It was unclear as to whether or not Zang Toi’s fall 2019 runway show was supposed to be a fashion show, a fundraiser for the RNC, or an homage to Donald Trump’s America. It would be easy to assume the latter, given that Donald Trump Jr. was seated front row at the show along with Trump Sr.’s ex-wife Marla Maples. Affluent Republicans at fashion shows where the clothes are marketed toward Upper East Side society women and Texas oil wives is nothing new, but what followed was a runway show almost fit for Mar-A-Lago.
The show opened with several street wear looks that quite frankly seemed off-brand for the designer. With street wear making up a large part of the current luxury market, it’s reasonable that Zang Toi would want to do something to appeal to younger consumers. However, any consorted effort to appeal to millennial consumers could start with no longer aligning yourself with the Trumps or their politics.
Once his efforts to appeal to millennial consumers fell flat, Zang Toi moved on to what he does best, evening wear fit for a gala. The color palette for this season’s collection was red, white, and blue in honor of the American flag. Models walked the runway to songs including “God Bless America” and “God Bless the USA.”
The audience could be seen singing along to “God Bless America” as though they were at a political rally. Gasps and awes began when a dress with a sequin pattern of an American flag on the skirt made its debut, and the fanfare of the audience could be heard when the finale look, a black dress with a floor length, sequined American flag shawl attached, closed the show.
Let’s remember that this collection will arrive for fall/winter of this year, just in time for those Texas oil wives and elite Republican women to start holding their fundraisers for Trump’s 2020 re-election campaign.
While fashion has been known to expand political and cultural points of view, Zang Toi clearly missed the memo that fashion leans of the side of progressive/revolutionary causes. This collection was arguably the “Make America Great Again” collection, and looks like Zang Toi may have consulted Ivanka Trump for creative advising and is biting at the bit to get back into fashion.
Photos courtesy of Zang Toi
Until then, we can expect these dresses at Republican fundraisers across America from coast to coast and sea to shining sea. Someone call Georgette Mosbacher, we found her wardrobe for the rest of fall/winter 2019.—Kristopher Fraser
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