The best looks of the week from Fashion Art Toronto

Last week, the city’s peacocks flocked for Fashion Art Toronto, our longest-reigning fashion week. Over the course of seven days, Toronto’s most dedicated fashionistas gathered to don outfits that, in any other context, would skirt the limits of social acceptability. (We’ve gathered a few examples from the opening party here.) And then came the shows. A fresh crop of over 50 Canadian and international designers sent their creative interpretations of what clothing can be down the runway before an audience eager for ever-more-outré looks. Below, our breakdown of the week’s most standout looks.

Charles Lu

Charles Lu blew our minds when he appeared on the latest season of Project Runway Canada, narrowly losing to cosplayer extraordinaire Leeland Mitchell. His skills are on full display in this collection, which was heavy on deconstructed details and sports equipment upcycled into formalwear. It’s delicate, skillful and unusual in a good way.

L’Uomo Strano

L’Uomo Strano, a queer experimental fashion line designed by Mic. Carter, bills itself as clothing for true nonconformists. We particularly liked this cheeky juxtaposition of an “Employee of the Month” shirt paired with a billowing oversized jacket and a skirt reminiscent of lace curtains.

Is that Vivek Shraya we spy on the runway?

Leidy Beibi

Montreal designer Leidy Beibi described her collection as “Catholic symbolism meets hyper-feminine silhouettes.” This look in particular has a fun country western meets Traci Lords energy about it—yee haw.

Wabanoonkwe

Wabanoonkwe is an Anishinaabe high-end couture dress designer raised in Ontario’s Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. There’s something deeply elegant about the way the model carries this black sequin corset paired with a petal-pink mermaid skirt.

Grimey Inc.

This Montreal-based streetwear and lifestyle brand brought pop punk to fashion week with their collection titled “Riot!" The plaid skirt paired with a Porky Pig shirt and a babushka-inspired kerchief is a fun wearable look.

Authentic Roz

Authentic Roz, by Qatar-based designer Rayan Alami, displayed a vibrant mash-up of Middle Eastern elements with contemporary Western culture. This slick leather jacket somehow manages to be both classic and imaginative at the same time.

Lin

Designer Noof Almulla creates breezy, refined garments that would look just as natural walking along the Harbourfront as they would in her native Qatar. This lightweight white outfit is the perfect thing to pack for a relaxed weekend in Muskoka.

Siyawareva

Zimbabwean Canadian designer Foster Siyawareva brought high drama to fashion week with her upscale ball gowns. We hope to see someone stepping out in this spicy red number on the charity gala circuit later this year.

Denim

It’s a cape made out of jeans. Need we say more?