Klaxon Howl Blue Collar Chic

What do real men want to wear?  Klaxon Howl is a unique shop in Toronto's Queen West neighborhood known for military-inspired styling and classic workmanship techniques.  Founder Matt Robinson often pulls from vintage design.  The label offers modern workwear made with local fabrics and local Canadian labor.  

Mr. Robinson's Spring 2011 presentation had an updated 1950's vibe.  The male models had a tough, slick look that reminded me of West Side Story.  There were some preppy looks with some attitude thrown in.  The silhouettes seem simple, but the seaming and stitching are quite detailed.  A few sexy women's looks were thrown in...Klaxon Howl's version of the 'boyfriend' shirt.  

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Toronto Fashion Week: Joe Fresh Spring 2011

Next time you cross our Northern border, you can pick out a cocktail dress along with those famous President's Choice cookies at the local grocery store.  It's absolutely true as we penciled down our grocery list to include Joe Fresh collection pieces which were presented at the Exhibition Hall in Toronto for LG Fashion Week.

The Garden of the Finzi Continis movie clip played for the audience before the show.  We were perplexed at first to see early 20th century tennis whites floating on the silver screen when gift bags clearly announced a collaboration with Scouts Canada. However, it came into focus through the show.



Joe Fresh presented a the first group inspired by classic tennis looks.  Next came the collection created with the Scouts as inspiration.  It had a fun and light touch.  More luxe than expected, more Troop Beverly Hills than Utility.  The designer, Joe Mimran, paired up with Canada Scouts adding blue scout kerchiefs to gift bags.   The runway presented options much trendier than you would find at your local Target or Wal-Mart. 
Of course, anything would have looked fantastic on top models like Tiiu Kuik and Arlenis Sosa.   Upscale styling, make up and lighting don’t hurt either. However, the majority of the collection  was really everyday clothing glammed up for the runway. 
There were pretty sleeveless dresses with laser cutouts, detailed blouses with little designer touches, and even jade sequin hot pants. A lime green skinny cardigan was tucked into a flirty skirt, knee grazing military green skirts with scattered ribbon details, along with classic men's summer attire.  Unique details like bright dip dyed accents on shirt sleeves made the ordinary closer to extraordinary.
Men were attired in classic tennis whites with little modern quirky twists. An unexpected shot of color to V-necked sweaters or pants added a bit of modernity to classic men's looks. A Slim fit V-neck in sandy beige got a modern twist with coral red piping details. It was styled with short gym shorts with asymmetrical matching coral red inserts.
The women's blouses were delicious and looked more expensive than its price point.  Nautical blue and white boat neck tops paired over slim cut navy sequin shorts, sheer georgette blouses with epaulet details and prim bows at the neck and shantung satin sandy pants topped with blouses with asymmetrical ruffles on a busy camouflage print. Joe Fresh even had a thigh grazing tank navy sequin dress with tiny Peter Pan collar in white.  
I was quite surprised to find out that a super cute and camp-y fashion collection is sold at an affordable price points at Loblaw’s grocery stores.  My next trip to Canada will involve a trip to Loblaw’s, of course, and a peek at the Joe Fresh spring line.
O Canada, I love thee for making shopping affordable and cool.

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Toronto Fashion Week: Rachel Mara Spring 2011

           

Stripes…Narrow and nautical, rugby wide, retro variegated…They were all represented on Rachel Mara’s runway.  The designer’s Spring 2011 collection showed a range of patterns reminiscent of the 1930’s with a modern twist.  There were the stripes of course, but also demure  and oversized florals.

The Rachel Mara girl had a carefree, rebellious attitude.  The title of the collection was "Stolen", inspired classic Hollywood bank heists.  The various prints were used in transparent blouses or flirty, sexy dresses.   Blouses were breezy and light in silhouette.  They were paired with cropped skim pants or short pencil skirts.  

Accessories included antique brushed gold rope necklaces and cuffs.  Hematite and studs embellished belts.  Vintage-inspired black head pieces accented gangster-moll hairdos.  Soaring platform heels were the updated touch on footwear.  Unfortunately, many of the models did not handle this modern development well...

Rachel Mara already has fans in Sarah Jessica Parker, Halle Berry and Diana Krall.

Photos by Ritika Wahal

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Toronto Fashion Week: LOVAS Wesley Badanjak Spring 2011

The Wesley Badanjak girl is tough.   The women who walked the runway at LG Fashion Week for the LOVAS label don't take BS from anyone.

The collection was a mix of bright pink and pale yellow mixed with cool greys and graphic metallic lightning prints.  The majority of the presentation had upscale sportswear with nicely tailored jackets or dresses that could be worn daytime into night.  There were several frocks that executed a play on ruffles very well.  The majority of the looks were tailored and contemporary, with the exception of a few 'daywear' looks that didn't fit the rest of the collection and looked frumpy.  

The accessories had an emphasis on chains accented with jewels.  Earrings and statement necklaces draped and dangled off the attitude-embodying women.  

Photographed by Ritika Wahal

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