This weekend I was invited to attend Ottawa’s very own Fashion Week, and if you know me, you’ll know that I’m not one to turn down a fashion-related event!
Ottawa Fashion Week was held at the stunning National Gallery of Canada. Now in its fifth year, Ottawa Fashion Week is one of the city’s most highly anticipated events, and thousands of people were in attendance to view the fall 2011 collections from upcoming designers from Canada and around the world.
Over 18 designers showed off their sophisticated and artistic designs on the catwalk in the Great Hall of the National Gallery of Canada. I instantly saw pieces I wanted to add to my wardrobe by Canadian designers Eliz Bourk and Racehel Sin. The pieces in their collection were fun, flirty and definitely wearable.
I was furiously taking notes from the front-row each time I saw something I wanted to buy — from sexy, form-fitting dresses to leather leggings, I loved it all. Designer Kelsey McIntyre brought back a touch of 1950’s glamour with cute poodle skirts and little sweaters.
My favourite dress of the night was a dress I would wear to a red carpet event, a dress with a white feathered strapless bodice and big, flowing skirt in a champagne colour.
Adib Simon (based in Argentina and Mexico) was the most talked about designer at Ottawa Fashion Week, and although he is set to present his collection at New York Fashion Week next fall, he chose Ottawa as his inaugural show because he loves Canada.
Ottawa Fashion Week wasn’t only about the stunning designs, wine, and music, though.
The event ended on a charitable note with the Walk the Truth gala, in support of the NGO Africa’s Children-Africa’s Future (AC-AF). Walk the Truth featured clothes that were donated by the designers and auctioned off after the last runway show, with all proceeds going to AC-AF.
Although there were certainly areas for improvement with the fifth annual Ottawa Fashion Week, it is an event that is only going to get bigger and better with each coming year, and I’ll be happily attending again next year.
Loukia is a Canadian blogger who writes at www.loulousviews.com. She writes about everything having to do with motherhood, entertainment and fashion.
Loukia can also be found on Twitter: www.twitter.com/MrsLoulou.
