Among the talented designers who showcased their latest creations during New York Fashion Week, this past February was Wang Tao, hailed as “the Queen of the Suit.”
Tao took to Spring Studios Gallery II on February 11th to present her Autumn/Winter 2020 collection. Strutting down the runway, models wore clothes reflecting the color scheme of an autumn morning in Paris, the place where she found her inspiration.
Every artist has a muse. For Tao, it was the fashion capital of the world, Paris France. The Chinese designer was sitting outside a Parisian café on a crisp fall morning, under a toasty heat lamp. She sat drinking a cup of cappuccino swirling with creamy white foam, admiring the stylish French women who passed by.
Tao lost herself in a Parisian daydream as she watched women walk by on the windy morning dressed in long, fluttering skirts. To Tao, every woman resembled a fresh new day. The picturesque daydream was engulfed in a blue, gray sky as the smell of fresh-baked croissants swarmed the atmosphere.
Every aspect of this daydream is portrayed in Tao’s tasteful collection. Jackets, skirts, and blouses are colored in varying shades of café au lait, cappuccino, and espresso, sometimes accented with a swirling theme. The material including cashmere, wool, tweed, and silk were used to bring her Parisian moment to life. A muted blue and gray painted jackets and dresses to evoke the morning Paris sky.
Wang Tao has grown from an aspiring designer to one of Asia’s most successful female entrepreneurs. She made her mark after launching her namesake brand Toaray Wang at New York Fashion Week in September 2014. Tao is known for her fine tailoring, chic silhouettes, and exceptional textiles, features that are obvious in this year’s collection. With showrooms in Shanghai and London, Taoray Wang is sold exclusively to clients throughout Asian, Europe, and the USA.
In attendance at the celebrated designer’s fashion show, this year were actresses Annet Mahendru, Kelly Killoren Bensimon, Krystal Joy Brown, and Sherri Saum.
The show was a success in every aspect of artistry. With makeup by Kim Rose from Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, hair by Rodney Cutler from Bubbles Salon, and music by Kevin Edwards, Wang Tao did not disappoint.
We can only wonder what Tao’s hunger-provoking muse will be for next year.
ig: @taoraywang
Photo credit: gettyimages