DylanInTheCity at The ShOws / Fall 2013 with Jeremy Laing

Jeremy Laing presented his Fall 2013 Collection at The ShOws last week here in Toronto to significant praise. As usual, Laing's presence in Toronto was greeted with enormous fanfare! And it's no surprise, because let's be entirely honest, he really doesn't need to be here at all. His success in New York is testament to that. Droves of enthusiasts and industry professionals flocked to Andrew Richard's (The ShOws Venue) in a number that easily doubled the initial capacity that day. To say we were a bit short of a room is an understatement. Nevertheless, an homage to his Canadian roots Season after Season is a wonderful touch; and it's nothing short of remarkable to see Laing's newest Collections up close as I did last week.

This Season Laing took us on a visually stunning trip; with interlaced patterns and textures, unusually balanced colours, and meticulously crafted textiles. A slight departure from his Spring Collection, which focused on sublime neutrals and gunmetal sheers; Laing's Fall  presentation featured a diverse palette of rich Blacks, bright Off-Whites, Dusty Roses and Soft Blues, with bold hits of Pantone Yellow and Gold Lamé. Colour blocking was partnered with monochromatic orthogonals (Seasonal favourite!) and heavily-textured knits through layered skirts, wide-legged, flowing trousers, and fantastic, boxed trenches.

The silhouette was chic, refined, and completely marketable though it maintained a constant value of intense, visual interest. We love Laing's use of broken lines in many of his fabrics; a pattern he photographed and repeated from a piece he adopted from a friend and local artist. "From a distance it reads as stripes." I remember Laing saying when explaining his textile choice, though up close it's noticeably broken and fractured slightly. Huge, obtuse forms were, once again, a dominant form in Laing's presentation. As usual, I'm obsessed with the way the clothing moves. Everything over-sized is hitting me just where it should this Season, as nothing says beautifully chic like the way a fantastic dress moves with almost no effort at all. But, beyond everything, I'd have to say my favourite pieces were the Gold hits; especially that amazing, baggy trench with those wide arms. Cinched just loosely enough, this trench caught the light brilliantly; it was a gem straight out of the 80's. Just perfect, wish I could sport that myself.

All in all, a great show, and a much more interesting interpretation of Fall 2013 than I initially anticipated from Jeremy Laing. Great pieces, great aesthetic!

All Photos Credit to Style.com

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World MasterCard Fashion Week / Fall 2013 Collections

World MasterCard Fashion Week is finally here! Starting tomorrow at 5:30 pm, Toronto will be privy to some of the best Fall 2013 Collections by some of Canada's most notable, talented, and iconic Designers. We are expecting a massive turn-out this year as IMG has put together (with the absorption of The Collections) an absolutely killer roster of powerhouse Fashion talent. I couldn't be more pumped for these amazing shows! Fashion Week each year is a pulsating experience; from the clothing to the people to the amazing street style; it's literally a week of pure eye candy and absolute inspiration (well, if you love Fashion as much as I do!). It's also an opportunity for us, the Industry enthusiasts of the city. Connecting with other professionals in this field is the absolute best way to push the envelope of our own passions and keep creating - whether through design, media, marketing, or any other aspect of the industry. It's one of the most precious things Fashion Week has ever given to me; the opportunity to meet people and build creative connections.

That being said, I am beyond thrilled to be representing this very blog, DylanInTheCity, as Media for World MasterCard Fashion Week! So, if you're even remotely interested in up-to-the-second Fashion direct from the runways (as well as any other antics, celebrity sightings, or the best street style going down at the tents!) be sure to stay connected to any one of my major Social Media outlets!

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This year WMCFW is bringing to us over 30 shows from some of our most incredible homegrown Designers; the likes of Sunny Fong of VAWK, Caitlin Power, Rudsak, Pavoni, Lucian Matis, Pink Tartan, and Sid Neigum just to name a few. Join the movement and connect nationwide! See it all happen right before your eyes.

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