Fashion Week: Fall/Winter 2009

February 4, 2009 – The Fall/Winter 2009 ready-to-wear collections will be presented in the upcoming weeks, but with the recession on everyone’s minds (and wallets), some designers have decided to pull out. Vera Wang, Betsey Johnson, Carmen Marc Valvo, and Monique Lhuillier, among others, have decided to show elsewhere during New York Fashion Week.

What kind of cost saving does presenting “elsewhere” bring to these designers? Thousands – the largest tent in Bryant Park costs approximately $50,000 to rent. Let’s not forget about top models who can command thousand-dollar booking rates. Then there’s hair & make-up, well…you get the idea.

Sachin Bhola: AskMen.com

February 4, 2009 – AskMen.com, the online lifestyle magazine for men covering areas from health & sports to power & money, has introduced its latest contributor to its fashion pages, Sachin Bhola (a.k.a. me). Stay tuned for product reviews and other fashion coverage from yours truly. Click on the link below to view an article!

http://bit.ly/1GQ6gJ

Trend Report: Fall/Winter 2008

Key Color: Gray

December 21, 2008 – Fall/Winter’s extended forecast calls for shades of gray. Designers presented diverse collections proving that this color has much more range than we thought. The mood was tailored and polished across ready-to-wear from formal suiting to eveningwear, as an alternative to banal black.

Key colors include vapor, silver, gray mix, sky scraper, and iron. Key color schemes include monochromatic and analogous, while plain textiles were accented by jacquards. While most directional for the commercial market, watch for its growing importance in menswear.

Photos: Dolce & Gabbana; Calvin Klein

Lakshmi Menon: Model Moment

December 12, 2008 – Earlier this year, while traveling throughout India, I discovered newcomer Lakshmi Menon, the 26-year-old Bangalore-born beauty, whose looks have captured the industry’s attention.

And what good timing. 2008 was the year that surfaced an issue long surrounding the industry: Is fashion racist? The lack of visible minorities on the runway sparked countless related articles and Italian Vogue’s notorious July 2008 issue, a.k.a. the “black issue,” devoted entirely to black models. If black models, as was pointed out, are drowning in the sea of Eastern Europeans dominating the industry, where does that leave other minority models?

Enter Lakshmi Menon, whose debut in her native India has quickly catapulted into an international career. Over the past year, the five-foot-eleven model has become the sole face of Hermès (replacing Canadian Daria Werbowy); has walked the runway for Ralph Lauren, D&G and Stella McCartney to name a few and; has booked campaigns with Givenchy and H&M.

But her greatest success has been providing a face for minorities who are grossly unrepresented in the industry. Her looks breathe life and excitement into fashion and I hope to see more of her -- and other global beauties -- in the future.

Lakshmi is represented by Ford Models in New York.

Photo Above: Feature, US Vogue December 2008
Photo Below: Ad Campaign, Givenchy Fall/Winter 2008

Models Own Clothes

December 7, 2008 – Ever wondered what models show up to work in? At the Chanel Cruise 2008 show I couldn’t help but notice these standout looks backstage. Top Left: Allegra’s necklace is actually an antique compass she picked up in London and says she wears it with everything. Top Right: Kelly Kopen wears a vintage Borsalino fedora she found in Italy. Bottom: Kara and Maja.

Chanel Cruise 2008: Accessories

December 3, 2008 – Taking a closer look at the luxury market, one quickly realizes the role shoes and accessories play - often accounting for a greater percentage of net sales than the collection itself. Surprised? It does make good economic sense to invest in a pair of pumps than a jacket that will go out of style before you had the opportunity to wear it.

That being said, I fell in love with this sirène blue quilted purse (as modeled by Shelby Coleman) - arguably my favorite piece in the collection - while working at the Chanel Cruise 2008 show. This piece can look equally good lounging by the pool as it can during the holidays because of its frosty finish… A beautiful transition piece from resort to winter.

Chanel Cruise 2008

December 1, 2008 – The Chanel Cruise 2008 collection was presented in Toronto on November 27, 2008 benefiting The Hospital for Sick Children. The evening was hosted by Fashion Television’s Jeanne Becker and featured a performance by the Four Tenors. Up for auction was an exclusive black alligator skin Chanel bag that retailed around $40,000 CDN.

Heritage Court at the CNE Grounds was transformed to replicate the collection’s debut in Miami at the Raleigh Hotel. The show flew in models from New York and Paris, and featured top models like Taryn Davidson, Shelby Coleman and Allegra Carpenter.





Models walked along a curvilinear runway built over a pool of water, setting the tone for this fluid collection. For the Chanel Cruise 2008 show, Karl Lagerfeld’s signature black-and-white palette took shape in wide-leg trousers, smokings and sequined blazers. The 74-look collection was a nod to '70s glamour with touches of rock-n-roll. Sparkling embroidery featured on cocktail dresses, shoes and accessories elegantly complemented the collection’s aesthetic.

Watch it yourself: The video below is Part 1 of the Chanel Cruise 2008 show. Bon Voyage.

Mark Your Calendars: Comme des Garçons at H&M (November 13, 2008)

November 4, 2008 – Following in the footsteps of Karl Lagerfeld, Stella McCartney and Viktor & Rolf, Rei Kawakubo has partnered with H&M to design an exclusive line under the Comme des Garçons label for the retail giant.

Whether designers lend out their names under licensing agreements or co-brand with retailers, the transaction is nothing but profitable. These deals operate on a simple principal: high turnover + (comparatively) lower margins = $. Unlike their ready-to-wear lines that discriminate against those who can’t afford them, these deals make their aesthetics more accessible and democratic to the discerning masses. In fact, Karl Lagerfeld’s line sold out within the day – now that’s turnover.

Fashion Music

November 2, 2008 – Ever wondered what the fashion industry is listening to? I kept a note of some of the standout beats that were played on and off the runway during Montreal and Toronto Fashion Week.

Chromeo – Needy Girl (heard at the Gsus Sindustries show)
Data – Rapture (heard at the Travis Taddeo show) *See Video Below
Kylie Minogue – 2 Hearts (heard at the Envers par Yves Jean Lacasse show)
Hercules and Love Affair – Blind (heard at the Montreal Fashion Week After-Party)
Inner City – Good Life (heard at the Montreal Fashion Week After Party)

Buffalo by David Bitton: Toronto Fashion Week

November 2, 2008 – This season marked David Bitton’s first time presenting at Toronto Fashion Week. True to its aesthetic, Buffalo by David Bitton moved into Spring 2009 with a nod to rock glam for her and collegiate prep - à la Brit Pop style - for him. One look backstage revealed some key items for next season - for her: ultra-slim denim done in a range of pastels, cropped-sleeve blazers paired over black sheered tanks and driving gloves; for him: oxfords done in plaids and madras prints, cardigans and a pair of nerdy eyeglasses to top off the look.