"Messy" Impression

It was a shame to see so many empty seats at the Denis Gagnon show on day two of LG Fashion Week.

It may have been because of the inconvenient time slot (1 p.m. on a weekday aint exactly prime viewing time for bloggers with day jobs) or the fact that Gagnon showed just recently at Montreal Fashion week. However, day job or not, I wasn’t about to miss it.

And I was in good company. Loyal supporters like FLARE’s editor-in-chief Lisa Tant and Fashion Television’s Jeanne Beker managed to make it out and tweet about it, too.

I am always impressed by Gagnon’s use of leather, but what I really go for is the overall mood of the show. It is always a real presentation. A real experience.

I still remember my first time watching a Denis Gagnon collection come down the runway. Who could forget those ridiculously high heels that models literally fell out of (or over in) as soon as they got backstage? And the hair styling, the jewelry – everything over the top and bizarre in a way unique to LG Fashion Week. I’ve been looking forward to his shows ever since. Now, with Andy The-Anh gone (but not forgotten, and a potential comeback on the horizon) there is a need to support the other great, great talent coming out of Montreal.

Denis Gagnon’s Fall 2011-12 presentation was not unlike his presentations from the past. The mood was captivating; the models were alien-like and the music appropriately eerie. I was definitely drawn in.

That said, I found the collection to be a little bit messy. Not unfocused, necessarily - just messy. It was a little all over the place.

There were pieces that featured his signature leather looks and geometric folds, along with some waxed linen, fur, lots of pleats, crinoline, chiffon and webbed knits - all mostly in black.  But then there were bright, bright greens, pinks and corals thrown into the mix. It was like a gothic candy raver’s dream.

Until the brights came out I was sort of into the weirdness of the collection, as always. The geometric, textured looks were fascinating though they did seem strangely un-wearable to me (other than the high-waisted black trouser pant, a safer piece). It all looked like something Sigourney Weaver as Ripley would have worn in Aliens. Big, puffy leather coats with an exaggerated tulip bottom. Sort of like a ladybug. The baggy cocoon coats looked like alien eggs altogether.

The brights threw me off. Hot pink for Denis Gagnon? I don’t like hot pink at the best of times (are there any?) but designers seem to be using it a lot lately. Pink Tartan recently pulled it off with a feathered mini dress. But, I have to say, I did not expect it from Gagnon. Sometimes the unexpected can be a good thing. Definitely in fashion. But I just wasn’t loving it. Maybe because I don’t normally associate those colours with fall, or maybe because pink, fluffy webbed-knit dresses aren’t my favourite. I don’t know. I did like the colourful Dandi Maestre reptile cuffs, though. That was a pop of colour I could handle.

Despite the oddity of it all, I did like Denis Gagnon’s Fall 2011-12 presentation. I just don’t think I will be buying any of it. After all, there is a fine line between ‘wow’ and wearable. Will you be sporting any of his Fall looks?

Images c/o Jeffrey Chan

Hayley Brehl
		About the author:
		Hayley Brehl obtained her BA in English and Creative Writing at Concordia University in Montreal. Living there she met designer, Andy The-Anh and assisted him on her days off from poetry class.  That’s when everything changed. She moved back to Toronto and began pursuing a career in fashion. Her favorite things are wedge heels, Indian take-out and her Persian kitten, Moe.
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