In my wonderful and illustrious career as an arts/fashion/entertainment journalist I’ve seen and done it all. Pushed my way to interview Karl in Paris? Check. Chatted with Madonna about margaritas? Check. Flirted with Michael Buble on and off camera? Yeah baybee!
So when I recently visited the beautifully crafted and curated exhibit of fashion designer Anna Sui at the Museum of Arts and Design (MAD) in Columbus Circle and saw my mug on a HUGE screen on the wall, I nearly screamed with delight! Now this is BIG and bucket list-worthy. In 2006, I profiled Anna for “Full Frontal Fashion” and the segment is being shown in its entirety at MAD. So flattered and honored to have been included in this in-depth, immersive homage to Anna Sui, the uber-hip OG fashion influencer even before that was a term. The Detroit native/Parsons alum is an American design icon for many reasons and someone whom many of today’s influencers should bow down to. She’s the real deal.
Her universe comes to life in this exhibit displayed on two floors of the museum: her too-cool-for-school stories behind the clothes she designed, the muses she created (hippie chick, grunge girl, surfer nomad), the creative circle of friends she kept (Steven Meisel, Naomi Campbell, Sofia Coppola), the music she listened to and the films she watched.
With nearly a hundred looks culled from her archives, she also pays tribute to her mentors and peers along the way. For those of you interested in fashion or have kids who are, tear them away from their phones and come check it out while it’s on view through February. There are Sui Saturday talks running in tandem with the show. On November 2nd, she sits down with Barneys’ legend Simon Doonan to talk with her friends and collaborators, hair maestro Garren and makeup artist superstar Pat McGrath. Upcoming conversations include: perfumer Jerome Epinette in December, musician and supermodel Karen Elson in January, and fashion journalist Tim Blanks in February. Fam-friendly art activities and adult design happy hours inspired by the exhibit are also on tap.
The first run of this show was held a couple of years ago at the Fashion and Textile Museum in London and now it’s here in a hood anchored by MAD, the Time Warner Center and Central Park. After I took in The World of Anna Sui, I popped into the colorful, mod Vera Neumann show and an exhibit featuring some of today’s rising art stars. Let’s just say I’m now a Bisa Butler groupie. I found my way upstairs to the top of the museum and the intimate Robert restaurant and treated myself to a delicious prosecco and elderflower concoction called The Isabell. Gorge views of Central Park. I was running to catch a train so I hit the Turnstyle Underground Market in the Columbus Circle subway hub, a tunnel filled with food counters and shops selling everything from tacos and bubble tea to dog goods and stationery. Dinner to go was a salmon roll from Yong Kang Street and a few cinnamon sugar-dusted treats from Doughnuttery. When I return with more time, I will head to the newest hoppin’ incarnation of Momofuku Noodle Bar or Bluebird London for a sleek, touristy vibe – both at Time Warner. Kids in tow? Quick bite at Whole Foods for the win – and the bathrooms.
The World of Anna Sui @MAD, 2 Columbus Circle; Robert @MAD, 2 Columbus Circle, 9th Floor; Turnstyle Underground Market, W 59th St-Columbus Circle Station; Time Warner Center, 10 Columbus Circle