Sonja Andic's Fashion Week - Wednesday (Envers, Andy, David D)| Thursday (Chulo Pony, Pink Tartan)| Friday (Hibebe)

Day 3 – Wed. March 15, 2006
Zoran Dobric, Fantine, Envers by Yves Jean Lacasse, Andy The-Anh, David Dixon

Rush rush rush straight up the steps at the Liberty Grand, to run madly into the Fantine show. Good thing I’m wearing my flat BCBG leather boots and not heels. I am cursing because I missed the Zoran Dobric show and I think he is too talented to be missed. I love his clothes that are currently stocked at Boutique Le Trou on Queen W. He does medieval and punk so bloody well, and you look like the most original person in his designs. Darn it!

Anyways, I am running to the Fantine show right now! My, the Liberty Grand is a big place. This show I know will be good, as I met Stephanie Wierzbicki, Monday night at the Holt Renfrew media party and she is a very cool chick!

Fantine
Fantine's debut F/W ‘06 collection is one granddad would be proud of! Fantine is getting beyond granny fashion with a tiny tad more masculine touches. The prints are sophisticated and aristocratic. Tweed trousers are high-waisted numbers with clever details up front. Super fine, non fuss long coats and wee little jackets for cocktail, gorgeous but not overly femme. On the way out afterwards, everyone was raving!

After Fantine, Torontostreetfashion.com went backstage to chat with the models and hope to have a word with most sought after gal, Fantine’s Stephanie Wierzbicki. Stephanie was busy with TV crews and cameras, so TSF went to hang out with the models. I just like talking with the girls finding out what they are wearing to the shows, their own clothes. A lot of them wear tweed coats and jackets. Lots of skinny leg jeans and just plain cotton t-shirts. ‘You want to be comfortable backstage’ they tell me. You can check out the photos here.

Envers
I am dying to eat something in the media tent, but the next show is about to start.

Bring on the Envers show by Yves Jean Lacasse. The show took me by surprise and left my mouth hanging open. It is like some Edwardian romance novel full of men and women that has come to life on the catwalk. Lots of puffs and ruffles. As one of the models walks down the runway in a long skirt, it looks like someone’s picnic blanket had been caught up in a sewing machine. The men’s designs are for super-charged super-dandies; amazing or really 3rd grade dress-up box plain silly.
But funny enough, the women’s designs did grow on me. I love the bright pink blouses with the extra long adjustable sleeves, worn long or bunched up in a bow on shoulder. The tent-like hot pink dresses with the asymmetrical hem lines also rock.

After the show Rachel from TSF ran up to me and said the show was ‘Insane and gorgeous”. I guess she liked it then. I need another opinion. I thought Rolyn Chambers from FAB Magazine would have some choice words and indeed he did. “Napoleon meets Pimp. No No No”.
My mate Ariana, a make-up artist from Paris said “Awesome, Loved the bright colours. It is homeless chic for men”. Others around me were saying it was just toooooooo French for Toronto to accept. Hmmmmm……it was a show that challenged provincial boundaries clearly!

TSF went backstage again after Envers, to mill about getting the vibe. Ran into stylist Raquel Michailov looking totally gorgeous with two dandy men flanking her on either side. We chat about the show. Her friend Jeff Perrin said he liked the Envers men’s trousers. Took some more model photos and again thought it would be first-rate to get some food. But no time for that, as Andy’s show was getting ready to start. I watched as Andy The-Anh prepped his models and checked the details of his clothes just before the music started. He really gives super attention to detail that man.

Andy The-Anh
Andy’s theme for F/W is Glam Rock and his music of choice for the show is Prince and lots of it! The show starts with Let’s Go Crazy, which is one of my fave songs….Purple Rain is one of the best albums. Ok, yes, focus on the show Sonja! Let me give you a word summary: chocolate, leggings with no feet, bronze, fur trim, close cuts, taupe, more Prince Alphabet Street, more fur, Grrrrrrr, cream, ruffs, volume, lace trim, slim trouser legs, slim skirts. This is how fashion people keep track of their ideas when they forget their digital cameras. To give some context to the word summary; Glamorous Edwardian Haberdashery Overload with Lots of Ruff and Puff. To be honest, some of the larger lace prints remind me of teenage purchases I made at Le Château in the mid 1980’s. I mean that in a nice and cool way Andy. I spoke to stylist Raquel Michailov after the show, and she could only say ‘Yummy’ about the collection. It was truly rich and decadent looking. Maybe it gave Raquel a chocolate craving.

David Dixon
Last on the queue for the night is the ever popular David Dixon. The audience is totally packed out for him. There are no seats at all; there is hardly any standing room. Rachel and I crawl on our hands and knees to sit on the floor in front of the photographer’s pit to see the show. By lucky chance we sit next to Tommy Ton from JackandJill.com. He is taking photos of course, not desperate like me just to sit down. Tommy and Rachel are chatting so much they hardly see the show. How can we resist, Tommy is just so wonderful and fun. But I am paying attention to the show, so let me share with you David’s delights.
First off, great selection of music A-ha’s the Sun Always Shines On TV. Which may be ironic considering the prim, somber, austere collection he is giving us. Lots of black, grey and deep violet colours. However, can’t complain about the great, original tailoring. Big bows! Lots of Big Bows! Well it isn’t just David, everyone is doing bows tonight.

David Dixon After Party
After the show at the David Dixon after-party, I am asking what industry celebs thought of David’s collection. Shawn Hewson of Bustle, said he loved the empire lines, the buttons and the details up-front on the clothes. Designer Stepan Ivanov shared me his thoughts. “David Dixon’s collection is modest and novel. I liked it. He has great potential. He is a leader. That collection gave good vibrations”.
Speaking of good vibrations, the after party was totally packed. Val Dooley from Toots was a total star, introducing TSF to everyone. I got to have a quick quick chat with Fashion Design Council of Canada president Robin Kay. She is exceedingly laid back and approachable. She also looks pretty darn sexy in her very low cut blouse. Another huge highlight for me is meeting the super-cute NEW host of Diva On A Dime, Sara Cauchon. She is going to bring a much needed breath of fresh, younger air to the show. Break a leg honey! [not really of course].

8 Below - Fantine After Party
After David Dixon’s party, I went to the Fantine after-party at 8Below Lounge [12 Brant Street] and it is just the most super sophisticated looking bar. The entrance is terribly chic. Great backdrop for a diva-like tantrum, which did happen but I won’t tell you who it was.

Inside and downstairs, I loved the sheer sexy curtains dividing off a private seating area of plexiglas. Soft sexy leather sofas. Great bold sexy murals. Super well stocked and attendant attended ladies powder room. Ran into the gals, Kealan and Staysail, from 69 Vintage looking wonderfully fabulous in their clothes. They always rock. Did some hot photos of the fashion gang lounging around. Then went home as there is still two more days of Fashion Week to get through. I feel asleep clutching a fashion magazine and dreamt that rock stars were in love with me and willing to stage environmental benefit concerts as a testament of their love for me…………I wish!!!!

Sonja

>> On to more excitment - Day 4