Fashion-able: WMCFW shows we’re excited for

Seems like just moments ago that we wrapped another successful World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto, but here we are again: ready to soak in the looks that our Canadian designers have created for next fall and winter.

Even though we don’t want to think about another fall now that we’re in the homestretch toward spring, there’s still something exciting about brand new ways to wear leather and fur. Plus, we’re always pumped to spot the best in spring street style at the tents.
Check out (just a couple shows on) our can’t miss list for this season’s World MasterCard Fashion Week:


MIZ by Izzy Camilleri
Monday at 5:30 p.m. / Runway

Image source

Izzy is a vetran who designs for the confident woman. This collection will feature sleek separates in jersey, stretch wool twill and faux leather. A neutral colour palette incorporating houndstooth and animal-print has us thinking back to the Fall 2010 IZMA collection and its richness of attitude. 




Chloé Comme Parris
Monday 6:30 p.m. / Runway

Image source

The return of sisters Chloé and Parris Gordon breathes effortless, youthful cool into this season’s roster. A bit more New York than Paris, the girls’ focus on custom and hand-made elements make their wearable collection covetable.


Pink Tartan
Monday 7:30 p.m. / Runway

Image source

Kimberley Newport-Mimran wowed crowds this past season with her ability to incorporate a punk edge in a collection that was ultimately soft, sensual and ladylike (in the 50’s sense!). We can’t wait to see what she comes up with for fall – and what colour palette she’ll be working with.


Mercedes-Benz start up presents: DUY
Tuesday at 7 p.m. / Runway

Image source

Winner of the 2012 Mercedes-Benz Start Up Award, Duy Nguyen will present his new collection this season. We are hoping to see more of his intricate pattern making at play in fall/winter layers.


Joe Fresh
Wednesday at 9 p.m. / Runway

Image source

The Mimran’s are taking over! It’s okay, we really don’t mind. Frequently enticed by the affordable, on-trend fashions available at Joe Fresh, we want a glimpse into what Joe will have in store for us this fall. And we will be on the look out for special guests on the runway – like Pat Cleveland (pictured above).


Soïa & Kyo
Thursday at 6 p.m. / Runway

Image source

Ilan
Elfassy,
designer of Soïa & Kyo (and sister Brand Mackage), says that this
season he has “channelled the timeless elegance and malleability of metals, such as
copper and nickel.” The Quebec-based brand is most renown for it’s winter-wear – a can’t miss given the season.


VAWK
Thursday at 8 p.m. / Runway

Image source

Luxury label VAWK, by Sunny Fong, pushed the boundaries last season with light-weight feminine fabrics, sharp metallics and revealing cuts. We’d be OK with another take on the awesome gold cone bra above.


Travis Taddeo
Friday at 4 p.m. / Studio

Image source

Expect Travis Taddeo to own the studio this season with his signature raw, minimalist and edgy style. Known for pushing conventional expectations, we are looking forward to seeing what his unique blends of street wear and luxury will bring this year.


Stephan Caras
Friday at 7 p.m. / Runway

Image source

Established, Toronto-based designer Stephan is rejoining Toronto’s official fashion scene this season. We can’t contain our Canadian glee at the thought of seeing the master of collections that incorporate femininity and movement present on home turf.


Pavoni
Friday at 8 p.m. / Runway

Image source

Mike Derderian & Gianni Falcone know how to make a woman feel like a queen. Literally. The detailing on their dresses is so delicate it makes this Fourth-Floorer feel faint. Hope you’ve already RSVP’d.


We could go on. Get the full calendar here. Ladies, don your gem-toned or graphic print dresses and men lace up those brightly soled shoes – this is a season you don’t want to miss.

World MasterCard Fashion Week: Day one recap

There is nothing quite like the
opening night of World MasterCard Fashion Week. The excitement is palpable as
fashion industry, media and addicts catch up at their bi-annual reunion while
waiting for the doors to open.

Once everyone is seated, a hush falls
and before the lights get brighter and the music starts pounding out the beat
of a catwalk strut, the anticipation builds for the first glimpse of spring/summer 2013. Here are some of our favourite looks
from day one:

Holt Renfrew came out with their
fall/winter 2012 line-up, which is fun since every single look is in store and can be purchased now. Instant satisfaction. Fashion-forward, elegant looks made for a great start to the evening.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

We love this combo of solids and prints, it’s preppy with a fashion twist from MSGM, Kate Spade and Ela.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

This Pavoni gown is stunning. It deserves a red carpet.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

Glamorous, sleek cuts combined with crisp colour blocking make this top to bottom Celine look a winner.

Kimberley Newport-Mimran wowed again with Pink Tartan‘s Spring/Summer 2013 combining lady-like fabrics and styles with girlie prints and alterations.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

This look is the epitome of youth, fashion and class.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

Seafoam green will make a return next spring, as evidenced with this lovely dress.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

We love the texture and shine in this glamorous-yet-demure outfit.

Pavoni closed the night with a spectacular display of sumptuous gowns. Designers Mike Derderian and Gianni Falcone explored glamour with delicate lace overlays that sparkled in the runway lights. 

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

We love this simple dress, made exquisite with lace overlay.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

The deep cut and fabulous styling make us think of all the divas who could rock this on the red carpet.

Image courtesy of Steve Alkok, Its All Style To Me.

The name Chateau de Versailles is fitting for this collection of showpiece dresses.

Fashion-able: Wednesday and Thursday at the WMCFW tents

World Mastercard Fashion Week is quickly coming to an end, but what a week it’s been! From S&M-inspired menswear to bolo ties, every variety of talent was represented.

Bustle’s rodeo-inspired look.

Sexy fashion from Ezra Constantine.

Image source.

Leather accessories and accents are not making their fashion exit any time soon, proven by Rudsak, Line, Ezra Constantine…the list goes on. 

Vawk’s awesome sparkle and leather combo.

Line brings it, again.

Splitting up [only in the fashion sense] was Joe Fresh and Pink Tartan – for the first time in recent memory, they showed on different nights. Joe Fresh showed their always-covetable pieces on Wednesday night, where we were brought to houndstooth heaven.

Pink Tartan showed a palette featuring military green, plum, grey and black.  We immediately swooned over the gowns and have our eye on that amazing tulle skirt. Investment piece – right? 

Image source.

The perfect party skirt. 

Image source.

Military chic at it’s finest.

Cara Cheung was a favourite, mixing tweed with hot flashes of fluorescent…

 …metallic snake print with chiffon…

…and jumping aboard the mullet train.

Ashtiani reminded us that while we’re looking ahead to fall wear, we are still very much in spring’s presence.

Incorporating pastel hues in geometric detailing proved that S/S and F/W worlds can collide.

While it’s hard to bid adieu to the tents tonight, we’re walking away with some fashion inspiration to tide us over until next season.

All images courtesy of George Pimentel (unless otherwise marked).

Pin It

Fashion-able: Streetstyle at LGFW

Half the fun of fashion week is seeing what people off the runway are wearing. We were continually impressed by the creative layering and fancy footwear we spotted on guests throughout the week, despite the rain and chill. We decided to bring our camera on day five to capture some of our favourite end-of-week ensembles.

Name: Caryn Ceolin (Ryerson University)

Favourite LGFW show: Pink Tartan

Could not survive LGFW without: Tights. She always keeps an extra pair in her purse in case of rips and/or layering.

What we love about her: Caryn’s leather-trimmed cape caught our eye first, but we’re obsessed with her spiked Marc by Marc Jacobs heels.

Name: Jacqueline Flaggiello

Favourite LGFW show: Chloe Comme Parris

Could not survive LGFW without: Snacks and red lipstick.

What we love about her: Her silky wide-legged pants paired with a silky button down top is the most refined version of the trendy “pyjama dressing” we’ve seen yet.

Name: Diondra Ascenuik

Favourite LGFW show: Baby Steinberg (her sister works for the designer)

Could not survive LGFW without: Comfy, yet stylish shoes

What we love about her: The sweet blouse, structured handbag and full skirt are very ladylike, but her leather dress adds a bit of edge and keeps it from being too sweet.

Name: Randi Bergman (online editor, FASHION)

Favourite LGFW show: Chloe Comme Parris

Could not survive LGFW without: Cab chits

What we love about her: We’re torn between her custom-made Pink Cobra jacket and her to-die-for Prada heels. Either way, what a babe!

Name: Bella Mumba (blogger, Hey Do You)

Favourite LGFW show: David Dixon

Could not survive LGFW without: Good vibes and bright colours

What we love about her: In a sea of black, Bella’s refreshing combination of colours and prints is a sight for sore eyes.

*All photos courtesy of the talented James Lourenco

LGFW: Wednesday & Thursday

Days three and four of LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oreal Paris were just as exhilarating as the first two. As we head towards the Fashion Week finish line, here are some of our thoughts on the past two days:


Wednesday, October 19


Sid Neigum

 Image source.

New York-based Neigum’s avant-garde designs blur the line between menswear and womenswear, featuring excellent leather pieces for both sexes. We were, however, less than enamoured by the harem-style pants he had the male models walking in. Difficult for ladies to pull off, so we’re not sure how our men will do it. But kudos for sending something different down the runway.


Marie Saint Pierre

Instead of a traditional runway show, Marie Saint Pierre held a presentation in the Studio space. Mannequins and models mixed on a raised platform while guests circulated around the room. The intimate set-up was a welcome change and offered the opportunity to examine Saint Pierre’s collection up-close.


Korhani Home Rug Runway Show

Korhani took to the runway for a second season to showcase their fast fashion-esque rugs. This playful show featured outfits inspired by Alice in Wonderland and the 80s. While we won’t be wearing any rugs to our next soiree, we’re excited to inject some flair into our home decor.


Pink Tartan

Kim Mimran’s latest collection is as beautiful and classic as we’ve come to expect from the celebrated designer. In an unexpected twist – Andrej Pejic, the gender-bending model du jour, walked the runway in an indigo shirtdress. Never has a boy looked so chic. 


Joe Fresh

One of fashion week’s most sought-after invites, Joe Fresh S/S 2012 featured bright contrasting colours, cool whites and clean lines. We were especially impressed with the menswear; we can’t wait to see our boys strutting the streets of Toronto in some of Joe’s patterned pants and blazers. 


Thursday, October 20


Sarah Stevenson

Stevenson’s intricate textile patterns printed onto gorgeous silks (and in picture frames surrounding the models) epitomized springtime. Those walking outside by the large studio windows couldn’t help but to peer in at the latest looks from this talented designer.

Krane

Ken Chow’s Krane began with accessories (a waxed cotton and leather carryall to be exact) and has since evolved into a menswear line. While Krane’s bags are still front-and-centre for Spring/Summer 2012, his clothing offerings will surely appeal to many urban-dwellers. 


Bustle

From the backdrop of bathing beauties drinking champagne on a boat, to the upbeat, pop soundtrack, Bustle provided a much-needed mood-booster on the fourth night of fashion week. The clothes were equally as fun, combining crisp tailoring with coral, lavender and grey.


VAWK

Perennial favourite Sunny Wong dazzled spectators at last night’s show. As usual, VAWK was infused with glamour –  think metallics and sheer fabrics, paired with muted blush tones. We wouldn’t mind wearing a few of his gowns to Operanation tonight.


*All images via FDCC, except Sarah Stevenson’s which are from QMI. 

LGFW: The first two nights and what we loved

On Monday, the doors to LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oréal Paris officially opened. For those without passes, the Fourth Floor is taking you to the runway’s front row.

Holt Renfrew took care of business with their show “Can’t Live Without Canadian Fashion”.

The country’s leading retailer of high-end fashion celebrated our homegrown talent, sending spectacular looks from Todd Lynn, Jeremy Laing, Lida Baday, Ezra and Greta Constantine, Pink Tartan, Wings + Horns, Smythe, Twenty Cluny, Denis Gagnon and Canada Goose down the runway. 

Here are some of our fave looks. 

Denis Gagnon’s brightly coloured tights paired with chic dresses and big wedges. 

Smythe’s pale blue coat with camel-coloured leather details. 

Jeremy Laing’s wicked combos of textiles, prints, colours and silhouettes. Especially this one.

All images courtesy of Toronto Life.

Izma

Bringing fur innovation to the runway, Izma by Izzy Camilleri and Adrian Mainella combines luxury and warmth. Made from Canadian wild fur, Izma designs are classic pieces with modern versatility. Models wore the luxe furs as black jackets, neutral stoles and as accents on blazers. We loved the sexy, 1920s-inspired styling, including red lips, rich velvet and curly bobs. Clearly, Izma is chicest way to stay warm during the coldest of Canadian winters. 

 All images courtesy of the Toronto Sun.

 

Juma

The brother and sister duo behind the contemporary label brought modern tribal prints to the studio space. Inspired by travels across four continents, this globe-trotting design duo crafted urban-meets-African separates in colours of olive, navy and black. 

 

 All images courtesy of the Toronto Star.

For day two, we unanimously loved Chloe comme Parris and Pink Tartan. Most of us would purchase virtually everything from each collection. 

We especially loved the half sheer/half knit bias cut tunic from CCP and the triple strap backpacks were also killer. 

 

Some more looks we loved from Chloe comme Parris. Images courtesy of Fashion Magazine.

Pink Tartan was top knot central – this hairstyle popped up on nearly half of the models.

Loved the the neutral, military-inspired pieces, especially with the chic hats.

Kimberley Newport-Mimran gave a subtle nod to the ballet trend with softly coloured chiffon skirts with simple oxford-style tops. She also had an amazing music mix for her girls to stomp down the runway to. (You can download a copy here!). 

 All images courtesy of Medium Magazine.

As usual, Joe Fresh was fun, colourful and… fresh. 

A lot of bright pop orange was infused into the collection which will lighten up the dreary days of winter. 

The clean, versatile shift dresses are suitable for so many bodies. 

Joe Fresh proves again that they are the go-to source for basics with a bit of a twist. 

Can’t wait to see what the designers bring us tonight! What are your favourite looks for far? Tweet us @rockitpromo.

LGFW – Let the Games Begin

Today is the first day of LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oréal Paris. Media, buyers and straight-up fashion lovers will gather for tonight’s by-invitation-only shows, Holt Renfrew Presents Can’t Live Without Canadian Fashion, Izma and Juma. Suffice to say, Day 1 is sure to impress.

 

A number of fashion weeks around the world offer interaction with consumers, whether by creating a special ticketed event, splitting the schedule into two parts (ie. industry by day, consumer by night), or planning an entire weekend of consumer activity. LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oréal Paris is unique in that it gives consumers access to the entire week. As far as we know, Toronto Fashion Week is still one of the only fashion weeks around the world to do this. Consumer tickets are still available for some shows.

RUNWAY: 50 to 75 tickets are available per show for consumer purchase.
PRICING: $40 for day shows, $50 for evening shows, and $200 for a day-pass.
STUDIO: Consumer tickets are not available for these shows due to size.

On Friday at 10:30 p.m., for the first time ever, there will be an encore show available to consumers featuring Line Knitwear. Here’s a glimpse at what lies ahead this week:

Tuesday, March 29
1 p.m. Denis Gagnon / RUNWAY
2 p.m. Label / STUDIO
3:30 p.m. SHAN / RUNWAY
5 p.m. Chloe comme Parris / RUNWAY
6 p.m. Korhani Home Rug Runway Show / RUNWAY
7:30 p.m. Pink Tartan / RUNWAY
8:30 p.m. Joe Fresh Style / RUNWAY
9:30 p.m. Bustle / RUNWAY


Wednesday, March 30
2 p.m. Micalla / STUDIO
3:30 p.m. Duy / RUNWAY
5 p.m. Krane Design / STUDIO
6 p.m. Lovas / RUNWAY
7:30 p.m. Comrags / RUNWAY
8:30 p.m. Attitude Jay Manuel / RUNWAY
9:30 p.m. David Dixon / RUNWAY
10 p.m. Disconnect presented by The Fashion Collective / OFFSITE

Thursday, March 31
11:30 a.m. Fashion Group International: Speed NetWORK-IT (By Invitation Only)
2 p.m. Sid Neigum / STUDIO
3:30 p.m. Basch by Brandon / RUNWAY
5 p.m. Heather Lawton / STUDIO
6 p.m. Rudsak / RUNWAY
7:30 p.m. Cydelic by Choryin / STUDIO
8:30 p.m. Lundström Collection / RUNWAY
9:30 p.m. Vawk / RUNWAY


Friday, April 1
2 p.m. Or by Angela Chen / STUDIO
3:30 p.m. Sarah Stevenson / STUDIO
5 p.m. Diepo / STUDIO
5:30 p.m. Strutting It by Jeanne Beker Book Signing
6 p.m. Klaxon Howl / RUNWAY
7:30 p.m. Anu Raina / STUDIO
8:30 p.m. Amanda Lew Kee / RUNWAY
9:30 p.m. Line Knitwear / RUNWAY
10:30 p.m. Encore featuring Line Knitwear / RUNWAY


So pull on your maxi skirt, strap on your wedges and pack your camera in your clutch, because LGFW is here. Tweet us your favourite moments from the week @rockitpromo or tweet @LGFWbyFDCC.

Fashion-able: Our favourite moments from LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oreal Paris

It was a whirlwind week, full of inspiring looks for spring, hectic schedules, interesting presentations at the new Fashion Environment and the split-second hush before the music starts pounding on the catwalk. This was an amazing season at the ever-improving LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oreal Paris.

As the agency of record for the FDCC, we had our hands in blogging, seating, registration, coordinating backstage interviews, calming nerves, bringing bagels and water, and working with some great creative minds. We were everywhere, every day, and had a great time. 

Many thanks go out to the talented designers, the amazing PR teams, both internally and externally, who helped out all week, the FDCC crew, who are incredibly hard-working, the media who help give a voice to our talented designers, and of course, the volunteers. Literally, this week could not have happened without volunteers.

Here are our favourite moments, from the rock-it promotions team:

Debra:
The entire week fuels me with inspiration and energy. I love seeing the massive amounts of people that support LGFW and the fact that the Fashion Design Council of Canada (located in Toronto) produces the second largest Event of its kind in North America. It’s still quite young (only 12 years old, compared to say TIFF, which is 35 years old) and I am really proud that we are part of something that is growing so quickly.

In terms of shows, it’s never easy to pick just one, but I really enjoyed Thomas. I thought they had a really interesting execution to their show in terms of production (music, lighting, etc) and an edgy, but wearable collection. I look forward to seeing more from them. I also really enjoyed Denis Gagnon. He’s brilliant. Period.

TOFW SS 2011: THOMAS from istoica on Vimeo.

Christina:
My favourite moment during any fashion week is the first five seconds before a show begins, when the lights go out and cell phones light up around the fashion environment. The anticipation and energy is fabulous!

During this fashion week, I also had the chance to view the Denis Gagnon show from the Tech booth. It was *amazing* to have a bird’s eye view of the models stomping it out. 

Alana:
My favourite moment was the Pink Tartan show. Not only were the clothes bright, beautiful and summery, but the show was a bit of a family affair, as two of my sisters were there as well. One was backstage helping to dress the models for Pink Tartan and the other was enjoying the show with some co-workers. Fun!

 

Photo courtesy of blogTO

Lisa:
The Dare To Wear Love show – the entire production was fantastic, and it was fun to see Dina Pugliese ham it up on the runway in her Ines di Santo gown and toss her bouquet into the crowd. It was really incredible to see the number of people who came out to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation. What a feel-good way to end the week!

Photo courtesy of Sun Media/QMI Agency

Pssst… if you missed the show, you can still bid on last year’s stunning dresses in support of the SLF.

Rachelle:
The ethereal, barely-blue wedding gowns at Romona Keveza’s show. It made me want to get married again.

Photo courtesy of She Does The City

Abby:

This was my first-ever fashion week, and I thought it was great. The most memorable moment for me was the first show – Holt Renfrew’s opening night. I was dazzled and excited to actually be seeing a show live, rather than on TV or a website. I loved the sneak peek of Pink Tartan, and have been dreaming about the Smythe jackets ever since last Monday night. I am also slightly jealous of the teased, curly hair. It rocks.

Photo courtesy of blogTO

Michelle:
So many good moments to choose from! I loved seeing all my favourite fashion media in one place. And of course, working with Hoax Couture on the Dare To Wear Love closing show was fantastic. This is my second year working on this fundraiser, and it’s so inspiring to work with a charity in the context of LGFW. A great way to close the week – the Stephen Lewis Foundation does important work. Plus, the designs were so fun. 

Photo courtesy of George Pimental

We can’t wait for the next shows (well, after we catch up on some sleep).