Anna Sui

Let's face it: Anna Sui knows how to have fun. So much fun, in fact, that we were even treated to models like Lily Donaldson, Joan Smalls, and Lindsey Wixson smiling on the runway! For Fall '12, Anna drew inspiration from a 1960s Jean Shrimpton silhouette but, in Sui style, took care to put her own signature whimsical spin on it, as seen in the psychedelic patterns and color palette. While the super-textured shag coats, Woodstock-worthy caftans, and babydoll dresses certainly set the retro tone, it was the designer's attention to the owl motif that left a lasting impression. The knitted owl hats, owl-shaped sunglasses, and owl-embellished fingerless gloves were just a few of the not-so-subtle themed items found within this playful lineup. Also worth noting? Anna Sui collaborated with Coach to design this season's line of bags — newly debuted on the runway — and yes, they had owls on them, too. It was a total Anna production, just youthful and fun from start to finish.

• Trends: Owls, oversized Peter Pan collars, super-textured shag coats, '60s-style babydoll dresses, and bright tights.
• Colors: Rich autumnal colors — rust, orange, ecru — matched up with neon blue, fuchsia, and pink.
• Key Piece: The cozy shag coats over sweet babydoll dresses.
• Accessories: Newly debuted line of Anna Sui for Coach bags, knit owl hats, owl-shaped sunglasses, knit fingerless owl-embellished gloves, and neon tights.
• Who Would Wear It: Fashionistas with a taste for kitsch and color, like Hailee Steinfeld and Chloe Moretz.

>> Ladylike has been a key trend for Fall 2012, but Anna Sui decided to go against the grain with bohemian silhouettes, '70s-inspired prints, and bold colors. Most of the models the designer sent down the catwalk were clad in bright-colored tights, round sunglasses, and flowy, floral prints. These pieces are definitely not for the fashion meek; it takes mixing and clashing to be part of the Sui clan.

>> In honor of their upcoming Versace For H&M collaboration — in stores and online Nov. 17 — the two brands pulled together three events in one last night at New York's Pier 57. Through a gilded hall of mirrors, designers (Anna Sui, Joseph Altuzarra, Christopher Kane), supermodels (Linda Evangelista, Helena Christensen), and other such notables (Uma Thurman, Chloe Moretz, Nicki Minaj, Prince) were swept into a dark room framing a serpentine catwalk, on which Versace favorites like Abbey Lee Kershaw, Natasha Poly, Lindsey Wixson, and Daphne Groeneveld wore black leather headscarves, heavy kohl, and stomped to speaker-pumping music.

Cue the next: After her runway bow, Donatella Versace gestured guests to follow her into a green-lit, disco ball-hung room covered in oversized palm tree wallpaper. Minaj took the mic — dressed in Versace for H&M, of course — and inspired Alexander Wang to sing along in the audience to every song. Much to Donatella's pleasure — and Natasha Poly's, who sat on the shoulders of a friend so she could videotape the set on her phone — Prince was up next on stage. Versace fist-pumped when Prince gave her a shout-out, clapped above her head . . . and that was before his encore of "Purple Rain."

Finally, the last of the three-prong event: crowds that had been lining up before Prince even took the stage were unleashed into the shopping area. As Style.com notes, "Many of the women in the crowd made beelines for the collection's men's clothes."

A video of the show, below.

>> Energy was still high backstage on the second-to-last day of New York Fashion Week. Lindsey Wixson did a Lolita impression at Anna Sui (left); Frida Gustavsson pulled off a Marilyn Monroe moment in her leopard and feather dress at Michael Kors; and everyone gave their best smoldering stare backstage at Proenza Schouler. See those snaps — and more from backstage at 3.1 Phillip Lim and Anna Sui — in the slideshow.

Photo: Greg Kessler

An all-star model cast including Karen Elson, Jess Stam, Arizona Muse, Karlie Kloss, and Lindsey Wixson hit the runway for Anna Sui's '40s-inspired Spring 2012 collection. With ladylike silhouettes, sweet, full-bodied prints, an electric palette — and turbans to top every look — Sui's Spring looks bright, polished, and marked with feminine charm in every detail. Nods to the womanly, the glamorous — and the very Parisian — were made throughout, in everything from the bold red lips to the lace veils, and the music transporting the crowd — including front-rower Sofia Coppola — to a bouncy dance scene in retro Paris. Indeed, the models themselves seemed to bounce along the runway in a peppy celebration of womanly clothes and colorful accents. Lindsey Wixson smiled flirtatiously, Karlie Kloss perfected her sultry half-smile, and the parade of beauties all done up in a mix of prints, socks, and sequins played perfectly to Sui's witty recreation of vintage style.

• Trends: Ladylike, sheer, lace, florals, prints, sequins, turbans.
• Colors: Purple, black, white, red, yellow florals.
• Key Piece: Karlie in the electric purple floral print frock and matching turban.
• Accessories: Cat-eye sunglasses, floppy hats, turbans, crisscross sandals, embellished tights, socks, and Sui's luggage for Tumi.
• Who Would Wear It: Witty, whimsical types who favor femme silhouettes and a taste for the retro; Kirsten Dunst.

While April may bring us plenty of shenanigans at the start, by the end of the month, we'll all be witnessing something a bit more staid: the royal wedding. So get ready for a few seasonal showers, celebratory events, and rising temperatures by putting a spring in your step with a few of our beauty must haves.

We may still have Spring and Summer to worry about, but leave it to Diane von Furstenberg, Derek Lam, and Victoria Beckham to have us counting down the months until we can break out our moody Fall handbags. During New York Fashion Week, designers brought out the big guns in the form of superchic totes, oversize clutches, and ladylike frame bags— and if I remember correctly, there were some fanny packs thrown in there too. Excited yet? Click through to see the satchels that we can't wait to snap up.