DESIGNER'S DOORWAY

Sue Stemp

IN THIS FEATURE: Meet Sue Fashion Focus Details

Name your design inspiration

SS: ZANDRA RHODES.

Rock n roll inspiration?

SS: DEBBIE HARRY IS JUST UNBELIEVABLY BEAUTIFUL. SHE POSSESSES THAT FEMININE, RELAXED, SEXY, COOL ALONG WITH HER OWN INDIVIDUAL PUNKY, QUIRKY, EDGE. I THINK SHE’D LOOK GREAT IN THE BLACK AND COPPER BLOCKED ONE-SHOULDER “BOMBSHELL” MINI DRESS.

Now that your friend Kate Moss has her own collection for Top Shop, what other famous muses have you dressed recently?

SS: MODEL JACQUETTA WHEELER HAS THE TURQUOISE PRINT TUNIC DRESS. I DID FOUR DRESSES FOR KIM GORDON’S TOUR. GINNIFER GOODWIN HAS ALSO WORN THE SEQUINED “SPACEY” DRESS TO AN EVENT AND LOOKED AMAZING IN IT.

How do they dress differently in the States and in the UK?

SS: THEY ARE LESS CONSERVATIVE IN ENGLAND. THERE’S ALWAYS AN ELEMENT OF LONDON ECCENTRICITY, SOMETHING ODD, INDIVIDUAL.

Your clothes are dress up. Do you think girls feel better if they dress up? Do you ever wear jeans?

SS: I THINK ANYBODY PROBABLY FEELS BETTER IF THEY’VE MADE AN EFFORT WITH THEIR APPEARANCE THAT THEY FEEL GOOD ABOUT. I’VE NEVER BEEN MUCH OF A JEANS GIRL, BUT NOT FOR ANY PARTICULAR REASON. WHEN I WEAR DENIM IT’S USUALLY SHORTS OR A MINI.

The collection hearkens back to 1920's style, perfect for speakeasies and dancing! What are some of the places in Paris and New York that serve as the perfect backdrop?

SS: MY FAVORITE BAR IN PARIS FOR A LONG TIME HAS BEEN MATISSE ON RUE PONTHIEU, WHICH IS VERY SMALL, DARK, AND GLAMOROUS WITH COMPLETELY DEBAUCHED OVERTONES. IN NEW YORK I THINK IT WOULD HAVE BE SOMEWHERE INTIMATE, BUT DECADENT AND FUN...THE BEATRICE INN, THE DARK ROOM OR THE BOX SPRING TO MIND.