FASHION Magazine

When I first received the invite for Travis Taddeo‘s spring and summer show and saw a picture of a noose, two things popped into my head. First, “This is going to be interesting.” Second, “How very Travis.”

The young designer’s show was held last month in Griffintown, a barren albeit “up-and-coming” area. By the time I arrived, all the other usual suspects had already been seated: Eva Friede from the Gazette, a slew of French and English bloggers, as well as Taddeo’s eclectic entourage that included Denis Gagnon, Yso, and Cary Tauben. As I read the designer’s press statement, I learned that Taddeo’s inspiration drew upon “slain celebrities where spirits of tragically erased stars reappear to haunt the designer’s new titillating collection.” That explained the T-shirts printed with River Phoenix’ face – and the noose. I don’t make this stuff up.

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Travis Taddeo sure doesn’t trade in obvious references. His version of the French Revolution was filtered through a leather-wrapped lens of a high school gym class, circa 1982. Best were Tencel tees and dresses with sporty leather inserts, leather drawstring shorts for him and her and a perforated leather bustier dress that was hot, hot, hot–even if you’ve seen it before. We were less sold on the cut-off jean shorts and the high-cut leather (again) bodysuits, though Taddeo’s club kid audience will no doubt snap them up–no pants required.

Check out the gallery after the jump and watch our interview with Travis Taddeo.

“If Prada does it, why can’t I?”

This is dangerous thinking in the minds of less iconic designers, no matter how experienced. Ula Zukowska, a veteran of the Toronto fashion scene, showed among her Fall 2009 collection a series of crinkled garments in rusted colours and stiffly sprung shapes that immediately recalled Miuccia Prada’s much-debated Spring show. (Google if you doubt the claim.)