At the end of 2010, Ann Yee took the leap. The New York designer, whose parents moved to Michigan from Hong Kong in the seventies, quit her full-time gig to work exclusively on her own label, which is anchored by wispy, architectural pieces that can have a girly vibe or a menswear one, depending on who’s wearing them.

Ann originally launched her namesake line in 2009 while she was still creating sweaters for the likes of Barneys, Elizabeth and James, and Alice + Olivia. But, now that she can dedicate all of the hours of the day (and many of the night) to her work, she’s able to bring it to the next level: “I was really excited to do a few couture pieces for fall,” Ann says. “I used a technique that I did in college at Philadelphia College of Textiles & Science—what I did for my senior thesis.” The approach: the TP method, named for her initial medium, toilet paper. (She has since graduated to chiffon.) She’s also started to add knitwear, which she has so much experience with, to the mix. Not only does this infusion bring even more texture and depth to her work, but it also makes it that much easier to wear her amazing sheer tops, chill-but-structured pants, and oversize outerwear from head-to-toe, year-round.

annyeecollection.com