FASHION Magazine

By Jennifer Campbell, Sarah Casselman and Caitlan Moneta

Toronto Fashion Week went out swinging with Denis Gagnon’s fringe-filled spring show–undoubtedly one, if not the, best of the week. We’ve rounded up some more of our favourites after the jump.

See a gallery of our Toronto Fashion Week picks »

To say that Denis Gagnon‘s Spring show is fringed would be a 100 per cent accurate and yet far too simple description. This is not cowboy fringe. The strands of silk spilled down like a waterfall, were swagged like drapery, or snaked down mesh panels. The opening look featured a pair of pants that looked almost sinewy. In addition to the silk, Gagnon used fine metal chains to form delicate shoulders or an overlay on lace sleeves. For the finale, he made a shimmering dress with bare zip-away shoulders. There were a handful of pieces done in Gagnon’s signature draped and knotted leather that in any other show that week would have been the standout, but here they served as moments of stillness in show that was fully in motion.

See a gallery of the Denis Gagnon show»

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In terms of production value for a new designer, Amanda Lew Kee’s show gets a big thumbs up. It was well-edited, cohesive, and even presented a strong (but strange) beauty message (blue lips anyone?). Though the beige tank dress was nothing to write home about, the simple washed leather shifts and sheer, peachy nude paneled dresses were on-trend, while the white the silver beaded mini-skirted suit showed range. We have high expectations for this young designer’s future on the Canadian style stage.

See a gallery of the Amanda Lew Kee show»

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Last season, Rita Liefhebber presented her fall line in the back of a truck. For spring, she brought a 10-look collection to the darkened runway room at Toronto Fashion Week. Liefhebber says she was inspired by “an overcast, kind of melancholy summer,” a feeling underscored by Eva Michon’s moody film, which featured Liefhebber’s clothes moving over a background of crashing waves. The watery theme came out in the scuba-ish leggings, washed out shades and even an open knit vest that reminds one of a fisherman’s net. But this isn’t beach wear. There were hand-dyed silk dresses, tanks and tees, and relaxed jackets, all of which will slide into a city wardrobe.

See a gallery of looks from the Rita Liefhebber show»

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By Andrea Victory The look at Sears’ Attitude show on Wednesday referenced classic Americana. To complement the clothes, L’Oreal Paris’ official hair artist and colourist Eric Del Monaco curled the models’ hair to create volume and waves, then raked his fingers through, softly pulling it into a bun at the nape of the neck for […]

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Michael Thomas and Drew Thomas (no relation) don’t make it easy for you to like their clothes. Shrill music and dour models don’t inspire blood lust in everyone, which is fine, because Thomas isn’t meant to appeal to the masses. The kind of androgynous, seasonless dressing put forth by the pair finds fairly recent ancestry in Paris-based Canadian designer Rad Hourani. (An aside: Does androgynous and seasonless also have to mean colourless? Can’t both sexes wear blue all year?)

Look closely, though, and you’ll spot clothes that are more wearable than the apocalyptic styling would suggest. Slim pants, articulated at the knee to reveal a slice of skin are a nice update on the cigarette pant and oversized sheer button-ups work as a dress or a shirt. An asymmetrical zipped jacket would slip neatly into many a wardrobe, ditto the vests with trailing zippers or the pouch-like sweaters.

See a gallery of the Thomas show»

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While Toronto’s fashion designers were showing their latest collections on the catwalk inside Heritage Court, show attendees were working the runway outside. Click here to see a gallery of looks we liked. Read our full coverage of Toronto Fashion Week»

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Inspired by a mid-winter’s visit to the greenhouses at Toronto’s Allan Gardens, newcomer Sarah Stevenson brings a fresh perspective on prints to the Canadian fashion scene. Her debut collection was a romantic lineup of pastel-coloured lilies, tulips and apple blossoms (made modern in a cool kaleidoscope print). Hand painted floral degrade dresses made the grade, as did the art nouveau–inspired graphic swirl frocks. Stevenson’s mix of silk, satin and chiffon is not only ultra-feminine but eco-conscious as well (think natural fibers, printed to order to minimize waste). We can’t wait to watch Stevenson grow.

See a gallery of the Sarah Stevenson presentation»

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By Andrea Victory

“I want it to look as if she did it herself,” was Joe Fresh Style founder Joe Mimran’s directive L’Oréal Paris official hair artist and colourist, Eric Del Monaco, for the tailored yet slightly undone buns seen Wednesday night on the Spring 2011 runway. The hair was combed back “nice and clean and flat,” says Del Monaco. It’s then roughed up with product before being twirled into a bun that sat under the crown and above the nape of the neck. The ‘do was then rustled up gently for a classic spring look.

Official makeup artist for L’Oréal Paris Eddie Malter’s makeup mantra for the show was “a lot a lot a lot of mascara.” He directed his team to amp up model’s lashes, even going so far as to break open a tube of mascara to get the maximum amount of product. Malter used the straight end of a disposable wand to add layer upon layer onto the roots. A base of “beautiful skin, nothing on the eyelid, just balm on lips,” kept the spotlight on the lashes.

See a gallery of backstage photos from the Joe Fresh Style show»

See a full runway gallery of the Joe Fresh Style show»

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Get your pencils out, everyone, it’s shopping list time.  Here are FASHION‘s favourites from last night’s Attitude showing. 1. The striped blazer 2. The spectator lace-up stacked heels 3. The chambray maxi skirt 4. The white tunic (belted, bien sur!) 5. The slick cropped moto jacket 6. The sheer camp shirt 7. The khaki wide-leg […]

The post Toronto Fashion Week: Our top 7 looks from Sears’ Attitude show appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

While Canadian designers and superstar models have been marching down the Toronto Fashion Week runways there has been a veritable style parade outside of the shows, too.

Click here to see a gallery of looks we liked.

Sisters and design partners Chloé and Parris Gordon brought their Chloé Comme Parris label to the LG Fashion Week runway for the first time yesterday afternoon. It was a promising start for the Toronto natives, who already sell their line at two Toronto boutiques. Chloé, who designs the clothing, is a graduate of NSCAD, where Parris, in charge of jewellery, is in her last year.

The clothes were both military- and athletic-inspired–though not too obviously either one. For example, polished brass buttons running up the legs of slouchy sweats.  The cutaway jackets and dresses offered a twist–an olive green utility jacket featured long panel at the back that zipped away–ditto the belts, which were found around the neck of a sleeveless blouse or hanging from the bottom of a cropped baseball jacket. All the cut-outs also offered some flashes of skin in unexpected places. A favourite came from a striped dress whose skirt was attached with metal buttons, partially undone for a peek of the hips.

See a gallery of the Chloé Comme Parris show»

Watch a runway video and an interview with the designers»

Read our full coverage of Toronto Fashion Week»