Celebrating Women's History Month-March 2017-ANNA SUI: THE "HIPQUAKE QUEEN"

CELEBRATING WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH

(This is my last blog for Women’s History Month-March 2017)

“Anna Sui:  The HipQuake Queen"

What is Hip?  Ask Anna Sui. 

 

For 24 years, Anna Sui has been the quintessential fashion designer for folks who are young and hip who have a cutting-edge disposition on life and all things retro, especially the 1960s and 1970s.

As a second time resident of Los Angeles, in the 1990s, I learned about the funkafied stylings of fashion guru and designer, Anna Sui.  She had been to Parsons School of Design in NYC and had made a name for herself back in the 1980s.  Although, it wasn’t until the early 1990s when I paid attention to her youthquake-inspired, no century limitation of design.  Choosing to make a collection of timeless designs channeling the tastes of wealthy youth from different time periods, Los Angelans (Hollywood and music elite) were obsessed with the garments sported by half of SoHo in New York City.

Anni Sui had managed to bridge the bi-coastal gap of style between funky New York City and bad-to-the bones L.A. proper.   She had created what I call a “HipQuake.”

 

Just as in her current Fall/Winter 2016-2017 collection, she has always highlighted a colorful mix of fabrics and patterns turning each collection into a kaleidoscope spread of Hippie whimsy.  Combining androgynous styles and delicate girly clothing to form a thought-provoking line of rock and roll tour costumes, Sui has kept up the beat of the Hendrix crew long after his fascination with the play on layered vestment.

Anna Sui, in her Fall/Winter 2016-2017 collection, is digging the scene of red with orange on grape-purple paisley to black and white overtures of velvet and lace.  Cloaking boys and girls in heavy vest and monkey fur looking coats, she has doubled-down on her aesthetic this time around.  Like the weather, calling for the last hoorah of Winter, it’s your last weekend to make the Sui look, your look.  April showers might hold off a bit for one last blow of Winter’s chill.  Make haste and find comfort in a faux fur vest with floral-print stockings and matching shoes.  For Sui style is always “on fleek” and the moment is here.  Tie-up your lace-front boots one more time.  Throw a belt on your hip and make the buckle slip.  Anna Sui is what Philadelphian Vincent King calls “seasonless”. 

                       

Whether boy or girl, Anna Sui calls for Mod, child.  Calling all flower children to shout-out for peace and place a flower in your hair.  Wear your granny dress in layers from maxi to midi to mid-thigh, but don’t hold back.  Bell bottoms are in and now is the time to wear your round, colored glasses and opaque socks.  Match a pattern or not.  Sui doesn’t care.  Just be you, all layered and pattern true.

 

 

Mix your gender, your race, your hair, your style, your size.  Fluffy vests give you a figure, while Anna Sui chiffon dresses give you sway and motion.  Rock on in your orange. 

Anna Sui is and always will be that “woman.”  She is an energetic inspiration of fearless wonderment and classic designer style. 

I take my cue from Anna Sui.  Always feel free…to be thee.

*Vanessa Brantley  Style395.blogspot.com  April 2, 2017,  "Anna Sui: The HipQuake Queen"   Volume 4, Blog 1c [vol. 4, 1-1c].