Fashion Week Diaries: Chloé Comme Parris, Martin Lim and the Lundström Collection

Chloé Comme Parris

One of the most highly anticipated shows of Fashion Week was Chloé Comme Parris. Designer sisters Chloé and Parris Gordon have consistently wowed Toronto with their downtown aesthetic, and this collection was no different. Titled “Beautiful Badass,” the duo took inspiration from fashion illustrator Erté, juxtaposing his sinuous lines with the hardness of piercing culture. (Check out more of their looks in the gallery at the bottom of this page.)

Models marched out with aubergine lips and messy braids coiled around the crowns of their heads, showcasing an endless parade of highly desirable looks, not one of which fell flat. An olive-green long-sleeved leather tee with studded sleeves is guaranteed to be a hot item come fall, while a deep navy trench featured an innovative batwing sleeve that morphed into a cape.

Attention to detail made all the difference: a delicate floral-print dress had tiny chains standing in for straps, giving it the perfect amount of edge, and was paired with a set of chain-linked bracelets. When the model wearing the dress tripped up in her spiky heels, removing them and raising them above her head, the crowd erupted into cheers. As the smiling blonde sisters took their bow holding hands, they further cemented their impact on Toronto’s fashion scene.
 

Martin Lim

Martin Lim, recipients of the Mercedes-Benz Start Up, drew Bernadette Morra, Susie Sheffman, Shauna Levy and Robin Kay. Designer couple Danielle Martin and Pao Lim are both graduates of the London’s renowned Central St. Martins, and have worked with acclaimed designers Roland Mouret and Christian Lacroix. While we weren’t completely sold on their award-winning collection, this season they fared much better than previously, showing highly wearable pieces in a palette of black and white alongside punchy colour and plenty of black piping. We loved the opening look (a leather dress done in blocks of black and white) and a figure-hugging dress with two turquoise rectangles running down the front.
 


Lundström Collection

The final show we took in was Lundström Collection, catching designers Wesley Badanjak and Arthur Mendonça taking in the show. Filled with highly ladylike looks, models were styled with various pieces of sparkling jewellery, some of which was rather distracting (headbands with brooches acted a bit like headlights). A lilac bouclé shift dress was matched with a grey fur stole, making an effortlessly luxe statement; an ombré mohair envelope coat a made a subtle transition from dove grey to a wintery blue. Overall, Day Two left us highly impressed.
 


Also in Fashion Week Diaries

Day One: Lucian Matis’ darkly romantic vision, Holt Renfrew lacks panache
Also on Day Two: impressive looks from Adrian Wu, Laura Siegel and Sid Neigum

Tomorrow: Vawk and Joe Fresh
 


Article exclusive to STREETS OF TORONTO