Local designers brought all the city’s fashionistas to the tents at David Pecaut Square – even in the -10° weather.

Canadians have had it with this year’s enduring winter season and are ready to welcome warmer temperatures. Local fashion designers are already yearning for the nippy weather we’ll receive later in the year.

Fall 2015 will be promising and full of ready-to-wear trends, including the return of 70s style. We’ll have fringe, winter pastels and 50 shades of red. These trends can take you from school, to date night and anything in between.

This season’s Toronto runways saw fashion meet fast food, embellishment, tailored coats and lots of fur.

VAWK designer, Sunny Fong, teamed up with Subway Restaurant for his Fall/Winter (F/W) collection. His show began with the Subway logo adorned on the wall, followed by the logo stitched across the tops of his models. A collective favourite was the “lettuce dress,” that looked like the model was emerging from the head of romaine.

The actual VAWK collection was Sunny Fong’s DOT du JOURS collection inspired by the animated movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs. There were vibrant colours and flirty silhouettes. Designers heartily embraced colour in their collections.

The week also celebrated the 20th anniversary of fashion veteran David Dixon. His Joan of Arc inspired collection was true to the edgy and feminine style he spent his entire career perfecting.

It was a great showcase of Canadian fashion.

The best of the best in music walked the red carpet last night at the 2015 Grammy Awards. Whiile we couldn’t wait to see performances by Sam Smith, Kanye, and Beyonce, the biggest night in music brought out the industry’s best in fashion’s finest.

Katy Perry kept it understated in a short, sparkly number, and left it to her purple hair to make the statement. 

The new minimal Nicki Minaj in a great Nicki. Judging by the very low neckline, double-sided tape was definitely her friend. 

For the second year in a row, Taylor Swift has slayed the red carpet. Her dress of choice was a metallic “mullet” dress. 

Rihanna was definitely pretty in pink! She was the last star to walk the red carpet, wearing a gown fresh off the Paris Couture Fashion Week runway. The singer told E!, "I saw this dress on the Internet and I just fell in love with it."

Iggy Azalea wore a perfectly fitted gown but her hair resembled a bird’s nest. The braided crown did not help her look. 

Iggy’s hair wasn’t the only disappointment this year. Many award hopefuls went home empty-handed, due to one man stealing the show: Sam Smith.

Rihanna is making fashion history with Dior. She is set to become the fashion houses first ever black spokesmodel. Rihanna will be the leading lady in the fourth instalment of Dior’s “Secret Garden” video series, which is scheduled to run in film and print this spring.

“Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Words do hurt. Especially words from an idolized member of E! Fashion Police.

Giuliana Rancic felt that the young singer/actress, Zendaya, had hair that was too much for her tiny frame. That’s understandable. But it should have stopped there. Instead, the host continued with saying her hair looked like it smelled like “patchouli oil or weed.”

Zendaya publicly responded to the comment saying, “There is a fine line between what is funny and disrespectful.” She’s right. If you don’t have anything nice to say about a person, don’t say anything at all. If you’re the only one who thinks something is funny, it’s not funny at all. The singer goes on to say, “I don’t usually feel the need to respond to negative things but certain remarks cannot go unchecked…There is already harsh criticism of African American hair in society without the help of ignorant people who choose to judge others based on the curl of their hair.

“My wearing my hair in locs on an Oscar red carpet was to showcase them in a positive light, to remind people of colour that our hair is good enough.” Zendaya has been inspiring young girls everywhere with her beauty, talent, and style. Her walking the red carpet with such beautiful hair was to show girls who are ashamed of their hair that there is no need to be. Your hair is amazing and should not be hidden. “Locs are a symbol of strength and beauty.” They are your strength and beauty.

Rancic tweeted an appology to Zendaya saying,

Dear @Zendaya, I'm sorry I offended you and others. I was referring to a bohemian chic look. Had NOTHING to do with race and NEVER would!!!

— Giuliana Rancic (@GiulianaRancic) February 24, 2015

Her comment was truly disrespectful and deserves more than just a tweet. That tweet won’t change what was said. The E! Fashion Police have taken it too far.

With spring coming to a close, it’s time to start focusing on the upcoming season of sun dresses and floppy hats: summer. Summer is no longer on the horizon; it’s within reach. What we need are quality items that will stand the test of time and look great. These essentials will definitely get you through the event filled summer months. It’s time to start shopping for your summer fashion must-haves.

A Sun Hat; Whether you plan on spending those seemingly endless days touring new territory or lounging poolside, you’ll definitely need one of these. Even though sunglasses are great, a sun hat will protect against UV rays. You don’t want a straw hat that looks like it belonged to your grandmother. Go for something stylish. Your sun hat will keep you safe from the sun and you’ll look great.

Midi Skirts and Maxi Dresses; Not just any maxi dress, but one that is convertible. For during the day, pair it with sandals and the classic updo. When you get that last-minute event invite, throw on your coveted pair of heels and let your hair down. Instantly, you’re ready for whatever lies ahead.

Print; Add dimension and colour to your wardrobe with prints, specifically print pants. It’s an ongoing summer trend that shows no signs of stopping. Print shoes, dresses, and even swimwear. There’s an endless selection of ways to rock this trend.

What are some of your fashion must-haves?

originally published for blog.luevo.com

The saying goes, April showers bring May flowers. As the days get warmer, get ready to start seeing more florals. While there is nothing new about the feminine trend, the style was serious on the runway and got a major update for the new season. The trend was seen on almost every runway and has been transformed into red carpet looks. Look around and you will find florals on everything from shoes to blazers. Florals make anything look chic, feminine, and fabulous.

Florals? For Spring? Groundbreaking. – Miranda Priestly, The Devil Wears Prada

This response will live on, but will continue to be proven wrong time and time again. It’s time to start embracing florals, seeing as the trend is showing no signs of going anywhere. Print dresses, shoes, swimwear, and even accessories. There’s an endless selection of ways to rock this trend.

What’s a better way to say goodbye to the dark spring days than stepping into bright floral outfits? If you’re the type to not usually wear florals, ease into the trend. Start by carrying a floral clutch or opt for a pair of floral shoes, if you’re daring. Like the flowers around you, slowly blossom into the trend. Before you know it, you’ll be embracing the floral trend with all the items you already have in your closet.

To make florals look modern and chic, pair simple outfits with an eye catching floral pieces. The bold floral colours will pop when paired with a simple white or neutral item and some candy-coloured accessories. To avoid looking too over done, limit your accessories.

You almost can’t go wrong when it comes to embracing this trend. Floral dresses scream summer and warm weather. They’re feminine and can be dressed up and made edgy. Pair it with neutral jewelry and shoes. The dress will speak for itself and get all the attention.

Floral dresses give off a fun summer vibe and can be worn anywhere and for just about any occasion. Not sure about buying that floral dress and want to stick to a mainly casual and simple look? A floral jacket or blazer will instantly transform basic white blouse and skirt combo into a stylish look.

Don’t go for the head-to-toe floral look. All those basic wardrobe essentials you already own (classic white shirt) can be worn with florals. Pair a floral top with a pair of white pants and a basic bag. All the attention will be on your top. For a more formal look (for work) a white blouse and standard purse will tone down the bold colours of a floral skirt. When in doubt, neutrals will always be safest.

Enjoy and embrace the floral trend for spring and summer. It’s all about having fun with fashion. This is probably why the floral trend is one that is here to stay.

Photography credits unknown // originally published for blog.luevo.com

We’re three days into Toronto Fashion Week and we’ve seen 12 amazing collections, including VAWK, LINE Knitwear, Sid Neigum and Mikhael Kale who kicked off the week in true style. The busy streets of Toronto have been full of stylish fashion lovers and they’ve all come together to admire the beautiful designs of some of Canada’s greatest talent. World MasterCard Fashion Week runway trends that we’re seeing are a lot of oversized pieces, exquisite details, lower hemlines, punk rock looks, and lots of black.

VAWK designer, Sunny Fong, incorporated dark hues, like black, leather and sheer fabrics also. A few of the looks were high-low which had the trains floating behind the model as they walked down the runway. The details in the garments, like the understated statement collar, inverted triangle patterns and fur panels, created visual interest for plain silhouettes.

With winter showing no signs of letting up, even though it’s (almost) spring, Line Knitwear would be the perfect collection for Torontonians to be wearing to keep warm. The LINE Knitwear collection is for the stylish modern woman. It features head-to-toe looks that are feminine and plays with different textures. Even though the typical fall colours are dark, the designers threw in some pink and blue hues to brighten the looks.

Sid Neigum’s runway show featured a string performance and designs that were captivating. The collection was full of bold, metallics and architecturally detailed dresses, coats, and capes in an autumnal palette. It was all about transforming two dimensional into three and this was done with lazer cutting and mathematical pattern design.

Mikhael Kale treated the audience to a whirlwind of colour and ruffles in the form of an edgy and feminine collection. Lavish patterns, luxurious layers, studded trenches and fantastic bomber jackets came down the runway. Leather jackets are definitely a must for next Fall.

photography credits unknown // originally published for blog.luevo.com

After every season of fashion, we (fashion followers/writers/bloggers) come to the realization that the majority of models who walked the runway were Caucasian. When asked about why fashion shows consist of mainly white models, designers replied with something along the lines of, “it’s not about the model’s skin colour, but their body, face, attitude and aesthetic of the designer.” Caucasian have a specific body type, while Black and Asian girls also have a specific body shape. In some cases, its better to have an Asian body shape because they’re flat and in a way, less sexy. Asian girls don’t have curves, so by putting an Asian who is flat in a runway show where the desire is for more curvy and beautiful girls is complete nonsense. Most designers do so because they want to please their Asian customers.

The people in the fashion industry don’t seem to recognize what they’re doing. They are being racist. Designers dress White models in Native-American headdresses to model lingerie and paint other White models black. The discrimination of a model’s skin colour isn’t uncommon. When speaking with agents, Black models, like Joan Smalls, are repeatedly told that there is only room for one model of colour in that specific runway showcase. Chanel Iman has been told that since there was already a black girl in a runway show they didn’t need her anymore. Other models, like Jourdan Dunn, have been told by makeup artists during fashion week that they didn’t want to work on her simply because she was black.

German fashion designer Philpp Plein is growing his brand by creating visually striking runway shows. Almost every look glittered and sparkled, whether it being a sequined romper, metallic moto jacket, or a Swarovski-trimmed dress. The real point of the article is the fact that all the models were black. This made headlines everywhere because it was made a timely statement as the industry tries to end runway racism. Philpp said the choice to use all black models was in line with the overall statement of his brand. The message was about breaking barriers and the rules. It was what people were not expecting. The designer wanted to force people to get used to a future where old prejudices have absolutely no place. When people attend fashion shows, they’re expecting to see a group of White girls in shoes they can’t walk in. What this designer did was showcase a group of beautiful Black girls in flats. To add to that, Philipp Plein featured Iggy Azalea, a white rapper in the Black dominated Hip Hop world. It could seem like the designer was trying to get attention for his brand, but he has made a valid point. His rule-breaking ways will most likely to get him further into the fashion industry than his clothes every could.

The racial diversity in the current fashion industry is an ethical issue mainly because it’s hard to believe that today, 2013, we’re still struggling with racism. This is surprising considering the fact that our most notable supermodels are women of colour. Naomi Campbell, Tyra Banks, and Iman no longer walk in runway shows. Since they left the modeling industry, racially diverse models are rare when it comes to the catwalk. High-end fashion designers only use few models of colour in their showcases or none at all. Fall/Winter 2012 was the most diverse New York fashion Week of all time. This may be great to hear, but when you have a look at the percentages, models of colour were still underrepresented. 

I love that this one designer, Philipp Plein, had a runway showcase with only Black models. He made a statement that made headlines everywhere. Philipp Plein, 3.1 Phillip Lim, J. Crew, Jason Wu, and L.A.M.B use models of colour and give hope that the rest of the fashion industry will follow their lead. 

We are 19 days into Fall and just like a new year, most have been saying “It’s time for a new you.” People are quite loose with that statement. The things that people say they’re going to do, never get completed. One thing that most people struggle with and find hard is how to shop for yourself. Both women and men find it tough to find clothing for their specific body type and others have a hard time deciphering what looks good on them. Whether it be fit, style or color. Everyone is different and clothes fit everyone differently. Here are a few tips that will help you find items that suit your body type, flatter what needs to be flattered, and make you a better and more confident you. The clothing you wear can place you under a negative light or a positive one before you introduce yourself to people.

Most of the time, people are concerned with the style of clothes they wear and whether or not they are in style. Thus ignoring the most important factor; fit. The fit of anything that you wear needs to be taken into more consideration than style and colors. You could be wearing the most glamorous piece of clothing and have it fit wrong, making you look ridiculous. To add to this, you may also look cheap and you just don’t want that.

Now a days, people try to squeeze themselves into smaller sizes. You buy cardigans that don’t button up and pants that are too small just to say that you’re a certain size clothing. Style is often what people look for when buying clothing. Just because something is trendy, doesn’t mean that it will flatter you. Figure out who you are and what you like to wear. Do you want to be conservative or do you prefer to be formal instead of casual? You age should be brought into consideration also. All your clothes should be age appropriate. Fashion should always be associated with form and function but it should also go with the environment.

When shopping, you need to remember that you’re looking for items that will help speak for you. Your clothes will tell the world who you are. You should always dress in ways that show people who you are, that you have a sense of style and that you respect yourself. 

Photography credits unknown

What makes great style? Being yourself. With this post, you’ll learn new ways to develop or improve your distinct look. This includes learning how to buy items that highlight your assets, how to make the most of your current wardrobe, and why you don’t need to spend a million bucks to look like a million bucks!

Before trying to find your style, you need to figure out who you are as a person. What do you like to wear? Do you dress conservatively or prefer formal wear over casual? Think about your age. Your clothes should be age appropriate. Fashion should be associated with function and form, but it should also fit with your environment. Ponder how you want to present yourself to the world.

Get inspired. Find a model or a celebrity who best captures the look you would like to follow. Search fashion magazines to find photos of your style icons. Cut out photos and place them into an inspiration binder or board in your room to inspire you. Don’t copy their style. Try to find elements from their style. Think of it as using their look to help create your own. Inspiration can come from anywhere.

What is your favourite part of your body? Choose clothes that highlight your best assets. For example, if you have beautiful hazel eyes, show them off by wearing eye shadow that will make them pop! Never-ending legs deserve to be seen in dresses and shorts. Dress to match your body shape.

Look through your closet. A look through your current closet can help you learn more about your style; what you love about it and what you want to change. You can get a sense of what you are most comfortable wearing (long flowing dresses, skirts, or tracksuits). Have a look at colours, as well as accessories and shoes. Change a few things. Don’t try to reinvent your entire closet. Instead, try to update it. Bring in some items that reflect your new style. Try some jewelry, a new pair of shoes or accessories. Don’t be afraid to experiment with new things. Shop in stores you’ve never shopped in before, like a designer boutique (if you can afford it). You might discover that taking risks with clothing will improve your style.

To save money, update what you already have. Have a pair of old jeans? Roll them up and turn them into Capri pants or shorts. Reinvent an old dress with a new belt. Change is great, but try to keep your closet composed of some constructed pieces. Have some classic staple items that you can mix and match to give you more for your money.

Keep in your comfort zone. Do you prefer to wear flats over heels? Then go for it! It’s completely fine. Don’t hurt your feet in heels when you’d rather be in flats. Wear what you feel comfortable in. Not sure what makes you comfortable? Pick out your favourite items from your closet and ask yourself why you like them.

Remember to have fun with finding your fashion persona, and absolutely nothing says you like being true to yourself. You don’t need to own designer items to express your style. Sweatpants and a T-shirt can be fashionable; if you feel comfortable wearing them and pick the right style. Go for comfortable and wear what works for you.

YOU DON’T HAVE TO SPEND A MILLION BUCKS TO LOOK LIKE A MILLION BUCKS.

originally published for inexpensivechic.com