Toronto Fashion Week: Day one
Nathan Phillips Square was abuzz with L’Oréal Fashion Week banter. Topics du jour included: The article on Robin Kay in Toronto Life, model Coco Rocha walking in the Joe Fresh show, and who was wearing what in the front row. Project Runway winner Evan Biddell’s show kicked off the fashion festivities and drew an impressive crowd, but his collection failed to hold their attention. Note: Reality TV and the runway sometimes don’t mix.
Denis Gagnon’s show started right on schedule, which could have explained some of the empty seats. T.O. Fashion Week shows are notoriously late, late, late. FASHION is perpetually asking why, why, why? Gagnon’s lineup showed lots of layering and an intense palette of black that was anything but basic. Loved the leggings styled over the sky-high platforms, which gave the illusion of mile-long legs…sigh…Overall show vibe: very Rick Owens-inspired with the raw edging, fitted leather bombers and drape-y details.
Afterwards, FASHION dashed over to the Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail for a glass of sparkling water (our complexions are still parched from the beaucoup de bubbly at makeup artist Greg Wencel’s fabulous birthday blowout this past weekend). FDCC prez (and the lady on everyone’s glossy lips), Robin Kay, introduced Elio Fiorucci–the man behind the famous Milanese fashion label Fiorucci–as the keynote speaker of the evening. But, between the tinkling of glasses, the incessant chatter and the shushing, our interests dwindled…Go back to the media breakfast Holt Renfrew. Nothing says bright-eyed and bushy-tailed like croissants and chairs.
With mini swag bag in tow (Giorgio Armani superhero-red lippy and a rejuvenating travel-size face cream), we sprinted back to the tents for Joe Fresh. Always a good show and FASHION loved seeing the Rocha wiggle again (we spotted her working it all over the runways last month at the Paris collections). Fave pieces at Joe for Fall: Jodphur pants, cross-strap patent heels ($29!), ribbed knee socks (v. sexy school girl), tulip coats, and cable toques. New must-have: slim patent bag. As one editor said, “It’s like our very own ‘Tar-jay’ but much more stylish.” FASHION stayed for the afterparty (a few air kisses and a couple of gossip sessions never hurt a girl). Music by the Misshapes played in the tents, and we hearted it big time. Inside scoop: Boys in bowties are on our radar. Until my next jottings duckies…xo
Shown: DENIS GAGNON Fall 2008. Photography by Sarah Casselman.
GALLERIES: DENIS GAGNON | EVAN BIDDELL | JOE FRESH | MAX CHERNITSOV
