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Anna Sui: Pirating Pretty

Anna Sui literally pirated this season's "pretty" trends at her Spring 2007 show on Wednesday, September 13th - she roughed up her variety of boisterously printed frocks and their bowed waists with big, straw pirate hats and torn fishnet leggings or black and white striped socks with the feet cut off. She also punked the pretty out of her clothes by piling on heavy Erickson Beamon chokers and charm necklaces, patent leather and lace gloves and let crinoline skirts peek out from her knee-high hemlines.

It was a lot to look at, but if you stripped away the pirate/punk styling, Sui had some very wearable pieces, namely her handkerchief-print dresses and her white baby doll ensembles – one that was paired as a dotted shorts ensemble and another that fell untailored from its off-the-shoulder neckline.

Her use of print was what really stood out. It ranged from hard black and white stripes that ended in big, red cartoon-y roses to soft painterly paisley swirls to mosque motifs to simple, 1950's apron prints that you could find in your grandmother’s kitchen drawer. And, of course, there were some animal prints to lend a little Anna Sui tart to her more simple silhouettes.

Wild is what Sui does, but peel away the punk rock styling and in Spring 2007, you'll be able to see her softer side.

* Anna Sui's Doing Just Dandy * Rag & Bone: Geek Chic Charm		* Jean Paul Gaultier: Ava Gardner Avatar * The Victoria's Secret Fashion Show Returns to New York