Showing posts with label Pencil Skirt. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Pencil Skirt. Show all posts

4.05.2012

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




4.02.2012

Toronto Fashion Week Day 4 - David Dixon and the bird ladies

Unfortunately, on Day 4 of TFW, I had a crazy busy day at school and missed all but one show. After class I biked home (like a wild person), showered, did my hair, figured out a last minute outfit, and ran out the door. I made it to the tent five minutes before the David Dixon show started. On my way in I was stylestreet snapped by Sweetspot. Here's what I wore.

Vera Moda blouse, vintage brown leather belt, H&M pleated skirt, H&M suede and neon shoes
photo: Bruno Wong of Sweetspot.ca

The David Dixon runway show was super entertaining. The show, entitled "The Birds", opened with a montage from Alfred Hitchcock's 1960s horror film of the same name. David Dixon's feathered feminine collection was very much 60s inspired. The collection consisted of elegant, form-fitting silhouettes in the shape of knee-length pencil skirts in black and white houndstooth, black petal chiffon, black feathers, and black sequins. There was also a lot of peplum action, mostly shown on white silk pencil dresses. Dixon also did the boxy 60s jacket in white wool over cigarette pants and pencil skirts. Since the show was called Birds, it did include a number of feathered garments. Dixon used a lot of dark feathers this season (much like our haute couture friend Lucian Matis) on long evening gowns, skirts, jackets, cocktail dresses and even showed a full feathered coat. There was also a hint of shiny teal (maybe even turquoise) in the collection to channel the shine effect of bird feathers. Ever actually looked at black feather closely? Well, normally there's hints of green or blue-green somewhere in there. Clever, David, clever.

Hint: feathers are good for F/W2012. Just saying.

Houndstooth pencil skirt
photo: Elayne

Feather pencil skirt with silk peplum top
photo: Elayne

Feather evening gown
photo: Elayne

Black evening gown with teal accent
photo: Elayne

Black sequin and feather skirt
photo: Elayne

White wool cape with houndstooth cigarette pants
photo: Elayne
Boxy 60s jacket in white wool
photo: Elayne

Black petal chiffon skirt
photo: Elayne
 White silk dress with peplum waist
photo: Elayne


Feather coat
photo: Elayne

Feather pencil skirt
photo: Elayne

11.10.2011

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


11.05.2011

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