TRAVELLING COACH

The fashion brand Coach, noted primarily as a starter line for bags for young women before they even begin to aspire to Prada and Gucci, has re-branded with funky oversized collegiate bombers, sweaters and Mr. Rogers cardies with goofy dragon insignias.  There was a party on November 9 to celebrate the launch with a guest appearance by actor/model Dree Hemingway, whom I missed because I was on nursing home duty. 

How white am I, bookended by Traci Melchor and her sister Grace, who was on the hunt for a purse?

Bustle Clothing creative director/designer Shawn Hewson is the coolest dude in the room in his “naked ladies” brogues by Jimmy Choo and purchased in London. That’s London, Eng., not London, Ont.

Samantha Beckerman, half of the hot blonde blogger twin set, rocks a Coach Varsity jacket she’s accessorized with even more pins.

A funky faux-fur chubby jacket by Coach reminiscent of the vintage sheared-beaver I scored at Value Village one hot summer day for $40.  Gotta love V.V. Last week I bagged a chocolate brown suede coat in mint condition made in Europe for $20. Not that I was exactly coat-less – it’s like they breed in my closet -- but how could I resist?

These fine-feathered beauties are part of a collection made by jewelry designer Rita Tesolin. Seriously, how amazing are they? You would upstage everyone in the room wearing one of these. Tesolin is having a sample sale Friday November 18 through Sunday November 20 at her studio at 63 Wingold Ave., Suite 110. Well worth the schlep.

FOR EVAN'S SAKE

FAT is where it’s at. Last week, Fashion Art Toronto, the alternate to Toronto Fashion Week, staged their outré shows in assorted venues. I always attend Evan Biddell’s -- they never fail to wow me because his vision and production values. Not for nothing his show, dedicated to David Bowie and Iman, was voted one of the “Most Outrageous Looks” by Blog TO. 

But outrageousness only goes so far. His exquisite tailoring is the real deal.

Furthermore, the outrageousness was not limited to the runway. Everywhere you looked in the fashion crowd, the most interesting ensembles were inevitably worn by the boys.

One of Evan Biddell’s looks, which I call Holly Golightly does Elvira.

Ruth Promislow, a partner in the Bustle line, wearing a red-hot Biddell number, and Marlene Schiff, whose photo was on the Industry pass, flank Evan Biddell after the show. He is clutching a bottle of tequila, my ritualistic contribution to his after party.

Just browsing: Anyone can have purple hair. All it takes is a trip to Shopper’s Drug Mart cosmetics department. This woman has accessorized hers with arresting blinged-out brows.

Bustle partner Shawn Hewison shows off the highly-coveted Jilly’s T-shirt, designed in commemoration of the closing of the infamous strip club.

Quad Spin queen Micheline Wedderburn and I model the other must-have T-shirt, one with Evan Biddell’s shiny little face printed on it.

Just when I thought I’d escaped the ubiquitous selfie moment, there was this cool artwork calling my name.

DAYS OF WINE AND POSES

This is Toronto Fashion Week. I am not ignoring it but I am not exactly parked in the front rows sharing prime real estate with professional socialite Ainsley Kerr. I cherry pick, always doing the shows from Bustle and Greta Constantine. (Alas, this year I had to bail on Greta because of a previous commitment). And I never ever turn down an invite for a wine tasting, especially top-of-the-barrel ones featuring product from Italy and California. Cheers!!!

An interpretation of the ladies who lunched, tippled and smoked in the Windsor Arms Hotel, site of the wine tasting on Tuesday hosted by Halpern Enterprises, importers of fine wines and spirits.  The artwork heralds back to the heady days of notorious table-hopping at the legendary Windsor Arms’ Courtyard Café, a.k.a. the “Yoo-Hoo.”

No, this is not my breakfast. It is a selection of wines and bubblies for the tasting.

This young fashionista is in line at Zara cashing out and multi-tasking by checking out more shopping options elsewhere on her smart phone.

Street shooters outside the tents at David Pecaut Square prior to the Bustle show on Tuesday. The paparazzi outnumbered the attendees.

Veteran photog George Pimentel snapping model Stacey McKenzie before the Bustle show.

The showstoppers at the Bustle show were Georgia and Griffith, the impossibly cute and best-tressed kids of Bustle designers Shawn Hewson and Ruth Promislow. They owned the catwalk modelling pieces from the label’s new Bustle Sprouts children’s line, launched because Georgia kept demanding a quilted track suit just like the ones Daddy wore. 

Ruth Promislow and Shawn Hewson taking a bow after the Bustle show. It is obvious where their children get their glorious heads of hair. Never mind runway modelling. Hair modelling could top up their college funds. Just saying.

Me in my camo coat bonding with a blogger in a fabulous faux fur number. Pattern on pattern is so au courant, sweeties.