Gail McInnes

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BlogTO, October 2007

The first show under the much talked about tents at Nathan Philips Square was Joe Fresh, the low-priced brain child of Joseph Mimran, the former owner of Club Monaco. Perhaps molding itself after discount line, George from the UK, Joe Fresh offers a collection of fashionable separates for men and women.

The attendees were a mish-mash of local fashion reporters, including Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker, reality television judges and finalists, including Zak and Jake from Canadian Idol and Idol winner, Kaylan Porter, and the usual fashion industry crowd.

Home-grown supermodel Heather Marks opened the show and walked the runway with ease – a fantastic sight considering how so few designers acknowledge the value of hiring top models to show of their wares. For spring 2008, Joe Fresh was just that, clean and fresh. The palette was most mostly neutral with splashes of brights. The line sheet gave the retail price of each item, with most items ranging from $19 – $39. There was definitely a nautical feel to the whole line with horizontal stripes, wide leg pants, and sailor shorts – a big trend for spring 2008.

As a mass-market brand, selling mostly in Loblaws and their Superstores in suburban areas, I wonder how these straight lines will translate to a curvier body, but regardless of quality or fit, Mr. Mimran has certainly been successful in building his empire.

Where to buy: Joe Fresh Stores and Loblaws Superstores.

Fashion Flash, Fall 2007

They say the shoes make the man, but really it’s the shoes that complete the outfit. Fall 2007 is all about chanelling the debonair leading man. Think Cary Grant; even he said it best, “Everyone wants to be Cary Grant. Even I want to be Cary Grant.”

While men’s suits are becoming leaner and pant legs slimmer, more emphasis is placed on a man’s footwear. Men are looking for more elegant and refined pieces to complete their look and their footwear will be no exception. Men will want to fill their wardrobe with timeless shoes, and will be willing to pay a little extra for the exquisite workmanship and luxurious materials from European manufacturers like Santoni, Ermenegildo Zegna and Bruno Magli. Be sure to instruct your clientele on how to take care of their fine leathers as many may still be of the old “spit and polish” school.

Black is still the leading colour of choice for most men, with brown maintaining its hold on second place. Toes are gaining more length and still becoming pointier. Shine is in -top trends in material include polished leather, snake skin, and alligator style leathers. Details like buckles and oxford lacing are classic yet modern.

Casual footwear is steering more towards that distinguished avenue with a look of ease and comfort. Suede loafers and ankle boots drive forward, but are less bulky than past seasons, becoming narrower.

This fall season your customer will want to become the gentleman they saw their grandfathers as, and you can help them put their best foot forward.

Originally published in Inspire Magazine, Fall 2006

Canada has developed and exported many of the world’s top models. The rich diversity of cultures in Canada, the good nature of the people and the care the Canadian agents take when developing their models have all attributed to the rise of the appearance of more Canadian faces representing the world’s top fashion and beauty products.

Though most major cities have some type of work for local models, the main centers for models are Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Because Canada stretches over many miles, there are so many places for scouting models, no matter how small a town may be, it most is likely an untouched resource for the agent to find a new face. Models have been scouted at coffee shops, concerts, amusements parks, malls and even on the street.

The exporting of Canadian models has risen in the past few years, and the world’s fashion community has been taking notes. The number of Canadian models walking on the international runways has increased and so has the number of Canadian faces appearing in major advertising campaigns.

It seems to have been the rapid rise of Daria Werbowy’s career in 2002 which started the trend. She is credited as the model who walked the most runways in one season and is still considered to be one of the top runway models ever. The Mississauga, Ontario native and current face of Chanel and Lancome fragrance, is rated as the number one model in the world, according to Models.com. Designer Karl Lagerfeld has been noted to have said, “She is much more than a model; a personality and a unique beauty, a rare mix.” This seems to be the combination that many of the world’s top designers and fashion editors are seeking when hiring models for their runway shows and photo shoots – and it’s something that Canadian models seem to naturally possess.

Why are Canadian models in such demand around the world?

“It’s because became a global village a long time ago. Our models are raised in a multicultural society that encourages a natural curiosity of how other people live, and a respect for what makes us different. Clients know that when they book a Canadian they are going to get someone that views international modeling as an opportunity – not a job. Basically, when a Canadian model lands in Tokyo they want to try the food and learn the history, rather than complain because no one speaks their language,” states Dan Grant, publisher of Modelresource.ca, the Canadian offshoot of Modelresource.com, launched in 2004, perfectly timed with the rise in careers of so many Canadian models.

So highly in demand are new Canadian faces that the top international agencies are scrambling to see who will acquire the next “it girl.” Scouts from all the major fashion centers around the world fly to Canada’s cities; visiting agencies and attending conventions on the look out for that next fresh face who could be the next to make it big.

Predecessors of the Canadian model movement include, most notably, Linda Evangelista, who at 41 years of age, and pregnant, graced the August cover of American Vogue this year. She was the first model, rather than a Hollywood actor, to be featured on the magazine’s cover in over a year. Shalom Harlow, Yasmeen Ghauri, Liisa Winkler, Tasha Tilberg, Yasmin Warsame, and Estella Warren all have gained notability in the fashion industry throughout the recent years.

The current crop of “it girls,” who you might not know by name, but whose faces you are sure to recognize, include Jessica Stam, Lisa Cant, Irina Lazareanu, Heather Marks, Tasha Tilberg, Julia Dunstall, and Coco Rocha; all listed in Models.com list of the world’s top models.

With the recent completion of the first cycle of Canada’s Next Top Model, the Canadian equivalent to America’s Next Top Model, it seems everyone is taking note: Canada is the place to be when it comes to finding new talent. The world knows a good thing when they see it, and Canada is already developing that next generation of runway stars.