Mass Exodus Countdown: Kat Marks

What is your collection called? INFUNDIBULUM – named after a term coined by Kurt Vonnegut in his novel The Sirens of Titan, meaning “those places in the universe where the different types of truths fit together”

Season? 3010

What/who are your influences? Dear Kurt Vonnegut: Thank you for your words. You have scratched my retinas clean and I can truly see the world from the outside looking in. I dedicate to you, Infundibulum, my vision of the world you put to paper.

What fabric(s) did you use? The majority of this collection is made with plastic, and a few sequins here and there.

Favorite piece from your collection? My favorite piece is the character named Instructor Bee. She is a teacher at the Schliemann School for Breathing for Martian Recruits. She’s fully dressed in sequins. She is my sick 80’s obsession.

Who did you have in mind when you designed it? I must have been dreaming of the women from Dynasty and those wicked costumes they wore. I would love to live in a world where that costume’s advanced to the year 3010. I think it’s obvious that I love shoulder pads.

What is your design philosophy? “Fuck it, I’m doing it.” My desire is simply to obtain an emotional reaction from the viewer of my work. I like it when people question my reasons.

Favorite piece from your closet? Men’s Tuxedo shoes found at the value village. I like to feel my feet swimming while I walk.

Can fashion be political? Fashion can be made political by the context to which it is used. Anti-fur fashion or sustainable fashion definitely has a political message for the world.

What has four years at Ryerson taught you? I’ve realized that sometimes one has to ignore what is being taught and as Fleetwood Mac says, “go your own way”. But I would like to thank S.T.P for the bag of shoulder pads she gave me in second year. I believe that influenced the rest of my time at Ryerson.

Where do you see yourself in five years? I will be welding metal together in my studio loft in Antwerp, Belgium. After having graduated from The Royal Academy in Antwerp, I think it would be safe to say I just want to make things, show people, and understand their responses. I also will be attempting to create a new mathematical theorem.

What does Canadian Design mean to you? Staying true to who you are as a designer, saying fuck it to anyone who thinks it should have been done another way. I’m proud to be a Canadian designer.

Flickr o' the month: T.O. Fashion Runway

We LOVE Flickr and all its wonderful albums upon albums of digital photos from all over the entire world, covering absolutely every subject. People post photographic details of their lives like their art or work; birthday parties and vacations and even just shots of their city and surroundings.

Every once in awhile I head to Flickr and simply do a search for 'toronto fashion'. This takes me to personal photos of events, fashion shows and designer collections.

The latest:
Over 75 photographers make up Toronto's Fashion Runway Group - a place for photographers to network and share ideas. Includes hundreds of shots from Toronto catwalks.

Others on our Flickr roll:
Fashion Events: Geekgirl
L'Oreal Fashion Week photos: Marilis
Store windows: Mannequindisplay

Do you have a Flickr account?

Circa Project Munny

Toronto hotspot Circa hosted the final L'Oreal Fashion Week party featuring Paul Budnitz's exciting Kidrobot runway presentation and a display of Canadian Designer Munny's in the Kidrobot Room.

The Kidrobot Munny is a popular, do-it-yourself vinyl toy. For Circa's Project Munny, various fashion designers including Izzy Camilleri, Lucien Matis and Paul Hardy all decorated the plain little bubble dolls into their own stylish creations.

Both Greta Constantine's 'Maddox' and Common Cloth's 'Black Star' have mohawks!

While Oligarchy's (personal fave) 'Success, Glamour, Excess' Munny and Pink Cobra's 'DANgerous' are sporting a little bling!

All Canadian Designer Munny's are up for grabs at EBay, with the proceeds going to War Child Canada. Limited Time!!

L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 4_Part 2

by Tiff Ing



8 p.m.
The RUDSAK show began with FDCC head Robin Kay stumbling down the runway, euphorically thanking her crew. While Kay may not have seemed on top of her game, she did come through in the end with a statement about how Canadian fashion, compared to Eurofashion, is always a struggle--but it's one that is independent and important. (She's always very good at speeches).

Canadian leather apparel company (Montreal-based) RUDSAK was obviously thinking about the frigid outside temperature with this season's grey, black, brown, and white line of puffy leather down coats and long jackets with long skirt details. Think of your favorite rainy day trench—now picture it in leather, with pleating on the bottom. The eighties came hard and fast with long drop waisted jackets (think Molly Ringwald in The Breakfast Club), belted coats, and leather piping to accent. Fur was also introduced to accent hoods on the more professional jackets, while leather hoodie jackets had denim detailing in pockets and buttons. Big medical bags contrasted envelope clutches in the accessory department, while men had cowboy boots to contrast the women's sky-high thigh-highs. Everyone should be coveting such stylish outwear!

9 p.m.
It was no surprise that the runway room was jam-packed with fashion execs and stylish celebrities for Kim Newport-Mimran's Pink Tartan presentation. Canadian songstress Sarah Slean was there along with a few Degrassi stars (who've been hanging about the tent all week). Pink Tartan's signature plaid abounded in slightly punky styles, with zippers and fingerless gloves on the models. Simple prom-like dresses in purple, burgundy and black poufed at the waist. For more conservative types, there were plenty of suits with higher waist lines, shorter bolero jackets, and vests to fit the current 70s fashions. Bows at the neck were hot, as was the fur vest that Newport-Mimran tripped out in at the end of the show to take her bow.

Green Fur?

photos Christina Pal

The Fur Council of Canada presents a controversially sensuous show of designers working in fur including the The Canadian Aboriginal Designers Group and other Canadian fashion designers.

Nunavut designer Rannva Simonsen re-interprets old school parkas with antler toggles while established designer D'Arcy Moses sets Victorian colonialism on its head with deliciously beaded deerskin corsets. Zuki's colorful sheared beaver opera coats evoke Poiret's 1930's Paris nights, and Sidney Holloway, not yet out of Ryerson, is off to the races in furs mixed with Swarovski crystals (but unlike Joeffer Caoc, not with pony). The fur was aggressively presented as a sustainable material that supports the culture of First Nations people. The show actually ended with pseudo-protesters carrying signs supporting fur as an eco-friendly fabric.

Many fashionistas have mixed feelings about the material - with most supporting the use of vintage skins or fur trapped by aboriginal folks in a sustainable manner, but feel uncomfortable about fur farms and corporate trapping.

One style veteran irritated by appropriation of the green movement, remarked, "This is not a perspective - its a marketing spin." A photographer who lived in an Innu community was more comfortable with the fur saying, "This is how the Inuit make their living - how else are they supposed to support themselves?"

What do you think??

L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 4_Part 1

Today I arrived at the tent early enough to watch Mother Hen, Ms. Robin Kay walk around to ensure every little thing was in order, "Who's is that? Why is that there?" while her aides-in-tow moved things about and acted equally concerned. She looked fabulous first thing (as always) garbed in a luxurious fur vest - but with a personal RV parked behind the tent, it must make late-night abuses easier to bear the next morn.

2p.m. Impromptu Addition
Sar Couture went from wearable to way-out when a set of models came out back to back in heavy tweed pants paired with a gold textured top and then gold metallic tights paired with a lacy blouse. I'm no sleuth, but haven't we seen these pieces before? Perhaps crossovers from Sarah Nicol's 'winning' quelque filles collection shown at last year's TFI New Labels Competition...This collection included numerous pieces in every imaginable fabric and color, showing that although quantity is there, quality is not exactly runway ready.

Farley Chatto is no amateur so it was surprising to see a drawn out, five part fleet of everything from wool suits to spandex boy shorts to plaid kilts. (The theme was about weary hunters in the Scottish highlands). It was equally surprising that the reputable Judy Inc, stylists did a truly amazing job of pairing pieces, but the pants were so distractingly wrinkled I have to wonder if they're supposed to be that way?! The FORD male models in this show were gorgeous - the best looking line-up of the week - but those skin color spandex shorts were so unflattering, even I had to turn an eye. There was a cool pin-stripe duffel coat though.

3p.m. Waste of Time
I hate to be so snarky today, but I came early for...? The worst part of the Tatsuaki show was that the PR team did such a great job promoting the line (I heard that even Holt Renfrew would show) it made it all the more disappointing. I didn't catch Barb Atkin and her crew but couldn't help watching Jeanne Beker sitting across from me both trying to keep her eyes open and then expressing wonderment. What are we doing here? Outfit after outfit were items you could find in a dozen stores on Spadina - and there was no coherency to the collection whatsoever. I should've listened to Jeanne's Fashion Television interview with designer Dan Liu to make sense of it all, but I made a beeline to the media tent to wait for the Zoran Dobric show.

Eddie Maleterre's Favorite L'Oreal Products

Backstage, underneath rows of hot lights, L'Oreal Fashion Week Artistic Director Eddie Maleterre and his team of make-up artists primp and perfect beautiful face after beautiful face using an unending supply of make-up, brushes and lashes from L'Oreal.

In between models and during a quick break, I got a chance to ask Eddie about his three most tried, tested and true L'Oreal products. He insisted on four!

1. Bare Naturale Mineral Finish Face Powder
I am a huge fan of mineral make-up myself and Eddie says this product is used on every face as it reflects the light and offers a shine-free finish.

2.Voluminous Mascara
Perhaps the most indispensable product used!

3. Color Riche Made For Me Naturals Lipstick
Nude and shiny lip colors that are used in every show.

4. Infallible Lip Gloss
A long-lasting lip gloss?! Eddie swears it stays on for 3-6 hours. High gloss that doesn't feather.

L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 3_Off-Site

Happy Birthday Jeanne!

I really wanted to make it, but I missed the 9:30 p.m. (that was delayed to 10:30 p.m.) Greta Constantine off-site show at Circa - I heard something about weird styling and an intended lack of FDCC reserved seating - but I wasn't there and I still haven't seen the photos online. (new note: I also heard that the show was amazingly gorgeous and I still can't wait to see the collection).

Instead, after the tent, I went to the Lex PR organized event at Atelier (King St.) for Jeanne Beker's birthday party and Bratz doll launch. It was an intimate family affair (Jeanne's mom, boyfriend and daughter were there) to celebrate her new book for tweens and the doll. There was a giant three-tiered fondant cake with off course, the 'fashion reporter' Jeanne Bratz topper.

After Atelier, I headed out to Ultra - a little too pretentious to be one of my destination spots -
but stylist Maha was there helping out INK with its third fashion show of the week - the Christian Audigier fashion show. Very cool, flashy rockstar streetwear available at Blackline Studios (577 King Street West). This show started over an hour late, but luckily the club vibe was underway and there were other things to do - like drink and check out the latest in club wear - tight dresses, big cleavage and bare legs.

Each fashion week, INK, a Charles Khabouth company, organizes fashion shows at Ultra Supper Club and other venues in club district, usually showcasing big draw labels from local shops. This Saturday, the designer clothes are courtesy of Yorkville's NOIR boutique.

I will be posting many photos shortly! Gotta go work on our special movie for [FAT]...

L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 3

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week, March 17-22, 2008
Fall 2008 Collections, Nathan Phillips Square

It's only three days in and already the media energy level at Nathan Phillips Square is starting to drop off: many of the bloggers and fashion journalists I ran into were in flats or boots and surprisingly, there are available seats at many of the shows. The only thing still going at full force is the swelling photographer pit at the end of the runway. Less energy spent choosing outfits and schmoozing must translate to longer lasting stamina!

Today I heard the Fur Council of Canada's new campaign line, 'Fur is Green'. OK, we are in Canada and this individuality in fashion we are always striving for is best achieved if we nurture our fashion roots - but 'Fur is Green'?! Make your own decisions, but no matter the trends, it is still cruel and unneccesary in 2008 to cage and kill animals for style, in my humble opinion. Ethics aside, the FCC presented a fur collection to be thankful for; beautiful craftsmanship, innovation and longevity. And they support humane trapping (eek), renewable resources and income for aboriginals...

7 p.m. Comrags
Today I discovered a new idea of beauty at the Comrags fall 2008 showing - a collection which also seems to have an ideal 'Canadiana' feel to it. I'm sure some of this had something to do with the prairie-like sophistication of the models (think Cate Blanchett) and the simplicity in styling (sculptural twig brooches and mens John Fluevog footwear), but I actually liked the Comrags overall look of brown, grey and navy. Now, not everyone can get into such a dull palette, but designers Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish always find a way to really inject emotion into subdued foliage printed frocks, signature print overcoats, and crinkly crepe skirts. There was the simplest, yet perfect little black dress; and several skirts and trousers with muddled hemlines, as if the lass wearing them waded through soggy Sleepy Hollow.

8 p.m. Andy The-Anh
"Oh my gosh, it's Tina Turner", said the woman next to me as the music blared and models balancing on the highest of heels teetered to the end of the runway! What an awesome way to wake up the crowd at the end of a long day (I vaguely remember Ms. Jeanne Beker dozing off at the The-Anh show last season) than to turn up the lights and put on some rocking tunes!
As I watched Andy The-Anh fall 2008 collection, I could only imagine what the fashion editors were thinking - "*yawn* it's been done, nothing new". But as a fan of much needed glamour and interest in Canadian fashion (although even Andy toned it down a lot this season), there were a few things that caught not only my attention including impressive 8-gore jackets, a plethora of extended, accentuated waistlines and refreshing blue sheers used in goddess gowns and blouses. The-Anh's clothes always make me think of soap opera ladies...

www.torontostreetfashion.com/fashionevents/fashionweek_fall2008.html

First Look Designer Collections Fall 2008

Of all the designers that show at L'Oreal Fashion Week season after season, Joeffer Coac consistently receives the highest praise for presenting quality craftsmanship, color coherency and top-notch quality collections.

For Fall 2008, Joeffer Caoc presents a deceptively simple collection in black, indigo and aubergine. Jersey and viscose are treated with twists and tucks that demand a second look, but deftly enhance, rather than interfere with the natural drape and flow of the garment. Mohair, ostrich feathers and leather add texture to the collection, but pony? (Beautiful - but just a little creepy for me.)


Nadya Toto's (Montreal) fall 2008 collection makes you grateful for the wintry weather. A riot of fabrics in contrasting textures invites you to snuggle to softest merinos, cashmeres, velvets and fur. These are great basic pieces that will live a long and happy life in your wardrobe.


Fashion weeks starts off with Evan Biddell's (Saskatoon) eco-friendly and eclectic collection made of sustainable fabrics. With a new age mix of lush hemp jerseys and heavy silks, Biddell flits from playfully structured Jetsons wear, to fully graceful goddess gowns.

Liza Zawadzka
Photos by Christina Pal
www.torontostreetfashion.com/fashionevents/fashionweek_fall2008.html

Classic Carlie

Project Runway Canada contestant Carlie Wong is already confident in her own style. Working with black classics of chiffon and sequins, Wong's cocktail dresses accent the bustline and back. A more intimate inspection is needed before subtle details are revealed, but in dresses with this much "vavoom!" intimate encounters are par for the course.

David Dixon Fall 2008

With his usual restrained sophistication, Dixon presents a melancholy collection for fall 2008. Prints are subtle - daisy on silver, black leafless trees against twilight grey. Turtleneck sweater scarfs are paired with gloves coweled at the wrist. His trademark lasercut silk and cottons create fluttering three dimensional texture to cocktail dresses. Classic looks that last a lifetime! Dixon always creates a confident collection - now only if he would stand up straight!

Photos by Christinal Pal

L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 2

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week, March 17-22, 2008
Fall 2008 Collections, Nathan Phillips Square

Every girls' (and many boys') dream boat, Lucian Matis presented his dramatic, yet slightly more subdued fall 2008 'black collection'. Matis, known for his 'costumey', uber-detailed and show-stopping creations focused less on color and texture this season and more on pattern-making and finishing - which, as always, makes him everyone's favorite pick of the moment! (sorry folks, he is taken!)

Lucien showed at 5, but my first event was the off-site Swaby show at the historic Berkeley Church - this is yet another very talented Project Runway Canada contestant, Shernett Swaby. (This makes five PRC designers presenting collections this week). I've said it before and I'll say it over again - when does this woman rest, what with running her Queen Street West boutique and designing intricate pieces that seriously must take dozens of interns to pull off?! While Kimora Lee is designing for Barbie (so passe), Toronto-based Swaby is sponsored by Bratz (the #1 doll) and her 'exclusive Bratz fashions' are expected to be available on these little dolls in 2009 (like Montreal designer Marie St. Pierre only a year ago). Are you kidding me? Piping, curved seams on everything, ribbons, ruffles, multiple pattern pieces... not even a Burmese sweat shop can get paid enough to re-create all this couture-like detail en masse! We'll have to see how it goes...Speaking of, I still haven't seen the new Jeanne Beker Bratz doll...

Back at the tent, I almost didn't make it to the Bustle show thanks to the 20 minute line-up at the loo. Women were darting across Queen St. to the hotel and even taking over the mens' stalls. When you gotta go, you gotta go and if I have any complaints so far...

In his fashion week blog, Andrew Sardone asks, 'Where are all the Cadbury chocolate bars?!" I was wondering the same thing all day, clearly spoiled by the limitless supply at previous fashion weeks - unfortunately Cadbury is no longer a sponsor:( Also no longer is the free-for-all stashes of L'Oreal nail polish and lipsticks...spoiled, spoiled I tell you...but back to the shows...

The fashion blogger crew in the media tent: 'geekgirl' Anita Clarke, Final Fashion's Danielle Meder, Me and TFI rockstar Carolyn Rohaly | Fashion Week DJ and TSF'er Daniel Wilson with go-go girl Sara Delaney

Heart Dress

Celebrities including Jeanne Becker, Robin Kay and Mary Walsh took to the runway to model dresses designed by fashion icons like Thien Le, Andy The Ahn and Pat McDonough. The dresses were designed to inspire awareness of heart disease among women, but were heartbreakingly beautiful!
photo by Christina Pal

Denis Gagnon Fall 2008

Denis Gagnon
With beaten, drapy leathers and transluscent licorice-like jersey, Denis Gagnon creates a 'biker, art theif' look. Hundreds of strips of leather are pieced together with obsessive craftsmanship creating radiating lines in dresses and skin tight pants. Back seamed leggings stretched over the front of towering shoes, revealing six inches of lucite heels. Cozy, draping knits contrast with butter-soft leather, sheer jersey and swishy horsehair that are playfully pulled together with wickedly dominant flair.

photos by Christina Pal

Preloved Back in Action

As the Toronto fashion industry recovers from the shock of losing part of our most beloved Queen Street to fire, the Preloved team was back at the sewing machines before the ashes had cooled. Forerunners of sustainable style, founder and designer Julia Grieve and Peter Friesen are no strangers to reconstruction; recycling tens of thousands of castoffs into designs distributed in Canada, the US, Europe and Asia. Pristine tailoring reminiscent of 40's sophistication is tweaked with a distinctly Toronto street edge.

L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 2_Part 2

The Deadly Nightshades 'crash' the tent with a passionate (drunken) message of fashion responsibility

8:30 p.m. The popular-themed Bustle menswear show entertained as pretty-faced male models sauntered down the cash-strewn runway in flashy suits, trompe 'oeil suspenders, and doubled up buttoned shirts with 'gambling' motifs. The looks got a little repetitive and unnecessary, but gave me more time to try to figure out if many of the tailored slacks were simple pj fleece or luxurious boiled wool (my money's on the latter). Either way, they looked incredibly comfortable and very expensive! Top model Stacey McKenzie finished off the show while everyone applauded - which is apparently what we do when top models take the stage...

9:30 Joeffer Caoc showed a 'moody' myriad of textures and complicated draping techniques - but I missed this show as prior commitments called. I headed out in the miserable rain to work on a short film we are creating for [FAT]. The stars of the film, the fabulous designers and bike gang, 'The Deadly Nightshades' were real troopers to ride around in the rain in heels and layers of clothing! We have MUCH more filming and a lot of work to do so more on this later!

Philip Sparks with Andrew Sardone at Holt Renfrew the night before

10:30 As activity at the tent calmed down considerably, at least a dozen Philip Sparks' replicates, dressed in tapered-leg, grey classic suiting, casually presented his 2008 fall line. The pieces were clearly Philip: well-constructed double-breasted jackets, leather bombers and low V cardigans. For any dapper dude's well-rounded wardrobe, Philip even offers more casual denim-like jeans and even footwear, available at Town Shoes.

Prior FW participant Katya Revenko in her own designs | Front TV Host Jeff Rustia

L'Oreal Fashion Week Day 1

Toronto L'Oreal Fashion Week, March 17-22, 2008
Fall 2008 Collections, Nathan Phillips Square

The boys of fashion week Evan Biddell, Lucien Matis and Zoran Dobric

by Rachel Schwab
In its 6th year, Toronto's L'Oreal Fashion Week is more popular than ever and the crowds at the massive tent that's been erected between old City Hall and the skating rink at Nathan Phillips Square proves it! Even those at the invite-only Holt Renfrew event seemed especially crammed in among the exquisitely displayed chained handbag section at the Bloor Street store (maybe it has something to do with all the full-sized TTC billboard ads around the city or the new television commercials). But its all good for the popularity of fashion week and the designers who slave to show.

My 'fashion' day started with a 6-minute interview on CBC Radio One's Here and Now program. We talked a little about Torontostreetfashion.com's beginning and how mainstream media reacts to fashion bloggers. Then it was off to the Holt Renfrew media cocktail and all its glitz and glory - there were photographers, interviews and video cameras capturing all the stylish looks of the industry's dress up crew.

Marlene Shiff in Zoran Dobric available at Boutique Le Trou, Natalie Lecomte in Greta Constantine available at Holt Renfrew

From there, my wee entourage made it to the Joe Fresh show (knock-off, inexpensive basics that we really like) which spared no expense as NY hotshots, The Misshapes dj'd and Canadian supermodel Coco Rocha led the beauty brigade down the runway (who makes these decisions anyways??). Of course, the Joe Fresh brand makes more money than anyone else showing - so thank you Mr. Mimran for infusing some Canadian cool into the week. Can't wait to see what your wife surprises us with at the Pink Tartan show on Thursday.

Earlier in the day my colleagues Liza Zawadzka and photographer Christina Pal made it to the Evan Biddell (Project Runway winner) show with its sustainable slant ("good potential"); the Denis Gagnon show ("the best of the day" (no surprise) and the Nadya Toto show with its contrasting textures. (A stylist afterwards was appalled at the use of crushed velvet...)

Well, tomorrow the designers in from Milan will attempt to show us how its really done, or will they?...can't wait.

Franke by Kendra Francis Spring 2008

A contestant on the first Project Runway Canada, fashion designer and ex-Queen West merchandiser Kendra Francis presented a light-weight, colorful collection of multi-leveled waistbands, assymetrical necklines and airy draping for her L'Evolution de Franke Spring 2008 line.

The small collection - sort of french chic infused with native feminity - includes metallic liquid-like linen swimsuits; cool, tailored linen suiting and vibrant, silky dresses in tropical hues.

Franke is scheduled to showcase its Fall 2008 line at next weeks' L'Oreal Fashion Week - stay tuned for an update!

We found a You Tube video of the show here>

NOW picks 10 HOT designers to Watch

In this week's edition of Life & Style, NOW Magazine's Andrew Sardone highlights 10 hot designers to keep your eyes on as L'Oreal Fashion Week and Toronto Alternative Fashion Week near.

1. Fourth-year Ryerson fashion student Irene Stickney (pictured) hasn’t waited till graduation to throw herself into the style scene. Between design crits and studio deadlines, she found time to launch the KnowDressCode design collective, contribute to TorontoStreetFashion and show at Alternative Fashion Week.

2. Nada Shepherd has been designing since 2001, but it was her spring 2008 mermaid-inspired Fashion Week debut last October that turned the industry on to her talent.

3. Evan Biddell could easily ride the fashion reality TV train into obscurity like so many Project Runwayers and Next Top Modellers before him. But behind all his audience-baiting bravado is enough talent to propel him from boob-tube star to bona fide designer.

4. Hanging on Paper People Clothing’s rack of Toronto Alternative Arts & Fashion Week samples is a pink-and-purple sundress that kicks designer Jennifer Fukushima’s take on reworked vintage up a whole lot of notches. Its body is cut from layers of lacy old curtains and appliquéd with delicate doily patches at its hem. A looped strand of bells hung from its waist is a whimsical finishing touch.

5. It’s one thing to find a perfect pair of shoes to slip a model into for a magazine shoot, but it’s a whole other story tracking down a hot set of heels that hold a page on their own. Accessories designer Abel Munoz’s day job as deputy art and beauty editor at FQ and SIR magazines guarantees each piece of his collection of men’s and women’s footwear and bags is feature-worthy.

6. Greaves Design
7. Janet Hill
8. Burnt Offering
9. Evan and Dean
10. Miss Rowe

(click to link to NOW for more on each designer)

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.

T-shirt troubles for Daniel

Opinion by Daniel Wilson

A t-shirt can be an amazingly sexy garment; James Dean knew that and so did Marlon Brando when he rolled a packet of cigarettes into the arm of his tighty-whitey. Modern day fashion rebels wear t’s featuring v-necks so low you can clearly see where they were only just separated from the umbilical cord despite minus 20 temperatures.

Here are some helpful tips on the wearing of this classic garment in today’s fashion environment. Please note, this is just my humble opinion and you can follow my advice or laugh at it at will.

The standard American Apparel(AA) low cut v-neck is really as low as you need to go guys, proud though you may be of your Nair fetish. Remember, there was once a time when men were proud that their testicles had dropped and hair grew on their chests. They wore clothes with cleavage in order to show off their virility, not their complete lack thereof.

Slogan t’s are not ok. Katharine Hamnett made them ok, and if you have one of hers by all means, wear it (and I will beat you up and take it), but otherwise no. Slogans you think are witty are not; they are as shallow as the fabric they are printed on. Please remember, how can a t-shirt speak to you when there are thousands of them made? (Note, House of Holland is also ok)

Band t-shirts are hard to wear. If you are wearing something with the name or imagery of a hot new band, chances are by the time you’ve washed it you’ll be embarrassed to be seen in it. Vintage band t’s are better, but it’s still a fine line. The Nirvana smiley face t-shirt may either make you look way too ironic, or that you actually live in your parent’s basement. A Nine Inch Nails t-shirt can work as an actual homage, ditto New Order, but it should look like your club-stamp smeared, same sex lover passed out in it a few dozen times while going through a sweaty fit.

AA is a great store to get t-shirt basics as their shirts can be worn on their own or layered under a more interesting garment, but please just one AA item per outfit. I know soft cotton in lovely colours is addictive, but it is not an outfit or a fashion statement. Entire wardrobes wrung from the racks of American Apparel make you look like a pastel, hipster Marc Rothko painting holding a 50.

There really is so much more to say: are metallic’s permitted, what is the rule on holes or stains, V-neck, boat or crew? Oh well, I need to leave some room for people to make mistakes or else what more would I write about?

Etsy: Visions of Spring

Although all the fashion magazines are packed with SPRING collections and colors, the snow in Toronto just won't let up! Warm weather clothes and strappy footwear in bright hues and monocramatic shades, the trends of the upcoming season, decorate shop windows - while we continue to bundle up in heavy coats and salt-stained boots:(
Etsy, the uber-shopping site for global crafters, is a fabulous spot for some inspirational sunshine and great deals on new accessories and clothing for every season!

These are some fun local finds. All items are one-of-a-kind originals so its essential to check back often!

1. Charlene Serdan Designs
Beads, beautiful rocks and jewels crafted into timeless accessories. Shown: A cluster of czech glass beads and turquoise on sterling earwires. Length of the dangle 1.6". $22

2. Picnicbybarbfeldman.etsy.com
Fun, affordable polymer clay shaped into lemon pie, birthday cake and salmon and lox! Brunch plate brooch, 1 1/4" $14.

3. Elizaveta Yankelovich a.k.a. Kameleon
Eye-catching, eccentric necklaces made-up of toys, lego, sunglasses and hair rollers...! Elizaveta will be showcasing at [FAT]. BoBBLes neckwear $34 plus $6 shipping

Stand Outs

We all want to stand out when it comes to fashion. In the sea of black - which is the staple colour of winter fashion it seems - you need killer accessories.

With fashion week only eight days away, now is the time to augment the terrible black hole with bold design that blasts out colour and style. TSF recommends silk neckties in electric colours made by designer Jane Haselgrove, available from The Rage [13 Kensington Ave] and eclectic, mad necklaces from Elizaveta Yankelovich a.k.a KAMELEON stocked at Boutique Le Trou [940 Queen St West]. One of a kind is always the best way to impress!

New Vinyl @ Magic Pony

Limited Availability!

Magic Pony is a contemporary art space, urban culture curator and underground shop for fashionable tees, designer toys and carefully selected 'street' reads - a Toronto treasure trove for those who appreciate originality and collectible vinyl!

1. Devilrobots, the legendary Japanese toy wonder team known for cute but wicked toys (Tofu Head, Evirob, Cracle, Maffy), has teamed up with Kidrobot and released upon the world an assortment of mini Kiiros! The bizarre and incredibly emotional Kiiro is one of Devilrobots many strange creations. He boasts an unusually large bellybutton that sheds tears when he is sad.

2. Wish Come True, Series One Friends With You
These six new figures have weighted bottoms and built-in bell chimes, giving each one a playful rocking motion and a subtle, soothing sound. The series features six primary characters plus 3 bonus chase figures that have yet to be revealed - magical toys that sing magical songs!
Mini figure series, 3 to 4 inches tall. $9

3. Dunny: French Series
MON DIEU! This Fifth Republic experience features 18 defenders of Liberte, Egalite and Fraternite including Superdeux, Genevieve Gauckler, 123Klan, SupaKitch, Easy Hey, Tilt, Mist, Skwak and Tizieu.
Blind box assortment. $8

MAGIC PONY, 694 Queen St West Toronto tel: 416.861.1684

[ FAT] 'Real' Model Auditions

With only a month to go, Alternative Fashion Week [FAT] organizers are pulling together major details of the 3-day production! This past weekend, Extreme Fitness and the Ben Barry Agency added their support to 'Models&Mirrors' - a casting call for [FAT] models.

Although professional models graced the runway the last two seasons, organizers have opted for 50 everyday people to ‘mirror’ the beauty of the world around us.

[FAT] runs April 9-11, 2008 at the Distillery District. Stay tuned for updates, highlights and key info!


photos by Siya Chen