Toronto Fashion Week has taken the city by storm once again, showcasing some of the Canada’s most talented fashion designers as they take center stage at David Pecaut Square. Amidst all the backstage buzz, social media postings and outfit changes, the true highlight of the week was watching the vision of local designers come to life as they lit up the runway and shared their story through unique pieces.

Here are highlights from my top three shows of TFW:

SID NEIGUM

The gallery style set-up of Sid Neigum’s show was the perfect way to showcase his FW16 collection; up close and personal. Opting out of the traditional runway show, I felt like I was walking through a beautiful art exhibit. With a DJ spinning in the background, 10 models stood on podiums as guests walked around absorbing the different textures and lines of Neigum’s pieces. The double-winded eyeliner, semi-matte skin and sleek buns highlighted the fabrics, which ranged from polyurethane blends to neoprene to custom textile comprised of 28% metal.

UNTTLD

Montreal designers José Manuel St-Jacques and Simon Bélanger of UNTTLD wrapped up Day 2 of TFW with a bang. After winning last fall’s Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition, UNTTLD took my breath away with their timeless and elegant pieces. I was honoured to attend this show with Mercedes-Benz, whose Start-up initiative provides a national platform for emerging Canadian designers with less than 5 years’ experience. Connecting UNTTLD with industry experts and a $30,000 bursary, the collection filled the room with unique and wearable pieces, including my personal favourite; the golden gown. The handwoven gold draped chain armour dress closed the show and left my heart wanting more!

RUDSAK

This Montreal-based label was founded in 1994 by Evik Asatoorian and has since grown into a household name. The medieval-inspired show lit up the runway with wooden pillars and live drummers, showcasing a collection of luxe leathers, neutral furs and a range of textures. References to nature and the Canadian wilderness filled the room as earthy palettes took center stage to bring to life this urban collection.

Deciding what to wear to TFW is half the fun of being invited! Here are the details of my top three looks this season:

LOOK 1

Rocking a nerdy-chic look, I was all about layering with neutrals for Day 1 of TFW. I started off by incorporating a bit of texture into my look with the Topshop Ribbed Mock Neck Top in black. I layered this with another one of my favourite Topshop pieces of the season, their Fringe Hem Tank Dress. Opting away from a traditional jacket, my finishing touch was the Topshop sleeveless jacket in black (similar here) and my Altuzzara ankle boots.

LOOK 2

A contrast from Day 1, I decided to lightened my look with warmer tones. I paired these white Pleated Wide-Leg Crop Pants from Banana Republic (now on sale) with the Slim Fit Yellow Stripe Portofino Shirt from Express. I let the bold stripes steal the show, highlighting the colours with my pale yellow Zara coat.

LOOK 3

A combination of casual and glam is the best way to describe my look for Day 4 of TFW. This Zara Embroidered Cropped Top (sold out in black, but available in white) served as my statement piece. The simplicity of my Zara frayed-hem jeans and H&M Textured Weave Jacket allow the details in the top to stand out, while my H&M Platform Ankle Boots (surprisingly lot more comfortable then they look) and Jeanne Lottie red bag added the perfect pop of colour.

Thanks for stopping by!

xo, Kiki