L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week
Preview of Fall-Winter 2008-2009 Edition of Toronto's Fashion Week
Fall-Winter 2008-2009 collections will be shown at L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week from March 17 to 22, 2008.
Wear in the World! is the theme of the Fall-Winter 2008-2009 edition of L'Oreal Toronto Fashion Week, to be held from March 17 to 22, 2008 under tents at Nathan Phillips Square. This season's schedule is more tightly packed than ever, with 33 shows by 69 designers.
Monday, March 17
It all gets going at 2 p.m with a show from Evan Biddell, winner of the TV reality series Project Runway Canada. Next up is the cheeky Moscow-based men's and women's wear designer Max Chernitsov at 3 p.m., a guest from Russian Fashion Week, followed by Melinda-Mae Harlingten (4 p.m.), Nadya Toto (5 p.m.) and Denis Gagnon (6 p.m.). Then, lucky invitees will head up to Holt's for the official kickoff cocktail, closely followed by the invitation-only sneak preview of Fall looks from Joe Fresh Style, Joe Mimran's cheap 'n' cheerful line for food retailer Loblaws.
Tuesday, March 18
Lewd opens the day at 1 p.m., followed by Hibebe by Salem Moussallam at 1:30. At 2 p.m., it's preloved, the Queen West purveyor of reconstructed, recycled fashions that lost their retail outlet in a catastrophic fire a short time ago. Evan & Dean follow at 3, then Talenti Moda Milano (graduates of Milan's four top fashion schools) at 4, Lucian Matis (lately of Project Runway Canada) at 5 and the by-invitation-only Canadian Heart Truth Red Dress at 6. (The latter is styled after a NY Fashion Week feature, with red dresses by 20 celeb designers in aid of the Canadian Heart and Stroke Foundation.)
Evening shows include the youthful appeal of Nada (7:30), tongue-in-chic men's line Bustle (8:30), Joeffer Caoc's by-invitation-only do at 9:30 and sharply-stylin' menswear guru Philip Sparks rounding out the night at 10:30.
Wednesday, March 19
First up is Carlie Wong, also of Project Runway Canada (2 p.m.), Saniya Khan (3), Slava Plavsic (4) and an invitation-only show from the Fur Council of Canada called Beautifully Canadian (5). The 6 p.m. presentation is one of the oddest: a three-way teaming Fashion Television maven Jeanne Beker – who's promoting a new kids' book – with Bratz dolls and Diesel Kids. (For the record, this is not the first time that the Bratz have made it on the Fashion Week runway; they also appeared in a collection by Montreal designer Marie St. Pierre a few season ago...)
The evening brings out a string of heavy hitters: laid-back ladies' looks by Comrags (7), delicious diva wear from Andy The-Anh (8), elegant extravagance from David Dixon (9) and an offsite show at CiRCA (126 John Street) by Greta Constantine (9:30).
Thursday, March 20
A later start today with TATSUAKI at 3 p.m., the delightfully fashion-forward Zoran Dobric at 4, Nada Yousif at 5 and the colourfully exuberant streetwear line GSUS Sindustries at 6. The final evening of runway shows winds down with Paul Hardy's lusciously feminine looks at 7, practical leather outerwear line RUDSAK at 8, Franke by Kendra Francis (yet another Project Runway participant) at 8:30, and popular favourites Pink Tartan at 9. A closing party follows at C Lounge (456 Wellington Street West).
Friday, March 21
Since this is Good Friday (only the most solemn day of the Christian religious year), there's just one event today: the Kidrobot Show and Project MUNNY Canada at CiRCA. Kidrobot is Paul Budnitz' line of limited-edition collectible toys and apparel, and MUNNY is a little humanoid with blank features who can be customized in endless permutations. Perhaps even with a Good Friday theme...
Saturday, March 22
From 11 to 4, bedraggled and hungover fashionistas will share one last gasp at the first-ever Survival Brunch and Fashion Week Wrap-Up Salon at the Drake Hotel. Would-be participants must reserve separately at 416-531-5042, extension 113 (brunch) or 230 (salon).
L’Oréal Toronto Fashion Week provides a limited number of tickets for members of the general public. Tickets to single shows are $20, and may be purchased on-site; day passes are $50, and available through online registration only. Attendees must be at least 19 years old, and seating is not guaranteed. Early shows (those before 6 p.m.) tend to be the least crowded.
The photo below shows a highlight of L’Oréal Toronto Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2008: the presentation by Bustle, featuring cameo appearances by MTV hosts Dan Levy (son of Canadian actor and comedian Eugene Levy) and Jessi Cruickshank. Photo by Geoge Pimentel. Click on image to enlarge.
