The Canadian School

Pretty pretty things

2011-09-20T02:49:00.000-07:00

Erdem's new SS12.
photo by Caroline at Purple

The Business of Fashion

2011-09-18T08:09:00.000-07:00

So while I don't post anything here I strongly suggest you go read the best and very influential business fashion blog , The Business of Fashion by Canadian Imran Amed.

With that said, I think it is soon time to unveil a new Canadian School of Fashion- that is when time allows.

Thank you Jack!

2011-08-24T08:34:00.000-07:00

Jack Layton 1950-2011

For making Canada a better place and believing in a better place for all.

Jack Layton's last letter to Canadians

Photo: fab Magazine

Summer colors by Mark Fast

2011-07-19T12:12:00.000-07:00

Thinking of bright summer colors made me think of Beyoncé in Mark Fast. All fun and GREAT!

All the best Jeremy!

2011-06-28T11:33:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite dresses from FW 09, great for Stevie Nicks ethereal moments

Jeremy and Frank

Best of luck to Jeremy Laing on the ANDAM announcement tomorrow.
A million things have happened in Canadian fashion and I am too busy with my new life in Monaco and my latest endeavor.
I will be back! Once in a while...

LGFW - The Fashion Collective

2011-03-28T06:06:00.000-07:00

It is the beginning of Toronto's LG Fashion Week and I am intrigued by The Fashion Collective.

I got a series of invites to what seemed cool new labels and some interesting events.

Tell me more Toronto.

Calla in Flare

2011-03-20T14:08:00.000-07:00

Love this Calla Paris fashion week diary in Flare. Calla's ANDAM nominated collection and great inspirations came to life nicely in these pages. Maria Felix and me in the same story: grand.

Just because - Arcade Fire

2011-03-16T03:05:00.000-07:00

I thought of doing this when they won the Grammy for Best Album of the Year, needless to say it is a rather than long delayed post.
The amazing Arcade Fire's "We used to Wait" video feature combined the best of technology and music at the TheWildernessDowntown.

I hope someone is writing the definitive book on Canadian music of the past 10 years. There is even more material than with fashion.

From Canada with tattoos: Zombie Boy

2011-03-08T11:07:00.000-08:00

Nicola Formichetti's muse and Lady Gaga "Born this way" featured partner -Zombie Boy- is from Montreal Canada. Sounds about right; Montreal is a pretty interesting city, a good place for the arts and experimentation.

I don't think I need to point out why the relation to fashion.

But just in case :

Mugler fall 2011

creative director Nicola Formichetti

music director Lady Gaga

Witness my shame

2010-12-29T13:05:00.001-08:00

The tittle of an amazing book by Canadian artist Shary Boyle is also exactly how I feel...Resolution before the end of year and for the New Year: keep up.

I have missed so many news, so many ideas...so many profiles. I am sure there will be so much more Canada in fashion next year...

Chilly Gonzales

2010-10-11T07:48:00.001-07:00

Favorite record of the moment: Ivory Tower by Chilly Gonzales.
Gonzales is the musician, pianist, producer, and Guinness world record holder from Canada with a Mexican bought name who lives in Paris.
For a fashion reference, the track above was used in the Chanel Haute Couture FW10/11 show.
For pop reference, when you see an iPad ad you are listening to his music.
For fun:

CALLA Printemps Été 2011

2010-09-23T05:17:00.000-07:00

Qui est Thomas Tait?

2010-09-21T03:18:00.000-07:00

photo from: The Business of Fashion

More on Thomas Tait from one of my favorite sites from another Canadian; The Business of Fashion

Jeremy Laing's amazing collection

2010-09-17T00:19:00.000-07:00

Jeremy Laing SS11 Collection

Jeremy Laing the aesthete simply showed the best collection of his career. Mature, desirable, modern, sexy, and most importantly true to his take on fashion.

Also noting that Jamie Sin's jewelry pieces played the perfect accompanying role.

style.com

Rad Hourani's way

2010-09-14T02:49:00.000-07:00

Last night was the livestream of Rad Hourani's Unisex NYFW show. Rad has been very good at implementing the latest commercial strategies in the business; diffusion line, online shop, and now the shop the collection right away. He is one of the designers that hopefully is changing an antiquated system by which clothes are commercialized.

Me too

2010-09-13T05:01:00.000-07:00

Colette loves Canada. colette.fr

Memories of winter wear...It looks best on a window display.

Archiving

2010-09-13T03:48:00.000-07:00

It's been almost a month since this came out and I am only posting now. A month a long time ago was recent, a month these days it means I am in the business of archiving.

I am very happy that Jessica Johnson took inspiration from this blog for the tittle of her Walrus article exploring Canadian Fashion.

The Canadian School The Walrus

Canadian Cool

2010-08-24T05:05:00.001-07:00

Back from holidays to find out that this weekend's New York Times' T Magazine feature on "Canadian Cool" , the Style Map section featuring my other home: Toronto. Love it!

See it all here.

The Bieber: something Canadians can be proud of

2010-07-05T08:14:00.000-07:00

Justin Bieber's Paris girlfriend

This is mostly a documentation on fashion but the most famous Canadian these days is a certain someone called Justin Bieber. The teens love him; the adults are sick of him; and then there are the ones whom have made the Bieber their latest pop culture obsession.

I mean the teen idol's name is Bieber... I wonder if The Beaver in Toronto will host a special music night for the Canadian heartthrob. I know of people who would love to go to that party: "Biber at the Beaver".

Some Bieber related sites:

www.callbieber.com

Lesbians who look just like Justin Bieber

The Beaver Toronto

In Paris - Rad Hourani

2010-06-22T08:28:00.000-07:00

If in Paris for menswear fashion week Rad Hourani's Tranclassic show opening on Wednesday, June 23rd is a must.

Galerie Joyce
Palais Royal 168 Galerie de Valois 75001 at 8pm.

Roots x Coupland go electric

2010-06-21T08:33:00.000-07:00

This one goes under interesting collaborations: famous Canadian author, artist, and general culture observer Douglas Coupland is collaborating with clothing and lifestyle retailer Roots on a limited edition collection of clothes, accessories and decor pieces under the theme "Canada goes electric".

We could call this a match made in Canadian heaven as both the artist and the brand have been good representatives of Canada's cultural landscape.

It's all gone Mark Fast

2010-06-20T05:25:00.000-07:00

Mark Fast's "The ascension of beauty"

As someone pointed out Toronto recently went Mark Fast crazy; news and tweets from the city were all about Mark's visit. Amid luncheons, dinners and parties it seems Mark was very busy during his time in Toronto to instal his Luminato -Toronto's festival of arts+creativity - "The ascension of beauty" sculpture. The visual arts piece reinterprets the Lancôme’s iconic rose and femininity to celebrate the brand’s 75th anniversary.

Fast Kisses

The city also has an opportunity to wear a shade of Mark Fast with a limited edition lipstick Fast Kisses created for Lancôme in collaboration with makeup artist Lora Spiga sold exclusively at The Bay Queen in Toronto.

I am torridly late on these news but late is better than never...and today, June 20th, is the last day to see the sculpture at Brookfield Place

Mark Fast for Topshop

And in other Mark Fast news on June 25th in any city with a Topshop (no luck for Paris or Toronto) will see the launch of the new collection done in for the British retailer.

I should update more often!

2010-06-16T07:51:00.000-07:00

Thank you to Flare for the shoutout! It came as a total surprise.

Now I could just get a couple of hours added to the 24hr day I could be post more often...

Paris Vogue ANDAM feature with lauréats CALLA and Mark Fast

2010-05-21T06:55:00.000-07:00

Here the pages from June's Paris Vogue ANDAM feature of the nominees CALLA and Mark Fast.

One word: AMAZING

Tommy Ton's Epic Tour de France

2010-05-19T09:47:00.000-07:00

I have become the internet version of a surrogate mother who collects her darling child's fame clippings, something like that anyway... darling child in this case equals Canadians in fashion.

In any case, I remember when Tommy Ton was on this epic trip for GQ France, going around taking photos of the best mens' stores and stylish men in this fashionable country. There was time for a Mean Girls viewing, dinners, etc, all of a sudden it was as though Tommy was living in Paris. Being away so much he pretty much can say he lives everywhere.

P.S.- This I might add was a pretty epic scan.

CALLA & Mark Fast nominated for ANDAM!

2010-05-11T08:53:00.000-07:00

Said it a while back...the Canadian School of Fashion is having a moment. Let's say this is their year. CALLA & Mark Fast (Ontario & Winnipeg) get nominated for ANDAM, the young French designer award. Congratulations to both!

If in Toronto on May 27th

2010-04-27T10:13:00.000-07:00

I go this invite for Strut for a Cause on my email inbox; not only is it planned for a good cause- 100% of all the money raised will go towards a cure for children's cancer- but it seems that there are some well known international fashion names from Canada that are involved, such as Coco Rocha, Jeanne Beker and London based Todd Lynn.

There seems to be plenty of fashion entertainment planned for the night. If I was in Toronto I would go...

Buy tickets here.

Good excuse

2010-04-20T05:59:00.000-07:00

Canadian artist Terence Koh with lady Gaga and the infamous defaced Birkin Purple Diary

I was busy defacing all my designer bags...not really. I was just working on something pretty big for the past 2 weeks, it involves Canada + Fashion. That is my good excuse for not posting for so long... the big reveal will come soon.

I will just say for now that this is Canada's year in fashion. Mark my words.

On the not so latest news:

Already mentioned it, but must say it again Erdem wins the British Fashion Concil/Vogue award: "the biggest sum ever awarded to a fashion designer" in that country. Flower Dressing: Why Erdem is a winner. The Times

CALLA in the New Designer Alert Hintmag

Rad Hourani writes about his one and favorite color: Black is the New Black. T Magazine

Canada + Britain Part deux

2010-04-01T11:59:00.000-07:00

Tonight in Toronto the lovely Agyness Deyn and Tommy Ton are hosting a party, which has brought on the love blogging sign outside the entrance of the space where the party is taking place. Super funny. Can someone send me photos of the actual party?

And speaking of sending photos, thank you, it's really nice getting comments and material from readers.

Jane at the London Telegraph's Stella magazine sent this great photo taken at a British Vogue dinner for emerging designers which she very appropriately called "Canadians at Vogue" with Mark Fast, Jean Pierre Braganza, and Todd Lynn. Erdem might have been missing as he was collecting a big BFC/Vogue award prize, more on that later...

Quote of the day by Tommy Ton

2010-03-30T07:38:00.000-07:00

"We have witnessed within the past year that you can be anyone living anywhere and become influential overnight" - Tommy Ton in Self Service

It's Toronto Fashion Week!

2010-03-30T06:39:00.000-07:00

photo by George Pimentel

Here an image from the Holt Renfrew media breakfast with designers Jeremy Laing, Mikhael Kale, Greta Constantine's Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill, Denis Gagnon and models wearing looks from their collection. They are all great designers working in Canada (Jeremy still lives in Toronto even

though he is on calendar for NYFW).

For more info on Toronto's fashion week you can go LG Fashion Week

Industrial Design - Phillipe Malouin

2010-03-25T08:12:00.000-07:00

NextLevel Galerie, Paris

Philippe Malouin

Montreal born, London based Philippe Malouin is immensely talented, super funny, and well I am going to go ahead and say it "very easy on the eye". I met him almost a year ago at a party, got a preview of his humor but did not see his work until much later when I caught it in The New York Times magazine when he was chosen as one of the designers to watch at the prestigious Salone Mobile in Milan last year. Since then Philippe launched his interior architecture firm Post Office with his friend Sacha Leoung, has been working on freelance projects with Tom Dixon , and most recently put together his first solo at NextLevel Galerie in Paris. The reason to feature him other than the obvious? While getting to know him I found out Philippe is one of Rad Hourani's very good friends. The case of two young friends from Montreal on the rise.

Erdem & HH aka H.O.H

2010-03-23T04:44:00.000-07:00

Erdem and Henry Holland

I think I am going to have to start a category named "Pulling all stops to include non-Canadians I like in The Canadian School of Fashion" I have managed pretty well with Caroline and Francesco. So today when I found the image of Erdem with Henry in Derek Blasberg's fashion weeks photo diary. I was like bingo!! Here the way to include my first ever tequila pimping client. But I think I will only truly succeed when I have a photo of James Deeny wearing his Canadian Tuxedo which I have been dying to talk about but won't until I have a photo of him. I can also file this under "inside joke".

The Hudson's Bay Company co-sponsors a major fashion award

2010-03-23T03:35:00.000-07:00

The St. Regis Room then. Photo from National Post

The Room now

The Room's First Campaign with Daria Werbowy

New York and London are well know for the support of fashion designers with awards like the CFDA and BFC respectively to promote young designers and reward established ones. Over the last little while there has been a lot of talk in fashion circles about the fact that unlike New York and London there are no new names coming out of the capital of fashion. The recent documentary Habillées by the amazing Mademoiselle Agnès took a look at this problem by focusing on the search of the new design talent in France catching some endearing moments on film. This is all about to change in a big way as Paris Vogue's Carine Roitfeld will be the chairman of the jury of this year's Andam (The French National Association for the development of the Fashion Arts) award with the significantly larger prize award of 220 000€. And why does this all matter to Canada? Because the Hudson's Bay Company is one of the 2 new award partners along with Renzo Rosso's group Only The Brave (Diesel, Maison Martin Margiela, Viktor & Rolf...). The panel of jurors this year includes Jefferson Hack, Hilary Alexander, Humberto Leon, Delphine Arnault,Alber Elbaz, amongst important French names. The influential international jury means that we will be hearing and reading a lot from the French award in the next little while. With that said it is safe to say that the HBC is quickly positioning itself in an international playing field. Take note of things like Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy being the campaign face of the recently revamped The Room and the successful HBC Vancouver Winter Olympics collection. The revitalizing of The Bay by president and CEO Bonnie Brooks, one of the most respected names in the business after heading Lane Crawford for many years, is working.

The first trading company in North America is obviously set for a major comeback.

This week's strong Canadian connection with Karl Lagerfeld

2010-03-15T15:41:00.000-07:00

Karl and Bruce at Karl’s studio in Paris. (Photo by Olivier Saillant)

Self-portrait by Karl Lagerfeld

Since Karl likes comics of himself, we commissioned this one by Johnny Ryan.

Karl in the film L’Amour, 1973. (Photo from The Films of Paul Morrissey by Maurice Yacowar, Cambridge University Press, 1993)

All images from Vice magazine

Bruce LaBruce's Vice magazine interview with Karl Lagerfeld came out and it it is by far one of the most interesting ones I have ever read. Only Bruce could say to say to Lagerfeld "I think that you might have Asperger syndrome. Do you know what that is? It’s a kind of autism. It’s like an idiot savant", say it self assuredly, and have the Kaiser agree. They are both erudite people who are able to communicate on an equal footing, more over I love the fact that the 7 page interview did not focus on fashion. A MUST READ

On a fashion note, Bruce looks great.

So now to Lagerfeld's other Canadian connection this week with Tommy Ton being involved in an unfortunate appropriation of words. The blogosphere has been busy with rumors that Lagerfeld is exiting Chanel, due to a statement he made being twisted into a theory by Grazia Australia. Twist all you want...Tommy's news are not so.

I am starting to think that Grazia magazine is all about stirring controversy first Tavi now Tommy. Hmm...I smell grabbing tactics.

C&C

2010-03-11T06:41:00.000-08:00

Photo from style.com

Photos from Purple-Diary

My Favorite It girl Caroline Gaimari wearing Calla at the Purple Magazine party got the printed dress some fun prime time...

I died and went to Mexican heaven

2010-03-03T08:24:00.000-08:00

Daria Werbowy as María Félix

María Félix

I would not usually try to entertain any of my Mexican fashion obsessions in a blog about Canadian fashion but my luck really struck out today when I found this shoot of Canadian supermodel Daria Werbowy playing one of Mexico's biggest icons María Félix. Shot by Mario Testino for V Magazine the images are inspired by mythic Mexican actress and her collection of serpent and crocodile diamond necklaces from Cartier. Also known as La Doña, Maria Felix was also considered one of the best dressed women in the world during her time. On a recent trip to Mexico I bough a collector's edition series of books about her life at an antique market and spent some fascinating hours with her.

Via The Fashion Feed

Off Calendar kick off - Nicolas Andreas Taralis

2010-03-03T08:03:00.000-08:00

Nicolas Andreas Taralis FW 10/11

Paris Fashion Week did not officially start until today but Nicolas Andreas Taralis show kicks off the season by being the first show from the capital of fashion to be on style.com. Great reviews and good music from the runway by my friend the amazing Olivier Bobin, aka FADE.

Most importantly it looks like the Helmut Lang void can now be filled by two Canadian designers; Rad Hourani in New York and Nicolas Andreas Taralis in Paris.

Gabor Jurina in Milan

2010-03-02T07:03:00.000-08:00

Gabor Jurina's Milan Memories

Got busy with preparations for Paris fashion week but when I saw this photos from Gabor Jurina fashion week trip to Milan I asked him to please let this be the way I first feature him, a way to show a side most would not get to see. Gabor is of course as everyone knows in Canada the top of the top fashion photographers. He is also tremendously fun and kind; I will never forget the summer night he arrived to my prom themed party in a tuxedo jacket and shorts...best look ever. Gabor has a piscine with his name waiting for him in Paris.

You can see Gabor's work on his site or check out his blog here.

Paris Preview

2010-02-25T03:45:00.000-08:00

I was working on a Paris preview but what are the odds...Calla and Nicolas Andreas Taralis in today's WWD Ones to Watch Paris preview!

Erdem FW 10/11

2010-02-24T05:35:00.000-08:00

Erdem as seen by Paris partner in crime, the lovely Caroline Gaimari.

The First Lady loves Erdem

2010-02-22T08:37:00.000-08:00

Sarah Brown in Erdem

The first lady of Britain wore Erdem to LFW's official opening, and from what I found out she is very much a fan.

Fashion Fit for a First lady TheDailyMail
Rise of the Erdem woman The Telegraph
Erdem We Go Vogue.UK

Mark Fast - FW 2010/11 show

2010-02-22T07:47:00.000-08:00

Mark Fast in Swarovski.tv

The Canadians in London - LFW Preview

2010-02-18T05:55:00.000-08:00

Dimitri Chiparus sculptures; the inspiration for Mark Fast's FW10/11 show

3 simple questions for Mark Fast:

What is the inspiration for this season?

The sculptures of Dimitri Chiparus.

On being Canadian: proud of it?

Yes, yes!

Mark even has a Canadian PR team on top of is UK agency which handles all other requests (Thanks Tatiana for your help on this one!)

And does he keep int touch the Canadian designers in London (Erdem, Todd Lynn and Jean-Pierre Braganza)?

Friendly with all of them.

Todd Lynn FW10/11 Live Stream

I have been saying that if last runway season was the Twitter revolution then this season is the Live Stream one. A great number of shows in NYFW have already been streamed live, most notoriously Alexander Wang appearing on Times Square. Todd Lynn becomes part of the social media trend by having his Live Video Stream on the 21st of Sunday at 2:15 pm. In Canada it means you have to be up at 8:15am!

Erdem FW10/11 invitation

It's looking 70s romantic, if the image on invite printed by Smythson is any indication. And of course let's not forget that Erdem was named one of London's hot ticket this season by the Telegraph.

Faster goes live

2010-02-17T08:00:00.000-08:00

Photos by Fiona Garden

Mark Fast 's Faster - his new concept in luxury basics collection- is now available to the world. The website for the AW 10/11 pre-collection was launched yesterday with a great campaign featuring Anouck Lepere and Hayley Morley, the runway model from Fast's SS0 show that cause a sensation and spurred the plus size trend. The photos from the Faster campaign are great in their simplicity while making the pieces truly covetable. "Faster is a collection of wardrobe basics in elastomeric yarns that combine comfort and versatility with Mark's signature edgy sensuality."

Faster is available online at brownsfashion.com or www.fasterbymarkfast.net

The latest

2010-02-16T06:21:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Laing's Fall 10 collection

Jeremy Laing introduces knits and furs in his latest collection, to much acclaim. One of his most complete and best collections to date. Not only is the collection inspired by Canada, but his Canadian collaborations were abundant, including prints by Calla, and a "music arrangement" by Terence Koh.

Canadian glove designer Daniel Storto known for his amazing glove creations has collaborated with Prabal Gurung on some very graphic gloves for Gurung's first collection.

Via style.com

Kaelen Farcombe

A new Canadian designer in the radar, Kaelen Farncombe presents her first collection. WWDcalls it a "sophisticated debut collection"

Via The Toronto Star

Rad Hourani 's black on black.

"MORPHABLE TIMELESS UNISEX COLLECTION TO CREATE

CHROMATICALLY DISTILLED SILHOUETTES"

Tommy Ton in Vogue. Literally.

The Canadian Olympic Team

And finally the winter Olympics are well under way in Vancouver, and yes there were some glitches but the city has scored high points on enviromental innovation taking many steps to eco-sustainability. On the fashion front let's not forget that the HBC team from The Hudson's Bay Company was in charge of the Canadian Olympic team's uniforms.

It feels interesting hearing Canada all the time in Paris.

Alexander McQueen -The revolutionary

2010-02-16T04:29:00.000-08:00

Alexander McQueen's last collection

The world of fashion looses one of its greatest: rest in peace Alexander McQueen. I will always remember the first sentence of a Suzy Menkes article regarding his last runway show:

"The most dramatic revolution in 21st-century fashion"

On a Canadian side note, one of McQueen's last projects was a special edition of scarves done by him for Holt Renfrew to commemorate the Vancouver Winter Olympics.

Via Globe & Mail

Erdem: One of London's hot tickets

2010-02-10T12:31:00.001-08:00

Ashley Olsen in Erdem at a the Grammy's after party

The Telegraph's guide to fashion week in NYC, London, Milan and Paris names Erdem as one of the hot tickets in London including him in a "cooler-than-thou collections" group.

Canadian NYFW 10/11 Preview

2010-02-10T10:33:00.000-08:00

allowfullscreen="true" width="400" height="340">

I am a tad late on my preview as New York Fashion Week is well on its way. Blame it on Snowpocalypse '10 even Paris is getting some of it and while north America thinks 1cm. of snow is normal I can't say enough about the mayhem it causes in the city of lights.

In any case here something on the Canadians in New York for this season.

Jeremy Laing

The above is a print inspired by moss growing on rain forest rocks and trees and the colour story is inspired by Haida art - an inspiration which is more intensely explored in other prints in the collection.

Expect some incredible Canadian collaborations at the show; the world of art and fashion could not collide in a better way. This will be Jeremy's closest collection to home.

Udpated: Vogue.com preview

Tommy Ton

Of course Tommy will be posting his photos for style.com but he was also included in the site's preview due to his collaboration with designer Reece Solomon of Reece Hudson.

Rad Hourani

Let the video speak for itself. Look out for an important Rad story on February 13th.

It is looking like a very exiting season already!

A future addition to the Canadian School of Fashion chart?

2010-02-09T10:57:00.000-08:00

Design veteran Antonio Azzuolo has been named a designer to watch by The Cut. Looking forward to a menswear addition in the chart.

Rad by Rad Hourani eshop goes live

2010-02-09T10:46:00.000-08:00

The diffusion collection Rad by Rad Hourani is now available on-line at RAD BY RAD HOURANI ESHOP.

A Canadiana roundup

2010-02-08T09:58:00.000-08:00

Calla gets her first feature in France's version of Nylon, Jalouse magazine

Marc by Marc Jacobs for Holt Rendrew; a limited edition t-shirt celebrating the winter season.
Club Monaco brings back the crest sweatshirts. It brings back memories...

Canadian model Stam shot by Terry Richardson for Canadian shoe company Aldo.

It occurred to me I should check what Le Château is up to and I found they are in a Paris state of mind.

How appropriate!

Tavi & Fashion Television

2010-02-04T07:49:00.000-08:00

Twitpic by SteffiSchuetze

"Backlash" or no backlash Tavi will be replacing Jeanne Beker of Fashion Television in some of the New York Fashion Week coverage. Everyone including the Canadians are joining the Tavi ride, and when I say that I mean that she is the hottest thing in fashion right now, to the chagrin of some "traditional media".

A fashion child star is a tad gimmicky, but that is not Tavi's fault, the fact is she does have something to say about fashion and her reference scope is vast, strong, and interesting, more than one can say for some other seasoned fashion people out there.

Via Mama's Rolling Stone

Canadians at Colette

2010-02-02T09:45:00.000-08:00

I was looking for something on the Colette site when I realized that two Canadians were on their News sections, one in the StyleFemme (Mark Fast) , another one in Art (Owen Pallett) . I know the bigger news of the day is Rococo, but I was a bit more exited about the Canada in France thing, plus I love Owen. As a Canadian School of Fashion factoid let it be known that Owen played for Jeremy Laing's first New York presentation under his Final Fantasy name.

Calla's First magazine feature: Canadian Elle

2010-02-01T05:30:00.000-08:00

This just in, Calla's first magazine feature. I know there will be many more in the coming months.

This season should shape up to be very busy for her showroom during Paris fashion week!

The calm before the storm

2010-02-01T03:01:00.001-08:00

So menswear and couture are done. Only less than 2 weeks before everything starts all over again...

I myself took some time to rest in Deauville. Back to postingn now!

Louis Vuitton X Tommy Ton

2010-01-27T07:10:00.001-08:00

I promise this is not the Tommy Ton blog. I just could not help post this up as I do work for Louis Vuitton as well; the images are quite riveting and it shows how the luxury brand knows what they need to do when it comes to social media.

Louis Vuitton Men's Fall/Winter 2010/11: Rehearsal Jak & Jil

KIN

2010-01-27T03:19:00.000-08:00

During menswear fashion week in Paris I was planning to ask Sydney-the owner of the eponymous Toronto menswear boutique Sydney's-what he had liked so far and was planing to buy for his Toronto boutique. I figured this would give me an excuse to feature him and talk about menswear, little did I know that this season he was also debuting his own collection Kin. I am not at liberty to tell yet but let's just say that every designer wants this one New York store to pick them up, and I was there shortly after the purchase order was signed.

Kin will be a nice representative of Canadian menswear, Sydney's tailoring skills show throughout the construction of the garments and like the selection in his store there is great attention to fabrics and detail.

The Italian Connection

2010-01-25T08:08:00.000-08:00

Francesco Cominelli shot by Tommy Ton for GQ

I was just looking for the perfect excuse to include my friend Francesco Cominelli in this blog. I knew that as soon as fashion week arrived I would find it. Francesco is not Canadian, but he is very stylish and a definite favorite of style shooters, including Tommy. Take note, you are going to be seeing a lot more of the Vogue Hommes assistant editor via the Canadians.

Hommes Plus Style.com

Francesco Cominelli, Vogue Hommes One Sixty Notepad

Calla's Hair Inspiration

2010-01-25T06:20:00.000-08:00

I loved this weekend's write up of Calla's collection in one of my favorite sites Refinery29. What did I like about it? The fact that they caught the intricacy of the model's hair; Calla had a very specific idea and inspiration on what she wanted for the hair, think Big Love.

Tommy Ton in Paris Vogue

2010-01-22T07:14:00.000-08:00

Everyone who knows Tommy knows Il adore Carine, and everyone who likes fashion has heard all about Tavi, the youngest fashion blogger out there. How opportune that Tommy's very first assignment for Paris Vogue was shooting Tavi for the Une fille un style pages.

I say pity there was not a video crew to capture that shoot...T&T together would have been so cute to watch. Maybe someone can make it happen if T&T reunite in Paris...

Will I have to change the chart so soon?

2010-01-21T10:47:00.000-08:00

A photo teaser of Coco Rocha's new collection

Coco Rocha is getting in the business of fashion. The model, TV host, blogger and now designer would like to show her collection at New York fashion week. I will not make any changes to my chart just yet but it is interesting that she mentions affordable as an important aspect of her collection: "I also believe 100% that we need affordable clothing. High fashion affordable—that is my big goal for this coming summer.”

Via: Fashionologie

A taste of Beckerman

2010-01-19T10:37:00.000-08:00

Photos from Beckerman Bite Plate

I met the Beckerman sisters years ago when they first launched their knitwear collection. They were truly a sight to behold, perhaps it was the sudden burst of energy one felt being around them. Most memorably I remember them declaring how grateful they were to their parents for forbidding television; being creative became the source of all fun things for them ever since.

I imagine doing their style blog, Beckerman Bite Plate is then great entertainment to them, it involves a daily photo shoot; fashion cataloguing (they feature such a create range of new and past items on their credits); and thinking of the playful titles for their style inspirations.

Rainy day in Paris? No problem, take look at their blog and your day will become a touch less gloomy.

Beckerman Bite Plate Toronto Fashion Week in review. TeenVogue

It's menswear fashion time

2010-01-17T07:11:00.000-08:00

Tommy Ton for GQ

Byron and Dexter Peart in The Sartorialist

The FW 10/11 season has officially started with menswear fashion week in Milan, Tommy Ton is on the beat of that reporting for GQ. I also just remembered that a couple of days ago talking about the Pitti Uomo trade show I heard one of the menswear buyers of Le Bon Marché refering to WANT Les Essentiels de La Vie as one of the best accessories collections in the market. I happily pointed out that the brand is Canadian; brainchild of twins Byron and Dexter Peart who are also well known for their style.

New logo for Jeremy Laing

2010-01-15T08:22:00.000-08:00

Jeremy Laing gets a redesign and by that I mean his label has changed. The new typography was done by graphic designer Colin Bergh who is also responsible for the re-branding of the well known Toronto art gallery Clint Roenisch.

Here is what Jeremy had to say about the reason and inspiration for the change:

"I wanted something new! The previous logo was what we came up with when starting the business on a whim a few years ago and no longer seemed appropriate considering the evolution of the my collection and business. I had been wanting to change it for some time so I asked Colin Bergh, a graphic designer friend of mine to make me something clean and minimal but also classic, with an ageless quality and a lot of character. Colin created a typeface for me - Teoblad Roman - based on letters drawn by Aldus Manutius in 1499. This dovetailed nicely with the inspiration of my Spring 2010 collection, which started with me looking a renaissance perspective drawings, so it seemed like a good time to launch the new logo"

Canadian Winter Coats

2010-01-15T03:45:00.000-08:00

Erdem

Jeremy Laing

Todd Lynn

Pink Tartan

Smythe

Lida Baday

Comrags

Harricana par Mariouche

Krane

Klaxon Howl

Fur traders dressed in the original Canadian Trapper look

No Canadian fashion story would be complete without talking about the Hudson's Bay Company, the oldest commercial company in North America and one of the oldest in the world, the Canadian department store had its roots in fur trading in the 17th century.

Last year The Bay under their HBC label was in charge of the this year's Canadian team uniforms for theWinter Olympics in Vancouver, as well as the luxurious redesign of The St Regis Room, considered one of the country's first designer destinations which carries exclusively collections like Balmain and Givenchy, as well as a great range of younger designer like Erdem and Calla. (I was of course obliged to include these names).

To celebrate the launch of their newest product range -the Hudson's Bay Company Collection- The Bay commissioned a series of Canadian designers to do one of a kind coats featuring the iconic HBC point blanket.

Todd Lynn, Jeremy Laing and Erdem were in the mix that included well established Canadian household names like Pink Tartan, Smythe, Lida Baday, Comrags, Harricana par Mariouche, Krane and Klaxon Howl.

via: Glamour and Glitter

Interview with Jak & Jil's Tommy Ton

2010-01-14T03:04:00.000-08:00

Men's and Couture week are coming up very soon, this means Tommy Ton will be back in Paris with his camera and laptop and ready to report for style.com and his own blog Jak & Jil. It is a good opportunity to re-post an interview I did of him earlier last year before the front row appearance that sparked the social media frenzy this fall.

It it feels like so long ago when Tommy was shooting people at Toronto Fashion Week, but it isn't. Tommy's focus, hard work, and true love for fashion sets him apart; never mind that he takes a killer photo.

Read Interview Q&A WITH JAK AND JIL’S TOMMY TON

Bruce Labruce and Fashion

2010-01-13T07:04:00.000-08:00

Gareth Pugh as seen by Bruce LaBruce for Purple Magazine, F/W 09

I saw Bruce LaBruce yesterday on his layover in Paris before heading to Berlin, he had the perfect Ray- Bans on, and by perfect I mean the couple sitting beside us were sure they had spotted a celebrity, or maybe they have seen Otto the Zombie. We had a great catch up conversation and as usual I found out many new and interesting things from him: the Canadian artist Kent Monkman, telling me about the Tony Blair and Vuitton news, and most interesting of all was that he will come back to Paris next week to interview a very big fashion figure for an American "counterculture" magazine. The designer is a fan of Bruce's work and again will show why he is indisputably one of the most progressive people in the business.

Canadian Fashion & Lady Gaga

2010-01-12T10:13:00.000-08:00

Mark Fast recently declined a Lady Gaga wardrobe request citing he does not want to be part of "Fast-Food Fashion", he is just doing Faster; but the godfathers of Canadian fashion Dean and Dan happily had her guest star in their new show Launch My Line.

All is well with Gaga and Canada, and if the pop start or Illuminati messenger ever wants anything printed Calla will be happy to lend her clothes.

Other Canadians - Jean Pierre Braganza

2010-01-07T10:40:00.000-08:00

Psychadelactica SS10

Another Canadian designer which at the moment is out of my chart but very much on the London fashion map is Jean Pierre Braganza. More on him later.

Mark Fast goes Faster

2010-01-07T08:47:00.000-08:00

Canadian Mark Fast lead the plus size trend revolution last year. Now he is quickly getting in the diffusion line business with his new lower priced Faster label. Interesting and smart move. Go Mark Go!

Via: WWD

January 2010 Canadian Vogue Cover

2010-01-03T14:30:00.000-08:00

I intended to stay away from the Canadian Hollywood celebrity aspect of things but if a cool actress like Rachel McAdams gets the American Vogue cover, one must take note.

The godfathers of Canadian fashion

2009-12-17T20:19:00.000-08:00

Dean and Dan Caten with my friend Olympia Berman at one of Holt Renfrew's Film Festival parties. I remember she was their muse that night.

Veteran designer Dean and Dan Caten of DSqured2 are in the limelight for the launch of their new American show "Launch my line". Next year = Lots of Canada on the fashion map.

Dsquared2's Caten twins launching into limelight AP

via Glamour and Glitter

Aurel Schmidt - Canadian Traveller

2009-12-09T11:55:00.000-08:00

I was amused when watching a The Moment video in which you can see Aurel Schmidt's luggage displaying the Canadian Flag. She is from Vancouver but did you know many Americans use Canadian luggage tags as people are usually nicer to them?

Art Basel Miami 2009 Aurel Schmidt video The Moment Blog

Rad Hourani FW 09 as seen in V MAN 16

2009-12-07T11:50:00.000-08:00

This is Rad Hourani 's FW 09 campaign image as seen in V MAN.

Via The Imagist

Canadian School of Fashion Chart

2009-11-25T10:12:00.000-08:00

Click Image to enlarge

The Canadians in Fashion Now

2009-11-23T09:00:00.000-08:00

New York

Jeremy Laing

Rad Hourani

London

Erdem

Mark Fast

Todd Lynn

Paris

Calla Haynes

Nicolas Andreas Taralis

Here are the young designers of Canadian origin that are in the world of fashion. They do not belong to a school of design but are certainly building their brands internationally around the same time (excluding Lynn and Taralis whom have been around for a while). I would like to know if I am wrong -do not know a lot about Canadian fashion design in the 60s or 70s- but I think this is the first time designers from this country are having a moment in fashion internationally in such large numbers. Canada constantly has a moment with models, but with designers this would be it.

Fashion Television from Canada

2009-11-23T04:14:00.000-08:00

This documentation would not be complete if I did not mention Fashion Television and Fashion File. Most people do not know that it was a Canadian network (CityTV) that pioneered the idea of producing a special interest show focused on fashion. Long before Next Top Model and Project Runway , there was Jeanne Beker's Fashion Television.

Younger generation might also not know that style.com's Tim Blanks was the hots of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation's Fashion File. A show that was internationally syndicated and was well respected until Mr Blank's departure. Once his replacement came via a reality television competition the show lacked its air of sophistication and insight; needless to say it came to an end.

Canadian fashion editors (outside of Canada)

2009-11-20T05:49:00.000-08:00

Joe Zee, Creative Director of American Elle

Leith Clark Editor-in-chief of of Lula Magazine in London

The Canadian Models Now

2009-11-10T11:15:00.000-08:00

Daria Werbowy

Jessica Stam

Coco Rocha

Irina Lazareanu

Heather Marks

Famous Canadian models from the late 90s

2009-11-10T11:11:00.000-08:00

Tasha Tilberg

Yasmin Warsame

Kirsten Owen

Estelle Warren

The Canadian from the Super Models days

2009-11-10T09:46:00.000-08:00

Linda Evangelista coined the infamous supermodel phrase "I don't get out of bed for less than $10000 a day". She and models Naomi Campbell and Christy Turlington were dubbed the "trinity" and are commonly credited as the ones responsible for sparking supermodel mania.

Shalom Harlow

Now the Fashion...

2009-11-08T07:19:00.000-08:00

Here some Canadian fashion designers who have made a mark in the international fashion scene over the last decade.

Twins Dean and Dan Caten of Dsquared2

Shoe and accessory designer Patrick Cox

Alfred Sung and Joe Mimram of Club Monaco

Alfred Sung along with Joe Mimram founded in the early 80s Club Monaco which became one of Canada's most successful international brands; it was bought by Polo Ralph Lauren in 1999.

There are Club Monaco locations in Hong Kong, Macao, Taiwan, South Korea, China, the United Arab Emirates, Malaysia, Indonesia, Singapore, Saudi Arabia, and the United States.

Joe Mimram's most recent project in Canada Joe, a high concept/low cost line is done in collaboration within the Loblaws supermarket stores owned by the Weston family whom also own luxury department stores Holt Renfrew in Canada and Selfridges in London.

Cool Canadians in Film

2009-11-05T10:28:00.001-08:00

Director David Cronenberg

Director Bruce LaBruce

Director Guy Maddin

Cool Canadians in Design

2009-11-05T09:36:00.000-08:00

AGO Atrium

Architect Frank Gehry

Designer Bruce Mau
Designer Leanne Shapton

Cool Canadians in Print

2009-11-05T09:18:00.000-08:00

Media Theorist Marhall Mcluhan

Author Malcom Gladwell

Tyler Brûlé of Monocle

Author Margaret Atwood

Author Naomi Klein

Author and artist Douglas Coupland

Cool Canadians in Art

2009-11-04T09:45:00.000-08:00

Gone, Yet Still
2005

Artist Terence Koh

Some Drawings

Artist: Aurel Schmidt

Untitled (Dark)
2001
Artist David Altmejd

Little Brown Bat
2008
Artist Shary Boyle

Crows, Orange

2008

Artist Tyler Clark Burke

The Architect's Home In The Ravine
1991
Artist Peter Doig

The Killing Machine
2007
Artists Janett Cardiff and George Bures Miller

The Power od Two
Arist Michael Snow

One year of AZT
1991
Collective General Idea

A sudden gust of wind
1993
Photographer Jeff Wall

Versailles
Photographer Robert Polidori

Oil, photograhy book

2009

Photographer Edward Burtynsky

Cool Canadians in Music

2009-11-04T08:05:00.001-08:00

Musician and poet Leonard Cohen

Musician Feist

Musician Gonzales

Musician Peaches

What people think of Canada...

2009-11-03T09:53:00.000-08:00

When you mention to people around the world you are from Canada, these are some of the things that come to their minds:
Finishing sentences with Eh!

Snow

Marilyn Monroe in Niagara
The Royal Canadian Mountie

And of course Toronto's CN Tower

2009-11-03T09:51:00.000-08:00