Susanna Chow Coats: How I'd Build a Look

I am a sucker for a label with a family story that actually shows up in the clothes, and Susanna Chow is exactly that. Susanna and her mother Sai Chow started it in 2018, a daughter with an eye for beauty marketing and a mother with generations of craft behind her. Sai learned sewing and beadwork from her own mother, Yuk Eng, and after moving from Hong Kong in 1970 she worked in Chinatown garment factories.

The early work was beaded accessories, then the pandemic changed the shape of things. Susanna's sister Joanna needed a stylish maternity coat, the two designed JoJo for her, and outerwear took over from there. Bridal pieces followed this spring, handmade in New York City.

The atelier sits in Chinatown, the pieces are made to order, and part of every order supports care for disabled orphans in China. Their own story is worth a read. The mood is strong shapes with soft color and a few unexpected details, which suits coats very well.

I always think outerwear has more personality when the texture does the talking. The Leighton Shearling Trim Suede Jacket puts a soft frame around suede, while the Dorothy Leather Coat With Fur Trim takes the same idea into a longer, more dramatic line. The Raegan Suede Feild Jacket is the grounded, everyday one.

I would wear the Leighton with straight-leg denim and slim boots, then let the Dorothy own a dark slip dress on a cold evening. Picture her walking through Chinatown in the Raegan, a knit set underneath and a bag she can actually carry. What I would skip: a busy scarf on top, since the texture is already plenty.

This is where I think the label gets playful without losing its tactile mood. The Carrie Vest feels like an easy way into soft texture, the Dorothy Shearling Suede Vest has more heft, and the Laurelle Faux Fur Vest is the bold, plush one. Add the Dawson Leather Gloves to a pared-back coat look, or pair the Harper Fur Hat with jeans and a simple weekend uniform suddenly feels personal.

When the weather turns lighter, the Naomi Suede Shorts and Alara Suede Maxi Skirt put texture in a less expected place. My tip is to keep one plush or suede piece in focus and give it room with a clean tee or a fine knit. Picture her swapping a long coat for a vest and the maxi skirt before dinner downtown.

I admire how Susanna Chow keeps its origin close while the wardrobe keeps stretching. It began with Sai's beadwork, and that hands-on sensibility now runs through coats, dresses and bridal pieces. I would start with whichever piece feels most like you, a quiet suede jacket or a dramatic shearling-trim coat, and build around it with simple layers. Although I suspect the dramatic one wins.