For everyone who thinks fashion people would rather shoot each other cut-eye across a catwalk than follow a national election, rest assured that last night’s federal vote figured during the evening’s round of Montreal Fashion Week shows. This is politically passionate Quebec after all.
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In the middle of a thank you speech following his finale presentation, Andy Thê-Anh announced the Conservative minority win and the runway room at the Marché Bonsecours filled with a loud sigh. Thê-Anh himself might be credited for some of that frustration since the speech followed an epically long parade of collection standards including balloon sleeved blouses and pin-tight pants. An opening group of black pieces pinned with oversized brooches and a closing trio of sheer, rose coloured dresses freshened things up a bit.
There was also talk of Laureen Harper, who chose to wear Joeffer Caoc for a horribly awkward on stage snuggle from her re-elected husband during his PM acceptance speech.
But it was another Toronto designer on everyone’s mind in Montreal: Lucian Matis showed a capsule version of the disco goddess looks he’ll be parading next Friday at Toronto’s fashion week.
Asymmetrically draped cocktail dresses and a gorgeous, pixilated floral print helped Matis’s push to pare down his looks though a blouse collar encrusted with pearl studs and a wind machine at the end of the runway maintained a cheeky level of camp.
The day also included jeans and t-shirts by Balbec, macramé knits and bicycle-tight walking shorts by Dinh Ba and a bounty of blue from Muse’s Christian Chenail.
Off the runway, Montreal’s biggest hit this season is its showroom space. Two floors of the Marché are filled with designer racks and 200 buyers from around the world have been flown in to connect with labels like Anastasia Lomonova, Denis Gagnon and Tavan & Mitto. Toronto’s fashion week boss Robin Kay was there to take it all in and, hopefully, snag the concept for our city.
Montreal Fashion Week continues until Thursday. Follow the shows here.
