NYFW backstage beauty: The Chinese military meets ’40s Hollywood at Jason Wu
NYFW style snaps: We’re at Peter Som and Jason Wu, and so are Grace Coddington, Kate Lanphear, and Olivia Palermo
NYFW diary: The dispatch from day one including Jason Wu’s updated Mao jacket, Rag & Bone’s granny mishmash, and Suno’s sweet, sweet garden print
They said/We said: Kate Moss battles good and evil (like, really evil!) in a new W photoshoot
NYFW style snaps: We spy many fur coats, lots of studded leather, and is that Waris Ahluwalia?
Archive for Sarah Casselman
By Sarah Casselman | October 31st, 2011 | 9:00 am
From Salvatore Ferragamo’s spotted frocks to Rebecca Minkoff’s fierce jumpsuits, animal prints prowled the runways this season. Heed the call of the wild with a traffic-stopping leopard-print tote by Christian Siriano for Payless ($40, canada.payless.com). Who’s the power player now?
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By Sarah Casselman | October 24th, 2011 | 12:00 pm
Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani
A 15-minute film that had us whispering qu’est ce que c’est? to our seatmates wasn’t an ideal way to close out LG Fashion Week (though the dramatic sponsor shots—champagne and Birks jewels—undoubtedly pleased certain peeps in the crowd) but all was forgiven when Montreal designer Denis Gagnon finally marched out his stellar Spring 2012 lineup. We saw flirty mini floral prints, avant-garde versions of the traditional tux, satin rompers, sharp capri pants, blouses with sheer backs (perfect for making dramatic exits), kicky checks, parachute dresses, and dominatrix-style leather straps and harnesses. Gagnon mixed up a garden variety of masculine and feminine looks, a nice departure from his signature dark and moody aesthetic. Models skipped and twirled down the runway, and even blew a few kisses. Optimism? Joy? Spirit? Now, that’s something we hope blooms year round.
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By Sarah Casselman | October 24th, 2011 | 11:00 am
Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani
Judging from the three traffic-stopping cocktail dresses at the Kellogg’s Special K Start Something Fabulous presentation, red just might be the new black. Hosted by Monika Schnarre, this event brought New York–based designer Cynthia Rowley to Toronto’s LG Fashion Week for the first time following a nation-wide search to find three everyday women who exude self-empowerment and a passion for life. “These women were chosen because their personal stories speak to so many [of us] and really demonstrate that living a healthy, balanced lifestyle is achievable,” said Rowley. Besides having their photos splashed across Special K boxes (coming to a breakfast table near you), this winning trio also modeled their custom-made little red dresses for a packed crowd in the tents. Veronic Bertrand (from Rockland, Ontario) rocked an asymmetrical hemline; Mika Fryling (from Burnaby B.C.) sported a one-shouldered look; and Melanie Boucher (from Ottawa) showed off flirty ruffles.
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By Sarah Casselman | October 24th, 2011 | 9:00 am
Need a new pair of blues? 7 For All Mankind (7forallmankind.com), the Los Angeles–based premium denim/lifestyle brand, has opened its first retail store in Toronto at the Yorkdale Shopping Centre (3401 Dufferin St., 416-789-3261, yorkdale.com). Boasting an impressive denim selection (this fall it’s all about the return of flared jeans), this store also carries 7’s sportswear, accessories and debut children’s collection.
By Sarah Casselman | October 21st, 2011 | 1:30 pm
Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani
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A 9:30 p.m. time slot during LGFW could be runway suicide for a designer, but not if your name is Sunny Fong. This pint-sized fashion powerhouse packed the tents on Thursday night for Vawk’s Spring 2012 show. (In the past Fong has presented his collections in a more intimate setting at the Art Gallery of Ontario.) His gorgeous pleats, diaphanous fabrics, rosy blush tones, and earthy tie-dye prints (think moss green paired with ivory) were as fresh as a spring breeze, but his anything-but-boring basics, namely a blush toned trench coat, quietly showcased Fong’s strong suit—tailoring. His curved “Beetle” frock and sweeping “Butterfly” finale dress gave a nod to all beautiful winged things, while a handful of resort looks that paraded out at the show’s start were given the Midas touch à la intricate laser-cut gold-leather waist cinchers. He even tried his hand at swimwear, sending several sexed-up one-piece bathers (cut-outs are the new bikini) down the runway. Like his light-as-air tiered skirt, it’s clear Fong has many layers.
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By Sarah Casselman | October 6th, 2011 | 10:00 am
Photography by Ludwig Bonnet/Louis Vuitton
With the rumour mill still churning about Marc Jacobs’ impending new home (or house, actually) at Christian Dior, the Louis Vuitton show was one of the hottest tickets in town. Starting promptly at 10 a.m., glam front-row guests like Olivia Wilde, Natalia Vodianova, and Delphine Arnault (daughter of LVMH CEO Bernard Arnault) quickly took their seats as a giant round curtain went up to reveal the most magical sight: a whitewashed carousel packed with the show’s models atop moving horses. One by one they stepped off the carousel and walked the circular runway in gorgeous confections that looked like they came straight from Ladurée: organza-wrapped dresses, pastel-coloured laser-cut lace skirts, powdered crocodile bags, flower appliqués, diamond wishbone necklaces, mirrored woven metallic bags, and Mary Jane mules. As for that famous name who closed the show? Wearing a sequined and feathered minidress and tiara, Princess Kate (as in Moss) was the final fairy to grace this fashion fairytale.
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By Sarah Casselman | October 5th, 2011 | 10:00 am
Image courtesy of Chanel
Sculpted bags that mimic pearly seashells at Chanel; a cross-sectional view of a jacket’s shoulder pads at Lanvin; treated silk so slick you’d swear it was leather at Balenciaga; and intricately embroidered ruffles at Yves Saint Laurent. When it comes to decadent details in a collection these French heavyweight houses win hands down.
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By Sarah Casselman | October 4th, 2011 | 10:00 am
Stella McCartney shot by Antonio de Moraes Barros Filho/WireImage
With a thriving ready-to-wear brand, several collaboration projects on the go, four kids, a dashing hubby (publisher Alasdhair Willis) and an icon for a Dad (Sir Paul!) it’s little wonder we bow down to Stella McCartney. Who doesn’t want to be a Stella girl? She’s effortlessly chic but not perfectly turned out; she is a minimalist but has a playful side; she is confident and a great confidante. In the modeling world a Stella girl looks like Miranda Kerr, Natasha Poly, Natalia Vodianova, or Anja Rubik, fitting given that they all walked in McCartney’s Spring 2012 show. And what a show it was: crisp white jackets with mesh inserts, Baroque-inspired embellishment, a shockwave of royal blue, tunics with side slits (a big theme this week), casual pieces in a graphic wave motif reminiscent of silk pajamas, paisley (welcome back!), one-shouldered dresses, onyx-white clutches, sporty flatforms, and quilted shoulder bags tied in a bow.
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ARTFUL BLOGGER: Karen Jordon produces surprising art from old, dismantled cassette tapes
NYFW backstage beauty: The Chinese military meets ’40s Hollywood at Jason Wu
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Film noir: Osez le noir et blanc avec les robes et accessoires du moment
