Introducing Tropical Moon: Dressing Paula Meets Khoon Hooi
Joe Jerimi
The moonlight feels different this year, more softer, golden, and distinctly tropical.
Dressing Paula and Khoon Hooi collaborated on Tropical Moon, a collection that reimagines the Lunar New Year with a modern Malaysian spirit. Presented at APW Ink in Bangsar, the showcase blended tradition with sensual warmth, where oriental elegance met tropical ease under glowing crescent moons.
The Meaning Behind Tropical Moon
At its heart, Tropical Moon follows the graceful rhythm of the lunar phases, each one symbolising femininity, renewal, and quiet strength. As the collection unfolds, these themes flow naturally into every silhouette and shade, creating a narrative that feels both thoughtful and imaginative.
In explaining the vision, Kay Chow, Founder of Dressing Paula, shared, “We wanted to reinterpret the Lunar New Year aesthetic through something rooted in tradition yet free-spirited and light.” She went on to note that “Collaborating with Khoon Hooi allowed us to explore the beauty of contrasts — structure and softness, moonlight and sun.”
Khoon Hooi, known for his architectural silhouettes and couture artistry, echoed the sentiment. “This collection is about finding beauty in opposites,” he said. “We drew inspiration from oriental forms like cheongsams and mandarin collars but infused them with tropical rhythm. The result feels nostalgic yet fresh.”
A Celestial Wardrobe for the Modern Woman
The collection dances between past and present, evoking both grace and energy. Rich tones of crimson hibiscus, dusky pink, orchid violet, and sunset yellow illuminate fabrics that move like moonlight. Each look — Orchid, Ylang, Hibiscus, and Plumeria — tells a different story of tropical femininity.
Inside the immersive showcase, guests walked between two glowing crescents symbolising the lunar cycle — an ethereal setting that mirrored the collection’s philosophy of balance and harmony. As Kay Chow described, “The Tropical Moon woman celebrates both her heritage and individuality. She is elegant yet unafraid of colour, confident yet at ease.”
As the Year of the Horse approaches, Tropical Moon embodies vitality, confidence, and grace. It captures a woman’s quiet strength and her radiance beneath the tropical moon — an ode to beauty that feels timeless yet alive.
