Let’s talk turkey.
If there was a theme that brought together Wednesday’s shows under the World MasterCard Fashion Week tent it was that: money-making collections.
But the artistic spirit we spied on the catwalk a day earlier wasn’t abandoned entirely to cater to the more commercial side of the market. Not at all, in fact.
It started in the Studio with Matis, designer Lucian Matis’ more accessible line. The label is represented by a trio of showrooms and the fall collection is carried in 52 stores across Canada and the U.S. To achieve that kind of distribution, Matis focuses more on prints and simple shapes (hummingbird florals and cocktail dresses with cross over collars stood out for spring) than the maximal embellishments and over-the-top dressmaking techniques that stand out in the main Lucian Matis collection.
That label was shown two hours later on the main runway and it was interesting to see the lower priced line’s print focus influence it in the form of beautiful mosaic tile motifs. Traditionally, inspiration travels in the opposite, high-to-low direction.
In between those two shows was Whitney Linen. The brand’s bread and butter are easy pieces cut from their signature fabric but, to stand out on the runway, they amped up the drama with wrap-style maxi dresses and a full-length bathrobe closer with a cummerbund style sash.
Whether Mackage will sell many pairs of the leather shorts that were the staple of its 8 pm show is questionable but ombre perfecto jackets, nylon anoraks and trenches with contrasting black piping are sure to be big shopper draws.
Maybe not as big as the shoe lineup in the Joe Fresh presentation though. Accessorizing pop art inspired clothing pieces like mod dresses and space race silver windbreakers were chunky geometric heels and white pumps with mesh and metallic accents.
On today’s schedule: It’s an early night with Arthur Mendonca closing the catwalk at 8 pm. Earlier, watch for Triarchy, Rachel Sin and Soia & Kyo.
