Vancouver Fashion Week: Runway Reviews Part 1
April 1st, 2009 | Published in Event Report | 2 Comments
Words by Maria. Above photo by Lumondo Photography
This season, Vancouver Fashion Week didn’t disappoint—the shows presented had a life of their own and the contrast between them was refreshing. From the quietly beautiful flora&fauna to the loud and dazzling MAANAKIS, to the youthful and exhilarating KILLA, the designers represented an ever-increasing quality of VFW’s production.
The Opening Gala was a lovely event that had Leone bursting at the seams with Vancouver’s most fashionable. Jewellery from various designers was elegantly displayed on tables flanked by the designers themselves and by models sporting their handiwork. Other models made their rounds dressed in creations from each designer participating in VFW while attendees spoiled themselves over chocolates, wine, and the sheer trendiness of it all.
The first day of shows after the opening gala got off to a rocky start, with the first show starting 2 hours and 15 minutes past the scheduled time. No real complaints here, however, for once the shows started this slight slip-up was absolved. Thursday was dubbed “Canadian/Local Designers” day, featuring the likes of Papillon Eastern, MAANAKIS, and VFW regular Porscia.
Above photos by Lumondo Photography.
Papillon Eastern
Papillon Eastern presented a variety of garments from its three different lines: Kroshetta , Papillon, and Hibis. Solid reds, blacks, and neutral colours predominated with the occasional pop of colour. Garments ranged from a lumberjack-style jacket to a billowy teal and cream dress to a pencil skirt in red tartan. Aside from the reoccurring colours, there didn’t seem to be one single element that tied the collections together and in a some cases it seemed some pieces would be a better fit in Spring/Summer rather than Fall/Winter. Nonetheless, the collective of dresses, jackets, and knits would be an easy wear to any fashion-conscious gal.
Above photos by Yvonne Chew.
MAANAKIS
This collection was quite the star-studded little affair. Nearly every dress had some sparkle to it, either in an all-over fashion or delicately placed in strategic areas. Some of the dresses could have done with a bit of editing, but for the most part the collection was exceptional. The colours, draping, and fit were reminiscent of Lebanese traditional dress, where designer Gianni Maanaki hails from. The hard work that went into each dress was evident by the amount of detail on each one, and the sheer volume of different designs was impressive. Most of the favourites were gowns with absolutely no bling or just a touch, but it was made up for by the intricate folds and drapes that accentuated the wearer’s figure.
Above photos by Yvonne Chew.
Porscia
Porscia Yeganeh came back for another season and once again filled the runway with her smart designs. Her knack for creating feminine yet original pieces was evident—her F/W ’09 collection very much on the classic side. Subdued colours were accentuated by textured fabrics and wispy feather trims on various jackets and coats. Branding is definitely a priority with Porscia and its logo visibly made its appearance in most of the garments, but unfortunately was sometimes placed in odd spots or in a colour that did not match the rest of the garment—at times spoiling the overall look. The collection, however, was consistent and elegant, definitely a favourite for the woman who likes to dress well and stand out.
Above photos by Yvonne Chew.
Frost Sportiva
Frost Sportiva featured garments fit for the slopes—and for a diva attitude. Fur-trimmed jackets in sleek materials and bell-bottom pants made their way down the runway bringing to mind a stylish vacation on the slopes of St. Moritz. Inopportunely, some outfits had the look of a slimmed-down Michelin Man, something that would not be flattering on any body over a size 2. Other pieces were more streamlined, however, mostly short jackets paired with fitted pants trimmed with copious amounts of fur. A definite crowd-stopper and favourite was an over-sized fur hat nearly bigger than the model’s head. Over-the-top in some cases, totally posh in others, and both things most of the time, Frost Sportiva could be easily pictured on the backs of the rich and famous, and interestingly enough, particularly on that of the infamous Victoria Beckham aka Posh Spice.
Stay tuned for more coverage on the rest of Vancouver Fashion Week on String Magazine!
April 1st, 2009
Looks like you had a busy weekend Maria! Can’t wait for more articles. Keep up the great work!
April 2nd, 2009
Maria, I always love your words. Since I did short reviews, I’ve linked String as one of the go-to sources for more in-depth coverage.