PHILIP SPARKS Fall 2010. Photography by Jenna Marie Wakani

Menswear designer Philip Sparks rang the opening bell, figuratively speaking, for two weeks of presentations leading up to Toronto’s LG Fashion Week, which starts March 28. As is the case with so many off-schedule presentations, it was as much cocktail party as fashion show with guests nibbling on cheese and drinking Hendricks gin cocktails before and after the compact, 12-look show.

Sparks took his inspiration from Herman Melville’s Moby Dick and models posed in place for 20 minutes amid ropes, trunks and other sea-faring props. To be sure, a nautical theme isn’t going to knock anyone out with its newness, but that’s not really Philip Sparks’ bag. He’s got a vintage outlook on clothes–as with his ’50s Canadiana-inspired spring collection–though his collections are nevertheless built for modern men. There were checked cotton dress shirts, black brushed-canvas jeans, double-knit henleys and cardigans, as well as some nice tweed pieces–a blazer, waistcoat and trousers–with perfectly piped pockets. The real star of the show was Sparks’ outwear, which offered options for customers who want a twist on standard-issue urban staples. Swap a peacoat for Sparks’ melton cape coat or a motorcycle jacket for the black suede Skipper. Also of note were a pair of beautifully detailed cargo shirts done in black and navy cashmere and a sharp, squarish black leather bag with heavy-duty hardware that will have you reconsidering the backpack as a viable option for a work bag.

Click the images below to see the full show.