Day 3 at World MasterCard Fashion Week / KORHANI Home

Magic is the best word to describe KORHANI's exhibition at this year's World MasterCard Fashion Week.  Easily one of the most anticipated Collections of the Season, KORHANI is a favourite because of their unique and whimsical use of their Home Collection fabric - that is, carpets! Yes, that's right, KORHANI is so brilliant that they create brilliant outfits out of their brilliant carpets. It's that simple - creativity + function = style, and KORHANI is at the helm of quality style.

Creating a journey through 4 different energies, moods, and aesthetics, and perhaps even eras; KORHANI this let us travel with them from the dark, gothica depths of fantastic, glittering violets rugs, dotted with raven embellishments, Frankenstein hair, and witchery; to the revolution of Pop Art in blocked, 60's forms and unique, portraiture motifs! Yes, this was a fun show, a true performance! We absolutely loved the graphical elements of KORHANI's new Collection of carpets - from the orthogonals and shapes of the Art-Deco era to the Neoteric glam of a 60's Tokyo. It was a Collection full of adventure and visual brilliance; and it's amazing to see it come from a brand that specializes in Home Decor. True creativity at its best, with the most fantastic Designers behind it - KORHANI delivered one of the most magical shows of Fashion Week as a whole. It was charming, innovative, completely new, and wonderful to watch. I, for one, dream of having a KORHANI carpet in my apartment one day; I must! Nobody does it better! Congratulations KORHANI.

All fantastic images Copyright 2013 ZoomerMedia Limited

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Day 2 at World MasterCard Fashion Week / LINE Knitwear

Day 2 at World MasterCard Fashion Week featured Line Knitwear as it's second-last showing, behind the incomparable Sid Neigum to close the night. A fantastic presentation of long sweaters, over-sized knitted forms, and fantastic gold elements; Line was masterfully composed. One of our favourites of the entire day; Line was unique in the sense that it presented a Collection that was simultaneously wearable, marketable, modern, consistently on-point in terms of trend; yet remained interesting and new. Hugely draped forms were accented with eye-catching textures of leather and metallic while sharper cut pieces were grounded with cinched waists, laser-cut skirts, and fantastic ankle boots.

We especially loved the leather skirt details. Such a simple shape and form; yet the glossy black, flowing material makes it seem that much richer, that much more expensive, and chicer as a result. It turns up the knitwear as a whole, which is the foundation of Line, and takes from casual to refined. Sweaters were worn almost like trench coats, with a refinement and poise, taking the aesthetic of Line as a whole to a much more prestigious, rich level. A fantastic presentation full of diverse shapes, awesome forms, but finished with a sharp and beautiful simplicity - I'd love to own any one of these great pieces!

All credit to the amazing photos goes to Jenna Marie Wakani and Fashion Magazine

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Day 1 at World MasterCard Fashion Week / Pink Tartan

Pink Tartan presented their Fall 2013 showcase last night at opening night of World MasterCard Fashion Week right here in Toronto. Presented at almost overflowing capacity, Pink Tartan showcased beautiful florals, 50's-60's era dresses and elements, and brilliantly coloured fur.

Pink Tartan is often praised for their beautiful femininity and classic shapes - this Season the Designer took that even further by adding totally Seasonal retro elements throughout. If it wasn't that 60's-era hair it was that 50's cut dress. Beautifully lined with a modern edge in touches of glossy leather, black leather, and bright power-pigments like Candy Pink, Superman Blue, and that beautiful Olive Green we've been seeing so much of recently; Pink Tartan's aesthetic was classically feminine for the Autumn Season. And, much like Bustle, it was refreshing to see Pink Tartan play with pigments that go beyond the seriousness of Fall Fashion - the bright tones are more reminiscent of what we adopt for Spring; which makes it that much more engaging, that much more bold, for Autumn. A nice touch.

The fur was epic, to say the least. Pink Tartan is known for using fur quite often, but not as often as they did last night. Bright jackets in Deep Browns, Bright Blue's, and Calico Golds dominated the Runway. We especially adored the White fur dotted and striped with beautiful Black lines - it was easily the stand-out piece of the entire Collection. Golds, Silvers, and Greys were a tour-de-force amidst the brightness, and the Chanel-cut tweeds were professional, sharp, and classically 50's. Very nice!

All Credit for the amazing photos go to George Pimentel

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Day 1 at World MasterCard Fashion Week / Bustle Clothing

Bustle was easily the most energetic, exciting, and best Runway presentation of the night! Known for creating Runway shows that are more like Runway performances, Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow presented a Collection that stood apart from the rest of the Fall Season - bright, exuberant prints and motifs, contrasting layers of texture and shape, and a whimsical play on asymmetrical lines and forms.

We absolutely love Bustle, and their showcase last night at World MasterCard Fashion Week only deepened that love. The play on colours and patterns were so bright and bold; it added so much whimsy to a Fall Season that is typically so serious. The vibrant, cranberry reds, the orthogonal blues, and those amazing trench coats - no one makes a man's trench quite like Bustle. The styling was absolutely perfect; brightly layered textures, jackets that had lines that did more than colour-block, but texture-block; accented with sharply cut chino's, slacks, glossy shoes, and boldly contrasting patterned socks (my favourite part!). I could only assume that socks of that awesomeness would have to be Happy Socks, which is a company that Bustle greatly endorses and clearly loves (we do too!).

It was a unique take on the classic man. Sharply cut suits that were sexy, professional, and charming; but evoked powerful femininity in their colour, motifs, patterns, and forms. It was a newer man; and I'm thrilled, and equally unsurprised, to see Bustle take the lead in Toronto for this re-definition of classic masculine style. Energetic, powerful, colourful, whimsical, charming, fantastic - it's all Bustle! Awesome job.

All credit for the amazing photos to George Pimentel and FLARE.

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The ShOws Day 1 / Tanya Taylor #Spring2013

The ShOws has come and gone here in Toronto! And has undoubtedly set the tone of an enigmatic and vibrant Fashion Week to come. Taking place earlier this week on the 16th and 17th of October (one week before the Official World MasterCard Fashion Week), the ShOws was a glamorous and bustling celebration of Spring Fashion and rich, Canadian talent. I had the privilege and the honour of attending both dates with some of my best industry friends; we enjoyed wine, complimentary food and products, as well as runway-side seating for some Canada's best design talent. Featuring a fantastic roster that included Tanya Taylor, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Antonio Azzuolo, and Jeremy Laing; the ShOws attracted the beautiful, the influential, and the artistic from every corner of the Fashion market! I was so happy to be a part of it.

Tanya Taylor was the first to show on Tuesday evening. The rising Canadian star presented a Collection that was as bright and colourful as it was soft. Grounded by softened jewel tones and crisp, bright whites; the showcase was feminine, flowing, and seasonally geometric.

Florals, corals, and periwinkle blues accented over-sized pants, belted, swing dresses, and graphic knits. The Collection was casual but also refined, and played on the re-emergence of many classic Spring trends. My personal favourite aspect of the Collection would have to be Taylor's attention to subtle detailing. The shapes and the cuts are all wonderfully silhouetted, but what made it special were the subtle moments and peeks of boldness. The glimmering sequin-style shine that lined every flower and caught the light elevated Taylor's signature floral corset-dress to a very chic level; the same can be said for her beautiful Spring overcoats.

Opening night was a refreshing dive into the feminine hues of Tanya Taylor's Spring 2013 Collection! Keep it locked for more of my thoughts on the rest of the ShOws fantastic presentations!

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Photos Courtesy BlogTo