As
a fashion-obsessed freshman at McGill, it was only natural for me to pounce on
the opportunity to score a ticket to this year’s Montreal Fashion Week. Upon
browsing the website, I was ecstatic to find that not all of their shows were
exclusive, and that some were available for general admission. As if this
wasn’t fabulous enough, the ticket price wasn’t through the roof either – shows
varied from fifteen to twenty five dollars depending on the designer, plus
taxes and fees. The lineup of designers was mostly unheard of, but Martin Lim’s
collection preview caught my eye. Having always wanted to attend a fashion
week, the fashionista within me squealed with joy upon the processing of my
ticket to his show on the second evening.
The night was
approaching, and I decided to go casual-chic with a drapey silk-cashmere top
with leather leggings and black suede heels. Grabbing my Marc by Marc Jacobs
bag, I hurried out to catch the taxi I ordered – there’s no such thing as being
fashionably late at a runway show! The venue was at Montreal’s Arsenal,
a converted shipyard built in 1846 that now showcases
contemporary art. Walking into Arsenal whisked me away from the cold,
unwelcoming Montreal winter to a world of fashion and glamour – pieces of art
adorned the walls, chic furniture filled the room, and impeccably dressed
guests chatted along an open-concept bar at the back of the venue. Martin Lim’s
show was to be held in the Main Hall, and the queue for the
much-anticipated collection began buzzing with excitement.
Having a ticket
that was general admission, I was lucky to score a seat in the third row. Electronic,
trance-like music opened the runway show, and soon models filled the stage, at
first two by two, later on one by one. The collection began with a flourish of
eclectic pieces along with a foreshadowing of the fringe fest to come: fringe,
as well as silk cords and flaps, adorned countless pieces in cool, refined
shades from grey-mauve to vivid cerulean. In footwear, each model sported the
same chunky wedge wrapped in grey fabric, providing a factor of consistency among
the wide and creative range of clothing.
The minimalism
of the clothing stood in stark opposition against the delicately styled hair and
barely-there makeup of the models. As a finishing touch of femininity, Martin
Lim’s signature free-flowing layered evening dresses appeared near the end of
the show, showcasing the great attention of detail in the designers’ work. A
personal favourite piece of mine was a high-low evening dress comprised of black
and cerulean silk chiffon with a low back tastefully cut in a V.
Martin Lim’s
Fall 2013 show comprised of a modernist, chic rendition of style. Lim refers to
the fringe as how we perceive time, mentioning the flapper fashion trend that
has been bordering the attention of many designers for a few seasons. The
ambiance of the show was one to remember, an image of a smoky runway bathed in
a wide array of cool colours persisting in the minds of its audience. Their
promising work keeps the fashion crowds waiting for his next collection – what
will Martin Lim offer for Spring/Summer 2014? Here’s to another queue of
anticipation and excitement for the coming season.
As
a fashion-obsessed freshman at McGill, it was only natural for me to pounce on
the opportunity to score a ticket to this year’s Montreal Fashion Week. Upon
browsing the website, I was ecstatic to find that not all of their shows were
exclusive, and that some were available for general admission. As if this
wasn’t fabulous enough, the ticket price wasn’t through the roof either – shows
varied from fifteen to twenty five dollars depending on the designer, plus
taxes and fees. The lineup of designers was mostly unheard of, but Martin Lim’s
collection preview caught my eye. Having always wanted to attend a fashion
week, the fashionista within me squealed with joy upon the processing of my
ticket to his show on the second evening.
