Sunday September 7, 2008: Dean and Dan Caten, the identical twin dynamos behind Canada's most successful designer label, DSquared² threw a rocking fashion show and party in the 299 Queen Street parking lot.

Despite being Canadian, DSquared made their fame in Italy and their collections showcase at Milan fashion week rather than Toronto. I'm always a little disappointed when people have to leave the country to get the success or recognition they deserve, whether it's actors, musicians, designers, you name it. It seems most have to leave to succeed. Sometimes we Canadians are just too conservative, eh? That's not to say Dean and Dan wouldn't have been huge here had they stayed. At 19 years old, the twin brothers marched into Fashion Television with a model in a cape and told the fashion honchos they were going to throw a fashion show at an undisclosed location that would blow their minds. They did and it did.

Now they are the biggest design label to ever come out of Canada and one of the top brands in the world. I used to intern at Fashion File and got to watch tapes from all of the shows. DSquared² was always the best. Their shows are always over the top, original and sexy. You can tell they really enjoy what they do.



L-R: Marayna (our style hunter), Jackie (founder/CEO My Dream Closet), Ali

The show on Sunday did not disappoint. The womens collection was stunning. Think 1940s Audrey Hepburn, old Hollywood. Cinched waists were back but with skinny black patent belts or statement belts rather than past seasons of big black belts. Towering thick heeled pumps with sexy stockings, fur trimmed coats, and perfectly tailored pencil skirts made for a very lady like and glamorous collection. The makeup, done by M.A.C focused on red lips, flawless skin and sophisticated black liner with big bold lashes.




Kreesha Turner performed a few of her hits to the star studded crowd including Don't Call Me Baby. She stomped down the runway in a pair of 4 inch red patent pumps as she sang. She has a very impressive powerful voice.  It was mesmerizing.
 


Bumping elbows with DSquared at the M.A.C Gold Fever after party was pretty surreal. They are wee and so sweet. They posed for pictures with anyone who asked. I didn't. I'd like to pretend it was because I like to give famous people their space but the truth is I didn't have the balls. Every time someone posed for a picture, a million flashbulbs would go off as others took pictures of you with them, assuming you must be someone famous too. I am not famous and I had a shiny forhead and unfortunate hair.  Despite the free-flowing champagne, my sensibilities told me to keep my those things to myself.




A highlight of the after party was the surprise performance of Motown singer, Thelma Houston who performed with Dean and Dan as her back up (dancing, not singing!) and the gold clad dancers on the M.A.C stage shimmying and sweating all night.  I would be remiss not point out the reverse objectification that took place.  It's about time? 


Perfectly sculpted hunky male bartenders and servers clad in nothing but self tanner and gold short shorts circulated the room with hors d'oeuvres and drinks. Their bulky bodies made it difficult to maneuver through the crowd but it was visual spectacle that was quite refreshing or funny, depending on how you look at it.



This event was part of sponsor LG's recently announced plans to partner with the Canadian fashion industry and help elevate it to new levels. By tying in with fashion and design, LG is acknowledging that women are responsible for most household purchases including electronics. Think about it. When hubby decides he wants to buy a 50 inch flat screen, he clears it with you first, yes? Come to think of it, that goes for most major purchases, doesn't it?

LG is also sponsoring L'Oreal Fashion week where they will launch their newest cell phone in addition to Fashion Cares, which is happening on November 1st.  Yesterday they launched www.LG.ca/fashion,  a slick new website with aspects of social networking where you can enter the "Ego system" and put your name forward for exclusive prizes and access to hot ticket fashion and entertainment events.  Visitors can upload photos showing off "My Style" in the hopes of gaining access to LG's closing event party at the end of L'Oreal Fashion Week in October.