The Most Fun You Can Have With Cool Clothes On: Thursday, March 16, 2006
Fashion Myth No 4:
Where you sit at fashion shows determines your current standing in the fashion industry.
The Truth:
Sometimes. It depends on two things, the publicist and the designer. If it’s a show which is packed to the rafters of beautiful people and you’re small potatoes, honey you’re in the fourth row or further back. If you are well-known or with TV, you’re in the first row. Oh by the way, the first row gets the cool goodie bags.
What I Wore:
Damaged Fabric Turtle Neck, Raw Studios
Quilted Jersey Dress Pants, Hoax Couture
Capellas Shoes, John Fluevog
Face:
L’Oreal’s new Men’s Anti-Dark Circle Eye Contour Cream, from my Registration bag of goodies.
Prescriptives Moisturizing Bronzer with 10 SPF.
YSL, Brown Lip Balm, 10 SPF,
5:00pm:
My friend Dan R. and I are getting ready for L’Oreal Fashion Week. Dan is using the bathroom and I’m waiting to put my face on.
5:23pm:
Face is on and Dan R. is ready. He’s wearing his cowboy glam shirt from Urban Behaviour, a gift from me, and his new couture pants from Raw Studio.
5:40pm:
Arrive at the Exhibition grounds via TTC and both of us hoof it to the Liberty Grand for the Chulo Pony show.
5:53pm:Fuck! Almost at the Chulo Pony show and there is no line up.
6:01pm:
Sitting in the front row with Dan R. yeah. Give Dan R. the low down of sitting in front row. Simply this, I don’t care if you have explosive diarrhea do not get up on the runway under any circumstances. Show begins. Lights darken. Carnival music on crack starts and morphs into glam rock. Show beings with two models at the top of the runway.
Why You Should Love Chulo Pony!
Chulo Pony, combines a quirky fashion flavour associated with widely known alternative labels, presented with some unique pieces which can rock on with any woman’s wardrobe. From their pleated velvet jackets and wool hooded vest in hounds tooth to very girlie belted coats in plaid and ruffled suits, this collection is all girl.
Can You Without It?
Possibly. Let me put it to you this way, the Chulo Pony customer is the girl who sings or plays in the band the Comrags woman paid to hear. This collection has great appeal to the rocker girl who lives in every woman.
Two Must Haves From Chulo Pony:
- Their plaid crossover jacket with asymmetrical collar.
- The crushed and pleated velvet sleeveless dress. This so screamed Nancy Spudgen of Sid & Nancy fame.
Photos by Derek Lang
6:23pm:
Head to Media Lounge with Dan R. to chill and talk about the show. (Secretly sneak Dan into the lounge.)
6:55pm:
Dan R. and I line up for the Rudsak show.
6:58pm:
Very cool line guy let’s Dan into the media line.
6:59pm:
Seated in the third row, nick press kit from second row.
7:00pm:
The Rudsack show was supposed to start now.
7:10 pm:
Lights dim and first model struts down the runway in a waist-length black coat.
Why You Should Love Rudsak!
One of Canada’s venereal designers of garments to brave the Canadian winter is Rudsak. This label got its start in Montreal where the snow falls by the pound and the cold can stop you in your tracks. It presented some very wearable pieces for women. Coats with exaggerated collars with wide black clasps and waist length coats with angular collars - there was something to please everyone.
7:15pm:
YEAH! Finally there is menswear.
Why Men Should Love Rudsak!
Canadian men who are tried of looking like a contestant for the remake of the Beachcombers turn to Rudsak for their sense of design with a masculine edge. The Rudsack guy can wear his coat knowing that he will still look like a guy but with a sense of style and taste. Hey guys, dig this; dressing well doesn’t mean you’re a “metrosexual.”
Can You Live Without Rudsak?
Maybe, half way through the collection was leaning heavily on the "maybe heading towards a no." After the show was over I flipped to a "maybe screeching towards a yes". Although Rudsak has a Montreal pedigree, I expected better of such an established Canadian label. The collection seemed heavily stuck in the early 90s and didn’t have much more to offer men or women other than a waist coat, a pea coat or a parka. With designers such as Hilary Radley changing her collection to lead winter coat market, Rudsack has some serious catching up to do. But before this comes off as total slag, one of the things Rudsack totally has over Roots is their drop dead fabulous bags.
One Must Haves From Rudsak for Women:
- Leather ¾ length trench coat which was the best piece of the collection.
- Their ¾ length hounds tooth coat with shoulder leather patches and a fur trimmed collar. It’s actually very sexy.
7:31 pm:
Very excited. New favourite menswear designer Kaadiki is next show. Get out side of the runway space to head to the Kaadiki show. I was informed the show has been cancelled. Flabbergasted and make a mental note to call the PR agency to find out more. Head to Media Lounge with Dan R. He was disappointed the Kaadiki show was cancelled.
7:55pm:
After some well needed rest, the chance to check e-mail and food I head to my final show Pat McDonagh.
8:00pm:
It’s standing room only for those not “on the list” to have a seat. Wow the show is crowded. I’m second row, woo hoo! The Pat McDonagh show was supposed to start now.
8:01pm:
Hey! First row gets huge swag bag from Jeanne Lottie. Now seething of jealousy and envy. (I’ll burn in hell for sure now!) Spot friend Shawn Schmidt from Le Chateau. OMG! He’s got one. Go supha ghetto and go running up and ask to peek in the bag of swag goodness. OK fears of exclusion have been subsided - contents nothing to write home about. Go back up to seat in second row not feeling inadequate anymore.
8:10pm:
Show starts. OMG! There are people still on the runway literally. No! I’m not kidding there are still people on the runway and the model is butt blocked by some obnoxious guy in a god-awful white jacket. The photographers are yelling for him to sit down.
8:11pm:
First model on return strut almost looses her left shoe. She throws a look of “aw fuck it” and takes off both shoes and heads up the rest of the runway barefoot. Audience cheers and applauds. Being big homo I stand up and start cheering “YOU GO GIRL!” Model smiles back to the audience and walks backstage. *Note: A good model always has the elegance and style to handle any runway mishap. Editors will be forgiving of minor mistakes however blatant ones are usually not tolerated and have been known to end modeling careers. A blatant mistake is falling off the runway, walking too fast or senseless moves e.g. see entry about the Lupa show yesterday.
Why You Should Love Pat McDonagh!
Pat McDonagh has an established reputation of providing great clothes for those women a little fashion shy. She sent a very stable and solid collection down the runway, albeit a trifle conservative. Items such as beautiful organza blouses with silk patches to avoid any wardrobe malfunctions, a crinkled skirt with a wide belt bringing back the 80s and sweeping bordering on luxurious silver gowns with trains. Her collection was very wearable and should please her fans who were cheering on the models as each one appeared.
Can You Live Without Pat McDonagh?
No. Though the collection is for a slightly more fashion mature customer she nevertheless has a great sense of style. She would maybe in reality be a grandmother but has still some of that femme fetal left in her. Izzy Camilleri is for her daughter. But Pat McDonagh’s client is for the woman who is busy and loves Canadian designers but acts like nobody’s grandmother.
Two Must Haves From Pat McDonagh:
- Short bust length wool military-styled jacket over a flowing silk layered dress.
- Grey a-line jersey dress with the side silver ring fabric holder.
For The Woman Who Was Booted Out Of Drama Queen Rehab:
8:40pm:
Show ends and Pat McDonagh takes a bow.
Today’s Swag Gift:
Chulo Pony, Press kit with Goldspot CD.
Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker sightings:
None
Where to Get What I Wore:
Raw Studio, Ed: 416.935.0555
Hoax Couture: www.hoaxcouture.com
John Fluevog: www.johnfluvog.com
Geoffrey Davis-Shock Ra: www.shockra.com
Face:
Prescriptives: www.holtrenfrew.com
L’Oreal for Men: Any Shopper’s Drug Mart
YSL Cosmetics: www.holtrenfrew.com
Stay Tuned for Exclusive Best Lists from Fashion Statement including Tales from the Pit, an interview the JuicyStuff.ca’s L’Oreal Fashion Week photographer Derek Lang with his waist high and right at the end of the runway take of fashion week.
For more about Toronto’s L’Oreal Fashion Week visit www.fdcc.ca
The After Party:
The Dirty Laundry party at the State Theatre
11:45pm:
Decked out in GSus I make my way to the State Theatre to go to the Dirty Laundry party hosted by GSus Canada.
11:55pm:
Enter the party since I’m “on the list” and given an orange ticket.
11:56pm:
Told by evil door person media must pay a $10 cover. Tell the door queen, "I don’t fuckin’ think so" and left.
Friday, March 17, 2006, 10:45am:
Call the PR agency to find out about the Kaadiki show and to voice my support for Haithem and my disappointment. Told they did not know why he cancelled last minute and would find out.
11:00am:
Receive a call back from the PR agency. They spoke to Haithem and he has stated that circumstances did not allow him to show this season but will be doing a look book for the media. Told the PR rep. to wish Haithem well and keep me in the loop.
Look for coverage of the Fall 2006 Kaadiki menswear collection in coming installments of Fashion Statement.
Max Macdonald
max@juicystuff.ca
All photos by Derek Lang
derek@juicystuff.ca
