Description: Aime’s missing from the fashion calendar this season because we’re moving studios. But fashionistas don’t fret! Spring has sprung and we’re doing some spring-cleaning. We’re blowing out all samples and the final few pieces from our luxury collection of Italian and Japanese silks. Scour the sales rack for savings of 50 - 75% off and the Aime SS10 samples are back from the NY showroom and are available at wholesale.
For only one week, savvy shoppers can get their Aime fashion fix during Toronto fashion week at Chloe’s Closet pop up boutique on the shopping strip of Queen Street West.
Along with the relaxed elegance of Aime, there’s also flirty and sassy Brazen Hussy, and the trendy fashions of TFNC available at Chloe’s Closet.
Location: Chloe's Closet pop up boutique, 803 Queen Street West, Toronto
Hours of operation: Saturday 12 – 6pm; Sunday 12 - 5pm; Monday to Friday from 12 – 7pm only until Friday, April 2, 2010.
Yesterday I attended four fashion shows and I have to say seeing Aime, Evan Biddell, Rudsak and Nada all in the same night was a treat. Therefore, I’ve separated my coverage of LG Fashion Week day four into two blog posts for an easier read through. First up for review are Aime and Evan Biddell.
4:00 p.m.Aime
Taking inspiration from her travels in Europe, designer Monica Mei channelled the feeling and lifestyle of la dolce vita, and the setting of the Mediterranean coastline in her S/S 2010 collection for Aime.
Mei’s models came down the runway in daywear characterized by flowing dresses, tops and printed shorts. Soft colours, such as white, pink, nude and yellow were used, and silver lamé and flower details were added as accents. This created a beach feeling that was so prevalent in Mei’s presentation that I immediately thought maybe she should consider incorporating swimwear in the future.
By day Mei’s woman was a carefree spirit and by night she transformed into a sophisticated lady with flare and attitude. Form fitting cuts took over, such as pencil skirts, structured dresses and blouses with coloured piping.
Highlight pieces of the collection were Mei’s floral printed shorts with silver lamé edging and several dresses; a structured black dress, a purple and floral baby doll dress and a button down sweater dress with fringe hem.
This collection emphasized the wearability of Mei’s garments and efforts to make clothes that can be worn by women of all shapes and sizes. For future Aime collections adding pieces, such as pants and jackets would round out the line and add to its versatility.
6:00 p.m.Evan Biddell
“Beam me up Scotty, but wait I have make sure my heavy jewellery is securely on and my hooded dress sits just right on my head so I can exercise at the intergalactic gymnasium tonight, then head to the club and get my drink on.”
Last night Evan Biddell, Canada’s bad boy of fashion, showcased an eclectic S/S 2010 collection dominated by expert draping, large statement necklaces for both men and women, mixed with futuristic clothes that could go from the gym to the club – loud dance music and Toronto hipsters in attendance also helped set the atmosphere for this too.
Titled, The Year 2010 – Unnatural Disaster, Biddell said “I was thinking about a world of barren deserts where only the strongest could survive. A regal species evolved to rule this domain,” also adding that “the collection is female fury personified.”
Biddell opened the show with a model dressed in a simple unstructured black silk dress, yet the key ingredient to this ensemble was the necklace she wore that incorporated an LG Chocolate phone with the EB logo on display – a collaboration he did with Toronto-based jewellery designer Rita Tesolin.
The collection progressively became more structured and futuristic through the use of subdued colours with accents of orange and blue, and sharp geometric cuts. Androgyny was also highlighted by pairing male and female models walking side-by-side down the runway, their faces aimed to show the after effect of Biddell’s post-apocalyptic desert world – then again, what model doesn’t look depressed or angry when walking down a runway.
For me, standout pieces from the collection has to be Biddell’s opening dress with the LG Chocolate phone necklace and a strapless blue dress with a grey pleated shrug.
One thing you can’t fault Biddell with is he doesn’t curb his artistic vision just for the sake of saleability or wearability – he’s definitely a risk taker and will only push the envelope further as time goes on.
Pictures by Kimberly Lyn andJenna Marie Wakani. Video from blogTO. Information from the Aime and Evan Biddell spring/summer 2010 collection notes.
Lions and tigers and seals, oh my! Seals you say? What does that have to do with LG Fashion Week? Last night, at the Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail and at the opening festivities of Fashion Week two PETA protestors stood outside each venue handing out pamphlets. One was outfitted in a seal costume, happily waving and posing for pictures – very few (including me) took their efforts seriously to upstage the evening.
5:30 p.m. Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail
Despite the seal, last night was full of fun, laughter and Canadian style. Holt Renfrew and the Fashion Design Council of Canada (FDCC) flexed its powerful fashion muscle by gathering together designers, media, fashion bloggers and sponsors in Holt’s Bloor Street store for its annual media cocktail party.
Speeches by Barbara Atkin, vice president and fashion director for Holt Renfrew, and Robin Kay, president of the FDCC kicked off the evening, followed by a mini fashion show featuring seven of Canada’s top design houses. They are: Greta Constantine, Denis Gagnon, Lida Baday, Jeremy Laing, Mikhael Kale, Pink Tartan and Smythe.
Dubbed the new “Group of Seven” by Kay, these very talented designers showcased capsules of their spring/summer 2010 (S/S 2010) collections. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes saw their expertly designed garments. The cut, colour and style of each collection presented made me swell with pride – this is Canadian talent and fashion that should be celebrated 365 days of the year, around the globe and in every store in the country.
Two collections I was drawn to were Denis Gagnon and Greta Constantine. The design duo of Greta Constantine (Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong) presented four pieces from their S/S 2010 collection. My favourite was a white dress with a sharply cut deep v-front.
As for Denis Gagnon, well I think he and I need to become best friends. This was the first time I had the opportunity to see his clothing in real life, and it blew me away. Seeing only four pieces of his latest collection showed his talent for detail, and expert handling of cloth such as jersey, leather and zippers. A standout piece from Gagnon’s line was a leather jacket with zipper detailing along the cuffs, neckline and hem. Edgy and genius! Take note of Gagnon’s custom-designed Aldo shoes which received a lot of attention during his presentation at Montreal Fashion Week (see Fashionmagazine.com for more information).
Personal highlights of the evening was having the pleasure of finally meeting two of Canada’s top fashion bloggers, Anita Clarke of I Want I Got and Danielle Meder of Final Fashion, as well as reconnecting with an old friend from university, Monica Mei who is the designer of Aime; I’m so proud of her accomplishments and I will definitely be attending her show this Thursday.
9:00 p.m. On the runway... at LG Fashion Week (1030 King Street West)
The first show, 100 years of Beauty by L’Oréal Paris, opened with an opera singer and then chronicled fashion trends and beauty throughout the ages. It was quite beautiful and artfully presented showcasing garments on the runway from each decade starting from the year 1900 and ending at 2010.
Stratford Shakespeare Festival “Wear Love Alive” presented a runway show full of drama, elegance and sophistication. The costumes from the Stratford Shakespeare Festival utilized a variety of cloth including feathers, fur and lace that added a feeling of sumptuousness to the garments. Topping off the end of the show was a group of male models strutting down the runway. Be still my beating heart!
Now I’m onto day two of LG Fashion Week, stay tuned.
