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The Debut Toronto Women’s Fashion Week was a Bold, Beautiful & Proud Celebration of Iconic Canadian Fashion

Toronto Women’s Fashion Week made its debut at Waterworks for four days from March 9th – 12th with runway presentations from Canada’s most prominent and iconic womenswear designers.  The first time event  was impressive with a mix of fashion films with the runway shows.   All the collections told a different story, each with short film introductions, dramatic music, unique themes and aesthetic transporting guests to vivid creative spaces within their shows.  In between shows the crowds shuffled from the runway to the media and VIP lounges. Waterworks was primped by Dala Decor which added some cool urban edge to the lounge spaces. Transformations were in full effect at the RedKen and Maybelline beauty bars and the drinks were free flowing at the liquid lounges.  Kudos to Wolfhead Vodka who had me sold on their Ginger beer and grapefruit cocktail concoctions by the end of it all closing night!

Overall, as a fashion enthusiast, I think TWFW had a fantastic debut event and the runway was buzzing with electric energy. It was positive and reverberated a love of Canadian fashion. Closing night, guests were in a celebratory mood. And the crowd got impressively larger as the night progressed, squeezing us together like sardines.  It was an event truly celebrating Canadian fashion and featured both Canada’s most iconic designers as well as the Next Generation of Emerging Talent.

Heads were bopping and hips were shaking for HENDRIXROE

Music can move you, and this show literally had people dancing in their seats. From MJ to Eve and Gwen with “Let Me Blow Your Mind”, the models were grooving to the beat, playing with the crowd and fully embodying the rock and roll spirit of the ‘Artificial Nocturnal’  collection and brand. Of course, the ‘Property of No One‘ dance number by Toronto’s tiny trio, recently featured on Ellen for their knockout moves, couldn’t have been more killer to close out this badgal show.  Inspired by vintage rock & roll and old Hollywood glamorous icons, HENDRIXROE is the epitome of ‘glamorous rocker couture’. The luxury women’s and men’s line is created by Canadian fashion designer Jordan Erin McKay (JEM). JEM has created the HENDRIXROE fashion label and associated ‘by appointment only’ fashion boutique to appeal and cater to an affluent and trend setting clientele. Check out more at: www.hendrixroe.com

 Peggy Sue believes in “Fashion as a force for good”

Sustainable fashion is my kind of fashion and I loved everything about this collection and what it stood for. Connected. Conscious. Regenerative.  The pieces showcased effortless style and versatility. Peggy Sue designs with respect for people, their traditions and the lands they live on. Peggy Sue works directly with North American farmers, start-up mills and artisans to design sustainable luxury garments that celebrates their skills and our lands. She is passionate about creating a product that tells a story and uses natural, local materials to their fullest extent. By building a transparent and traceable North American supply chain from the farm up, training and organizing a local labour force, she is working to grow and educate the conscious consumer and dedicated fiber industry. Every garment in the collection is made from North American organic cotton or Canadian upcycled denim.  Definitely worth a visit: www.peggysuecollection.com

MIKAEL D took our breath away with the final runway show

There are those moments in fashion that leave you breathless…and take up all the space in on your camera phone. Literally every piece that came down the runway, I whispered “Oh my God, I want that“. Then the next piece, more emphatically “Oh MY GOD, I want THAT“…until I was hypothetically broke and homeless from all the Mikael D gowns I owned — but damn did I look good in that daydream! 😉   I think part of the allure was I could really see the multicultural form and influence from both the Middle East and Europe and loved the fusion. I felt like I was immersed in a scene from The Great Gatsy with this collection and its reminiscence to Old Hollywood glam.  A natural talent at a young age, Mikael Derderian was surrounded by creativity and design. When he wasn’t studying within the boundaries of school, he found himself exploring his skills within his parents’ workshop. The son of a Canadian-Armenian father and Lebanese mother who worked together designing, as well as manufacturing children’s clothing, the blood-line of fashion ran thick. Derderian’s imagination sprang to life from tracing patterns, cutting and manipulating fabrics. Recently Derderian established his own private label, MIKAEL D, an influential line based on collections that intertwine myriad cultural influences. The result is accomplished excellence that knows no boundaries, yet with a true sense of identity all its own. His first collection, which featured seven dresses, was a glorious tribute to the female silhouette. Since then, the designer has expanded his collections and retailers carrying his collection across the world. His work continues to glitter in the spotlight, at red carpet events and gala evenings, worn by celebrities such as Jennifer Lopez, Britney Spears, Shakira, Shania Twain, Julia Roberts, Celine Dion, Katy Perry, Mariah Carey, and Ariana Grande, Laverne Cox, and Gwen Sefani to name a few. Take a trip to fashion heaven: www.mikaeld.com

Fashion Favourite: The sleek and sensual designs of Stephan Caras stole my heart

Stephan Caras revealed his collection for the closing show on Day 3 of TWFW.   This is the one collection that truly stole my heart. As much as I  appreciated all of the shows, this one resonated with me the most.  The beauty is undeniable — but with this collection I was also playing double duty with many of the outfits and how they could work spectacular for Indian events too. But beyond the fusion of fashion, I loved the flowing fabrics, bright bold colours and floral prints.  It was feminine perfection for me.

The Toronto-based father-son design duo newest collection stayed true to its philosophy of design, continually inspired by femininity and sensuality while offering an elegant and enticing exposé of dramatic lines, trailing lengths and plenty of volume.

The emphasis of this season’s collection is placed on the use of luxurious textures, sophisticated lines and exquisite detailing. Plunging neck lines, asymmetric treatments and fun flirty contours connect to create dramatic silhouettes. The collection seduces through the use of bold colour palettes in floral, ash gold, and silver undertones. It is inspired by opulence and femininity. “Our Fall/Winter 2017 collection is inspired by women who enjoy a touch of drama in their outfits, demonstrating their individuality and sensuality,” said designer Stephan Caras. “This bold collection is a fashion forward statement and an ode to the strength of confident women.”

“Our philosophy has always been to create collections that are feminine and sensual. For Fall/Winter 2017 we showcase a vivid palette of colour that emphasize opulence. Sleek shapes achieve a balance between elegance and drama.” added co-designer Kyriako Caras. Signature CARAS gowns made of silk taffeta and luxurious beaded lace reign in a fluttering palette of gold undertones, while evening wear parades pearled lace, flowing organza ruffles, opulent brocades, and form fitting jersey. The collection creates drama and shows that a woman can have fun, and be elegant and sensual all over again.  Fall in love with more of Stephan Caras here: www.stephancaras.com