CONTINUED

   Other looks within this vein that are destined to find takers among the young society divas of the social set include his sexy embroidered tiger stripe one shoulder mini dress (with its trail of ribbon), his beautiful black suede mini coat with a sable collar and beaded logo ribbon sash and the very versatile mix-and-match grey mohair plaid mini-trench coat with a silver fox collar. One could almost imagine Ms Tatou looking fabulous in his black silk satin organza fitted shirt paired with his black suede hip-hugging bootleg jean with embroidered tiger detailing.
   Seeing that Mr Toi doesn’t really design what we would classify as “normal” daytime–professional pieces, it’s best to just skip to the good stuff. He resurrected his classical silhouette, the men’s tailored suit for women, with Ling wearing his black textured wool bouclé double-breasted pantsuit and looking too delicious by half. He always, in each collection, shows a version of this suit, and with very good reason: he knows how to cut a suit and make it sexy for his customers. Paired with a Russian sable scarf, this outfit was the very essence of understated elegance.
   Other “going to lunch at Le Bernadin” pieces include his brown wool bouclé ‘Le Grand Vefour’ suit with silk velvet piping and mahogany mink-chain border, his grey cashmere tweed tailored cardigan (with lace and velvet ribbon trim) paired with a grey cashmere tweed pencil skirt and Ling again in a charcoal black silk–wool–cashmere knit blazer with silver fox collar paired with a charcoal cashmere–silk herringbone "princess" skirt with an asymmetric pleated lace and tulle flounce detailing. (Ling is by far one of my favourite models, and she brings to each outfit that she wears infinite class and leaves one to wonder why she didn’t ascend to the height of supermodel-dom that so many other lesser lights in the industry achieved with less distinction.)
   As always, he saved the best for last. For evening, he really did outdo himself. For a casual night out for the society girl-on-the-go, his red mohair plaid strapless dress with peek-a-boo velvet bow and mini pouf hem detailing of pleated lace and tulle sets the right tone for the evening. It’s young, sexy and accentuates all the right body parts (the creamy shoulders, the toned arms and sexy legs you work so hard in the gym to achieve). For the more prestigious nights out, for example the Costume Institute’s Party of the Year at the Met or Literary Lions’ Benefit Dinner at the New York Public Library at Fifth Avenue, Mr Toi gave his loyal customers options that will hold them in good stead as they brave the snake-invested waters of Manhattan high society. Best of show here has to include his lacquer red hand-loomed rayon Chinoiserie gown with beaded and embroidered flowers and butterfly detailing, its sister design in pink hand-loomed rayon Chinoiserie, his Baroness Marie-Hélène de Rothschild ‘Fairy-tale Ball Gown’ (a stunning combination of black bustier and pink skirt) and his homage to Marilyn Monroe, an equally beautiful pink silk satin ‘Film Star’ column gown with mink borders and black lace straps topped with a pink fox stole.

CONTINUED