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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