Ever seen couture blend with humor? Or Victorian sensibility with neon? Or perhaps gothic styles with metallic shines?

This particularly whimsical show started off with a vintage phone call conversation, in synch with the feminine and Victorian style luminescent backdrop of the Anna Sui show at New York Fashion Week (NYFW). With a penchant for pretty things and cute accessories and bright pops of color, it was no surprise that personal moments from her life and interior design were actually the themes of the show.

As a reader of Elsie de Wolfe‘s interiors when redesigning her own apartment to planning events in France, her collection was a nod to the glamor of bygone eras of whimsy mixed with plush fabrics and fun colors. She described it as architecturally fitting, something I resonated with given my lineage in design and interiors. And truly, the models waltzed out to blues music layered in detailed fabrics and accessories, piled together like a tastefully done home!

There was no evident pattern or trend except for one of juxtaposing fabrics, prints, embroidery, embelishments and moods together to sequence a series of outfits. I liked that many pieces were relatively monochromatic, with the reds on a couple taking my utmost fancy owing to my devotion to the hue.

Several pieces had jewel toned fabrics, with crushed and velvet jackets and metallic shine on blouses and satins. Some printed jacquards were trimmed with fur, and I saw hints of lace on some leggings. Similar to other partywear runways, the styles were very modern, with jumpsuits worn with fur lined coats, printed pantaloons (some with sequins, on menswear no less), fitted dresses with frills and beadwork, velvet tracksuits with metallic stripes, and dresses with endless ruffles. With metal as a key theme, the shine loving boy in me was at utmost ease.

Almost gothic in some ways, and princess-like in other, it was one of the coolest juxtapositions seen at fashion week. For there were lace like Victorian romances, what with couples waltzing out in matching retro styled outfits glazed with enough detailing and bunny brooches to make time freeze for sheer observances. With a mix of haute couture and whimsy, this was truly a fun collection.

Supplementary images by WWD.