Day two: Ruby Tuesday

Looking to spot some gems today, I was armed and ready with my Fashion Week essentials: Starbucks, a cellphone and sunglasses. After popping in at the Tevrow + Chase showroom to view the fall lineup (watch for print blouses, adorable bubble skirts and fab egg-shaped coats—j’adore!), I raced back to the Liberty Grand to join the fashion pack for today’s runway roster.

2pm – Arthur Mendonça [ View the slideshow

Rather than a runway show, designer darling Arthur Mendonça chose to display his collection informally, with models standing in a row. While the whispers from the crowd disapproved of the concept, the collection itself was a major success. Purple and chartreuse punctuated the lineup of dresses, suits and separates. The metallic silver and gold dresses were a FASHION favourite. Black and grey checked wide-leg pants made an appearance—but don’t ditch your skinny pants (or your diet) just yet, the suits with drainpipe trousers definitely called for an encore.

6 pm – Rudsak [ View the slideshow

Known for bags and beautiful coats, Rudsak upped the cool factor on the runway. Lots of grey and winter white made up the collection, with the rare pop of cherry red seen on the messenger bags. FASHION gave a style smile to the belted white coat with the glam fur-trimmed hood (not certain if it is faux or fo’ real). Overall, the lineup was a little too utilitarian, and FASHION wondered, with the grey days of winter, do we really need a grey closet, too? And while the puffer coats with leather elbow patches were a FASHIONable hit, we just couldn’t find the factor known as “It.”

7pm – Andy-Thé-Anh [ View the slideshow

The show literally brought tears to FASHION’s eyes… Yes, the clothing was covetable, but the overactive smoke machine reduced our visuals and had us wishing for a bottle of Visine. FASHION gave the green light to the chunky fur cropped jacket—very Devil Wears Prada, but the dramatic detailing (read: pleating, ruching, top stitching) was a little OTT. Models wore fire-engine red faux lashes that amped up the attitude of the collection. Gasp moment of the night went to the model in the Grace Kelly–esque white gown, who almost took a spill but recovered flawlessly.

8pm – Comrags [ View the slideshow

Who is the Fall 2007 Comrags girl? The plain Jane who discovers her inner sex kitten. Models were sent down the runway in dozens of dress shapes, including sack, shift and T-shirt. Luxe touches of fur trim, metallic Lurex and raw silk provided the ooh-la-la lift to the collection. FASHION drooled over the palette—midnight blue (sexy), aubergine (sexier) and brick red (sexiest). The style star went to the plaid duster coat that had FASHION wishing for cooler nights.

9pm – David Dixon [ View the slideshow

Around a large bonfire in a courtyard, FASHION sat huddled under a striped Bay blanket (Dixon’s version of the swag bag) waiting for the show to begin and hoping for a hot toddy. Grey and white pinstriped suits were among our favourites. Clear sequin detailing on coats and dresses gave a twinkle to the somewhat sombre collection, and touches of turquoise brightened up the neutral palette of grey, black and white. The gunmetal grey sleeveless dress with front pocket detail warmed FASHION’s stylish soul. But while the cocktail dresses with striped bubble skirts were definitely sweet, they seemed like a runway rerun from seasons past. FASHION had a Hepburn moment (Katharine, not Audrey) when we spied the black and white checked wide-leg pants. Simply divine, darling.

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