FASHION Magazine

See the Vawk Fall 2014 collection »

World Mastercard Fashion Week officially kicked off on Monday, and the shows only confirmed what we already knew—Toronto has got some serious design talent. The second show of the night was Vawk, a label known for it’s powerful yet feminine designs and peek-a-boo designs, thanks to strategic cut outs and plenty of sheer fabrics.

Designer Sunny Fong’s first few looks weren’t particularly ground breaking in terms of cut or silhouette, and while they were well executed, the looks felt a little expected. A crop top here, a backless button down shirt here. But it was the intricate tailoring that alluded to a greater talent and skill, and separated them from the rabble. Details like a clever twist collar, an understated way to do a statement collar, and a fur front panel cut and sewn into a subtle inverted triangle pattern, gave some great visual interest to otherwise plain silhouettes.

New York, London, Milan and Paris may host countless (and mind-blowing!) shows during September, but with October quickly approaching our minds are already prepping for Toronto Fashion Week. When it comes to saving the best for last, our city is wrapping up the Spring 2014 season with stellar home-grown talent.

The packed Toronto schedule includes both The ShOws and World MasterCard Fashion Week, both of which are sure to show spring collections that will have us wishing we could just sleep through winter. Need more intel? Read on—we’ll be updating this guide to Toronto Fashion Week Spring 2014 as the details roll in.

Jump to: World MasterCard Fashion Week | The ShOws

See the biggest Fall 2013 fashion trends »
See all our fashion month coverage »

Fashion month may have finally wrapped, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to forget about the trends that emerged for Fall 2013 on the many runways of New York, London, Milan, Paris and Toronto—In fact, it’s time for them to take front and centre. While shoppers everywhere are snapping up the best of the selling floor’s offerings for spring and summer, designers, buyers and editors alike are busy prepping ahead. And since we know y’all like to keep ahead of the curve, we’ve sorted through hundreds of photos and selected 10 of the top Fall 2013 trends so that you can mentally prep (and save) too!

Next season, it’s all about fur, which landed in both faux and real on runways including Marni, JW Anderson, and most strikingly at Fendi, where it was combined in a dizzying multitude of punky ways. The 1990s were back for another resurgence, continuing Spring 2013’s grunge trend at Saint Laurent in Paris and Chloé Comme Parris right here at home. On the street, the look was easily created by many fashion week attendees who layered plaids on waists, under jackets and even on tights. And while practically speaking, it may be no major surprise that outerwear was one of the top Fall 2013 trends, this show season we saw jackets take on new forms with quilting, oversized shapes and bold colours which were mirrored outside the shows, with equally interesting choices hitting the pavement

Here are 100 images to help jog your memory of the top Fall 2013 trends spotted inside and outside of the fashion week stents, so sit back, click through, and relive the fashion month in all its street style and runway glory.

View by trend: 1. 1990s |2. SKIRT SUITS|3. FUR | 4. HATS | 5. OUTERWEAR | 6. PINK | 7. PLAID | 8. STATEMENT ACCESSORIES | 9. CRAZY COMBOS | 10. UNIQUE PRINTS

See the Vawk Fall 2013 collection photos »

When we were first introduced to Sunny Fong on Project Runway Canada, it was clear that his talent extended far beyond reality TV stardom. His exquisite tailoring and attention to detail has made VAWK, his luxury ready-to-wear label, one of the highlights of Toronto Fashion Week. For Fall 2013, Fong focused on what he does best; namely simple, minimalist designs which resulted in a refined and surprisingly wearable collection.

Titled “Nordic Fauna,” VAWK’s Fall 2013 collection was inspired by the clean lines of Scandinavian interior design as well as classic winter hunting attire. An introductory video showing a series of images of the bleak yet strangely beautiful wintertime forests set the stage for what was to be an incredible display of minimalism with a unique Canadian touch. The collection kept with VAWK’s signature neutral colour palette and sexy form-fitting dresses, but stayed away from 1980s Madonna-inspired looks of Spring 2013. What was left was exquisitely crafted clothes that women all over the world would be happy to wear.

View our photo shoot starring Grace Mahary »

Or jump to: BEHIND THE SCENES | SHOP THE SHOOT

In just under a year, Edmonton-born model Grace Mahary has become a star on the international fashion scene. launching her international career as an exclusive on the Givenchy Fall 2012 runway, she then landed big for the Spring 2013 season, walking runways at Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Prada and for Hedi Slimane’s first collection at Saint Laurent. For this photo shoot from our February 2013 issue, we cast the model as an It girl in transit alongside fellow model Angela Page, checked in for a night at Toronto’s brand new Four Seasons Hotel with a suitcase full of homegrown designer pieces. From Pink Tartan’s minty fresh pant suit (pictured above) to Vawk’s strict black leather dress, Grace Mahary’s star shines bright in the best of Canadian fashion for the season.

See the biggest Spring 2013 fashion trends »
See all of our fashion month coverage »

It’s official, Spring 2013 fashion month is over. And after receiving a daily dose of street style photos and runway updates, it would be silly for us to ignore the trends that we saw day after day (after day, after day). It’s hard not to fall victim to sensory overload, but thankfully our street style photographer, Stefania Yarhi, made it easy for us to pick and choose which trends we know we’ll be seeing all spring long. With hundreds of photos from Paris, Milan, London, New York, and Toronto at our disposal, we just couldn’t ignore the countless graphic tops (a day without a Balenciaga sci-fi sweater sighting was a total shocker), exposed bellies, suits, and mixed prints—so we didn’t because we’re positive they will be huge come Spring 2013. We’ve selected 10 of the biggest fashion trends from the streets and the runways and put them together in one place, so gets to clickin’. The leaves may just be starting to fall, but it’s never too early to plan for spring, right? (RIGHT!)

View by trend: 1. CARTOON GRAPHICS | 2. BARE MIDRIFF | 3. FILING SUIT | 4. MIXED PRINTS | 5. MONOCHROMATIC | 6. OUT THERE ACCESSORIES | 7. PEEK A BOO | 8. SEEING RED | 9. SIXTIES | 10. STRUCTURE

See the Vawk and Vawkkin Spring 2013 collection photos »

On the final night of World Mastercard Fashion Week in Toronto, those that were left standing were treated to a double dose of designer Sunny Fong for Spring 2013. Vawkkin, the affordable sister line to his primary label Vawk, offered a variety of tailored LBDs and separates. The brogues added a fresh spin to the frocks. Fong has gone retro ‘80s for spring. If Madonna’s “Justify My Love” blaring from the sound system didn’t tip you off, then his strong line-up of Madge-approved looks would have. Mostly shown in graphic black and white—colours were limited to a lipstick red and a rich eggplant—his latest Vawk collection checked off all the boxes for must-have Spring 2013 trends: exaggerated shoulders, thigh high slits, plunging necklines, leather LBDs and cut-outs with sheer panels. The gold cone bra paired with trousers showcased Fong’s flair for the unexpected but overall the collection didn’t stretch the sartorial limits. Then again, a sexy little leather number by Vawk will always make the cash register sing.

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

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“Never seen so many Canadian designed outfits worn at a gala in Toronto.” Derick Chetty’s tweet from last night’s Toronto Fashion Incubator fete said it all. The 25^th anniversary party held at the Royal Ontario Museum was a Canadian fashion love-in.

CBC’s Nil Koksal pinned an enormous white orchid in her hair to match her floral Pink Tartan wrap dress. YSL Beaute’s Jane Connell rocked a crinolined Wayne Clark. And after stealing the Barbie runway show with her robot moves, The Listener’s Tara Spencer-Nairn slipped into a plum kimono dress with gold obi by Vawk.

View the Vawk collection »
View the Vawkkin collection »
See all Toronto Fashion Week coverage »

If yesterday’s Vawk show was any indication, designer Sunny Fong’s muse for fall was a Grecian goddess-meets-art-deco Amelia Earhart. Models stormed down in the runway in aviation caps (sans goggles, sadly) and in regal purple and bronze.

The collection touched on some of the biggest trends for fall. The waist was the zone of focus; fur adorned peplums and leather bands created super-flattering nipped-in silhouettes. And then there was the art-deco detailing seen on the spring runways of the likes of Gucci and Alberta Ferretti. Geometric lines decorated skirts and dresses to much success.

Post-finale, the audience was shown a film of Fong describing the Vawkkin (Vawk’s accessible sister line) modus operandi. Kudos to the designer for making a fashion week film with some substance.

Then came Vawkkin, modeled by “real women” (because real women can only ‘Vawkkin’ budget clothing lines?). The more affordable collection of maybe too much black and grey (and a somewhat budget looking turquoise fabric) touched on some real trends (read: peplums) and seemed to be met with approval from the crowd.

Sunny Fong’s label Vawk has given birth to Vawkkin, a more affordable sister label, targeted towards young professionals. The collection, expected to preview this spring, will consist of lots of neutrals. There are sure to be some killer basics, and we can’t wait to scoop them up. Merci, Sunny! Read more »

The post VAWK’s Sunny Fong launches a more affordable sister label appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

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Far from bug eyed, the direction for hair and makeup at Vawk focused in on specific parts of Sunny Fong’s “insects and architecture” inspiration. “For me, architecture is a lot of windows and reflection, so I went with a gold reflection, like the sun,” said Eddie Malter, official makeup artist of L’Oreal Paris, when describing the gold shadow (Wear Infinite Eye Shadow Quad “823”) he applied inside the eye and along the crease. Then, to capture the essence of insect antenna, Malter applied Lineur Intense eyeliner in “Carbon Black” to the lower lash line, extending the line out. However, the crowning moment was a pair of custom Maddox eyelashes made from paper—applied to just one model for the show.