FASHION Magazine

Aloha!

At this point you’re getting to know me and my obsessions: funky fashion, France (its cakes, luxe, createurs and ironic humeur) and of course, sun and sea. So when I heard that the Bay was launching a new style department, Maison B., which carries hot brands like Tara Jarmon, Andy Thé-Anh and Ça va de Soi, I immediately cancelled my yearly shopping trip to Paris (but not my Grenada escapade!). We definitely need more cool brands like these (and soon, with the new TNT store in Westmount, we’ll be splurging on amazing stuff from my favorite French designers, too, but it’s a secret scoop).

We open in Lauren’s computer class at the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising. Her instructor is calling the roll. "Lauren? Hey, Lauren. Daniella, her last name is Usher? Hi. Stephanie Pratt?" Lauren’s eyes widen as Spencer’s sister makes a fashionably late entrance and takes a seat only two down from hers. "The first day, it’s difficult for some people," the instructor says. Lady, you don’t know how right you are.

By Kate MacLennan

I’m not so silly as to go comparing B.C. Fashion Week to the spectacles that our editors witness in Bryant Park, the Carrousel du Louvre, or any of Milan’s equally stylish venues, but I will enthuse this: we have a fashion week here in Vancouver, and the alluring mix of up-and-comers and established designers set to hit the catwalk next week is well worth checking out. Here’s some highlights:

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: Jeanne Beker at the Bratz Diesel afterparty at Atelier. 

After a little siesta on day three of Fashion Week, it was time to get going yet again, this time stopping by superswank Atelier on King Street West for fashion maven Jeanne Beker’s birthday party/launch of her new passion-for-fashion Bratz doll, a collaboration with Diesel.

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.

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.

Paris: Day eight

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Nina Ricci Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

So sad that fashion week is drawing to an end. I have truly loved every moment–from the mad crush at the tent entrance to the metallic accents on coats, bags and shoes to the mid-afternoon macaroon fashion refuels.

By Kate MacLennan

While flicking through the prattle and the doom that is cable television today, I recently landed on TLC’s What Not To Wear. It had been a while since I watched Stacy and Clinton trash a fashion victim and her poly-blend wardrobe, so I hung in to catch the finale—I’m a sucker for a good makeover. Sadly, that warm, fuzzy “isn’t she beautiful?” moment never happened. In fact, I think I yawned when I saw the reveal. The poor woman looked like…everyone.

By Sarah Casselman

Shown: Karl Lagerfeld Fall 2008. Photography by Peter Stigter.

Early start to the day, but somehow the lack of sleep is manageable, due to the prospect of seeing Kaiser Karl at Lagerfeld. Carine Roitfeld and photog Patrick Demarchelier are the last to be seated and then the show begins. Funny how suddenly, when the music starts and I see the models take the runway, sleep is the last thing on my mind. See photos from this show.