TFW S/S12 Day 5: Denis Gagnon- the big finale, Montreal-style (artsy and ridiculous)

When Montreal designer Denis Gagnon marched into the backstage dressing area in a storm of "câlice" and "tabarnac", I felt right at home. Wearing his signature oversized black glasses, he pushed rolling racks and curtains out of the way in a fit of Montreal-style impatience and stress ( think Quebec drivers if you don't get what I mean) all the while scaring the living shiz out of the timid Toronto volunteers. His collection this season showed a lot of edgy pieces, but that comes as no surprise, the man's job is to prove his edginess.

the man and his glasses... 

The collection, entitled Denis in the Garden!, is his take on spring time cuteness and garden parties. Much like his collection last years, Gagnon played with the idea of a man's suit. The pieces were all very masculine - black and white tux pieces, black mesh shirts with white tux-fronts and cuffs, tailored blazers and trousers - but with a feminine flare.

black mesh tux shirt with white pleats and cuffs 

Another idea he worked off of, other then the "tux", was the floral suit. He used a great floral pattern on black fabric for several jacket and pant suits in the collection. The pattern went really well with his "in the garden" theme and gave the audience something new to think about for spring and summer. He was the only one, if I'm not mistaken, to show wallpaper patterns during Toronto Fashion week for next year. The floral trend was huge in New York and Paris, with designers like Miu Miu and Givenchy sending out models in what looked like their gramma's chopped up curtains.

right- floral trousers, left- patchwork suit

the show-stopper-- the floral blazer and trousers

Anyway I love the patterned suit, the mesh man-tux shirt, and the great little white and black oxford shoes. I didn't love, however, the 20 minute artsy and superbly lame intro video. How Montreal do you have to be to start your runway show with a ridiculous video of models running around a forest in slow-motion? Not only was the video never-ending, Gagnon made sure his freaking glasses had at least 10 minutes of screen time... not impressed.

frontal satin pleats - the 'tux' look

TFW S/S12 Day 5: David Dixon- black and white classics with a hint of yellow

The David Dixon show was packed. Canadian fashion people flooded the runway room as soon as security opened the doors. Among them were Fashion Television's Jeanne Beker, and former model and judge on Canada's Next Top Model, Stacey Mckenzie. The collection was feminine to say the least. Dixon showed mostly black and white, but threw in a bit of yellow to give his otherwise monochromatic collection a bit of spring colour. There was a big emphasis on female curves, with form fitted satin pencil skirts in both black and white (all below the knee), and several black evening dresses. Dixon also showed black lace and mesh button-ups (in black and white). The yellow accents came in the form of a sheath dress with plugging back, and below-the-knee laser-cut skirts. The one piece that really stood out to me was a white pencil skirt with black panels. It's a new take on the always popular pencil shirt.

the highly anticipated David Dixon runway show 

yellow accent- form-fitted sheath dress

plugging back

yellow laser-cut skirt  

white mesh top with white satin pencil skirt

black mesh button-up with white satin pencil skirt

black and white dress with black lace overlay

black mesh button-up, white pencil skirt with black side  panels 

TFW S/S12 Day 5: Lauren Bagliore- what a knotty girl

After giggling over the Cydelic by Choryin toothy whaley bag, (previous blog post) I ran over to the runway room and snagged a great spot at the front of the runway and waited for the Lauren Bagliore ( or Lulu B) show to begin. Keep in mind I was a volunteer and um....should have been doing volunteer things....but wasn't. *COUGH*

Anywayyy, the Lauren Bagliore collection was all about long cotton spandex dresses with low backs and exposed knots. She definitely got the maxi skirt and the badass layered looks down. As the models strutted theses black, white, and gray, edgy but laid-back wrap and knot dresses down the catwalk, I couldn't help but think - American Apparel....urgh..

While the monochromatic collection looked great as a whole on the runway I don't think it really did anything spectacular. I personally didn't have any "ohhh amazing!" moments. She did show great metal cuffs that looked kind of like a modern/hardcore version of Wonder Woman's wrist guards. Those were kinda different.. Otherwise, the show consisted of  the usual suspects; black harum pants, black and white wrap pencil dresses, one-shoulder dresses, asymmetrical hemlines, draped cardigans, etc. Urgh she also put out this unfortunate 60's inspire black and white checkered mini wrap dress - something you would have seen on Twiggy. It was short and awkward and it made me cringe.

However, I do want to give her thumbs up for the low back and length on some of the dresses, they looked great on the models and I would definitely consider buying one for myself.

black and white asymmetrical hemline one-shoulder dress with metal cuffs

another one-shoulder dress in black 

pencil wrap dress in black - so AA... 

black harum pants  

more harum pants and draped cardigan in silver 

super unfortunate Twiggy mini dress

white bag dress - front

white bag dress- low back

white wrap dress