It’s been a whirlwind trip to New York this season and it seemed like by the time I’d unpacked my oversized suticase and knocked back a cocktail or three I was off to my final show. Sad though I was that my first New York Fashion Week was coming to an end, my excitement at seeing Anna Sui’s latest collection up close and personal was almost overpowering. As a grande dame of the New York fashion scene, Anna’s show was always going to be good but the performance she put on this season surpassed even my expectations. First off there was the front row line-up which included Sophia Coppola, Teen Vogue Editor, Lisa Love, Lisa Marie Presley and Corinne Bailey Rae. Then there were the models. Karlie Kloss, Jessica Stam, Lindsay Wixen, Arizona Muse, Karen Elson… Anna’s runway read like a who’s who of this years “supers” and last but certainly not least came the clothes.

Anyone who accuses fashion of taking itself too seriously need only witness an Anna Sui catwalk show to realise that is definitely not (always) the case. Anna’s SS12 collection came bounding down the runway in a haze of retro fabulousness. Think kitsch prints, vibrant colours and the kind of girlish charm that Anna most certainly does best.

From tiny chiffon playsuits to stunning lace frocks, the collection was a girly girls’ dream featuring feathers, sparkles and ruffles galore. Cinched waists, 40′s silhouettes, ultra glam waved locks and seriously stunning head pieces made for some of the most deliciously feminine ensembles I’ve ever laid eyes on. Androdgny and simplicity be damned, Anna’s new season offerings simply oozed carefree opulence. Embellishment was the name of the game and virtually every look came with a generous helping of sequins. Printed tights, pop socks and glittering accessories were all on the sartorial menu proving that less isn’t necessarily more.

If you like your fashion with a hefty dose of fun then Anna Sui is most definitely your girl. The show was a true performance and her models strutted their stuff to the perfect soundtrack of French pop beats. Ok, so maybe it wasn’t groundbreaking. But you can bet your life that there wasn’t a person in attendance who didn’t have a smile on their face and if it’s not to spread joy then what the hell is fashion even for?

Love Ella. X