Toronto Fashion Week - Fall runway trend report F/W 2013

Can't remember all the great fall trends from the Toronto Fashion Week F/W 2013 runways? Have no fear! I have them all noted down for you in the Fall Trend report I wrote for the National Post last season.

After the fashion packed week of Toronto's World MasterCard Fashion Week, after all the runway reviews, makeup reviews, hair reviews, designer profiles, trend profile, bla bla bla, no sleep no sleep, I was asked to put it all together to create this ULTIMATE FALL TREND LOW DOWN!

Here are the trends!

(check out the full article on the National Post website.)

Winter Whites

Furs

Dark Lips

Biker Jackets

Floral Patterns

Leather Panelling

Capes and Burgundy

Photos: National Post

Fall Fashion Flashbacks - Mackage, VAWK and Caitlin Power F/W 2013 shows at Toronto Fashion Week

Guess what tomorrow is everyone!
It's October, which means fall fashion is here! YAY! Layering! Fall colours! Fall fabrics, patterns and actual clothing! Yes, yes, yesssss, don't get me wrong, I love the summer and its trends. I even wrote a fun summer trend report a few months back for the Post. You can check it out here! It's all about the crazy music festival attire we all love to flaunt around in during the hot days of summer.
Actually, it's a good read for right now. Think of it as a checklist of the things you should be putting away to make room for all the fall loveliness! Bye crochet denim mini shorts... see you next festival season :(

Coachella
Photo: National Post

I love the heat and the tans and the shorts and sun dresses, and the lazy relaxation of it all but lets be honest... summer fashion is fine, fun and okay. Fall fashion, however is EXCITING AND WILD AND GIVES YOU SO MUCH MORE TO WORK WITH! (Can you sense my excitement?...I'll try to tone it down not to offend my booty-short and side-boob loving readers. I feel you guys. Don't worry.)

Here are a few articles I wrote on the Mackage, Vawk, and Caitlin Power F/W 2013 shows for the National Post. Flashbacks, if you will, of the trends of last season's Toronto Fashion Week runways to get everyone as excited as I am for all the wonderfulness that is fall fashion.

Fall Flashback: Mackage F/W 2013 (full article)

Designers Elisa Dahan and Eran Elfassy took full advantage of the animal kingdom with a fur-and-leather heavy, street style-inspired line. The biker grunge collection went beyond the usual fur-trimmings we've been seeing so far on the F/W 2013 runways of Toronto Fashion Week.

Photo: National Post

Fall Flashback: VAWK F/W 2013 (full article)

Be it through fur trims and details, leather accents, feathered accessories, or animal graphic sweaters, designer Sonny Fong's collection played tribute to the nature of the north.

Photo: Elayne 

Photo: Elayne

Fall Flashback: Caitlin Power F/W 2013 (full article)

Designer Caitlin Power's muse of fall 2013 was the professional Parisian of the future. the sexy silhouette and high-gloss patent leather detailing in metallic silver, navy, bronze and burgundy makes you feel as though you've time-travelled to Paris and it's the year 2025.

Photos: Elayne
National Post 

How to wear - Sparkle for the holidays

The smell of Christmas is in the air! Coffee shop and clothing stores are blasting the Christmas classics, lights and wreaths are going up around the city, and even the CN Tower's got its red and green on! Everything is so happy and festive and shiny and lovely! With all the sparkle and shine of all-things Christmas, I just had to put together a holiday must-have list.

If you're planning to attend glamourous parties this holiday you better get ready to out shine that Christmas tree... (literally) as  this season's biggest trend is sequin. There's the sequin dress for the bold, and the sequin blazer and mini skirt for those who are interested in dressing the sparkle down for everyday wear.

Day Birger et Mikkelsen sequin dress in creme
net-a-porter.com

Black sequin blazer
nastygal.com

Sequin blazer in brown
nastygal.com

Haute Hippie sequin mini skirt
hautehippiestore.com

gold sequin mini
zara.com

Now, let me just say one thing before we go any further. There are a lot of things in the sequin category and a lot of them are heinous. Stores like Limité, Le Chateau, and Ardene have been showing sequins since the dawn of time. They have no idea what they are doing. So, if you find yourself being drawn to the glittery storefront like a moth to a flame, snap out of it and run the other way because you will be burnt. badly. by people like me. 

Also, there is a difference between sequins and glitter. Somehow people are unaware of this (*rolls eyes*). Sequins are beads (3D). Glitter is flat and looks like grains of sparkly salt. 

There are rules to wearing sequins so please follow them. It hurts to see people make a fool of themselves in tacky sparkly dresses. One can't help but stare...

the three styles to wear this season:

1. the dress (long or short sheath, shift, one-shoulder)

2. the skirt (mini)

3. the jacket (blazer, tux)

three best colours: black, gold, cream

others: red, silver, blue (be careful though...)

The RULES: 

1 - Remember what dresses are actually IN STYLE before blindly purchasing one. This season is about shifts and long form-fitting sheaths. One-shoulder dresses and cut-out dresses are also popular but I don' know how long they'll be in style. One-shouldered clothing so in and out of style almost every season. If you can find one, tailed dresses are NEXT LEVEL. The only one I managed to find was on Nastygal sometime in October. It's gone now ... and I'm  a little depressed.

Vince gold shift sequin dress
net-a-porter.com

River Island maxi sheath in gold
asos.com

Black sequin sheath
net-a-porter.com

Full length sequin dress in black
boutique1.com

TRNC sequin dress
asos.com

2. If you are not the fittest of people, please do not wear a sequin dress. I have nothing against natural bodies (they are beautiful and natural and should stay that way. Being skinny is getting old anyway) it is just that sequin dresses are more often than not super tight, clingy, and bulky. If you are not lean, the dress will only clingy to your core flaws and ride up your bum. Also, the bulkiness of the millions of little disk-shaped beads makes anyone look a size bigger then they actually are. Not exactly flattering.

3. Sequin shoes make me want to kill myself. Flats especially. Aldo and Steve Madden are showing sequin detailed heels that are beyond tacky. You're not 6-years-old anymore, and you're most definitely not Dorothy from the Wizard of Oz so please leave the fish scale-esque footwear to those who are. With that said, I do love Jeffrey Campbell... so I do have a soft-spot for his sequin booties. BUT THOSE ARE MY ONLY EXCEPTION. Keep in mind the difference between sequins and glitter. Glitter heels are acceptable.  

Jeffrey Campbell Lana boots in silver sequin
solestruck.com

4. If you're going for the sequin jacket do not buy a cropped one. They are hideous. Also, be smart and get yourself a black one in a tux cut. The androgynous suit jackets are really important, not only this season but for spring as well.

Zara sequin blazer in black
zara.com

Asos sequin sleeved blazer
asos.com

5. If you have  to pair something with your sequin item of clothing make it something black. The eye-catching sparkle is stand-outish enough. Do not blind people by decking yourself out in a head-to-toe sequins ensemble. Thanks

Release the hounds - Houndstooth for F/W 2011

Houndstooth is this winter’s biggest pattern. The oversized check, which was big in the 70s and can probably still be found in the back of your grandmother’s closet, has made a major come back. The classic pattern had been seen on the Fall 2011 runways of Stella McCartney, Alexander McQueen, Moschino, and more. The best pieces to buy in houndstooth are shift dresses, pencil skirts, cropped blazers, peacoats, and trousers - both flared and straight legged. Oh, and it’s perfect for this winter’s super trendy mod look. I recently bought a houndstooth shift dress from H&M and I love it. I went in today to inquire about the Versace for H&M collection (in Toronto stores November 19th) and noticed that almost all the houndstooth pieces were gone. There was only one dress left and it was in a size 14... So get it before it gone people! These puppies are in high demand.

Asos cropped trousers
asos.com

Ralph Lauren houndstooth blazer
stylebop.com 

Lady Gaga in Salvatore Ferragamo dress with matching hat,
glasses, nails, clutch, stocking, and pumps
hollywoodlife.com

Stella McCartney
vogue.co.uk

Alexander McQueen
vogue.co.uk

Toronto Fashion Week S/S 2012 - Trend report

Now that I've had a chance to look back on what the big designers showed at fashion week, I managed to come up with somewhat of a must-have list for Spring/Summer 2012. I know it's November and it may hurt your heart to think of the wonderfulness of warmth, sun, and summer vacation, but bare with me. When spring comes back, you'll be ready!

Clothing:

1. Satin bottoms. Especially cropped cigarette pants and below-the-knee pencil skirts. The main colours are red, orange (anything warm and bright) and black and white of course.

Pink Tartan- red satin cigarette pants
torontolife.com

zara cigarette trousers in red
zara.com

David Dixon- white satin pencil skirt
photo by me

2. Leather. Neon leather cropped trousers are amazing. If you can find them BUY THEM! Leather pencil skirts or mini skirts are also super important

The Row- Black leather pants
net-a-porter.com

Joe Fresh - neon green leather pants
torontolife.com

Chloe leather pencil skirt
net-a-porter.com

3. Mesh/ chiffon blouse. Whether its button-up, long-sleeved, sleeveless, or military-inspired, mesh or chiffon tops are still going strong. It's a good idea to have one in black (it goes with everything), but white, tan, and red are also pretty great.

Elizabeth and James - chiffon blouse in taupe
net-a-porter.com

Pink Tartan- red mesh button-up blouse
torontosun.com

Maje- silk and chiffon blouse in white
net-a-porter.com

Alexander Wang- black mesh blouse, super sheer
vogue.com

4. Mod dress. If you don't know what a mod dress is... go look it up because if that's the case, I've lost all faith in humanity. (urghh... a shift dress that ends above the knee. sleeveless, three quarter, or long sleeves)

Sandro- white shift dress
net-a-porter.com

Zara - yellow mod dress
zara.com

DKNY- red sleeveless shift dress
net-a-porter.com

H&M- black sequin shift
hm.com

Hair:

1. Long hair,  natural-coloured. The middle part is still going strong

Pink Tartan
torontolife.com

2. Messy low pony tail

photo: poshbeauty.com

Makeup:

1. Clean face - (obviously...) I mean match your skin tone and keep it clean looking. Example: if your white, keep it white. Don't go crazy with bronzer. Cake-faces are not fun.

2. Red lips

3. Black eyeliner - minimal super 40's style eye make-up. Black eyeliner on top lid, none on bottom and black mascara.

natural face, 40s eyes, red lips
ellecanada.com

Shoes:

1. Black wedges. Super important. If you don't have a pair GO SHOPPING NOW! Wedges with ankle straps are great but so are wedged booties. I suggest getting one of each (oh baby!)

Steve Madden- black wedge bootie
stevemadden.com

Theyskens' Theory- Black leather wedges with white panel and ankle strap
net-a-porter.com