Zang Toi has a flair for the dramatic. So it's not surprising the Malaysian-born designer combined old Hollywood glamour with a film noir attitude in his fall 2014 collection, which evokes a mysterious "Shanghai in the 1930s" theme.
"It's very glamorous, very decadent, which is right up my alley," he told reporters backstage after his show at New York Fashion Week.
He opened with several crisply tailored ensembles in a light gray glen plaid Loro Piana cashmere fabric, ranging from a "gangster" trouser suit worn with a silver fox stole to a A-line dress with matching cape trimmed in mink. But it was his closing numbers that had the audience gasping, thanks to a series of eye-popping gowns in black and a green color he calls "brilliant jade."
Models made dramatic entrances in a jade gown accented with hand-beaded choker, black gown with jade capelet trimmed in diamond and onyx art deco starburst pattern, and full-length black cape with green lining etched with hand-beaded skyline.
Toi was dressed for the occasion too, in a black tux, white bow tie and white flower in his lapel. The model who accompanied him during his runway bow wore a black beaded cocktail dress — and green hair.
Zang Toi Loro Piana cashmere tweed mini-cape with black mink upturned lapel, A-line dress with cashmere and silk attached turtleneck.
