FASHION Magazine

Rooftop parties really work better when it isn’t freezing, but the folks at Absolut, despite being able to project art installations onto neighbouring office towers, just can’t predict the weather. The young and hip gathered on the rooftop of a downtown parkade last night for the vodka brand’s TIFF fete. The art projections, by the way, were part of Canadian visual artists Kellen Hatanaka and Beside Herself‘s task to transform a plain ole rooftop into a full-fledged art party.

Toronto’s LG Fashion Week has found a new home. After living in tents at Nathan Phillips Square (a few short blocks from our office), then last season at King and Shaw, the show is moving to an indoor spot with 40-foot ceilings in nearby Liberty Village. FDCC prez Robin Kay told The Toronto Star that the runway will be inside the building, which will also have a tent erected outside.

The FDCC has also released a roughed in schedule with a start date of Sunday, March 28. (The shows close Thursday, April 1.)

Jessica Biffi’s Spring 2010 show opened with a glow-in-the-dark spray paint dress that looked as though it was crafted from layered vertical blinds. The dress appeared again in peach, a strong point in a raver-inspired collection that seemed to be made up entirely of jumpsuits. (Okay, not entirely, but a third of it at least.) There were pastel knee-length jersey options, a gold micro-sequin onesie with blousy strapless top, a hot pink short suit that let the model’s breasts hang out (intentionally, I’m afraid), a low-cut pantsuit in a shiny zebra/leopard burn-out fabric that also showed up on a few dresses, and an acid green hooded shortie with pleating details–the best of the bunch. Pleats echoed the shingle effect of the first dress, appearing as a peplum bustier or a hot pink mini-skirt. The most beautiful example was a pleated teacup skirt with shimmering ivory tiers–its stiff, swinging movement glowed in an entirely different way.

Check out our gallery the jump.

We head backstage to capture preparations for Jessica Biffi’s raver girl collection for Spring 2010. Click the images below to view the gallery.

The post Backstage beauty: Jessica Biffi appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

When our Toronto blogger Connie Ng mentioned that designer Jessica Biffi was really into nail art and had even given her a little demo on their afternoon out, we were hard pressed to say no. Read on for a little DIY action.

With great talent and a whole lot of personality, Jessica Biffi became instant BFFs with fans of the hit reality show, Project Runway Canada. For this promising designer, reality beyond TV only gets more exciting. In addition to working on the launch of her private label, she is dreaming up some ambitious endeavors to tackle both the plus size and menswear markets.I caught up with Biffi over Italian soda as she prepares sketches for her upcoming spring collection. Between fans snatching photos on the street, we shop for sneakers, try on makeup and talk fashion.

This year’s Buy Design for Windfall (buydesignforwindfall.ca) fundraiser went off without a hitch this past weekend. Themed Buy Design in Space, the futuristic fashion set came out in droves to raise funds for the charity—Canada’s only new-clothing bank—with the always-exciting live and silent auctions (items included M.A.C and Chanel gift baskets and tickets for the Toronto Symphony Orchestra). We had our eye on a few prizes, but alas, nothing made it home with us. Not even the jam-packed gift bag, which we think we left in someone’s car! (Too many Moon Juice cocktails to remember!)