After a few winks we were back in the swing of things yesterday, with the first show taking place at 1 p.m. Following her somewhat disappointing fall/winter 2011 collection, Amanda Lew Kee was wise to show a more tightly edited collection in the smaller studio space, ignoring the hype that seemed to be her downfall last time around.
Toronto’s LG Fashion Week got off to a rather slow start. Held in tents at David Pecaut Square instead of out in the boondocks, Monday began with an introductory speech from FDCC head Robin Kay (who spoke of Canada, coolness, and the ways in which Canada is cool) followed by the Holt Renfrew show.
Yanked from its former edge-of-the-earth location, LG Fashion Week has taken up residence at David Pecaut Square, a spot far easier to trill about than the Exhibition grounds. The spring 2012 collections take place from Oct. 17 to the 21, with the theme “Canada Cool” showing off the Fashion Design Council’s alliteration abilities. Below, the shows we’re anxiously awaiting.
The notion of a wardrobe flip has proven so popular among Torontonians that it has spurred the openings of consignment shops throughout the downtown core. Flipping your wardrobe for fall (think of it as spring-cleaning, only in colder weather) will not only allow you to make room for heavier pieces to come, but also score you some eco-friendly points while you re-vamp your look.
This season, you need a little black boot about as badly as you need another little black dress. Stop yourself from reaching for what has been tried and tested and opt for something new. That something being a suede boot that comes in a neutral colour, one that has hints of cowboy about it and one that has been approved by the queen of effortless Parisian cool: Isabel Marant (and what she says goes, don’t you know).
For generations now, mothers have championed the belief that there was little less than the whole story to be read from the shoes on a man’s feet. In other words, daughters: if your suitor be a man with shined and polished shoes, then he be a man capable of earnest hard work that will devote himself to building a healthy and prosperous future for his family.
This week we popped into Su-Hui Chu’s studio on Ossington. Chu is the designer behind Ella Peru, a fashion line that has made waves in the Vancouver scene ever since its award-winning debut in 2009. We chatted with the vivacious Chu about her move to Hogtown and her soon-to-be-released Holiday 2011-12 collection.
Perched at the northernmost tip of Trinity Bellwoods Park, Armed is an itty-bitty jewellery boutique that’s the handiwork of Desiree Girlato. Having opened the shop in mid-August, Girlato is one busy gal, building each piece from scratch and managing the store all the while. To top it all off, she’s working towards a bachelor’s in biz from Humber’s fashion management program, though she likens running the store to “the best school project.”
On the dreariest of days we ducked into the latest addition to Roncy’s burgeoning retail strip: Scout, a perfectly charming gift shop that opened last month. Brought to life by the lovely Leah Eyles, the store is filled with various bits and bobs that have been sourced from around the country, much of it handmade.
While the chilly fall temperatures are making it feel like the right time to buy a new furry coat, by the time you reach Kensington Market, empty racks may greet you. “We sold out of fur in August,” we overhead a vintage shopkeeper tell a customer just two weeks ago.
Every week, we gather our favourite tweets from in and around Toronto’s fashion scene. This week we’ve got YSL rumour updates from Business of Fashion, sneak peeks of the Dior show, tips for your Nuit Blanche schedule and a vintage sale at Bridge + Bardot.
Last week at The White Space, The Bay’s Fashion Director, Suzanne Timmins, talked to media and customers alike through this season’s major trends. The colours, the references, the key pieces — she touched upon it all with runway images and models to demonstrate her points. While the presentation was most certainly informative in terms of determining new wardrobe choices, we couldn’t help but admire the ensemble on the woman herself.
