You want to know how to get in my good books for a fashion show? Use I wanna be Adored by The Stone Roses in your runway music. It’s one of my favourite tracks ever. It was stellar when this track kicked in during IZMA’s Fall Winter 2010 collection. I was singing along and tapping my foot in the front row. You also put David in the show. Dreamy.
One of my favourite pieces. Long Cardigan with Shawl Collar in red and grey fox. I love the pattern created
I never expected to say fur and beautiful in the same sentence. I’m usually pretty ambivalent about fur. I find most of it awful on purely aesthetic terms. Izzy Camilleri and Adrian Mainella presented a beautiful fur collection. The construction of the garments was spectacular. All fur in the collection is sourced from NAFA Origin assured, sustainable wild Canadian furs. It’s a selection of coyote, raccoon, muskrat, red fox, grey fox, beaver and silver fox.
The underpinnings were sheer and leather. The trousers leather were to die for. They did a great job of complementing the fur pieces without becoming the focal point. It was all about the fur and it was front and centre. It’s spreading from the outerwear and accessories domain into ready to wear. IZMA outerwear including capes, trench coats, bomber jackets and ponchos. In addition to that were fur tunics, pullovers, cardigans and skirts. It was a visual pleasure. The coyote pieces looked light and inviting. The finale three IZMA Atelier looks were such a treat. Opulent and beautiful. I was kinda speechless.
I have a preference for the lighter side of the collection. There were some show pieces that I thought were a bit much. I didn’t understand the football pad looking piece made from black and red fox (look 25) that came out on one of the models. The bags were too bulky for my tastes, but I don’t really understand fur bags to begin with.
Overall, it was worth giving up my Sunday evening. My mind hasn’t changed about fur in general. I still find majority of it aesthetically displeasing. It’s nice to see that IZMA is changing that.
The Audi dealership would host Kirk and Stephen once more as they presented the Greta and Erza Constantine Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 collections. The boys seem to have great sponsors with Audi, Stolichnaya, Glaceau smartwater, ALDO, and Ame.
There were no Rado wristbands when checking in this time instead I presented with a plexiglass rectangle engraved with the words “Greta Constantine” and a gold sticker with my seating assignment. It was a great touch and a nice little keepsake after the show.
Paul Baik, my amazing Photographer was with me to catch-all the action. We went backstage to an unusually prepared team, it seemed they were waiting on the audience. I was in awe, where was the craziness and drama? It was none to find, only models milling around eating (yes, eating), talking and taking photos.
It was a night of the urban, doomed heroes and the dark, noir dames. The collections are both urban and modern but completely divergent. Erza is your prototypical urban dweller, covered in layers of fashion forward garments. The Erza man is casual but never unstylish. The men’s collection styling was heavily influenced by the military and soldiers. The makeup inferred a recent battle or the calm before the final push. There were multiple wars references from the civil war to WW2. I dare say there was a “suicide bomber” reference too but that could have just been my gut reaction to the hooded man wearing a black vest with multiple pockets stomping up the runway. The collection was really strong and everything seemed to fit. I normally can find some things to nitpick about, but not this time. I was most impressed with the outerwear, lots of great coats for men for Fall Winter 2010 – 2011.
The Greta Constantine woman asserted herself on Friday and made sure everyone was paying attention. The Greta girl had looks for the office, a night on the town and the fundraising gala. It was a cohesive collection of that seemed to distill the core Greta girl look ported to different fabrics. This included jerseys dresses in poly, wool and sequined jersey. Office Greta was a the series of Wool jersey pieces which provided enough structure to look boardroom ready and enough drape to be Greta Constantine. I would love to spruce up my office attire with a few of these beauties. You had your classic jersey Greta party dresses that everyone loves and craves. There was the added twist of shimmer thanks to the sequins. They looked beautiful on the runway in motion. Finally, it was party girl Greta with leather panel boot leggings paired with goat hair and fur vests. All I have to say is that I need those leather boot leggings, HOT!
Both collections presented a new maturity from Kirk and Stephen. I know it’s been said a lot but maturity is really the best word to describe it. They are really coming into stride with in finding out who Greta and Erza are? I know I’m a little bias in my love for Greta but I really believe this was the best collection I’ve seen from them to date. The Greta Constantine collection looked like money in the bank walking down that runway. There were so many wearable and beautiful pieces. I wanted it all. Erza Constantine impressed me a lot, even more so than Greta. It didn’t look like Erza’s second time around the block at all.
You can see the slideshow of the complete show and backstage photos.
Of course another great thing about a Greta and Erza Constantine show is seeing old friends and new all dressed up. I’m in way too many of these photos so please forgive me.
Let’s give you my Greta and Erza Constantine outfit breakdown: Erdem Dress, H&M tights, Dries Van Noten boots, Vintage Rattan-ish clutch
I was in a foul mood when I arrived at the Courthouse to see Breeyn McCarney Fall Winter 2010 collection. I want – I got had been down for most of the day and I wanted to get home and fix it. Everything else was irrelevant at that point.
Hard Boiled Wonderland was the name of the Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 collection. Haruki Murakami is what comes to mind when I think Hard Boiled Wonderland. I don’t think the ultra feminine style presented on the Breeyn runway had much to do with surrealist, cyberpunk literature.
Breeyn had a mixture of knits, wool plaid, distressed cotton, mohair, bamboo and leather. She utilized rabbit fur, beads, leather and pearls as embellishments. The result was a cute collection of party dresses and sweaters. Lots of feminine details like bodices and corset like It was a cohesive collection for the most part. The final dress was out of place. It would have worked if it was the same colour palette as the rest of the collection. The jersey cable print dress doesn’t fit either, but it was my favourite piece of the collection. I was glad to see the focus there.
So Breeyn’s collection put me in a good mood. I was a well executed show and I didn’t hate the clothing. When I got home it wasn’t long before I had the site up and running again.
Didn’t get a chance to attend Philip Sparks’ Fall Winter 2010 – 2011 show? Well they have produced a great runway video of the show that includes close ups of the outfits.
I’m an unabashed Philip Sparks fan so it’s pretty hard for him not to please me. I love the Philip Sparks sailor and what great models to represent him. The presentation format was excellent. I like the half runway half installation idea and it was a nice change up. The attention to detail is always excellent and the Burroughes Building once again served as a fantastic backdrop.
I was so happy to see my favourite model David C from Elmer. The last time I saw him I was at Elmer Olsen’s Christmas party. David was going to Europe for the men’s collections. I told him I hoped to see him on my computer screen. I nearly spewed coffee over my monitor when he turned up in the Alexander McQueen fall 2010 collection. Holy Shit, David walked McQueen. I later found out that David also walked for Emporio Armani. He showed me a picture of him and Giorgio Armani on his blackberry. It was so adorable.
I spent some time hanging out at the Greta Constantine studio before the Spring 2010 show. I also snapped some images of the behind the scenes actions.
Philip Sparks was the unofficial start to what I’m calling Toronto Extended Fashion Week. TEFW for short. The venue was in the usual haunts of the Burroughs Building. This season they used the bigger section of the 6th floor. They also had a great setup for the lounge area, complete with cheese plates and a DJ.
I had a preview of the collection when I got to sit in on the Lookbook photoshoot. The collection included some pieces that I hadn’t seen which was a great surprise. The inspiration this season was cottage life and 1950s Canadian Pacific Railways gatewya ads. The collection featured fabrics like seersucker, cotton voile and ramie. Philip worked with textile designer Kerry Croghan to create his Gone Fishing print. It’s inspired from Thor Hansen fabrics and Canadian souvenir imagaery. These prints were used in shirts and ties.
I love the fact that Philip doesn’t shy away from his Canadian roots. He embraces them fully and I really appreciate that love for our history and culture. I’m a born and raised Richmond Hill suburb child and my love of Canadiana is ingrained. It’s wonderful to see this translated into clothing.
Philips show was very nautical. Waders (famously worn by Agyness Dyne), stripes and trenches we major staples. Typical Sparks basics, like button up shirts and henleys, complemented the staple pieces. The hooded windbreaker brought back memories to any person that were old enough to remember the 80s vividly. I’m totally bias but Philip can do no wrong in my book. I love his vision of a Philip Sparks man. He is relaxed about his appearance but appreciates the sartorial touches. The models in Philip’s show were really hot. I felt terrible for drooling as some of them are way too young.
My favourite pieces included the new Philip Sparks handbags. The hardware is all brass and handmade by Mennonites. I also love everything with the print that was designed by Kerry Croghan.
Overall it was a very well produced show with great models and clothing. The runway room looked fabulous and it was very roomy. Everyone got a good look at the collection. It was the best way to start Extended Fashion Week. Next up is Greta Constantine.
See the complete collection in the Philip Sparks Spring 2010 slideshow.
