Well hello dears. It’s started and Philip Sparks was the kick off. Last night, Monday, Sparks brought his new Fall/Winter vision to warm men’s and women’s cockles this fall. The collection made up of plaid patterns, different length coats including some trimmed with fleece, a gorgeous tuxedo, sweaters and an interesting all plaid suit. The suit, worn on a model of colour, I call the “Obama” suit as you can totally see President Obama wearing this for a casual weekend away. However when you interpreted his look, Sparks produced a wearable, fall/winter 11 collection that will keep Jack Frost at bay stylishly.

You want to own from Philip Sparks: the Ontario blank scarf. This huge black and white scarf elegant enough to work but cool enough to go clubbing.

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For Shaun Proulx’s take on Philip Spark’s show last night, visit HIMBO!

Well hello dears.

It’s that time again when Toronto fashion fanatics wait with breathless anticipation for what will be going down the runway. If the indications from Paris, London, and Milan are any indication my pre season comments are, “prepare to shop.” Last week I raved about Lady Gaga’s Mugler music with the video installation featuring tattooed zombie performance artist, Rico G! Now you’ve got to see the collection yourself.

Designer Nicola Formichetti has done a jaw-dropping, risky yet gorgeously avant-garde collection based on the idea of a Mugler monster (which Rico G is the face of). Not only this…OK, OK, I’ll stop going on about it. See the Mugler collection for yourself and don’t say I didn’t warn you.

So enough about European menswear, for now! LG Fashion Week starts Monday, March 28^th with the kick-off show being Holt Renfrew’s Can’t Live Without Canadian Fashion then right after Izzy Camilleri and Adrian Mainella team up to present IZMA’s Fall/Winter 2011. Though what many people don’t know is the fun starts this Monday, March 21^st with Philip Sparks show, which I will be attending with the ever fabulous Shaun Proulx, followed by the huge popular Greta and Ezra Constantine presentation on Friday, March 28^th at an Audi dealership. The pre LG Fashion Week shows are signal style is coming.

So what to attend during LG Fashion Week? Remember if you are not registered and thumb-printed media you are considered a consumer which means you get the cattle seats at the shows. But if you don’t mind and just want witness all the mayhem here are the “must see” shows:

Tuesday, March 28^th

Joe Fresh at 8:30 p.m.

Bustle at: 9:30 p.m.

Thursday, March 31^st

Rudsak at: 6 p.m.

Friday, April 1^st.

Klaxton Howl at: 6 p.m.

You can follow my runway-side commentary on right here on GayGuideToronto.com through the @GayGuideTO feed on Twitter.

Philip Sparks Spring Summer 2011

On Wednesday, October 13th designer Philip Sparks debuted his Spring/Summer 2011 collection to a standing room only crowd. This season, like others, he rolled out his trademark tailored jackets men with crisp shorts plus dress shirts, along with something new; womenswear. Due to mounting requests from many potential female clients Sparks debuted his new women’s pieces.

Philip Sparks Spring/Summer 2011

So How Was The Collection? I know you are not interested in the women’s so I will get right to the mens. From having seen many of Sparks’ collections over various seasons you realize there is a signature style to his pieces. Once again for Spring/Summer 2011 he didn’t waver. Smart jackets, dress shirts with bow ties, crisp shorts, and versatile outerwear made up his menswear collection. Sparks’ men’s collection appeals to a customer who is looking for a smart suit by day and elegant casual wear for night.

Philip Sparks Spring/Summer 2011

The Accessories: Think the great leather bag in a light coloured leather. Sparks showed messengers and this “must have” knapsack which is my “Style Guy” pick.

Having Fun With The Fashion Television Camera Guy...

Where To Get It: Philip Sparks Showroom in the Burroughs Building near Queen & Bathurst. Visit his website for the exact street address.

FGI Toronto Chapter - Fashion/Next presented by Rowenta

With LG Fashion Week starting in the less than a week, October 18-23, Toronto will be a buzz with stylish excitement. For those of you who can’t wait and aren’t on the list for the pre LG Fashion Week shows like: Evan Biddell, Philip Sparks and Greta Constantine don’t despair Fashion Group International Toronto’s Chapter comes to the rescue. On Tuesday, October 12th at 6 p.m. at Toronto’s Bloor Cinema, 506 Bloor Street West presents a Fashion/Next presented by Rowenta. This panel will comprise some of Toronto’s leading industry insiders. Fashion/Next is for students, industry insiders and anyone who loves fashion and to find out what could be going down the runways of the world including at LG Fashion Week.

The panelists will include:

Host: Sarah Taylor, MuchMusic
The Visionary | Fashion Designer: Marika Brose, BROSE
The Powerhouse | The Retailer: Natalie Lecomte, Holt Renfrew
The Influencer | Media: Liv Judd, LOULOU Magazine
The Tastemaker | Stylist: Rita Leifhebber, Designer / Stylist / Fashion Editor
The Strategist | Marketer: Karen Cleveland, FASHION / Toronto Life

TICKETS:
$10 Students
$15 FGI Members
$25 Industry

To purchase tickets for this event click here!

Hurry and grab your tickets soon. These go faster than front row seats at LG Fashion Week!!

If you haven’t noticed there has been a lot of great sales lately and here’s another. Fashion Group International the global member organization dedicated to the promotion, education and advancement of the fashion industry has it own special sales and not just for members. (Yours truly is a proud member.) For two days only FGI hosts a “not to be missed” sample sale and thankfully it’s not all women’s. Venerable Canadian menswear designers Philip Sparks and Farley Chatto will be there. If you are looking for designer deals don’t speed walk, run to this sale. The good stuff always goes first and remeber; getting a great deal on something stylish is always in fashion.

The FGI Designer Sample Sale runs Thursday, April 29 and Friday, April 30th from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both day. Located in Liberty Village, you can max out your credit cards at: 171 East Liberty St, Suites 18 & 19, Ground Floor Galleria.

Start the car! Start the car!!!

Last season during the two weeks leading up to LG Fashion Week saw the return of something completely new. More menswear. Designers for Spring 10 were banking on the men’s market exploding and everyone from David Dixon (http://www.daviddixon.com) to Evan Biddell (http://www.evanbiddell.ca) were doing some for of menswear and if you loved clothes Spring 10 is your season. But why wait until the magazines and Fashion Television choose to run shows. What if you could see them before they were on TV? Well that’s what I am doing.

This season I am launching iMAXFashion where you will see the hottest shows in Toronto from my seat through my iPhone. Thanks to Apple technology I am bound and determined to bring you the best, first. To start here are a couple of images from the Philip Sparks (http://www.philipsparks.com) show on Thursday, March 11th. His collection was inspired this season after Moby Dick. After the show I schmoozed with designer Evan Biddell, Mary Simons (one of Toronto’s top fashion PR people) and Glen Baxter of In Fashion.

Right off the runway exclusively for GayGuideToronto.com

Right Off The Runway Exclusively For GayGuideToronto.com

As Toronto Fashion Week kicks off, PETA protesters attack Holt Renfrew, French Vogue publishes controversial photos of a white model in black face, and I stop by The Shaun Proulx Show as their Fashion Week Correspondant to dish on the first daze. (Photo: Canadian Menswear Designer Philip Sparks.)

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