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by The Backseat Stylers | May 16th, 2012 
Last October, Montreal-based designer Denis Gagnon closed the Spring 2012 edition of Toronto Fashion Week with a line-up of models prancing and dancing down the catwalk in the most incredible collection of florals, leathers and tuxedo-inspired pieces.
I was so mesmerized by the designs and accompanying theatrics that I froze during the runway show and failed to snap a single photo. With nothing but a wish list to show for my efforts, I never did get a blog post up about one of my favourite Canadian collections for spring, but I’m making up for it now with the lookbook.
I want it all: the floral print blazer, floral print collared-shirt, floral print clutch…you get the picture. Like what you see too? Check out Denis Gagnon’s complete Spring 2012 lookbook here and then go find a stockist near you over here.
  
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by The Backseat Stylers | October 27th, 2011 
Holt Renfrew‘s traditional opening night show is my favourite way to kick off the LG Fashion Week festivities each season. Though this has much to do with my ongoing obsession with Smythe, the rest of the show is always a treat too, especially with Canadian fashion design heavyweights like Jeremy Laing, Denis Gagnon and Lida Baday, up-and-coming brands like Twentycluny, Denis Merotto and Naked & Famous, and menswear brand Wings + Horns rounding out this season’s line-up.
Fall is only barely upon us, but I’m already thinking ahead to next Spring. In a few months’ time, I’ll definitely need to stop by Holt Renfrew for the new items I jotted down on my wish list at the show: another Smythe blazer (because one can never have enough), any floral piece from Denis Gagnon (I want the entire collection!), and a Wings + Horns leather jacket for the Mister (because I’m feeling generous). With so much temptation packed into one store, indeed, there’s no place like Holt’s!
Check out photos of the complete runway show on Toronto Life. What’s catching your eye?
Jeremy Laing Spring/Summer 2012
Smythe Spring/Summer 2012
Lida Baday Spring/Summer 2012
Naked & Famous Spring/Summer 2012
Denis Gagnon Spring/Summer 2012
Twentycluny Spring/Summer 2012
Denis Merotto Spring/Summer 2012
Wings + Horns Spring/Summer 2012
xx, S
Image Credits: Jenna Marie Wakani for Toronto Life
by The Backseat Stylers | April 7th, 2011 
What I saw from Denis Gagnon at the Holt Renfrew Presents show on Day 1 of LGFW encouraged me to make the trek back the very next afternoon to see his full Fall 2011 collection. The unfortunate 1pm time slot meant that the show was not well attended – a fact that was lamented over by Fashion Television‘s Jeanne Beker over Twitter. A shame really, since Gagnon is one of Canada’s most talented designers right now. My extended lunch-hour jaunt over to Heritage Court to see Gagnon’s collection was well worth the cab fare and risk of being fired from my day job.
Though the overall feel of the show was dark, many of the separates, if styled differently, could easily work their way into a more conservative (read: safe) and slightly more cheerful wardrobe like mine. Mixed in with the largely black and grey collection were refreshing pops of pink, blood orange and turquoise, seen in the clothes as well as the accompanying legwear and shoes. The designs had an effortless edge to them and appeared capable of launching wearers instantly into the realm of über-cool, where the designer himself clearly resides. So where do I sign up?
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by The Backseat Stylers | April 6th, 2011 
With Toronto’s Rogue Fashion Week having come to a close with the Greta Constantine and Ezra Constantine show, it seemed almost symbolic (of what, I’ve yet to determine) that designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong’s lines then took part in Holt Renfrew‘s opening show for the official LG Fashion Week mere days later. Joined by top Canadian designers Denis Gagnon, Jeremy Laing, Lida Baday, Pink Tartan, Smythe, Todd Lynn, TWENTYCLUNY, Wings + Horns and, curiously, Canada Goose, to make up this season’s line-up, the cast of the Holt Renfrew Presents Fall 2011 edition looked almost identical to the Spring 2011 show but felt quite different. Gone were Mikhael Kale and Wayne Clark, replaced by Canadian-born, London-based designer Todd Lynn and TWENTYCLUNY by Sara Rabkin.
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by The Backseat Stylers | October 28th, 2010 
After the VAWK show last Monday, LG Fashion Week officially kicked off with the Holt Renfrew Presents event, which featured selected looks from the Spring 2011 collections of Denis Gagnon, Jeremy Laing, Lida Baday, Line RUNWAY, Mikhael Kale, Pink Tartan, Smythe, Wayne Clark, and Wings + Horns. Line and Pink Tartan were on the schedule to show their full collections later in the week, but for the others it was a sneak peek into what they have in store for Spring. I must confess, though, that I went to the show with a one-track mind – for me, it was all about Smythe, Smythe, Smythe. I’m a self-proclaimed Smythe addict of the first order, so the opportunity to get a sneak preview of the Spring collection isn’t one I’m likely to pass up. I dragged my photographer for the evening and fellow Smythe addict, J, along for the ride.
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THE BACKSEAT STYLERS BY T & S
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