Lucy Liu: All the looks and the red coat

For many of us, especially women, growing up in the Chinese diaspora, Lucy Liu is…like…the word icon doesn’t begin to describe it. From Ally McBeal to Shanghai Noon to Kill Bill to Charlie’s Angels, and so much more, for a long time, she’s been the biggest, and often, too disappointingly often, the only. Our love for her is eternal.

Lucy has been promoting Rosemead and there was some very, very early Oscar speculation for her performance in this film after its premiere at Tribeca back in June. Rosemead is critically acclaimed but it’s small, didn’t make as much noise as the contenders – and the subject matter is difficult. Lucy plays an immigrant mother with a terminal illness raising a teenage son who has serious mental health issues obsessed with school shootings. I know it’s a lot to process right now but for me, the reason why this film is important is because it’s rare for us in the west to see a Chinese family depicted this way, addressing an issue that our community is not as progressive with.

 

Rosemead is Eric Lin’s directorial debut, with a mostly Asian American cast, written by an Asian American screenwriter (Marilyn Fu), based on an article by an Asian American journalist (Frank Shyong). There is no doubt that Lucy’s involvement was vital to the project. So, of course, it’s been Lucy doing the heavy lifting on the press tour which just wrapped, after serving so many good looks. We’ll get back to the looks in a minute, because if we’re talking about looks, she just did Vogue’s Life in Looks.

 

There are so many highlights here, like the Versace she wore to the Oscars in 2000 which was a bombshell in its time, and also in general just her whole wardrobe in Kill Bill. But I really loved how she reminded people about the name of her character in Charlie’s Angels, Alex Munday. Which was not originally written for an Asian woman and she insisted they keep it to show that some roles don’t have to be specific to ethnicity, that an Asian woman can play a character called Jane Jones in a movie like Charlie’s Angels – and this was not common in the 2000s.

To go back to the clothing though, for her final stop on the press tour, I love that she wore one of my favourite labels, Shushu Tong. The brand’s dresses and accessories are so girly and adorable.

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Many of Lucy’s looks lately have been Asian designers, from Shushu Tong to Puey Quiñones to Sacai and Comme des Garçons. The showstopper, though, is the red coat. You have to see it from the front and the back. It’s so f-cking sick…

The way it looks like a robe…with a hood! The ribbing cuff on the sleeves! This is the best wrap red coat on the market right now, and it’s Canadian. The brand is called SENTALER and if that sounds familiar it’s because Meghan Sussex has worn several coats from the label. Lucy’s is called the Suri Alpaca Maxi Hooded Wrap – and it is pricey but it’s also pretty f-cking special.

SENTALER has another version without the hood that’s a bit more structured, less bathrobe, and it is also gorgeous and expensive – the Baby Alpaca Long Wide Collar Wrap Coat.

I can’t remember how long it’s been since I’ve owned or worn a red coat, years and years for sure. Red isn’t usually my colour but after seeing Lucy in one this week I’ve now spent the last few days thinking about it and browsing. I know it’s January and no one has any money, so please skip the rest if you’re not in the market. But January also means clearance and sales and it’s often the best time to get a great deal for next season. The issue is that sizes aren’t always available.

The SteMargScot Unisex Taylor Coat isn’t as expensive as SENTALER and it has a great shape, and it’s also on sale. Still up there but more moderate.

Even more moderate, Boden always has solid coat options and while this isn’t a true all-red, it’s fitting for Valentine’s Day coming up, because it’s closes into a heart. I love this coat – the Cocoon.

And we’re getting even more affordable with this red coat at Simons, it’s a classic cut.

Like SENTALER, Reitmans is also Canadian and always good for a wardrobe staple and very, very accessible. Their long red two-button coat is nice and boxy and under $100.

The most affordable though is at Zara, not a full-length but it’s sharp, a faux suede tailcoat, and it’s under $50!

For me, though, at this time of year, I’m mostly in puffers. During my red coat searches this week, I ultimately decided that what I want is a red short puffer.

The Parajumpers Tilly is on sale right now and this is a good price for this brand.

Indyeva’s Short Puffer is even better priced and I like how the seams angle down.

I’ve been considering Aritzia’s Super Puff™ XtraShorty in red, which is SO cute, but I want to size up because I don’t want the wind drafting up my back and I’m not sure how it’ll be around the shoulders.

Massimo Dutto’s Oversized Down Jacket in red looks so light and comfortable and hits the hip at exactly the right spot.

And here’s the one I’ve landed on - Coach’s Short Cropped Puffer Jacket in red, currently 60% off, because that’s a good deal, and because I like how bright it is so that I won’t get hit by a car when I’m walking at night.

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