Toronto Fashion Week

What: Toronto Fashion Week
When: Oct.22 to Oct. 27
Where: Nathan Phillips Square 100 Queen St. W.
Must sees: Joe Fresh, the Loblaws line by Joe Mimran and the finale of Canada Project Runway – a competition between 12 Canadian fashion designers. The twelve talented designers are competing for a top prize. Which one of the finalist will measure up? From left to right: Carlie Wong, Lincoln Cheung, Marie Genevieve, Michael Hatley and Evan Biddell.Big Shows: Tevrow+Chase, Comrags, Joeffer Caoc, Andy The-Anh, David Dixon and Pink Tartan
Hot newcomers: Bustle, Ginch Gonch, Zoran Dobric, Nada and Damzels

Bustle: was one of my favorite shows yesterday. Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow presented a sexy, cheeky and sharply tailored sportswear collection. Each season, the label uses a sportif theme, for this season the inspiration was sailing. The label used styles and fabrics to express the theme. A mix of patterns – stripes, floral and sea prints – light-weighted fabrics together with sailor-inspired coats, men’s stripped skinny pants, stripped suits, double-breasted vests, mini shorts, all grown into a chic and well tailored collection. I just loved it.

Ginch Gonch – the Vancouver designer brought to the runway an entertaining show with amazing dancing performers, beautiful models and a daring collection all wrapped up in a “jungle fever” theme. The theme had inspired a provocative and colourful line with stories such as erect eagle, monkey business, tickling tiger and panther play. The label also brought to the runway the homosexual discussion with open touch lingerie and same sex couples flirting. My favorite line was the native-inspired totem collection in the black, white, teal and red colours. I personally was expecting a bit more from the collection itself, it is cute and daring but not spectacular.
Zoran Dobric – was inspired by a retro futuristic look with a French twist. The palette used was mainly black, white and gray with some pieces in cobalt blue and metallic accessories. Dobric’s runway show had '40s inspired silhouettes with linen balloon skirts, pleating tops, and abstract patterns. My favorite piece was a PURPLE retro-inspired dress with Art Deco printed motifs. I thought the collection was a bit dark and somber for a Spring Summer launch and it lacked inspiration and freshness. Based on his great Fall 07/08 collection and on his highly developed skills – he was educated at the Instituto Marangoni in Italy, I was expecting way more than what I have seen.Nada Shepherd Nathalie Atkinson promoted a fresh and inspiring show yesterday. The former neurobiology student proved that her fashion aesthetics can combine brain cerebella with amazing style in a great collection. Using the '40s –mostly the pretty and feminine style - as inspiration, she brought to the runway a wearable and sexy collection for a “real women with real body”. The spring collection brings yellow patent- linen fabric combination as trench coats, Italian lames used in cropped jackets and dresses, brocade skirts, sexy white linen jumpers and beaded embroidered dresses. Great show.

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