Anna Sui Presents a Victorian-Inspired Spring/Summer 2020 Collection
Anna Sui's Spring 2020 show at New York Fashion Week paid tribute to the Victorian era. The designer has crafted a recognizable aesthetic on colorful eclecticism, changing up the inspiration and look each season with a mix of different prints and fabrics that together paint a modern and unapologetic picture of femininity. This season is no different, embracing an edgy and nostalgic softness that floated down the runway with its effortless movement, texture, and colors that will feel right at home at a springtime garden party.
The runway featured feminine dresses, all using an array of colors and often transparent fabrics, and in a nod to storied Victorian society, many had puffed sleeves. Everything blended together effortlessly and seemed to signal that maybe there's a lot of potential for fanciful and lighthearted aesthetics to take over in an environment saturated with intense political commentary and ultracool streetwear. Honestly, that's not that surprising when you think about Cecilie Bahnsen's influence on street style over in Europe and brands like Batsheva and Susan Alexandra taking over in New York—the state of the world can be stressful and a dreamy escape often feels necessary. After Sunday was full of a garden party with sunhats and adorable cocktails at Rosie Assoulin and an overall plethora of produce and outdoor shows, Sui's collection helped to keep a bit of that relaxing energy going as the industry headed into a Monday that was essentially a seventh straight day of work amidst fashion week craziness.
The makeup, by none other than legendary artist-cum-entrepreneur Pat McGrath, was another important point of the presentation, with playful designs and hyper-pigmented eyeshadow—that last detail bearing significant resemblance to the viral makeup on Euphoria. See a few select images below.
