Seal a promise to love warm Toronto weather forever with a pin. Why? Because spring has arrived early (with summer-high temperatures) and we don’t want it to leave any time soon. We say, mark your commitment to this dedicated, fun-loving relationship early.
Just when you think you’re done with fashion (for a few weeks, at least), along come The ShOws. The ShOws are organized by Paola Fullerton, who decided to create the event after noticing that she often met talented Canadian designers abroad, but hadn’t heard of them back home. Fullerton threw all her efforts into bringing collections to Canada, hoping to give her fellow citizens the opportunity to embrace the talent we didn’t necessarily know we had.
As Fashion Week neared its end — drawing a sigh of relief from most — the promise of Arthur Mendonça managed to keep even the weariest attendees upbeat. With Nicholas Mellamphy, Fiona Green, Bernadette Morra and Jully Black all present, the show ran late. But the wait was worth it.
Up-and-coming designer Caitlin Power is known for her tailored and androgynous approach to womenswear. For her fall/winter collection, Power added menswear into the mix, teaming more technical fabrics like Tencel and neoprene with leather and silk chiffon.
Every week we gather our favourite tweets from in and around Toronto’s fashion scene. This week, we’ve got the most stylish men at Toronto Fashion Week from Steven Lee (@Silhouetted Sky), a look at what its like to be on tour with @TheBlackLips and a chance to win an array of spring colours from @EssieCanada nail polish!
The first notable show of Fashion Week day three was Vawk, designed by Sunny Fong, winner of Project Runway Canada’s second season. In the audience, Bernadette Morra was vibrant in a bright orange Joe Fresh coat; Kreesha Turner donned what appeared to be an Hervé Léger bandeau dress; Stacey McKenzie looked sophisticated in a pinned back ’do and red lips.
As Toronto Fashion Week heads for the finish line, stylish Torontonians are being given the chance to step up their wardrobe even further. The non-profit Fashion Takes Action is holding its first ever high-end clothing swap.
Cheetah alert! We know it’s been a while since we last supplied you with a healthy dose of animal-print, so we’ve returned with the best kind yet. This playful crew-neck from A.P.C. is perfect for the transitional weather. When it’s too warm for a jacket and too cold for a T-shirt, what better than a stylish sweatshirt?
One of the most highly anticipated shows of Fashion Week was Chloé Comme Parris. Designer sisters Chloé and Parris Gordon have consistently wowed Toronto with their downtown aesthetic, and this collection was no different. Titled “Beautiful Badass,” the duo took inspiration from fashion illustrator Erté, juxtaposing his sinuous lines with the hardness of piercing culture.
Day two got off to a good start with Adrian Wu’s showing in the intimate studio space. Notable attendees included Stacey McKenzie in a huge red fur cape, Robin Kay in sunglasses and a stunning Kreesha Turner. Last season the young designer presented a rather challenging collection filled with phallic protuberances; this time around his work remained true to his aesthetic, but was more easily digestible.
Easing the way into what is bound to be a whirlwind Fashion Week, Monday’s line-up included two major draws: Lucian Matis and the Holt Renfrew show. Matis, the hotly-debated runner-up on Project Runway Canada, elected to present his fall collection at The Fairmont Royal York, away from the main Fashion Week venue.
The Greta Constantine show is arguably the most highly anticipated of each season in Toronto. This year, the label’s designers, Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, opted to unveil their latest work at the Arcadian Loft. The intimate venue featured an L-shaped runway and drew many notables — including singer Jully Black, actress Sarah Gadon and Post City’s fashion columnist, Jeanne Beker — in addition to a bevy of leggy socialites.
