Toronto Fashion Week lives up to 'fabulous' tagline

Canadian designers were the toast of Toronto yesterday for L'Oréal Fashion Week's finale. Lucian Matis, Afshin Feiz and Denis Gagnon secured the coveted Friday evening timeslots, reminding the audience of the sheer strength of Canada's artistic talent.
The crowd gasped in unison as Matis' first number graced the runway. The loosely draped silk dress with floral overlay and jewel-incrusted neckline set the tone for the show. Matis repeated the flower print for several dresses and used a red silk for high waisted pants, an evening gown and a blouse emblazoned with a Warhol-style illustration.
Matis' models wore turban-inspired headdress that added a dramatic feel to his designs. His final number, a white wig and lavender tulle dress with a fitted bodice and white leggings, was reminiscent of Marie-Antoinette.

Until November 16th, the ROM's Patricia Harris Gallery of Textiles & Costume features a dress that belonged to Marie-Antoinette. Out of the vaults for a special viewing, the two-piece court dress embodies the French Queen's fashion sense -- and excess -- with its satin, silk, baubles and glass beads.
Drawing from this concept of rich fabrics and romance was Afshin Feiz's spring collection that featured sheer white chemises with tailored white shorts and skirts with chain and ruffle details. His pastel dresses featured feminine cutouts that accentuated the shoulders, neck and upper back.
A layered lavender dress with thick ruffled lapel floated down the runway with a satin train following. Although Feiz now resides closer to the palais de Versailles than his childhood home of Vancouver, his Canadian roots were showing last night. Immediately after this magnificent lavender dress exited the stage came Feiz to take his bow wearing a red "kiss me I'm Canadian" tee.
For Denis Gagnon's 'colour shock' show he diverged from creamy spring hues with bold red, pink, gold, white and black leather and

jersey dresses. With great attention to texture and form Gagnon's dresses were tied and braided with function in mind.
Models carried beautiful leather handbags Gagnon created exclusively for Fullum & Holt. His striking accessories, like winding spiked acrylic bracelets, evoked the African tribal influence in some late 19th century artwork like that of Jawlensky and Matisse. Denis Gagnon's show was simply fabulous.
It was a fitting ending for Toronto Fashion Week where this year's theme was 'fabulous.' In a speech at the Holt Renfrew media cocktail Monday, Robin Kay, Fashion Design Council of Canada president, said that in retrospect she would have been more careful in her choice of words for the Fashion Week tag in light of the current global economic crisis.
This is the Marie-Antoinette moment Guy Trebay recently described in a New York Times piece on Paris Fashion Week. Economic uncertainty has really put into question the survival of luxury brands and lifestyles.
Fashion is an art form and an expression of our identity and culture. Thankfully there is a platform for many talented Canadian designers to share their gift. This is truly fabulous.