Fashion and Food: A Tết Celebration

Featuring

Thái Nguyễn – Fashion Designer and Author, co-host of Netflix’s Say I Do

Monique Truong – Novelist, Food Essayist, and Librettist

Kevin Tien – Executive Chef, Moon Rabbit

Anita Mannur – Director of the Asia, Pacific and Diaspora Studies and Professor of Critical Race and Gender Studies, American University

Event Details

• Location: Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library, 901 G St NW, Washington, DC
• Date: February 15th, 2025 | 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Featured Activities

Mai’s Áo Dài: Children’s Picture Book Reading and Activity

1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Kicking off this afternoon is a reading and activity with celebrity fashion designer Thái Nguyễn and bestselling author Monique Truong for their newly-released book Mai’s Áo Dài! Written for readers of all ages and backgrounds, this uplifting and affirming book is about embracing your heritage and the traditions that tie generations together. Attend this event to meet Thái and Monique and get your books signed!

Time with Thái: An Áo Dài Artistic Journey

2:00 pm – 3:00 pm

Thái Nguyễn will give us an exclusive look into his artistic craft as he showcases the different types of traditional áo dài styles from North, Central, and South Vietnam. For those who have always wondered how to get accurately measured for a custom áo dài, you don’t want to miss this live in-person demo!

The Evolution of Vietnamese Cuisine and Tết Traditions

3:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Moderated by Professor Anita Mannur from American University, this panel will explore the traditions and evolution of Vietnamese cuisine and the importance of food for building community in the Vietnamese diaspora. James Beard finalists Kevin Tien and Monique Truong will discuss how culinary aspirations are intrinsically tied to their own experiences and reflected in their work. Join us after the panel for a book signing and conversation with Monique, as well as a sampling of delicious Vietnamese foods eaten during Tết!