TFW S/S13 – UNTTLD
SLEEK SOPHISTICATION BY WAY OF MONTRÉAL Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Michael Ho With a clean colour palette (black and white dominated, punctuated by olive green and brilliant bronze foil looks) and minimalism as their guide, UNTTLD‘s designers, José Manuel St-Jacques and Simon Bélanger, imbued a sense of mystery and flair...
TFW S/S13 – Soïa & Kyo
WELL-TAILORED WAYS TO TAKE COVER NEXT SEASON Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by George Pimentel A common refrain heard after the Soïa & Kyo show was that it was a shame the brand didn’t produce clothing as well as outerwear; it’s true, the styling of the show – fresh, light and youthful...
TFW S/S13 – Rachel Sin
TRENDS THRIVE IN AN UNFUSSY COLLECTION Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Runway photos by Raymond Chow (Canada Wears) Backstage beauty photo by Odessa Paloma Parker Rachel Sin creates clothing for those not interested in the avant garde, exaggerated or outré. Known for her wearable, wardrobe-building pieces, Sin – a former architect – knows how...
TFW S/S13 – Travis Taddeo
BARELY THERE SPORTSWEAR MAKES A STATEMENT Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Jason Hargrove Toronto isn’t necessarily known for its sexy or provocative style; so it’s no surprise it took Montreal’s Travis Taddeo to bring some serious skin to the runway. With bold garments featuring cut outs and sheer fabric exposing most...
TFW S/S13 – Mélissa Nepton
SHEER CHIC REIGNED ON THIS RUNWAY Story by Rebecca Poynton-Murray Photos by Paul Tanaka Montréal designer Mélissa Nepton showcased her sleek and accessible chic last week at Toronto Fashion Week S/S13. Nepton’s designs relied on cleverly constructed sheer paneling giving them a ‘made to fit’ look, whether on her all-in-one playsuits, trouser suits...
TFW S/S13 – Arthur Mendonça
UNDERSTATED CHIC CELEBRATED IN A VARIETY OF LOOKS Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by George Pimentel One of the most hotly anticipated shows of the week, Arthur Mendonça‘s brand of capital-G glamour was on full display as he sent a parade of glossy haired mavens down the runway. With belts being one...
TFW S/S13 – Lucian Matis
MAGNIFICENT MOSAICS & RICH REDS DOMINATE AN ELEGANT COLLECTION Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Jenna Marie Wakani In past collections, Lucian Matis has relied on major embellishments and ornate detailing to bring his opulent designs to life. For Spring/Summer 2013, he presented a collection that instead drew from the strength of...
TFW S/S13 – Mikhael Kale
DESIGNER GOES INTO THE BEAUTIFUL BLUE Story by Karen Welcome Photos by Marvan Kwan Mikhael Kale‘s Spring/Summer 2013 collection, Seeing Blue, is a sight for sore eyes. The designer held his presentation at the Corkin Gallery in the distillery district. Models with tousled updos served as the night’s objets d’art, complete with Nike...
TFW S/S13 – Matis by Lucian Matis
MATIS TAKES HIS AUDIENCE ON A EUROPEAN GETAWAY Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Jenna Marie Wakani Lucian Matis, best known for his eponymous luxury line, showcased his diffusion collection (Matis by Lucian Matis) to an eager audience this week. How would the maestro of all things sensual and sophisticated synthesize his...
TFW S/S13 – Evan Biddell
DESIGNER’S BREAK FROM THE CATWALK YIELDS A MIXTURE OF OLD & NEW IDEAS Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos provided by Alejandro Collados-Núñez When creative types take a step back from the spotlight, it’s often in order to rejuvenate their creativity. In the case of Evan Biddell, his usual high-impact pieces and playful...
TFW S/S13 – Mackage
LUST-WORTHY LEATHER GETS A BOOST FROM JUICY HUES PAIRED WITH NEUTRALS Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by George Pimentel Supermodel star power aside (Irina Lazareanu opened and closed the show), Mackage‘s Spring/Summer 2013 collection had enough standout pieces to have achieved stellar heights based on the garments alone. The Montréal-based luxury brand...
TFW S/S13 – Cara Cheung
SEXY SILHOUETTES MEET UNIQUE TEXTILES IN THE ULTIMATE CLUB MIX Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks A “modern day Amazon queen” was the starting inspiration point for Cara Cheung, who presented a short n’ tight assortment of dresses and separates last week at the Burroughes Building. “My idea of glamour...
TFW S/S13 – Klaxon Howl
SUITING IS BROUGHT INTO THE LINE’S VINTAGE-INSPIRED MIX Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks It could be said (based on much of the fashion industry’s penchant for the avant-garde) that guys who don’t want to wear drop crotch trousers, heavy florals and obscure knits have nothing much to wear. Designer Matt...
TFW S/S13 – Sid Neigum
FOCUS SHIFTS TO WOMENSWEAR WITH THIS COLLECTION Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks Sid Neigum has had a pretty great year. Winner of the TFI New Labels competition last spring, the designer has worked hard to solidify his point of view with much success. Breaking on to the scene with his...
TFW S/S13 – Label
DESIGN DUO TWISTS THEIR WAY THROUGH ANOTHER SUCCESSFUL SEASON Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks Drawing on their renown for creating garments that exude city dweller chic, Label designers Shawna Robinson and Natalie Sydoruk once again brought sustainable fabrication and sporty silhouettes to the runway with a cohesive collection that...
TFW S/S13 – Chloé Comme Parris
HISTORY, SURF & SAND BLEND TOGETHER IN THIS BEAUTIFULLY BREEZY COLLECTION Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks Fresh from being featured on the GenArt runway in New York a few weeks ago, the Gordon sisters were finally able to showcase their entire 34 piece Spring/Summer line to an audience during...
TFW S/S13 – Laura Siegel
CACTI SERVES AS INSPIRATION FOR A BLEND OF FOLKLORE & FASHION Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks Laura Siegel continues to make her mark in the fashion world as a designer who is lead more by her influences and ethics than the day-to-day desires of her customers. That’s not to...
TFW S/S13 – BLAK.I
SIMPLE, STYLISH COLLECTION USHERS IN OUR “UNOFFICIAL” FASHION WEEK Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos provided by BLAK.I There seems to be a trend in Toronto-based fashion. Emerging lines are forgoing creating avant-garde, overwrought designs in favour of dressing our citizens in clean silhouettes and easy-to-wear fabrics. BLAK.I, who showed at the TFI...
TFW S/S13 – Philip Sparks
FOR HIS NEW COLLECTION THE DESIGNER ASKS, “WHAT’S YOUR COLOUR?” Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos provided by Philip Sparks Choosing to showcase his new accessories collection in his adorable Ossington Avenue shop rather than give a full-fledged fashion show presentation, Philip Sparks called upon fans and fashion insiders to get an up...
Fashion Art Toronto – Day 1
FAT 2012 KICKS OFF WITH AN EXPLORATION OF LANDSCAPES Story by Rebecca Poynton-Murray Photo by Jason Hargrove Almost a month after watching subdued autumnal clothes make their way down Toronto fashion week’s runway, “alternative” fashion week Fashion Art Toronto (FAT) painted a bold and colorful visage down the catwalk on Tuesday evening. Now...
TFW F/W12 – Joe Fresh
THE MEGA BRAND SWINGS OUT WITH AN ODE TO THE ’60S Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Erin Seaman Flowing from a sea of yellows and chartreuse to reds, blues, greens and finally graphic black-and-white, Joe Fresh riffed off iconic retro references like the cult film Blow-Up and mod styles like pea...
TFW F/W12 – RAD by Rad Hourani
UTILITARIAN UTOPIA AT THE FINAL SHOW OF WMCFW Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks Fashion fans were in a tizzy for the final event of the week as Rad Hourani closed the shows at David Pecaut Square with his signature streamlined fare. Working with a colour combination of greens and black,...
TFW F/W12 – Rudsak
RUDSAK RETURNS TO TORONTO WITH ALL THINGS FUR AND FEATHERS Story by Rebecca Poynton-Murray Photos by Mark Binks Rudsak’s runway looks at WorldMasterCard Fashion Week consisted of lots of duck down and fur – simple, but what else do you need in below freezing weather? To mix it up, designer Evik Asatoorian used...
TFW F/W12 – Laura Siegel
LAYERING IS KEY FOR THESE LAIDBACK LOOKS Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Jason Hargrove Under a cloud of cotton candy updos, Laura Siegel’s mix of rugged knits and delicate, draped prints stood out for their elaborate styling as much as their tender back stories. Working with artisans like the Khatri family...
TFW F/W12 – Chloé Comme Parris
THE GORDON SISTERS TELL A BEAUTIFULLY DARK TALE Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Jason Hargrove With the drone of the Velvet Underground’s “Venus In Furs” in the background, the Chloé Comme Parris show began with a slew of sullen girls slinking past in romantic, gothic garb. Floral and Arts and Crafts-inspired...
TFW F/W12 – Sid Neigum
OUTERWEAR IS DRAWN INTO THE FINELY-MADE FOLD Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Jason Hargrove New York-based Sid Neigum was in great form again for Fall, incorporating light beige pieces into his usual lineup of dark knits and outerwear. Intricate draping illustrates his innate sense of the architectural side of fashion design,...
TFW F/W12 – Travis Taddeo
CLEAN, CONTEMPORARY GARMENTS FOR UNCERTAIN TIMES Story by Odessa Paloma Parker Photos by Mark Binks After launching his line in 2008, Travis Taddeo was ready to reveal his latest women’s collection to an eager audience. The laid-back lines and soft colours of his S/S12 collection gave way to an urban feast of red-hot...
