Outlandish Outerwear Collaborations: The K-WAY X Versus Collection Brings Luxury to a Canadian Classic

Luxury label Versace has produced some of the most interesting fashion collaborations over the past year and a half, democratizing the brand ever so slightly and making it more accessible to the everyday customer. But, it's the label's latest collaboration between its youth-focused line, Versus, and Canadian outerwear brand K-WAY that is perhaps Versace's most surprising to date.

Although Versus isn't the first designer label to partner with K-WAY (you can currently purchase a Marc Jacobs version of the K-WAY on the company's website), the two brands both have a street-style aesthetic that makes them a fitting match for each other.

The Versus K-WAY collection consists of a reversible windbreaker, which sports the iconic Opt Art print on one side and is black on the other, and of an iPad cover in a complementing design. Both products are co-branded with the Versus and K-WAY logos and are available for purchase on the Versace website.

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from Complex Magazine

Wild Sport-Luxe Lookbooks: The adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott Fall 2013 Collection Revealed

A revisionist take on '90s street culture is celebrated in the latest collection of adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott; the lookbook for the Fall 2013 lineup features flamboyant sportswear with orchid prints, techno geometrics, and designs of golden cherubs carrying dollar signs. 

References to Scott's past collections from the label are present in this range as well. The adidas Originals by Jeremy Scott Fall 2013 collection is available in stores come the end of the month and is likely to be a hit among fashion rebels everywhere.

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from F****** Young!

Mythology-Inspired Speedsters: Jeremy Scott and Mercedes-Benz Collaborate on the New smart fortwo

Designer Jeremy Scott brings a whole new meaning to the term fast fashion with his latest collaboration with Mercedes-Benz, which brings the designer’s signature wings and street style to the electric-powered smart fortwo. The stylish, concept version of the smart fortwo edition by Jeremy Scott also features polished-chrome details, diamond-stitched seats, and a crisscross-seatbelt design straight out of a sci-fi flick.

In a press release for the avant-garde automobile, which will have a limited run made available for purchase sometime in late 2013, the designer states: “I wanted to design something out of the ordinary, something that expressed my dreams and fantasies and that transferred my fashion ideas to automotive design.”

Though many of the features of the original design have been toned down for retail, the smart forjeremy concept car is on display in Dundas Square in Toronto and showcases the smart as the designer had originally intended it.

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from Daimler AG and THE BRUNETTES' own collection *images from THE BRUNETTES' collection not to be used without providing a source link to this posting

Exotic Rainforest Runways: Dsquared2 Transforms the Milan Fashion Week Stage into a Tropical Paradise

Always delivering with a spectacle of a show, Dsquared2 turned up the heat with its Spring/Summer 2014 lineup at Milan Fashion Week. The Canadian designer duo transformed the runway stage into a tropical scene—complete with surrounding foliage, colorful birds, and a cascading waterfall—and then crashed a planeload of buff, male-model survivors right into the midst of the newly discovered/designed rainforest. 

Keeping in theme, models wore martial hues of green, animal-printed pieces (and ones with prints of animals as well), and garments with tribal-inspired embroidery. If the Dsquared² Spring/Summer 2014 collection is a sign of things to come, then clothing with an Amazon appeal will still have a strong presence come next summer. 

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from Dsquared2

Fashionably Expanding Department Stores: Simons to Bring Quebec-Based Couture to Toronto Streets

If you ask any fashionable Canadian for advice on the best places to shop in Canada, department store Simons, which is located mostly in the province of Quebec, would definitely top their list. The family-operated chain of stores has been known to the style conscious for years as a one-stop shop for finding the best in affordable, fast fashions, in-house labels and designer apparel. 

With recent plans to expand the chain across Canada, Torontonians have eagerly been waiting for news regarding a possible store opening in their city after the first store located outside of Quebec opened its doors at the West Edmonton Mall last year. Now, it seems as if this plan may happen sooner than expected as the company is negotiating for retail space in both Yorkdale and Square One shopping centres. 

However, Simons does have some heavy competition against them coming from out of the south. The ever-popular, American department store, Nordstrom, which is also a favorite of Canadian shoppers, has also entered in the bid for the store space that is currently being leased by Sears. Time will tell who will win this battle, but THE BRUNETTES are showing their Canadian pride and rooting for Simons. 

Authored by John Ibbitson

Image from Toronto Life   

Far From Manila: THE BRUNETTES @ Canada Philippine Fashion Week 2013

From June 10-15, 2013 THE BRUNETTES were officially invited to attend the world’s first-ever Canada Philippine Fashion Week. The top-notch, five-day event was more than just a showing of designer collections and international supermodels, but also a festival of art and culture.

Throughout the week guests were invited to attend fashion exhibits, film screenings, cocktail receptions, and exclusive parties, all of which led up to the main event: a joint showing of designer collections from internationally renowned Filipino designers from both the Philippines and Canada. THE BRUNETTES even had the opportunity to meet and chat with one of their favorite designers, Francis Libiran, who stunned a full theatre of fashion insiders with his 70-piece collection of architectural  eveningwear at Roy Thomson Hall.  

More of Libiran's past work, as well as other designer pieces, could be found on display in the venue's lobby space, allowing THE BRUNETTES to get an up-close-and-personal look at the structural and ornate craftsmanship that go into creating the gowns by the designer who has been featured on 'America's Next Top Model' and had his work worn by Tyra Banks herself. 

Local designers, like 'Project Runway Canada' winner Evan Biddell, were also invited to participate in Canada Philippine Fashion Week by creating a piece inspired by the Philippine Butterfly dress, which is, according to the event's website, "the most haute couture national costume in the world."

Local celebrities, such as Steven Sabados and Chris Hyndman of the CBC's 'Steven and Chris' show, were in attendance and greeted their friends and fans in the lobby at the night's end. 

The week was also chock-full of exciting parties in honor of Canada Philippine Fashion Week; one of our favorites took place at the C Lounge nightclub, where delicious, bite-sized appetizers of Filipino cuisine were complimentary throughout the evening and the music played well into the wee hours of the morning.

After a stellar week of fashion, parties, film, art, and culture, THE BRUNETTES were certainly impressed by how Canada Philippine Fashion Week bridged two continents and brought much-deserved corporate and public attention to this international fashion scene.  

Authored by John Ibbitson

Images from THE BRUNETTES' own collection *Images from THE BRUNETTES' collection not to be used without providing a source link to this posting

Vividly Kaleidoscopic Knitwear - The Ethnicolor Exclusive for F****** Young! Online Embraces Eccentricity

Entitled 'Ethnicolor', this editorial exclusive for F****** Young! Online stars model Christian Grib. The visually vivid image series embraces eccentric styling that includes patterned ensembles and technicolored knitwear staples from indie menswear label Rebel Yuths. 

The photoshoot's 80s-inspired wardrobe is paired with sculptural eyewear accessories and artful face paint applications that add a tribal element to this edgy editorial by photographer Daniel Rodrigues.

Authored by Jana Pijak

Images from F****** Young!