FASHION Magazine

This month I was lucky enough to have a cross-country chat with the lovely Carlie Wong (carliewong.com).  Her sleek Spring 2009 collection caught the eye of fashion elite and her Fall 2009 outing is about to hit the runway at LG Fashion Week.

Everywhere I’ve been seeing this intense, starkly angular, raven-haired woman, and wondering, how do I know that face? What magazine does she edit, again? And it’s only on the last day of London Fashion Week that I realize: duh. Erin O’Connor.

Best thing about LFW: all the different venues. More shows are held outside the great white tents than in them. From the Saatchi Gallery to the Science Museum, a repurposed industrial warehouse to a shabby-genteel flat, every day is a whipstitch through London’s patchwork heart. Yesterday morning was a favourite: Erdem (Montreal-born, London-adored) showcased his FW ‘09 collection in the Embankment Galleries at Somerset House. Down by the Thames and across a cobblestoned courtyard, it couldn’t have been better on a postcard.

On Day 3 of LFW, Sunday brunch is a wistful memory. It’s a grey and early breakfast instead, then a black cab to Betty Jackson‘s 9:15 a.m.(!) show in the tents. Thankfully, it’s all very nice: buttercup and baby blue knits (love the cropped sweaters!) and wildflower or woodgrain-printed silks. The prim schoolgirl effect is achieved with knee-high nylons and fuzzy knit backpacks (better than they sound).

In John Rocha’s Dover Street shop the other day, I inquired about a couple of large wire-frame rabbits. “Oh, those were going to be hats,” a charming salesboy replied, “but it turned out to be too much, so we left them as sculptures.”

“Too much?” I said, disbelieving. “For the British?”

Did you dig Marc Jacobs’s ode to the eighties club kid? Or Rodarte’s organic vision? Do you love the classic Americana of Michael Kors or Ralph Lauren? Check out our coverage of the New York shows and tell us your favourite in the comments.

The post What was your favourite show at New York Fashion Week? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

My last day to take a bite out of the Big Apple begins with an early call time at Ralph Lauren.  I take in the rise ’n’ shine chicettes with glee—fresh blow-outs, furs and fabulous shoes.

The hell with cold! I’m putting on my four-inch heels, my chapka and my fringe skirt for Montreal Fashion Week (March 2 to 5, semainemodemontreal.ca), returning to Marché Bonsecours with a line-up that’s more daring and exciting than ever.

Here for a breathless ten minutes, haven’t even made it to the registration desk, and already two mussily cool girls with wicked shoes and SLRs have asked me to pose for their street style blogs. Ah, yes. Welcome to Fashion Week, the London way.

Don’t you just love starting the day with a tea and a little Tommy?

My first show of the day was Tommy Hilfiger, but before I talk clothes, I must talk crushes. My main squeeze—well, officially Diane Kruger’s—is Joshua Jackson. He brought along his million-dollar smile, baby face and jet black Wayfarers (and Kruger).  Aw, Pacey….you’re all grown up but dang, you have that boyish charm down pat.

How did my Thursday begin?  With substance and a touch of glamour at Michael Kors. Think neo-classics, sculptural details, lean trousers, graphic bareness and lots of golden camel and olive green. (And of course, black—the go-to shade for the chic elite.)

Theme for the day: Running in heels. And no, I am not speaking of Marie Claire‘s highly anticipated new reality show, but rather my crazy day. My late-night Walgreens run for gel foot cushions will have been worth it.

Up first was Matthew Williamson where front-rowers included Rachel Zoe, Monet Mazur, Joy Bryant (who is quickly becoming the female Kanye West of Fashion Week by showing up to absolutely everything). Oh, and I can’t forget Eva Longoria Parker looking petite but packing some major bling power.