These women
travelled the world but invariably chose to settle in places like
Jamaica where they continued to entertain in high style friends
such as Noël Coward, and the crème de la crème
of Hollywood
There was much to love among the first pieces
that opened the show, especially his white handkerchief linen halter
gown with white Chantilly lace detailing, his white sea island cotton
twinset (with platinum snakeskin border) and his white and black
sea island and swiss cotton trouser set looks. Look number 12 was
especially lovely: a white swiss cotton double breasted suit over
a white Chantilly lace body-suit; and Ling, as usual, rocked my
world in a black Charvet textured silk le smoking jacket
and a black textured silk dress trouser. She wore it very well.
But really, his evening pieces were the true highlights
of the collection. I loved, loved, loved his Caribbean Sky blue
silk crêpe 'Babe Paley' dress with white beaded English Rose
medallion and mink trim, and in no particular order, his 'Princess
of Wales' silk satinorganza gown, his black textured silk
satin 'Starlet'" gown, and the fabulous blackwhite English
rose Chantilly lace 'Pool Party' gown sprinkled with sequins and
beads. He rounded out his presentation with two wonderful pieces:
a white silk satin organza evening shrug (with clouds of white tulle)
paired with a black silk faille "Grand Entrance" gown
with beaded white Lilly of the Valley scalloped hem and his 'Portrait
of a Bride at Round Hill' finalé gown. It was truly a memorable
collection.
As usual, Mr Toi also premièred his Toi
House younger "bridge" line during this presentation;
and this collection, inspired by a photograph of Naomi Campbell
looking dewy fresh at her Jamaican retreat, formed the basis of
a youthful, energetic capsule collection of cute tops, skirts and
jeans. While he has yet to fully present a separate menswear line,
this was the first time that his small encapsulated collection of
accompanying menswear pieces really gelled with his womenswear pieces
in a truly cohesive manner. I would kill for his white Swiss cotton
blazer suits, his dandified black sea island cotton long sleeve
polo shirt with attached collar and French cuffs and his red-hot
sexy men's blackwhite Charvet silk dinner jacket.
Phillip D. Johnson is features' editor of
Lucire.
|
|