For Sandy Liang, getting dressed has never been simply about clothes. It’s a way of finding joy in the everyday, whether that means slipping into a favorite skirt to answer emails or wearing your cutest Mary Janes to the park. “Every part of life can be an occasion,” she tells us. "Dressing up means dressing up for the occasion of everyday life." This philosophy is at the heart of Dressing Up, her new book with Rizzoli, and the world she’s been building for more than a decade.

Dressing Up is part fashion archive, part love letter to her creative process. Sandy made the book with her longtime friend and brand stylist, Dean DiCriscio, who has been with her through numerous collections, fittings, and shows. Their creative partnership is a big part of what makes it work. DiCriscio describes himself as something of a "collection therapist," arriving after the designs are made to create throughout the show. Liang, for her part, calls having him at every runway presentation "a treat," crediting his eye for helping her fall in love with her own pieces all over again. There’s a shared sense of humor, an appreciation for the slightly unexpected, and, as DiCriscio puts it, a “distinctly subversive quality” that runs through everything Liang creates.

Daria Ritch

The book documents both the big milestones that have defined Liang's life and work—early collections and collaborations, getting married, and becoming a mother—and the smaller, more personal ones. One of DiCriscio's favorite memories is a smaller moment during a crazier fashion week. The night before the show, before heading home, she presented him and his assistant with handmade scrapbooks: photographs taken throughout the week, handwritten notes, stickers, glitter, and illustrations drawn from her own sketchbook. "I still treasure this so much to this day," DiCriscio recalls. "I couldn't believe how thoughtful that was during the most insane time for her."

Ahead of Liang's Spring Summer 2027 show, she and DiCriscio are taking a moment to look back. We asked the pair to interview each other, where they chatted about making the book, the evolution of the Sandy Liang girl, and the friendship at the heart of their creative partnership. Read their conversation below.

Dean DiCriscio: What does “dressing up” mean to you today?

Sandy Liang: Dressing up means dressing up for the occasion of everyday life. Dressing up to see a friend, to walk around, to answer emails at your desk, or for a casual dinner. Every part of life can be an occasion. So many of my favorite scenes in Ghibli movies are when the characters are living their normal lives, doing routine things. Getting up, preparing a meal, being bored, feeling disappointed, going to school. I want to teach Rainer that every part of your day can be meaningful, not just the exciting new bits. 

DD: You’ve always talked about getting dressed as a form of storytelling. What story do you think your clothes tell right now?

SL: I hope the clothes invite you to dress up, not necessarily for anyone, but for yourself. Growing up, I had this fantasy of finding out I was actually a princess or that I actually had a twin sister—I was heavily influenced by movies. I’m not sure what story the clothes are telling right now, but I hope when you wear the clothes you feel like you’re in your own cinematic scene. 

DD: Looking back at more than a decade of Sandy Liang, what’s a moment where you felt most proud of what you’ve built?

SL: I think once I saw one of the first drafts of the book, I had a moment of proudness. I’m so used to looking and working ahead. Seeing all the memories together in one book made my heart feel so full. So many people I’ve worked with throughout the years. So many collections, so many sketches. And so many life changes throughout it all - getting engaged, getting married, having the funnest honeymoon ever, being pregnant with Rainer—all of it is in there! You’ve helped style the brand through so many eras. What was the first thing that resonated with you about Sandy Liang, and how has that evolved over time?

Phoenix Johnson
Phoenix Johnson

DD: Something we talk about often is the distinctly subversive quality of everything you create. There is always an underlying sense of humor that resonates with both of us, particularly when we are putting together a look. What was your favorite memory working with me?

SL: Impossible! I have too many. Honestly, getting to work with you for every runway show is such a treat. Treat is the only word for it. It’s a treat to be near you, feel your energy, and hear your laughter. It’s a treat to feel like the collection is so well protected and put together under your care. The story of the collection doesn’t get tied up until you’re here to touch and see things in person. You come and wave your magic wand and help me fall in love with the pieces all over again. Never leave me! What was your favorite memory working with me?

DD: We once had a crazy show week where almost anything that could go wrong behind the scenes did and you went home the night before the show (after literally sitting with us the entire week, every fitting, every casting, and at the prep the night before till the lights shut off) and you made me and my assistant a mini scrapbook each with images she took the entire week of the show (each thoughtfully adorned with blurbs and stickers and glitter) accompanied by hand-drawn illustrations of the collection from her sketchbook. I still treasure this so much to this day, and I will hold onto this memento forever. I couldn't believe how thoughtful that was during the most insane time for her. 

SL: What’s something people might not realize about the relationship between a designer and stylist?

Daria Ritch
Daria Ritch

DD: A lot of what we do is done without words. I think we work so well together because we operate mostly on trust and intuition. I also think a stylist doubles as a bit of a collection therapist where you come in after everything is done and create a story in response to the foundation the designer has already set. A lot of things that come from the show are discovered only the week before debut.

SL: If you could give one piece of advice to someone trying to find their own personal style, what would it be?

DD: The chicest person I knew my freshman year of college rewore the same capsule wardrobe every week, and it taught me that excess is uncool. There is something chic about having less and being singular in your decisions, and repeating means you know what you like and you're confident about it. Besides, what's cooler than being remembered for a look?

SL: I love that. And final question for you, when you think about the Sandy Liang girl, who is she?

DD: The Sandy Liang girl has total conviction. She finds power in things others might dismiss as indulgent. She is perpetually curious about life and operates independently. She celebrates who she once was while embracing new iterations of herself. Her approach to dressing is formulaic in the best way: there is always one element that feels slightly off, yet the overall look remains polished, beautiful, and effortless.

You can pre-order Dressing Up here.