FASHION Magazine

The last stop in our studio invasion series was to the East side studio/apartment belonging to Vawk‘s Sunny Fong. While bright light shone in through the wall-to-wall windows, the team was busy at work on the Spring show. Set to be shown at 9:30 p.m. tonight, Fong hinted that the collection is inspired by everything from architecture, to moths, to grasshoppers!

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Natural, natural, natural—the word kept buzzing around backstage before last night’s Joe Fresh show. For hair, this meant sporty side-parted ponytails with barely any product or tools used. “If you were to do this at home, just a fresh blow dry,” said L’Oreal Paris official hair artist and colourist Eric Del Monaco. However, on the runway natural always becomes slightly enhanced—in this case with many mists of Elnett hairspray. (We swear one ponytail took on an entire can…)

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I am a fan of Label: the clothes are stylish, wearable, and made in Toronto, which is a major bonus. In terms of runway shows though, the collection doesn’t quite stand out—it merely affirms to the many stylish onlookers that these are the trends they should be wearing.

Paired with some lacklustre bangles and Dov Charney–esque glasses were a few richly-hued patterns, shoulderless dresses, an asymmetric shirt hem, and maxi skirts. There were, however, some pieces that stood out: a white, short-sleeved tent-cut button down shirt and the tux tail–like details on the back of a patterned dress had great visual interest. Each look that walked down the runway was cute and commercial, but shouldn’t we expect more from our LG shows?

Despite yesterday’s neverending downpour, some of the city’s finest dressers were out in full waterproof force outside the tents. Clear umbrellas, bright purses, and studded bracelets were the accessories of choice… check it out for yourself!

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Kim Newport-Mimran described her spring collection as modern ’60s sportswear, citing her own cropped bob as proof of her current mindset, and a photo of buzzy model-of-the-week Andrej Pejic with a flower in his mouth looking “very modern Bardot” as an early inspiration. Styling help came from New Yorker and former Marie Claire fashion director Lucy Sykes (Plum’s twin).

After a darker, camo-laden detour last season, the brand is back on preppy, work-wearable ground: fitted, drop-waist dresses in white and blue Prada-like stripes are made in “power stretch, a knit that works like a woven and holds everything in”; red and blue cigarette pants in a sheeny silk-wool are sleek but fun. A few very short, flippy skirts and mini ’60s shifts skew younger—or braver—than usual. And though she may have taken a stumble in her Celine two-tone heels when she came out for her bow with Pejic, Newport-Mimran should be on solid selling ground this season.

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When it comes to fashion, I have two minds. I oscillate between editor mode (carefully scrutinizing trends, fabrics, cuts, and colour) and shopping autopilot (dreaming up outfits, making must-have lists, and slowly building my dream closet). Last night’s Joe Fresh show threw me for a loop. While I was technically there for work, I couldn’t pry myself away from my material side. Not only did the presentation of the show blow me away—Joe flew in the who’s who of Canadian models as well as used some of the beauties who’ve been in town for the week including Alana Zimmer, Kate King, Heather Marks, Herieth Paul, Kristin Owen, Liisa Winkler, Tara Gill, Yasmin Warsame, Kori Richardson, and Amanda Laine—but the clothes have never looked so… expensive (a coup for a mass-retail brand). Perfectly fitting tight jersey tees, pointed loafer pumps, and a printed ankle pant all got the green light in my mental notes. The clever combination of clean ‘60s minimalism (the show opened with a Mondrian-esque shift dress) with sportwear-detailed separates (neoprene, parachute fabrics, and drawstring details were everywhere) ensured the show didn’t feel one-noted. While they certainly won’t alienate their core grocery-store customer, Joe certainly upped the ante for the fashion followers who will be anxiously awaiting the runway styles come spring.

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I shouldn’t pick favourites, but I’ll do it anyways. Maybe it’s because we share a fondness for all things Victorian, or maybe it’s just because the clothes were that good, but halfway through LG Fashion Week, I was already utterly spellbound by Chloé Comme Parris Spring 2012. After a similarly stellar LG debut last season, sister duo of Chloé and Parris Gordon took us back to the late 1800s, minus the wasp waists and lack of gender equality. “We were really looking at raised necklines and detailing and interesting ways of cinching in a waist or pleating and draping, but looking at how to reduce these silhouettes that can’t really be worn today because they are so voluminous and so ornate,” said sister Chloé when we visited the studio last week. The sisters’ look at the era was apparent, from delicate woven lace-like trousers and jumpers, to the William Morris-like print appearing on several dresses (the finale dress was a dead ringer for a neo-sack dress à la Pre-Raphaelite muse Jane Morris). Updated with interesting cropping (a jean jacket cut just below the collar comes to mind), sexy slits, and cross-body pearl necklaces, it’s without any sort of hometown inhibition that I can honestly say—if there was such a thing as a thousand star rating, this collection would have it. In my books, at least.

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DIY: We teach you how to tie a turban, Jay Manuel style »

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Joeffer Caoc showed us how to stay glam on and off the court in his Spring 2012 collection. Despite the early afternoon start time, the fashion week veteran drew in high profile attendees including Jeanne Beker and our very own Bernadette Morra. Models marched down the runway like they were about to play a championship game—a champion in a much more chic uniform. Sportif looks included loose tanks and shorts with flashes of fuchsia, orange, and blue layered under breezy jackets and tunics, singlet-inspired column dresses, and gold lamé harem pants covered in black mesh. Aside from the occasional colour-blocked tote on the models’ arms, Caoc held back on accessories. (Who wants to lose an earring during a game?) Next time Caoc is hosting a game of pickup basketball, we hope we make the cut.

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Michi, the sporty brainchild of Toronto-based Michelle Watson could easily be described as the workout wardrobe of Lululemon’s risqué and fashion-forward sister. Watson stayed consistent, showing more feminine workout gear for Spring 2012 with an over-the-top show. Models strutted (actually) and flirted with show-goers while showing off a collection of sports bras with multiple straps and pops of purple, mustard, and magenta and matching shorts with slashes of mesh on the legs and peek-a-boo cutouts on the back. Accessorized with leather armbands, sky-high booties, and sass—including one model tossing her wig to reveal a bleached-blonde, closely-shaven head—at times we felt like we were watching a Pussycat Dolls rehearsal rather than a fashion show.

Tune in at 9 p.m. EST to watch the Joe Fresh Spring 2012 collections LIVE from David Pecaut Square in Toronto!

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