Oct
19
Photo: Raymund Galsim
Art and fashion mingled happily together last Friday evening when local handbag designer Jessica Jensen partnered with her husband photographer Joshua Jensen-Nagle to present her debut line of women’s wear. Alongside Joshua’s stormy photos, Jessica’s new capsule line of minimalist frocks for Spring 2010, takes inspiration from the calm shoreline of New Jersey with moody greys, plums and seafoam green and subtle ruffle and appliqué details. Perfect for transitioning your wardrobe out of the cold next year. www.shopjessicajensen.com
Oct
09
Photo: Anthea Simms
Hussein Chalayan, the pioneering designer who has given us transforming mechanical dresses and cheeky rear plastic panelling, opted for a more wearable display for spring in Paris this week. In fact, he sent the most accessible and wearable of fabrics down the runway: denim. Hussein Chalayan’s expanded collaboration with J Brand took centre stage with capri pants, slouchy chinos and a button-up pencil skirt replacing his signature fantastical ensembles. While we love the ongoing collection with one of our favourite jean labels (look out for it in stores this December), we couldn’t help but miss the wacky creations we’ve come to love him for. Sure, it’s a smart business move to show buyers something they can actually sell, but a fashion week show should give us something to think about. What do you think? In this climate, should runways be more inspirational or wearable?
Jacqueline Conoir, Spring/Summer 2010
Cuevas continues to deliver customer favourites all the while reinventing her signature feel. She playfully paired her first group of heather grey suiting separates with a range of Edie Sedgwick print tees in a variety of wide and loose shapes: from boat necks to hooded tees to cowl neck versions.
Followed by a rocker girl inspired group of printed and solid grey dresses. Gone is the fully body-con mini dress we are wearing for fall. Spring’s version is all business on the bottom and party on top with pencil tight mini skirts and flowing and loose top halves.
Her lilac group was a colour stand out. Shimmery satin hot pants, paint splashed chiffon tops and shrugs with washed-out pink underpinnings stood along side feminine and timeless 40s-inspired silhouettes: pencil skirts with ruffled trim, cinched waists and softer shoulders.
And for the classic Conoir finale a series of billowing and swirling chiffon maxi dresses. Rich earth tones of clay brown, deep turquoise, leaf green, washed mauves, and ochre yellow floated down the runway. The surprise came when Cuevas sent out the same cuts in a champagne wedding white series. Spring was definitely in the air; well, until we trundled out to the rainy streets of Chinatown.
-Luisa Rino, Vancouver Correspondent
Runway images PeterBo.com Photography
Sep
21
Photo: Anthea Simms
Canadian Mark Fast showed his Spring 2010 collection at London Fashion Week over the weekend to quite a bit of fanfare. Not only do critics love his racy knitwear, but the front row was abuzz over the three plus-size models that stalked the runway. Apparently one of the show’s stylists resigned over his decision to include models that were outside the catwalk norm. It’ll be their loss – Fast’s star is rising at lightening speed.
