Anna Sui surfs the French New Wave

You could tell Anna Sui was cooking up something très, très Francais from the moment you stepped inside the tent and took your seat, serenaded by a series of ‘60s (and thereabouts) French pop songs. Another tip-off -- her program, entitled “Nouvelle Vague” (or New Wave). 

Ahhhh, oui, oui, but of course -- La Sui, she is paying homage to the French New Wave, a group of maverick French filmmakers from the ’60s (think classics like Jean-Luc Godard’s “Breathless”). Sure enough, as a French version of “The Loco-Motion” blasted (that's Sylvie Vartan singing “doooo ze Locomotion”), the models appeared at the end of the runway, attempting a bit of choreography. Step touch, step touch. Seeing models move in any way OTHER than walking forward is always a bit humorous.

But then they hit the runway full stride in outfits that were part Sui, part ‘60s throwback. All her crazy-quilt prints were there, but on prim-collared chiffon dresses with tweed vests. And shirts adorned with crocheted neckties. And tweedy (clearly Chanel-inspired) wool jackets and skirts. Punctuating the look were the occasional Mongolian or chinchilla faux fur jackets and coats, in teal, magenta, grape.

The accessories completed the look: large brooches and pendants (by Erickson Beamon for Anna Sui), berets and odd little knit hoods (by James Coviello for Anna Sui), which were reminiscent of Pierre Cardin bonnets -- and, of course, the quilted handbags, which dangled from round the extended arms of the models as they sauntered down the runway.

All in all, a fun romp. And a reminder of a lotta great movies to check out on Netflix.