L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 1: Jason Meyers Show, Holt Renfrew Media Launch, Muzik
by Sonja Andic

Toronto Fashion Week, oh it is upon us again! Officially it started tonight, Monday, October 17, 2006. But for those in the know, the unofficial party – Jason Meyers' fashion show at Maro – really kicked off fashion week.

Jason Meyers Show

The Jason Meyers show was terrific [read all about it in the show coverage by our own Tiff Ing] but was at risk of being upstaged by the gaggle of fashion press in full-tilt gossip mode over the events and action to come at L’Oreal Fashion Week and [FAT]. Many of the fashion press were grilling me on [FAT] – Is it going to be good? What night should I go? Why should I go?
There was much curiosity regarding Alternative Fashion Week [FAT] going head-to-head with L’Oreal. Some people were even going as far as to say it will be the better event and that [FAT] has better designers. Sounds like fighting words! But either way, how lucky are we to have two fashion events in the same week?!

Fashion File Host Gossip

Another topic that kept tongues wagging was the casting call for the new host of Fashion File. I auditioned on the previous Wednesday and ran into quite a few others in the industry who also auditioned. Of course everyone wanted to talk about the casting and the low caliber of some of the candidates who bothered to audition...(note: if you decide to audition for an international fashion show, at least attempt to dress the part!)

After the show, I got to chat with Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) President Robin Kay and preview the totally Canadian gold leaf necklace that is being sold at fashion week for a mere $20. I bumped into designer Stephanie Wierzbicki of Fantine and learned that, shockingly, she was not participating in this season’s L'Oreal Fashion Week. The bigger issue for Stephanie was deciding whether she was going to move to Toronto or keep her flat in New York. She looked super hot in a black dress with fuchsia lip prints all over it!

I did hear a few people complain that Jason should have just had his show during fashion week like everyone else, but I disagree. The show was perfectly placed for getting the fashion pack in the mood and reconnected!

Day 1
Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail Party

Officially it all starts at Holt Renfrew with encouraging and intelligent speeches by Caryn Lerner, Holt Renfrew President, Robin Kay, Mayor David Miller et al. I loved when Robyn re-hashed last season's 'attack' on her non-Canadian outfit - (two national newspapers expressed disapproval...and she thought it a good opportunity to explain...)

Hilarious start to the evening as Rachel Schwab of torontostreetfashion and I both decide to wear garments with pearl detailing. I ditch my long black grunge sweater with pearls on the sleeves and shoulders so that Rachel and I don’t get laughed at for ‘matching’. It was also pretty funny that Rachel and Robin Kay both wear the same large diamond fishnet tights. Once the giggles wear over, it is on to chat with Rod Morris, publisher of Style Magazine who we found to be slightly disgruntled with the fact a letter he had written for the official fashion week programme had not been printed. Now I know Rod to be delightfully provocative and controversial, so I can’t say I was all that shocked. We asked him for the letter to post on TSF.com…will have to wait and see.

The Fashion People

Ran into Luigi Carrubba, ex-fashion editor of Wish, looking handsomely disheveled - he wouldn't let a out a peep about his current freelance projects. On to Kimberly Newport-Mimran, designer of Pink Tartan who told me her and her daughter enjoyed my ‘cherries and syrup’ comment on Fashion File the other day regarding her last collection. Had a laugh with Andrew Sardone (top left), Fashion Editor Now Magazine as he wore head-to-toe grey to dissuade photographers like me from taking his picture (looks fab!). Saw the Arts and Lifestyle editor for Eye Weekly wearing the same coat and hat I snapped her in at the recent TFI party…errr…should someone tell her there are fashion rules about that sort of thing? As we leave the party, Rachel and I catch Jeanne Beker on the escalator. We shout out, “Hi Jeanne!You look great”. Surely she thought we were some mad fans…well we kind of are!

At Fashion Week Headquarters

Torontostreetfashion.com gets to Muzik at 8 p.m. This season we have a huge team to co-ordinate (see Amanda, Rachel, Tiffanie and Caryl below), and Rachel and I are being filmed by www.canada.com as part of its fashion week coverage. Yeah! This is one of the highlights of the evening! Also very interesting is Robin Kay hugging our Daniel Wilson because he is wearing one of her vintage knit sweaters. She even checked the label to make sure it was hers!

Then of course there is the dramatics. I ran into designer Pat McDonagh (right) in the ladies room with a bloody leg. No, someone didn't try to steal the $85,000 watch and hardware attached to the dress she designed for the Fragmented Time show, apparently a camera man hit her in the leg with his bag. Pat didn’t seem fazed in the slightest (she is a Pisces and 'used' to injury). Simply, she was pleased that eventhough her leg was cut, her hosiery wasn't. All in all a good night – some blood, much sweat and I am sure some tears….but not from me. The crowd was out in full force representing Toronto and I can’t wait to see what tomorrow will bring as I cover the opening night of [FAT].

- Sonja

>> on to day 2: Town Shoes media breakfast, [FAT]