Taoray Wang’s Spring/Summer is imagined through a story of ‘Wild Beauty, Intractable Myth.’
Wang Tao traveled back in time for her Taoray Wang Spring/Summer 2020 collection. Inspired by author Sidonie-Gabrielle Colette, the Chinese designer showed a playful and fanciful take on Spring and Summer. With homages to trips to the French countryside and silhouettes reminiscent of the 1930s and 1940s, Wang embraced the vintage with modern touches and accessories.
By using a combination of fabrics including lace and cashmere in a variety of colors like mint green, blush, and navy blue, Tao updated her tried-and-true suiting with drapings of lace and cashmere that appeared to belong on a vacation in the South of France. The 38-look collection also played with a mixture of textures by combining different pieces made of lace with classic, straw boating hats, which, while vintage, gave the looks a contemporary edge.
Nevertheless, Tao expressed her continued affinity for punk aesthetics as well through accessories—leather heels and booties, metallic arm cuffs, and corset-like belts.
“These elements, which emphasize the power and confidence of women, are a departure from the traditional masculine Power Suit,” according to the show notes.
All of these augments to the traditional power suit are supposed to “break the rules in design, creating an image of exquisite female leadership,” which they do accomplish. Tao displays that women empowerment doesn’t have to be embodied with just the power suit but also by other aspects of womenswear such as delicate dresses and allusions to corsetry.