What's on the Fashion Calendar for October 2011

Saena Afternoon Scent Collection

October is chock-a-block with fashion and arts related events:

October 1-2: This is the last weekend to see The Fashion World of Jean Paul Gaultier at the Montreal Museum of Fine Arts. This exhibition is a celebration of the 30 years of visionary and groundbreaking fashion creations by Jean Paul Gaultier under the premise that there is no singular standard of beauty. The exhibition will move on to venues in Dallas (November 13 - February 12, 2011) and San Francisco (March 24 - August 19, 2012). My review of the show can be read on Fashion Projects here.

October 1 from dusk until dawn: Scotiabank Nuit Blanche is Toronto's all-night celebration of contemporary art. The menu of activities is too long to recount here, but one of the highlights will be a live performance called SLEEP as part of Gullivers' Rehearsal: Drawing into Performance at Loop Gallery.

until October 5: Paris Fashion Week.  I had two invitations to Paris Fashion Week this year neither of which I could accept.... Sigh! I am intrigued by the work of both of these talented young designers as they seem fresh and vibrant in their own way. I've mentioned Saena before as she appeals to my romantic side. Saena Chun is based in Berlin and creates modernist confections like the gorgeous dress shown above. The other designer who has caught my eye is Andrew Majtenyi who has created an edgy and fashion forward collection inspired by the Medieval trial of Katherina Hetzeldorfer in 1477. I am especially sorry to miss this one since I am currently doing research into how fashion designers reference history.

October 14: I will be giving the keynote address at the Costume Society of America mid-west conference on the topic of When Does Fashion Become Art?

October 17-21: The Spring/Summer 2012 Collections of LG (Toronto) Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oréal Paris will take place in their new home at the David Pecaut / Metro Square.  The SS12 Collections will include more than 40 shows and presentations filled with local talent.

October 20: The launch of my project tentatively titled  The Swing on this blog. I chose to do a creative project for one of my grad courses called Design, Text and Ideas and will be posting regular updates here as part of my progress reports for that assignment. This work takes its inspiration from the 18th century painting by Fragonard which is in the Wallace Collection. I will create a dress sculpture in a post-modern mash up of fabrics and using embroidery or other means as interventions to make the work into a conceptual art piece.

October 29: Opera Atelier’s 2011-12 Season opens with a glittering new period production of Don Giovanni designed by Martha Mann and my friend Gerard Gauci. The new production will be presented October 29, 30, November 1, 2, 4, and 5, 2011, at the Elgin Theatre in Toronto and will also be performed in Columbus, Ohio on November 25 and 27, 2011.

Photo provided courtesy of Saena.

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LG Fashion Week

Angela Chen Winter 2010 by Ingrid Mida 

I'm supposed to be at LG Fashion Week: The Style of Power, but am instead stuck in bed nursing a bad case of bronchitis. Alas, I'll have to content in reading other press coverage like this article on Angela Chen in the National Post or watching the live stream of the shows here. After seeing this enchanting sneak peak video on youtube, my disappointment is huge. There is really nothing like being there!

Interview with Fashion Designer Angela Chen

Photo credit: Ingrid Mida 2010

After seeing Angela Chen's collection at Toronto's LG Fashion Week, I had lots of questions for this talented designer. Although she probably has not yet caught up on her sleep after such a hectic week, she kindly agreed to be interviewed.

Ingrid: How would you describe the woman who is the target customer for the Orange collection?

Angela: I want all women to feel confident, comfortable and stylish in my clothes. They are timeless pieces for every woman’s closet.

Ingrid: How do you begin your design process? Do you sketch out your collection first or work directly from fabric and a mannequin?

Angela: Each season is different. I may begin a season by drawing inspiration from things around me and then incorporating these ideas into sketches. Another season I may draw inspiration from fabrics.

Ingrid: What was your inspiration for this collection? Was there a particular mood or feeling you wanted to invoke?

Angela: This season’s collection is titled Contrast. It’s very much East Coast meets West Coast as I have lived in New York for the past seven years and I just recently decided to live bi-coastally between New York and Vancouver. My FW2010 collection reflects the hard, sophistication of New York and the soft, organic feel of the West Coast.

Ingrid: What was your favourite piece in the collection?

Angela: It’s really tough to pick a personal favourite as I have been looking at them all for so long. They all are like my babies! They are all my creations. But if I had to pick one, perhaps it would be the hand-knit chunky sweaters because they are so cozy and warm.

Ingrid: Are the knits a new exploration? Do you knit? 

Angela: Actually I hand-knit all the chunky sweaters myself! I always admired the art of knitting and the cosiness of knitted wear. I thought warm, cozy kits would be ideal for the Fall collection.

Ingrid: The softly draped skirt like pocket on the pant was a detail that I especially enjoyed since I often wear dresses over pants. Do you think this type of garment would work on all figure types?

Angela:  This collection was designed with classic silhouettes meant to make all women feel confident and beautiful. I think if you exuberate confidence and wear the clothing and not let the clothing wear you, then any type of garment will work for you.

Ingrid: The two embellished pieces in the collection (skirt and dress) seemed to be new elements in your work. I could not tell how this was done. What type of fabric did you use for these pieces and/or were the embellishments added afterwards?

Angela: The embellishments were hand-knit from shiny yarn mixed with sequence yarn.

Ingrid: If you could model your career after any designer, whose career path would you like to follow?

Angela: I love Givenchy for the classic elegance, and the fact that nothing extra is added for no reason. Stella McCartney’s clothes are so polished, and she has great attention to detail. She mixes soft and hard aspects the same way I do. And Sonia Rykiel always shows beautiful textures, she plays with volume. She is the Queen of Knits!

Ingrid: If your dreams come true, where will you be in ten years?

Angela: I hope to have the Orange by Angela Chen brand internationally recognized and hope to own an Orange flagship store in major cities all over the world.  

Ingrid: Where can the FW 2010 collection be purchased?

Angela: Check out my website.

Orange by Angela Chen Fall Winter 2010

From the moment the first model stepped onto the runway, I knew that Angela Chen was my kind of designer. An elegant silk blouse in cream and a draped black skirt is a staple in my wardrobe and I wanted to cheer.

The collection was a symphony of black, cream and gray, the wardrobe of many sophisticated urban women. Actually it reminded me of New York, where colour simply does not exist.

Although there was a variety of day and evening looks, I have to say my favourite pieces were for evening. There was a stunning skirt that I could see myself wearing to the opera or ballet.

And there was also a beautiful dress which should be in my closet.

It was a sophisticated, elegant and wearable collection.

LG Toronto Fashion Week

 Photo credit: LG Toronto Fashion Week Website

The sun in shining on Toronto during LG Fashion Week Beauty by L’Oréal Paris.  In its 12th year, this event brings together fashion designers, buyers, media and fans. And I can hardly wait to make my debut covering the Orange by Angela Chen show tomorrow afternoon. Angela is one busy girl and I've not been able to get a pre-show interview. But perhaps after she's caught up on her sleep, I'll be able to feature an interview here.