Lynn Ban, one of the most stylish stars of Bling Empire, has passed away. She was 51.
Ban was injured in a skiing accident in Aspen last Christmas Eve. She suffered a brain bleed and was airlifted to a hospital, where she underwent an emergency surgery. She passed away on 20 January.
Ban’s death was announced on her Instagram by her son, Sebastian. He wrote, “She was and always will be my best friend, the best mother to me, and someone who cared for all. She always had a smile on her face even when times were tough during her recovery process. She was a fighter until the end and is the strongest woman I know.”
Ban, who was born in Singapore, grew up in New York where she was exposed to fashion, music and culture. A savvy thrift shopper, Ban amassed an enviable vintage fashion collection including rare pieces from designers like Gianni Versace, John Galliano, Thierry Mugler and Azzedine Alaïa.
In 2011, Ban launched her eponymous jewellery label. Her statement rings and cuffs, which were stocked at Club 21 stores, were worn by celebrities like Rihanna, Beyoncé, Madonna, Lady Gaga and 2NE1’s CL. Later, she made her foray into designing clothing when she launched a resort collection in partnership with Como Hotels and Resorts.
In 2023, the designer herself was put in the spotlight when she starred in the Netflix reality series, Bling Empire: New York. On the show, she immediately stood out with her bold sense of style, which included wearing vintage Chanel and avant-garde pieces from Noir Kei Ninomiya.
Ban’s showstopping outfits weren’t merely curated for the screen. Since her childhood, when her mother would bring her along to shopping trips at stores like Club 21, Ban saw style as an important form of self-expression. Just as she lived her life exuberantly, Ban didn’t restrict herself when it came to dressing up. She favoured bright, vibrant colours just as much as all-black ensembles. Her wardrobe embraced an array of textures, including sequins, feathers, metallics and tulle. In the same week, she could go from wearing a futuristic Rick Owens outfit to donning a romantic Dior ballgown by John Galliano.
Ban didn’t wait for a special occasion: she saw everyday as an opportunity to have fun with fashion, even if she was simply going grocery shopping. As she once shared in an interview, “Clothes have to have a life, a memory. Go out, get drunk, dance. That’s what fashion is for me—you live in it.”
Ahead, look back on some of Ban’s finest fashion moments.
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