FASHION Magazine

Martha Wainwright: I Know You’re Married But I’ve Got Feelings Too (MapleMusic)

Yes, yes, she’s Rufus’s little sister, and while this gives a girl a lot to live up to at family sing-a-longs, when your parents are Loudon Wainwright III and Kat McGarrigle, music is simply in your genes (or in Martha’s case, the tiny dress she wears while lounging on a groovy couch on the cover of her second solo album).

By Kristen Hammond

While Montreal editor Shirine Saad was swamped with all things nuptial-related for MARIAGE Québec, I was sent to check out the furry fashions at this year’s Naffem (naffem.com) opening gala.

The Toronto chapter of Fashion Group International held its annual Night of Stars gala downtown at the Carlu recently, bringing out the brightest of Canadian fashion stars, natch. Though this fashionable girl was riding her couch due to a severe throat infection, details came pouring in fast and furious from my own fashionably lovely friends. Along with the night’s honorees—including twins Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared, designer Wayne Clark, Holt Renfrew’s Barbara Atkin, journo David Livingstone and interior-design guy Brian Gluckstein—the well-heeled crowd consisted of Zoomer mag editrix Suzanne Boyd (looking lovely in a lingerie-inspired ensemble), who arrived with Ian Hylton, Pink Tartan’s Kimberley Newport-Mimran was there with hubby Joe, who was presenting, Natalie Lecomte from Holts dazzled in a pistachio Greta Constantine mini, while eTalk’s Ben Mulroney arrived with fiancée Jessica Brownstein.

There is nothing a FASHION editor likes more than a touch of luxe after a long day at the office.  And when it comes to luxe, two bon mots come to mind: Michael Kors.  Some may know him from Project Runway, but he is best known as one of America’s pre-eminent designers of luxury sportswear.  His ad campaigns (think aviator-wearing, python bag–toting, sun-kissed, glowing glamour girls) perfectly capture the essence of the luxe lifestyle, PJs (that’s private jets, love) and all.   So, when MK opened his third lifestyle store in Canada at Yorkdale Shopping Centre, the Tinsley Mortimer set from north of the border came out in droves. 

The Baroness: Sarah Slean (Warner)

It’s no secret that I’m a sucker for, well, two types of music: Disco-infused, electronic pop and the genre I like to call “Sad Girls Singing”.

Shown: Pink Tartan Fall 2008.

L’Oréal Fashion Week is coming to a close, and FASHION still has eighty-five dollars worth of fresh dry cleaning eagerly hanging in the closet.  Hmm…mental note: Set up date with tall, handsome drink of water and wear one of these fabulous frocks.  Trends spotted: Colourblocking, opaque tights, brights and a very chic trilby hat.

Shown: GRETA CONSTANTINE Fall 2008. Photography by Sarah Casselman

The media lounge is starting to fill up with grumpy eds: Not enough food, the loo sitch is rather bleak, and the rain is starting to wreak havoc on blowouts and Bruno Frisonis.  Best accessories spotted at the tents: Everything-but-the-kitchen-sink patent totes, jewel-tone cocktail rings, fedoras, bright scarves and feather hairbands.  New must-have nail colour: Red.

Shown: JOEFFER CAOC Fall 2008. Photography by Sarah Casselman.

Today’s raindrops made shoe options tricky for the style set.  Seen at the tents: Burberry rainboots, metallic silver Rubber Duck booties and one fabulous pair of YSL Tribute platforms.  Hey, when you’re standing that high off the ground nothing can touch you, not even the rain.

The beat goes on

Shown: ET Canada’s Kim D’Eon and Cheryl Hickey at the Heart Truth Cocktail.

Day two of Toronto Fashion Week was off and running last night, starting at the Heart Truth Fashion Show for the Heart and Stroke Foundation, where some Canadian femmes strutted their fabulousness down the runway in red dresses by our fave local designers, such as, Pink Tartan and Comrags.

Nathan Phillips Square was abuzz with L’Oréal Fashion Week banter.  Topics du jour included: The article on Robin Kay in Toronto Life, model Coco Rocha walking in the Joe Fresh show, and who was wearing what in the front row.  Project Runway winner Evan Biddell’s show kicked off the fashion festivities and drew an impressive crowd, but his collection failed to hold their attention.  Note: Reality TV and the runway sometimes don’t mix.

Let the games begin

Toronto Fashion Week is not only about the fashion–ok, maybe it is. But the places to check out for what’s truly on trend in the city are at the multitude of events that take over in the evenings.

By Leah Rumack

Shown: Luella Bartley Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Luella Bartley Something wicked this way came at Luella’s witchy-inspired show, though thankfully the stated paganism was kept to a dull roar with a bit of coloured stitching at the top of puff-sleeved peasant blouses and high-heeled clogs, a few pointy hats and bright orange tights.