POP MONTREAL FASHION SHOW

Every year, POP MONTREAL International Music Festival, puts on a fashion/design fair called PUCES POP, of which there is a fashion show/competition for new emerging designers. This fun event for our vibrant artistic community provides an unprecedented opportunity for local designers to showcase their work without the financial investment of participating in capital "F" Fashion Week. In a bizarre and lucky twist of organization, POP managed to book the  Rialto, a much more beautiful venue to showcase clothing than the tents downtown. I know the work that goes into the event as I was the coordinator in its second year. This year coordinator extraordinaire was Marilis Cardinal, who invited me to participate in the festival in a very different way: as host!

Alongside the other host Julien Ceccaldi, we introduced designs by six emerging labels in Montréal.  You can find descriptions and brief interviews with the designers on my friend Serah-Marie McMahon's fashion journal, WORN, site, (where you can also read Jackie Irvine's recap of the show). 

 Although from my place onstage I wasn't given the best view of the garments, I had a sneak-peek beforehand and was thoroughly impressed by the calibre of work put into the collections.

Photos of Fashion Pop taken by talented Richmond Lam via my girl Chloe's (featured above) blog.

The stylist in me was tempted to offer suggestions and tweak the clothes on the models backstage, but I kept the hands-on urge at bay! Félicitations goes to the winner, Natasha Thomas and to all the other designers for their imaginative work. It was by far, the best showing of designers to date in the Puces Pop Fashion Show.

Furry Find

 I had to wake up at 4:45am to host the Arts on CBC Radio 1's morning program, Daybreak. At that ungodly hour, when I stumble through my wardrobe in the dark, I want to wear something super comfortable and let the accessories express some style.

I picked up this perfect gem of a bracelet a few days ago at POP Montréal's DIY craft event, Puces Pop. These fluffy, puffy bracelets are hand-assembled, and the fur is cut from vintage coats. It's one hot and rare item that I secretly hope I don't see on anyone else's wrist! I'm having fun pairing it with an unlikely companion - a bright, beaded bracelet from a roadtrip near the Rockies.

Fini!

I've been away from my blog not because of my lack of interest in fashion but because of my interest in fashion! For the last month of my life I've been directing and organizing this year's POP Montreal Fashion Show. Six very talented independent designers showcased their collections and competed for a Young Designers Award valuing $2000 sponsored by the clothing company, Le Chateau. Highlights included LA rapper, Giovanni Marks (aka Subtitle), strutting his stuff on the runway in a bather from Toronto-based clothing company Minnow. It was truly a pleasure to work with all the creative people that helped make this event a success. Please check out the Puces Pop website link for a peak at the designers who showed in this year's fashion showcase.
Anomal Couture (designer, Sonia, featured third from left with some of her designs) was judges' top pick. An Anomal dress is beautifully made, well-constructed and fits like a glove you wish you never had to take off.