FASHION Magazine

From ladylike lace to colourful clashing prints, we present your complete guide to Spring 2012’s freshest new runway looks.

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VIEW BY TREND: SUGAR HIGH | WATER WORLD | GOOD SPORT | FULL BLOOM | CONCRETE JUNGLE | MIX MASTER | GRAPHIC CONTENT | ORANGE CRUSH | WAISTLAND | FINISHING TOUCHES

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He’s no lady. Boy wonder Andrej Pejic brings his dry wit and supermodel moves to the top Canadian designs for spring.

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When dressing for a formal affair, the rules aren’t so black and white. Electric furs and feathers add spark to the classic evening pantsuit. Get inspired by our electric photo shoot from our Holiday issue.

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Shop the shoot: LOOK 1 | LOOK 2 | LOOK 3

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It’s not very often that an evening can be described as unforgettable, but Operanation 8: A Muse Ball was exactly that. Last Friday, the Canadian Opera Company’s annual gala took over the three-storied lobby of the Four Seasons Centre for the Performing Arts, a glittering venue that had passersby on University Avenue gawking through the windows, and with good reason.

Yorkville’s Rac Boutique put together a fashion installation of custom-made designs by Canadian labels like Calla, Joeffer Caoc, Ashley Rowe, and Greta Constantine. Since the wares were showcased by models more mannequin than mortal, more than one of the 1,100 guests was excused for mistakenly fondling the ladies’ outfits. But really, who could resist copping a feel of that floor-length, electric-purple Arthur Mendonça number?

Word: Trantastic

Meaning: A word to describe someone (of either gender, but usually boyz) who looks tranny-ish, and also fantastic. But you could have deduced that.

Usage: “Did you love that Sid Neigum show? I thought it was trantastic.”

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Is there a better inspiration than Elizabeth Taylor in Cleopatra? We thought not, until Arthur Mendonça set the vision for beauty at his Spring 2012 show: Cleopatra emerging from water. Eddie Malter, official makeup artist for L’Oreal Paris, used H.I.P. High Intensity Pigment Eyeshadow Duos “224” and “207,” blending layers of blue, turquoise, and silver to achieve the effect of water reflecting on the face—a look certainly worthy of modern Egyptian goddesses. Brows were left natural and lips subtle, done in a beige Infallible Le Rouge lip colour (“814”) and covered with gloss.

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Set to a remix of my current song obsession, Flight Facilities’ “Crave You,” last night’s Arthur Mendonça show had me in great spirits before the first model even took to the runway. My smile stayed put as the girls marched out in Cleopatra-inspired (albeit, subtly) structured linen pieces adorned with zip-off peplums and exposed hardware, paired with feminine crème draped silks. Continuing to play with texture, as we spotted in his studio last week, Arthur experimented (with success) with a ladylike black leather trench, a sophisticated waxed-linen safari suit, and a subtle metallic–tweed drawstring-waist blazer, all FASHION favourites. While I could have done without the bold geometric metallic suiting, animal prints, and the flashback to Lanvin’s Spring 2011 collection, Arthur’s string of silk looks in highly saturated hues—including tangerine and fuchsia Japanese florals, a radio wave–print sheath with a slash of magenta, and a deep sky blue blouse on standout Serbian Australian model Andrej Pejic—kept my smile holding strong into the night.

If you’ve ever seen an episode of Project Runway, you’ll know how much stress there is leading up to a show. It was with that in mind that we set off for the studios of three very busy designers for a sneak peek of their Spring 2012 collections. First up, glam’s main man: Arthur Mendonça. Check out our slideshow for a hint of the Egyptian-inspired wears he’ll be showing tonight during LG Fashion Week’s first officially scheduled night of shows!

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By Sarah Casselman and Susie Sheffman

From swinging ’60s to cowgirl chic, the hot looks
and perfect pieces you need for fall.

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View by trend: Colour | Strict Rules | Tux Luxe | Flash Mob | Mod Squad
True Grit | Geometry Class | Accessories

They’re here! They’re here! Well… almost. The royal couple will be in the land we call home in t-minus four hours, and we can barely contain our excitement to see what Kate’s wearing when she steps of the plane. Will she fly our flag or hers? We’re dying to find out. To help you kill the next few hours of anticipation, we’ve compiled a detailed list of Brit and Canadian designers we think Kate should wear at the occasions she’s slotted into her schedule over the next eight days. If we’re right, we’ll be treating you all to crumpets.

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After declaring bankruptcy in a recessionary-steeped 2008, Toronto designer Arthur Mendonça is back, and talk about a triumphant return. “I knew I always wanted to be in fashion and then this opportunity presented itself with a new manufacturer here in Toronto and, why not?” Held at the Trump International, the show opened to the beat of a remixed “Let’s Dance” by David Bowie. Models took to the runway with high-gloss, high-drama slicked-back hair and dark red lips accentuated by poignant silver and gold hardware by jeweller Dean Davidson. The ’70s remain an intoxicating presence for fall 2011, and Mendonça is clearly under the influence. Slinky ruched column dresses, Le Smoking-style tuxedo blazers and flowing chiffon evening capes were paired with floppy fedoras (think Marianne Faithfull) and turbans, the latest in It headpieces. As with most things, the beauty was in the details. Black coyote and goat hair collars, exposed zipper accents, ostrich feather wedges and exquisite beading all make this collection require a second (third, fourth, fifth) look. And nothing says “I’m back” like a shocking purple tuxedo pant.

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By Tammy Eckenswiller

Shown: Vera Wang Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Thursday kicked off with Vera Wang and this season it looked cooler–more sexy and street–than usual. Wang’s rich palette of gold and burgundy mixed well with the variety of luxe textures, accented by sparkly silver cuffs. The look was inspired by portraits by Dutch artist Kees van Dongen. Emerging trend: Detail on the back of looks–think silk bustles, tails of tulle and fur. See photos from this show.