The theme for the final night of [FAT] was “Street”, and that was no Sesame Street or Champs-Elysées – this was definitely our street.

From models to designers to friends and fashion fanatics, [FAT] represented our entire community. Fashionistas chatted up B-Boys, grannies rubbed elbows with transvestites, groovy kids and tail-wagging dogs completed the mix of those who crammed into the distillery for the final night of cutting edge style. Many in the audience looked as if they should be on the funway-runway themselves, including Mexican designers Vladimir and Abraham Illescas sporting handpainted t-shirts and jackets.

The crowd grooved to the luxurious drum and bass beats of DJ Corey Dawkins (Saturdays at Revival, Sundays at Irie Food Joint), rapstars The iLLiterate Crew (dressed to the nines!), Undadogg, and the post-apocalyptic noise/art of The First Seed.

Runway shows offered a mad mix of designers including Anika Kozlowski, babu et moi, Ginger Martini, TheWayOf, To Our Fallen Soldiers, UsThemWe, Magdelina Designs, Melissa Bolduc, Ossy & Gitch, Snoflake, Gorota Designs, Erin Lee, Jenn Woodall, Wood is Good, and Lydia Valladares.

TheWayOf started the show with models dressing models who strolled down the runway wearing funky footwear in classic colours and clean lines – (think loafers but cool). Magdelina Designs offered luscious yoga wear in beautiful colours, layering sheer with stretch fabrics to create looks that transformed the comfortable into the glamorous. Stripes, subtle and sexing piping and playfully ruffled fannies added the finishing touch to an inspiring collection.

The hoodie has grown up! Designers such as To Our Fallen Soldiers silk-screened photos of pop-culture icons onto hoodies and t-shirts, each complete with a biographical tag of the artist. Dianna Sousa Rapposa and Jen Woodall played with cropped hoodies, and dresses with softly wrapped necklines. Ginger Martini and Melissa Bolduc took a Grace Kelly approach to the garment, using slinky feminine fabrics, the hoods draped down the backs of models with all the sophistication of a Givenchy evening gown. Lydia Valladares treated the hoodie to sequins, appliqué and chain details.

babu et moi thrilled the audience with playful geometric forms that defied the horizontal orthodoxy of the hem. Beautifully tailored garments combined velvets with knits. Highlights of this show included a pink skin-tight dress with intricate detail on the bust creating a mass of floral ruffles, and a pink corset that brought cleavage to new heights!

Designer Anika Kozlowski reminded us of how much fun is to be had on the street as model/dancers offered a dizzying hopscotch-inspired performance. Urging us to think of sustainability, Kozlowski’s designs revolved around the theme of reconstruction – highlights included a patchwork Kimono inspired jacket, and a sumptuously layered empire-waist dress made entirely out of jeans.

Here’s to all the friends and families (grannies, mums & dads, aunties & uncles) who came out to support the models, designers, musicians, artists and Toronto’s fashion community! Thanks to Joey and Matt (www.thenarrative.net) for helping me out with the photos. Congratulations, respect and admiration go out to Vanja Vasic three wonderful nights of Fantasy, Seduction and Street. THANK-YOU Vanja!

Liza

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