Ottawa Fashion Week is back for its fourth year, with the hottest 2012 looks from Canada’s best and up-and-coming designers.
About 7,000 fashionistas are expected to attend the event that will boast more than 20 designers of couture clothes and jewellery.
But before you dig out your highest stilettos or most dapper designer jacket, here’s what you should know, besides being careful not to step on the gorgeous shoes of André Leon Talley if you snagged front-row seats.
Ottawa couture legend Frank Sukhoo, who worked with Richard Robinson for the last 15 years, is at last making a bold move to present his first collection since he opened his own studio two years ago. Sukhoo’s creations have been a big hit with diplomats and gala-goers such as cellist Amanda Forsyth. He describes his collection, Sukhoo Sukhoo, as “classic with an edge.”
Elsewhere, century lace and velvet couture will abound from Ottawa’s Jana & Emilia Fashion Design Studios’ fall 2012 looks, which were inspired by 16th-century Europe and add a playful yet severely decadent twist to the elegant line.
Suit jackets and dresses that can go from work-chic to cocktail hot will stalk the runway. Added bonus: the designers have a habit of using ethnically diverse and curvaceous models.
While Demoyo designer Paidemoyo Chideya has worked under Carolina Herrara and Calvin Klein to create her own line of very sexy streetwear (think structured cut-out back and exposed gold zipper-dresses), it’s Y!DNA the guys will flip for.
Montreal’s Andy Nguyen, of Y!DNA, will present his first official runway collection, Dark Light on Friday night. It will feature wood chip and metal details in his edgy street wear for men and women. The young designer studied fashion at Lasalle College and won Telio’s 2010 Best Breakthrough Designer.
The gay designer has embraced a queer spin on this collection, combining unconventional fabrics and textures. Both Jewish and Chinese culture are reflected through motifs and woven wool transformation, rubber, leather and latex tied to various clothes.
Toronto’s ultra-feminine Rachel Sin is returning with a slew of fashion and lifestyle bloggers who will model her fall/winter 2012 collection. It features creamy white crochet tops and blouses, high-waisted pants and shimmery blazers amongst her signature sassy dresses in coral and animal print. Sin has a background in architecture and uses this to push structural limits of clothes with incredible results.
Not one to shy from the red carpet, with pieces that have been spotted on celebrities like Angelie Jolie, Halifax-based designer Lisa Drader-Murphy, of Turbine Fashion, will be visiting Ottawa Fashion Week for the first time. Her collection was inspired by her extensive travels in the French Riviera and Austria over the past year. The luxurious Italian and Viennese textiles she discovered there are used in this year’s creation of women’s ready-to-wear, handbags and jewellery.
The Deets:
Ottawa Fashion Week
Fri, Feb 17-Sun, Feb 19
The Westin Ottawa
11 Colonel By Dr
$45 for Friday and Saturday; $55 for Sunday; $95 for all three days.
ottawafashionweek.ca
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