Flashback: Beautiful collection from fashion designer Zang Toi for F/W 2014

Sometimes I get really excited while doing blog research. On 02-11-2016, while surfing on internet, I saw this elegant and sophisticated collection from the Malaysian fashion designer Zang Toi. Zang Toi is a renowned fashion designer who has built a tradition of elegance for over 30 years. Just have a look below to see his stunning designs. This blogpost was published earlier. I republished it today. Be Inspired .......

More about the fashion designer:

Zang Toi is a renowned Fashion Designer who has built a tradition of elegance for over 30 years. Coming from humble beginnings, Zang was born and raised in a small village, Kuala Krai in Kelantan, Malaysia. He was the youngest of seven children of a local grocer. Zang landed in New York City at the age of 20 where he studied at the distinguished Parsons School of Design. In August 1989, he opened his atelier and soon after, U.S Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour featured Zang in March 1990 issue and was one of the first Asian designers championed by the renowned editor. 

In 1990, Zang was awarded the Mouton Cadet Young Designer of the Year which recognizes the top, young, U.S. designer of the year. In a Newsday article published in 1991, Frank De Caro enthusiastically noted of the Malaysian-born designer and his success, “If anyone is THE NEXT BIG THING, it’s him.” (Newsday, New York, 29 April 1991). Since that time, Zang's work has been featured in major publications such as Vogue, Vanity Fair, Time, Newsweek, The New York Times, Financial Times, etc. Not only has he dressed Hollywood celebrities such as Sharon Stone, Elizabeth Taylor, Farrah Fawcett, Kristie Alley, Patti LaBelle, Gong Li, Eva Longoria, Fergie (Black Eyed Peas) and Heather Graham, but has also created luxurious wardrobe for philanthropists and royalty including Melinda Gates and Saudi Princess Haifa Bandar Al Saud. 

Along with his passion for glamorous fashion, Zang has been an avid supporter of the Lance Armstrong Foundation (LIVESTRONG) and has raised over USD $700,000 to help in the effort in finding a cure for cancer. He was recognized by the foundation in 2008/2009 when he was presented with the Lance Armstrong Foundation Top Fundraiser Award. Zang's continued success was most recently recognized by VividMagazine where he was named as one of the Top 8 most influential Chinese Americans (June/July 2011 issue). Today, the world continues to recognize Zang's passion for timeless beauty as he builds on a strong tradition of elegance.

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Source: ZANG TOI
Photos: courtesy of Zang Toi

Note: In 2016 I found information at these magazines: Elle, NYMAG + MBFashionweek. However, these links are not active anymore.

Beautiful Art by Dutch artist Margo van Erkelens (02)

A few pieces caught my eye this week, like this beautiful painting called 'Lost in Love' from the Dutch artist Margo van Erkelens. Love the atmosphere as well as her refined techniques and coloruse. Just take a look below for inspiration. Earlier I wrote already another blog about this inspiring lady, see here BLOG 01. This blogpost was published on 19-04-2017. Today I decided to republish it again. Be Inspired .......

More about the artist:

This is what Margo writes about herself: 'I spent my youth in Goedereede: a small town close to the coast. A major source of inspiration for my landscapes (of dunes) and seascapes. The scents, memories, colours of the seasons, briny and sweet…; it forms the source for my land- and/or seascapes. In my other figurative or abstract work, these memories do not play such a role, but rather my great love for colour. 

I grew up with love for colour and atmosphere. The warmth of a colour, the tones and shades and combinations between each other ravish me and give me the drive each day to shape my creativity. Each time my work is very different in the end. The main challenge is to leave out the most recognisable. Only having the pure experience of shape and colour to remain is what I try to achieve, allowing imagination and fantasy to have no bounds. This puts more importance on ‘feeling’ rather than ‘recognizing’. 

This makes a painting a story without words; an invitation to travel through landscapes; a reminder to footsteps; fantasising about an image; to imagine and to feel. I am not trying to control my work: the process can take its course! I combine the numerous layers of paint with everything that is available: sand, soil, fabric, pigments, gypsum, etc.

The paint is scraped away to allow other layers to surface. My best paintings come into existence through mistakes underneath the top layer. The ‘accidents’ that originate from previous layers are used gratefully by me and help me to let go of a clearly defined image. To let it ‘happen’ rather than to ‘steer’. This remains a challenge until the end, because when is a canvas ‘finished’? Leonardo da Vinci put it very aptly with his famous quote: “Art is never finished; only abandoned!” '

Margo van Erkelens (1969)

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Source: Margo van Erkelens

Note: these photos have been placed with permission of the artist. 

Fashion: Elegant soft pink hat designs by Philip Treacy S/S 2023

Would like to share with you these elegant soft pink hat designs from milliner Philip Treacy. Aren't they lovely? I am a huge fan of his sophisticated hat designs. The designs are from his S/S 2023 collection. Earlier I wrote more blogs about 'Hats', SEE HERE Be Inspired ......

About Philip Treacy
Philip Treacy has become the world's most in demand hat designer. His hats are as popular with European aristocrats as with Hollywood royalty. Widely credited for changing the perception of the hat, he designs hats to flatter and enhance the wearer.

Philip Treacy, hat designer

“I have had the greatest pleasure of having the opportunity to challenge people's perception of what a hat should look like in the 21^st century. I make hats because I love hats. It's an enigmatic object that serves the human purpose only of beautification and embellishment, and making one feel good, whether you’re the observer of the spectacle or the wearer”

— Philip Treacy

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Source: PHILIP TREACY
Photos: courtesy of Philip Treacy

PFW: Phan Huy F/W 2025-26 Haute Couture, Part 02

Would like to share with you today these fantastic haute couture designs from the young Vietnamese fashion designer Phan Huy for the season F/W 2025-26, seen at Paris Fashion Week. I am very impressed by his stunning collection! What a beauty and craftsmanship to see. Enjoy the beauty of haute couture from this inspiring fashion designer. I also added the link from his fashion show on You tube. I wrote earlier another blog about Phan Huy, SEE HERE

More about the collection:

Phan Huy made his official haute couture debut on July 9, 2025 at the Palais de Tokyo, weaving the soul of Vietnam into the revered fabric of Paris Fashion Week. The Fall-Winter 2025-2026 collection did not seek spectacle or grandeur. Instead, it arrived with reverence - a meditation on identity, land and legacy. Not a debut of ambition, but of becoming.

Phan Huy’s Fall 2025 Couture collection is a poetic exploration of the Vietnamese countryside, brought to life through 36 meticulously crafted looks. Designer Phan Nguyễn Nguyên Huy channels his childhood memories - from sunbaked soil to bamboo rustling and rivers weaving through rice fields - into garments that blend tradition with couture innovation.

Each piece reflects the rhythms and textures of rural life, transforming family photographs and folk rhymes into delicate embroidery, layered fabrics and subtle details. The collection honors the quiet beauty and soul of Vietnam’s landscapes, while pushing the boundaries of couture with technical mastery and ethereal silhouettes. This collection is more than fashion - it’s a heartfelt tribute to identity, memory and national pride, presenting a fresh Vietnamese narrative on the global stage of Paris Couture Week. Be Inspired ........ 

Phan Huy, the fashion designer 

More about the designer

Phan Huy is an haute couture fashion house founded in 2023 by celebrated stylist and designer Steven Doan and visionary creative director Phan Huy. The brand is dedicated to redefining modern luxury through a seamless blend of Vietnamese heritage, artisanal craftsmanship and cutting-edge couture innovation.

Phan Huy was founded with a clear mission: to redefine luxury through a fusion of cultural heritage and modern innovation. Their atelier, based in Vietnam, serves as the heart of their craftsmanship, where they combine traditional Vietnamese weaving techniques, natural plant-based dyeing and cutting-edge methods such as laser pattern cutting. Each piece is meticulously handcrafted by skilled artisans with an unwavering attention to detail. Through techniques such as intricate embroidery, silk weaving and hand-draping, they aim to preserve and elevate Vietnam’s rich textile heritage while pushing the boundaries of couture design.

Since its debut at Paris Fashion Week, Phan Huy has captivated the global fashion elite with its exclusive runway presentations and showroom showcases. The brand’s distinctive designs have graced the red carpets of prestigious events, including the Cannes Film Festival, worn by an array of international style icons and celebrities. Among them are Ginta, Jhené Aiko and Miss Universe titleholders Victoria Theilvig and Zozibini Tunzi. The brand has also garnered admiration from Asian superstars like Zhao Lusi, Yang Mi and Fan Chengcheng.

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail in Vietnam, Phan Huy represents a new era of couture, where time-honored techniques meet contemporary elegance. With an expanding global presence spanning Europe, Asia and beyond, the brand continues to shape the future of haute couture - offering a vision of sophisticated cultural authenticity fused with international allure.

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Sources: PHAN HUY Official and Kendam
Photos: courtesy of Phan Huy

Quote: The Rare Person Theory ........

While surfing on internet I came across this beautiful quote about The Rare Person Theory. 

I recently met such person. What a joy to connect with. :-) Be Inspired ........

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Ph. found via Facebook. Source Unknown. 

Fashion designer Antonio Riva Milano unveils his S/S 2026 Ceremony Collection

There is a moment when light rests on water and everything feels suspended. Reflections tremble, colours dissolve and the surface comes alive with shifting perception. From this atmosphere emerges Ninfee, the Spring/Summer 2026 ceremony collection by Antonio Riva Milano. Be Inspired ......... I wrote more blogs about elegant 'Fashion', SEE HERE

Antonio Riva - The Creative Director

With the brilliance of a true visionary, Antonio Riva ranges deftly between tradition and innovation, confirming himself as one of the most prestigious couturiers of international bridal fashion. Each of his gowns is designed to go beyond time, from the very first embroidery. Each delicate thread tells a story, a precious memory of one's special day. Antonio Riva turns into reality the dream of every woman who wishes to live a fairytale moment, representing her style and personality in a unique way.

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Source: ANTONIO RIVA
Photos: courtesy of Antonio Riva

Elegant staircase at Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland, UK

What a beautiful shape! Designed by Sir John Vanbrugh and built in the 1720s, this austere, vertigo-inducing staircase is located at Seaton Delaval Hall in Northumberland, North East England. Be Inspired .......

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Source: National Trust

MFW: Etro S/S 2027 Menswear, Part 1

Take a look at this colorful and stylish menswear collection from Etro for their season Spring/Summer 2027. Such beautiful and elegant combinations ....... Earlier I wrote more blogs about Menswear, SEE HERE Be Inspired ......






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Sources: ETRO and Tom and Lorenzo
Photos: courtesy of Etro.