The Who What Wear Podcast: The Legendary Anna Sui: From ’90s Fashion Darling to Gen Z Cult Favorite
Second LifeShow Notes
Fashion designer Anna Sui debuted her work at a supermodel-packed fashion show in 1991, and her brand remains just as inspired and relevant 35 years (and over 90 collections) later. This week, Who What Wear Editor in Chief Kat Collings sits down with Sui in the studio to discuss the origins of her brand, how she’s maintained her distinctive point of view since the beginning, and why the brand has attracted a new wave of Gen Z tastemakers like Olivia Rodrigo and Laufey.
If you’re in the L.A. area, you can check out some of Sui’s iconic designs in person at the ASU FIDM exhibition, Obsessed: Fashion and Nostalgia in the ’90s.
Watch this episode here on our new YouTube channel, and be sure to subscribe!
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This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.
Kristina Blahnik is the CEO of Manolo Blahnik. As the niece of acclaimed designer Manolo Blahnik, she grew up in the family business but never intended to work in it. Instead, Kristina studied architecture at the University of Cambridge and eventually had a practice of her own, where she worked for just under 10 years. In 2009 when her uncle Manolo Blahnik couldn't travel to the factories to develop the brand's new collection, Kristina stepped in and joined the family business full time. In 2013, she assumed the role of CEO, a position that she maintains to this day—although she prefers the title of "creative strategist." Since coming on board, she has expanded the business from two boutiques to 20, grown the Manolo Blahnik team from 26 people to over 250, and spearheaded major collaborations with brands such as Birkenstock and Balenciaga.
This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.
Danielle Pheloung is a content creator and cofounder of the fashion brand Phe Phe. Before amassing a following on social media and starting her own clothing company, Pheloung worked in finance. She started her career as an analyst at Morgan Stanley and later transitioned to working for Goldman Sachs as a private wealth management associate. Meanwhile, her sister Brigette McHale, otherwise known as Acquired Style online, was experiencing immense success on social media. Encouraged by her sister's success, Pheloung decided to start posting on TikTok. She showcased her corporate style and daily life while working a demanding job. Eventually, Pheloung made the decision to pursue content creation full time, leaving her position at Goldman Sachs. She continued to grow on social media, and with her sister, she launched Phe Phe in 2025. Today, Pheloung continues to make content and run Phe Phe, which recently launched its workwear line, inspired in part by Pheloung's first life in the corporate world.
This month marks Who What Wear's 20th anniversary! To celebrate, we're spending all of October with guests who have left an indelible mark on the fashion-and-beauty world and grown up alongside us over the past two decades.