Ah, Fashion Week! After obsessively absorbing all the juicy media coverage, celebrity gossip and glossy fashion porn pouring out of Paris Fashion Week last month, I was très excited to take in some shows in our own belle ville last week during L’Oreal Fashion Week. A favourite highlight came early in the week with the Denise

Collection by Quebec designer Denis Gagnon.

The show was bold and dramatic with the long runway bathed in a deep blue light and sounds of upbeat contemporary French music blaring throughout the tent. The collection featured a stunning mélange of several exquisitely tailored leather jackets and hooded sheaths, transparent capes with leather accents, weighty woven wool dresses, thick leather belts and elbow-length gloves.

Colours were predominantly black and navy with a few chocolate brown and crème coloured pieces. Models looked severely chic with their hair slicked back in tight ponytails, heavy black smudged eyes and nude matte lips. Accessories included chunky silver necklaces and a FULLUM collection of gorgeous oversized leather handbags wrapped in cool gunmetal hardware, also designed by Denis Gagnon.

The contrast between raw and refined materials and the opposition between strong and delicate was apparent and consistent throughout the entire show. Washed leathers teased fragile silk charmeuse and delicate and translucent jerseys played up the rock ‘n’ roll appeal of glazed leather.

Think French Canadian virginal fashionista meets haute couture dominatrix! J’adore.
www.denisgagnon.ca

Photo credit: James Wm. Dawson – Photography