Zang Toi A/W 08

Zang Toi's autumnal collection showed at the Tents on the final day of Fall Fashion Week, which has grown to an eleven day behemoth of runway shows, parties, dinners and networking events. Toi was smart to choose bouncy club music to precede the show, as every member of the press was ready to curl up under their chair for a well-deserved nap.

Mr. Toi must prefer fall, as it is the only season he shows. His "American Collection" was inspired by the grand lifestyle of William Avery Rockefeller in his Adirondack retreat, and he House of Toi intended to, "personify the romantic notion of roughing it in luxurious and glamorous style."

Along a snow-dusted runway, models (walking way too slowly) sported stark black, white and red looks that ranged from RLX-esque outerwear to highly palatable suiting separates and fur-trimmed coats. Ornate rhinestone jewelry and the occasional menswear outfit were show-stealers. Toi was at his best when he stuck with eveningwear and pieces that reflected his own infectious personality. The playful prints on youthful day dresses, as well as the green and red plaid grouping and a stunning beaded scarlet gown were hits, but the majority of his Fall collection indicated pressure on Toi to produce a commercially successful collection. Or perhaps this is just a continuation of his glamorous and sophisticated direction...