Céline, Automne/Hiver 2013 #SuperLux

Phoebe Philo is a visionary. In a celebration of the truest simplicity of form, line, and colour; Céline's Winter 2013 Collection is a pristine example of the anti-cluttered, anti-printed, and anti-textured timeless beauty that is the ultimate form of super-luxury. And we couldn't be more smitten!

There is something so compelling about this Collection. The forms are so obtuse and interesting, but the lines are so pure and clean, in true Céline form. It is totally Seasonally incredible yet it discards so many of some of this Season's most interesting trends - that is; overlaid textures, geometric, stark patterns, and prints. The knitwear and clean palette take the clothing to the most prominent level, without the need of any further visual interest; it's all in the shape, the line, and the way it sits. Effortlessly chic, opulence in pure minimalism. Only the best from Céline. 

Photos borrowed from The Front Row View

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Beyond The LIM IT / 3.1 Fall 2013 #Womenswear

This post is long-overdue blogosphere! The incomparable Phillip Lim give us perhaps my favourite Fall Collection this year - littered with blocked and bright leathers, fantastic trenches, glossy pants, and urban knitwear. A Collection that boasts an aesthetic that is so Lim - with the right amount of streamlined chic and the right amount of youthful street style.

I am beyond obsessed with the coats in this Collection. Phillip Lim for Fall is always so architecturally pristine - with an 80's flare for the dramatic; the turquoise and beige overcoats exude a New York flair that is super-chic. Beyond that it has to be the pants and the boot wear - bagged leather, textured and cut with a bold shape. The lines, overlapped textures, and layered pieces are visually brilliant and an urban nod to a little but of 90's as well, if you can see it! The layering of line and colour remind me of a diverse cityscape; and it's held together by a fantastic, stark, and seasonally-sound palette of slate greys, whites, camels, and glossy blacks. A visual symphony of proportion, line, texture, and colour - I wish I could wear it all, especially that turquoise-on-a-teal-edge overcoat. Brilliant, brilliant, brilliant.

I know I post a lot about Phillip Lim, but represent his work is almost a must for me. He is, as I've said before, one of the most impeccable and talented modern designers in the world right now, despite his young age and relatively short career thus far. His taste is consistently and elegantly on-point season after season; and the construction of his pieces, beyond just the tailoring alone, is always a masterful composition of form, colour, and texture. It's as if he is creating incredible buildings that you can both appreciate from a distance and right up-close, in terms of grandeur and presence as well as the finest detailing. I could own every piece in this entire Collection. Bravo!

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Leather Vision / Heather Lawton Fall 2013 #NYFW

Hello Winter! I see you've not spared Toronto a single bit since I've been gone! But it's all good; 'tis the Season for Fashion, right? As you've probably guessed, I'm back from a fantastic week in New York City for Fashion Week. I hope you all joined me on Twitter, Instagram, and Facebook to keep up-to-date on all the fabulous; after all, there was quite a bit. From the dense, sparkling streets of Manhattan, to the industrial lofts in Chelsea, to the boutiques of SoHo - we had a brilliant time, thank you New York! I'll be seeing you again soon, I'm sure. You can read about my experiences in NY more in-depth on my sister-site, DylanInTheWorld.

Toni Francis, Myself, and Jossyl Bacalla at Heather Lawton's Event in NYC.

Now, onto the Fashion. Who was as obsessed with Heather Lawton's presentation as I was? Pretty difficult not to be. We were invited to attend her first NYFW Presentation at Studio450; a tucked-away, inner-city loft at W 31st and 9th. The entire gallery was a wicked, bright open-concept space that masterfully blended the edged, industrial elements of the building (not to mention the incredible view of Manhattan) with the stark, cold, bareness of the design - Winter branches, white as snow bleakness, and the dark palette of the Collection itself. It was a presentation that acted more like a gallery of fine portraits. Enthusiasts were invited to drink, chat, socialize, and admire the aesthetic of Lawton's rich designs in a friendly and touchable voyeuristic atmosphere using live models.

Rich, dark leather, obtusely-formed new silhouettes, and over-sized outer wear dominated Lawton's diverse and enthralling aesthetic. If any of my readers know me at all, they know that I'm obsessed with anything and everything Fall Fashion - big scarves, dramatic knitwear, and coats! You can never have too many fabulous coats! I adored Lawton's incredibly dramatic, almost cape-like coats; draping completely over the model, either in the front or all over, much like a wrap. It was almost like mixing the elements we love so much about move-able scarves and knits and turning them into a shaped coat; creating new, purposeful cuts that took the eye on a journey of new silhouettes. I am absolutely digging this trend of over-sized, over-fabulous, and over-covered. I've seen it evolve over the past year in this industry and I'm still not tired of it! It's so inner-city urban meets Winter tundra; fabulously trekking through the trials of a concrete jungle? Survival of the fittest no doubt, especially in New York! Skinny cut pants and leggings were a perfect, chic balance to all the dramaticism happening up-top; from billowing, fur stoles to lion mane-esque, neck-hugging shawls.

But all the obtuse forms, though brilliant, did not outshine the classic elements of this same presentation. Lawton is quite genius when it comes to the details of her tailoring; and all you really need to do is touch, feel, and really look to see all the brilliance of one her perfectly cut leather jackets; and all of a sudden, it's magic! Perfectly shaped, perfectly cut, and perfectly fitted pieces were the true majesty of this Collection; sitting in silent brilliance behind the visually dominating, bolder elements. As a matter of fact, perhaps my favourite piece from Lawton's entire Fall 2013 Showcase was a stand-alone, stand-out, hot pink Moto Jacket made out of the most luxurious, supple leather. It was like butter to touch and like candy to look at; absolutely divine. The chic simplicity of something like this is what will always be remembered in a proper Collection, because it actually works. This is something that wears the same way that it looks on the model and on the rack, chic and sharp from beginning to end. A stunning, on-point, on-trend, and perfectly composed Collection. Congratulations on all your success Heather! And all the success you will undoubtedly find in New York in the future. I am privileged to be working with someone so fresh, new, and exciting; and I can't wait to see where this new project will take me.

The collaboration we are working on will be taking place very soon in Toronto featuring some of Heather's most iconic and memorable designs from her previous Collections. Keep your eyes locked on DylanInTheCity for everything that will be evolving out of it, and especially come Toronto Fashion Week, where we hope to premiere! Only 1 month away, are you ready? View Heather Lawton's entire Fall/Winter 2013 Collection at New York Fashion Week right here at Women's Wear Daily.

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Alexander Wang doing Alexander Wang / Pre-Fall 2013

Alexander Wang, one of my ultimate Fashion idols and the recently appointed creative head of Balenciaga, just released his own Pre-Fall Collection for the 2013 Season. Masterfully composed of bulky knits, slickly-cut coats, and beautifully draped monochromatics in rich, tundra greys and crisp whites (in a way only Wang could do), the Collection is a brooding and sophisticated departure from the otherworldliness of Wang's typical aesthetic.

I love Wang's unique ability to play with youthful athletics in such a crisp way; adding really interesting textural elements in subtle ways that become bold when it pops away from all the minimalism. The slight drape over the collarbone, the blocked shoulders, the powdery, dusted sport coats, and the asymmetrical zipper. It's an edge that evokes an air of ultimate chic at the same time; something I absolutely love seeing in Fashion. The pieces are ideal for that spark of coolness that hits just before your Autumn coat needs to come out, and is the perfect Collection for the inner-city woman both professional and artistic. It's divine, and all I can say is that I really wish I could wear that sleeveless military coat!

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Winter Fashion! How Do You Wear It? / Trend Rundown!

Eek! The heat is off in my apartment! The best solution? Snuggling up in layers of knits, over-sized scarves, and reminiscing about Winter Fashion. Well, a Salted-Caramel Latte from Starbucks would surely add to the majesty - but, regardless, it's almost an excuse to try on every winter outfit at my disposal, is it not?

We are in the dead of the cold zone my friends; post-Holiday Season and pre-Spring renewal. A lot of people like to wallow around at this time of year; but I think that's ridiculous! Winter itself is a cleansing Season - the snow falls and washes away yesteryear; it's always been a time of catharsis. So what's the best way to celebrate the new you for the new year? Why not fantastic new outfits? You are what you wear! Here is a run down of some of our favourite Winter trends this Season.

WE LOVE...

1 / The Big Layers

There's nothing that says warmth like layers upon layers in Winter - but it isn't anything terribly new. Winter typically means layers in Fashion; but this year? I love seeing big layers! Bigger, bolder, more obtuse shapes; layering both over-sized and texturally bold pieces together brings a new creativity and eclecticism to Winter this Season - without losing any of the comfort. I love piling on knits after knits and wrapping it all under a fabulous scarf, or perhaps a great hat, or maybe just a fantastic weekend bag! Experimenting with bigger pieces this season will allow you to create new silhouettes for yourself you might never thought possible!

2 / Burst Pigments

Winter on the Runway lately has been an expression and an embrace of the chic monochromatic! You can never go wrong with a palette as bold as black, white, and every neutral in between - however! I absolutely love seeing people bring that burst of colour from Spring into their fabulous Winter wardrobe! And why not? With the stark contrast of snow on the ground and the blue haze of the city that the Season brings, it's almost perfect conditions to shine brightly under a bold power pigment. Experiment with some of your favourite Spring colours this Season and bring a little POP to Winter!

3 / Fur Textures

The textural majesty of something like fur is unmatched in the Fashion world! Fur has been a powerful and staple accent for the last few Seasons in Winter Fashion! Adding glamour, colour, and luxurious texture to almost any outfit you could come up with; fur, regardless of natural or faux, is a fantastic way to add just that little extra something to turn your great Winter in the city outfit into a showstopper look.

4 / That Pop of Red

Red, red, red! Red is my go-to colour this season for that extra pop of pigment! If you're that chic monochromatic girl or guy we've been talking about (and you'd rather embrace the black as opposed to the bright) try adding a little red somewhere in your outfit and see how quickly your look changes! Red is a multi-seasonal colour that evokes dramaticism and confidence! Adding just that bit somewhere in your look shows people you are not only chic, but also a little fearless!

5 / Metal

Are you a Metal Head? Because I certainly am! Metal, in the from of studs, blocked shapes, and hardware has been perhaps the biggest trend this Season for both Summer and Winter! Stud yourself out in metallic reflections of silver, gold, and gunmetal to add that edged look to any outfit this Season. It has been so huge it is almost a classic add-on - meaning you can partner it with the most elegant outfit you have and still make it work! Metal is no longer punk, it's chic! Work!

6 / Over-Sized Knitwear

An expansion of my obsession with big layers; over-sized knits are one of my favourite staples this Season for Winter! You can't go wrong with a huge, comfy sweater! Patterned in a great colour, or perhaps just loosely knitted with a great texture - a bold knit is the easiest way to throw something on and still remain interesting and chic in the coldest of the cold. Try layer knits over knits as opposed to drowning yourself in big, heavy Winter coats that can sometimes be unflattering if you haven't quite found the right one!

7 / Big, Big, Big Scarves and Wraps!

Is this too much of a theme for me?! I love big, wintery pieces! And this includes scarves. Why not layer that great knit with an even better over-sized scarf, stole, shawl, or wrap? Scarves are the trendiest way to add a bold hit of pattern and a unique silhouette to your ensemble this Season. It also adds to that bundled-up look that'll not only keep you on-point Seasonally, but warm and snuggled at the same time. Use them as a way to add a new visual colour impact or to neutralize or balance the many colours in your outfit altogether. Regardless of the way you wear it, a great scarf is perhaps your most versatile Fashion option during Winter and worth the investment!

8 / Holiday Sweater

Holiday Sweaters have a history of tack behind them; but what I found most interesting this Season are the amount of ways you can use them to add a tasteful, yuletide touch to your Winter Street Style! There's nothing wrong with embracing the colours, textures, and images of the holiday season into your outfit! It not only shows people you're in the spirit of things, but it also shows them that you can be put-together and still be charming and whimsical at the same time. It's cute, adorable, and can sometimes make a great little add-on to an already well thought-out Winter outfit.

9 / Black & Gold

Black & Gold are the staple monochromatics of the Season! Never out-of-style, these two tones partner up in a myriad of ways; black leather + gold embellishments, black knitwear + gold jewelry, gold coats + black leg wear - the options are literally endless. The most trendy pairing on both the Runway and the streets for Winter this Season, Black & Gold continue to be a fantastic and easy way to create chic dramaticism with just a few pieces here and there. Everything from luxurious richness to casual Street Style can be tuned-up to the moment and tastefully on-point with the addition of Black & Gold somewhere on the outfit! Experiment this Season with awesome ways you can wear them too!

10 / Leather, Baby!

Leather! Where do I begin? Honestly, it's almost too difficult to. Leather is the staple texture of Winter this Season. If you're not brave enough for fur, to chic for knit, you're bound to find something in leather. Warm, supple, shiny, and sharp; leather is the ultimate Winter add-on. Whether on your hands, over your body, on your legs, or on your feet; leather adds richness, warmth, a chic and sharp edge, and the perfect amount of neutral depth to any colour palette you could come up with. Leather can both tune-up or turn-down your outfit without compromising the balance of what you've already created - and it's so classic it'll last you Season after Season. A brilliant leather coat for example, cut to your shape and hitting you where it should, can give you a lifetime of ultimate style!

Phew! That was an afternoon-full of information! I hope you too can use this trend guideline as the perfect way to take your regular Winter wardrobe into something Seasonal and fabulous. It's always important to remember that clothes are just clothes; but investing in pieces for yourself that reflect who you are also investments into your character to the world around you. You are what you wear, at least to those around you! Make it count, and happy Winter!

Best,
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