Day 4: Show of the week
The L’Oreal Fashion Week audience experienced a quintessentially Canadian fashion moment on Wednesday night when designer David Dixon gathered them around a camp fire, wrapped them in Hudson’s Bay blankets and showed his fall collection under a trickle of rain to the sound of a gospel choir singing “kumbaya”. It took place in the Liberty Grand courtyard and the sight of coiffed editors and platform heeled buyers lit by the crackling fire pit brought a sense of chic Canuck modesty to the hoopla happy week.
The clothes mimicked the modest mood with their quietly luxurious fabrics and smart, geometric shapes. Navy Wildhaggen cloches and cozy, Olena Zylak knit arm warmers styled tweed coats and wide legged pants splattered with clear, square pailettes. Rectangular wood buttons fastened jackets and black and white glen plaid dresses were embroidered with graphic, chiffon flower appliqués.
The night started off with Montreal entries Rudsak and Andy The-Anh offering up their take on Quebecois chic. The-Anh knows how to build up his audience and his epic movie-style opening credits flowed into rock out bell sleeved blouses and hooded dresses that mashed Little Red Riding Hood with Grace Jones.
The cascade of pine boughs on the backdrop of the Comrags runway hinted at the granola glam collection designers Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish were ready to send out. Coats in heavy, hairy wool, gold knit dresses and a brown, turquoise and lime abstracted plaid twisted outdoorsy references into a refined, intellectual collection.
David Dixon available at: the St. Regis Room at The Bay , 176 Yonge, 416-861-6251.
Comrags available at: Comrags, 654 Queen West, 416-360-7249.
Rudsak available at: Rudsak, 315 Queen West, 416-595-9611
Andy The-Anh available at: Studio Labiri, 548 Danforth, 416-778-6820
On today: Glam looks from Izzy Camilleri and Joeffer Caoc along with Ukula’s group show featuring Common Cloth, Namoda and Marcus Tripp.
