LG Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2012

7 November 2011 No Comments

By Karen Welcome

Photography by Paul Ross

At this season’s LG Fashion Week the fashion set gathered at the tents at David Pecaut Square to view their favourite designer collections. The Fashion Design Council of Canada’s theme Canada Cool was consistent throughout the tent’s environment as well as each Spring 2012 collection.

Day 1

The week was started off by Holt Renfrew’s There’s No Place Like Holt’s with fashion houses:

Lida Baday, Denis Gagnon, Jeremy Laing, Dennis Merotto, Naked& Famous, and Smythe sending their designs down the runway. Arthur Mendonca’s airy chiffon dresses and structured, pleated pieces had everyone talking. His girl is compelling without trying too hard with her lightweight leather garbs, her talent for colour blocking and her ever-present sunglasses at night.

Day 2

With her unique dying processes, draping and knits, Laura Siegel showed her ability to manipulate even the hardest of materials to create softness with an edge. Michi provided onlookers with a fun presentation featuring colour-blocked, body-concious pieces that oozed of charisma and a sensual playfulness with mixed materials. Meanwhile, Tosca Delfino’s swimwear kept heads turning. Ombre and tribal print pieces caught everyone’s eye as well as the photoprint maxis highlighting Toronto’s cityscape. Not to be forgotten was her adorable Diasy Duke jumper in that fabulous African print.

Day 3

The most unexpected, yet refreshing presentation was the Korhani Home Rug Runway show. Anyone skeptical about rugs on a runway witnessed models donning carpets turned into works of wearable art. Pink Tartan’s Kim Newport-Mimran delivered ladylike silhouettes in a neutral palette complete with pops of colour, while fashion favourite Joe Fresh unveiled sunny bright patterns with mixed-medium denims and cool textiles that blended well with warm evenings in and around the city.

Day 4

Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow of Bustle showcased their nautical menswear collection with the theme threaded throughout each piece from the swimwear to eveningwear. Each and every sportswear piece accentuated Hewson and Promislow’s attention to detail and knack for mixing plush materials to make fine-tailored clothing that moves comfortably. Ken Chow’s intriguing menswear collection for Krane possessed clean-cut lines with a darkness in the design of the harnesses attached to his innovative pieces. Chow provided a new vision for men’s formalwear with one-of a kind fixtures on timeless shapes.

Day 5

The last day was full of fashion lovers clammoring to get into must-see shows as haute jewellery designer Camilla Jorgenson of MICALLA sent down models reminiscent of Catherine from The Thomas Crown Affair dripping in Swarovski crystals and pearls. The beauties exuded a quiet confidence that spoke volumes while walking the runway in cocktail dresses that allowed their tribal inspired bibb necklaces and thick, luxurious chokers to be the focus. Denis Gagnon kept the mood cheery with his use of gingham and monochromatic floral prints and style that was borrowed from the boys. The collection was youthful with a Parisian twist with pieces that any woman will appreciate for years to come.