I attended the Bijouxbead Holiday 2009 Interactive Pop Up Show Community Reception to get a look at the collection of necklaces influenced by Canadian Designers
David Dixon
The show will kick off with a unique interactive display of eight one of a kind necklaces, all of which happen to be eight stranded, designed to pay homage to eight Canadian Fashion Designers.
Evan Biddell
Paul Hardy
Each piece was a thrill to design; I studied these designer’s spring summer 2010 collections at great length, that were shown at Toronto’s LG Fashion Week. I came up with colour, texture and scale for these pieces based on my interpretation of the clothing in their collections that were most notable to me.
Vawk
Andy The Anh
Unlike my previous collections, this collection is exclusively glass, crystal and sterling -a big departure for me. All together, I incorporated over thirteen thousand six hundred pieces of glass and two thousand four hundred pieces of crystal into these eight necklaces.
Amie
Brandon Dwyer
Also, for the first time in Bijouxbead history, I will be introducing crystal and sterling earrings. Over thirty colours will be represented.
There was a necklace dedicated to Jason Meyers, but it was sold before I arrived.
December 1 – 14
The Atelier of The Fair Trade Jewellery Company
523 Parliament St., Toronto
647-430-8741
Hours
Mon-Tue by appointment only
Wed-Fri 12:30pm-8:00pm
Sat-Sun 11:30am-6:00pm
There are times when I can’t find the words to talk about a topic. It can be a fashion show, event, etc. I end up sitting on the post until it comes to me and that is why this final LG Fashion Week show review on Dare to Wear Love is so late.
The Dare to Wear Love show, full of beautiful fashion, dance and music inspired by Africa. The multi-faceted collaboration is the largest public dare of the SLF’s new fundraising initiative A Dare to Remember. Recently launched, the nationwide initiative challenges Canadians to take on dares of all kinds to raise awareness and funds for the grassroots organizations in Africa that are on the frontlines of the AIDS pandemic.
More than 25 top designers, including Lida Baday, Brian Bailey, Brose, Pam Chorley, Wayne Clark, Comrags, David Dixon, Evan Biddell, Farley Chatto, Greta Constantine, Izzy Camilleri, Linda Lundström, Lucian Matis, Ross Mayer, Jason Meyers, Price Roman, Mercy, Thomas Chung, Ines de Santos, Peach Berserk, Pat McDonagh, Reva Mivasagar and Ula Zukowska, have committed to Hoax Couture’s dare to create luxe gowns made of rich, eye-catching fabrics sourced from African communities who work with the SLF. Each designer will be asked to have their own family, friends and supporters sponsor this dare with the goal of raising $50,000 for the SLF. Jim Searle and Chris Tyrell of Hoax Couture will also personally ask the fashion community to get involved by making a donation to this cause at http://www.daretowearlove.com.
This was one of my highlights of the week. I was really excited to see what our Canadian designers would create using super colourful African prints. I walked in to find that I was placed in the front row, yay. When I got in the runway room I saw that I was sitting next to Jeanne Beker. I was a little nervous to say the least but it was all for nothing as Jeanne wasn’t attended. I sat besides David Livingstone from The Star. I crudely introduced myself and told him I was a fan of his work. Totally lame I know, I didn’t know what to say. I will say this of David, he has the best “get the hell out of a show fast” technique I’ve ever seen. He gets full kudos for that from me.
The show started with some words from the Hoax Couture boys and Stephen Lewis followed by a choir. The show started after that. It was one of those designer celeb combos that are so popular at fashion week here. There were a few models that totally hammed it up on the runway which was hilarious. I particularly liked Jully Black and Jessi Cruichshank turns down the runway. Natasha Rose had the most graceful walk as she flawlessly danced down the runway, it was quite beautiful.
25 designers presented their garments and many were true to their style, for example David Dixon, Greta Constantine, Mercy and Evan Biddell. Some designers pushed the boundaries like Izzy Camilleri, Pam Chorley and Comrags (pictured below).
I’m bias in my favourite dress because I’m a huge fan of Rose, the model. She looked amazing in Ross Mayer’s creation. I loved the head piece and colours.
We were treated to a drum performance at half time. They had colourful outfits on too.
All the looks featured will be auctioned off at a later date and the proceeds will goto the Stephen Lewis Foundation. In the meantime you can donate to the cause on the Date to Wear Love website.
After the David Dixon Spring 2010 collection was Barbie by David Dixon. I’m gonna be honest, Barbie and I don’t get along. I don’t have the same connection to here that many people had. She awakened no particular love of fashion in me. I didn’t go in thinking that I would walk out a fan. I was right.
I liked the first set of black and white looks and the sequined stuff. But overall it was too pink and too many polka dots. The pocket details didn’t grab me either. It was very accessible and lots of people loved it. It’s just not my style. David used coated tyvek, cotton, wool, organza, jacquard, bengaline, silk, taffeta and chiffon fabrics in the collection. The colour palette was black, white, grey, and pink of various shares. The men’s looks threw me for a loop. I liked the first look and thought the model was really beautiful. So out of the two collection I like the signature one more. It was directional and interesting to me.
Prior to both David Dixon shows there was a little press conference for the launch of the new articulating limb Barbie. I find them kinda weird and like Barbie more with stiff limbs. To celebrate the new freedom the doll has a new dance called The Barbie was created and we had a demo. It music, Barbie Girl by Aqua. I hate that song and wasn’t a fan of the dance either to be honest. I did like the full sized Barbie displays though.
I think David Dixon was talking to me through his collection on Tuesday. First he opened the show with a bald headed black girl and his accessories screamed India to me. The models wore stacked silver bangles from Rita Tessolin (oh Rita, I must email you about these). They reminded me of my trip to India. Ever since then Ive been obsessed with covering my forearms with bangles.
He was influenced by the Hanging Gardens of Babylon. It’s similar to the Taj Mahal in the fact that it was built for love. King Nebuchadnessar II constructed the gardens in order to cheer up his sick wife. She was from a green and mountainous region of Persia. The Gardens were built to resemble a mountain and contained lot of green foliage and flowers. David always has great line sheets. Not only does he include the fabrics there is space for notes for each look. He also has a page that talks about inspiration. I learned that he sourced fabrics from India (see, he’s talking to me), Spain, France and Scotland. He translated the theme through colours you would see in nature; architectural details and shapes referencing orchids and tulips.
The first few reminded me of two looks using half circle details from Valentino’s last collection. David’s execution was different than Christoper Kane’s Spring 09 collection but I couldn’t get that out of my mind. David’s version is much more accessible.
Dresses were the majority of the collection with and a few gowns thrown in. Slim cut pants and cropped jackets covered that were close to the body or loose and flowing. Many of the skirt silhouettes were tulip shaped. Draping was a technique used in dresses, skirts and tops. Rippled chiffon on tulle were shaped to resemble flowers which were used on skirts and dresses. White tulle dresses had black appliqued shaped like flowers. He used a variety of fabrics: chiffon, pique, silk faille, crepe de chine, jacquard, organza, linen, satin and tulle.
The colour scheme was yellow, blue and green. Base colours There was a tiny surprise of a dress, a top and a skirt using aluminum plated fabric that really were a sight to see in motion. They are statement making and I want a piece of it. The above photo give me chills, the bangles are stunning and striking against the blue and aluminum. I loved the three hand beaded satin finale pieces especially the skirt and white top combo.
The garments are perfect in execution. I’ve always been impressed with how well David Dixon is constructed every season. I always get a kick out of the runway music too. Keeping with the theme he used middle eastern inspired music.
I’m really excited about the Dare to Wear Love show on October 23th at LG Fashion Week. It’s one of my highlights.
Do you dare? For the first time ever, Hoax Couture and the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) are partnering with the Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) to produce a fashion-forward, cause-driven and meaningful closing night show with Canada’s top designers at LG Fashion Week beauty by L’Oréal Paris. The goal is to leverage the power of the Canadian fashion and entertainment communities to raise awareness and funds for the SLF as it works to support communities that are affected by the AIDS pandemic in Africa.
Starting at 9 p.m. on Friday, October 23, a star-studded audience will experience the Dare to Wear Love show, full of beautiful fashion, dance and music inspired by Africa. The multi-faceted collaboration is the largest public dare of the SLF’s new fundraising initiative A Dare to Remember. Recently launched, the nationwide initiative challenges Canadians to take on dares of all kinds to raise awareness and funds for the grassroots organizations in Africa that are on the frontlines of the AIDS pandemic.
“The fashion and entertainment communities in Canada will provide a unique voice for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s new initiative with the Dare to Wear Love show,” said Jim Searle of Hoax Couture. “This show integrates high fashion and a truly important cause, and with the designers using gorgeous African fabric to create the garments, it promises to be a captivating evening.”
More than 25 top designers, including Lida Baday, Brian Bailey, Brose, Pam Chorley, Wayne Clark, Comrags, David Dixon, Evan Biddell, Farley Chatto, Greta Constantine, Izzy Camilleri, Linda Lundström, Lucian Matis, Ross Mayer, Jason Meyers, Price Roman, and many more, have committed to Hoax Couture’s dare to create luxe gowns made of rich, eye-catching fabrics sourced from African communities who work with the SLF. Each designer will be asked to have their own family, friends and supporters sponsor this dare with the goal of raising $50,000 for the SLF. Jim Searle and Chris Tyrell of Hoax Couture will also personally ask the fashion community to get involved by making a donation to this cause at http://www.daretowearlove.com .
I was send a digital package that contained some images of the prints that the designers will be using.
It also included some sketches from 4 of the 25 designers. I can’t wait to see these in person and what the others come up with.
Dare to Wear Love Ines Di Santo sketch
Dare to Wear Love Hoax Couture sketch
Dare to Wear Love Comrags Sketch
The creations that the designers present will be auctioned off at a later time. The money will be donated to the Stephen Lewis Foundation.
I received and email about which included a little preview of the Fall 2009 collection from David Dixon for Town Shoes. I’m not a fringe fan, but I have to say these are two decent fringe boots. The short boot is my favourite of the two.
I stopped by Town Shoes on Saturday to say hi to Philip Sparks, who was making a personal appearance along with David Dixon. They were both hawking their current shoe lines both of which are available now at Town Shoes.
