World MasterCard Fashion Week

My speed-packing efforts last night, 11 p.m. 

As I sit here, $45 away from frequent roller Prestige status (as deemed by VIA Rail, that is), hurtling along the tracks towards Toronto and the first day of World MasterCard Fashion Week, I contemplate the following:

• My suitcase is zipper-busting jammed. I wonder if my sister has a steamer/iron? Oh please let her have a steamer/iron, otherwise it's Dishevelled Chic for Fall '13.
• I packed 2 pairs of very cute, very high, very open-toe shoes, and apparently a last hurrah winter snowstorm is en route to the city. Bad choice? Fashion over function I say (especially at Fashion Week)
• I have an interview with Joe Mimran due for iVillage.ca, 2 other articles due and no Photoshop on my laptop. Plus, I'm on a ghetto old train car with zero plugs so my battery is slowly but most certainly wasting away. 
• I think I forgot to buy diapers before I left. Nope, I'm sure I forgot to buy diapers. Crap.

It's always a massive amount of work to leave my husband and kids behind for Fashion Week.  Meals pre-cooked, house in order, clothes put out, backpacks packed - not to mention stuffing 3 good outfits into a carry-on with zero room for sartorial error.  Once I get to Toronto, I'll take the subway up to Yonge & Eg to my sister's house, do as much work as I can, then head downtown to the Tents for a night of Fall '13 shows.  On today's schedule, I've got 4 fashion shows (Miz by Izzy Camilleri, Chloe comme Parris, Pink Tartan and Bustle), then a party for Glam Media at The Spoke Club and then Holt Renfrew's Opening Night party on Bloor.  Fun! This is so not my typical Monday. Watch, eat, drink, sleep, dress, repeat. Is there room for a nap in there somewhere??

I'll be in the city until Wednesday night (at which point child-minding tokens run out) soaking up all of the great Canadian talent. Will be sure to report back with pics from the runway and backstage and of course, all the fashion flock rocking their finery at the Tents. Can't wait to get this party started!

xx

World Mastercard Fashion Week Spring '13: Went a Lil' Something Like This...

My fave show of World Mastercard Fashion Week had to be Lucian Matis, likely made so by the fact that I scored a front row seat!

Ever wondered what a model sees at the end of the runway?  Meet "The Pit"

Ever-stylish Style Writer Bianca Teixeira, Nelia Belkova of StyleBlog.ca, and Afiya Francisco of The Style House

A model gets contemplative (about her hair) at the always entertaining Korhani Home

Cutest. Couple. Ever.

So I could give a million excuses about why it's taken me so long to post these pics but I won't (ahem..kids. colds. 'nuff said) Instead, let's just say I had a blast at World Mastercard Fashion Week and am ready for Spring '13, if only so I can wear some of the pieces I saw strutting down the runway at Holt Renfrew, Joe Fresh, Pink Tartan, Mackage, Whitney Linen, Arthur Mendonca, and Lucian Matis, among others.

I died over a trench coat worn with a layered pastel leather vest at Mackage.  I swooned over all the pretty Moroccan tile and croc prints at Lucian Matis (more pics coming) and the top (in-stores-now) picks from Holt Renfrew.  I reveled in the feminine silhouettes and cool metallics at Pink Tartan.  And Joe Fresh?  Let's just say he delivered, as always (see my post on the Joe Fresh Spring '13 show here)

Here are some of my fave pics that (mostly) tell my story of the week:

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World MasterCard Toronto Fashion Week

In Toronto fashion circles, October means only one thing: Spring.  This season marks the city's first Fashion Week since its purchase by NY-based entertainment giant, IMG World, almost certain to put Toronto, and our ever-growing list of talented designers, in the global spotlight.  From Fashion Week veterans to runway debutantes, we've rounded up our top 10 picks of this week's must-see shows at David Pecaut Square in my article this week at iVillage.ca.  

And if you still want to catch the shows live, it's not too late.  Visit For tickets to World Mastercard Fashion Week (Oct 22 - 26), visit worldmastercardfashionweek.com.  See you at the tents! x

ATTITUDE Jay Manuel Spring 2012: Searsiously Decent

Pretending not to notice the camera, waiting for the ATTITUDE Jay Manuel by Sears show to start on Tues. night.  That's me sitting with the editors of Sweetspot.  (Image:  Erin Simkin - Toronto Life)

If you read this blog regularly, you know that I'm the furthest thing from a fashion snob.  Still, when it comes to stepping through the doors of Sears, I've always dragged my heels.  Though it's tough to change people's perceptions (especially fashion people), ATTITUDE is making me reconsider the store.  And, the ATTITUDE show has become one of the most coveted tickets of LG Fashion Week, especially since Jay Manuel took creative control of the brand.

Wednesday's show was packed with modern gypset looks, with tonnes of resort wear in punchy colours and prints, off-set by bold, graphic black & white looks.  The styling, not surprisingly, was what really made the clothes shine.  Yasmin Warsame & co. showed them off to their best potential, too.  But when it comes right down to it, will the clothes really be as great under the harsh fluorescent lights of Sears?  Hoping so... 

Here are some of my fave looks from the show.  I LOVE the white shirt with the pink pants.  Pretty!  What do you think? 

P.S - Check back next week for a full recap of Toronto's LG Fashion Week.  I've got behind-the-curtain pics, the latest fashion crowd favourites and, of course, a fun giveaway.  Happy weekend!  xo

(Images via Toronto Life:  Jenna Marie Wakani) 

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Fashion Week heats up with the shOws

Ashley Bilodeau (Montreal-based super-styliste), and I rock our nerd glasses for a faux Flare cover, courtesy of digital photobooth mavericks Photostar.

Last night, I made my way to Toronto's Ritz-Carlton (ooh la la!) for the shOws.  I was stoked to get the invite since up until this year, I didn't quite make the cut.  I'm not bitter...I just didn't.  Toronto's LG Fashion Week doesn't officially start until next week, but over the past several years, certain designers have chosen to showcase their collections in more intimate settings pre-Fashion-Week.  Thus, Rogue Fashion Week was born.

FASHION Magazine's Fashion Director, Susie Sheffman, in her fun printed frock and steel-toed booties - all the better to kick the competition to the curb with, my dears.

A pretty party-goer, all layered up for fall with florals and leather.  In the background:  tea and coffee.  No champagne?  :( 

Fashionably early to the front row.  xoxSNP, where art thou?

An extra-terrestrial treat from Thomas Tait's S/S 2012 Collection

Digital print mistress, Calla Haynes' collection was breezy and beautiful in cool sorbet shades

James Conran, Joseph Wilson (founder of Photostar) and supermodel Coco Rocha have fun with Photostar

Up last night:  The Spring 2012 collections from Canadian expats Thomas Tait and Calla Haynes, and the World Premiere of Coco Rocha and husband James Conran's documentary, 'Letters to Haiti.'   

For Thomas Tait, the future looks bright.  Formerly (Fall-merly?) known for his moody blacks, Tait's spring collection was clean and ultra-modern with clinical-looking Balenciaga-esque cocoon shapes softened by minty greens and pretty pinks.  Feet were clad with mom-on-drop-off-duty runners, eyes covered in downward-slanting iridescent glasses.  I totally didn't understand the stark white runners (I never will) but loved the expert tailoring and the monochromatic palette - far from boring and far out of my league.

Toronto-born, Paris-based Calla Haynes' collection was a breezy treat.  The collection was full of Calla's signature pretty digital prints, inspired by Parisian spring blossoms, and though one stylist remarked to me after the show that florals are so 'last spring, this fall', are flowers really ever out of style?  I've seen them every spring as far as I can remember but in Calla's hands, the blooms seemed finer, prettier, softer than the others. Her light-as-air fabrics floated over the runway, the pretty pastels like a trip to Hotel Gelato and the bouffant-haired, bright-lipped models were straight out of a '60s St. Tropez Vogue shoot.  They made me feel short and fat, and I'm 5'9".

Coco Rocha's World Premiere of 'Letters to Haiti' rounded out the night.  Documenting Coco and fellow supermodel Behati Prinsloo's post-earthquake trip to Haiti, the short film showcased the plight of the children affected by the devastation.   Props to Coco for helping raise awareness for the continuing need for relief efforts in Haiti.   See the trailer below and find out more about how you can help at LakayPAM.org

Thanks to Brill Communications for helping me go 'rogue' and can't wait more great fun tonight!

xo