Day One: J’adore le printemps

The blue skies and mild breeze felt as though spring had sprung…and according to the fashion calendar, it has. FASHION started the day at the Tevrow + Chase spring presentation.

View a slideshow of Spring 2008 looks from Tevrow + Chase.

View a slideshow of Spring 2008 looks from Joe Fresh.

Lots of editors and stylists milled about the showroom, oohing and aahing about the new collection. I’ve never heard the word “cute” uttered so many times in one room. FASHION’s faves: lots of YSL-inspired shades of blue, the perfect wide-leg trouser, a white topper with black trim (v. Chanel!), white cropped pants and blazers with paint blocks of yellow, red and blue. I made a dash for the slick coloured trenchcoats–my heart skipped a beat for the slippery-when-wet finish and I secretly added it to my growing lust list. New colours for spring: juicy blasts of Tropicana orange and SunnyD yellow.

View a slideshow of Spring 2008 looks from Tevrow + Chase.

Later that day, freshly flat-ironed and glossed, FASHION arrived at Holt Renfrew (a.k.a must-have label Mecca) for the official fashion week kick- off cocktail sponsored by the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC). With a can of champers in hand (that’s right, the can is the new bottle in the world of bubbly), FASHION mixed and mingled with the who’s who of the Canadian fashion scene. Despite the warm weather outside, the stylish suspects on the scene rocked fall’s finest: ribbed tights, coloured platform shoes, patent anything, statement necklaces, sequins for day (love this trend!) and beaucoup de bright purple. And of course, every editor, stylist and fabulous fashionista had their plus one for the evening: a drool-worthy piece of arm candy. The diverse selection read like the designer index on style.com: Balenciaga, Fendi, Louis Vuitton, Prada and Stella McCartney. And speaking of darling Stella–during the speeches, FASHION’s gaze fell upon the most perfect wooly oversized tote (complete with polar bear and Fair Isle pattern), and we wondered if we could pull off the “ski chic” look this winter…despite never leaving the chalet, much less the bunny hill.

Off to the tents…

FASHION liked the new set-up of fashion week, housed at Nathan Phillips Square but thought the public restroom sitch was just a little too “Pepe Le Pew” for us. On with the shows…

Joe Fresh
Fashion mastermind Joe Mimran opened the show with mega model Heather Marks (also one of FASHION’s November issue cover girls). Stylish simplicity ruled at Joe Fresh with lots of nautical stripes, crisp cotton pieces and shots of bright orange. Best new pieces: the tan cropped trench, the swingy yellow plaid skirt and the striped T-shirt dress. FASHION loved the ’80s-inspired patent shoes in electric yellow, green and pink. At just $24, these hot heels are going to be on everyone’s spring hit list.

The evening ended with the Project Runway fashion show, and although FASHION can’t reveal much of anything (we signed a confidentiality agreement), we can say that Iman is absolutely stunning in person–all legs and flawless skin! But like a fashion themed episode of 24, FASHION will have to keep the Jack Bauer shroud of secrecy until the show airs its final episode. Tick tock, tick tock.

Until my next jottings, my spring chickens…

View a slideshow of Spring 2008 looks from Joe Fresh.

Read Fashion File‘s Adrian Mainella blogging on L’Oreal Fashion Week!

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