Tank top, Club Monaco. Metallic Top, NADA

Nada Shepherd is a Canadian designer that injects imagination and energy into her designs.  She creates wearable tailored and lady like clothes, ones decorated with lace flounces, sharp shoulders and space like accoutrement and shape . Elegant yet strong, these are clothes one could work in and make a statement in, especially ladies who like wearing leather and long gloves while drinking tea on the Ritz. →

Danielle Meder is a talented fashion illustrator as well, as a fine blogger of culture and all things fashionable in the local Toronto scene.  I first met Danielle at a photo shoot Buy Design, a charity dress up “ball” event for Windfall, a award winning initiative that donates new clothing and other basic to social service agencies. →

Being an eighties kid, I can still remember sitting by the radio and “taping” my favorite songs instead of actually going out and buying the tape or cd.  Now some can say that was a outright stealing of songs but I was a child and preferred spending pocket change on sour keys and marshmallow strawberries. →

These days, the next fashion trend is sustainable materials and green environmentalism.  Sonja Den Elzen was ahead of her time with her line Thieves, which debuted in 2006. Soft flowy materials, drapery cowling, classic with a subtle edge and asymmetrical cutting are hallmarks of the line.  I spoke with Sonja and here is what she had to say :

EM Occupation and Position

Designer and owner of Thieves by sonja den elzen

EM: Can you tell us a little more about your concept?

Thieves is a contemporary designer line that uses sustainable fabrics.  [It has a] subtle edgy timelessness that celebrates and individuals strength and style. →

Picture Me is a documentary by co directors and ex couple Sara Ziff and Ole Schell about the complexities and superficial facade of the modeling world.  But unlike the kazillion of documentaries out there about fashion Picture me is unique because its formed from a grossly personal standpoint.  Organically shot by Schell while dating Ziff during her rise in the fashion world.  As a recent NYU graduate, he compiled years of footage while following her around and documented the world of casting calls, shows, photo shoots and interviews with top models →

Photo by: Rad Hourani

Hung Vanngo is a Canadian Make up artist living in New York City represented by the Wall group.  Moving from Vietnam at a young age to Calgary he began his career in Toronto before moving to NYC.  Hung has shot with world renowned photographers such as Greg Kadel, Alexi Lubomirski and Ellen Von Unwerth as well as the famous faces of Helena Christensen, Chloe Sevigny, Renee Zellweger.   →

Photography: Konrad Junikiewicz
Fashion Editor: Jen Tse →

When I was fourteen I went to Lollapalooza and Sonic Youth was headlining the show. Covered in mud and crowd surfing (ugh) I was inspired by the band’s music, presence and obviously, style. Style.com interviews Kim Gordan from Sonic Youth and she talks about disco ball studded Marc Jacob outfits, striped tee shirt dresses and Chloë Sevigny naked.  Love.

Marie Saint Pierre is the doyen of Montreal avante garde fashion.  Playing with textures,ruffles, ribbons, ruching and layering she creates wearable art.  For her fall collection she simplified the detailing and focused on voluminous shapes and tulip skirts with a forties tailoring.  →

Canadian Designer Denis Gagnon creates strangely alluring minimalist and androgynous clothing for women. For his 09 collection we see a mix of geometric sharp leather shoulders and padded quilted jackets and grecian panel drapery, a dystopia of  modern functionality with the gentle romanticism of flowy silk material and the embellishments of crystal and lego jewellery of designer Harakari. It is for the dark modern rocker chick with sequinned pants, fur, sleek yet textured dresses, and hooded jackets; all elegance with a touch of distanced chic menace. →