Photographer Greg Swales | Hair/Make-up Sheri Stroh | Stylist Amy Lu | Model Tara Gill

There is so much amazing talent and super awesome publications out there I can’t even begin to keep up! I was just introduced to this online and print glossy Fiasco Magazine via stylist Amy Lu at Peronimodafiles.com. The following is a shoot she styled featuring Canadian model Tara Gill in woolly scarves and cowls, knit sweaters and chunky knits like this Lucian Matis sweater dress.

There is so so much beautiful photography and professional talent in every issue of this magazine. If you have time…

Every year the folks behind Cashmere bathroom tissue put together an elaborate event and invite the top Canadian fashion designers to design luminous gowns and avant garde creations out of….you guessed it, bathroom tissue!

The 2011 showcase – the 8th annual – was curated by Canadian fashion designer Farley Chatto who assembled an amazing line-up of creators to transform the Cashmere BT (bathroom tissue) Couture into bridal and evening wear, hats and even jewellery in support of the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation.

Have you ever seen bathroom tissue look so good?! See all the looks here and vote on your favorite to support the cause >

A lot of delicate pleats and fringe make up Simon Bélanger‘s prima ballerina frock. He studied visual arts, makeup and photography in Montreal before achieving his masters at Milan’s Domus Academy.  Winner of the 1996 Montreal White Cashmere Student Design Competition, Simon is a former Denis Gagnon protégé who collaborates on a decidedly edgy, always glamorous women’s wear collection with fellow White Cashmere-ite, José-Manuel St-Jacques. Earrings by Toronto jewellery designer Rita Tesolin.

Jason Matlo‘s sexy handstitched, strapless floor length gown. Recently acclaimed in FLARE Magazine, emerging Vancouver bridal designer Jason Matlo draws on a multitude of diverse stylistic and cultural influences and is continually inspired by the golden fashion decade of the 1930s.

I can’t even begin to imagine how on earth Montreal-based Academy of Arts and Design alum, Luko Marion made this custom dress out of tissue paper – or how long it took! In his custom fashion work for L’autre Couture, Marion is equally adept at working in leather, denim, metallics, knits and even exotic blossoms.

It’s sophisticated allure for Wesley Badanjak’s elegant floor length gown. This Toronto designer honed his tailoring skills at Ryerson where he earned an Honours design degree, then at tevro + chase and then under David Dixon before launching his own LOVAS label in 2008.

Femininity, modern tailoring and precious details are cornerstones of the BROSE aesthetic. Toronto’s Marika Brose beautifully crafted designs fuse high fashion with a light sensibility using feathers, sequins and crystals as the foundation of the collection. A graduate of ESMOD Paris and the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York, Marika has collaborated in both design and business with some of the industry’s leaders including Chloe in Paris, aleXsandro Palombo in Milan and Pink Tartan in Toronto.

It took hundreds of strips for to weave this June Cleaver-like shirtdress. But with stints in costuming at the National Ballet, COC and at Stratford – all that preceded the launch of this Torontonian’s own collection, designer Philip Sparks is used to creating perfect couture. Headpiece by self-taught designer Mikki Rizvi.

WEEK 1: Jenn McNaughton leaves her small town for Toronto to attend the Make Den’s ‘Fashion Portfolio Camp‘

by Jenn McNaughton

WARNING: Big City Dreams Now Closer Than They Appear

Fashion has always been an extreme passion of mine since I was six years old. Drawing my own ridiculous, tacky designs and making my own – unique to say the least – fashion magazines were hobbies of mine at the time while other children would ride bikes, make mud baths and kill bugs. Today, fashion is one of the largest aspects of my life and my childhood habits have developed into a more realistic and sophisticated dream of mine; to be a fashion magazine editor.

Coming from Cobourg, ON (small town located about an hour from Toronto), where personal style and diversity lacks, I always knew I had to live in the city. It doesn’t matter if you’re from a small town or the big city; it’s the love of the dream that motivates people and pushes them to success. There are opportunities everywhere you look, and the streets are your main source of fashion inspiration. My daily doses of inspiration when at home are from fellow fashion bloggers such as: ihopeyourecomingwithme.tumblr.com,www.girlsofto.com, fifthsparrow.blogspot.com, www.fashionotes.com, and cupcakesandcashmere.com.

On Route to T.O

I travelled to Toronto on Sunday, July 3rd to reside in the city for two weeks while attending a Fashion Portfolio Camp at The Make Den. Irene Stickney, Fashion Designer and owner of The Make Den, runs this camp for students who are university or college bound and looking to build on their fashion portfolio for applications. Design and journalism have always been aspects of the fashion industry I’ve practiced ritually, but sewing was never a skill I had tried before. I was interested in this camp so that I would be able to learn how to sew, but also to develop a strong, creative garment for my application.

Step 1: Fashion Fundamentals

Earlier this week, we selected a dress my own design to create, and went shopping on Queen St. for some fabric. We chose a lovely lavender palette to work with, in both materials; chiffon and satin. Also this week, I learned the fundamentals of pattern drafting, basic sewing, and drawing fashion figures. I now have more appreciation for fashion designers, and am now thinking about designing my own line in the future. I have now successfully and ambitiously completed my first week at the Portfolio Camp, and as Irene says, “Jenn you’re already starting to look like a tailor!”

Stay tuned next week, to see the finished product and all of our hard work at The Make Den!

Jenn,
www.trendforecast.tumblr.com

DAY 4 – DRESS CODES – FRI APRIL 29 / 11
“The theme explores work that is influenced by different cultural groups, subcultures, demographics,
politics, religion, sex and gender identities. The night will showcases designers and artists whose
work looks at the social significance of clothing and who we are, defined by what we wear.”

If you’ve ever wondered where wacky fashion rules come from, you’re not alone.  The last night of [FAT] is dedicated to dress codes – breaking them like a Hell’s Angels’ Harley in a china shop, of course!

Miller Monroe’s debut collection, entitled ‘WO*MAN’ is about being a sexy, confident MAN. “We’re one of the few cultures where men have not embraced sarongs, skirts, lungi, dhoti, lava lava, hakama or whatever you want to call them – men in other cultures have been able to maintain a connection to this comfortable and fashionable piece for centuries.”

Miller Monroe (Louie Manzo & Baby Steinberg) premiere their Orwellian film, which presents a full frontal attack on boredom, and turns fascist aesthetics on its’ head with a flick of the wrist.  The manifesto is clear – real men wear whatever the hell they want, and the ladies are more than pleased to see the WO*MAN army take to the runway.  The models are bare-chested, sporting skateboards, Chucks, and snug ankle length skirts – the testosterone is palpable and comes off the runway in waves.  For those with exceptional confidence, MM offers suits in pinstriped wool – code for “Do not f… with me.”  Kallvis Chen (Human Nature) also offers skirts for men in aubergine and wolf grey, the collection is restrained and mature, and accessorized with Kyle Osnack’s lovely Romanesque gold chains.

The much anticipated House of Gaudet is Shawn Venasse’s tragic narrative of silent, bone-crushing bleakness camouflaged by beauty and style.  In one astonishing scene the model’s naked body is painted in replica of the felted coat she slips on.  The film expertly captures the gorgeous textures and colours of Norm and Gio Gaudet’s coveted couture.

The evening closes with a spectacle by IMAGOZINE – think Alice in Acidland, mix in the royal wedding, and you’ve got the picture.  Red-coated Beefeaters are flanked by Anubi (the Egyptian god of the afterlife), and royal minions are dressed in Venetian masques.  [FAT]’s fashion crime spree closes with men silently wondering if they have the cojones to pull off a skirt, and women fantasizing about slipping into a Gaudet coat, (and men in skirts).  I end the night by slipping into a hot bath and dreaming of a fashion revolution.

PS: Billie Mintz has generously offered to share the link to his riveting video of fashion legend Pat McDonagh.  https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http%3A%2F%2Fvimeo.com%2F22911629&h=a39e5Pv4CyhhAhdsxb6TnSun_CQ

Photography by Paul Sergent@ digitalfabrik.ca

1. True north strong and stylish (Eye Weekly)
Canadian fashion brands are increasingly hedging their bets on homegrown talent, flooding the market with must-have CanCon fashion goods:
“The collaborations are coming, two by two. Canadian fashion brands are hedging bets on homegrown talent, hooking up with designers and stylists to create products with, hopefully, a Gestaltist pay-off. As more and more great collabs hit the shelves, it’s safe to assume the sum at the cash will be greater than the parts.”

2. Spring Style (National Post)
Rebecca Spence and Jordana Levine ask the style elite for their shopping lists – including Linda Lewis, editor-in-chief at More Magazine, Lisa Tant, editor-in-chief at Flare Magazine , and Suzanne Timmins, HBC fashion director at The Bay…

3. TorontoisFashion.com
Shout outs to Richard and Marc of TorontoisFashion for being the most social blogging butterflies in the city! Seriously, check out their blog for dozens of launches, parties, store openings and local news >>