-phillip-lim-look|title=New York Spring 2010: Mark Holgate's Favorite 3.1 Phillip Lim Look|publisher=vogue.com|author=Mark Holgate|date=2009-09-17|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> The collection was presented again the following day, at an exclusive runway event for American Express cardholders,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://edubourse.com/finance-actualites-actu-56109/|title=American Express Announces Exclusive, Enhanced Cardmember Experiences Throughout New York Fashion Week|publisher=edubourse.com|date=2009-09-10|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> the designer explaining that his goal was "to provide Cardmembers insight beyond the traditional runway show and offer them a one-of-a-kind experience into the design process".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.ft.com/content/3f597b84-b68a-3c87-a8e2-33e68b5f2e1d|title=When fashion meets finance (sort of)|publisher=Financial Times|author=Tracy Alloway|date=2009-09-21|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> However, during the show one of the models continuously fell down in her stilettos on both of her trips down the runway, and couldn't get up during the finale until another model picked her up and helped her off the runway. The mishap triggered several articles,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2009/09/phillip_lim_disaster_model_fal.html|title=Phillip Lim Disaster: Model Falls, Stays Down; Spectator Loses Lunch|publisher=thecut.com|author=Charlotte Cowles|date=2009-09-18|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://ny.racked.com/2009/9/21/7815129/runway-shitshow-falling-models-and-puking-interns-at-phillip-lim|title=Falling Models and Puking Interns at 3.1 Phillip Lim|publisher=ny.racked.com|author=Izzy Grinspan|date=2009-09-21|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref> and Jessica Coen of New York Magazine's ''The Cut'' even stated that "the whole thing was a catastrophe".<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2009/09/lim_amex_model_falls_but_her_m.html|title=Lim AmEx Model Falls, But Her Memory Lives On|publisher=thecut.com|author=Jessica Coen|date=2009-09-22|access-date=2022-06-16}}</ref>
For its advertisement campaigns, the brand has repeatedly worked with photographer Viviane Sassen.<ref>Jessica Iredale (9 February 2017), [https://wwd.com/fashion-news/fashion-scoops/phillip-lim-turns-viviane-sassen-for-fifth-campaign-10781358/ Phillip Lim Turns to Viviane Sassen for Fifth Campaign] ''Women's Wear Daily''.</ref> It operates stores in New York City, Los Angeles, Tokyo, and Seoul.
On November 13, 2024, Lim announced that he was stepping down as creative director of 3.1 Phillip Lim.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Winkler |first=Carolyn Twersky |date=November 13, 2024 |title=Phillip Lim Steps Down as Creative Director of 3.1 Phillip Lim |url=https://www.wmagazine.com/fashion/phillip-lim-31-leaving-brand-creative-director |access-date=2025-03-01 |work=W}}</ref> In September 2025, the brand appointed Michelle Rhee as head of design.<ref>Lisa Lockwood (9 September 2025), [https://wwd.com/fashion-news/designer-luxury/3-1-phillip-lim-michelle-rhee-head-of-design-1238126565/ 3.1 Phillip Lim Taps Michelle Rhee as Head of Design] ''Women's Wear Daily''.</ref>
===Collaborations=== On September 15, 2013, Lim's collaboration with retail chain Target debuted to select Target stores in the United States of America, and Canada. The fall collection included both women's and men's apparel and accessories ranging in price from $19.99 to $299.99.
Lim initiated a collaboration with scientists, including Charlotte McCurdy, to create fashion accessories and materials from algae and other lab-grown materials.<ref>{{Cite web|title=This Phillip Lim Sequin Dress Is Made Out of Seaweed|url=https://www.instyle.com/fashion/phillip-lim-seaweed-sequin-dress|access-date=2020-12-23|website=InStyle|language=EN}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|last=Spellings|first=Sarah|title=Growing Sequins and Sneakers in a Lab|url=https://www.vogue.com/article/one-x-one-incubator-phillip-lim-public-school-mara-hoffman|access-date=2020-12-23|website=Vogue|date=8 December 2020 |language=en-us}}</ref>
==Personal life== Lim lives in Manhattan.<ref>Edward Lewine (3 March 2010), [https://www.nytimes.com/2010/03/07/magazine/07fob-domains-t.html House of Style] ''The New York Times Magazine''.</ref> His brother is an attorney in Orange County, California.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fastcompany.com/1777619/phillip-lim-we-live-dress-we-die-dress|title=Phillip Lim: "We Live By The Dress, We Die By The Dress"|author=Bee-Shyuan Chang|work=Fast Company |date=September 14, 2011|access-date=July 7, 2018}}</ref>
==See also== * Chinese people in New York City * LGBT culture in New York City{{why|date=February 2026}} * List of LGBT people from New York City{{why|date=February 2026}} * New York Fashion Week * NYC Pride March
== References == {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{IMDb name|1938697}} *{{style.com designer|id=PLIM|title=3.1 Phillip Lim}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Lim, Phillip}} Category:1973 births Category:Living people Category:American fashion designers of Chinese descent Category:American fashion designers Category:California State University, Long Beach, alumni Category:High fashion brands Category:Thai emigrants to the United States Phillip Lim Phillip Lim Category:LGBTQ fashion designers