Fashion

Photography by Aragondina

See all the best looks from Western Canada Fashion Week Fall 2013 »

View by collection: Angélique Chmielewski |Bano eeMee |Kaadiki Femme | Luxx by Derek Jagodzinsky | Malorie Urbanovitch | Nicole Campre | Stanley Carroll

Western Canada Fashion Week (WCFW) wrapped its 16^th season for Fall 2013 last week at Edmonton’s TransAlta Arts Barns and we can’t help but feel it’s the dawning of a new era. Since 2011, when the Mercedes Benz Start Up (MBSU) program began sweeping the country for the next promising design star, the fashion scene out west has taken a turn for the torrid, competitive even, inspiring looks worthy of national spotlight and quality clothing to write home about.

Top picks this season include Malorie Urbanovitch, a MBSU finalist at World MasterCard Fashion Week last October, who hosted the very first off-site show in the history of WCFW, at the StartUp Edmonton Headquarters in the Mercer Building in Edmonton’s trendy Warehouse District.

Urbanovitch treated the who’s who of the local fashion industry to a transcendental experience: before a dimly lit room, an ethereal fashion film shot at dawn in frostbitten Edmonton lay the groundwork for her Fall 2013 presentation (and made us so very proud to be living here). Full knitwear ensembles in creamy whites, charcoal greys, rusts and teals came floating down the runway alongside drop waists, soft pleats, classic silk slip dresses and lightly quilted jackets. The newest additions to her ready-to-wear label—a collection of accessories—include knee-high socks and a rumoured collection of handbags (are you paying attention yet?).

Back at the TransAlta Arts Barns, Nicole Campre, also a former MBSU finalist, blossomed from fashion underdog to full-on contender as she presented her Fall 2013 collection with a finely tuned grace well beyond her years. The 23-year old chose regal gold, rich maroon, and an array of neutral monochromatic fabrics in long dresses, coats, and skirts. The almost Asian-inspired collection felt fresh and modern with seamlessly integrated faux leather paneling, subtle slits, sheer blouses and pointed collars, while a few chunky knits wrapped around the waist were fit for the cool working girl.

Ironically, the buzz worthy newcomer of WCFW this season has been designing clothing for nine years—but strictly in the men’s department. A kind of Johnny-come-lately, then, who’s arrival we couldn’t be more excited about, Calgary’s Haithem Elkadiki launched his first full womenswear collection for Spring 2013, KaaDiki Femme, in Edmonton this season. Thankfully, the collection stayed true to its roots. Like a freshly pressed men’s shirt, separates were sporty, starchy and tailored, the colour-blocked skirts sewn to perfection. Lacoste sprung to mind, but the clear plastic vests added a futuristic twist. The collection itself, coined “Neon Safari”, was brilliantly contradictory. The best part? We get to start wearing it right away.

WCFW couldn’t have ended on a higher note. Edmonton native Angélique Chmielewski returned from New York to present an absolutely stunning Fall 2013 collection. Likely the most wearable of all the collections this season, Chmielewski took us back to boarding school (or ‘90s Clueless?) with over-the-knee socks, and tartan skirts and jackets. There were loose, peplum-like dresses with bell sleeves in the same pattern. Bold and beautiful jackets reminiscent of Burberry and a camel coat akin to Jil Sander’s outwear last Fall felt nothing short of luxurious. While baby blue skirts hitting just below the knee suggested an element of understated sophistication, cute flared skirts added a sense of youthful possibility—the very essence of fashion in Alberta.

WCFW Honourable Mentions: relaxed trousers and 3D colour-blocked tops by Stanley Carroll; long vests at LUXX by Derek Jagodzinsky; leather bowties and tailcoats with zipper detailing at Bano eeMee.

Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani

See the Lucian Matis Fall 2013 collection »

Fashion is in Lucian Matis’s blood. His mother owned a fashion company in his native Romania, where he worked from a young age. “You didn’t even know fashion designers back home in Romania,” he once said. “You didn’t have this ‘job’.” But here in Canada, Matis has embraced the role whole-heartedly in a modest, but business savvy way. There was the appearance on Project Runway Canada, the diffusion line, Matis by Lucian Matis (which showed at the tents), and he’s alluded to further brand extensions. Friday night, however, brought a wide variety of fans, media and starlets for an extremely organized showing of the Lucian Matis Fall 2013 collection off-site at 1 King West.

To start, he sent a black full-length ball gown floating down the winding runway, the skirt over-laden with broken glass from bottles supplied by show sponsor Bailey’s. The chandelier-like embellishment jingled as it brushed past your feet, lulling the audience to attention like prayer bells in a church. Last year an ordering snafu jeopardized Matis’s tropical Spring 2013 collection, so you can’t blame him for producing a “Monochromatic Fantasy” for fall. The colours in black, grey and ivory were paired with hits of fur, felt, wool, and silk. In a post-show release Matis said this season he chose to focus on the simplicity of the silhouette: “I could emphasize the shape of the garments from an architectural methodology with boxy geometric shapes.” Sleek floor length ivory skirts paired with matching turtlenecks, an attractive ruffle-butterfly top, pantsuits in Banker grey, and leather raglan dress-sleeve combinations made for an understated and exceedingly pretty fantasy, indeed.

Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani

See the Pavoni Fall 2013 collection photos »

Judging by the parade of glittery mini dresses and glam floor-sweeping gowns at Pavoni’s Fall 2013 fashion show, it’s little wonder that A-listers like Katy Perry and Mariah Carey have fallen head over heels for this Montreal-based label’s red carpet-worthy eveningwear. This season,

Designer Mike Derderian and co-founder Gianni Falcone were inspired by the Golden Age—think gilded embroideries, laser-cut lace and clouds of tulle and taffeta. Peek-a-boo sheer panels added a sexy flash of skin to luxe column gowns, while boudoir-inspired nudes gave a provocative wink when paired with black. Here, dramatic silhouettes and second skin body-con dresses reign supreme but it’s the beautiful embellishment that leaves a lasting impression. Studs on lace; beaded fringe and ruffled peplums—sure, there’s a whiff of Marchesa woven in but Pavoni’s superior craftsmanship sparkles all on its own.

See the last batch of street style from Toronto Fashion Week »

The finish line of World MasterCard Fashion Week Fall 2013 may officially be tonight but our street style photos stop here (sad face). To finish it off, our photographer Stefania Yarhi worked her magic (as per usual) to bring us some stellar shots of graphics, bold patterns and even a 90210 star!

Yesterday, florals were all the rage but today’s all about leopard print. The print was seen on oversized bags, logo-sweatshirts, added layers and the trend was rounded out with a literal tiger face on Andrea Beechey’s clutch. Me-ow.

Playing around with a different pattern was Elayne Teixeira-Millar, who layered black and white stripes under a graphic T-shirt with a Kendrick Lamar reference and another attendee wore striped disco pants while taking a seriously large step. Graphics were also prominent on that redheaded model Elise Gatschene, who was spotted in a truly amazing Budweiser sweater (that we really wish we owned it) and another gal with perfect eyeliner’s hat told us she “aint no wifey.” All these girls were definitely sending a message loud and clear with their looks on day four.

Leather continued to be a fan favourite with show goers and we saw Canadian actress and star of the just-cancelled 90210 reboot, Jessica Lowndes, in a leather-sleeved dress and a perfect red lip. Outside, we saw a mint green twist on the ever-classic leather moto jacket and a bright yellow clutch. Who says leather should only come in black?

Fashion month may be over, but it will not be forgotten. Stand by for our full fall 2013 round-up that is on the impending horizon.

Joe Fresh‘s Fall 2013 collection was rife with interesting inspirations. Hear all about punk, Paris in the ’90s and more in this behind the scenes video starring the creative director himself, Joe Mimran!

Visit our Fashion Week page for complete coverage »
See the full Joe Fresh Fall 2013 collection »