Wang Tao’s label, Taoray Wang, is slowly becoming one of my favorite shows on the fashion calendar. Since seeing her Fall/Winter 2017 collection for the first time this past February, I’ve been keeping an eye on the label to see what it’s about. Two things are clear: Tao is an impeccable tailor and powerful, professional women love her work.
For this season, Tao drew inspiration from Baroque musicians, specifically Henry Purcell and George Frideric Handel, whose music was presented at the Shanghai Camerata. Each look imbued a sense of timeless sophistication, just like the scores performed in Shanghai’s Symphony Hall that inspired Tao.
Merging the modernism of China’s largest city with the classic sense of 15th-century dress, Tao somehow created the perfect equilibrium that expresses her brand’s clear vision of empowerment.
As soon as the music hit, a model worked the one-shoulder styling with an asymmetric ruffle button-down placket tucked into a luxe belt. Teamed with a black mini-pencil skirt, Tao found the balance between appropriate and sensual.
Deemed “The Queen of the Suit,” Tao has a thorough understanding of fit and craftsmanship, including blazers expertly tailored to complete easy pajama suit styles.
Tao seems to be about the statement shoulder and balloon sleeve trend this season, so it’s safe to say it’ll be a long-lasting style.
She also presented weightless shirts cut from lustrous silk in shades of cool blues and crisp sets in stern greys and rich blacks. In a pop of nude, a multi-colored stripe dress that fell just above the knee was layered under a pinstripe skirt for a surprising twist.
And after the show, I pose a serious and urgent question for Taoray Wang: where do I get my hands on the all-white suit with black piping and the tasseled belt? It was everything.
Cover image by Gio Staiano for NOWFASHION