With Toronto Fashion Week (oh sorry, World Mastercard Fashion Week) just around the corner, I feel the undeniable urge to drop thousands of dollars on expensive designer clothing. In my daydreams, I am the envy of all my fellow fashion people, who “ooh” and “ahh” then whisper the name of the very recognizable designer label to their friends. “Those printed trousers? Definitely Prada” they will hiss with a tinge of jealousy, while Tommy Ton approaches to take my photograph.
Unfortunately, those daydreams are short lived. My clothing budget is more or less in the two-digits rather than four-figures, and I suspect I am not alone. So for now, I will gaze longingly at the Fall/Winter collections on Style.com instead of in my closet and stick to playing an elaborate game of imaginary paper doll. These are some of the garments that steal away at my working hours.
Simone Rocha’s gunmetal top
Those Brits really have it all figured out, don’t they? The balance between retro quirky and modern fashion-forward pieces is a tightrope that Christopher Kane, Emilio de la Morena and now, Simone Rocha have learned to walk with precision and skill. The top looks like it could have been made by a kooky alien-watcher whose entire wardrobe is made out of tin foil, but I don’t suppose you would get such an elegant cut using plain old kitchen scissors. The boxy cut of the top paired with the eyelash knit skirt takes the best of elements of 1990s designer clothing and updates it for this moment in time, right up to the minute.
Balenciaga ‘Join a Weird Trip’ sweatshirt
For the first time in seemingly ever, Balenciaga did not produce a collection that was overly focused on being cool. Gone are the days of Christophe Decarnin’s fantasy rock star goddess, languishing backstage in spliced jeans, too stoned to move a muscle. The F/W 2012 collection was more reminiscent of the Star Wars-obsessed outcasts from your high school, the ones who stayed indoors during their spare periods to play Dungeons and Dragons, and sometimes wore capes. Think Harris in the tragically canceled-after-one-season tv show Freaks and Geeks. Though we might have scoffed in high school, those kids were really on to something.
Dolce & Gabbana embroidered cape
Dolce & Gabbana F/W 2012 looked like a million bucks, and probably cost something in that ballpark too. The influences of the collection were broad — it looked like a cross between a 14th century religious order, Spanish flamenco dancers and Lolita – but it worked. Domenico Dolce and Stefano Gabbana managed a collection that was original and creative rather than a confusing mish-mash of derivative work. The ornate embroidery on this cape make it look like a costume that would be best worn with a Commedia dell’arte mask, but I swear I would wear it every single day.
Carven ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ turtleneck
Carven designer Guillaume Henry won me over indefinitely by using a vibrant version of The Garden of Earthly Delights as a print, a 13th C. triptych painting by Hieronymous Bosch, depicting the biblical story of the Garden of Eden, and humanity’s descent into a hellish state. I like this painting half because its subject matter is subtly terrifying and half because it was painted by someone whose actual name was Hieronymous Bosch. This attention-grabbing turtleneck is best worn with simple black pants, and is perfect for art students and modest churchgoers alike.
Prada platform shoes
Are they clown shoes? Or just a neat pair of brogues? Whatever your take, these Prada platform shoes are an interesting mix of strange and sensible. They are essentially flat shoes, but with a platform for additional height (similar to the flatforms of this summer). They are a conservative colour combination of black and white, but the shape of the sole plants them firmly within the territory of bizarre. These shoes confuse me in a really good way, and I’m flustered enough to want them on my feet right now.
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Isabel Slone is a Toronto-based fashion blogger and writer. Follow her on Twitter at @isabelslone.
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