Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Dolls Fashion Night Out Salutes Canada

 
Clothes we wear today come from all around the world.  Many of the countries who produce our fashion have been joining a tradition begun in the USA.  This tradition is called Fashion Night Out (FNO), and is a celebration of runway showings and fashion events that are carried out by both fashion houses and retail establishments that sell fashion, all in an effort to promote sales of wonderful new fashions.  
 
One such country is Canada, and today we will be saluting that country.  However, since we do doll fashions, everything we show will be scaled down for our diminutive divas, and our event is called Dolls Fashion Night Out (DFNO).
 
Yes, FNO -- Vogue's hotter than hot shopping event -- has come to Canada!!  Shoppers across the country actually were able to get their shop on.  They not only had access to the designers popular in America, they also had a unique bevy of designer's fashions from their own country to choose from.  In Ontario, events happened in Chatham, Cookstown and Toronto; people looking to take part in FNO in Quebec headed to Montreal; and, in British Columbia, Vancouver, Surrey and North Vancouver were sartorial hot spots.  But that's not all - there were regional events country wide for our Canadian friends to enjoy! 
 
Now we at CoutureDollShop.com will honor some of the places and faces of the designers of Canada - so on with the show!! 
 
Denise Beaudin
Main Street
 

The changing of the seasons was my inspiration for the garment I have created for my Vintage Cissy. The beautiful, embossed leaves of the fabric pattern remind me of autumn leaves changing colour. Cleaning up gardens or "putting them to sleep" influenced me to create a night gown set. 
 
The set consists of a nightgown, beret style hat or a nightcap, wrap shawl and panties. Flower motifs with a seed bead centres are sewn around the neckline of the nightgown. The garment has cap sleeves, fitted bodice and a full draping skirt. Closure is metal snaps at the back. Cap has an elastic edge, and should fit over different hair styles. Matching panties have elastic in the waistline, and leg edges are trimmed with lace.

Cissy poses during the evening hours in front of the Esplanade Riel Pedestrian Bridge located north of the junction where the historic Red and Assiboine Rivers meet.  This landmark area in Winnipeg is called "The Forks."  Over Cissy's right shoulder is the Human Rights Museum currently under construction. 

  Pauline Lyngard
Main Street
 
 
One of my favourite places to visit in Victoria is Craigdarroch Castle which was built between 1887-1890 for Robert Dunsmuir, a Scottish immigrant who made his fortune from Vancouver Island coal. This legendary Victorian mansion, built on a hill overlooking the City of Victoria announced to the world that Robert Dunsmuir was the richest and most important man in Western Canada.




The four-story Craigdarroch Castle still has lavish furnishings from the 1890s and is known for its stained-glass and intricate woodwork. The Castle is currently owned by the Craigdarroch Castle Historical Museum Society, which is a private non-profit society, and is open to the public. The castle is a tourist attraction, and receives 150,000 visitors a year.

BW Designs Faux fur and recycled fur collars and stoles are designed to fit 16-17 inch dolls but may be suitable for smaller dolls if you like a larger scale wrap. Lined with sand washed silk and with unique closures, these one of a kind items are sure to accent any fashion your doll wears this holiday season!

Frances Weir 
Francesca Doll Couture  
Couture Court

 
Because I love knitting and fine knitwear, my inspiration for this DFNO Happening just had to be the Canadian born designer Mark Fast. Fast has been speeding up the fashion ranks, making headlines with his super sexy knitwear collections and controversial runway shows — not to mention his much-talked-about decision to pass on dressing Lady Gaga.

Though he now lives and works in London, Fast grew up in Winnipeg and spent many hours watching Fashion Television and Fashion File. His love of fashion took him from Winnipeg to Toronto and eventually to Central St. Martins’ elite fashion design program in London. His designs combine luxurious yarns with unusual textures and innovative stitching techniques  in form fitting fashions.


Both hand knit ensembles combine a sleeveless form fitting dress, with a zippered back closure, and a short jacket.The pink/grey ensemble combines  rose cotton and  variegated grey wool blend yarn. The grey/black ensemble mirrors Fast's love of cable patterns using the same variegated grey wool blend and a soft black silk/bamboo blend yarn. Layers of soft unravelled yarn have been added for texture. Both outfits were inspired by Mark Fast's  2012 Autumn/Winter Show.

Elizabeth Fenton
Designer Drive
 
 
Simone has spent the early half of her evening at L'Orchestre Symphonique de Montreal. After a wonderful, heart warming concert, she has decided to hit the casino and have some fun.

She is an absolute vision in opulent, lustrous, silver brocade accented and lined with Carmine Rose, silk charmeuse. Her elegant, strapless, mermaid style, fitted gown titled French Metal is accented by a double row of ruffles skipping down her right side. Her gown is edged at the top with a single row of asymmetrical ruffles, framing her beautiful face. She is wrapped in a shawl of Carmine rose silk
charmeuse.


The MSO and Charles Dutoit have received accolades for their numerous recordings, including the Grand Prix du Président de la République (France) and the Prix mondial du Disque de Montreux. The MSO won Grammy awards in 1996 for their recording of Hector Berlioz' Les Troyens and in 2000 for Sergei Prokofiev and Béla Bartók piano concerti with Martha Argerich on EMI, and additionally it has also won a number of Juno Awards and Felix Awards. Simone found this to be an ideal place to enjoy a concert, see all the beautiful people, and be seen in her latest designer gown!

Anna Castanes
Designer Drive
 
 
This designer's muse was lucky enough to spend some time this year previewing the newly minted World Mastercard Fashion Week (in her dreams). While in Toronto she also had a chance to visit the Mercedes-Benz Start Up program that is dedicated to showcasing Canada’s own new talent. There she fell in love with the neat sisters that make up Dreamboat Lucy and their designs.
 

 
Dreamboat Lucy is a clothing and accessories company created by sisters Louanna and Hilary Murphy of Prince Edward Island. They can
be described as a line of finely constructed pieces with the aesthetics of a figure flattering silhouette, a rock and roll edge, and a retro feel. Their use of bold, bright colors and prints is a design staple. The way the girls described their birthplace it sounded so wonderful!!
Prince Island's landscape is pastoral. Rolling hills, woods, reddish white sand beaches, ocean coves, and the famous red soil have given it a reputation as a province of outstanding natural beauty. 
 


Anna can't guarantee your beauty's dreams will be better with this bedding set - but it could be worth a try.  One never knows what will happen in our world of make believe! This set was made to fit the Fashion Royalty Bed. The set includes a Fitted Bottom Sheet,Top Sheet, 4 pillow cases. 2 large ones and 2 small ones, a Duvet Cover and 2 throw pillows (not shown). And, if you'd like this in a larger size, this designer will be happy to do a custom order if you contact her. The bed, lamp and dresser are not included.
 
Lori Lyon
Main Street
   
 
When this Lori thinks of Canada, she thinks of snow. And you'rebound to run into snow in Toronto! Another thing you'll run into is some great fashion, including a wonderful runway fashion show for charity that began nine years ago!
 

Most of us don't daydream about having our latest fashion made out of tissue paper, but this is exactly what these fashions were produced with - Cashmere bath tissue! Produced by 15 of the best Canadian fashion designers, the collection showcases everything from bridal and evening wear, to jewelry, footwear and children’s wear. Look here for a peek:


 

Inspired by the winter white snows of Canada, Lori created a short dress of white silk satin and satin organza. The halter style bodice has a white Alecon lace overlay embellished with clear, silver lined beads and Swarovski crystals. The skirt is of satin organza with two rows of raw edged trim along the bottom. Underneath she wear bright pink mesh tights.  Lori's Snowflake dress is modeled by Naeara, a Basic Devon Numina.

                                     Rosy Bazile 
                                  Atelier de Rosy
                                   Designer Drive

Jour de Fete a Montreal is a délicate cocktail dress made exclusively for her elegant silkstone doll.  The dress is cut in a  silver and white cotton veil entirely lined with a white cotton veil.  Dress is enhanced with ribbon belt and ribbon rhinestone ornement.  Doll wears delicate necklace , earrings and a black felt purse clo  sed with rhinestone bead.

Rosy was inspired by CIMM Glamour exhibited at Fashion Week in Montreal. CG is a collaboration of three very talented designers. Zenobia Bawa delivered a collection full of transparency and draping on long evening dresses. This line is definitely specific to a targeted clientele. Ronen Chen served up sheer tops and architectural structured lines were evident. Although beautiful and new to the murmurs from the crowd indicated it was nothing new from the clothes already exhibited in his boutique.
 
Simon Chang used prints galore on shirts, dresses, blazers, skirts, multi-colouful crochets, peasant-prairie like blouses and dresses. Animal prints of all kind; psychedelic prints, flowers, cities, tribal; name it, you probably had it. Therefore, it was definitely no surprise that he was enthusiastically cheered when he took his finale bow down the runway.


Peggy Burney
Main Street 
 

Peggy's inspiration was the Canadian Center for Architecture in Montreal, Quebec. She just loved the look of this old building. It has all these different materials, shapes and textures, and that's what she did with her dress.  Peggy's design is a Victorian style gown made for your 16 inch girl. The bodice is made of iridescent ivory organza with a high neck and a basque waistline. The neckline and waist are accentuated with hand beaded pearls and the bodice features an applique of embroidery and beaded pearls. The sleeves are leg-o-mutton style with the top in the same material as the bodice and a small rope of pearls dangling from the poof while the length is made of iridescent ivory crinkle organza ending with a pleated ruffle at the wrist accentuated with a row of tiny pearls around the middle of the ruffle.


 
The skirt is a very full style with a modified train and an overskirt. The skirt is made of ivory silk and embroidered in an overlapping circle pattern with 3 small pearls beaded into each circle. It is lined in a light weight taffeta and has an attached crinoline underskirt. The overskirt is made of the same crinkled iridescent organza as the sleeves and is edged with embroidered and pearl beaded trim. It also is styled with a modified train in back. The front edges of the overskirt is connected with three pearl ropes. The gown has a zipper closure in back with tiny pearls down the back.
 
Anita Stoklosa
Designer Drive
 
Anita's influence comes from Calgary where being a fashion designer is not for the faint of heart. It takes not only the obvious requisite creativity, but also that pioneering spirit so often celebrated in this city that is necessary just to keep up. There Maria Orduz Pinto will wow you with her cocktail dresses inspired by architecture and detailed with bold asymmetrical seams, and Haithem Elkadiki is always a crowd pleaser with his preppy menswear with a dose of sex appeal.
 
Laura George pleases the most astute bride with her gowns that are heavy on romance, with a hint of costume design.  And that is just naming a few of the famously talented artists in this region of Canada - a place that to put on your must visit list when you are in Canada.
 


 
Anita's outfit was sewn for Silkstone Barbie.  Both jacket and skirt are fully lined.  Golden brown
insertions add charm. The whole ensemble is complete as it includes a hat, handbag, lycra stockings and jewelry that are all handmade by the artist. It is the perfect outfit for lovely autumn stroll in Calgary.

Kevin Kilmer
Designer Drive

Kevin chose Richard Robinson as his fashion inspiration. He favored his rather avant-garde designs, and made the colors/shapes on his design harken back to what Robinson has done. Kevin's chosen designer has a fashion academy in midtown Ottawa, Canada.
 
Kevin's design is called Sang Rouge Et Noir Charbon meaning Blood Red and Coal Black. The outfit is made from faux silks, tulle, and real recycled dyed rabbit fur, The dress has an asymmetrical peplum that is short in the front coming down to the bottom of the dress in the back, and the bodice matches the red in design. 

The skirt is made from black faux silk with black fringe from hemline to waist. The Coat is made from a faux black leather checkerboard print design while the sleeves end in the recycled rabbit fur. It is lined in red faux matching silk. It also features a matching freeform hat. To complete this ensemble are matching red swarovski crystal earrings and the faux silver leather belt.

Connie Casteel Doll Fashions
Main Street 
 

Connie was very inspired by a photo of the Canadian National Tower as viewed across Lake Ontario. A tall, graceful tower surrounded by a myriad of blues at dusk!

Silkstone Barbie is ready to step out into the Toronto nightlife in this chic sheath. Her graceful, willowy figure is shown to perfection in this navy silk sheath with a faux cummerbund accenting her tiny waist.


The blues of her outfit mimic the beautiful evening colors surrounding the Canadian National Tower at dusk.   She is wearing a 1945 style hat that shares the same color scheme and is accented with a 'ribbon' to match the cummerbund. Completing the ensemble are faux pearl earrings, necklace and bracelet and a navy handbag.


This concludes our special salute to Canada's Fashion Night Out.  We hope you enjoyed it and learned lots of interesting information about a destination you'll want to add to your fashion quest.  As for me, I'm off to CoutureDollShop.com to check out all the new fashions over there - join me if you get the chance!