Canadians to Woo China with World Music Fashion Festival

Photos courtesy Empress Communications | Two Flies Photography

The two worlds of fashion and music first collided during the Jazz Age of flappers and Prohibition. Ever since, this marriage of like artistic minds has played out in music videos, runway shows and commercials.  Events like Fashion Cares and Fashion Rocks launched in 2003 brought music and fashion together for charity.  This fall music and fashion come together for the future.  

The future of Canadian fashion. 

I heard about the World Music Fashion Festival (WMFF) on its first tour through China featuring Canadian designers Evan Biddell, Paul Hardy and Juma.  Developed by Vancouver-based Empress Communications as part of the China Overseas Designer Program, WMFF helps expose independent designers and artists to the Chinese market. It's only offered to a select number of designers each year.  Triarchy, Bustle Clothing and Lucian Matis participated in 2012.

Bustle Clothing's Shawn Hewson

Luxury labels have had their eye on China for business expansion for years. While the recession has slowed retail growth around the globe, China's middle class is booming, packing a lot of power behind consumer spending.  

Even though luxury is driving most sales - this year alone, Chinese consumers will account for about one-third of all luxury purchases* - there is also a growing demand for fast fashion brands and Western labels in general.  That's good news for young designers looking for buyers.  So good in fact, that Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour and the Council of Fashion Designers of America recently sent three American designers to China as part of a joint Fashion Fund program. Rag and Bone, Marchesa and Proenza Schouler staged a fashion show near the Great Wall of China last month.

Wintour explained the benefits of this kind of exchange program in a recent interview, "One of the reasons the European houses went to China is that they needed to expand. The U.S. didn't have that sense of need at the time, but young designers are working in a very different environment [than] when a Ralph Lauren was their age and they are thinking in a very different way. They are thinking globally." (The Malta Independent, August 1, 2013).

The World Music Fashion Festival is gearing up for its third trip East this October.  Once again the festival will take Canadian singers, DJs, models and designers through three major cities - Beijing, Shanghai and Chengdu in October.  Stay tuned for more from WMFF.  Until then check out previous year's WMFF photos here.

(From Fashionbi.com's Fashion Retail Trends in China, June 3, 2013)

"Austerity Chic" rules First Lady fashion

This morning I am celebrating four more years for Barack Obama and, four more years for fashion. 

During the Obama's first presidential term, the fashion industry lapped up every detail of Michelle Obama's wardrobe daily. There's even a blog dedicated to her outfits. She possesses the power to wow and woo us by embracing young designers like Jason Wu or Prabal Garung, her clever accessorizing and constant mix of high and low labels.

Michelle is a poster girl for the mantra, "you can buy fashion, you can't buy style." A fashion "icon" the media calls her, proving it's not the labels alone but how you put it together.  Yadda yadda yadda. And yet there she was last night, the second biggest night of her husband's life, in a recycled Michael Kors dress she first sported three years ago for a White House holiday party. The fashion world cooed a quiet, almost inaudible, "You go girl."

photo courtesy Hello Magazine

And to think, people in my circles seriously worry over wearing something that's already been seen in photos by all of their Facebook friends. Yes, really.

In fact, many of Michelle's outfits on the campaign trail weren't straight off the runway, but rather straight out of her closet. Her "austerity chic" choices with an emphasis on American lines like J. Crew, BDBG, Diane Von Furstenberg and even Jason Wu's forthcoming contemporary line Miss Wu (not in stores until 2013) were a smart move, intended not to alienate voters with her fashion choices. 

While Ann Romney presented ladylike style throughout the campaign - ever elegant in labels like Reed Krakoff, Alfred Fiandaca and Oscar de la Renta - the mass-market, approachability of Michelle Obama's choices were a stark contrast. 

But after last night, it's clear that Barack Obama has another problem brewing on the horizon. His daughters, Sasha and Malia, are becoming fashionable figures in their own right. It won't be long before the public turns their constant gaze to these two. So don't be surprised if the sisters have to slug it out in online "who wore it best" polls before the inauguration.

photo courtesy Yahoo.com

Twisting by the pool with Greta Constantine

Last night the boys from Greta Constantine hosted their Midsummer Affair at Toronto's former German Consulate in the east Annex. (Sure, it may be the end of August but who doesn't appreciate the optimism?) It was a perfect evening for a backyard barbecue pool party, and the city's entire fashion crowd appeared to be in attendance.

Guests were in an optimistic mood, too, with their summer colors and patterns out in full force. It could have been the free Stoli cocktails and burgers. And while it was a pool party, the only bathing suits donned were by the girls who treated us to a cute and quirky synchronized swimming routine set to Gwen Stefani's 'Hollaback Girl.'  

Hey Mister, in the back, why the face?!

LOULOU's Liv Judd four weeks shy of motherhood 

Melissa Bernais of ICovetandWant.com

Designer Alia Juma

Nelia Belkova of Styleblog.ca and Kimberly Lyn of TheSoulsofMyShoes.com

Anita Clark of IWantIGot.com

Glenna Weddle of rac boutique and Jan Gandhi of ThePeacockParade.com

Artist Andrea Bolley dressed as a Stoli bottle. Seriously.

This is Your Style Captain Speaking...

This week I joined Air Canada customers, employees and suppliers at a Pearson airport hangar to help kick off a year-long celebration of the company's 75th anniversary. In addition to unveiling their newest fleet addition, the roomy Boeing 787 Dreamliner, Air Canada took guests on a retrospective fashion show of in-flight uniforms dating back to 1937.

Only nurses could work as cabin crew in the '30s, and the very first in-flight uniform for flight attendants on Trans Canada Airlines was a two button, beige gabardine business suit (above) purchased off the rack at The Bay. By the the mid-50's stewardesses (as they were called then) the style sharpened up with a Christian Dior influenced, pale blue fitted collarless suit (below).

In the early '60s (below) uniforms had become a three-button boxy wool suit and white felt hat and gloves.

With the British invasion in the late '60s came a "transformation from a classical formal look to something young and modern, fresh and feminine" so says the press release. Very Bond girl. Funny, it doesn't say if the go go boots were company issue. 

But that's where this story ends. The remaining decades held little fashion appeal for me. The most recent outfits launched in 2004 were chosen to reflect the colours and tones of the Air Canada fleet's interiors. Enough said.

Which is a perfect segue to mention Fashion Group's upcoming Fashion // Interiors Trend Edit on Wednesday, March 21 at Design Within Reach. For anyone working in fashion, interiors or design, this event is for you. We'll explore how trends uniquely influence both fashion and interiors. Click here for details and registration.

Win jewels from Anne-Marie Chagnon

If you're like me, there are a few things in your fashion repertoire that are almost guaranteed to invite compliments from others. Mine includes jewelry by Montreal designer Anne-Marie Chagnon. Compliments every single time.

Lucky for you Anne-Marie is at the Toronto One of a Kind show through December 4. And while you're shopping for friends and family, be sure to drop off this ballot to booth T-38 for a chance to win these matching earrings and bracelet (value $300). This contest runs the duration of the OOAK show, so you have until next weekend to drop off your ballot (one ballot per person). The winner will be announced here!

Bring completed ballot to booth T-38 for a chance to win!

 

TFI ups the ante with their New Labels compeition

Designers aching for the opportunity to shine should be thrilled with this year's design competition from Toronto Fashion Incubator. TFI New Labels® has put together its most winning prize package valued at $60,000. This year's top label will enjoy:

• The Suzanne Rogers Award for Most Promising New Label, a cash prize of $25,000.
• A one-year, 24/7 design studio at TFI sponsored by TNT
• A full page editorial in FLARE magazine

Ashtiani Golnaz, 2011 winner

And what designer wouldn't want to be feted with a gala runway show? On May 3, 2012 the top finalists will compete and the winner will be announced that night.

The competition is open to designers who have been in business three years or less. With an application deadline of December 6, there's just enough time to prepare an impressive application. Get everything you need to know at TFI's website.

Since 1992, TFI's New Labels® Fashion Design competition has featured the hottest up-coming design talent in Canada. The F-list was there last year when Ashtiani Golnaz took the crown.

Giles & George C raise money for The Princess Margaret

Earlier this month I was fortunate to work on a new fashion fundraiser, Lunch with Margaret and George, to raise money for The Princess Margaret's Gattuso Rapid Diagnostic Centre. The brainchild of Toronto boutique George C owners, George and Lisa Corbo, it featured a runway presentation of Giles Deacon's spring 2012 collection. Guests were treated to a champagne lunch at Scarpetta in the Thompson Hotel followed by an old-school atelier show and a live silent auction.

Giles Deacon could be your new best friend. (Wait, please mine.) It's impossible not to like him when he's so easy going and nice. And getting to see his work up close and on models was a treat - feather headdresses don't come around Toronto too often! The event raised $200,000 for the Princess Margaret. There is already buzz about who will be featured next year, but I'll bet they are on the racks at George C. I just hope they are as nice as Giles.

Giles Deacon

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Giles Deacon spring 2012

Girls modeled the silent auction items live

Check out more photos on the George C and Princess Margaret Facebook pages.

F-listed Anniversary Auction is Live!

Happy birthday to me! For the next ten days explore F-listed, the first online auction of its kind. Browse and bid on fashionable goods donated by Canadian designers, retailers, tastemakers and celebrities across Canada. 

New items will be added throughout the week, so check back frequently. Are you on the mailing list? We'll notify you when new items go live. Sign up here.

Proceeds help support Dress for Success Toronto, a cause I feel passionately about because we all deserve to look and feel our best. Dress for Success not only outfits disadvantaged women in professional attire, it helps them enter the professional world with mentoring and job interview training. It's a volunteer organization with outlets all over North America.

For more on F-listed, click here. Shop, browse and bid now, click here!

Five years of the fashion goes live October 6th with online auction

Get ready to celebrate a milestone with the F-list - on October 6th the F-list celebrates its five year anniversary with F-listed, an online auction of fashionable goods in support of Dress for Success Toronto. 

Over the past few months I have amassed quite a collection of amazing goodies from my friends in the fashion business. And from October 6 - 16 the F-list will auction off items from designers, retailers and fashionable tastemakers and celebrities in Canada. Stay tuned to f-list.ca for details. Bidding goes live at midnight on October 6th and is open to Canada and the United States.

I will invite readers to officially toast the F-list's birthday with me during LG Fashion Week (October 17 - 21), but until then I "bid" you adieu.

~ Leesa Butler, The F-list

Enjoy the Art of Fashion VIP Style

You know it's fall when people are talking Nuit Blanche. This Saturday, October 1st the all-night contemporary art event returns to Toronto streets and galleries. Why not start your evening off with some VIP treatment at the Art of Fashion event?

At the Art of Fashion, ten emerging Canadian designers bring their collections to life in an exhibit space and through a fashion show where they compete for 2 awards: Most Promising Designer is decided by an industry judging panel, and Best Exhibit is voted by the public. You can also shop the Art of Fashion's designer boutique featuring original works by apparel and accessories designers.

Win a pair of tickets to the Art of Fashion's VIP reception (6pm - 7pm) at the Pantages Hotel featuring complimentary food and beverages. Send an email to info@f-list.ca with ART OF FASHION in the subject line by midnight on September 27th for your chance to win. Winners will be contacted via email and confirmed by September 29th.

Fashion Mission Montreal: Next Stop, Musee des Beaux Arts

The Jean Paul Gaultier exhibit at the Musee des Beaux Arts was the raison d'etre for my Montreal visit. After seeing the McQueen exhibit in New York (opening day, no queue!) I was adamant about catching JPG during its short run (through October 2, 2011) so close to home. 

This tribute to the l'enfant terrible of fashion begins with a most impressive display of nearly live mannequins. Faces of real people are projected and animated onto mannequin heads for an effect that is sometimes surprising and mildly disturbing.  (More on the mannequins here.) Aside from Gaultier's work itself - which includes 130 emsembles, sketches, photographs and films - they are the most riveting part of the exhibition.

I've always been a fan of Gaultier's punk sensibilities, and have closely followed him since his pointy corsets for Madonna's Blond Ambition Tour (saw that too!). In today's world I find his point of view and expression against oppression more than relevant - I find it necessary.

Meow...

Top hat made of hair

Hat designed from vintage hair dryer

Greta Constantine's PRIMER Collection 02 Launch

Last night the boys of Greta Constantine and the fashionable masses gathered for a chic backyard launch party of PRIMER Collection 02, a follow up to the line of basics they debuted just three months ago. With this second iteration, the design duo opted for right-on-trend color, moving away from the mélange grey and black tones of Collection 01.  Chic jewel tones like royal blue, emerald, persimmon and amber bridge perfectly from summer into fall.

Kirk Pickersgill & Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine

"Greta Constantine PRIMER is its own entity. 

It's neither Greta light nor a diffusion label."

The PRIMER silhouettes are voluminous and fluid, constructed almost exclusively in cotton jersey and silks. All of the pieces are wearable on women of all ages, shapes and sizes - as demonstrated by many of the evening's guests. None of the pieces will retail over $495 with the bulk of the collection between $95 and $275 (all CAD). Chic and affordable. #loveit

Anita Gatto of I Want I Got

F-LIST EXCLUSIVE: Win a $100 gift card from Dealuxe

Wish your window shopping would pay off?  Now it can.  F-list members are invited to sign up for Dealuxe and share your summer must-haves for a chance to win a $100 gift card.  But summer is fleeting and so is this special offer.  You only have until July 27th to post your comments and enter.

Denis Gagnon Interprets Alice in Wonderland

"You used to be much more..."muchier." 

You've lost your muchness."

~ The Mad Hatter (2010)

One thing that's almost certain with a Denis Gagnon dress: it's never too much. His latest concoction is a dress inspired by Alice in Wonderland for the Luminato Festival. 

This is not something we recommend wearing if you're planning to fall down a rabbit hole, of course. It is, however, a stunning work of art. 

The dress is a hand-beaded confection of white and silver that will be on display throughout the Festival at the Wintergarden Lobby, 225 King Street West until Sunday, June 19th.

On opening night guests of Luminato were treated to a cocktail reception for the official unveiling of the dress. 

Denis & Me

Denis & his muses wearing, what else?

P.S. Pardon the washed out look of the photos. I'm in-between cameras right now, and the poor lighting in the venue didn't help either. The dress is stunning in person. Go see!

Giveaway: Kelly Cutrone's Normal Gets You Nowhere

The bitch is back. She didn't mince words telling us that If You Have to Cry Go Outside and now, Kelly Cutrone, has a new book called Normal Gets You Nowhere. Welcome to the "Kella-Sutra" where a fashion publicist-turned-media-savvy-celebrity shares her thoughts and experiences and invites you to rethink what you want from life.  

Can you handle it?! Good. I'm giving away autographed copies to four (4) lucky winners who dare answer the question, "What's normal?" (Hint: there is no wrong answer.)  

Send an email to info@f-list.ca or Tweet @theflist with your answers. Winners will be randomly drawn from all entries after midnight on Wednesday, June 1.   

Can't wait? Buy the book online now at Indigo and save 34% off the cover price. Click here to join the "normal" conversation on Facebook.