It’s pretty rare to have one of fashion’s reigning designers drop by. But the 15th anniversary of her cosmetics line proved to be enough reason for Anna Sui to do just that.

The affable 48-year-old Americandesigner was in town on Monday and she gamely shared some of her beauty and fashion faves and tips, and other things that make her world go round.

Q: You’re here for the 15th anniversary of your comestics line. What makes cosmetics important?

A: Well, I think cosmetics complete the look, especially when you do a runway show. Okay, you made the clothes, you made your statement but you have to complete it with the hair and the make-up. And I think that it’s so exciting to be able to create the products that you need to complete the make-up. I’m a cosmetics junkie too — I love to see and try new products.

Q: Does a make-up guru like yourself have a favourite lipstick colour?

A: I have about 50 different shades of red lipsticks just to see which red is the best, but (Ring Rouge) No 400 is my favourite red. Usually, I don’t go out of the house without red lipstick, even if I’m just going to the market.

Q: We hear you cut your own hair?

A: I cut my own fringe because it grows faster than the rest. One of my friends, who works at Vidal Sassoon, taught me how to cut the fringe this way (holds the scissors vertically) instead of cutting it this way (holds the scissors horizontally) so it’s not so blunt. If you chop it this way, it’s a little bit uneven so it doesn’t look too straight and too blunt.

Q: It might seem like a given, but do you like to experiment with trends a lot?

A: Experimentation is fun. There’s always a new trend, a new look. Why not try it and see if it suits you? You can always adapt to your wardrobe; you don’t have to go head to toe. You could buy the new kinda punk style, add a bracelet, add a leather jacket and mix it with your own clothes.

Q: As the saying goes, accessories make the outfit. Do you agree?

A: I think so, yeah. Because it can accentuate, like, I think it brings out the black in my prints (points to her outfit).

Q: We assume you travel a lot. Any essentials?

A: My No 400 lipstick. I also like to bring Anna Sui Hair Oil because in some climates, it’s so dry. I remember the last time I went to Beijing, I didn’t bring it and my hair looked frizzy.

Q: Tell us something about your new collection for Fila.

A: I have a new project that I’m working on now for Spring 2014 for Fila. I’m gonna do an Anna Sui sports collection. Yeah, they are known for their tennis wear in the ‘70s — all the really cool tennis players used to wear Fila. I think it’s always fun to do something unexpected, but with an Anna Sui spin on it. I think it’s kinda what I do with my collections; I always put some sort of a spin on it.

Q: What’s the inspiration for your Spring/Summer 2014 collection?

A: I think that there’s going to be some influences (from my travels to Africa and Asia in my Spring 2014 collection). I love how the Maasai men were dressed in Africa, like the way they drape their fabrics. I was also taken by their jewellery because I always thought that Maasai (people) wore multi-coloured jewellery but they were wearing all these white jewellery. That was what I ended up buying for myself. And later this afternoon, I’m going to the Peranakan Museum because I love the whole culture. I don’t know a lot about it but the last time I came to Singapore, I bought a lot of books and so I did some research. I love the ceramics, I love the kebaya and the sarongs and the jewellery. So now, I wanna see it in the museum so I can understand it even more.

Anna Sui Cosmetics’ Autumn 2013 collection will be available from Aug 12 at all Anna Sui counters. All items are limited edition only.