Colour! Ruffles! Silk! Jennifer Waters and her label House of Groves was a throwback to the 1930s and 1970s for her SS11 collection. I recently checked out Waters’ preview for the Toronto Fashion Incubator with a focus on darker pieces and edge for FW11 and my love affair with House of Groves continues on Day 3 of LG Toronto Fashion Week.

The dozen piece showcase was an ode to Annie Hall and Wallace Simpson, both strong personalities in film history and royal drama. Fitted high-waisted linen pants and ruffled dresses take the muses to an East Coast garden party.

As the models exited the stage, Robin Kay was very hands on trying to organize the models to pose under the columns of the South Entrance of Ricoh Collesium. Then, 4pm struck and it was time for the anticipated Chloecommparris show.

What’s in a name? Chloe: in fashion world refers to the label based in Paris, previously having Stella McCartney as a designer, often featuring muted tones. Paris: the city of light, love and high fashion in France. Cholecommeparris: Sister designers Chloe and Parris Gordon with their first fashion week collection in Toronto. Talk about pressure to own up to a name.

But the sister designers carry it well. The Nova Scotia College of Art and Design students take the small town summer at the cottage colours, but structures fit for the city.

A neutral colour scheme with no symmetry in the cuts, the back ends of coats, dresses and shirts were elongated and flowed on the runway. The simple styling focused on the summer kissed look with the models sporting socks and wedges, as did most of the front row crowd.

A Focus on hip bones with strategic cut outs at the hips and a standout was the loose structured button down dress with a leather colour and dramatically cut out back. Mid summer nights end with a draped white dress for the finale. Everything went with the flow – see for yourself in our gallery.

By: Ivana Markotic