Written By Patricia Ann Parenti
Zang Toi has made a comeback to in person runway shows for the first time since before Covid hit. I’ve been going to his shows since the early 1990s and he never ceases to amaze me with his bold use of color and beautiful designs. This seasons show was dedicated to his beloved late brother, Toi See Luon whom I had the pleasure of meeting during lunch with Zang at Spring Studios years ago. Zang was inspired by Parisian Chic Couture with a touch of rebellious edge of the women he saw in the fashionable Saint German district in Paris. Zang’s Fall/Winter 2024 show was held at The Park Avenue Christian Church which is a historic church, on the Upper Eastside of Manhattan, at 7:00 PM on February 13, 2024. People missed seeing his in person runway shows so much that the church was packed with everyone dressed up.
Zang’s ladies like to show off their great figures and he makes clothes that do just that. His silhouettes consist of sheath dresses, pantsuits for men and women, full skirted shirt dresses, trench coats, mini skirts/dresses, strapless gowns with full skirts that have front slits, pencil skirts, pussycat bow blouses and trench coats. Fabrics used come from European mills, are of the highest quality available and consist of English wool tweed, silk mousseline, French Lacquer Alligator, French Lacquer Leather, French stretch suede, cashmere, silk satin, shearling, Saga fox fur, silk velvet, silk gazar, and a hand loomed cashmere/silk knit fabric used in a turtleneck sweater. I love his use of bold colors, orange, shocking pink, Paris Pink, scarlet, used alone or combined with black or charcoal gray. His use of trims such as a hand beaded scarlet medallion lace in epaulettes and draped beading across the shoulders draw attention to a woman’s beautiful face. He can take a classic style garment and make it a wow statement with the use of embellishment such as hand-beaded Louis XV T-Medallion that was used on the front top edge in the middle of a strapless dress and goes up around the neck like a necklace.
Many of styles are so versatile that they can be worn during the day to the office or for a luncheon and then go straight to dinner, theatre or an after work party at night such as the leather coats, pants/skirts with rose print blouses and wool pantsuits. I saw lots of statement coats on the runway that can be worn over jeans and leggings for a more casual look. Since he specializes in evening and formal wear the collection had no shortage of styles for charity galas, cocktail parties, black tie events, or formal country club events either. Everything in his collection is timeless and classic and you can wear them for years without feeling out of style. After your done wearing any of Zang’s pieces why not hand them down to your daughter because I’m sure she would appreciate a piece of couture to own. Everything on the runway that I saw was beautiful and easy to wear and just as every show I’ve ever gone to of his! Since this is Couture you have to order his clothes off the website WWW.ZANGTOI.COM. If you need a special size and want to come to NYC, Zang will personally measure and fit the garment to your body in his atelier.