L'Oréal Fashion Week: "It" Boys

It was a day of cute boys. First was the Philip Sparks show at Town Shoes with cute, geeky-looking bespectacled models and Sparks himself, who is undeniably adorable and ridiculously likable. The clothes and much-talked-about Philip Sparks for Town Shoes shoes were fabulous. I have to admit that menswear runway shows don't usually excite me, but Sparks' collection was fun and original, while still feeling classic. The pieces that got the audience whispering excitedly were two jackets, a windbreaker and a trench, made out of the kind of ripstop plastic that's usually reserved for tarps. Sounds bizarre but with Sparks' technical skills, they looked like works of art.
My second show of the day was Ginch Gonch, and while there were girls in the show, I would bet that most of the audience was looking at the greased up, gyrating (22 of the mannequins gracing the catwalk were professional dancers) guys in their skivvies. The underwear itself was totally fun. Those who could tear their eyes away from the well-defined abs would have seen monkey, leopard and Native Canadian prints graced the briefs and hoodies.
Tomorrow: A long day starting with an event at Rockport shoes (where it's rumoured that attendees will get a free pair) and ending with another all male show for men's store, Gotstyle at nightclub, This Is London. I'm predicting that the Fashion Grindhouse, featuring labels Damzels in this Dress and Play Dead Cult will be a highlight – and that the Fashion Grindhouse after-party at the Play Dead Mansion should make for an interesting end to the night.

L'Oréal Fashion Week: "It" Show

As suspected, the Project Runway Canada show was the "it" spectacle to see. Even Canuck catwalk pro Heather Marks, who was in Joe Fresh's 8:00 presentation, watched from the front row alongside Fashion Television's Jeanne Beker and editrixes from Canada's top fashion mags. Iman in person is just as statuesque and (although it's stereotypical to say) gazelle-like as I imagined. I can't say much about the actual runway presentation but to prevent a spoiler situation, we still don't know who the finalists are.
Now on to Tuesday. I'm looking forward to Philip Sparks' lunch and runway show at Town Shoes. Of course Ginch Gonch, known for saucy men's unders (and ladies' stuff too, I guess) should also be fun. The jostling to get a prime seat could rival Project Runway!

"It" Menswear

Toronto's Philip Sparks, a former Stratford Festival costumer, is quickly making a name for himself among Canada's finest fashion talent as a menswear master. To accompany his third collection, for Spring 2008, Sparks collaborated with Town Shoes to create a line of stylish men's footwear, which will be unveiled during Toronto's L'Oréal Fashion Week. Last season's stand-out hit was a metallic leather bomber jacket and Sparks fans are anticipating what Spring will bring. Male or female, with a boy to dress or not, Sparks' presentation promises to please. The clothes are fab and the boys who walk the runway aren't so bad either.
Photo: Mary-Theresa Lawlor for Philip Sparks