The Best and Worst of Toronto Fashion Week FW16

For Toronto Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2016, we sent Vv Magazine contributor Anthony O’Dell to navigate through the sea of photographers, magazine editors and bloggers to get the scoop on the best and worst shows.

Toronto Fashion Week (TFW) kicked off last week with a variety of designers showing their Fall/Winter collections. While the week typically showcases a slew of new and old designers representing the breadth of talent we have in Toronto, there were a few shows that put the Canadian name to shame. I’ve cut through the clutter to narrow down the good, the bad and the ugly for the week. 

The Worst

Wrkdept

Montreal-based unisex label Wrkdept themed its collection, “Bed and Breakfast”. While the bed and breakfast combo is typically an all around favourite, the same cannot be said about Wrkdept’s presentation. This model looks like a young gun joker thinking a bit too hard about whether to have eggs or oatmeal to start the day.

Mikhael Kale

Although the collection was beautiful, the presentation was not. Scroll to 0:05 in the video above to see what I’m talking about. A rep for Mikhael Kale was adamant that the runway was to blame but we’re going to go out on a limb and say those boots were not made for walking. Regardless, having multiple models tumble at your show fall isn’t pretty and really shouldn’t happen at this level.

Farley Chatto

Farley Chatto, the King of Fur, did what he does best: providing a variety of extravagant looks for men and women with no shortage of fur. While we applaud many of Chatto’s designs, the above goes against the ‘less is more’ theory. I would have loved to see more from this outfit – it’s unwearable for even the most outrageous of dressers.

Hilary MacMillian

We’re all for the cozy boy/girl aesthetic over here at Vv but sometimes you can over do it. Pairing a pink fur jacket with pink tights and pink fur slippers made this look like something a princess would wear in a Disney movie instead of a fall kit to buy.

Picadilly

Celebrating its 40th anniversary, Picadilly is one of Canada’s most respected manufacturing companies. Though this explains the collection’s commercial focus, the runway is meant to exaggerate the clothes that hits stores. My honest opinion? This looks like something you could find in your local suburban mall.  

Best

Sid Neigum

After showing his FW16 collection in London last month, Canadian wonder boy Sid Neigum came ready to woo Toronto Fashion Week and did not disappoint. The designer, who recently won an emerging talent CAFA Award, heavily featured what the brand is known for: architectural designs and unique textures. The highlight? A gold asymmetrical jacket that shows his talent for draping and playing with proportions.

Hayley Elsaesser

Known for her quirky prints and bright colours, Hayley Elsaesser stayed true to form for her FW16 collection. While the collection was solid, the true highlight was the variation in models cast. Black, white, skinny, curvy, you name it – it was on the runway.  It’s great to see a Canadian designer making a conscious effort to have the models in her show reflect the actual individuals buying her clothes.   

Bustle

Swimming in a sea of womenswear, Bustle was one of the few menswear lines to show at Toronto Fashion Week this year (thanks, TOM*). Deviating from TFW norm, the brand was the only to explore high fashion for a younger age group. Tracksuits, jackets and joggers for children were shown alongside an array of looks for both men and women. As the market for children continues to grow, will this be the start of a bigger trend?

Mackage

This year, Mackage opted out of a presentation at the tents and instead built a winter wonderland in CBC studio. Equipped with bottle service for front row guests and celebrity DJ Brendan Fallis, Mackage’s TFW show had the caliber to put Canada on the international fashion map. One of my favourite looks was Mackage’s leather overalls, better suited for downtown living than rural life, topped with a shearling jacket for an unconventional way to stay warm.

Greta Constantine

For their 10th anniversary, the Canadian favourite capped off Toronto Fashion week by debuting their collection on home soil – a first in years. The duo didn’t disappoint, presenting an array of beautiful gowns, jackets and dresses. As one of Toronto’s most adored labels, we can’t wait to see what the next 10 years have in store.

What are your thoughts on our best and worst roundup of TFW 16? Let us know in the comments section below or tweet us @ViewTheVibe.