What to wear to Fashion Week

Of course we encourage personal style to reign, especially at Toronto's foremost week of fashion; but we'd thought we'd offer a few very basic tips to being sharp and spotted amongst thousands of the city's best (or at least most interestingly) dressed!

For Spring 2008:
Oversized Jewellery: rings, bracelets and neckwear. Wooden, big beads, natural textures.
Coloured Tights: yes, coloured tights are still 'in', especially since this trend hasn't gone super-mainstream in this city. Ladies, you can do it! (Why not even try coloured footwear?!)
Belted/High-waist Skirts: Lady-like meets urban chic. Not only for hipsters!
Colour: Yellow, purple, blue, pink. You name it - just get out of that black!

During the last fashion week, Liza asked Toronto's style icons about their thoughts...

Adam: "It is better to dress in a unique way to express your own personality." | Marlene: "Wear comfortable shoes!"

Alison: "Try to anticipate the trends you are going to see, and be the first to wear them." |
Rolyn "If you're not confident enough to put an outfit together, go for something basic and add an unusual detail to it, or go for style in an outrageous accessory."

Countdown to Fashion Week

Wear In The World!
Featuring 33 shows and 69 designers

*Shows will be open to the general public. $20 per show or $50 day pass. Go to www.lorealfashionweek.ca for registration details.

Fashion Week Street Fashion

GO TO >>> STREET STYLE & PHOTOS

Post Fashion Week in National Post

Rachel's Weekend Post Snaps Page

A fashion fauxpas
Robin Kay's insistence that Canada is new to fashion seems old
Shinan Govani, National Post, Published: Saturday, October 27, 2007

Fashion Week in Toronto, set against the towers in the city's most famous square, has never looked better, but a dark pall has fallen on the woman who makes it all happen.

Robin Kay -- who seems, these days, just one hair's breath away from screaming "No Wire Hangers" -- has been encircled by innuendo, lassoed by protest. Oh, she's her usual motor self, but there's something in her eyes that tells the real story.

Link to Article

---

A Reporter's Notebook
From dreamy David Dixon to savvy Ula Zukowska, with a gripe or two thrown in for good measure
Nathalie Atkinson, Weekend Post, Published: Saturday, October 27, 2007

"The runway offerings didn't always live up to the expectations created by the spiffy new venue, but Toronto's L'Oreal Fashion Week offered much of interest. Herewith, a few observations..."

"A rant about that other runway As I watched Canadian designers showing off their best-of-the-best all week, I felt a rant bubbling up about Project Runway Canada. Because of a media embargo that prevents me from describing the finalists' collections, which we saw, I can talk about the show only in general terms. So I'll confine myself to what has already aired on Slice and what everybody knows. Iman, darling, you are gorgeous, and you are an astute businesswoman, but your delivery is wooden. It's embarrassing."

Link to Article

Boy's Club

There is something for every man in this spring's menswear collections. Rudsak's Serengetti line is perfect for men with more conservative taste. The collection offers timeless, classic style in a restrained palette. Chatto is a little more adventurous, with unusual textile and pattern combinations, and whimsical accent colours. By far the most creative mens' line comes from Bustle, who plays with Ascot refinement and gives it a street edge.

On the whole, it does seem that Toronto men are beginning have a little more fun with style. Many writers remarked that more men than women were among the best dressed at Fashion Week.

Photos by Christina Pal

Backside of Andy

Andy The Ahn's newest breathtaking evening collection starts with gasps from the audience as one of the models wipes out three times on the runway. Attention is quickly diverted to gowns in fluttering chiffon and fluid charmeuse, set off with Dynasty-style accents of crystal stones. The hemline drops and the waist rises on his trademark sleek suits, creating a sultry silhouette complete with saucy details on the fanny.
Anik with L'Oreal from Montreal, who is wearing Andy The Ahn was thrilled, "Being from Montreal I give a special eye to his collection. I am always amazed at his talent and his sense of what women need. He's just a genious!"

Nada Yousif @ L'Oreal Fashion Week

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week, Spring 2008 Collections


Nada breaks into spring with a riot of rich, jewel-toned colours. Powerful print dresses allow two looks: tied up into a bubble or released into fluid, floor length gowns. Volume is added to raw silk knee length skirts, but remember these are best suited to the few amongst us with a twiggy figure.
Photos by Christina Pal

Dix Blitz

David Dixon

Ula Zukowska

Littered with 12 foot sculptural sails, Dixon's runway has a glacial feel. Laser-cut cottons create fluttering, three dimensional surfaces, and the nautical theme is continued in lovely seagull print dresses. Be careful of his suits - glazed linens are pleated at the hips and bust, which will add curves to waifs who need it, but unwanted pounds to those already endowned. Ula Z also uses pleating this year, in skirts, dresses and knee length shorts - a cute look, (if you're a size 2).

Photos by Christina Pal

Fashion Takes Action!

Fashion and climate change have never been friends. After all, who wears Andy The Ahn to a forest fire or a hurricane? The Eco-show celebrates the beauty of sustainable style with designers including Damzels, Annie Thompson, Pat McDonough and Thien Le showcasing SYKA textiles. The Eco-Lux line includes soy/bamboo/silk blends, organic cottons, hemp and extra fine merinos. Sadly SYKA cannot be found at retailers in Toronto, but the lavish cloth can be ordered in minimum quantities through the company (located in BC) through info@syka.ca.

Sustainably-stylish tips:

* Buy Canadian to ensure your clothes are made by fair-wage labour.
* Wear friendly materials like hemp and organic cotton.
* Buy vintage or designers like Preloved or Freedom Collective who re-use vintage fabrics.
* Use eco-friendly cleaners like Whiteglove
* Shopping with re-usable fabric bags is chic, plastic is passe.
* Walking, biking or using the TTC transports you to a fabulous figure -cars not only chokes us with carbon, but put on the pounds worse than carbs.

L'Oreal Fashion Week S08 Day 3

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week
Spring 2008 Collections, Oct. 22-26, 2007

The Project Runway Canada crew out in full support of fellow cast members' shows. Here at the off-site Kendra Francis show, held at the Spoke Club, Toronto.

The tent was crammed, rammed pack full of people from all over Wednesday night! With an open invitation to the general public (for a small fee) and the fact that people can easily access the central location, the vibe in the smaller-than-previous venue is more like a party - complete with an electro/pop mix from DJ Daniel Wilson who spins all night all week!

Great support at Greta Constantine's off-site show @ Circa - with a mix of media and industry friends, this was definitely the hottest audience yet! Here the Holt Renfrew brigade sit in the front row keeping an eye out for the latest and greatest!

Fashion Week S08 Day 2

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week
Spring 2008 Collections, Oct. 22-26, 2007


Zoran Dobric and models with Jeanne Beker in the Fashion Television cube

Susie Love selling her wares in the tent

NADA & JOEFFER: Full on Femme

Nada's (1) spring collection glitters and flows. The carwash makes a return with fluttering panels of silk offering glimpses of leg. Her full circle skirts are ultra-feminine. Both Nada and Joeffer Coac (2) manage to work with Charlie's Angels-type pant suits and make them look gorgeous. Both collections shimmer with halters, jackets and gowns covered with sequined paillettes. Joeffer pairs shorts with gorgeous formal jackets - perfect for hot, sultry summer weather.

Photos by Christina Pal

Ginch Gonch Spring '08

Whether its winter, spring or fall, underwear is always relevant and in style! Vancouver-based Ginch Gonch presented its Jungle Fever collection to a half-full tent of onlookers who spent a half hour chuckling, whispering and googling at half naked men and women in its latest, colorful high-quality bikinis and briefs. Between Tickling Tigers, Monkey Business and Totems (all strategically placed), a dance troupe attempted to keep the crowd entertained, while a brave ensemble of hotbod models showed off the latest, limited-edition styles.
Check out the Ginch Gonch site for where to buy info...

Phillip Sparks for Town Shoes

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week, Spring 2008 Collections
by Daniel Wilson


Death In Venice never looked as stylish, or cheerful as at Philip Sparks men's clothing and shoe collection at Town Shoes. The nautical theme was carried through the use of subtle pinstripes, boat shoes and a pallet of gray, cream, red and blue.

The most innovative piece was a windbreaker made from blue rip-stop tarp nylon, but when this same fabric was used for a double-breasted trench it missed the mark somewhat. Most of the collection was beautifully tailored with fitted pants and form-hugging vests however the use of extremely narrow double breasting on fragile cardigans seemed illogical.

As the first Canadian designer to make a collection for Town Shoes, Philip has big shoes to fill but the clean maturity of his designs suggest he is well ready for the challenge.

Heather Marks @ the Project Runway Canada show | Jeanne Beker live on location with Keshia Chante
photos by Christina Pal

First look @ Fashion Week

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week, October 22 - 26, 2007

We started the evening at the Holt Renfrew Launch Party where we caught up with designers, media and the who's who of the fashion industry. From there we missed Heather Marks opening the Joe Fresh runway presentation (but caught her at the Project Runway show) and went straight to Nathan Phillips Square and the beauty of the huge fashion week tent! Really gorgeous with the fountains and flowers and lights....

We can't exactly comment on the final Project Runway Canada shows, but I will assume the judges have an easy job if judging from the contestants final showing! See you tomorrow!

Rolyn Chambers, FAB with Project Runway judge Iman

FDCC President Robin Kay with Chris Tyrell, Hoax Couture

Project Runway Judges and designers, Brian Bailey and Shawn Hewson

MORE about Fashion Week:
Check out Nathalie Atkinson's: Fashion Week is For the People (National Post)
Eva Friede's: New Canvas (Montreal Gazette)
Andrew Sardone's Fashion Week Blog (NOW Magazine)

Pre-Fashion Week Drama

As the "tents" go up in Nathan Phillips Square, fashion industry insiders and anonymous advocates are busy squabbling over the future of the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) and the state of L'Oreal Fashion Week.

Earlier in the week, an 'anonymous' group, The Fashion Group of Toronto' sent an E-mail to Mayor David Miller and many people working in the industry with a call to petition against Robin Kay, President of the FDCC. Few names are supporting the petition, while most others including myself are simply included in the slew of E-mails and gossip. Through basic slandering, juicy rumours and many details of the lack of leadership the FDCC provides, the group says,
"Our intention is not to disrupt the upcoming L'Oreal Fashion Week but ensure that there is constructive debate about the keys issues concerning the fashion industry and much needed reform of the FDCC." Me, I'm anticipating fashion week and the drama that goes along with it.

In today's Toronto Star, fashion editor Bernadette Mora asks many questions that many are curious about (will we get answers?) including:

• Will any models break down and buy fries from the chip trucks that line Queen St. W.?
• And why did such a respected designer (Kendra Francis), along with Greta Constantine's Stephen Wong, risk public humiliation by participating on Slice network's Project Runway, anyway?
  

Read the article here: Sticks and stones and models' bones

---

Leanne Delap of the Globe and Mail goes behind the scenes as Robin Kay and the small FDCC staff prepare for the week in Toronto's most wanted.

She says "The turnaround started 14 (biannual) seasons ago as Kay's lonely effort to pick up the industry from the ashes (literally: fashion had depended heavily on cigarette sponsorship before the smoking ban). There was a lot of fracture and distrust among designers who were burned both by sporadic funding and a bad rash of unpaid bills by stores. Kay, a former designer, created the FDCC in 1999 in an attempt to unify the industry and create a show system."

Who are you wearing?

Psssstt! Toronto's L'Oreal Fashion Week will be held at Nathan Phillips Square this October!!

We are overly elated that the Spring 2008 Canadian collections will be shown in the middle of the city - accessible by all - and in the faces and minds of people in the city! (although exclusivity is preferable, public access ensures greater press and awareness)

Starting October 1, the Fashion Design Council of Canada launches an international campaign asking, "Who are you wearing?" A four-page insert will be in magazines such as FASHION, Vogue, Elle, Glamour and GQ as well as ads on New York buses featuring Canada's Group of 7: Izzy Camilleri, Pink Tartan, David Dixon, Joeffer Caoc, Andy Thé Anh, Comrags and Arthur Mendonça. (YOU should know these names!!)

L’Oreal Fashion Week will take place this October 22^nd to 27^th. Stay Tuned!!