Toronto: Alfred Sung, Pink Tartan and Mango

{FASHION WEEK SPRING 2009 TORONTO}

By Sarah Casselman

Alfred Sung‘s bridal collection officially kicked off L’Oréal Fashion Week at the Nathan Phillips Square tents. Models walked down the aisle, er, runway, swathed in countless variations of white gowns. Tons of tulle, delicate lace, light-as-air chiffon, strings of pearls and rhinestones that shimmered like fireflies in an evening sky.

The collection was elegant in a Cinderella-goes-to-the-ball sort of way. Dare I say, sometimes less is more? Amongst the extravagant embellishment and couture-like cupcake layers, I was searching for the one modern minimalist column gown. Alas, it never graced the runway, but the grand pooh-bah himself, Mr. Alfred Sung, did take a bow and was met with a standing O.

The media lounge was packed with: energetic editors (hey, it was only Monday!), lots of patent, plum and cherry red nails, and the oddest assortment of Halloween candy. Trick or treat, FDCC!

Pink Tartan began its ode to the Manhattan lady with an array of cheery nautical stripes, oversized sunnies, headscarves (oh, how Jackie O!), solid-colour shift dresses and gumball-sized pearls. Designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran hit the must-have fashion mark again this season with her sweet, sexy and wearable (usually a dirty word in the fashion industry but not in this case!) spring collection. Delicate day dresses came outfitted with heavy exposed zippers and controlled volume. Second-skin trousers were paired with high platform shoes that were perfect for teetering down 5th Avenue on a shopping mission. Other favourite looks: leopard-print pieces, pleated and full skirts, hot shorts, ruffle-front blouses and juicy coral-and-lemon-yellow colour combos. PT’s signature equestrian touches, like fitted riding pants and cropped jackets, lent an ounce of country cool to a decidedly, chic-in-the-city collection. The glossy cherry red lips and chunky layered gold link bracelets put the finishing touches on this alluring look of Manhattan money. Watch a video of the show or get backstage beauty tips.

The recession may have tightened our purse strings, but it hasn’t touched our desire to dream big and look fabulous. The night ended with Mango‘s fall/holiday 2008 collection (the spring line will be unveiled next month in Barcelona), with special guest Mónica Cruz (as in Penelope’s little sis) sitting in the front row with her very cute BF, Paolo. I had the chance to sit down with Monica earlier in the day for an interview. Three things about her stood out: her flawless skin, her sweet personality and her teeny-tiny dancer’s figure. The Cruz sisters design capsule collections for Mango and are the faces of its spring 2009 campaign. Homegrown-turned-international model Lisa Cant opened and closed the show to much fashion fanfare, then the mad dash for cabs began. Until my next jottings my lovelies…xo

Shown: PINK TARTAN Spring 2009. Photography by Jess Baumung

PINK TARTAN | MANGO | DAY 2 | DAY 1: PART 1

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