Uniformity: Currie Lee, Designer and Owner of D-SATA

Uniformity is a regular magazine column where we ask Beijing personalities about the various outfits that have defined them over the years.

Currie Lee is well-known for her effervescent personality and love of fashion, so when we asked her to think back over all the uniforms she’s ever had to wear, we were expecting great stories. She did not disappoint.

Which uniform was the most flattering?
I believe it was the cashmere blazer with matching tweed skirts and silk ascots in autumns/winters. However, my mum disagrees and believes it to be the baby Swan Princess pink tutu at a kindergarten rendition of Swan Lake. (I believe she believes it was the last day I was her simply-sweet angelic princess).

Which uniform did you have the most fun in?
The silly synchronized-swimming suits. When else is a girl able to do her hair and makeup in drag and wear glittery glamour? I miss the jello (it’s actually pectin but we called it jello) in my hair and being a “glitter ball” – eyes, nails, lips, swimsuit, hair and hairpiece, full body!

Which uniform was the worst fit?
As much as I loved my synchronized-swimming uniforms, I have my French Bulldog Victoria’s “stubbynubby” legs! Most of my other teammates were tall, thin and leggy Americans, Brits, Canadians and French. I was, to say the least, a bit self-conscious as the team captain. I think [being captain] was more because I was little and easy to toss during the performances rather than due to my leadership qualities!

Did you ever feel transformed by wearing any of these uniforms?
My faves were the vintage red Giorgio Armani evening dress for Tatler’s 8th year anniversary photo shoot and the grey Herve Leger bandage dress for Harper’s Bazaar Jewelry, which, thank goodness, they photoshopped, as it is not the most flattering dress for a magazine photo shoot – which add at least ten pounds unless you have a figure and face of a supermodel!

Did you ruin any of these uniforms?
I always ruin evening dresses at the after-parties! Holes due to the train of the dress being caught in someone else’s stilettos (or usually my own), ciggie burns and attempts by the dry cleaners to mend the holes!

Which uniform did you resent wearing the most?
The absolutely ridiculous Sailor Moon look for spring/summer. Does the schoolmistress not understand that there are some dirty men who don’t see this look as “absolutely adorable” in the same way parents do?

Visit the D-SATA by CuR flagship at Sanlitun Village North.

This article originally appeared on page 51 of the December issue of the Beijinger.

Click here to see the December issue of the Beijinger in full.

Photo: Judy Zhou