Winter and fall seasons remind of us of dark nights, cold weather and saying goodbye to the versatility of our summer wardrobes. But if the cool seasons ahead include trends from Toronto Fashion Week's runways, we won't have much to complain about. Day four's collections featured clean-cut attire, a hint of colour and a reason to feel trendy again during cooler months.
Simple shades took over the runways, including Ashtiani's grey tones, jean-maker Triarchy's classic blue hues and Ezra Constantine's no-fail black ensembles. But the monotones were far from boring. Canadian leather lovers Rudsak proved that using basics like black and light brown furs can still be rustic and trendy in the form of puffer coats, leathered hoods and ties, and of course, fur-trimmed coats.
Most designers tend to stick with their trademarks designs, and on Thursday, we were excited to see how the women made it work,in particular young designer Caitlin Power and well-known powerhouse Kimberley Newport-Mimran of Pink Tartan. Power is known for her use of leather in androgynous office wear, adding in just a hint of bright colours to her looks. In contrast, Pink Tartan often zones in on floral prints, flirty and bold colours, but still plays with cuffed blouses, tweeds and the must-have staple of the black pant.
Caitlin Power: Business In The Front..
Twenty-three-year-old Caitlin Power of Calgary stunned the runway with her trademark tailored looks, showing high-waisted leather skirts and pants, and classic button-up collared blouses for both men and women. Power mixed a modern collection of everyday workwear with sheer fabric dresses that featured body-hugging bust lines, ideal for the woman who wants to transition easily from office professional to after-hours party girl with an edge.
Keeping in line with this business-meets-night-out look, Power wasn't afraid to add some colour. We saw strips of neon green (proof that we can bring neon from spring to fall), navy blue accents and even light-green leafy printed tops, much like Versace's recent patterns.
Pink Tartan: Feathery. Fierce, Fashion Affair
Kimberly Newport-Mimran is no stranger to Canadian fashion. The woman behind Pink Tartan says fall and winter 2012 is all about taking a step back.
"In this collection I returned to the roots of Pink Tartan. The last collections have been very feminine and pretty and I went back to a little more androgyny," she says.
From Pink Tartan, that means fitted jackets, boot-cut dress pants and fur. Lots of fur, that is -- on shoes, coats and shoulders, while feathers decorated stunningly detailed skirts. We saw an androgyny in the leather coats, button-up white blouses, turtleneck tops and the khaki trousers. Newport-Mimran did choose to make waves with a few bold colours that were scarcely seen during fashion week, including an emerald green peplum shirt and bright red pants. Newport-Mimran says she her collection focused on layers, working with different textures and bringing back beatnik beauty and the Sloane Ranger.
The show closer of the night, David Dixon, added some plumage to his classic feminine style while paying tribute to Hitchcock's 'The Birds.' We saw pinned ethereal brooches on coats, blue-toned patterned dresses and a feathery long coat for the trendy woman who isn't afraid to ruffle any -- wait for it -- feathers.
What were your favourite looks of Toronto Fashion Week Day Four? Let us know in the comments below.
Check out the runway photos of Toronto Fashion Week Day Four:
