Oh yes, it's that time of year again, when forward-thinking fashion trendsetters in the GTA - who have been salivating, trembling and planning for weeks prior - break out the vintage BCBG pumps, buy a new Vena Cava dress, and get an edgy (albeit pretentious) haircut. From March 16th-21st, fashion-savvy couture lovers and designers, obviously including the editor of this zine, will be totally decked-out in full force to worship and critique the forthcoming collections from Toronto's finest designers at LG Fashion Week. Held under the lazy gaze of Toronto's City Hall, the runways erected in Nathan Phillips Square will be alight with the fresh new/not-so-new Canadian talent, creating a picture of Fall 2009 under the scrutiny of Toronto's proud bourgeoisie. 

Between industry parties and By-Invite-Only runway events, there will be more than a few great collections that will surely be notice-worthy, most-notably the runway groups on Tuesday and Friday. 

Tuesday is featuring a powerful runway lineup with Ula Zukowska, whose ULA:SHE Spring 2009 collection of muted blues, yellows, cremes, golds and greens in distinctly modern shapes with sparing use of feminine bows, cropped lengths and graphic prints, was beautifully executed in stiff linen and iridescent heavy silk. Her designs, while being decidedly angular, maintain a soft aesthetic, keeping the edge of her concepts feminine, playful, and warm. What she promises for Fall 2009 is a show of soft and optimistic edge, keeping her late-century 70's throwbacks in check while using modern design concepts to create a collection that could very well make a rather large contribution to the movement of post-millenium fashion.

Also on Tuesday is Zoran Dobric, who incessantly reminds me why the boatneck is by far the sexiest neckline for any woman. Oh, the outline of thin shoulders with just a flash of collarbone as she moves; really, what is sexier than a neatly veiled collarbone? What could possibly intrigue anyone more than the image of a beautiful woman in a boatneck dress, only giving slight and playful glimpses of the beauty of her chest beneath the thin veil of soft fabric? This is exactly the type of sex and intrigue that Zoran Dobric creates and inspires; a classic picture of the modern woman in both soft grays and bold bright blues and greens, with short lengths and high-necklines a clear homage to the youthful maturity of modern femininity. For Fall 2009, I can only imagine his colours dark and warm, with the women of Manhattan in mind as much as those in Paris, with mid-century shapes finding their way into new interpretations, all championing the futuristic-bohemian aesthetic that is uniquely Dobric.

Friday's runway shows are equally interesting, featuring Carlie Wong, who channelled 40's glam in her Spring 2009 collection, adding modern sensibilities, cascading ruffles and playful high-waited shapes to create an image of a modernity influenced greatly by the past. Her designs are undoubtedly young and sexy, with a  markedly urban flair. Her Fall 2009 is anticipated to be in keeping with her movement towards contemporary class, with classic shapes taking on new forms with modern tailoring.

Also on Friday is the ever-elusive Evan Biddel, who, after winning the Project Runway competition, has thrown out collections that are both urban, and inventive. His love of dynamic and exuberant shapes will definitely dominate the second-last day of LG Fashion week, with the crowd - myself included - expecting something angular and nouvelle.

If I didn't have class I would totally be soaking up every minute of the high-end ambiance, perusing the couture marketplace and shmoozing with the Fashion elite.  But alas, with Friday my only free day for fashion-frolicking, I concede (with a sigh) to the fact that I'll just have to wait to watch all the podcasts so I can bash all the collections I hate.

Peruse the schedule at http://www.lgfashionweek.ca/.