FASHION Magazine

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Montreal Fashion Week rolled into town yesterday and parked herself at the usual spot at Marché Bonsecours in Old Montreal. But the first show to kick off the Spring 2012 collections was off-site at Harricana. Mariouche Gagné debuted her new écono-musée de la creation de mode, a kind of open atelier where the public can discover first hand her upcycling methods. Tired fur coats, wedding dresses, and old leathers that enter the building eventually exit as haute manteaux, whimsical separates, and trendy accessories.

The Marché Bonsecours overflowed with Montreal’s fashion crowd who teetered in high-heels over St-Paul Street’s cobblestones to take in three days of Montreal Fashion Week.

On day one, Andy Thê-Anh’s “cocktail” presentation unraveled more like a schmoozy happy hour social than a spring and summer preview. Latecomers tiptoed to catch glimpses of the central stage that doubled as a mini-runway while P&G Beauty reps (in coral mini-togas) served skincare samples on trays like canapés. Known for his sophistication and architectural details, Thê-Anh’s show sparkled (even from a distance) with various shades and intensities of blue paired with neutral white and black.

Denis Gagnon presented his Spring 2010 collection yesterday at Montreal Fashion Week (more to come on that soon). The starting point for the line was zippers, a theme blown out on the custom-designed Aldo footwear that Gagnon created with stylist YSO. (Gallery after the jump.)

A great ending to Montreal Fashion Week: Denis Gagnon’s runway show and after-party at the Fullum & Holt factory last Thursday! After regaining consciousness from the hypnotic and impressive fashion show (read all about it on Shirine’s blog), people woke up slowly to tunes mixed by Thomas Von Party while greeting friends and acquaintances on the temporary catwalk that crossed the factory.

Euphoric, apocalyptic, and deliciously luxurious: Last night’s Denis Gagnon show was the highlight of Fashion Week.

Blame it on the recession or the freezing temperatures, but the mood at Montreal Fashion Week was at once festive and dark. Crowds braved the icy sidewalks in their shiny stilettos and lightweight coats to flock to the illuminated Marché Bonsecours, where there were few shows but a good dose of fun parties.