photo Pink Tartan spring 2012 via SNP @ Toronto Standard

Well, as a stay-at-home (working) mom, I am living fashionably vicariously through others these days. While I recall happy memories burning the candle at both ends during fashion week in Toronto (the parties, the shows, the socializing!!), I’m busier doing other things – BUT do however take a moment here and there to catch up on some of what I’m missing.

My Favorite Places to Get the Lowdown on Toronto’s LG Fashion Week Spring 2012 Collections:

Nathalie Atkinson @ The National Post

Nathalie has this way of writing about fashion shows that gives the reader a detailed, visual glimpse into the scene. She not only presents an anecdotal account of her experience; she also describes color, cuts and textures, making her reviews my fave. Definitely one of the better writers (if not the best) on the fashion scene.

Sarah Nicole Prickett @ The Toronto Standard

With a reputation of being slightly harsh at times or just telling it like it is (so unTorontonian!), SNP documents the good, the bad and the “undeserving” as the Toronto Standard’s Style Critic this fashion season. She’s street schooled in current global fashion so I always welcome the chance to learn a thing or two…

Various Writers @ Toronto Life Daily Style

I’m a Toronto Life Magazine fan (mostly) so love that the blog is so diverse and easy to browse. But to tell you the truth, I don’t really read the blog all that much – just look at all the photos!

Paul Aguirre @ Blog TO

Almost gave this blog an Honorable Mention until I actually scrolled through the coverage. A little bit of fashion shows, some trendspotting, profiles…Not a lot by very impressive this season anyways (who is this Paul?!) Written with unbiased, open eyes…And great photos too. Oh, and there’s even a profile on Daniel Wilson – ex TSFer who is now the Social Media Coordinator for LGFW!

Amy Lu and Kevin Gonsalves @ Peroni Moda Files
So easy to read and look at!

1. True north strong and stylish (Eye Weekly)
Canadian fashion brands are increasingly hedging their bets on homegrown talent, flooding the market with must-have CanCon fashion goods:
“The collaborations are coming, two by two. Canadian fashion brands are hedging bets on homegrown talent, hooking up with designers and stylists to create products with, hopefully, a Gestaltist pay-off. As more and more great collabs hit the shelves, it’s safe to assume the sum at the cash will be greater than the parts.”

2. Spring Style (National Post)
Rebecca Spence and Jordana Levine ask the style elite for their shopping lists – including Linda Lewis, editor-in-chief at More Magazine, Lisa Tant, editor-in-chief at Flare Magazine , and Suzanne Timmins, HBC fashion director at The Bay…

3. TorontoisFashion.com
Shout outs to Richard and Marc of TorontoisFashion for being the most social blogging butterflies in the city! Seriously, check out their blog for dozens of launches, parties, store openings and local news >>

Lady Gaga appears on Vogue’s March 2011 cover (wearing Haider Ackermann)

1. Payless Shoes presented the Christian Siriano shoes for Payless Fall 2011 last week at New York Fashion Week – and although fierce, I’m more interested in the Spring 2011 collection. Although the runway version has been heavily toned down for stores, for under $50 you can still get a decent pair of Siriano wedges or faux skin pumps.

2. H&M’s new Glamour Collection should have something more like Animal, Jungle or Safari in the name…Available by the end of March 2011, the new line consists of silky, animal print shorts, pants and dresses. There are tribal-like cuffs and sandals; and handbags to match. Although flimsy, I’m loving the shorts!

3. Perhaps it’s because V DAY is around the corner, but I think this fun, new, colorful collection by Petro Zillia for Forever 21 is fabulously fun! Hearts, colorful stripes and yummy colors are all super cheap – and although in reality the clothes are best suited for 20-year-olds, I’m sure I can sport a cardigan!

photo: Anna Della Russo getting ready for Vogue Paris’ Anniversary Ball via jakandjill

Well, the two weeks of fashion week(s) in Toronto began at the beginning of this week, and fortunately for the hoards of Toronto bloggers, I barely feel as if I’ve missed a thing! (note: LG Fashion Week by L’Oreal Paris officially begins Oct. 18-23, 2010 – the off-site shows are being touted by Toronto Life as ‘Rogue Fashion Week’)

1. Evan Biddell launches unofficial Fashion Week in a mannequin factory at Wilson Avenue, Blog TO
Link to Blog TO

#evanbiddell

2. See Philip Sparks’s spring collection and his new women’s line, Toronto Life
Link to Toronto Life

#philipsparks

3. Audi presents Nada, Joeffer Coac, DmitriChris #artofprogression

4. Ashley Rowe Spring 2011 #ashleyrowe

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

Photo: Style Rookie/13-year-old Tavi – tavi-thenewgirlintown.blogspot.com

1. Tommy Ton (JakandJil.com) Shoots for Paris Vogue!

Toronto blogger turned international street photographer star Tommy Ton photographed 13-year-old blogstar Tavi for the Une fille un style pages. Reported by Laura Minquini on her blog…

http://thecanadianschooloffashion.blogspot.com/2010/01/tommy-tons-first-paris-vogue.html
and
http://jakandjil.com/blog/?p=3671

2. ‘Why I Hate Fashion’/'Why I Don’t Hate Fashion’ by Eye Weekly Style Writer Sarah Nicole Prickett

I actually read Eye Weekly nowadays when I receive a Tweet or FB link from its newest City Style columnist Sarah Nicole Prickett – who has pretty much revamped (or created) the section. The comments at the end of this article are somewhat vicious – but call me privileged, a de-valuer, or vain – ‘I Don’t Hate Fashion’ either…. Curious to hear what you think.

http://www.eyeweekly.com/style/citystyle/article/81988

(and while we’re at it, Tavi also rebuts…)

3. Toronto Life Style Blog: 34 Toronto Stores that Didn’t Make It Through 2009

This is quite the list – and includes longtime faves like Finishing Touches, Studio Labiri and 175-year-old Dack’s Shoes.

http://www.torontolife.com/daily/style/shop-talk/2010/01/04/thirty-four-toronto-stores-that-didnt-make-it-through-2009/#more-16088

Photos from the Philip Sparks Fall 2009 Look Book

Designer Blogs (Canadian): Behind the Scenes campaigns, choosing fabrics and meeting with suppliers, a day in the life of…

1. Kim Newport-Mimran, Pink Tartan:
http://www.pinktartan.com/blog/

2. Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong, Greta Constantine
http://gretaconstantine.blogspot.com

3. Alia and Jamil Juma
http://www.juma.ca/blog/3

4. Philip Sparks
http://philipsparks.blogspot.com

1. The Bay/Canadian Designer Hudson Bay Blanket Coat Collaboration

The ‘new’ Bay collaborated with 10 Canadian designers including Comrags, Jeremy Laing and Erdem to design one-of-a-kind coats using iconic Bay blankets.

http://www.blogto.com/fashion_style/2009/12/its_a_snuggie_no_wait_its_a_hudson_bay_blanket_with_sleeves/

2. Toronto Fashion Week Spring 2010 – 15 Designer PAPER DOLL Collections

Fashion illustrator, freelancer and blogger Danielle Meder released 17 paper dolls, complete with wearable outfits from Toronto Fashion Week designers, available for sale in book form but even available to download online. Really super cool!

http://finalfashion.ca/paper-dolls-book/

3. The blogs and Tweets that Flare Editor Lisa Tant checks out every morning
http://blog.flare.com/lisatant/the-blogs-and-tweets-that-lisa-tant-checks-out-every-morning