FASHION Magazine

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Last night’s social schedule was jam-packed. Puddle jumping from Tiffany & Co.’s Lambertson Truex leather collab fete to the new Joe Fresh store opening at Queen and Portland (sadly missing the SPiN ping-pong club opening with investor and celeb guest Susan Sarandon—so many parties, so little time), we caught up with the fashion crowd for the second night of this pre-fashion week. Last on the list was Lucian Matis. Despite the rain, 99 Gallery was packed and the standing crowd was elbowing for a prime spot. The designer stood by his signature embellished aesthetic, decorating everything from watercolour nails to over-the-top drop earrings and copper paillette–encrusted bodysuits. Matis’s skill lies in stretching his technical muscles, employing those abilities to further his creative vision, resulting in bright woven bodices, tufted tulle, and sheer panels. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it had us flashing back to last week’s episode of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. With an awe-inspired audience, however, he’s clearly garnered a devoted following on the Canadian scene.

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“I was sent a picture of Kate Lanphear for inspiration,” says M.A.C Cosmetics senior artist Melissa Gibson of Greta Constantine’s no-makeup makeup for their Spring 2012 show. She describes the look as “worn-in wholesome”—the effect of sun-blanched skin after a day of walking the streets of New York City. “It’s blown out; you want to see the natural contours of the face.” This means monochromatic with a velvety texture, and no mascara or nail lacquer. On top of a base of M.A.C. Studio Sculpt concealer Gibson used just two shades of M.A.C. cream colour base: “Root” and “Shell.” For the eye, “Root” was applied all over, with “Shell” providing frosted highlights. Gibson also applied “Shell” to the lips—but after she used concealer to leave only a hint of the lip line visible.

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Pre–Toronto Fashion Week or “Rogue Fashion Week,”as some like to call it, kicked off last night with Greta Constantine’s Spring 2012 show. Swapping their usual venue, the Don Valley–neighbouring BMW dealership, for King Street West’s Century Room, but changing little else, designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong sent 51 looks that mainly consisted of the draped jersey and asymmetrical edge for which the duo are best known. Beginning with juicy-hued dresses in tangerine, cranberry, violet, and teal, the collection switched gears 15 looks in, morphing into a biker gang of sorts. (Those sorts being the same sorts you’ve seen time and time again.) Done well? Of course. Redone? Well, that too.