Oakridge Style

Spring 2010 fashion weeks showed a rainbow of color on faces. In New York, a few of our favourite designers deserve mention. In Milan and Paris, different looks were everywhere–but highlighting one feature was tops. 

New York
A rainbow of colours set off eyes at Derek Lam
Bursts of color were wrapped in hair at Zac Posen
Rodarte created tribal art-inspired body paint
Geisha-inspired makeup complimented the collection at Marc Jacobs
Tuleh showed rosy faces
Tommy Hilfiger did dreamy blowouts 

Milan and Paris
Balenciaga did neon and tribal influenced eyes
Charcoal, smoky eyes were sultry at Lanvin
Glossy, red-hot lips shone at Prada
Plum kisses put purple in the spotlight at Bottega Veneta
Hair was frizzy at Etro, and even bigger–in full afros–at Louis Vuitton

Get the Look
Ask the pros at Murale or MAC for tips on how to pull this look off, and what beauty products will work best for you.

LET’S HEAR IT
Highlight one feature or all?

It’s an unfortunate truth that all too often, in order to be recognized, Canadian talent has to leave the country. But the Toronto-based Fashion Design Council of Canada has been working to change that since 1999. Part of their work–fantastically–involves producing Toronto’s annual Fashion Week. This fall, designers from Canada–and around the world–debuted their spring collections.

Top Trends from Toronto Fashion Week

1. Short and Sweet
Hemlines are on the rise, with designers cropping pant hems and sending out Bermuda shorts and biker shorts-a la Ms. Miuccia Prada.

2. Tulip Touch
The tulip skirt bloomed a few seasons ago, and has given rise to the newly-named bubble bottom: cocktail dresses and skirts were gathered, tucked and tailored.

3. Blue is Best
Sky infused hues were everywhere: evening wear, casual, and denim.

4. Jump to it
All-in-one jumper styles–in shorts, asymmetrical, or dhotis–are hot for day or evening.

5. Ruffle Your Feathers
Flourishing on shirt sleeves, dress fronts, necklines and hemlines, ruffles were a go-to accent.

Get the Look
Find your runway-inspired short shorts, Bermudas and jumpers for Spring at Jacob or MaxMara. Men, do denim right at Boys’ Co.

LET’S HEAR IT
Which look tops your list?

When fashion designers lend their skills to technology, we take interest. And when said fashion designer is none other than Giorgio Armani, we do research.

Armani–he of the celeb-filled entourage and one of the largest privately owned fashion companies in the world–has completed his third phone for Samsung. Calling it “functional” yet “elegant”, Armani said: “I simply aim to create a Smartphone which is not only an elegant tool but also functional and useful, perfect for today’s managers.” The phone is bronze–perfect, says Armani, for coordinating with his suits.

Other designers and fashionistas have joined the high-tech meets high-fashion trend. Prada joined forces with LG in 2007, and Betsey Johnson, Anna Sui, Diane von Furstenberg and Versace have all worked with Samsung.

Others, such as Ralph Lauren, Tommy Hilfiger and Donna Karan, are turning their craft into iPhone applications.

Get the Look
Find your phone solutions at Oakridge’s new Apple store, Bell, Fido, Koodo Mobile, Rogers Wireless, Solo Mobile, and WirelessWave.

We’re seeing a new trend, an even more daring take on the leg-loving pantslessness. Pantslessness meant seeing models, celebs, and pop stars in tailored jackets, tunic tops or dress shirts long enough to be worn alone–sans pants. But Miuccia Prada, Alexander Wang, and Duckie Brown are taking the Fall 2009 trend even further for Spring 2010. Are you ready to show off your underthings this summer?

Prada showed thigh-high boots paired with furry shorts for Fall 2009, and her haute hip waders raised the bar in terms of statement footwear. For Spring 2010, models sashayed down the Prada runway in knickers and bare legs. Apparently, Miuccia has a “passion for knickers”, and when she wasn’t sending models out in underthings, she sent them out in imitations: short biker shorts. And Miuccia’s not alone. Alexander Wang and Marc Jacobs showed them for women, too, and Duckie Brown did them for men.

We’re almost afraid to ask what’s next.

Get the Look
Find underthings worthy of public scrutiny at The Bay. 

LET’S HEAR IT
Dare to bare?