Pink Tartan - F/W 2014 - World Mastercard Fashion Week

Written by Anjli Patel 
Anjli Patel is an intellectual property lawyer focusing on trade-mark law. She helps fashion designers and creative people build and protect their brands.

Kim Newport-Mimran presented a highly textural fall-winter 2014 collection for Pink Tartan. Buffalo plaid, houndstooth and fair isle prints were perfectly set off by a sharp colour palette of black, white and red. Many looks were accented with fur by way of a collar, trim or scarf, or whimsically styled with oversized mittens. There were no shortage of classic black separates rendered in leather, lamé, wool, sequins and furs, including what appeared to be luxe astrakhan.

Overall, the collection captured Newport-Mimran's ethos of day-to-night dressing, although perhaps that element of practicality was missing due to the use of specialty fabrics. Some pieces in the collection, like the fur pants are better suited to the girl with car service, or at least the Uber app installed on her phone. The best look was the exaggerated blanket coat styled with Newport-Mimran's favourite Courregés sunglasses.

Images via World Mastercard Fashion Week

Line Knitwear - F/W 2014 - World Mastercard Fashion Week

The last of the World Mastercard Fashion Week shows I was able to catch, Line Knitwear. Long-time designer friends John Muscat and Jennifer Wells started the Line Knitwear collection in 2000 in Toronto. Their collections consist of draping, embellishment and exaggerated details. Their pieces are classic investment pieces that will really last.

This was my first time seeing a Line Knitwear show and I was not disappointed! The collection consisted mostly of colorful separates, which is something we can all get behind. Pieces that you can mix and match to make your wardrobe seem larger than it really is! A great fitted midi leather skirt is a staple every woman should have in her wardrobe. I have a black leather skirt like the one on the runway below and I pair it with cropped, fitted blazers for day and sleeveless tops and jewelry by night. Wear with fitted calf boots or a great pair of pumps and everyone will be oohing and ahing about your look! Thanks for having me line - beautiful collection!

Images via World Mastercard Fashion Week

Beaufille - F/W 2014 - World Mastercard Fashion Week

Loved this edgy collection by sisters Chloe and Parris Gordon (formerly of Chloe Comme Parris). Leather, black baseball caps, tights and modern cuts in very fall colors - maroons, browns and blacks. I particularly loved one of the black oversized tunics with metallic embellishments and leather leggings and flats! You know the clothes are made right if they make the models look tall and elegant even in flats! Dark floral patterned prints and shin length skirts were also a surprise. Loved the edgy and very chic vibe of this strong collection for the new label Beaufille. New label - same great designers!

Image via Richmond News

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Vawk - F/W 2014 - World Mastercard Fashion Week

Sunny Fong has wowed us again with another great collection for F/W 2014. His looks were the most dramatic of Day 1 of World Mastercard Fashion Week. Long sheer black gowns, trains, leather panels, zippers, cutouts, sequins and shimmer. Sunny Fong is one of Treasure Seeker Colleen's favorite designers because he designs for women of all ages, shapes and sizes. He is one of the few designers who thinks about today's "real" market.

This year one of the models, Amy Palmiero-Winters walked the runway in a designer prosthetic leg. The crowd gasped and applauded at her amazing and confident walk down the runway. Amy's prosthetic was designed by Alleles Design Studio. This company based in Medicine Hat, has been looking to bring couture and design to prosthetics since last October and they are doing just that! For more on the the Vawk and Alleles collaboration visit The Star.

Another show stopping collection. Thanks to Sunny for inspiring us all!

Image via Huffington Post

424 Fifth Spring Launch Event at The Bay Downtown Vancouver

Written by Colleen Tsoukalas (Treasure Seeker Colleen)

424 Fifth Avenue is actually the Lord and Taylor address in New York and Chief Creative Officer, Marie Holman-Rao and Fashion Magazine's Western Editor, Joy Pecknold welcomed us to highlights of the Spring Collection.  One lucky attendee won $1,000 to build a colorful, 'structured' wardrobe, surely an end to bulky winter woolies and sodden umbrellas!

Featured were bold corals, bright blues, sunny yellows, deep greens and more.  This was a well curated, collection of the essential pops of color and unique designs, to take you through Spring, Summer and early Fall.  The emphasis was on the shape: the structured skirt, the tapered pant, the flaring 3/4 coat, the soft, yet textured sweater.   I liked the visuals too, the eyeglasses on the sweater, the designer's dog, and the graphics of places near and far dresses and shirts.  Fresh, classic and new is how I would describe this line.  We're definitely tired of being winter and are ready for some zing.

As always, the Bay offers ongoing fashion in a gorgeous space.  A fantastic array of refreshments provided so elegantly by Culinary Capers Vancouver, was presented by friendly and efficient staff, who really added to the special event atmosphere!

Thanks Hudson's Bay and welcome Lord and Taylor!

Bellevance and Steven Tai at The Shows Toronto!

The Toronto Fashion season is of to a great start with The Shows! This year The Shows took place at a new venue - The Story's Building on King Street West; a change from the Andrew Richard Designs venue we visited in previous years.

This year we saw the familiar faces of Bellevance designers Nolan Bellevance and Ava Hama. The two designers debuted their Fall/Winter 2013 collection at Milk Studios in February 2013, and their collection was purchased exclusively by Opening Ceremony. The aim of their collections is to make clothing that is approachable and aspirational. This year we saw more of the sleek and modern silhouettes that Bellevance is known for. We also saw many of the models wearing black and white kitten heels which seem to be rising in popularity on runways these days. The craftsmanship in these designs was spectacular as always!

Bellevance

Steven Tai

Vancouver-born designer Steven Tai presented at The Shows again this year. This is the fourth season for his self-named collection. Before launching his own line in 2012, Steven worked for some of the top design houses, including Viktor and Rolf and Stella McCartney. His Autumn/winter 2014 collection consisted of bold and playful floral patterns and some very fantastic trench coats. All of pieces are uniquely designed and made to make the modern woman stand out in a crowd. Love that yellow trench!

Catching up with With Love Lingerie's Carrie Russell

It seems like a lifetime ago that I interviewed the very talented Carrie Russell of Canadian Lingerie Line "With Love Lingerie". It was three years ago that I interviewed Carrie and hosted a Bustier Giveaway on Clothes Line Finds. My how time flies! 

Don't we all love beautiful lingerie and designed by one very fabulous Canadian?! Many of Carrie Russell's designs are inspired by her background in Visual Art and English Literature. After earning her B.A. at the University of Western Ontario, she continued her education in fashion arts and construction. Since her graduation, she has worked with several North American lingerie companies, evening wear designers and private labels. She has been one very busy fashion designer! On top of all this, she was recognized by Flare Magazine's Fall 2012 issue as one of the top 25 up-and-coming Canadian Designers. 

Carrie started "With Love Lingerie" in 2010 and has continued the line in addition to all of her other design endeavors. With Love Lingerie "is about evoking glamour and intimacy through underpinnings that are made with love." The collection is designed and manufactured solely in Canada.

Check out the first interview I did with Carrie Russell in 2014 and here is our latest!

AT: I've browsed through your latest Dankia 2014 capsule collection and love the beautiful lacey black kimono (featured below). What was your inspiration for this stunning piece?

CR: I loved the idea of something that is effortless and easy. The lace is just so lovely it was so nice to showcase the whole motif in this piece. It is also a great addition to the layer over an existing fav piece already in your top drawer that might need a refresh.

AT: I have never seen garters like the ones you design (featured below). They're a great update of the traditional garters we know of. How did this design come about?

CR: This design is my effort to make the leg garter more like a piece of jewelry rather than something to be hidden away. I have this amazing pair of Pretty Polly tights (Oh I am a stocking-a-holic by the way) and they are faux gartered. One day I wore the stockings under a black velvet dress and kept thinking that it would be so fantastic to see just a bit of brass against the nylon and voila! The new mini line of leg garters were born.

AT: The Willow Collection of Spring Summer 2014 (featured below) consists of delicate and light colored hughes and quite the contrast to the dark lacey Dankia Capsule collection. How were you inspired by each collection and how are they different?

CR: I have always loved fashion and jumped all over the place with different looks and styles. And sometimes that leads to some collections that at first glance seem distinctly different. Both Willow and Dankia work for a super femme woman or bridge but who choose to accentuate their femininity in a different way. Dankia is simple, easy, and confident while Willow is also confident but free, flowing and fresh. Both are a piece of fantasy and are unrestrained but while Dankia is smoky I feel like Willow is whimsical.

AT: What's next and upcoming? Tell us about what's in store for With Love Lingerie!

CR: Well right now I'm sewing like crazy for our Ce Soir collection F/W 2014 to be featuring in this year's Fashion Arts Toronto on Friday April 25th. I am so excited to show these designs, they are really show stopping pieces that feature silk chiffon, digital print and a lot of hand beaded appliques and details. The inspiration is English fashion at the turn of the century and has hints of East meets West. Goosebumps just writing about it, haha.

Beyond the creative side and onto the business side, our clients can expect more special pieces being featured on our online shop regularly and more small release capsule collections. I have vowed to stay on top of our studio newsletters to keep everyone updated with what With Love is up to next!

Dankia Kimono

Dankia Kimono

Dankia Kimono

Dankia Kimono

Cross My Heart Bra and brief

Large Lion Garter

Silver Chain and Rivet Garter 

Bow Garter 

50% Off at Value Village - Celebrating 60 Years - Monday, March 10th!

Alright you Value Village fans! Tomorrow is a big Value Village day! This year, Value Village is celebrating 60 years. Celebrate in style and find clothes at more affordable prices than you have ever imagined! On Monday, March 10th, shop the store and receive 50% off all bed, bath, clothing, shoes and accessories.  Read more about it on the Value Village website.

On top of the big 50% off celebration, six Super Savers Club Card members will win a $100 Value Village shopping spree! All card holders are automatically entered to win so if you haven't already, sign up online or in-store.

Value Village first opened in 1954 to provide shoppers the best value and selection with a department store-like experience, while also giving back to the community through partnerships with local nonprofit organizations. Today, Value Village has nearly 330 locations and more than 150 nonprofit partners. To many more years of great shopping, saving the environment and community engagement!

Read more of myself and Treasure Seeker Colleen's Value Village posts.

Some of my Favorite Value Village Looks