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 

Toronto Fashion Week Day 5 - Travis Taddeo and Arthur Mendonca

On the final day of Toronto Fashion Week (not the actual final day...there were still the secrete ShOws - yes, it's spelt like that.) there were two collections that really stood out. The first was the super fun and edgy designs by fellow Montrealer Travis Taddeo. The other, a sexy lady 60s line by Ryerson alumni Arthur Mendonca.

Travis Taddeo's F/W 2012 collection, entitled Doomed Generation, was the epitome of edgy, badass, and freaking radness. I think I've called like 55 lines badass so far...and for that I apologize because when compared to Taddeo's line, no one gets near his badassiness. The line featured a lot of leather pieces and fur trim (poor baby animals...). The colours - fiery reds, ash greys, black, and white (hint of metallic silver) - really spelled out the rawness and dooms-day idea of the end-of-the-world theme. The first few pieces that came down the studio runway were super badass-chic, simple but sexy. There was a lot of black leather mixed with mesh and black fur. Can you say sexalicious? I can. I think I even said it out loud at the show..(oops. There goes my coolness. Out the window). The red leather biker jacket and pencil skirt combo really did it for me. It was bold and shiny and the orange fur trim took it to the next level. Taddeo also showed a lot of metallic silver and white for f/w on white and silver leather panelled pants and metallic skirts. Taddeo did a great job of creating a line that any 20-something fashionista would die to have in her closet. The collection was super wearable. It was as if Taddeo did it backwards (cause he's that cool) and came up with a line of streetstyle-for-runway. Fashionistas first, models and industry second. Loves it. 

Maxi dress with cut-out
photo: Elayne

leather-trimmed cargo jacket with black mesh top and leather pants
photo: Elayne

 Fur-trimmed leather biker jackets

photo: Elayne

White mesh top with metallic silver panelled pants
photo: Elayne

Red biker jacket with orange fur trim (poor baby animals :(...)
photo: Elayne

The lovely Travis Taddeo donned his own dooms day leather panelled cargo jacket at the end of the show. Lookin' like a badass. I like!

Designer Travis Taddeo in leather panelled cargo jacket
photo: Elayne

The Arthur Mendonca fall/winter 2012 collection also took to the runway on the final day of Fashion Week. With a line inspired by the 1960s housewife and Stanley Kubrick’s A Clockwork Orange, Mendonca showed highly tailored garments pumped with sexy appeal and bright colours. The show opened with a shiny fuchsia patent leather rain jacket, which was highly feminine in colour but rather masculine in tailoring. The collection consisted of several menswear-inspired looks in a variety of pinks and neutrals. Mendonca paid homage to Clockwork Orange by sending models down the runway in bowler hats and double-breasted trench coats. The designer also managed to channel the film’s sex appeal with bondage-like dresses with leather bodices, latex gloves, and lace stockings. The 1960s housewife aspect of the line came through in the form of a fuchsia paisley print sheath dress, white silk pleated A-line dress, knee-length pencil dresses, and a wool draped dress in sea blue that was shown with a matching sea blue fur sash. In contrast with the edgier black and brown leather garments, Mendonca made sure to incorporated several bright colours into his fall/winter line such as an array of bright lace overlays in sea blue, purple, pink, and yellow and a few vibrant blouses in neon and metallic baby blue. This line could transform any career woman in to the office goddess. Do it ladies! Throw those pinstripe pantsuits away and power suit it up with Arthur Mondonca!

Dominatrix Barbie anyone?
photo: Dress to Kill

photo: Dress to Kill

Bondage gown
photo: Elayne

  

Leather bodice pencil dress with fur circle scarf and bowler hat
photo: Elayne

Pink power suit with double-breasted buttons and bowler hat
photo: Dress to Kill

Sea blue wrap dress and fur sash - and the photo pit. (hey guys!)
photo: Elayne

Coloured lace overlay
photo: Elayne

Toronto Fashion Week F/W 2012 Day 2 - Chloe Comme Parris (iwantsiwantsiwants!!)

Sisters Chloe and Parris Gordon showed an amazing collection this season during the Chloe Comme Parris runway show on March 13, Day 2 of Fashion Week. The collection was all about mixing girly floral wallpaper prints in muted colours with grunge looks in khaki, grey, and black. Everything that came down the runway was gorgeous and made me want to run back stage after the show and steal every single piece of it. The floral wallpaper print chiffon maxi dress, skirt, and blouse, in muted and subtle colours like blues and earth tones were absolutely gorgeous and no doubt the best pieces of the collection.

Full house at the Chloe Comme Parris show
photo: Elayne

Photo: Dress To Kill magazine

Photo: Elayne

Photo: Dress To Kill magazine

  

Photo: Elayne

These prints were paired with knit sweaters and oversized jackets adorned with distressed metal studs and exposed zippers. There was also a lot of leather on the runway in the form of leather trims, and stud embellished leather tops in khaki and black. The designers also showed a number of accessories such as big fur shrugs and gorgeous distressed jewelry designed by Parris Gordon. The balance between the feminine flowy dresses and the edgy jackets and leather pieces can only be describe as 'Beautiful Badass' - the name of the Chloe Comme Parris f/w 2012 collection. The girls really hit the nail on the head with that title.

Photo: Elayne

Photo: Dress To Kill magazine

Photo: Dress To Kill magazine

Photo: Dress To Kill magazine

Overall my favourite look (I'm definitely not the only one who liked it -- it's graced the pages of almost every review of the CCP runway show this month) is the floral dress paired with a gorgeous orange-tone fur shrug and Parris Gordon's distressed metal brace cuffs.

Photo: Elayne

Photo: Elayne

Versace for H&M - fit for cougars

Yesterday H&M stores all over the world opened their doors to crazed fashion fanatics who'd lined up friday afternoon to get a piece of the new Versace for H&M collection. At 8 a.m. on Saturday morning the hordes moved in and stripped the racks to the bone. By 12:30 p.m. there was nothing left.

H&M on St. Catherine street in Montreal
montrealgazette.com

H&M on Regent street in London
guardian.co.uk

The highly anticipated Versace collection is made up of the Italian fashion house's signature pieces of the 80s and 90s with a modern twist. Equipped with the classics - gold medusa head, the Greco Roman pattern in embossed gold studs, and loud colourful patterns - the 43-piece collection is Versace's attempt to attract an entirely new generation. The old staples are mixed in with some of the new spring/summer 2012 ideas such as bright neon colours, animal prints, leather and studs, and wallpaper print (unfortunately they decided to go with a Miami Beach print rather than something that would keep you from vomiting like a floral or baroque). 

Versace- busy patterns
fashiondevelopmentgroup.com

Miami Beach print in neon- a la wallpaper
torontostreetfashion.com

leather shift dress with gold studs
flare.com

leather, studs, and Miami Beach
torontostreetfashion.com

Versace brights
torontostreetfashion.com

The key pieces of the collection are shift dresses in black leather, or bright colours like yellow, pink, and red, all of which were studded-out in gold. While the collection's objective is to attract the younger generation of fashionistas, most of whom missed out on Versace's hay day in the early 90s due to the fact they had yet to be born, the loudness and tackiness of the over- the-top gold ornaments leaves the collection looking old. When I look at the collection I don't see a new generation of Versace fans, I see 50 + year-old Italian woman with bleached blond hair, botox, lip injections, etc, who want to feel young again (*COUGH* DONATELLA VERSACE).

Donatella Versace the queen cougar
dailymail.co.uk

the cougar belt
torontostreetfashion.com

In my opinion the only good Versace is vintage Versace. That is all. If Versace wants to survive it needs to evolve and drop it's tacky Italian cougar dresses and gold bling and do something new and young. You can do it Donatella! Think of the children!

To view the full collection in all its jungle-fever-cougar-bling glory visit: http://www.hm.com/ca/versace#home