photo: Pink Cobra (exclusive womens line of Carte Blanche & the other half of Cult de Laissez Faire – the new mens line at Carte Blanche)

Much Love and Kudos to the FDCC – Toronto’s Fashion Week Organizers, however,

The big news this fashion season in Toronto is that:

1. a handful of talented, functional Canadian fashion designers chose to show their fall collections off-site and before the scheduled Toronto’s LG Fashion Week (Philip Sparks, Greta Constantine, Evan Biddell, Nada, etc…).

2. Robin Kay and her slew of feisty volunteers at the FDCC, the small group that organizes LG Fashion Week, had many location issues, but eventually secured a new fashion week landing spot at the Allstream Centre – which naturally is criticized.

3. LG Fashion Week has become a fashion circus (which I think we sometimes like). It is not only held after the fashion buying season, but is increasingly becoming a platform for general public fashion junkies – which makes local media feeling unhappily squished and claustrophobic.

On this rainy Monday – a little pessimism:

1. Why We Didn’t Go To Toronto Fashion Week, Courduroy Magazine
http://www.corduroymag.com/fashion/why-we-didnt-go-to-toronto-fashion-week

2. Fold The Tents, Eye Magazine
http://www.eyeweekly.com/blog/post/86967

3. Toronto’s Fashion Week Needs to Work It, Amy Verner, Huffington Post
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/amy-verner/torontos-fashion-week-nee_b_522486.html

i was thinking, if they were handing out Canadian beer to everyone in the audience, that would actually be hilarious – and the international media would say, ‘canadians drink beer at fashion shows’ (but only if it was cdn brew)…

however, Peroni (italian beer) is the official sponsor, so everyone – and I mean all like 1700 people, got a beer mid-David Dixon at fashion week yesterday. so i guess, yes Canadians drink beer at fashion shows. kinda fun.

photo: National Post Toronto Fashion Week Fall 2010 Gallery www.nationalpost.com/multimedia/photos/gallery/

This is pretty cool – being able to check out dozens (hundreds if you have the time) of hundreds of people’s Twitter comments and especially candid cell phone photos (fyi -I’ll only be attending lgfw tues&thurs. Liza is on-site)>>

This is why I can’t travel with a data plan – too much data!!!

#lgfw

http://twitter.com/#search?q=%23lgfw

It’s that time of the year again – which for Toronto’s fashion industry is a week of long days and nights full of fashion shows, parties, working and schmoozing, while picking out extraordinary outfits and pairing all with killer heels.

For the rest of the city however, I realize that “fashion week” has very little influence – there was a time when the FDCC took over Nathan Phillips Square and all of a sudden everyone took notice – but there are usually location woes and for Fall 2010, L’Oreal Fashion Week is back on the CNE grounds, in the city’s southwest end. (Allstream Centre, 105 Princes Blvd.)

LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oréal Paris THE POWER OF STYLE – March 28 – April 1 2010

Passes are available for the public…
Registration for LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oréal Paris is live at www.lgfashionweek.ca and at
www.ticketweb.ca.

It’s the last day at the tent and a security guard yells at me, “Pass please?!” he asks. I draw it out from the depths of my bag.
“You need to wear it around your neck!” He demands in that angry flat tone only bouncers can muster. “Ok” I say and hold it in my hand. “Put it around your neck right now!”… Is this what fashion week has become, boot camp?

Once inside I was cheered up immensely by the shows.

Carlie Wong was sexy rock and roll with black on black brocade skinny pants with gold hardwear, tons of metallic silvers and golds and a wearable take on the D&G pyjamas for day. The only problem with the show seemed to be the shoes; none of the models could walk properly. Several of them slipped, a few tripped and one shoes fell right off. The model triumphantly walked down the runway barefoot to lots of cheers and applause and I found myself wishing the rest of them would rebel and go unshod.

Evan Biddel was great – he seems to improve with the seasons. Stacey McKenzie opened the show that included very wearable jersey pieces, wild black white and purple prints, and some terrific denim. Biddel maintained his bad boy image but produced a show where every girl in the world would want something. I’d like one of the jersey tight hoodies for myself.

Before the last show of the season, FDCC President Robin Kay gave her second speech of the week which was again, sober, heartfelt and a little witty. The city’s bitches are going to have to look hard to find something to attack her about this season.

Lucian Matis, I think, fell asleep in a forest and had the most lovely dream. His show was ethereal and woodsy like a fairy tale. The cuts were lovely, if a little safe, and the subtle Edwardian inspiration will make the coats a must have next season. The jewellery however distracted from the clothes. Entire deer antlers around necks and in the hair, shackle like bangles carved from bone and horns wrapped around models throats. (I want one of the rings, but Susie could have done a better job on that show).

Everyone in fur!

Day Four was totally kick ass, largely due to the amazing rock bitch Nada sent down the runway. Models stomped (oddly not pausing at the end to pose so I hope there are still good shots) to the best soundtrack I’ve heard so far this season, Grace Jones’ new single remixed with Manson’s Beautiful People, NIN and an Audio Bullys’ remix of Tiga.

Flaunting a sexy hybrid of Anne Demeulemeester and Rick Owens, girls were donned in black including lips and talon-like nails. I loved the oversized plum coloured coat with mutton sleeves, full skirts with massive silver charm belts and a perfect floor length skirt. And the monkey fur! Well, it was probably goat, but looked very monkey Demeulemeester in a cape and boot fringe. Amazing show, nearly made up for Morales not showing.

People were talking about Carlton Brown, the Jamaican designer who filled up at least a page on Twitter. I watched the show on the monitors – super hot models with pink socks on the runway led by Stacey McKenzie was still only ok, but I’m not sure who would wear and afford it except maybe gay divorce lawyers.

Ed Hardy was full of beautants: beautiful mutants. The abs! Holy hell, the abs! Mind-numbingly sexy but a little inhumanly perfect like they were cut out with a laser. The women were skin, bones and silicone. I was a little confused by the ski jackets with bikini bottoms and swim trunks with wool hats, but the standing room only crowd seemed pleased. I also discovered that there is something really creepy/hot about the combination of chiseled abs, balaclava and swim trunks.

I dashed after the Ed show to the Fashion House where there was already a line up for the Women X Women party and photography exhibit. The packed house included Pam from Fashion Crimes, Derick from The Star, Brooklyn from The FDCC and lots of other fabulous first name only people from fabulous places.

Former designer Ariel Garten won best outfit in my books in a Comme des Garcon tuxedo jacket and vintage Victorian work out pants.Miss Robin made a brief appearance near the end looking resplendent in white fur.

After Fashion House we made the jaunt over to The Spoke Club where mayhem ensued and the beautiful people started glowing (it was quite warm). Lots of lovely boys.

My female designer friends on Facebook were a little discouraged that the newly named ‘FAB 5′ at the Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail to launch LG Fashion Week were all men (Greta Constantine, Mikhael Kale, Philip Sparks, Jeremy Laing and Denis Gagnon ) What to say? All five of these designers have created successful businesses out of creating glamourous, fashionable clothing – and most importantly have succeeded at creating attention and securing press.

Then lastnight, my blogger friends on Twitter couldn’t tweet enough about NADA, a female designer. I wasn’t at the NADA show, but I certainly was intrigued by comments:
“Love NADA blk gown with tendrilled collar. And lastly, what is this, London? Black leather w squared hips? Suddenly avant-garde seems…not.” (Sarah Nicole)
“Crazy good show. Loved the rockstar looks” (Anita)
Even heavy-weight tweeter and Toronto Star writer Derick Chetty said “Nada show was on point – sexy goth rock chick.”

Looking forward to watching the show here on http://www.fashiontelevision.com/micro/fashionweeks/FW09/toronto-video.asp >>

This photo is from Nada’s Spring 2009 Campaign

by Rachel Schwab

As you can tell, Torontostreetfashion.com is NOT covering Toronto Fashion Week for the first time in four years. Daniel (who previously dj’d two seasons at the tent) is still hanging out with the industry peeps a bit and so we’re encouraging him to share any juicy details!

Canadian media and bloggers have truly stepped up this season though – and unlike years’ past, there is a multitude of coverage all over the Internet. Runway videos and photos, interviews, party pix, schedules, designer profiles…can all be found on the links I listed previously. And besides writers like the Ampersand’s Nathalie Atkinson and NOWs Andrew Sardone successfully pump out satisfying reviews much better and more efficiently! Even sites like FASHION Magazine and BlogTO are doing a bit of street fashion. And we think this is fabulous for Canadian fashion.

New, is detailed, step by step thoughts on Twitter. At least a dozen of my friends are constantly ‘tweeting’ about everything from who’s sitting in the front row to overheard rumours to runway style… I can barely keep up with all the ‘insider’ info:) Anyone can catch a tweet or two at Twitter by doing a #lgfw search here >>

Unfortunately we can’t afford to be full-time bloggers (or partyers or fashion events socialites) forever and so I am working on completely slimming down Torontostreetfashion to make it manageable without going into a ‘coma’.

For now though, Happy LG Fashion Week y’all!