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Fashion Week Confessional

To Cure a Fashion Hangover

After an exhilarating week of fun and fashion in a city that every so often rekindles my excitement, I was awakened this morning with a very bad case of the fashion week blues. As a true addict I had to keep my high alive, so I quickly opted for another round of this sartorial substance.

Alas, the ultimate cure happened at 11:00am in a gallery covered in original Wayne Clark fashion sketches. I felt so inspired as the gallery owner guided me through four glamorous decades of Wayne Clark fashions, sketch by sketch. Mr. Clark is a glam icon to say the least:

The sketch above on the bottom right corner is titled: Canadian Lumberjack Plaid, 1998. I felt a sudden burst of patriotism when I read that, which lifted me out of my funk and put me in a serious shopping mood.

I was obviously tres inspired by the gallery installation for the remainder of the day, take a look at this vintage Wayne Clark-esque dress I purchased (also shown above):

Yours in style,

Carly

A Week in The Tents

The week went something like this.
School.
Show. Starbucks. Show. Show. Starbucks. Show.
Sleep.

Repeat Daily.

Little Black To-Die-For Dresses from Morales. My favourite presentation of the week.
So much to say about the Sailor Moon-inflected frocks, but must save it for my article.

In the meantime, I need one of these dresses.

Speaking of dresses, the most lovely thing happened to me on Tuesday. A terrific young designer called Miss Rowe dropped by my flat bearing gifts. An ivory silk dress and feathered bangles. How sweet. This girl is one to watch. Her line oozes an Ashley Olsen savoir-faire with touches of gothic flare. I quickly slipped into the little vanilla number and taxied to the tents. In Toronto, the shows all start on time. How utterly unfashionable is that?


This season I got to attend many shows.

Pink Tartan, NADA, Joeffer Caoc, Bustle, David Dixon, Thien Li, Andy The Ahn, Joe Fresh, Evan Bidell, Evan and Dean, Morales, RUDSAK, Melinda-Mae Harlingten, Lucian Matis, John Paul Gaultier and the LG Closing Fashion Fusion Closing Gala awaits tonight. My mom is coming with me to support our friend Wayne Clark. His fabulous gowns are the perfect end to a glamorous week.

Loved soaking up the shows, yet also adore watching other people watch the show. I find it oddly mesmerizing how many people sport a practiced look of disdain. This phony indifference is an essential fashion week accessory. The writer David Livingstone has attitude down to an art form. I could watch him scoff all day, guessing the bitchy remarks he would scribble in his Moleskine.

If you don't know who David Livingstone is, shame on you. He has earned the right to be a huge grump.


My very favourite designer ever might be showing next season...

x M.

Ladies who Launch

Kvetching passengers in Juicy sweats, and ponchos, have invaded airports nation-wide, downgrading our flying esthetics from ‘jet set’ to ‘jet shlep’.

I recently flew Porter to Montreal, and although it was a super short flight, the experience really made an impression on me. From their chic lounge, and adorable stewardess uniforms, to their fabulous customer service and super speedy check in, I was truly inspired to look like a lady upon my return flight home (without sacrificing comfort of course).

Two days later, I find myself strutting through Dorval in a bright yellow tulip skirt (wide elastic band waist is key), with black tights, fitted turtleneck, and a cozy little black bolero in tow. I shoved my ugly corduroy carryon in my luggage and opted for a small and structured wool vintage bag to hold my bare necessities. I ditched the usual fashion mag, for a style inspiring read, “All You Need To Be Impossibly French” by Helena Frith Powell. I stood out from the airport masses like a Chanel suit at K-Mart, creating an important impression even before arriving at the final destination. It’s quite fun to think of the dreadful flight as a luxurious event.

Need a some fashion flight inspiration of your own? Pop in the Down with Love DVD and take a cue from Barbara Novack. Her travelling ensemble to NYC was structured and stylish from her wrist gloves to her matching hat box-esque carryon. Ms. Novack’s character made show stopping impressions throughout the entire film, wherever she roamed.

-Carly

Blossoming into Bradshaw

With all the 90’s whoopla lately, be it fashion, music or the re-launch of 90210, I recently stumbled upon the opening credits for Blossom, and I strongly suggest you take another look.

Yes I’m speaking of the awkward teen who left us with a bad taste for floppy hats, and topsy-tail hair-don’ts, but looking back at this video has shed a whole new light on her character. The opening credits displays Blossom in a wide array of quirky yet noteworthy outfits, portraying her versatile personality and style sense.

Got me thinking about Candace Bushnell’s, upcoming prequel novels, chronicling the teenage life of Carrie Bradshaw. Crazy as it seems… Ms Blossom Russo could just be that ‘it’ girl. Plucking the huge flower off her floppy hat and pinning it onto the shoulder of her body-con sheath…come on, Carrie’s distinct style must be the result of a major trial and error past.

Going a little deeper, Blossom and Carrie share the same perfectly un-perfect trait we as viewers relate to oh so well. From their first date … to their first engagement ring… and then their second…. we were glued to the tube, learning from their mistakes and gaining from their blossoming sense of self.

-Carly

Class in Session

I am visiting my sister in Vancouver for Thanksgiving.  She attends art school on an island full of bohemian  hipster fairies.  While some of their sartorial looks are most challenging to the eyes, there is a lovely sense of freedom to the way they put themselves together.  No thought is given to practicality or occasion--only self-expression.  My sister has a sense of whimsy when it comes to school attire--sequin backless dress one day, zippered scuba pants with a peasant top the next.  It is refreshing after a high school career spent in a belted tunic and godawful red blazer for her to wear whatever the heck she wants.  While I also have the same freedom at U of T, the school lends itself to a more sedate style.  Besides our turkey-shaped library, the place lacks panache.  While the style of the student body can veer on dull, I look to inspiration from my favourite example of scholastic style: Love Story.  Ali McGraw and Ryan McNeil's 70's Bostonian Ivy League look was just perfect for long days spent in lecture halls.

Adages of Love Story Style :

* Centre-parted hair tucked behind ears

* Scarf wrapped around neck and hanging down back

* Pea Coat in navy, khaki green, camel or gray

* Cream cardigan

* Penny Loafers

* Riding Boots

* Hunter Green Wellies

* Tuque Hat

* Cognac Saddle Bag

* Corduroy 

* Herringbone Tweed Blazer

* Thick Striped Sweater

* Ribbed tights

* Suede belt

* Sandalwood perfume

Also got me thinking of a friend I have at UPenn who really nails this look.  When I visited Philly she said in her sweet Brazilian accent that she was going for a nerd look.  Works for me.   Sometimes conservative styles make the boldest statements.  I hate that word right now because it is so affiliated with politics.  And Cindy McCain doesn't exactly exemplify conservative style. Her and Palin both need a serious makeunder.  

x M.

Sofia Knows Best

Marie Antoinette was so underrated.

Like a Balenciaga collection, it must be viewed 3 times before one gets it.

The best things don't make sense right away.

My mother saw Ms. Coppola on Rue de Grenelle in Paris a couple weeks ago.  

She uses her personal style and appreciation for fashion to inform her films and her home.

Love her.

Of course Sofia Coppola has the perfect abode.

and slouchy lounge wear.  

Of course.

Shorts and Tights

Weird combo, but it works.

Scholastic Style

Great Hair

Cool Plaid

Gossip Girl

Lovely Leather

Sweater Prepster

Skinny Jeans 

Chromatic Pattern Play

Lovely Barrette

Drop Crotch Pants

Perfect stance

Simply Comfy

Somehow not sloppy

Rive Gauche Chic

Classic Trench and Bag

Similar Style

Tulip Skirts

Plaid Topper

Bookworm

Roommates Perhaps?

Fun with neutrals

I am attempting to snap pictures of well-dressed students at U of T. 

Yes, they do exist. 

Trouble is, I always see the best ones when I don't have my camera.  Plus--sometimes I get embarrassed asking.  So far only one snooty boy with a Swiss accent said no.  But the Swiss are very private.  Not such a surprise.

Here I Go Again

Paris Fashion Week officially ended today...

I have a big article in the November issue of FASHION Magazine, which comes out this week....

It's almost Yom Kippur...

Time to atone for my sins and start posting regularly.

Get ready...

Yours Truly,

x M.