Cougar Pillow Boots & Joe Fresh Suede Boots

One of my favorite parts of fall is to shop for boots.  While cute strappy shoes are pretty in thesummer, the grungy NYC commute and wet rainy streets make open toes adisgusting part of summer.

Two new acquisitions for the season are a shout-out to twoof my favorite accessible Canadian brands. I grew up in Toronto, and while I love Manhattan, I gladly take theopportunity to reconnect with my peeps up North by a good dose ofshopping. 

Cougar Pillow Boots are an iconic fashion item in thehistory of Canadian outerwear.  The branditself came roaring back in recent years mixing their signature craftsmanship andcomfort with newfound fashion relevance. If you saw my tweets during last winter’s blizzard, you can see exactlyhow much I appreciated their black Ringo Star boots during the slushy frigid month. 

The Pillow Boot is one of the most comfortable, cushy bootsI have ever tried on.  I am so used toheels and impractical footwear, that I never realized boots could feel thisway.  While the Pillow Boot is adeviation from my usual girly style, I found it worked perfectly with Joe FreshLeggings, a cozy scarf and edgy All Saints cardigan.  The boots are made in Italy and based onfriends who still hang on to the originals, last a long, long time.  

Joe Fresh is a supermarket clothing chain in my favorite grocerystore, Loblaws.  That alone should haveany fashionista running for the hills. Surprisingly, it has cute, trendy pieces with a very affordable pricepoint.  The brand is putting in a bigeffort to market itself as a serious fashion collection.  It was one of the most sought after invitesat Toronto Fashion Week last fall.  Itopened a pop-up shop on the Main Street of East Hampton, and now opening twoboutiques on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.

My little suede boots here have antiqued gold grommets and ahard-core rubber sole for serious walking. Despite the 3-inch heel, they almost feel like flats.  My Mom liked these because they could besporty, or paired with a very feminine printed silk chiffon CatherineMalandrino skirt and denim jacket.  Theleather rose headband is from another Canadian brand, Le Chateau.

How does a New York Fashion industry vet merge her CanuckEx-Pat roots for autumn? She shows love my marrying labels above and below theborder.

Read more →

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.  

Read more →

Lauren Bagliore's Barbarella Girls

Black, white and grey are the holy trinity of colors for the fashion crowds.That infallible formula was also on the mind of designer Lauren Bagliore for her Spring 2011 collection. The collection appropriately named,The Resurrection: From the Dark to the Light by Lauren Bagliore.

Stunning models in Barbarella-esque updos rocked hard bodies and flashed their flirty black liner winged eyes down the catwalk.

A black asymmetrical suit with Thierry Mugler like wasp waist was highlighted with a side panel of vertical thin nautical stripes adorned one model.  Another stern looking model wore a prim, fitted sleeve Victorian inspired blouse with a multiude of covered buttons and inset of leather down the center.  This was topped over shiny patent leather like dhoti pants. The dreaded dhoti pant seemed to crop up in a few designers collections we saw in Canada. 

Thankfully that trend along with harem pants died a quick death in U.S last year.

 

An intricately constructed black bolero style jacket was topped over a while maillot suit and paired over mid calf high heel boots. It was a sweet and hard look at the same time.

Cowl neck halter dresses in thigh grazing lengths were counterbalanced by a covered up hooded top that the model transformed into a loose turtle neck.  There were flattering options with asymmetrical lengths in skirts and dresses which were draped and pegged, adding drama and interest to basic colors. 

My favorite dress was worn by an elegant blonde model.  It was twisted and asymmetrically hemmed to the waist and paired over killer platform pumps. When she turned around, the back was even more dramatic with undulating folds forming from the fitted back bodice and a short hem. The dress had a lot going on but, somehow, it worked.

Lauren added a couple of pale taupe print dresses at the end of the presentation which added softness to the collection and options for her customers.

The designer ended the presentation and came in one of her dresses looking entirely lovely and elegant even next to her towering blond model.

There was something very Manhattan about the collection. Of course, we discovered later that this talented designer was once a New Yorker and attended the Fashion Institute of Technology.

Read more →

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.

Read more →

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

Read more →

Toronto Fashion Week: Kingdom by Evan Bidell Spring 2011

Medieval and romantic pieces, punctuated with studded leather pieces provided excitement to a highly memorable collection. Evan Bidell's Spring 2011 collection was a standout among all the fashion weeks this season. This collection had the hallmarks of great design associated with the early rise of stars like Galliano and McQueen.

Evan is only 27 but poised after this collection to be an international star. He is a reality TV star from Project Runway Canada's 2007 season. Evan Bidell's presentation was aspirational and inspirational to true design lovers.  Evan displayed pieces from his Spring 2011 collection and presented it on mannequins along with a screening of his full collection. 

Evan is the l'infant terrible of Canada's fashion scene. He is the brightest but less commercially successful. His clothes are like no other and command the spotlight rather than let it glide by.  Take a look at his work - if you can find it. It's stunning in person and more so when we discovered that he creates most of his collection on his own Juki industrial sewing machine.  Thankfully, he has found a supporter in Ken Albright from Seven Continents.  Mr. Albright believes in Evan and showcased the Spring 2011 collection earlier this month to a select group of editors and buyers.

The collection had a unique point of view with deft channeling of Dior's New Look silhouettes.  The dresses were pegged and draped with indispensable pockets.  Silvery maillots with plunging necklines studded to down there! 

One odd outfit  looked like it had been snatched from Grace Jones circa 1979. It was  a leopard print hooded bathing suit belted with a long cape. This was a miss along with a floral dhoti pant outfit  in a collection of standout pieces.

Evan concentrated on belting waists, accentuating shoulders and necklines with studs.  Even floral print dresses cut the saccharine level down by added studs, draping and pegging details. He added flowing floor length coats with rolled origami like collars. 

The Spring 2011 collection was aptly named  "Kingdom"  and Evan told us that  he was trying to make this collection more than 'one time wear dressing'.  I am not sure if he succeeded. The pieces are strong and create an impression but I am willing to wear the floral studded dresses every day - vacuuming, attending black tie events, anything! I would also make sure  no one, even Ms. FAB founder, Mariana, can borrow these.

Reported and photographed by Ritika Wahal.

Read more →

Toronto Fashion Week: Baby Steinberg Salvage

There is plenty of trashy fashion out there.  How often have you seen very chic fashion made of trash?  Baby Steinberg presented one of my favorite shows during LG Fashion Week with an inventive collection from salvaged materials. 

There were dresses made from pleated coffee filters, braided garbage bags and crocheted cell phone chargers.  Found keys jingled with knitted VHS film.  Discarded take-out bags made a dramatic outfit with feathers and seeds.  Window screen puffed out into a dramatic cocktail dress.  

Baby Steinberg is not a mass-market designer.  She made her reputation creating one-of-a-kind garments for performers and socialites.  She also creates jewelry

A concept like this usually looks like a gimmicky art project.  What made the difference in making this look like a sophisticated runway was the treatment of the materials.  The coffee filters were pleated into delicate shapes to mimic organza flowers popularized by designers like Monique Lhuillier.  The garbage bags were twisted and crocheted into contouring forms like a metallic yarn.  

Photos by Ritika Wahal

Read more →

Toronto Fashion Week: Jessica Jensen with Alexander Berardi

Was it deja vu?  I had already seen Alexander Berardi's presentation for Spring 2011 during New York Fashion Week last month.  What was I supposed to see at Heritage Court in Toronto?  This runway show showed a tight, highly edited collection focusing on the collaboration between Canadian handbag designer Jessica Jensen with the designer of NYC.  

The clothing had a nautical-inspired palette of cream, navy and beige.  Fabrics included Swiss dots and dainty prints.  There were a few pieces with a fountain-like embroidery.  The silhouettes were ladylike, but understated.  

The handbags included over sized carryalls, embellished envelope clutches and large hobos.  The main theme of the purses was woven texture.  The leathers or fabrics were woven, or other trims woven into the body of the bag as embellishment.  

Shoe heels were perilously high for most of the daywear looks.  However, the very last look was a glittering gold sequin gown that was at odds with the rest of the collection.  Inexplicably, the shoes for that dress were flat sandals...

Photographed by Ritika Wahal

Read more →

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

Read more →

Toronto Fashion Week: Pink Tartan Spring 2011

1980’s Hollywood was the theme of Pink Tartan’s presentation at LG Fashion week yesterday.  This Canadian label (now headquartered in NYC) already has fans in Sex and the City's Kim Catrall and Kate Hudson.  Designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran showed lots of neon pink, royal blue and orange for a new wave color palette.  

Blonde models channeled Brigitte Nielsen were draped in one-shoulder striped dresses.  A geometric print that was a twist on Ikat patterns made its way into jumpsuits, pants and jackets.  I wish I could say it was used well, but often, it just looked garish.  Leopard print also made its way into the collection with more success.    The best looks were the tailored shirts paired with slim pants.

Oversized sunglasses reminded you of the Valley Girls of the decade.  The collection paid tribute to 80’s Gucci with a variation on the horse bit belt.  Neon versions of barbershop quartet hats were paired with many of the outfits.  Bandanas a la Poison’s Bret Michaels completed the headwear accessory options.

The models of the show stepped onto large light boxes as they finished their runway walk.  I’m not sure if it was the instability of the box itself or the height of the shoes, but no less than four models tripped and stumbled getting on or off the stand.

Photographed by Ritika Wahal

Read more →

Toronto Alternative Fashion Week April 21-25

What's this? A fashion week where the focus is on the art and less about the front row celebrities and commerce. The Alternative Fashion Week in Toronto is a multi-arts showcase of independent creators, performers and designers. It celebrates clothing not as merchandise as much as an artform. The guest list seems to include more curators than editors, and artists of different mediums collaborate for a collective presentation. Toronto is one of my favorite cities in the world and I love seeing such a positive event that supports the indie designer.
Check the blog that features a lot of the clothing sketches and stories leading up to the runway.

Read more →