FASHION Magazine

Take a look back at Nicolas Ghesquière’s Balenciaga Top 10 »

As any entry-level fashion historian might know, clothing is as good a representation of what’s going on in the world as any. At a more micro level, its one of the best ways to chart changing aesthetics through time. What better proponent of so many of fashion’s most recent aesthetic shifts than Nicolas Ghesquière, creative director of Balenciaga, who announced today that after 15 years with the brand, he’d be stepping down. As someone who was so effected by Ghesquière’s genius while wading through my own fashion discovery (namely the one-two punch of Spring 2007 and Spring 2008), this news is real sucky. On the bright side, it’s a great time to look back at just how unbelievably influential Ghesquière was in starting so many recurring trends.

After a late night (12 a.m.!) at the J.Lindeberg fashion show, hosted by Elmer Olsen Model Management at the Ultra Supper Club on Queen Street West, FASHION realized two things the next morning:

1. Sunglasses and a slick of bright lipgloss do a feting femme good
2. Blazer-wearing boys (in the show and the crowd) are on our style radar

Despite a few fashion casualties (felled by fierce-looking boots on sore feet), too much caffeine and too little sleep, the fashion pack turned up today looking perfectly turned out. Inside the Liberty Grand, spirits were still high and the ankle booties even higher. On with the shows…

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.

Question: Has spring already passed me by? With the weather at a balmy 10 degrees and a cream Burberry duster coat sweetly whispering “spring” in my ear, I am already thinking about the new collections and knitwear for Fall 2007. On the (stilettoed) heels of the fall international collections in Milan and Paris, Toronto’s L’Oreal Fashion Week has officially begun with all of its fanfare, fashionistas and fabulousness.