When it comes to the worlds of fashion photography and fragrance, two is always better than one…The Society presents Balenciaga Paris & The Facehunter at The Bay.

Yvan Rodic a.k.a “The Facehunter” has become a household name in the world of fashion blogging for his iconic photos of various style-savvy individuals from around the world.  Rodic is currently celebrating the release of his second book, aptly named The Facehunter.

The book is a compilation of Rodic’s most memorable photographs from his street style blog. To date, Yvan Rodic has travelled to nearly thirty countries where his focused mission continues to remain clear: to capture photographs of real people and their personal styles which reflects the incredible diversity of fashion from around the world.

As for the fragrance aspect of this 2-for-1 meal deal, Balenciaga is also celebrating a special launch of their own: Balenciaga Paris. This fabulous perfume marks the couture fashion house’s first major launch in nearly 12 years.  Created by perfumer Olivier Polge, this fragrance is considered to be a Floral Chypre (pronounced “shee-pra” – a French classification name for a family of fragrances).  Balenciaga Paris edition is the first release in a series of new fragrances by the French brand.  Each fragrance will be released in the same bottle – a blown-glass pot inspired by the classic Balenciaga silhouette which is, as the French would say, magnifique!

In celebration of these two fantastic launches, I will leave you with a fabulous quote by Mr. Yvan Rodic himself: “Fashion is what you buy, Style is what you are.”

Words: Carine Rozen

I’ve been dreading writing this roundup all week. Struggling to say something new, something positive. Trying to find a way to tow the line and appear like it’s original thought.

I look forward to covering Fashion Week each season because I have nothing to lose. In music (where my rent money comes from), no one cares about how you look. So Fashion is fun. It’s a whole new world filled with beauty and politics that I get the pleasure of dipping into but never having to play by.

Last season, I saw some growth, steps towards becoming a big boy Fashion Week. By the time this season rolled around, I was over it as they say. Might be shooting this blog in the foot here, but c’mon LG Fashion Week, you’re nothing but a Trade Show disguised as a Sorority of a few talented groups who mutually masturbate with each other each year.

Here’s a shakedown of what was good and what was bad. Basically the same old same old.

MONDAY–HOLT’S Party

It’s my fav part of Fashion Week each season, and this was no different. Other than a mannequin in a “boyfriend” tux jacket and capri jogging pants that caused me to let out a little scream, it was pretty same (that means good).

Robin Kay made a speech and literally no one listened which was really annoying. The theme was ‘Wear Love’ which is the same bull they were feeding us last season. They announced a group of 7 which is up from 5 last season, but includes all the same people, Pink Tartan, Denis Gagnon, Jeremy Lang, Greta Constantine, Michael Kale, and honestly, I couldn’t hear a damn thing. This was just facial recognition on my part.

TUESDAY–TRAVIS TADDEO

There’s only two designers who showed this week that I was interested in. It’s hard to get interested in Sears and 2 Barbie shows. Plus, I heard the FDCC didn’t pay their bills and that’s the REAL reason they were moved to the Chrysler building not because they needed more room like they claim.

What was good?

It’s the tees that win. Even if the boys’ stuff is only suitable for gay clubbers, a Travis Taddeo tank fits like the memory of your first summer romance. And he’s always got a dress. A dress I lust after like the natural blonde hair of my youth. This season it was a white cotton mini dress with perforated white leather shoulder plates and trim. Also the finale was a real finale, not some awkward after thought where the designer tries to look like they slaved for decades all alone to finally pull off a show at the last second.

What was bad?

There was an entire section reserved for sponsors that was empty and Taddeo’s area over rammed with A-list Torontonians. Annoy.

What was same?

The show kinda was. I love his stuff so i don’t want to be mean, but it was very similar to last season. I don’t know if that means he’s establishing a style or what, guess i’ll have to wait till the next one to compare.

i gave Taddeo the same questions we posed to our group of fashion insiders at the beginning of the week. Here’s what he had to say:

Me: What are you most excited for at LG Fashion Week this season?

Him: My runway show.

Me: What’s your most memorable moment from seasons past?

Him: Back stage with Cary Tauben, my team and the models.

Me: Do you think the designers who show are a good representation of Canadian fashion, why?

Him: Yes I do. This is where Canadian fashion is at.

Me: What do you think needs to happen to take LG Fashion Week to the next level internationally?

Him: Start a month earlier perhaps.

Me: Who do you think the next big Canadian talent is and why?

Him: There’s a whole new influx of great Canadian designers that are up and coming they all  have talent. Its important to note them all and not single one out. By singling them out Canadian fashion will never grow as a whole. We are all unique in our designs and markets. We all have big talent.

WEDNESDAY–PINK TARTAN

Pinkie stepped in for this one and reviewed it:

Hey y’all its day three of  LG Toronto Fashion Week and let me tell you its mass hysteria down here at King St. HQ. Every fashionista, socialite, athlete, and who who’s of the T.O is out to check the Spring/Summer ’10 Collections of Pink Tartan and Joe Fresh. In a true ode to fashion I arrive fashionably late and my jaw literally hits the floor as I see the sea of people, but never fear Pink Mafia is here. With that said I push my way to the front with Gucci tote in hand and 6 inch BCBG’s to step on any toes gettin in my way.  With place card in hand, I manuever through designer bag alley to the front where everyone and their mom was tryna get in, but tough luck without a place card. I finally get in tryna look perfect from all angles, cause we know the paparazzi is everywhere. In the midst of my cool dude act I literally bumped into Tie Domi who very graciously tells me no worries, just to realize I’m standing right in front of  Ben Mulroney who’s hair is truly meticulous and Ms. Jeanne Beker who is always flawless and super nice! As I begin to walk past I hear Ben say nice shoes (yeah I know I can’t believe it myself, I damn near passed out). I hustled my lil tush through the sea of style mavens to my fifth row seat finally getting settled in only to wait for another 20 for the show to start, but hey thats fashion week. The lights dim, music starts and before you know it the show was underway.

The collection started and you could tell it was definite spring/summer collection with the very monochromatic colour palette with a host of  muted in tones of gray, brown, creams and we all know a lil sparkle never hurt a fashionista. The “look” that totally had me was the socks and shoes look, LOVED IT from ankle boots to pumps it was all good. I can say Pink Tartan did no wrong when it came to the silhouette from the wide shoulders and long lines evident in the white wide leg trouser it was well done. I can’t tell a lie, I was impresssed with the lovely hats perched on the models like bird’s nest. Hands down my three fave looks for the show were the sequined cape dress, the black and white sequined stripped skirt and the classic white wide leg trouser. I must say I wasn’t totally blown away but there was good few pieces that I would scoop!

To be quite honest peeps this was my fave day so far… why you may ask!!! Let’s see, from getting complimented by Ben Mulroney on my pumps, smooches with Jeanne Beker and a bump from Tie Domy, what more could I ask for. Ooooh yeah bumping into Stacey McKenzie with my boys from Freshly Educated Men.

Pinkie got a lot of pics like this one of the Pink Tartan show. They didn’t have her name at the door, mis-seated her AND we couldn’t get photos out of the publicity company for the piece. Fashion Week fail.

On the plus, I asked Kim Newport-Mimran, designer and absolute treat from Pink Tartan, the Fashion Week questions and she gave me her two cents:

Me: What are you most excited for at LG Fashion Week this season?

Her: I am excited to present the Spring 2010 Collection.  It is exciting to have my vision walk down the runway.

Me: What’s your most memorable moment from seasons past?

Her: There are lots of great memories.  It’s wonderful to watch Fashion Week evolve as I evolve as a designer.

Me: Do you think the designers who show are a good representation of Canadian fashion, why?

Her: The designers keep getting better every season as LG Fashion Week grows and evolves.

Me: What do you think needs to happen to take LG Fashion Week to the next level internationally?

Her: To keep growing LG Fashion Week and to show more diverse Canadian talent.

Me: Who do you think the next big Canadian talent is and why?

Her: Pink Tartan! We will continue to grow, here in Canada and internationally.

WEDNESDAY–JOE FRESH

On the plus, Pinkie was upgraded to a real seat for the Joe Fresh show and waas kind enough to give us a review:

Up next was the Joe Fresh show and man if I thought Pink Tartan was rammed Joe Fresh was ten times worst. So when many of you hear Joe Fresh you don’t think runaway show at Fashion week, but boy are u wrong. Naturally, the show started 20 mins late anything else would be unheard of. As the lights go low, the music seeps the air models hit the runway it took me a momento to feel the collection but when I did I did. The collection and its pieces where just Fresh, very clean and crisp, perfect basics for the spring summer look. And is it just me or did anyone else notice a nod to the mod 60′s in this collection. All I gotta say is that orange shirt with those white shorts has my name all over it. Put it this way Joe Fresh may not be high fashion and many may deem it unworthy for the runaway, but its still fashion. And don’t be fooled, they’re quite clever over at Joe Fresh.Their pieces are sold in a superstore, but they got the market on lock.

So what’s the conclusion? Fashion Week is not fledgling it’s on life support, and all before it’s even had a chance to grow into something worth slamming. It’s a sad collection of desperation, perforated with a handful of talented designers who get lost in a muddled middle-of-the-road message.

Harsh, but someone had to say it.

On a final note, here’s some gorgeous backstage portraits by Krist Papas

You remember Lava Lounge? It’s some kind of mattress store on College St. now, but it used to be mod heaven. Before Mod Club opened, but after Blow Up ended, Lava Lounge was the spot to dress up, be anglo, and get down to vinyl from 1960-1969 ONLY. And it was rammed every single week. So Mark Holmes, the man behind the Lava Lounge nights has brought it back: Soulvation at Strangelove was the reunion party, and it brought out all the anglo hotties young and hold. Krist Papas got some snaps for your viewing pleasure. Check em.

I know it’s our show but c’mon, it’s like the best thing since hand jobs made a come back!

Kavin Wong/SharkVsBear had his opening night show last night at Art’d at Czehoski with Dejour Magazine’s Kyle Morrison on the one’s and two’s and it was amazing! Best mix of well-dressed poor scenesters and trust fund kids in Value Village clothes and Chanel bags peppered with a truely mixed 18-40 set ever!

Kavin is selling his framed, mounted prints (what’s left of them) for $100 each (I know, stupid cheap!), and for the 2 weeks of the show, he’s also offering to his fans any snap from the site, printed, mounted and framed for the same price.

For those of you who have had the pleasure to work, dance, laugh, drink with or be photographed by Kavin, you know how great he is. And now you can keep a bit of that magic he sprinkles around town on your walls for the rest of your life!

Pop into Czehoski, 678 Queen St. West and take a look for yourself.

All Photos By Krist Papas

We can’t get enough Krist Papas. His haunting portraiture is jarring when it’s at a packed club for Samantha Ronson @ This Is London. Which is probably where the love comes from.

Krist Papas was at it again.

This time for our event, Art’d with Format Magazine and Owen Milburn’s spring preview of his teeshirt collection, Millburn. AR from Get Throwed played some sweet beats too.

Krist Papas came out to two events last night!

First, Art’d @ Czehoski with the works of Carl W. Heindl

Then it was over to This Is London For DJ AM

He loves it people.

www.kristpapas.com

Krist Papas, one of our amazing photogs has this project, What’s Your Persona where he takes pics of people out and about and basically sums them up win terms of what they’re wearing.

Then we started thinking about all the wicked boutiques we know and the staff who make them what they are. So we teamed up Krist and Lavish & Squalor for a little photo shoot at the store where the staff flexed their Lavish & Squalor Persona hard.

If you’re looking for a song to put on while you look at these, click here for “A-Punk” by Vampire Weekend

DANIELLE

Danielle is wearing: Covet Jacket, People’s Market Blouse, Insight Black jeans, Jeffery Campbell Granny Boots, Fringe Clutch, Lavish Beaded Bangles.

ROB

Rob is wearing: Cheap Monday Jacket, Levi’s Skinny Jeans, Brixton Hat, Lavish Scarf, Lavish Leather Bracelets, Sex Series One Tee By Oligarchy, and Sneaky Steves Shoes.

ANNA VON

Anna Von is wearing: Vintage Leather Jacket, Insight Bean Pole Jeans, Jeffrey Campbell Fringe Boots, Blood Is  the New Black tee, Nila Anthony Bag, and Ray-Ban Glasses (models own)

KEVIN

Kevin is wearing: Vintage Plaid Shirt, Cheap Monday Jeans, Dim Mak Tee, Creative Recreation Ponti Sneakers, and Hat–Vintage (model’s own).

All this stuff is available at Lavish & Squalor who are having an Recession Appreciation Event for the 1st time only February 6, 7, 8 where the entire store will be up to 70% off.

Lavish & Squalor

253 Queen St. West (Osgoode Station then walk West a block and a half)

416.599.4779

All photos by Krist Papas!

Okay okay okay, we’ll weigh in already.

Geez.

What’s there to say? The Courthouse is kinda a crappy, dated, corporate venue to begin with. Samantha Ronson has two black marks against her already: 1. She’s American, and let’ face it, American DJs are the bottom of the barrel internationally. 2. She’s a celebrity. I mean for real, these people who are surprised that she was commercial need to get their heads out of their asses. She’s never put out an album or a remix even and she lives in La La land playing red carpet after parties for celebrities from LA! Those are the same people that love Jack Johnson. Duh.

My only real complaint is this: if you’re just gonna play songs off your iTunes without even bothering to pretend to beat match, the least you could do is stand up straight instead of leaning over the tables with your chin cupped in your palm like you’re bored to tears.

Everyone knows that Siamese2Hearts stole the show, and Lindsey Lohan wasn’t there. For what it was, it was the best crowd possible all things considered. The meat head, out of town, commercial moron quotient was super low.

And these pics that Krist took are great. And that’s something right?

I would write a review, but I wouldn’t hold a candle to our resident amazing photog, Krist Papas. He made all the shit club district people at CiRCA look hot, and the hot people look edible. This guy could turn Paris Hilton into something worth bedding in a snap of hist shudder. How do you like these apples?

Photos: Krist Papas