And, go.

The first flares shot up out of the Allstream Centre Sunday night, signaling the race had begun. IZMA opened with a string of fantasy furs, growing gray and gold out of models' shoulders, all wrapped in black sheer and leather. I watched from home, tucked into a toque and fleece sweater.

In the a.m. was Sunny Fong and VAWK in its airy, open, sun-lit space, usually reserved for artsy intellectuals and Toronto-tourist types. After a morning of calls missed and answered, I put down the phone and pen, pulled out the camera.

The invitation promised Fong would make pretty the mess that has been our lives all these months: the economic crash that told us we'd brought back the eighties too fast, too hard, Mr. McQueen's suicide; our unmentioned personal problems.

Out of that decay beauty was maybe born, but mostly we held in our hands, trying not to touch furs as they passed, giggled and made jokes about taking mushrooms. And as always, it was over as soon as it began, we took off in different directions.

On to the next show, next look, collection, season, story. Wait until 11:00 to pull the red out, pass on parties, highlight notes and prep to file in the morning.

*Update: an article I wrote on VAWK is online now. I don't work at the Vancouver Sun but it seems an editor there really likes my writing. Thanks for the pick-up, VS.

Mr. Ben Barry watching the madness unfold from the second floor

Sunny smiles for the press Afiya Francisco of the Style House chatting before the show

Lay Dee takes in her first runway show

Ainsley Kerr and Jessica Biffi before the show begins

Ms. Robin Kay of the FDCC arrives

Ms. Kay again, seated next to Glen Baxter of Fashion Television

Oh, and that's Russ, or Russless, or something of the sort; whoever

One last laugh

For my slideshow of all the looks click here.

Life after reality (television)

Though autumn’s cold, windy weather has arrived, designer Sunny Fong transformed the Art Gallery of Ontario into a tropical paradise at yesterday’s kick off to Toronto Fashion Week.

The show, inspired by French Polynesia, was Fong’s first since winning the second season of Project Runway Canada last April. It also served as the re-launch of Fong’s label, VAWK, which went under before he appeared on the show.

With the help of his new business partner, Canadian entrepreneur Ben Barry, Fong resurrected the label and created a collection of twelve looks to show at LG fashion week. The garments included a leather trench, a white power pantsuit, a flowing dress with a sheer floral cutout, and a floor-length chiffon gown that closed the show.

Fong mixed muted ivory and cream with hints of vibrant fuchsia and red, inspired by the colours of the hibiscus flowers that grow in Polynesia. Fong paid close attention to detail, punching holes in intricate patterns on leather items and twisting organza silk to create plush textures. Looks were completed by thick brown belts and fringed necklaces.

Alongside the press and usual fashion industry insiders, who sat in rows of chairs set up in the AGO’s foyer, Fong’s fans piled into the hallways overlooking the runway, which served as the show’s general admission area. The show also streamed live on VAWK’s website, as Alexander McQueen’s show did earlier this season in Paris.

Jason Meyers and Jessica Biffi, the two runners up from season two of Project Runway, are also showing collections this week. Meyers is showing this evening at 5 pm, and Biffi, who attended Fong’s show, will present her collection on Friday.

*This post is pulled from Canada.com, where I'll be reporting over the coming weeks. You can see the video footage, shot by the boys at Slice, alongside the article, which is posted here.