(Photo: Canada/Twitter)
TORONTO—Pretty prints from an emerging designer, a touching tribute by a Canadian design veteran, and fashionable styles for all types of cooler weather were on display at Toronto Fashion Week on Wednesday.
Here are Day 3 highlights:
Jennifer Torosian brings feminine twist to sports luxe
Pretty floral prints and statement-making outerwear were among the featured attractions in Jennifer Torosian’s latest collection.
“For fall, we looked at our sport-luxe esthetic that is part of our DNA, and we gave it a more feminine twist for the season,” said the Toronto-based designer. “So you see some draping, some curved lines, but a lot more softness in the collection overall.”
The collection featured an expansive assortment of separates, including everything from tops with shoulder-baring cutouts and sleek sheath dresses, to luxurious coats showcasing plaid print, metallic jacquard and mohair collars.
“We have some eveningwear pieces in red as well and some great graphic prints,” said Torosian.
“There’s texture and dimension and colour seen in the collection.”
David Dixon offers poignant tribute to late sister with ‘Gene Collection’
David Dixon brought a deeply personal touch to his latest collection with a moving tribute to his late sister, Susan, while also seeking to bring attention to a key women’s health issue.
The veteran womenswear designer said he was approached by Ovarian Cancer Canada to work on an initiative about raising awareness for the disease.
“That sort of ignited me a little bit because my sister was such a health advocate herself—and for women’s health as well—and this just felt like a really good fit.”
Dixon unveiled the “Gene Collection,” drawing parallels between the resiliency of denim fabric featured in the line to the strength shown by others their everyday lives.
In an opening video prior to the show, Dixon said the collection was for all women to know their genes and was dedicated to all sisters—especially his own.
Models walked out to a mostly hushed runway room wearing designs that married Dixon’s signature elegance in eveningwear with the use of materials that ranked among his sister’s favourites.
“She loved everything girly, so there was silks, tulle … sequins,” he said backstage. “She was a magpie. She was always covered in beautiful things.”
Dixon used subtle embellishments to accent his garments, including criss-cross lacing, sleek coats studded with grommets and floral print on re-embroidered mesh.
Dixon capped the moving tribute by stepping onto the runway with women whose lives have been touched by ovarian cancer, including Erinn Monture, who was days away from starting her third cycle of chemotherapy.
Toronto Mayor John Tory joined spectators in a standing ovation honouring Dixon and the women.
Mackage designs line for “Winter Warriors”
Mackage opted out of showing their newest collection under the Fashion Week tents, creating their own winter wonderland within the confines of a vacant studio space in the CBC’s Toronto headquarters.
With a mockup of an igloo at the entrance to the runway, the Montreal-based label brought its signature cool to its latest line dubbed “Winter Warriors.”
The showcase was a dizzying display of multi-layered looks. Outerwear on display included lightweight down jackets alongside heavier parkas, as well as boiled wool coats and military-style jackets.
“We have a lot of different levels of warmth,” said Elisa Dahan, who is co-creative director of Mackage alongside Eran Elfassy.
“With everything that’s happening with the weather these days, we don’t need as heavy coats—but then we do. It’s being able to show the evolution of how winters can be dealt with in different parts of the world.”
There was no shortage of colour, either, with vibrantly hued buffalo-check tunics and scarves and arrow knit jumpers.
The slick leather looks were also standouts, including a pair of paperbag-style drawstring pants, and shimmering studs adorning leggings.
