Vancouver Fashion Week - Day 5

Runway Photo by Harry Leonard - Leonard Imagery

This post is long past due, but I didn't want to conflict with other fashion weeks that were running.  What made this day stand out to me was the chance to yet again see several international designers.  I don't have the budget to visit global fashion shows, so having them come to me from Mexico, Brazil, Milan and more is exciting.  Day 5 offered several great collections and I want to mention 3 here - 2 international and one local.  Another I loved - DUYAN - was covered in a separate blog.

Soddi -


Out of the box menswear showcased on great looking male models is always a hit with the audience.  Unfortunately, when I went to the Soddi website to try and glean a little more background on this talented artist, the web translator didn't work.  All I have been able to confirm is that the man behind the line - Solon Diego Barros Silveira - is both a fashion designer and stylist and the brand is based in Rio De Janeiro. According to his press release, the Fall/Winter 2012 line showcased,  "...was inspired by mutation, body modification, body art, genetic, transformation, Eco hedonism, eccentricity, super hero."


I personally loved the way the looks were both classic and yet incorporated avant garde elements. Several were defined by a mix of fabrics.  The minimalistic black and gray palette let everyone's focus turn completely to the strong design of the garments.  There were both draped and tailored silhouettes fashioned into shirts, shorts, pants, jackets and coats with a mix of fabrics - both woven and knit.  My favourite piece in this collection was a long coat with zipper detailing including one long diagonal that went from the bottom edge up to the right chest.


RG Sanchez -


Mexican fashion designer Gregorio Sanchez is a graduate of the Louis Sallinger Institute in San Francisco with more then 15 years in the Mexican Fashion Industry and an international clientele. In addition to his quality, prêt-à-porter clothing, the brand also offers its own highly successful line of leather shoes and bags. Inspired by femme fatales of the 70's, the classic Fall/Winter 2012 collection was full of glamour.  Cashmere wool, wool jerseys, velvets, synthetic fur, knits, silks and chiffons were combined to create textures and urban elements.  Masculine details such as ascots added the accents.  The palette included gray, camel, wine, blue and black.  Silhouettes were offered in lengths from short to long, and from skirt and blouse separates to dresses and coats


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My 2 favourite pieces were luxury evening wear looks.  First was a deep wine, sleeveless floor length number.  The top was in sequins with cut away sleeves topped with a sash encircling the neck tied in a large bow. The bottom half sported palazzo pants in softly draping, same-colour satin. It was red carpet ready.  The other silhouette that stood out was a floor length gown in ecru.  The top design appeared inspired loosely by a jacket but with voluminous sleeves gathered in at the waist.  The skirt flared out luxuriously from pleats at the waist.  It was old Hollywood glamour at its best.

Eva Chen -


Last this evening was Vancouver's very own Eva Chen who just returned from her first showing at Toronto Fashion Week.  A world traveler with a degree in fashion from the Fine Arts University in China, this designer brings a unique outlook to her vision of glamour inspired by international aesthetics.  Fall/Winter 2012 is aptly titled "Elegance."  First seen in the collection were shorter dresses and separates in a palette of ecru, gray, gold and black.  They began with more upscale business wear and ended with a couple evening numbers including one with an unusual silver/black honeycomb fabric accented with feathers at the neck and hem.  Next came a suit with the pants and jacket sleeves in the same honeycomb fabric and the jacket bodice in a mid-grey.  Definitely an intriguing piece.  My favourite garment followed.  It was a bright red jacket with a hem that curved from high thigh to bottom of the knee in back, a stand up collar and black accents.



After several coat offerings, the collection headed into what Chen is most known for - gowns - in white, gold, red and black. The one that stood out for me was dramatic and yet understated.  It was a black, strapless design that had a fitted bodice in a unique print reminiscent of silver bubbles and a skirt that flared out from the low hip.  This series of dramatic gowns sounded the final note for VFW F/W 2012.

Kudos to all the designers who showcased this week and I hope we see many of them back next season.

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