Toronto: Comrags, Andy Thê-Anh, Pink Tartan and Joe Fresh Style Fall 2009

Date March 19, 2009

COMRAGS Fall 2009. Photography by Jess Baumung

Packed schedule on the LG roster with some of Toronto’s most well-known labels – Comrags, Andy Thê-Anh, Pink Tartan and Joe Fresh Style. Time to rev up those fashion batteries and re-gloss those air-kissers…

Comrags [watch our interview] designers Joyce Gunhouse and Judy Cornish delivered a strong Fall 2009 collection. And if the wool plaids, printed knits and florals didn’t wow you (as if they wouldn’t…) then surely the large bouquets presented to the designers by the Comrags’ kids during their runway bow would have touched your haute little heart.

Colour palette: rust, burgundy, charcoal, indigo, black, midnight, grey and dark teal (our fave!)
Best in show: The ribbon bag dress
Change of a dress: Frocks ruled the runway with an entire set called “crush” devoted to the fabric of said stunners; they came in every imaginable shape: sack, sheath, shift….
Piece you’ll fall in love with: the smock dress–an easy, effortless dress that works day or night. We haven’t loved a smock this much since kindergarten art class.
Shoes your weapon: Ah-ha! We thought so. The black chunky slingbacks that clomped down the runway were all courtesy of John Fluevog. Clomp on!

ANDY THE-ANH Fall 2009. Photography by Jess Baumung

Andy Thê-Anh, Montreal’s designer darling, who recently opened up a boutique in Yorkville, proved one thing on the runway last night: leggings are still going strong. Whether they channel the ’80s (think shiny spandex) or intergalactic girl (think crystal-encrusted), it seems as though actress-slash-trainwreck-slash-designer Lindsay Lohan isn’t the only one still lusting after leggings.

FASHION’s faves: fur bow vest, boyfriend tuxedo jacket, black sequin leggings and charcoal belted swing coat.

Drama-rama: Don’t get us wrong, we are the original magpies–put something shiny and embellished in front of us and we fly over to it immediately oohing and aahing–but we have to say that the show was a tad over-styled. While we wouldn’t go so far as to subscribe to the ‘less is more’ school of thought, we did think some of the show’s strongest pieces were eclipsed by all of the extras.

8:30pm: Shows still running on time. Talk about ‘Show Love’.

Toronto’s social set arrive for the double feature – Pink Tartan and Joe Fresh Style. PR princess Alex Weston and her hubby, G2, take their front-row seats. Weston’s flawless no-makeup makeup, beaded bib necklace and baby bump gets FASHION‘s chicette award of the week.

PINK TARTAN Fall 2009. Photography by Peter Stigter

Pink Tartan took a decidedly tougher spin this season, not unlike Tory Burch’s Fall 2009 collection. While there were still a handful of pretty satin corset mini dresses (we will never tire of PT’s light-as-air volume and heavy industrial zippers), the overall look said ‘80s fashion flashback – from the clothes (strong, angular shoulders, skinny leather pants, lace tights) to the soundtrack (Grace Jones anyone?)

Good buy: the houndstooth mini dresses–perfect with opaque tights for fall and bare legs in the spring
Glam buy: the fur chubbies–throw it on with anything and instantly feel like a rock star
Bye bye: the purple silk cropped pants-cute on the runway but complicated in real life. Spanx not included.

JOE FRESH STYLE Fall 2009. Photography by Jess Baumung

Joe Mimran’s fashion star Joe Fresh Style finished off the evening with a mega-model moment. Irina Lazareanu was first down the runway wearing a puffa jacket, pleated skirt, long knit gloves and platforms. Best walk of the week thus far. [Read our interview with Joe Mimran]

Fresh fall picks: lots of puffa coats, pointelle stockings, adorable quilted skating skirts (which we are certain will never go into actual production–much to our disappointment), Fair Isle sweaters, cable knit tube scarves, buffalo check pumps and riding blazers.

The item to fight for at Loblaws: The cropped bomber
The item you won’t see at Loblaws: The quilted mini skirts with crini trim

FASHION‘s styling shout-out award goes to Joe’s Adrienne Shoom who did another brilliant job this season.

We were just about ready to take our sweet selves home when a Marvin Gaye tribute singer took to the runway and started crooning in celebration of Toronto Fashion Week’s 10th anniversary.
First thought: Oh snap, going to miss American Idol eliminations for sure.
Second thought: Hmm….kind of fun
Third thought: Here he comes, don’t make eye contact
Fourth thought: Wow, a gospel choir too? Crowd is loving it
Fifth thought: All you need is love, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo. All you need is love, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo.

Until my next jottings, xo