Ate and left no crumbs
The fashion has been serving. But we’re done with snacks: We want a full meal. So for that, we head to Shao’s presentation at Chinese Tuxedo. Guests are seated in the basement dining room, where they happily devour complimentary spicy cucumbers, marinated wood ear mushrooms, pork dumplings and Shanghainese vegetarian spring rolls.
Serving food isn’t just about fueling her guests, says designer Shao Yang. It “adds to the narrative of the storytelling.”
The collection was “inspired by ’90s Hong Kong Triad films,” she says, “and they always take place in a restaurant, all of the fight scenes.”
As we ate, models in severe suiting and low-cut dresses drift in slowly, eventually sitting at a large round table where they pantomimed conversation while smoking unlit cigarettes. There were plenty of clean plates. Servers brought second helpings.
Usually, says guest Stella Evans, a stylist, “It’s cute waiters walking around with little bites. It was nice to sit down and eat.”
