Anna Sui SS21

Anna Sui has been spot on in foreshadowing the events that have defined 2020 with the collections she presented in the past year. Her spring summer collection which featured playful, feminine sleepwear inspired dresses and loungewear came at a prime moment when the world was shut down and spending most of their days at home and in bed. Her fall winter 2020 collection was darker, influenced by horror movies recommended by Steven Meisel. As Europe begins their second wave of lockdown and autumn holidays are cancelled in America, rich purples and a bold black attire seem to reflect the somber season ahead of us. 

Over the summer, Anna Sui shared her thoughts about the Covid-19 pandemic and how she believes it will resonate through fashion world on the BOF podcast with Tim Blanks. Since the US has shut down, its the first time since she was sixteen where she's had down time, causing her to slow down and submerge herself in handy crafts. As she and other designers are taking on new hobbies while stuck at home, she predicted a possible resurgence of artisanal craftsmanship. She observed that people are spending more time with their moms or grandmas and are taking the time to learn or hone in on skills such as knitting and quilting. 

During this time when the unemployment rate is at an all time high and many people across the world are struggling financially, she speculated that designers would stem away from the extravagance and return to homespun work and the artistry of craft. Her spring summer 2021 collection reflected her thoughts over summer with whimsical dresses, jumpsuits and rompers with ribbon detailing, patchwork, and embroidery.

This season was her first time not hosting a fashion show since 1991 and even so, it was very important for her to control the manner in which her clothes were presented. In a curated photoshoot, the models stood in front of a backdrop of a paper doll looking cottage. 

She was inspired by Berthe Morisot, the French Impressionist painter from the early 20th century. Morisot was celebrated for her soft use of watercolors to bring freshness to her paintings. Anna Sui payed tribute to the artist's influence in Parisian art scene by creating a collection comprised of looks using a muted palette of pale pinks and soft ivory with lace accents. The whole collection brought an ease of serenity and playfulness, giving us something to hope for when spring comes around.