FASHION Magazine

Every facet of fashion is going high tech. From smart fabrics to computerized sketches, old school techniques are going the way of the dodo. Case in point, Stephanie Mckay’s fashion illustrations from The Collections’ RE\SET Fashion shows in Toronto last night. No longer are artists frantically scribbling in notebooks and juggling pencils, crayons and charcoals […]

The post Are Fashion Illustrations the New Streetstyle? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See all the street style from Toronto fashion week »

Another day, another blizzard. Despite Tuesday’s mild temperatures and snow-barren streets, yesterday’s freak snowstorm had fashion insiders reaching for their jackets, toques and mitts—anything to keep warm and dry. As you can imagine, with a winter that just won’t quit, Torontonians have an arsenal of stylish cold weather duds ready at a moment’s notice.

Stylist Matthew Chow colour blocked his way into our best street looks, with grey and white accents breaking up the black, and white toe capped Nike kicks, a clever way to disguise snowy shoes. Toronto Fashion Week founder Robin Kay turned up the glam, looking like a fabulously wealthy Russian, in a dark fur hat and coat, finished with a black Chanel quilted bag and knee high black boots. Street style stars Samantha and Caillianne Beckerman were somewhat subdued in a palette of blues and greys, still maintaining an element of fun thanks to a furry purse and stuffed bear. Micah Cameron from Hudson’s Bay and model Courtney Fallow braved the storm, both donning opaque tights and black booties. Blogger Anita Clarke brought her typical spunk and energy to the day; navy printed trousers and a Phillip Sparks shearling collared army jacket finished with sensible hiking boots. At least someone was enjoying the snow.

See the Greta Constantine Spring 2014 collection »

In the off-season manner that has become their signature, Greta Constantine designers Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill put the social spin on the Spring 2014 collection, which they revealed at Malaparte above TIFF Bell Lightbox last night in Toronto. For an intimate crowd of editors and socialites, the 23 looks first took to a makeshift runway in-between two outstretched dinner tables set with inspirational artworks at each place (“Give your undivided attention to the feeling of your creations, not the creations themselves,” said mine). Then later, in presentation style groupings for after-partygoers.

The collection itself was an exercise in what Greta Constantine does best, but renewed for the season in cool microfiber knits (my favourite: an off-shoulder magenta knee length cocktail number) and silk faille. A dripping copper-covered group of smouldering floor-length gowns had red carpet written all over it. Meanwhile, the duo pushed retakes of their well-known classics such as cobalt and tangerine ruffled power dresses and the one-shouldered cocktail. With a healthy dose of Rogers, Florida, Kimmel and Koo in the crowd, all 23 are sure to be snapped up faster than you can say fierce.

See the Drake One Fifty party photos »

The Drake Hotel can easily be credited with introducing Bay Street types to Queen West, and now, with the launch of Drake One Fifty, they’re reversing the flow. Nested between Toronto’s tallest skyscrapers and expense account-funded bars, the Drake has transplanted its signature sense of (dare we say hipster?) style into a standalone restaurant that will change the scene of the downtown core.

While the space has been on the radar of Toronto’s style set for months, doors officially opened earlier this week with a jam-packed party. From Holt Renfrew’s Moira Wright and Jennifer Daubney to artists Tommy Matejka and Niall McLelland, the guest list was a perfectly curated uptown/downtown mix. In typical Drake Hotel fashion, Drake One Fifty is as much about art and interior design as it is the food. Most of the dining room sits under a huge wooden pergola, designed by Brothers Dressler, book-ended with artwork by Douglas Coupland and Micah Lexier. (You’ll also be sure to see the extremely photogenic emerald-green leather bar stools and banquettes in the background of Instagrams for years to come.)

Check out the photos from the Joe Fresh after-party »

Given the well-heeled ladies and gents that show up for a Joe Fresh fashion show, you’d never believe the label’s wears run as affordably as they do. Though as any Loblaws shopper in Canada knows, they do. After last night’s punky all-black Fall 2013 outing, showgoers were looking to kick off their heels (proverbially speaking) with signature orange cocktails, mini tacos and pulsing DJ beats at the private watering hole, Storys.

Fresh off the Fresh runway, models Heather Marks, Meaghan Collison and a group of studly males in tight sweaters flooded the room with just enough impossible beauty to make the ogling worth it. Creative director Joe Mimran and wife Kimberley Newport-Mimran showed up in coordinated head-to-toe black suiting, adding their own luxe touch to the non-colour of the night. As the two cozied up to Loblaws frontman Galen Weston, nightclub impresario Charles Khabouth and our favourite dandy, Bruce C. Bailey, an informal dance party broke out with queen of the moves, Andrea Bolley, at the forefront. Just an average rip roaring night in Toronto as of late, it seems.

September may host some of the biggest fashion weeks—London, New York, Paris, and Milan—but come October, it’s Toronto’s time to shine. Considering that Toronto is the home of the second biggest North American fashion week, it goes without saying that the city hosts an influx of shows, parties and fashionable events. From World MasterCard Fashion Week to The ShOws to the just-announced The Collections, there’s so much going on between October 15-26. As the event calendar starts to build (and explode) we’ll keep updating this guide to Toronto Fashion Week—so check back often and stay in the loop.

Jump to: WORLD MASTERCARD FASHION WEEK | THE COLLECTIONS | THE SHOWS

It’s hard to believe that in the space of 13 years, Robin Kay has taken Toronto Fashion Week from a single-sponsor, $25K-budgeted event to the second largest fashion week in all of North America. With today’s huge news that IMG Canada (in collaboration with IMG Fashion) has bought World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto, it truly seems like the event has fully come into its own.

See the winning collection! »

After last year’s impressive show in Montreal, 2012 saw the Mercedes-Benz Start Up semi-finals set up shop in Quebec City. And so it was at the fairy tale-esque Château Frontenac where I was reunited with the permanent panel from last year’s inaugural edition, plus two new local fashion experts.

JoAnne Caza, the captain of Mercedes-Benz Canada, wowed me with her perfect bilingualism (she’s from the West Island). Local Twitter fashion fans were ecstatic about photogenic Aussie-native Jarrad Clark who heads IMG Fashion—and who was also a judge on Project Runway Australia. Then, of course, there was Hans Koechling, president of The Image Is (who just got back from working on Next Top Model in Britain), and, the Simon Cowell of the group, Robin Kay, president of the FDCC. Joining me in guest judge duties were Christiane Garant of Myco Anna and Louise Maheux from Simons.

View the winning collection »

Edmonton had never seen anything like it before. Over the course of two short days, fashion industry experts from New York and Toronto bulldozed into a city of over a million people and changed its fashion beat.

The Mercedes-Benz Start Up program, now in its second year, has again begun its search for the next big Canadian designer, and last night, asked five of the top designers (after a grueling day of interviews with the top 10), to show their collections at the semi-final runway show at David Morris Fine Cars, an Edmonton Mercedes-Benz dealership.

The Spring 2012 collections, taking place October 17–21, will mark the 25^th Toronto fashion week. Having previously announced the location of the new venue, the Fashion Design Council of Canada has now released the schedule and details about the week.

While we’re not sure what to expect with the week’s theme of “CanadaCool,” we’re excited about the new venue, David Pecaut Square. With the new venue being downtown, we no longer have to teeter down to the exhibition in four-inch heels.

Each season showcases Canada’s design talent and Spring 2012 is no different, with collections from fashion heavyweights Joeffer Caoc, Pink Tartan, Denis Gagnon, and the new and exciting Amanda Lew Kee and Chloe Comme Parris. This season is also going international with established American designer Cynthia Rowley showing three never-before-seen looks.

With a new name and venue, we hope that the collections from Canadian designers are equally as fresh and thrilling.

View the photo gallery »

As we reported back in early June, Mercedes-Benz and IMG have introduced Start Up, their internationally lauded joint competition and mentorship program for up-and-coming designers to Canada. Well, here we go!

Early Wednesday, the first Start Up step was put into place, as I—along with a slew of notables including designer Marie Saint Pierre and FDCC president Robin Kay—judged the Montreal semi-final applicants. As a fan and avid supporter of Canadian fashion, I was thrilled to be a guest judge. Especially since FASHION Magazine is the official magazine sponsor!

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.)