Tag Archives: WMCFW

Toronto Fashion Week: DHL Fashion Panel and Triarchy SS2013

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Despite having the time of my life last season at World MasterCard Fashion Week, I was unable to attend the majority of runway shows because school has taken over my social life. Yes, I’m a third year university student and still trying to figure out how to maintain a social life while at school – if that’s even possible.

I attended an interesting fashion industry panel featuring the sibling trio behind Triarchy, Canadian desginer Christopher Bates, DHL Express Canada President Greg Hewitt and Direct of Global Production at IMG Fashion, Jarrad Clark.

The panel discussed how DHL is the behind-the-seams hero in the fashion industry when it comes to emergency situations. They are an expert with reducing lead times, efficient supply chains, and accessing new markets.

Up-and-coming designer Christopher Bates says: “Those with tenacity are the ones that succeed. Find your signature, find your voice and carve yourself a niche.” In an industry as competitive as fashion, keep your head up and keep making strides to achieve your goal!

Greg Hewitt announced that whether you are an emerging or already established designer, DHL will provide any designer a generous discount for their services. For more information on the services DHL provides for the fashion industry, click here.

From left to right: DHL Express Canada president Greg Hewitt, designer Christopher Bates, sibling trio of Triarchy, and Director of Global Production at IMG Fashion, Jarrad Clark

I was also invited to attend the Triarchy SS2013 show that interestingly titled “A night to remember in St. Tropez…the morning after…and the adventures in between.”

I knew it would be an awesome show when it started out to a remix of my girl crush, Lana Del Rey’s “Blue Jeans”. A very fitting choice as Triarchy is known for their denim creations.

Some highlights of the show: ombre denim, metallic bottoms, studded accents, and – I never thought I’d say this – tie dye jeans!

Many of the models appeared to have forggoten their shirts and bras. They resorted to tying rope around their chest, a sufficient and creative alternative for “the morning after” in St. Tropez.

Here are my favourite looks:

I mean… how perfect is this model?!



Triarchy designer Ania Taubenfligel struts down the runway

Images courtesy of George Pimentel.

Always chic,

L.

crazy.classy.chic at WMCFW

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With our first fashion week come and gone, and our closets finally back in order after a week of tearing through them for last minute outfit adjustments, we can breathe a sigh of bittersweet relief over here at crazy.classy.chic.

It was a fabulous week filled with phenomenal experiences, from watching amazing shows like Lucian Matis and Pink Tartan to the fun finale, Dare to Wear Love. There was the VIP experience provided by DHL where we got to meet Martin Lim, and the great fashion we saw Torontonians bring to the tents.

Here are some of our looks from this week:

L. - Day 2

M. - Day 2

FW outfit

L. - Day 3

M. - Day 3

L. - Day 4

Dare to Wear Love

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World MasterCard Fashion Week ended with a bang.

Well, maybe not quite a bang – but close enough. Bob Marley’s granddaughter Donisha Prendergast dancing down the runway to live Caribbean music followed by WWE wrestler Trish Stratus flexing her biceps and then picking up an audience member are just two examples of how unconventional this runway show was.

It was all great fun but, more importantly, it was all for a great cause. Dare to Wear Love runs each season of Toronto fashion week in support of The Stephen Lewis Foundation which helps put money directly into the hands of community-based organizations to help those living with AIDS in Africa.

Dare to Wear Love FW2012

Photos courtesy of Toronto Sun

Celebrities and models walked, danced or pranced down the runway in designs such as David Dixon, Adrian Wu, Lida Baday and Greta Constantine. 

It wasn’t quite the clothes that made this show so enjoyable. It was more about the energy that resonated throughout the room as fashion fanatics, designers, and celebrities came together to raise awareness in support of this foundation.

To view more looks from the show, click here. 

Rad by Rad Hourani

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Rad by Rad Hourani celebrated the fifth anniversary of the line with an impressive collection of the designer’s signature unisex designs. The collection comprised mostly of outerwear, with earthy greens and blacks and angular cuts dominating the runway. It was a great show- if you made it through the lengthy intro video that depicted “Five Years of Rad Hourani,” a black and white short film depicting the designer’s work since beginning his label.

The androgynous models who took to the runway complimented the simplicity of Hourani’s genderless pieces, with faces void of make-up and plain, slicked-back hairdos.

I loved the utilitarian appeal of the clothes, and they were made especially enticing by the pairing of black leather with such a deep green.

Photos courtesy of Toronto Life

Exaggerated lapels and leather accents also ruled Hourani’s runway, and the full leather sleeves were a big hit with the crazy.classy.chic team.

Photos courtesy of Toronto Life

Interestingly enough, this was the first time Hourani showed on a Canadian runway, despite being raised in Montreal. We certainly hope to see him back again!

Photo courtesy of Toronto Life

RUDSAK

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I think of two materials when I think of Fall: leather and fur.

With Mackage as an exception, no other designer comes to mind when I think of this season. Fall is Rudsak’s forté and, judging by the collection that was revealed on the runway, FW2012 will be no exception.

The models strutted to upbeat, badass beats. The fur on their jackets danced as it caught wind from the models’ momentum. All I could think of was how badly I wanted to touch it.

What I loved about the collection was the variations of fur – from your basic fur trim to a full-on fur coat with a matching fur bag – anybody could find a look that was within their fashion comfort zone.

Rudsak FW 2012

Photos courtesy of the Toronto Star

Rudsak FW2012

Photos courtesy of the Toronto Star

Ezra Constantine

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I was caught off guard from the moment the Ezra Constantine show started.

This may be my first fashion week, but I do know it’s odd for a show to begin with all the models walking out together, and then coming out one by one afterwards. I wasn’t  sure what the point of that was, aside from causing confusion.

Designers Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill of the female collection, Greta Constantine, showed their menswear on Day 4 of WMCFW.

I did not expect oversized safety pins fasted onto turtlenecks, tinfoil-inspired shirts and pants, lots of sequins, and strange leather face masks.

The theme of the show was a S&M type bondage, it looked like the men either had neck injuries or were too wrapped up in their clothing to be considered mobile.

I won’t say I liked the collection, but I will say it did not lack shock value.

Ezra Constantine FW2012

Photos courtesy of the Toronto Sun

Pink Tartan

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Pink Tartan is definitely one of the most, if not the most, anticipated shows of WMCFW. Kimberly Newport-Mimram, the designer, did not disappoint.

The models were made up with what seemed to be the theme of Day 4: a middle part, simple makeup and a bold lip.

Spotted in the first row was husband Joe Mimram of Joe Fresh, whose wife supported his FW2012 collection the previous night. Together, they are Canada’s fashion design power couple.

From her shiny signature cigarette pants and chunky gold hardware on leather belts, to the impecable fur and flirty, frilled details, I am completely obsessed with this collection.

So obsessed, in fact, I will go ahead and declare that Pink Tartan has the best FW2012 collection at WMCFW.

Pink Tartan FW2012

Photos courtesy of Toronto Life

Best collection at WMCFW FW2012

Photos courtesy of Toronto Life

Caitlin Power

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At 23 years old, Caitlin Power has mastered the androgynous look while maintaining an element of sexiness in her designs.

Female models had their hair sweetly parted down the middle, with a jet black lip for an edgy contrast while male models had their eyebrows bleached and rocked a sleek combover.

I loved the triangular metal inserts on the dress shirts- a modern, almost futuristic, version of the bow tie. The clothes were structured and featured geometric shapes.

Going along with the trends of this fashion week, I noticed mesh detailing as well as leather and cloth combinations. Overall, her FW2012 collection was cohesive and wearable.

Caitlin Power FW2012

Photos courtesy of the Toronto Star

Caitlin Power FW2012

Photos courtesy of the Toronto Star

Joe Fresh

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Who doesn’t love Joe Fresh?

The tents were packed last night as fashion’s elite and fans of the popular, versatile, affordable clothing line got a look at Joe Mimran’s F/W2012 collection for Joe Fresh.

After a subtly sexy intro video, the crowd hummed in anticipation as the first model made her way down the catwalk.

We saw more mustard yellow, big chunky knits, and some amazing fur. There were super-structured wool coats and overall great cuts on outerwear. We were slightly confused by the random half-fur sleeves on some of the jackets- but dare we question Joe?

Photos courtesy of Toronto Life

There were plenty of earthy tones in the collection, but also some vibrant colours; reds and greens, but with a slight neon appeal (as per the biggest trend right now).

Photos courtesy of Toronto Life

We also saw some patent red leather details, sparkly dresses, and tweed. Everywhere. But our favourite feature of the Joe Fresh collection? Houndstooth, which added a trendy yet classy appeal.

Photos courtesy of Toronto Life

VAWK and VAWKKIN

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Ryerson University graduate Sunny Fong revealed two back-to-back collections for VAWK and his new line, VAWKKIN, on Day 3 of fashion week.

The FW2012 collection of VAWK was fabulous! This haute collection featured lots of black, plunging necklines and accents of fur, sequins and leather. The models wore interesting skin-tight leather hats, with their hair in a protruding high bun.

Highlight of the show: the purple and gold looks – a very royal colour combination

VAWK FW 2012

Photos courtesy of Front Row Mag

VAWK FW2012

Photos courtesy of Front Row Mag

Following this collection, a video was played to introduce the new ready-to-wear collection called VAWKKIN. Sunny explains that VAWKKIN is a more easy and accessible (yes, that means cheaper) way for women to wear his designs. It’s for “the professional woman to wear day to night, weekday to weekend.”

Highlight of the show: He used real women, of different shapes and sizes, to show the versatility of the collection. It balanced feminine and fashion-forward designs, while still being appropriate for the workplace.

I wish he introduced more colour in this collection – the designs were great but he only worked with black, gray and teal.

VAWKIN FW2012

Photos courtesy of Front Row Mag

To view the complete collections for VAWK and VAWKKIN FW2012, click here.