PARIS, MY HEART

Written by Melissa Mahanes/Photos by Ashley Hylbert, Drawings by Zang Toi

The eagerly anticipated 2021 Fashion Show is taking place on Wednesday, April 28th, at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center! After the disappointment of having to cancel last year’s event, Chairmen Angela Bostelman and Sarah Reisner and Executive Chairman Sandra Lipman are thrilled to announce that Zang Toi will be returning to showcase his fabulous Fall 2021 collection presented by Gus Mayer. They are also excited to announce the 2021 Honorary Chairs, Barbara Bovender, Barbara Burns, and Ashley Rosen.

Zang Toi, the Malaysian-born and New York-based designer is no stranger to Nashville. He was scheduled to be the designer for last year’s Fashion Show and has graciously agreed to return this year. He was also the featured designer for the Symphony Fashion Show more than twenty years ago when his dear friend Janice Elliott Morgan of Gus Mayer was a Chairman of the event. She continues to host Zang when he visits Nashville and was instrumental in organizing our cover shoot.

The House of Toi was established in New York in 1989 by the Parsons School of Design graduate. Toi has dressed Hollywood celebrities such as Sharon Stone, Kirstie Alley, Patti LaBelle (she wore one of his designs to perform for the Obamas at The White House), and Eva Longoria, to name a few. He has also created luxurious wardrobes for philanthropists and royalty, including Melinda Gates and Saudi Princess Haifa Bandar Al Saud.

Toi promises a showing inspired by “the GORGEOUS memories of my many trips to Paris... The runway show will feature GORGEOUS and GLAMOROUS looks in shades of Paris Pink, French Lavender, and Marie Antoinette Yellow, paired with black, charcoal, and grey. I love going back to Nashville again and again...it is a love affair that started 28 years ago, and it remains stronger than ever.” The Symphony Fashion Show will be a socially distanced, in-person affair for 150 Patrons, including Zang’s stunning runway collection, a fabulous musical headliner (or two!) performances by Nashville Symphony musicians, and Accelerando training program students.

The event will also be live-streamed in a very special “La Mode à la Maison” (Fashion at Home) for virtual ticket holders. They intend to provide an innovative, safe and unforgettable experience for their premium supporters. The Nashville Symphony has partnered with HCA Healthcare/TriStar Health to serve as the “Official Health and Safety Partner” for the Symphony to deliver a safe and enriching experience for all involved. They are working on creative ideas to engage both virtual and in-person attendees in the MAGIC of the evening. Toi writes, “Not even a pandemic lockdown can stop me from creating a GORGEOUS collection to share with my GORGEOUS, loyal ladies.” This year, celebrating “April in Paris” in Nashville will be a breath of fresh air and will mark the triumphant return of Zang Toi and guests to the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. Magnifique.

“I’m thrilled and humbled to be a part of the Symphony Spring Fashion Show featuring renowned designer Zang Toi,” says event designer Bruce Pittman. “Zang’s flair for exquisite fashion, combined with his outstanding talent to ‘wow’ audiences with his classic yet fun look, is the perfect fit to showcase his 2021 line at this year’s Paris-themed event.”

Bruce adds, “Incorporating Zang’s bold and eye-catching fashion in our event design was a fun and rewarding experience. Using one of the show’s signature colors, we designed a ‘red carpet’ entrance that leads to the grand lobby entrance featuring a larger-than-life 13-foot floral accented Eiffel Tower. This provides the ideal setting for show-stopping photo opportunities that truly capture the event’s ‘Paris, My Heart ’ theme.”

“The model entrance is classic, featuring Zang’s unique logo constructed with florals and greens. This beautiful 12-foot logo truly sets the stage for the classic, unique, and fun-filledatmosphere of the event,” adds Bruce.

Says Bruce, “Safety is a top priority with all guests socially distanced this year and seated at tables in the concert hall facing the runway. This ensures a safe, enjoyable evening for all guests. Each guest’s table will be draped in white, with lights illuminating beneath the table emitting a soft glow to add to the festive ambiance of the evening. And it doesn’t stop there. Florals at each table will be set low and long, accentuating color-blocked arrangements showcasing the event’s bold pink, lavender and yellow colors.”

“The ‘Paris, My Heart ’ theme is carried through right to each guest as they will enjoy a French-themed charcuterie box for dinner. We explored some fun color and branding ideas for the box, as well as the actual food to tie into the theme. This fun design aspect was new for us and a project we truly enjoyed,” adds Bruce.

“I also want to give a big shoutout to the event’s florist LMA Designs and the event props and drape company TN Event Designs,” notes Bruce. “Their excellent floral and prop expertise created an added dimension in pulling the Symphony Spring Fashion Show all together.”