Toronto Fashion Week: Joe Fresh Fall 2014

More fur for fall 2014!  The biggest trend on runways around the world was well represented at the Joe Fresh fashion show at World Mastercard Fashion Week.  The cozy looks showed a very good understanding of the winter weather of the Canadian North.

The palette was earthy, with brown, khaki, green, grey and pops of bright orange.  Fur trimmed hoods, fur vests and heather knits looked warm during the still chilly delayed spring outside in Downtown Toronto.  Funny, the Maybelline beauty team took the cold weather inspiration literally by giving the models a flushed cheek, pale face and pouty lip to look like they just came in from the arctic outdoors.

My favorite pieces were the graphic ones.  Sweaters with snow capped Canadian Rockies, a closeup of a wolf's face were artistic.  There were silk dresses printed with beautiful forest artwork evoking the autumn colors I loved growing up, or the pretty contrast of dark branches against snow.  The look of these pieces from the runway had a much more elegant effect than the highly accessible price point that Joe Fresh is known for.

Joe Mimran and wife (Pink Tartan's Kimberley Newport-Mimran) are the first couple of Canadian fashion.  They know how to capture the shoppers of all budgets and taste.  I have to say I am impressed that these two keep showing their collections in hometown Toronto rather than migrating south like many Canadian brands that have found success across the border. Go Canucks!

photos by David TW Leung

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TORONTO FASHION WEEK: Pink Tartan Spring 2013

Vintage style at the sea.  Pink Tartan's runway show at World Mastercard Fashion Week exuded 1950's ladylike chic in pale colors this week.  Sweet embroideries, pretty jacquard, kitten heels, little slanted hats and bobby pins came down the catwalk.

The color palette from designer Kimberly Newport-Mimran was a mix of white, mint, silver, pink and deepened into black and gold towards the end.   While Kimberly was the big design star of her family, her husband Joe has been making a big splash with grocery store collection JOE now in New York.  Talk about Canadian Fashion's true power couple!

Photos by Hing Ching Leung

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TORONTO FASHION WEEK; Joe Fresh Fall 2012

 Groovy baby!  Canada's most recognizable fashion brand, Joe Fresh presented their fashion show yesterday.    The collection had a lot of  1960's inspired silhouettes.  Mod mini-skirts and dresses, tight cigarette pants and cozy duffle coats were flattering to all.  The color palette was a rainbow of warm fall shades of maroon, orange, mustard and red, as well a cool palette of bright blue and green.  Black and white was used in the form of basics or over-sized houndstooth pattern.  Chunky knit hats, faux fur stoles and boxy handbags were the accessories of choice.  

This is always the most highly anticipated show in Toronto and most likely to have Canadian celebs in the front row. Fellow designer colleagues make it out next to the runway too, such as Pink Tartan designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran and designer Evan Biddell.  

While the patent leather jackets, sexy mini dresses and tailored coats look fabulous down the catwalk, what will actually be found in the stores might be very different.  Patent leather, wool and detailed knits could give way to vinyl, nylon blends and machine knits to hit their famed low price point. The tailoring that makes the models look sharp could be refit to accommodate a larger variety of bodies.

 Joe Fresh, by designer Joe Mimran started out as a supermarket clothing line known for its trendy styling.  Within the last year, it has made a big splash with shops on Fifth Avenue in Manhattan.  Whether you like your jackets next to the juice aisle or one of the many people carrying the orange bag on the streets of NYC, one thing is clear.  Joe Fresh is a hit.

A rose for designer Joe Mimran from a happy investor?

Photos by David TW Leung

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Toronto Fashion Week: Joe Fresh Spring 2011

Next time you cross our Northern border, you can pick out a cocktail dress along with those famous President's Choice cookies at the local grocery store.  It's absolutely true as we penciled down our grocery list to include Joe Fresh collection pieces which were presented at the Exhibition Hall in Toronto for LG Fashion Week.

The Garden of the Finzi Continis movie clip played for the audience before the show.  We were perplexed at first to see early 20th century tennis whites floating on the silver screen when gift bags clearly announced a collaboration with Scouts Canada. However, it came into focus through the show.

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