The tents at David Pecaut Square have everything you might need. Four dollar Americanos. Hair-styling demonstrations. Free lipstick. Two hunky guys dressed in blue striped polo shirts wandering around for some Barbie Doll promotion I never cared to find out about. (Are they supposed to look like Ken?) I counted three separate bars. And yet it’s missing one very obvious modern facility–a washroom. You would think Holt Renfrew could design a lush porta potty for us. To relieve yourself, you have to exit the tent and go find the ground level washrooms in the neighbouring office tower. It’s a bit inconvenient, especially given all the bubbly and four dollar Americanos. Given the fashion crowd’s reputation for entitled hissy fits, it’s interesting that I haven’t heard a single complaint about the lack of a washroom, except mine, I suppose.
Because I don’t have a media pass allowing me into every show, and I have to sign back in for each presentation I’m invited to, I’ve developed a little routine–after each show, I grab a quick drink, run outside, go to the washroom, line up, receive my pass for the next show, and dash back into the tent to find someone to schmooze with before it begins all over again. My darkest fear is to have to pee at the wrong moment and be unable to get back in. The downside of my round about routine is I spent more time than I planned this week in my winter coat. My coat is acceptable, but it wasn’t part of my planned outfits. Looking fabulous while staying warm: the Canadian fashion dilemma.
Perhaps a chic Rudsak jacket would have solved my dilemma. (How’s that for a segue?) The Montreal-based company has created fine leather jackets, bags, and accessories for almost twenty years. Designer Evik Asatoorian went back to basics last night with a tough and sexy, street-ready look.
Christopher Bates may want us to evolve past black jackets for winter, but Asatoorian showed black on practically every model. For women, the collection was very ‘biker chick goes North’ with fur-lined hoods paired with leather mini-skirts and knee-high boots. Diagonal zippers and wide lapels were clearly indebted to motorcycle jackets. When a coat looked a bit thin, Asatoorian just added more fur, sometimes all down the front. I’m sure Rudsak is no friend of PETA’s.
The options for men were a bit warmer, with quilting that never appeared bulky. For those of us who want to completely avoid the puffy look, Asatoorian had long cloth jackets with innovations (like leather sleeves) that separated them from the tired peacoat. The jackets were great, but Rudsak clearly wants to highlight their accessories–few models were without bags. It was a confident show from a company that knows its product well.
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Max Mosher writes about style for Toronto Standard. You can follow him on Twitter at @max_mosher_.
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