Evan Biddell Launches Online Shop

Hello Fashion! It's me again, here to tell you that Spring 2013 couldn't look any better. With the flurry of new, local lines emerging, gaining ground, and making serious headway; I have been in nothing but a positive mood. There are so many amazing things happening right now for me as well; so many things I'm excited to share with you - but it will have to wait for now. That aside, it's great to see some of the most talented people this country has to offer create some of the best pieces I've seen this Season. In the spirit of things, I thought I should let you know about one of my favourites: Evan Biddell.

The incomparable Biddell has just launched his very first Online Shop celebrating his brand. We couldn't be more thrilled being a fan of Biddell since the very beginning. Boasting aesthetics that are always neoteric and uniquely defined by bold textures, colours, silhouettes, and new interpretations; Biddell's Online Shop offers consumers and local fans the chance to taste it for themselves if they, by chance, haven't been able to make it down to Queen Street in Toronto. This Season we are being treated to magnificent Chiffon in Paintbox hues and even some select Pop Art pieces from his celebrated presentation at Toronto Fashion Week for Spring/Summer 2013. We are absolutely smitten with his Collection of sheer capes, cowls, and wraps! Over-sized, flowing, and so wicked! Definitely wish I could own them all. Congratulations Biddell! It has been a fantastic privilege to see your empire and aesthetic grow and evolve.

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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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DylanInTheCity at The ShOws / Fall 2013 with Steven Tai

Steven Tai was perhaps the most surprising and fascinating show to present this year at The ShOws in Toronto. Nothing short of a genius in the creation of his materials and pieces, Tai showcased an aesthetic that was seasonally sound but creatively unique, totally on-point in terms of trend but imaginatively produced, and one of the best showstoppers of both days at The ShOws.

The aesthetic of Steven Tai's Fall 2013 Presentation was fantastic. Huge, over-sized knits that were youthful, obtuse, and so 90's. Boldly geometric blocked colours, a stand-out trend among Designers all over the world this Season; as well as fantastically wide flood pants. The most impressive element of Tai's collection was his amazing use of the most unexpected material - Silicone. In a candid, post-show interview at The ShOws, Tai explained that much of the Silicone he used was meticulously manipulated and molded into shape; creating textures and forms meant to mimic the visuals of traditional fabric. But it goes much beyond that; the Silicone was also hand-treated to become an actual, bendable and sew-able material. The result? Fascinating and bold forms that glistened in bright, plastic hues - lollipop colours of the 90's re-imagined in bold, shiny shapes; adding visually stunning textural elements to some of Tai's most iconic pieces for Fall 2013.

The is another Collection where the pictures simply don't do the quality of the design justice. Some of Tai's garments, particularly the white, woven Moto jacket, were created with an incredible amount of meticulous detail. The hand-work is remarkable, and is a testament to Tai's Design skill; not only visually, but in terms of production. If anything, the entire presentation is a fantastic portrayal of Tai's potential and the amazing levels a Designer of his caliber could take his evolving aesthetic in the future.

All Photos credit to Fashion Magazine

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DylanInTheCity at The ShOws / Fall 2013 with Jean-Pierre Braganza

I had the privilege to attend one of Toronto's most anticipated and exclusive Fashion Events of the Season last week here in the city; The ShOws! A bi-yearly celebration of unique and incomparable Canadian talent; The ShOws is famous for supporting and featuring some of the most sought-after Canadian names to penetrate the International Fashion Market; displaying their Seasonal Designer Collections. The talent level is extremely high, the city is constantly abuzz, and the showrooms are obtusely full! For two days last week we were privy to 5 fantastic shows - Comrags, Jean-Pierre Braganza, Tanya Taylor, Steven Tai, and Jeremy Laing.

One of my favourite Canadian Designers of all time, Jean-Pierre Braganza, was the second to present at The ShOws last week. Featuring an incredible, diverse palette of personally created graphics, orthogonal patterns, and bright, geometric forms; it was easily one of the most impressive presentations this year.

These photos, though beautiful, do not do this Collection justice in the least. Braganza's fabirc was sublime; moving with such softness in the most brilliant forms down that Runway. Over-sized sleeves, hugely bold, blocked patterns in hints of coral, white, and teal; and a display of characteristically-Braganza painted graphics dominated his earthy, monochromatic palette. We were beyond obsessed, even moved, by some of the asymmetrical forms; cut with the hardest lines in sheen, ombré, leather, and navy. Fantastic in almost every sense; powerfully bold from beginning to end and almost too difficult to appreciate through just words alone. The majesty of Braganza takes me again, what an absolute gift to Fashion.

All photo credit goes to Toronto Life

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Haider Ackermann Rules Paris / Winter 2013

There are few words powerful enough to properly describe the aesthetic, power, and presence of a designer like Haider Ackermann. Often admired for his talent of creating harmony through contrasting elements of medium, inspiration, era, and even social class; Ackermann has even been compared to the late and legendary Yves Saint Laurent himself, who did much the same during his time. He is regarded as one of the most notable and interesting designers to ever emerge out of France; debuting his first Collection to significant praise in 2001, having even been approached by powerhouse mavens the likes of Karl Lagerfeld (Chanel), Margiela, and Dior.

This year at Paris Fashion Week, Haider Ackermann presented his brilliant Winter 2013 Collection following the same vein of power and presence in the industry. A beautiful, slick palette of Winter greys, charcoal blacks, shiny leathers, and gunmetal elements dominated the aesthetic. It was architectural, stark, and brilliantly composed through variations of textural layering, contrasting prints, and large, billowing, and flowing forms.

As usual, I absolutely adore the wrap forms. The hottest trend this Season is in full swing and I couldn't be happier! The draping knitwear is so tundra meets glam, and so super chic in a really lax way. It takes street wear into high fashion territory and is a celebration of the coolest silhouette of the year - over-sized, over-shaped torsos with those fantastic long and lean legs. A retro nod to an 80's-era fabulous while maintaining the urban, modern, youthful street style that is so trendy into today's evolving Runway scene. Androgynous, baggy, masculine-inspired suit pants ground some of Ackermann's strongest forms; accented by easily the most powerfully cut coats this season. A masterfully composed presentation!

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