The cool thing about fashion week is without a doubt the opportunity to get a sneak peak of future collections and trends before everyone else and the inspiration you get from other style and fashion addicts. Another thing I look forward to is discovering new businesses and artisans while passing by the stands. And of course, the energy emanating from the runway during a fashion show is just magical. There’s something mystical, electrical or simply divine about it. I like to sort of guess the inspiration or come up with stories behind each featured collection.
This 6th edition of fashion Preview was a delight in terms of colors, thank goodness spring summer 2017 will be colorful. The accessory village included brands such as Coton Mouton, Ella Dugre, Et le bijou crea la femme, Holdur, Maison Bourdon, Guillotine, L’Antichambre Parfums, la boutique en ligne Fibres Collectives et C’est Beau, le « Coup de cœur de Jason ».
Fashion Show Overview by Designer
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Photo credit: Colin Cuthbert
Rush by Claudette Floyd dared to include fall/winter tints of purple and red along with pure bright white and ruffled cuts which was pleasant for the eye. We could certainly retain elegance, color, comfort and femininity from her collection.
Duy kept it very pastel bright with two main inspirations: Modern formal meets middle age combined to some Asian inspiration on collars and cuts on blazers. The male model kind of looks like he’s wearing the most stylish karate outfit and the girls look like they would be a modern version of the ladies from French Court with the bulged sleeves, the apparent nobleness of the fabrics and the accentuation of the waist.
ESG UQUAM presented a fashion show comparable to established designer shows. Attention to details, original elements, quality fabrics, trendy designs and tints, ballsy well calculated risks. I was pleasantly surprised. College Lasalle students presented a festival of white blouses with interesting details differentiating each piece. I totally wanted them all! Cegep Marie-Victorin presented a festival of colored furs paired with colored tights, which kind of reminded me of the harlequin style.
Helmer, true to his reputation, gave us a show filled with extravagant details and accessories enhanced through vibrant colors. The runway got quite cheeky as the pieces were quite short. I have been a fan of his work ever since I saw it for the first time a few years back. Helmer took the opportunity to announce he was launching a fashion design course during Fashion Preview and I cannot wait to see the new generation of designers he will train.
KQK is another one of my favorite designers who masters the art of soft layering, asymmetrical lines and superposition of different fabrics in effortless chic signature looks.
Naïké brought a breath of fresh air with its Sunday at the Marina kind of looks. Light fabrics, blue overcoats combined to Holdur Fannypacks emphasized that theme.
Leinad Beaudet brought back the midi culottes in black and white with some rich yellow and creme pink pieces. Comfort and elegance seems to be the recurring message of the brand.
Muse Par Christian Chenail kept it sober with black and white pieces through a balanced proportion of chic and weekend pieces. I really loved the see-through knit dress.
Lovan made it seem like it was possible to want to hug your clothes with their wrapping comfy soft hoodied pieces. Those pieces, in my opinion, are the closest to wearing a teddy bear, a stylish one that is.
Karma rocked the fit category with its stylish workout pieces. The designer explained how they use designer quality fabrics to create trendy pieces.
Yoga Jeans added their own twist to jeans with cute recurring embroidered flowers on jeans and jackets. I totally had a crush on the blue jean culotte. Save one for me Yoga Jeans!!
I recently attended artist Rio’s vernissage at Auberge Saint-Gabriel and it was just as you would expect: refined, colorful and sensual.I first discovered the artist at Meubles Reno and I liked the painting I saw to the point where I had to ask for the artist’s name. I then saw his work here and there, which reinforced the general appreciation for the brand and its signature master pieces. When you see a Rio, you immediately understand as he focuses on women’s faces while playfully extra volumizing their hair. His new collection adds glammed nature as a signature theme. The figures express enigma while using rich and high end textures such as Czech crystals, golden leaves and hematite for a supercharged feel of glam and a close attention to details. He learned many of those techniques by himself. Each one of his paintings is unique and can come in different sizes up to 12 foot. They are sparkly, they are vibrant and they are gorgeous. An interesting fact is that he uses 100 to 150 years old encyclopedia pages to produce his art and to mix the present with the past in a way. During our on the spot interview, Rio shared his number one tip for artists who want to make it in their industry which was to never give up. He had to overcome many closed doors before making it in the industry. I also asked him to weigh in on fashion versus art and he categorically thinks fashion is a form of art and that my friends is the moment I deeply connected with him! Although, he collaborates with some designers, he has no plan of printing his signature paintings on clothing pieces.
The vernissage had a dia de los muertos theme which was perfect for the artist’s new skull inspired paintings. There were models dressed and made up as muertos with accents of black, white and red as well as a candy bar in those same colors. The ambiance was exquisitely filled with art lovers and media devouring the beauty of the paintings, of the set-up and of the fun classy ambiance.
Another exciting news from the artist: Rio recently launched a magazine with long time interior designer best friend Stephanie Belanger called l’Art de Recevoir focusing on decor and culinary art. The publicity free publication which will be published 4 times a year and sold $10.95. It’s like a Pinterest board that tells you where to get your favorite items It’s designed to inspire you and teach you how you can upgrade your set-up game with even items you already own at home. It’s a real delight for the eyes featuring local artisans. Stephanie’s best advice for styling a memorable set-up is to have fun with your creativity. She also shared with me that there’s a TV show in the talks for her and RIO, to be continued…
The 6th edition of Fashion Preview is currently in the works and is scheduled from Monday October 24th through Wednesday October 26th as of 5:45 pm (shows starting at 6:15 pm) at UQAM’s Hydro-Quebec Agora and Chaufferie (175, President-Kennedy avenue, Montreal, Quebec, H2X 3P2). This edition will showcase local designers’ 2017 Spring/Summer collections. Fashion Preview has positioned itself as the new Montreal Fashion Week and aims to bring together Montreal designers with local and international buyers and media. Honoring Belgium, this edition will feature 3 Belgian designers, which is a great opportunity for international inspiration and discoveries.
Actually, the event will also be starting, in parallel, on Saturday October 22nd, at Leows Hotel Vogue’s Atrium where some designers will present their collections like Macha Thys (wool collection from Belgium), Anomal Couture (red carpet looks, from Montreal), Eve & Daphnee perfumes (now also sold at Maison Ogilvy).
Shopping Stands include Coton Mouton, Ella Dugre, Et le bijou crea la femme, Holdur, Maison Bourdon, Guillotine, L’Antichambre Parfums, la boutique en ligne Fibres Collectives et C’est Beau, le « Coup de cœur de Jason ».
Two showrooms will take place, one on October 25th and another one on October 26th from 9 am to 12:30 pm at Agora Hydro-Quebec for buyers so they can have a closer look at ready to wear collections.
One of the cool new things about this edition is the shows will be live streamed on social media! Here’s the complete list of scheduled runway shows and you can get your tickets here.
Fashion Shows:
Day 1
Monday October 24 2016
Agora Hydro-Quebec & Chaufferie (entrance through the Chaufferie) 5: 45 pm – Doors open 6:15 pm – Fahion shows start
• École superieure de mode • Helmer • Leinad Beaudet • Naïke |
Day 2
Tuesday October 25 2016
Agora Hydro-Quebec & Chaufferie (entrance through the Chaufferie) 5: 45 pm – Doors open 6:15 pm – Fahion shows start
• Cegep Marie-Victorin • Christian Chenail • DUY • Lovan M. • Yoga Jeans |
Day 3
Wednesday October 26 2016
Agora Hydro-Quebec & Chaufferie (entrance through the Chaufferie) 5: 45 pm – Doors open 6:15 pm – Fahion shows start • College LaSalle • Claudette Floyd • KQK • Les Incompetents • Karma Athletics |
PRESS RELEASE
1st edition Montreal Kids Fashion Week
Saturday, October 15th at 1 pm, the shows will kick off “Fashions day out” with a shared runway experience.
For the first time ever the kids will hit the catwalk together, featuring mini models who will introduce new looks from the designers who will launch their autumn/winter 2017 collections. The lineup will continue on Sunday, October 16th, with runway shows, dream photoshoot workshop and conference to encourage a positive self-image.
Because Kids have a fashion sense all their own, meURise events Founded and produced the Montreal kids Fashion Week to showcase local boutiques, designers and vendors who make a positive impact in the local community and in the kids fashion industry.
For this first edition, MKFW’s theme is «To each his own style». Gives to the kids a unique opportunity to exercise their creativity through what they wear each day.
Facebook.com/Mtlkidsfashionweek
Twitter.com/ Mtlkidsfashionweek
Instagram.com/ Mtlkidsfashionweek
This October 4th Marie Saint-Pierre will unveil a new capsule collection for men in Toronto at Cabinet Ephemere’s new mobile boutique. Cabinet Ephemere, known for their seasonal pop up shops at Ogilvy and for showcasing Montreal designers during events such as Fashion Preview and the fashion and design festival in Montreal.
This extension to masculine fashion comes from an observation of a male clientele responding positively to her collection’s most androgynous pieces. This reminds me of an interview I had with Philippe Dubuc who had told me the same thing but from an opposite perspective. Being a menswear designer, he mentioned how some women like to shop his collections for themselves. So I’m wondering if he will go the same route eventually by expanding to womenswear. And who knows, women may want to pick a thing or two from MSP’s men’s collections. This collection is expected to respect the designer’s neutral modern chic soul stamp. It will offer pants, blazers, and shirts among other things. Simon Olivier-Fecteau was wearing Marie Saint-Pierre at the last Gemeaux Gala, as seen on the top picture.
MSP also offers dresses, tops, bottoms, wedding dresses, accessories, bags, perfumes, candles and home furniture. It’s positioned as a luxurious brand with stores in Montreal (de la Montagne and Rockland center), in Miami and online. It also sells in larger upscale multi brand stores across Canada and the USA.
The inspiring designer has many realizations under her belt. She designed the outfit of female staff at Hotel Le Germain, she was a guest speaker at a conference featuring women of influence launched by W Hotels, she won CAFA’s outstanding achievement award in 2015 and was part of the nominating committee afterwards. She was also featured in the documentary “Revealing Marie Saint Pierre” at the international film festival.
https://www.instagram.com/p/BLEPiYLAjsC/?taken-by=sophiaamoruso&hl=en
Nasty Gal’s founder Sophia Amoruso is launching a second book this week, today (October 4th) more specifically. After the tremendous success of her first baby #GIRLBOSS, which will be adapted into a Netflix series, she has now written a second book called Nasty Galaxy, like Nasty Gal’s blog. This second book is kind of a view on her world, the people who inspire her, her environment, etc. The book will be visual with many colorful images to help share a better glimpse of her lifestyle to better inspire her readers. Just like her first book, this second one will be categorized as a business read. She basically shares practical advice, some of her philosophies and women who inspire her.
You can order the book on amazone here. Now back to #GIRLBOSS on Netflix. It will be adapted into a comedy series. Apparently, Charlize Therone will be involved as the executive director. The show will recount Sophia’s Nasty Gal journey from the very beginning when she was buying vintage pieces from thrift stores and selling them on eBay as written in the book. She will also be involved in the production. Britt Robertson will play Sophia and we will be able to enjoy it in 2017.
I had the chance to try the new 2017 Lincoln MKZ luxurious experience for a week. First of all, I was excited to drive a Lincoln because it made me feel closer to my grand father who recently passed away and who used to drive a Lincoln SUV. I was also excited to experiment what Matthew McConaughey experiments when he drives his. My first impression when I saw the car was OMG it’s not an SUV?!? I always thought somehow Lincoln mainly focused on SUVs, this one was a white sedan with leather interior and an opening roof that refreshes you like nothing you’ve ever experienced before. The robust structure made me feel safe and I couldn’t wait to hit the road in it.
Inside the car, I instantly felt Lincoln’s prestigious stamp and I wasn’t alone based on people’s stares on the streets. First, the lighting was amazing inside and out. At night, as you get close to the car it senses the chip in your car key, which is actually a car remote, and lights up even the lights on its handles and projects the Lincoln Logo on the floor. It literally feels like your car is rolling out a welcoming lighted carpet for you. The car seats were simply divine and hold you tight so you don’t slip left and right on curvy parts of the road. I was able to heat my seat, cool it (which feels a bit weird at first) and even get an adjustable back massage and let me tell you, the feeling of it and the face you make when you’re driving and getting a massage at the same time are priceless. I was also able to heat the steering wheel which is definitely a plus for our not so gentle weather. The way lighting and temperature is configured allows every person to turn up or down the degrees and the lights, which reminded me of the customization on a plane seat. The car comes with a rear view camera, sensors on its extremities emitting a sound each time you get too close to another object. There’s also a collision warning that basically sets a sound alarm with a warning on the dashboard if there’s a risk of impact. The MKZ also warns you when you’re driving out of your lane on those dashed lines per example. It does so by triggering vibrations on the steering wheel on the side of the line you’re driving on. The most surprising thing I saw in the car was definitely the power plug at the back.
The crazy thing about this car is with all its features, it does not consume a lot of gas due to its hybrid nature, meaning it recycles energy from its brakes through its Ecoboost system. Gas consumption kicks in when the Eco battery gets low. This is great, budget and the environment wise.
I was able to test the car on different road and weather conditions. The luxurious experience started at Golf Ile des Soeurs where a friend and I had a pro shadowing us through the circuit and giving us advice and technical explanation. We really appreciated his deep knowledge on golf and his professional and fun company. It was actually my first time trying golf and I liked that. I will probably be returning. One of the main major value added items of this golf course was the view of Montreal’s downtown. Absolutely gorgeous! At the second stop, I enjoyed trying a gourmet sushi restaurant called Miso. Sushi is my all time favorite food and that was the perfect way to end the week. Wait, the week did not end there. Saturday we visited Riviere du Chene’s vineyard and tasted some in-house produced wine. That could be a very cute and fun date activity, especially at this upscale vineyard. Afterwards we drove to Auberge du Lac Taureau which I had always wanted to visit. Auberge du lac Taureau is a great escapade place to rest, vacation or try winter or summer activities. Their facilities have this charming rustic modern vibe it’s like the glamping version of wood cabins.
Little fun fact: Matthew played in a movie called The Lincoln Lawyer released in 2011 and he was driving a Lincoln town car. Not sure if this is all a coincidence, or…
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Photo Credit: Manikmati Photography.
From shopping to fashion shows and conferences, check out our photographer’s takes from the 2016 edition of Montreal’s Fashion & Design Festival. My coup de coeur went to KQK for the freshness and sleek cuts of its new upcoming fall/winter collection, Jacques Nantel, Lise Watier & Jeanne Beker’s conferences. For more details about the festival, click here.
If you didn’t get a chance to shop FMD, here’s the complete list of the brands and boutiques that were present at Quartier des Spectacles for the occasion. Happy discoveries!
FASHION TRUCK
KARIBU
LA MONTRÉALAISE ATELIER
LOVAN M
NOMAD
STYLUNIC
TAILOR 2GO
POP-UP BOUTIQUES
ATELIER SYP
BELLEMINE
BOHO BABY
BOUTIQUE LA FABRIK
BUDDHA SCRUB
CREATIVAL BIJOUX
CONCEPT CLOTHING
ENZO KAY
ETHIK BGC
FAY WITH LOVE
LA FACADE ILLUSTRATIONS
LA PETITE BOÎTE CO
LE CARTEL
LE RHINOCÉROS PAR PHI
LE TRUNKSHOP
LOST & FAUNE
MAISON 630
MARCHÉ COLORÉ
MES AMIS IMAGINAIRES
MY ADDIKT/PRYSM
NECK BREAKERS
PHILO
PORT FRANC
RELUXE
ROXANNE NIKKI
SASS CREATION
THE WANDERER CO
ZAÄN
Montreal’s Fashion & Design Festival unveiled their 2016 program launch and it keeps getting bigger and better every year: A large diversification of content, from fashion movies at Cinema Du Parc, to collaborations with Cirque du Soleil and live artistic performances. The Festival has been going to great lengths lately, inviting international fashion icons and experts and collaborating with big organizations to deliver great content. Chantal Durivage, the cofounder, also explained the logic behind having local designers as well as international brands walk the runway during the festival as us montrealers like the rich diversity of our cultures and brands.
This certainly differentiates it from fashion weeks as it is seemingly positioning itself as an industry festival for fashion and design enthusiasts looking for entertainment while growing their industry knowledge. There seems to be less local designer fashion shows this year, probably to avoid the redundancy of showcasing the same designers in many different shows. That also makes sense as they are now highlighted by Montreal’s fashion week aka Fashion Preview, in a more detailed manner through full collections, for potential buyers to preview and pre-order as well as for other fashion industry players like media and stylists, all sharing the preview with the public and potential final customers.
The festival will take place at Place des Festivals in Quartier des Spectacles, for another consecutive year from August 15 to August 20. My top list of looking forward to #FMD16 moments are the fashion shows featuring Bestseller, Alton Gray, Cabinet Éphémère, LaSalle College x LCI Barcelona, boutiques Citizen Vintage and Boutique Ethik, all the DIYs from Cirque du Soleil (costume workshop), Daily dans ta face and Shaper Studios, the performance with paper-made dresses created by Alice-Anne Augustin, the fashion multimedia art, the fashion movies especially the First Monday in May about the annual MET Ball (which I loved and reviewed here) and all the conferences and by all I really mean all. FMD Conferences is presented by Destination centre-ville, in collaboration with Elle Quebec. Make sure to pay extra attention during these ones: Herve Leger-Leroux you know THE Herve Leger, MMode about the business of fashion in Mtl, the trio Mark DeCoste, Benoît Mathieu (master artisans in costume design and creation) and Kym Barrett (designer for Avatar and The Matrix) about the challenges of the costume industry, Jerome Gautier about the importance of photography in fashion, Max Abadian the internatinal photographer, Lise Watier and Jeanne Beker who do not need to be introduced, Jacques Nantel, the marketing guru, Didier Vervaeren fashion commissary from Modo Brussels, Trouble Andrew the hip graphic designer and Scott Schuman from the popular blog The Sartorialist. All will be animated by Stephane Leduc from Dress To Kill Magazine.
Other cool things on the menu: The Fashion Hero will be shooting an episode from the Festival’s main runway on Saturday at 4 p.m. for their international reality show, the chic masculine fashion show from Waxman with Love under live East Coast 90s rap musical performances by Montreal duo MIGS AND SILENT J., RELUXE’s business and entertainment personalities, walking to the beat of Ryan Playground’s music, wearing preloved luxury, in support of Le Chaînon.
So basically the big local designers fashion show this year will be presented by Cabinet Ephemere and will showcase Noemiah, Nisse, Poupoune de Luxe, KQK, Wallo and Elama. Emerging designers like Eliza Faulkner, Mon prefere, Feline Dion, Marigold, Anne Marquis and Dorothee Tessier, Atelier New Regime and Robert Atelier as well as graduates from the Marie-Victorin fashion school and high school students from the Fusion Jeunesse program will be featured on the MAD scene. This list is rather different compared to previous years. The festival will also open its runways to Rob Chamaeleo from Costa Rica and to Roxanne Nikki from Vancouver.
And of course, the festival will be a great opportunity to shop at its 30 pop-up boutiques and fashion trucks loaded with local designer goodies from clothing to accessories, bags and shoes, the amount of fab items you’ll find is just ridiculous and the prices are very reasonable, trust me, it’s coming from a personal shopper who does her annual #FMD pilgrimage. Festival Goers are also encouraged to visit the fashion museum at Marche Bonsecours and the Eleganza shoe exhibit at McCord Museum.
For the complete #FMD16 program, click here.
Photo Credit: Manikmati Photography.