I did my best to power walk from Liberty Village to the Heritage Court last night. Dinner? Who has time? Half way through the CNE Grounds, Facebook, Twitter, email, and text messages ablaze – I spot a 5’10 », 115lbs, Asian girl in 6″ stilettos. She’s alone and looking as lost as a little puppy. « LG Fashion Week right? » I ask her. « The stupid cab dropped me off here, » she explained half panicking, half shivering. She didn’t have much on, not that I’m complaining. I threw my coat over her and convinced her to follow me to the venue. « My friend is waiting for me inside. Come with me so I can introduce you. You’re such a gentleman. » Turns out that friend was Dragon’s Den Kevin O’Leary. « How are you? I’m Spiro, we’ve met before, » I greeted him. « Oh yeah? Where? » We actually had met at the Gala for Black Swan during the Toronto Film Festival back in September. « At the Roy Thomson Hall. We chatted for a bit before the movie, then you had to go pee, » I laughed. « Funny, I have to go pee now too, » he joked as he glanced over at his date who I gathered, had arrived a little late.
Last night was Day 1 of Toronto’s LG Fashion Week, an invitation only evening hosting Holt Renfrew Presents, « Can’t Live Without Canadian Fashion, » IZMA, and JUMA Fashion Shows. It’s All Style To Me was invited to cover all three shows, as well as The Launch Party hosted by Elmer Olsen Model Management at The Ballroom. Anyone who is someone in Canadian fashion was at Heritage Court last night. Queen of Fashion Media Jeanne Beker and actor boyfriend Barry Flatman, Street Style Blog pioneer Tommy Ton, FDCC’s Robin Kay, Elmer Olsen, Suzanne Rogers, Suzanne Boyd, Julie Black, designers, socialites, and countless others. Young bloggers filed in in packs, wide-eyed and bushy-tailed, as newspaper and magazine writers glared on in disdain. Democratization of media can be a bitch.
Holt Renfrew Presents, « Can’t Live Without Canadian Fashion, » showcased a selection of pieces from Canadian designers Todd Lynn (based in London, UK), Greta & Ezra Constantine, Denis Gagnon, Pink Tartan, Wings + Horns, Smythe, Lida Baday, Canada Goose, Twenty Cluny, and Jeremy Laing. « At Holt Renfrew, we are very proud to support Canadian talent and design, » stated Barbara Atkin, VP, Fashion Direction at Holt Renfrew in a press release. « We carry over 50 Canadian fashion brands in our stores across the country and present them shoulder to shoulder with the best of the labels from around the world. We are thrilled to be supporting this group of our talented Canadian designers in launching LG Fashion Week again this season with the kick-off show of the week. » The show kicked off with a video created by Justin Wu of Holt’s staff and designers lip-syncing to, BTO’s, Taking Care of Business. There were some descent pieces from the labels who weren’t showing outside of the Holt’s show. The guys from Wings + Horns had some descent menswear, but nothing we haven’t seen before. Same with Smythe. Great après-ski wear, but looked borrowed from the Dolce & Gabbana FW10 lookbook. Twenty Cluny had some fun sexy pieces for the girls, like the cool Lichtenstein novelty panel jersey dress and their sexy sequins dresses.
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Izzy Camilleri and Adrian Mainella‘s second Fall/Winter IZMA Collection rocked Monday night’s crowd with some 70s Studio 54 glam-inspired fur pieces and lush velvets. FENDI they are not, but give these guys time. Expect to see big things from them. Brother-sister design team of New York-based JUMA closed the night with their trademark prints. Some of the colourful fluid creations worked great on the women – couldn’t really get into the menswear though. For an inside look at LG Toronto Fashion Week – Day 1 please visit the It’s All Style To Me Facebook Page.
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Spiro Mandylor – It’s all style to me for Luxsure