It’s always fun to see the latest collections from some of Canada’s most well-known designers, but LGFW is also about supporting new local talent. Here are three emerging designers that showed last week at David Pecaut Square that we think will become an important part of Canada’s style scene.

Caitlin Power

This patternmaker and instruction turned designer launched her own line in 2010. Her show was part of the Mercedes Benz start up show, meant to showcase emerging talent, and was a cohesive line of western-inspired pieces accented by burnt orange prints.

Where do you go to find the most beautiful, well-dressed people in the city? The Room, of course. With its closets stocked with the crème de la crème of fashions (think Erdem, Mary Katrantzou, Maison Martin Margiela and local favourite Jason Matlo), The Bay Downtown Vancouver’s latest addition garnered the attention of fashion elite and local who’s who, not to mention a handful of celebs. Spokeswoman Bonnie Brooks, shoe connoisseur Brian Atwood, Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker, MTV’s Jessi Cruickshank and the boys of The Buried Life were all on hand to celebrate the opening.

After being welcomed on the red carpet, guests were guided by charming white-tuxedoed gentlemen and treated to delicious hors d’oeuvres and overflowing bubbly. Boys dressed in Balenciaga and ladies in Lanvin perfectly complimented the sleek and modern space; while whispers of designer sightings (Prabal Gurung and Jason Wu were the talk of the Twitterverse) kept the excitement of the party rolling.

The encounter of the evening? Rubbing shoulders with model extraordinaire Jessica Stam.

Photo 1: Valerie Tiu, Blog Editor for Style Nine to Five, Robyn Jesson, Publisher for Vancouver View Magazine, Ishra Sharif, Fashion Writer, Andrea Tiller, Makeup Artist

Photo 4: Katherine Horsman of blog Bullet With Butterfly Wings

Photo 9: Kin Chan, Photographer, Deanna Palkowski, Fashion Stylist

Photo 10: Model Jessica Stam

Photo 11: MTV’s Jessi Cruickshank, Christie Lohr, founder of Style Nine to Five

By: Valerie Tiu, Blog Editor, Vancouver

You should follow me on Twitter @valerietiu.

Want to work in fashion? Visit fashion career website for Canada Style Nine to Five.

“When I think of attitude, I think of empowerment,” says Jay Manuel. Luckily, the silver fox has us covered when it comes to injecting some kick into our closets. ATTITUDE by Jay Manuel is a classic, versatile collection of everyday pieces and bold accessories with a high fashion flare. The best part about the line is that it’s accessible to us fashion lovers north of the border – see for yourself at the Modern Shop at Sears Canada.

The Style Nine to Five team recently had the pleasure of viewing the Fall 2011 presentation at its Vancouver launch. Citing late sixties and seventies silhouettes as creative influences, key elements of the collection include contrasting fabrics, graphic prints, sleek silhouettes and pops of colour. The crowd favourite was an ultra luxe textured bomber (Monsieur Manuel coined it “the eyelash jacket”) modeled by show host Fiona Forbes. The ANTM Creative Director-turned-designer discusses the importance of comfort and confidence through fashion, stating, “I always say that it starts from the outside in – if you look good, you feel good.”

The highlight of the evening? Getting the chance to schmooze with Mr. Jay himself. Fortunately, he is as fabulous in person as he is on the small screen. When we ask him about career advice for the fashion set, he kindly offers up some words of wisdom. He says, “Being creative means that you don’t let anyone tell you what to do. If you’re passionate about what you do, do it.” Fortunately, that’s the kind of attitude we can now wear on our sleeves.

1 – 7. ATTITUDE by Jay Manuel Fall 2011 Collection (Prices range from $12.97 – $299), available at Sears locations across Canada.

8. Mr. Jay and I smize for the camera.

9. Jay Manuel and show host Fiona Forbes.

By: Valerie Tiu, Blog Editor, Vancouver

Want to work in fashion? Visit fashion career website for Canada Style Nine to Five.

Despite all the fashion magazines and style blogs out there, sometimes you just don’t have the slightest clue what you should be wearing. Canadian stylist Rachel Matthews knows it can be quite overwhelming for women to sort through the abundance of trends on the market each season to find what really suits their personality and body type. As a means to help Toronto ladies improve their self-esteem and have some fun with their wardrobes, Matthews has created a series of fashion seminar events called Rack to Rack FunShops. Over vegan cupcakes and pink champagne, attendees learn how to shop for their body type, get creative with basics and style those tricky pieces that have been sitting back in the closet for far too long. Take some of Matthew’s advice to heart when planning your fall wardrobe:

- Uneasy about buying coloured clothing? Incorporate the season’s colour palette with bags, shoes, belts, and jewellery that can be switched up for day or night.
- Don’t be afraid of mixing prints or textures in a look. Just be sure to keep the clothing in the same colour family.
- Don’t spend an entire paycheck on trendy pieces. Instead invest in the highest quality basics and classics you can afford and pair those with affordable seasonal pieces that will add interest and help you create a new look.
- A good seamstress or tailor can be your best fashion friend. If you have trouble finding pieces that fit properly right off the rack, take them to a professional to be altered or better yet have them make you a pair of pains, skirt, or a blazer to your exact measurements.
- Get to know the sales associates at your favourite stores. They will help you shop more efficiently and keep you informed of upcoming sales or new arrivals.

By: Daniela DiStefano, Toronto

Follow me on Twitter @ddeestefano.

Want to work in fashion? Visit fashion career website for Canada Style Nine to Five.

Style Nine to Five has partnered with Park Royal Shopping Centre to give you a chance to attend their Fall Fashion Show for free! Details below.

The prize pack includes:

- Special reserved seating for winner plus 3 friends (4 tickets total) at the Park Royal fashion event on Tuesday, September 27th at 7pm
- Gift bags stuffed with freebies and hot deals from Park Royal retailers, including a $10 Park Royal gift card
- $100 gift card to The Keg at Park Royal

How to participate:

1. Tell us 3 fall must haves via commenting to this post PLUS…

2. Retweet the following:

“I entered to win a prize pack for Park Royal’s Fall Fashion Show via @StyleNineToFive & @shopparkroyal RT to enter PLUS> http://ow.ly/6yAXs!”

3. Follow @shopparkroyal on Twitter.

4. Follow @StyleNineToFive on Twitter.

* Winners will be notified from Style Nine to Five

* Prize gift pack will be available for pick up at the Park Royal office (2002 Park Royal South, upper level beside Future Shop) no later than Tuesday, Sept 27^th (day of) @ 5pm.

Contest Ends: September 27, 2011.

After years of shining the spotlight on our city’s unique eclectic style, Montreal Fashion Week recently celebrated its 21st anniversary. From September 6th to the 9th, fashion lovers flocked to the Mecca of all things fabulous, as runway shows were held in the Old Port at the stunning Marché Bonsecours.

Organized by Sensation Mode, the event gave us a sneak peak into the most exciting trends for the upcoming seasons, as Canada’s brightest and most promising designers showed off their talents.

Denis Gagnon, Philippe Dubuc, Marie Saint Pierre, Barilà, Travis Taddeo, Cluc, Dimitri Chris, Simon Chang, Annie 50, Anomal Couture, Soïa & Kyo, Anastasia Lomonova, Andrew Floyd, Dinh Bà Design, Mélissa Nepton, Iris Setlawke, Label Europe, and Duy (among others) all presented their Spring/Summer 2012 collections.

Of course, the front row and post-show VIP lounges were the stomping grounds for Montreal’s fashion elite.

Spotted? Denis Gagnon himself, sitting pretty in his high drama black frames at Travis Taddeo (the Lasalle College grad’s collection was all about stylish feathers, fantastic capes, distressed denim, black leather, and transparent blouses).

Denis Binet was also surrounded by hot young fashion things. The consulting stylist for Pantene Pro –V and his team were busy doing hair backstage.

The runway shows were all breathtaking and the event’s energy, even more so. Everywhere you turned there were daring outfits, free-flowing bubbly, gazelle legs, and flashing lights. There is no doubt that when Montreal does fashion, they do it right.

Check out Fashion Magazine’s video coverage of the most highly anticipated runway collections.

By: Sophia Loffreda, Montreal

You should follow me on Twitter @sloffreda.

Want to work in fashion? Visit fashion career website for Canada Style Nine to Five.

Running from the office to lunch meetings and events and straight to dinner with the girls leaves little time to freshen up your look. Where is your mobile beauty salon when you need one? It might actually be just right around that busy downtown intersection.

This summer Diet Coke will be travelling across Canada in the Beauty Boost mobile salon offering a mini refresher to all you busy city ladies. Take a little breather with a cold Diet Coke and enjoy a mini manicure and make-up touch up with Joe Fresh products while checking out some of the latest fashion trends of the season. A few minutes in the mobile salon and you’ll be ready to get back to pounding the pavement with your To-Do list with some added oomph.

Check out the Diet Coke Beauty Boost mobile salon near you:

• Toronto June 6 to July 24
• Vancouver June 6 to July 10
• Montreal June 6 to July 3

Visit Diet Coke on Facebook or Tweet @DietCoke_CA to find out specific daily times and locations.

By: Daniela DiStefano, Toronto

Follow me on Twitter @ddeestefano

Want to work in fashion? Visit fashion career website for Canada Style Nine to Five.

The countdown to the 3rd annual Osoyoos Celebrity Wine Festival came to an end a few weeks ago. With travel buddy food reporter Erin Ireland of It’s To Die 4 in my passenger seat, and Metro’s Tonia Mattu in the back, we took off in a MINI Yaletown 4 door Countryman for the most anticipated weekend of the summer (watch video here). Even with 3 girls, It’s To Die 4 banana bread, a mini table and chairs for our picnic, there was still room for our full size luggage.

Jesse Kovacs from The Bachelor and Bachelor Pad with Rosette Luve / Country singer George Canyon

Tonia Mattu of Metro News and Megan of Real Estate 101 TV / Stylist and co-host of Real Estate 101 TV Crystal Carson and I (outfit by Holly Boutique)

ET Canada’s Erin Cebula with hubby Shawn / Rosette Luve singing her hit song Fire

Friday night was the Celebrity Wine Auction and Beach party at Walnut Beach Resort where we were treated with performances from country singer George Canyon and R&B singer Rosette Luve.

Host of FMA Weekly Dani K.

My outfit from Holly Boutique / Rosette’s by Jason Matlo

The Nota Bene Release Party at Black Hills Winery is one of my favourite events of the festival. It’s an afternoon of sampling some of the best food of the weekend, drinking Note Bene (exclusive to Black Hills) and socializing in the sun. I caught up with Rosette Luve of hit song Fire, Crushed, Uh Oh, about her style. Watch here.

After the Nota Bene Release Party, we snuck in a little boating time before the final night’s event at Watermark Resort, The Vinos Wine Film Festival.

…and the countdown for next year has begun.

Bill Cunningham was on his trusty Schwinn photographing the best of Manhattan street-style before many of today’s posers and snappers were even born. Now one of the fashion industry’s most understated yet esteemed stars is finally getting his picture-perfect moment with the release of Bill Cunningham New York directed by Richard Press.

As a milliner, Women’s Wear Daily columnist, contributor to the original Details magazine and resident New York Times Style editor for “On the Street” and “Evening Hours,” the 82-year-old photographer has been documenting some of the most memorable style images of the last four decades. The white-haired man in his signature blue workman’s jacket remains a beloved fixture of New York’s fashion and social scenes, even though the photographer sees himself as nothing more than a mere fashion enthusiast, stating “I’m only interested in the clothes.”

As he snaps photos on the runway circuit, city streets and evening soirées rain or shine Bill is always smiling and laughing but never steering away from his pursuit of trendy, beautiful and distinctive style. “I let the street speak to me,” he says, adding there are no shortcuts to what he does and that celebrity figures are of no interest to his photographs.

A film about finding true passion and happiness in all we do, Bill Cunningham New York will leave you grinning from ear to ear, and confident enough to walk down the street in an outfit that will surely turn heads.

For movie locations visit www.zeitgeistfilms.com.
Watch the trailer.

By: Daniela DiStefano, Toronto

Follow me on Twitter @ddeestefano.

Want to work in fashion? Visit fashion career website for Canada Style Nine to Five.