Chinese "Queen of the suit" to debut new collection in NYFW

Chinese fashion designer Tao Wang, who has gained an international reputation among powerful, professional and modern women, is to debut the latest collection of her namesake brand TAORAY WANG on Saturday at the New York Fashion Week (NYFW).

Models present creations of TAORAY WANG by Chinese designer Tao Wang during the New York Fashion Week in New York on Feb 11, 2017. [File photo: Xinhua]

According to a press release issued Friday by TAORAY WANG, the collection, inspired by Catherine the Great, Empress of Russia in the late 18th century, blends the classic and the modern, East and West in traditional military olive green and striking Russian red.

The Military uniform, often the symbol of men's power, is now brought back as armored grace with the feminine epaulet softening the bold lines which portrays a sense of freedom as portrayed by TAORAY WANG's signature slogan -- Powerful, Sexy and Edgy, it said.

Wang, a graduate of East China Normal University, has grown from an aspiring designer to one of Asia's most successful female entrepreneurs. She is well-known for putting a feminine touch on masculine work attire. 

She said that her brand is created for elite woman leaders, including lawyers, bankers, politicians and entrepreneurs, who "are not afraid of appearing feminine and attractive."

Her most famous U.S. customer is Tiffany Trump, the youngest daughter of President Donald Trump. She wore a Taoray Wang outfit at her father's inauguration in January, 2017.

"I couldn't be happier if she comes," Wang told Xinhua via WeChat on Friday when asked if Tiffany would grace her Saturday's runway show.

Tiffany was there to support Wang in the last two consecutive seasons. The first time Tiffany met Wang was at her Spring/Summer 2017 show on Sept. 12, 2016 in New York.

"Tiffany got to know me from her friend's lookbook and she canceled her flight to Los Angeles to come to my show that day," Wang, who first debuted her brand at NYFW in the fall of 2014, recalled.

Held in February and September of each year, NYFW is a semi-annual series of events. It is one of the four major fashion weeks in the world, collectively known as the "Big Four," along with those in Paris, London and Milan.