Former Editor-at-Large and Creative Consultant for Vogue Japan, Anna dello Russo has become a street-style icon celebrated for her bold and extravagant fashion choices. Through her work and distinctive aesthetic, she has helped shape contemporary fashion culture worldwide.
DISCOVER ANNA DELLO RUSSO SELECTIONMy style is quite eclectic—it's all about absolute freedom of expression. I change depending on the context, the season, and my mood. For me, the most important thing is to express freedom.
Probably the cherries—the headpiece by English designer Philip Treacy. They became something of a symbol of my creative being. I wore them back in the early days of street style, and they've remained one of the things that amuses and inspires me the most. I think it's because they represented such an extravagant excess, and therefore a sense of freedom as well.
Fashion draws inspiration from and feeds on all of its muses, whether that's cinema, literature, theatre, music, or any other artistic and expressive form. They can all become sources of inspiration. More than inspiration, I see it as a kind of osmosis between these disciplines and fashion.
As for a film, a work of art, or a book, I would probably say classical literature. Books such as The Odyssey, The Iliad, and The Aeneid. These archetypal figures emerge from mythology, reappear in literature, and can even be found on the runway. My background in human studies has probably influenced me more than anything else.
Probably from Franca Sozzani, who was one of my greatest mentors. Her advice was simply: be bold. Don't be afraid to embrace any new form of expression or creativity. There are no boundaries to creativity, and genres should never limit it.
My daily physical activity. For me, that's non-negotiable. It's the greatest luxury of all—to have that kind of routine. When people say, “I don't have time,” my answer is: wake up earlier.
Definitely something creative. Any creative profession would have suited me—whether as a florist, a hairdresser, or in any hands-on artistic trade. Creative work has always felt like a natural fit for me. That said, I do have a particular obsession with hairdressing. Being a hairstylist is something that really fascinates me—I absolutely love it.
