These Backstage Photos From Anna Sui Are the Cutest Things You’ll See All Week

by Charles Manning September 11, 2018

written by Charles Manning September 11, 2018

Anna Sui Spring 2019 (Sonny Vandevelde)

Last night, Anna Sui showed one of her strongest collections in years — full of her signature playful prints, bold color combinations, and funky styling. “I’m calling my Spring 2019 Collection Wanderlust,” said Sui in a statement. “This season I wanted to be transported to another time and place. It’s a dream of an idyllic Shangri-La, an unspoiled Paradise, a bucolic Arcadia – a total escapist fantasy. You can’t quite put your finger on it, not about any one place in particular. My themes are – travel, exploration, adventure, freedom, discovery.

“I always feel a romance for the past. I make it a point to visit flea markets wherever I travel. Whether it’s Portobello Road in London or the Ghost Market in Beijing — shopping there is like taking a trip on a magic carpet to exotic places and times. You never know what you’ll find! I had the extraordinary set designer, Jerry Schwartz, create a fantastical Grand Bazaar for my show, in the style of Tony Duquette. I invited a few of my favorite artisan friends and vintage vendors to exhibit and sell their wares down the runway – populated with shimmering pagodas, antique push carts, tasseled parasols, and gold-trimmed folding screens – like a scene out of the 1955 movie Kismet.”

But as gorgeous and fun as the collection and show were, it’s the backstage photos, shot by Sonny Vandevelde, that really capture the joie de vivre that made this season a particularly potent one for Sui. Check them out!