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With Day 2 of Toronto Fashion Week officially under our belts, our feet are already throbbing from a full day in heels. But we’re not letting the pain in our feet distract us from the runways! In fact, seeing those models strutting their stuff in sky high wooden platforms at Pink Tartan, crochet wedges at LINE Knitwear, black open toe booties at LOVAS and peep toe pumps at OR by Angela Chen only added fuel to our fashion fire.
1) PINK TARTAN Spring/Summer 2011 – Last week while visiting the Pink Tartan showroom, a little birdie told us that Kimberley Newport-Mimram’s Spring 2011 collection was inspired by the seventies. We could hardly control our excitement and curiosity. How, we wondered, was the perennially preppy Pink Tartan going to tackle the disco era? By turning to 1970′s supermodel and style icon Marisa Berenson, that’s how! Citing popular Vogue covergirl and socialite Marisa Berenson as inspiration, Pink Tartan’s latest collection put on a modern spin on some of the decade’s iconic looks. Ikat print bell bottoms, airy strapless jumpsuits in cobalt blue and fuchsia, diagonally striped toga dresses and sheer broomstick skirts were all finished off with wooden platform sandals, gold Gucci-esque horsebit belts and oversized round sunglasses in vibrant shades. The designer’s favorite piece? The black and white Ikat print maxi dress featured above. Our favorite piece? The metallic leather A-line skirt also featured above.
2) LINE Knitwear Spring/Summer 2011 – We fell hard for LINE Knitwear’s Fall/Winter 2010 and we hardly had any doubts that Torontonian design duo John Muscat and Jennifer Wells would blow us away again this season (especially since we had seen images of the collection dubbed “Time Traveller” when they showed during New York Fashion Week in September), yet we were still curious to see how a brand so focused on knits would fare when faced with designing for the spring and summer months. Yeah…we didn’t need to worry.
Turning to leather and crochet knits as a base, the pair behind LINE proved once again that when it comes to knitwear these two know no bounds. Opening the show with a rust colored one-shoulder crop top and paper bag waisted leather gaucho pants that we would see again in salmon and perforated suede, we instantly knew LINE was going to be one of our favorite shows of the week. From their blush pink macrame vest with chiffon fringe and custom ink cloud-like printed peg leg pants (with corresponding jumper, one long, one short) to the cuffed culottes and vintage style bra tops, LINK hammered home their design esthetic in a way that not many Canadian designers are able to do.
3) LOVAS by Wesley Badanjak Spring/Summer 2011 – LOVAS by Wesley Badanjak was the show that followed our little vacation away with OR by Angela Chen (see #4 below). Models strutted down the runway in silver, dark charcoal, fuchsia and acidy citron cocktail dresses and we were instantly transported back to the city. Citing his degree in bio chemistry, the entire collection was inspired by the elements and colours of the Periodic Table, hence the title “Elemental”. Badanjak took the silhouettes of party dresses and office wear from the 70s, 80, and 90s and reworked them by adding modern accents. The suiting was a little too cutesy for our taste but then again we are not LOVAS’ target market. We much preferred his floor length gowns and whimsical cocktail dresses.
4) OR by Angela Chen Spring/Summer 2011 – The moment the lights went out and the sweet and innocent xylophone introduction to “VCR” by The XX began playing, we knew Angela Chen had something delightful in mind for us again – and we were correct! Chen maintained her minimalist and practical ideals in her Spring/Summer 2011 collection inspired by the young Brooke Shields from the 1980s movie “The Blue Lagoon”. Chen’s inspiration of youthful, day-dreamy innocence was translated beautifully through the soft palette of dove greys, airbrushed blues, and the spectrum of khakis, as well as the use of delicate sheer linens, hand-knitted yarns, and cotton twill cut on a bias creating a cute and delicate flow. Atop of this simplicity Chen garnished the pieces with her sense of meticulous tailoring with subtle detailing through delicate hand-knits, miniature pleating and asymmetrical silhouettes.
The collection was not just about vacationing on a quiet beach, or even jetting off to the Hamptons in cute rompers and maxi dresses. Angela also featured a few work-friendly looks with cropped jackets, gently tailored pants and skirts in the forever on trend black and white. We loved how wearable and flattering the entire OR by Angela Chen collection was and we honestly want every piece added to our wardrobe, espeically the hand-dyed ombre linen maxi dress that took our breath away towards the end of the show. Props to Angela Chen for her sweet, dreamy, refreshing and relaxing Spring/Summer 2011 collection. How many months more till it’s Spring?
Read all of our LG Fashion Week reviews here.
