It was announced today that Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine will be designing the new staff uniform for the Thompson’s Lobby Bar. The design very much embraces the Greta look, with signature draping and form-flattering silhouettes, perfect for serving drinks to a wide array of young professionals, leather-clad club kids (who don’t have passcards and passwords for the rooftop bar) and other hotel patrons. The hotel chain’s Toronto outpost has already partnered with Bustle to design uniforms for its diner, and the ladies serving drinks upstairs on the rooftop wear custom dresses designed by Jeremy Laing. It seems that the Thompson will go to great lengths to ensure that none of its staff are caught wearing a mangled Chanel suit (and, of course, that they wear Canadian).

By Fraser Abe | Photography by George Pimentel

November 2, TIFF Lightbox. It’s not often that royalty comes to town (not that we’re bitter, Will and Kate). So when Prince Albert Grimaldi, ruler of Monaco, arrived with his new wife, the South African former Olympic swimmer Charlene Wittstock, Toronto’s peerage class got all dolled up. The couple was here for the launch of Grace Kelly: From Movie Star to Princess, a TIFF exhibit celebrating Prince Albert’s late mom. They toured the exhibit, then repaired to the VIP room, where the prince downed brewskis and the press-shy Wittstock, understated in Dior, chatted quietly with the much less understated Suzannes (Boyd and Rogers). Though the royals departed around 8:30, the rest of the party hit the dance floor to the grooves of a live Motown band, energized as they were by their brush with nobility—the champagne-soaked jelly desserts didn’t hurt, either.

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A model gets her closeup backstage at Greta Constantine (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

While the clothes always take center stage (or runway, as it were) at fashion shows, the beauty component is an equally important aspect, helping tie the looks together into the designer’s cohesive vision. We went backstage at Greta Constantine—not only to scope out the half-naked male models—to give you the skinny on how the makeup artists and hair team get the models (normally a haggard bunch) looking catwalk ready. Hair was styled by Hair on the Avenue under the supervision of Colin Ford, director of education at L’Oreal Professionnel. Ford says “the clothes are both structured and unstructured and kind of androgynous,” so he wanted a similar look to the hair. It reminded us of a woman who vacations in St Barts: very sleek on top with a tousled look at the ends. The team achieved this by using L’Oreal’s Mythic Oil, a nutritive oil, on the ends and Lumicontrole, a cream wax, at the roots for shine. Though it took the stylists fifteen minutes to achieve the look, they told us anyone could do it at home in only five (but, of course they’d say that).

For makeup, the Greta guys used Elle style director Kate Lanphear as inspiration—Lanphear has a famously pared down style, wearing little to no makeup, so MAC senior artist Melissa Gibson (call her Mel Gibson at your peril) used only foundation, some eye cream, and lip gloss for effect. Gibson told us they “need to make the skin look really expensive looking” (we guess Botox was out of the question), so she used a beigy pink tone to look like crushed pearls on the face (ladies, take note: if you want expensive looking skin, think “crushed pearls”). The bottom of the eye was lined in a cream colour base, then brushed down with a dry brush to fan out the colour—she said, “it’s a real person product because you can just smush it on” (surely the technical term). For the lips, it was a three step process, disguising the lip line with foundation, then adding a touch of lip balm, then using more of the cream colour base on top. The pearlescent “velvet, satiny” skin was a trend seen on the Paris runways Gibson worked on, like Chloe and Roland Mouret. And, as is often the case at Toronto fashion shows, the dudes were simply groomed to make them look like they hadn’t been out drinking the night before (they also drank after the show, naturally).

What we learned backstage is that beauty is more complicated than just a plain old makeup gun, and maybe now we can finally look halfway presentable when we leave the house.

Check out how it all came together on the runway in our Greta Constantine spring/summer 2012 gallery »

Draped, as per usual (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Rogue Fashion Week is upon us, and Greta Constantine kicked it off last night with a show and after-party at King West’s Century Room. Designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong are known for their extravagant shows (held at car dealerships, Rosedale mansions and TIFF hot spots with celeb models), so it was no shock to see the bevy of gussied-up Torontonians at the typically bottle-service-heavy club (oft complete with heavy beats, and rowdy men and women) for Greta Constantine’s spring/summer 2012 show. This city always seems to show its love for the Greta boys, and last night was no exception, with the many guests including socialites Suzanne Rogers, Sylvia Mantella, Amoryn Engel, Jenna Naumovich, Alexandra Weston, Suzanne Cohon and Catherine Nugent, gossip columnist Shinan Govani, performer K-os, ET Canada’s Rosey Edeh and MuchMusic personality Sarah Taylor. We also spotted Global News anchorwoman Anne Mroczkowski smoking outside with FDCC chair Robin Kay (who carried out an entire conversation with someone across the runway during the show using only hand gestures) and club king Toufik Sarwa, but the most interesting gossip was about Vanessa Mulroney, who requested 10 front row seats for her gal pals, a collection of Maple Leaf hockey wives—no word of a lie. Sitting front row alongside socialite Mulroney were Emilie Witt, Brittany Perlman, Jessica Peczek, Katarina Brown, Ania Rembacz, Dale Chaplin, Jeanne De Partout, Mel Armstrong and Jessica MacArthur. Check out our full collection gallery after the jump.

Long waits are de rigueur at Greta events, but the Stoli shots handed out on the runway helped mitigate the fury of the hour-long wait (can all designers make alcohol part of their collections?). The clothes weren’t exactly surprising (one nearby guest was overheard saying, “Oh, Grecian dresses, how fresh!”), but the jersey boys are very good at what they do; while they are well-known for their ability to drape, ruche and pleat, we argue that showing fewer than 51 looks—the final count from last night—might have made the show seem a little less repetitive. But it wasn’t all typical, or “ethereal,” a buzzword we’re certain will find its way into many reviews—this season’s showing included some slight variations, like shorter hemlines (two dresses barely covered the leggy models’ derrieres) and a closer fit in the waist.

The Ezra men’s collection was again very indicative of something you’d find on an artsy bisexual man trolling the streets of New York City’s Lower East Side (drop crotch sweats, oversized hoodies and capes, with a brooding black and grey colour scheme)—but we’re still wondering who’s buying a shredded tank top in Toronto (we polled the audience, and collectively we knew three men in the city who’d wear it). Another round of womenswear was more avant-garde, with asymmetrical buckles and dangling pieces on pants, trailing fabric from capes and sombre colours like black, grey and olive green. The four final looks, which designer Pickersgill believed would “not be well-received,” were, in fact, some of the most accessible of the night—long, flowing grey jersey gowns that you could throw into your weekender bag for those quick trips to a money manager’s Muskoka mixer (the exception being the second of four looks, which sagged as though it was too heavy for the long, lean model). It certainly wasn’t the most groundbreaking collection, but Pickersgill and Wong continue to prove they’ve got the chops, and they got us into Century Room, which on its own deserve a round of applause.

Check out the spring/summer 2012 collections from Greta and Ezra Constantine »

Check back here for all the updates from Rogue Fashion Week and next week’s Toronto Fashion Week.

It was a very relaxed party. There was a lot of vodka. (Image: Erin Simkin)

We wish every fashion party took place at an Annex mansion. Greta Constantine went back to the opulent estate of Michael Cooper and Krystal Koo for the sneak peek of the second instalment of their basics line, Primer. Longtime Greta fans Amanda Blakley and Ashleigh Dempster accessorized with enormous baby bumps that had even the iciest socialites cooing (overheard: “I’d love to look half as good as she does nine months pregnant”). Daniel Johnson of the band Stereos held court by the pool (which, thankfully sadly, no one tumbled into, although there were a few close calls due to some of the deathly high heels being sported), while Jay Levine of Fashion Television and PR maven Natasha Koifman chatted like old high school chums by the vodka bar. The CBC’s Kirstine Stewart and Maple Leaf GM honey Jennifer Burke also made cameos, along with INK honcho Charles Khabouth. Suzanne Timmins—looking fierce in animal print—made a fashionably late entrance with white tux–jacketed Ports ad campaign creative director Tu Ly in tow before navigating her way delicately across the pool to get a personal tour of the collection from co-designer Kirk Pickersgill (the unofficial star of the night was his tiny godson, who was dancing like a maniac and fending off media requests). Check out the scene and read more about the collection after the jump. 

Unlike the more simple neutral basics of the debut series, Primer 02 (yes, the collections are numbered—they’re “seasonless,” according to the designers) is filled with the type of flowing, ’70s-esque numbers that can be thrown on to trot from disco to disco (or lounge poolside while sweating off last night’s excesses). There were dark teal cotton maxi dresses, a grey draped cotton shift, a strapless royal blue number rocked by Koo herself and a electric turquoise silk jumpsuit. The pieces also have the decidedly un-baller price tag of $95 to $275 (or a little more for the Lauren Hutton–approved jumpsuit), and we hear that some big names are interested in carrying the collection (but the boys aren’t revealing who just yet). One and only question, however, remains: whose mansion are we off to next week? Suzanne Rogers’? We can’t wait for the invitation.

(Image: Liam Mogan)

Spray paint removal Beard maintenance Canine workout Bedbug exterminator Personal shopper Tattoo removal Artful mani Cleaver care Bicycle repair tips Sole saviour De-clutter

(Image: Liam Mogan)

Beard Maintenance
Garrison’s by the Park
907 Queen St. W., 416-703-8602
Garrison’s is the newest in a wave of retro-cool cut-and-shave barbershops in the city, and its simplicity is laudable (there are cuts, and there are shaves). If you ask nicely, there are also options for bearded men in need of a little pampering: heavily tattooed barbers Alan Brown and Sydney Woods trim and sculpt, pricing on a beard-by-beard basis. And while this Trinity Bellwoods spot earns a recommendation for the complimentary beer, good music and steady off-colour jokes alone, it’s also worth mentioning the hot towel shave, which might just be the most fun you’ll have being touched north of the neck. From $15.

(Image: Liam Mogan)

Tattoo Removal
Fading Fast
120 Eglinton Ave. E., 10th floor, 416-322-2922
You’re 34, you work in finance, and you wish like hell your early-’90s Grateful Dead–worshipping self had thought twice about getting a dancing bear permanently inked on your upper arm. The good news: Fading Fast can turn back the clock. The Toronto shop’s laser removal procedure works by directing pulses of intense light at that barbed wire or ex-girlfriend’s name, causing the pigment to fragment into smaller particles that are then naturally erased by the body’s immune system. It isn’t quick (most removals require several sessions) or cheap (even the smallest epidermal artwork costs close to $1,000 to erase), but it works.

(Image: Liam Mogan)

Artful mani
Tips Nail Bar
844A Danforth Ave., 416-405-8477
Leeanne Colley’s hands are so steady, she could have been a surgeon. Instead, she’s a nail artist, and her meticulous work on customers’ tiny canvases has earned her a lot of groupies. Her five-year-old salon, Tips Nail Bar, has become a hotbed for manis à la mode, and customers gladly schlep across town for the latest novelty designs. Colley offers nearly 200 shades of polish in brands including Chanel, Deborah Lippmann and YSL. More important than her au courant colours is what she does with them: beyond trendy moon manis, she incorporates matte lacquers into the mix and plays around with funky variations on a classic French, which she has taken to the extreme on the pages of fashion editorials across Canada. Anyone squinting hard enough at the Greta Constantine, Pink Tartan and Lucian Matis fall 2011 runway shows would have seen her designs. And FYI, she’s a stickler for hygiene; leather loungers and stainless basins are her answer to questionable jet bath pedicure chairs. From $18.

BEST HOME GOODS BEST FASHION BEST FUN BEST DINING BEST TASTY TREATS BEST FOOD BEST DRINKS BEST HELP CITY MAP

The bar at La Société (Image: Gizelle Lau)

La Société, Charles Khabouth and Danny Soberano’s new upscale bistro, opened last week to just the chic red-carpet reception one would expect, with guests like “jersey boys” Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta Constantine, media mogul Moses Znaimer, Canadian musician music manager and producer Jake Gold and Food Network Canada host Kevin Brauch (no RPattz sighting, though). We first scoped out the dining room’s impressive stained-glass ceiling shortly after it was installed, and returned last week to see how everything turned out.

The overarching theme of the Munge Leung–designed restaurant is resoundingly 1920s Parisian bistro, inspired by the likes of La Fontaine de Mars in Paris and New York City’s Balthazar (a resemblance that has not gone unnoticed on Twitter). The dining room’s main feature is, of course, the 20-by-30-foot, handcrafted stained-glass ceiling by Solarium Design Group. Located as it is on the second floor of the Colonnade (right above Sephora), La Société has large windows offering plenty of natural light, with traditional hand-painted bistro signage to alert shoppers below that there’s a new joint upstairs.

To the left side, La Société’s bar area has ample stool seating, as well as intimate alcoves with rich red banquettes. Here, the dark walls have been finished with a specially curated collection of bistro-appropriate prints, photographs and vintage frames by Hamid Samad at Commute Home (Briscola, Nyood, Colborne Lane). The antique bronze candelabra statuettes, meanwhile, were inspired by one Khabouth found in Paris.

In time for high patio season, La Société has two outdoor spaces: one at street level, with its own bar and optimal sightlines for people-watching on the newly renovated Mink Mile; and another on the second-floor terrace overlooking the street, sporting simple checkered bistro-style rattan chairs and small black café tables.

All told, the restaurant contains more than 300 seats for those looking to stop over for a schmooze, quick drink or sit-down meal. The bistro menu is chock-full of bistro classics, like French onion soup with gruyère and emmenthal ($10), steak tartare ($16), duck confit ($28) and macarons and profiteroles for dessert ($8). Despite its many meat offerings, the focus, says executive chef James Olberg, is on the seafood. The menu highlights items like its oysters platter ($19 for a half-dozen), its small ($65) and large ($145) mixed platters served on tiers, and Dover sole ($44), all sourced from Allseas Fisheries, Soberano’s fish-supply company.

Less than a week after its opening, the restaurant had already seen visits from the likes of Ben Mulroney (who raved about it on Twitter) and Deepak Chopra (he ordered the frisée salad and a lemonade). We figure they’re off to a pretty good start.

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La Société, 131 Bloor St. W., 416-551-9929, lasociete.ca.

Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong have turned to leather in a collaboration with Danier (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Last night, Toronto’s glossiest glamourpusses—well, at least the ones willing to trek to Queen Street West and Brock Avenue on a rainy Monday—hit Neubacher Shor Contemporary for the premiere of Skin, the much-hyped collaboration between Danier Leather and Greta Constantine tag team Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill. The event brought out Sebastian Pigott (we had to catch ourselves from referring to him as Kai Booker, his character from Being Erica), Shinan Govani, Ivana Santilli, Glen Peloso, Katie Boland, Andrew Sardone, Natalie Lecomte and Sandra Pittana, and on display—on a model and at an on-site pop-up shop—were the six outfits from the capsule collection. See our coverage of the showcase and a gallery of the pieces and the scene after the jump.

The looks had classic draping and loose silhouettes typical of Greta Constantine, but the designers translated that aesthetic from jersey to leather and suede (those staunch jersey supporters will be happy to know that the pieces are lined with the fabric). Our favourite pieces included the shift dresses ($499) in slate grey and black (though the daring could opt for a fire-engine red version) and the long coats-cum-shawls ($999 for buttery soft leather and $549 for suede). The kimono-like leather trench ($869) gave us a possible wardrobe idea for The Matrix should it ever be made into a musical (hey, Broadway seems to be making money covering every other movie): it read as more of a costume than a practical or man-repellent style statement. But overall, the boys have done well in giving the Greta girl another fabric to wear on her nights out on the town—selfishly, though, we hope these hot leather and suede pieces won’t be wearable until at least the chill of fall.

This kind of teamwork points to an exciting time for Canadian fashion, since, until recently, the buzziest collaborations in this country have come from designers based in Sweden. H&M got loads of hype for its high-street pairings with Lanvin, Viktor and Rolf and Sonia Rykiel, and even IKEA teamed with computer game The Sims to sell furniture. (Danier once partnered with Mark Fast and stylist George Antonopoulos, but we find this upswing in new developments more compelling.)

So, watch out, Sweden. You might be beating Canada on the meatball front, but your days of prominence in cheap designer wares may be coming to a close.

Denis Gagnon F/W 2011 at Fashion week, Nelson Takkiruq sculpture and Dr. Jane Goodall

1. INUIT MODERN
This brand new exhibit draws from a huge collection of Inuit art acquired by real estate developer Samuel Sarick and his wife, Esther, featuring 175 contemporary works by artists like David Ruben Piqtoukun, Kenojuak Ashevak, Karoo Ashevak and Lucy Tasseor. Budget-friendly bonus: if you’re under 25, this is the last weekend to take advantage of the AGO’s Maharaja exhibition offer, which gets you into the entire gallery for free. April 2 to August 21. $19.50. Art Gallery of Ontario, 317 Dundas St. W., 416-979-6648, ago.net.

2. LG FASHION WEEK
It’s enough to exhaust even the most dedicated fashionista: the past couple days have been a flurry of fashion shows, after parties and boldface name–laden events, and the week before that was much the same (Rogue Fashion Week included off-site shows by Mark Fast, Greta Constantine and Ezra Constantine and the much-anticipated return of Arthur Mendonça). It all winds down this weekend, but before the city’s couture kids head home for some much-needed rest, they’ll be hitting the last of the shows (including Diepo and Line Knitwear) and hoping to score some advice from Jeanne Beker, who’s signing copies of Strutting It!, her behind-the-scenes guide to making it in the biz, on Friday. To April 2. $40–50 per show, day pass $200. Heritage Court, Exhibition Place, 105 Princes’ Blvd., lgfashionweek.ca.

3. AN EVENING WITH DR. JANE GOODALL
A primatologist, environmentalist and UN Messenger of Peace, Jane Goodall is no slouch when it comes to getting things done. Arguably the most famous scientist in the world (and the only one with an elementary school following), the acclaimed Dr. Goodall shares stories about her fieldwork and conservation efforts at the ROM this weekend. April 2. $65. Royal Ontario Museum, 100 Queen’s Park, 416-586-5797, rom.on.ca.

4. ROD STEWART AND STEVIE NICKS: THE HEART AND SOUL TOUR
Chart-topping rockers of yore Rod Stewart and Stevie Nicks team up on this North American tour, which stops by Toronto this weekend. We’re not entirely sure what to expect—both musicians have decades-long careers and have done their fair share of experimenting with style and genre. Some previous shows have included a couple duets, and we can guarantee that there will be lots of crazy hair happening. April 2. $69.50–149.50. Air Canada Centre, 50 Bay St., 416-870-8000, ticketmaster.ca.

5. THE WAR OF THE WORLDS
We like to think we’d have seen right through Orson Welles’s notorious radio broadcast of H.G. Wells’s classic tale of alien invasion. But for our more credulous fellow Torontonians, know that this weekend’s presentation of the story is just a re-enactment. Don McKellar, Nicholas Campbell and Marc Bendavid provide the dramatic reading, with the Art of Time Ensemble performing the score. Don’t worry, friends; an alien invasion probably won’t happen this weekend, so just enjoy the show. March 31 to April 3. $25–$59. Harbourfront Centre, 235 Queens Quay W., 416-973-4000, harbourfrontcentre.com.

6. ONE OF A KIND SPRING SHOW AND SALE
With sub-zero mornings and snow still taking up valuable sidewalk space, it’s easy to forget that it’s actually spring. But since it’s OOAK time again, it must be true. Cute gardening accessories and outdoor decor, not to mention clothes, jewellery and art by local artisans and designers, are on offer at the show, which wraps up this Sunday. To April 3. $12. Direct Energy Centre, Exhibition Place, 100 Princes’ Blvd., oneofakindshow.com.

7. IMAGES FESTIVAL
This 24-year-old fest features the best of local, national and international, well, images that move. A paean to “experimental and independent moving image culture,” the lineup is a who’s who of standouts in the contemporary media art scene. Check out the North American premiere of Luo Li’s Rivers and My Father, a beautiful film about family, memory and the Yangtze River. Also, Fucked Up accompany a 1928 silent film and the Art Gallery of York University and the Music Gallery offer up installation art. March 31 to April 9. Up to $15. Various locations, 416-971-8405, imagesfestival.com.

8. CINÉFRANCO FESTIVAL
Francophiles, wannabe Parisians (or Montrealers!) and film buffs collide at this annual film fest, which presents the best of francophone cinema from around the world. We love the healthy selection of comedies this year, especially Isabelle Mergault’s latest offering, Donnant, Donnant (Fair is Fair), which features a mother/daughter/ex-con love triangle. $12, 10-film pass $99. TIFF Bell Lightbox, 350 King St. W., and NFB Toronto Mediatheque, 150 John St., 416-599-8433, cinefranco.com.

(Images: Gagnon by Jenna-Marie Wakani; Takkiruq, Art Gallery of Ontario; Goodall, Nick Step)

Too much, or not enough frosting? (Image: Stefania Yarhi)

Friday night’s Greta and Ezra Constantine shows filled up rather quickly with Barbie pink lips, lace dresses and an array of semi-famous (to fairly famous) fashion and media folk. Check out the scene below to see who made the biggest statements and who just looked so amazing she could be wearing a sack and we’d still think, “Hot damn!” (Spoiler: it’s Natalie Brown.)

Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill greet their adoring fans (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

The boys from Greta and Ezra Constantine closed Rogue Fashion Week with a star-studded (well, by non-TIFF standards) show at the Bayview Extension Audi dealership. Suzanne Boyd, Jeanne Beker, Tommy Smythe, Barry Flatman and Jully Black (sporting a costume change from the day’s earlier Arthur Mendonça show) filled an expansive showroom so packed with fans, that, even with hundreds of seats, there was a back row labelled SRO (standing room only).

See the photos from the Greta and Ezra Constantine show »

The show was presented in three vignettes. The first looks included voluminous coats, skirts and capes—a welcome departure from the typical Greta jersey dresses. We were excited to see some experimentation and that the Toronto designers are catching up with last fall’s global velvet trend (one editor was overheard saying, “It always takes Toronto a couple seasons to get it”). The Ezra Constantine men’s looks followed, made from cotton jersey and draped similarly to their women’s wear standards, but the dudes who can pull off the Ezra style are skinny, stylists and probably live in the Lower East Side of N.Y.C. The show closed with Greta’s signature jersey Grecian column gowns, but since there’s only so many times we can write the words “draped,” “Grecian” and “jersey,” we’ll let the gallery do the talking.

2011’s Cruella (Image: Jenna Marie Wakani)

Designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong of Greta and Ezra Constantine opened up the Bayview Audi dealership on Friday night to show a fall/winter collection they called a “global dialogue.” The objective, however, seemed to be to show that the designers could do more than create Grecian-draped jersey column gowns. Did they succeed? You decide. See the full collection below and have a look at our complete scene coverage.

First things first (because it’s much more fun to dream about the dress than to set the date). To help you in the quest for The One, we scoured the runways and found 50 gorgeous gowns By Alon Freeman

See the gowns »

(Image: Jenna Marie Wakani; Far right, next page: Peter Stiger)

Left: Karolina Kurkova and Nolan Bryant in Berlin; right: Kirk Pickersgill (Images: Nolan Bryant and Felix Wong)

The professional fashion scene in Toronto is made up of many members: designers, editors, PR flaks and, much to everyone else’s chagrin, bloggers. Once the awkward stepchildren of the scene, they’ve now risen to front-row fixtures. In the run-up to the runway action this month at LG Fashion Week, we wanted to check in with some of the city’s best designers—from the up-and-comers to the respected old captains—as well as Toronto’s fashion bloggers to ask some burning questions: are there rivalries? Secret alliances? Are they working together or falling apart? Read on for inspiring pro-fashion spirit and grudge matches galore.

TODAY’S MATCHUP: Blogger-cum-photographer and social butterfly Nolan Bryant squares off with Kirk Pickersgill of design house Greta Constantine

When did you first start to notice the fashion blogosphere had gained real traction in the fashion world?

NB: When I saw the picture of Bryanboy sitting next to Vogue’s Anna Wintour, I remember saying to myself, “This is huge.” That image has proven to be one of the most talked about moments in fashion blogging history.

KP: It’s certainly been quite a while. We had invited on-line media to our shows since our first presentation in 2006. But sometime in 2008, we began noticing more and more Google alerts coming from independent on-line media, outside of the on-line counterparts of print publications. At that point, we realized that these were tastemakers and influencers in the making.

What is your opinion on the state of fashion blogging today? Is the market over-saturated? How can you tell the serious contenders from the dozens of fashion bloggers out there?

NB: I think it’s important for bloggers to stay true to their aesthetic and not become controlled by PR companies and brands—it’s all too easy to become sidetracked by trips, free clothes and front-row seats. Once you start posting what people tell you to, then you’re well on your way to becoming on-line fashion roadkill. Once you sell out, you lose all fashion street cred.

What is your opinion on fashion bloggers? Do they help you? Hurt you?

KP: Both. Everyone has an opinion, and it’s a fantastic sign of growth in our industry when bloggers have a voice as powerful as those in the traditional forms. However, unlike in print, the anonymity and frequency with which blogs are posted can allow the editor to hide behind a blog post. And of course, sometimes posts would be better off if the blogger had a fact-checker or copy editor on staff!

Do you think a blogger’s ability to be so candid and honest hurts or helps designers?

NB: Like anything in this industry, all press is good press. There will always be negativity towards ideas, brands or products, but it’s a fact of life—you can’t please everyone.

Would you be leery about inviting a blogger back who may have slagged your show?

KP: Hesitant, but so long as he or she has fact-checked, they’ll be invited back! The best blogs ensure that their opinion doesn’t overwhelm their reporting. But we understand the challenge, given that blogs originate from personal diaries and LiveJournals.

Do you feel more freedom to be honest about shows and designers’ work (for instance, if you thought it was hideous) in the on-line medium? Can this backfire on bloggers, or does it enrich the discourse?

NB: I have never in my personal blogging history spoken negatively in regards to a collection, designer or industry member. If I don’t like something or someone I don’t post. In my opinion, silence can be more powerful than blatant negativity. Bloggers who openly speak their minds will notice their inboxes lacking invites.

Has the rise of the fashion blogger affected your sales?

KP: Hard to say, really. We would hope it has (and for the better).

Do you think fashion bloggers can affect sales?

NB: I think if a blogger likes a particular item or brand, and they have a strong enough following, it could definitely result in some sales. If you talked to the head honchos at Celine, they would probably tell you Tommy Ton’s images have resulted in a few sales. After all, bloggers are real people (not models), and if a blogger can wear it, so can I.

What justifies a blogger getting front row? Why is it important that they get these prime seats?

KP: A blogger who speaks to a desirable audience and whom we feel is thoughtful, original and creative (no different than with print and broadcast).

NB: The front row is the fashion equivalent of the corner office. When others see you in that seat they know you have made a contribution great enough to get you there. I can think of a few front-row regulars that should be in the standing section, but I will keep those opinions to myself.