Toronto Fashion Week: Jean-Pierre Braganza’s inner sci-fi nerd emerges in his fall 2013 collection

Toronto Fashion Week: Jean-Pierre Braganza’s inner sci-fi nerd emerges in his fall 2013 collection

Toronto Fashion Week Fall/Winter 2013: Jean Pierre BraganzaEach season, The Shows invite a handful of high-profile Canadian designers (many of whom now show in New York, London and Paris) to preview their collections in the days leading to Toronto Fashion Week. We’re posting full galleries from the buzziest runways. Here’s what trendsetters will be wearing in fall 2013. 

DESIGNER
Jean-Pierre Braganza 

IN A SENTENCE
Braganza, a London Fashion Week regular known for his asymmetric, dystopian-tinged collections, returned to Toronto for another appearance at The Shows.

THE SCENE
Before taking their seats, a couple of guests joked about ludicrous ways to get a beach-ready body. “Just eat cotton balls,” suggested Frank Griggs, designer Jeremy Laing’s communications director and husband. Evan Biddells mock advice was even more extreme: “Just don’t eat anything.” Many attendees made a run for the door after the show, but those who stayed for a post-show Q&A heard Braganaza joke about unzipping model’s dresses and admit he’s a “a glutton for punishment” for designing his own textiles.

THE COLLECTION
The show had a futuristic Japanese feel thanks to obis, high samurai buns and Game of Thrones-esque dragon prints (which Braganza designed himself) on long dresses, jumpsuits and drop-crotch pants. Scored leather also featured heavily, in a circle and triangle print that evoked both the occult and geometry textbooks. Braganza’s love of skewed proportions came through in puffed sleeves on dresses, and in tops whose oversized shoulders accentuated nipped waists

BEST PIECES
The cropped tuxedo jackets with longer draped panels in front, are modern and sexy but not too outré for Toronto, while the long dress and blouse in ombre washed silk would be great right off the rack.