TORONTO - Fashionable flashbacks marked the kick-off of World MasterCard Fashion Week on Monday as designers served up a fresh take on definitive, signature looks from the recent and distant style past.
From the streamlined silhouettes of the swinging 60s to 90s-era grunge, Day 1 of fall-winter collections unveiled during the Toronto showcase featured a stylish reboot of some familiar fashions.
Pink Tartan: The love affair with 60s style lingered on in the luxurious range delivered by Pink Tartan as the womenswear label channelled looks evocative of the fashionable era.
Designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran drew on her "favourite disturbing blondes" — Constance Langdon (Jessica Lange) from "American Horror Story" and Marnie Edgar (Tippi Hedren) of Hitchcock's "Marnie" — as her muses for her fall-winter collection.
There was a Stepford Wife-feel to the mirror-image styling of the bandeau-sporting blondes with darkened brows who took the runway swathed in an abundance of luxe accents like furs and leather gloves. The collection featured ultra-feminine, retro designs fully in step with the label's signature embrace of sophisticated separates.
Shaggy toppers, capes and cocoon coats contrasted with the sleek sheaths, shirtdresses, slim-fitting cropped pants and suited separates featuring rich floral patterns and shimmering brocades.
In addition to leopard print tops and flirty pleated dresses in geometric prints, the line was awash in vibrant pops of colour, from hot pinks to deep plums, emerald greens and regal royal blues.
In a twist on the traditional, there were definitive modern touches on the classic pieces, from digitized blooms on dresses to green mesh-like cutouts adorning the sleeves and hemlines of a top-and-skirt pairing.
Bustle: Pattern power dominated the latest collection from husband-and-wife duo Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow.
The menswear label made ample use of vibrant prints, from contrasting shades of polka dots in suited separates, to highly-pigmented florals reminiscent of wallpaper print in shirts and pants. Paisley patterns were also in the mix.
For men looking to dial down the colour, there were plenty of more traditional choices on offer, with denim jackets, trench coats and shawl-collared cardigans also showcased for the cooler months.
Chloe comme Parris: The mid-tempo rock anthems blaring from the speakers reflected the cool, eclectic grunge vibe showcased in the latest collection from sisters Chloe and Parris Gordon.
There was a dual contrast of laidback, feminine looks with edgy, menswear-inspired separates. The line also featured a creative mix of of kaleoidoscopic prints, sheer toppers, velvet dresses and embroidered leathers alongside outerwear offerings including trenches and biker-style jackets.
The metalwork that has been a signature element of Chloe comme Parris was again on display, with intricate metallic grid patterning adorned on a knit dress and fringe-like detailing on coats.
Miz by Izzy Camilleri: Ladylike looks coloured the runway return of Izzy Camilleri as the Toronto-based designer featured slick, well-tailored separates conjuring visions of 50s and 60s-era fashions.
With their bouffant hairstyles accented by black bandeaus, models walked the darkened runway dotted with spotlights in cocoon coats and capelets, pencil skirts, jersey dresses and sleeveless jumpers.
Steeped largely in grey, black and white with splashes of camel and chocolate brown, the collection largely showcasing monochromatic with the occasional infusions of striking patterns, from shell tops and cropped pants in houndstooth to bold snakesprint.
Fashion Week continues until Friday.
