In fact I saw a lot of people that weren’t media nor buyers attending the show, most likely invited guests, but they came in huge numbers. Being sandwiched on a narrow walkway was so hectic the managing crew were directing the crowd to go to the cocktail lounge before the next show started.

Soia & Kyo is a brand known for their outerwear for the young and stylish, I mostly recognized their double breasted coats and affinity for big buttons. The room was filled to the brim with about 20 more standing in the back. Overall I liked it, but questioned the quality, I saw some buttons looking a little iffy there.

Figuring it was useless to get a ticket by going up and down the stairs, I was told that people will let me in with the pass that I had so that was neat. I don’t bother sitting down the front unless it was the front row, in fact my friend and I always managed to pick a spot up in the back near an alleyway. Our view was great, so it was the next best thing than being in the third or second row with people’s heads in the way. I noticed this guy who always sat by himself, impeccably dressed, figured out this seating trick too. Smart cookie.

Rudsak, an outerwear and leatherwear company, started off late since there were troubles in getting the crowd under control as they were anxious to get in, but in the end I think everyone enjoyed the show. I overheard a woman saying that she loved fashion but didn’t like it when designers were being too eccentric and was relieved this show had stuff that she could see herself wearing. My friend told me that everything looked good for this show because it was very commercial. I’m starting to understand that commercial stuff = good looking clothes (most of the time anyway). So where does that leave other designers I wonder. Acquired taste?

Armure Urbaine felt less crowded than I thought, I think most media people left by the time 10pm rolled around when the show started and understandably so, a 10pm show is pretty tough to sit through after a long day. It was mostly a summary of the past collections we saw except for M Siamo (which I loved, very feminine and modern) and Mylene B, who both didn’t show this year. I could see eyes were blinking, fighting to stay awake.

When the show finally ended, I sighed out of relief. Fashion Week is finally over. And I have to say that I’m glad that it’s over. I’ve said it before that I give huge respects to the journalists who trek through a month full of these twice a year to 4 different countries, not to mention the Haute Couture, Menswear and Resort collections. Though I stayed for nearly all of the shows, they get to pick a select few to view since there are hundreds of designers showcasing every time, but still, that’s quite a hefty number to go through.

Although media people get a first hand look at new collections, a question was nagging me the whole time. What’s the big deal with these fashion shows? Way back when, fashion “shows” were an intimate affair for the select few. Perhaps it’s more so because they were highly priced and only the rich could afford the clothes. But now that fashion has gone commercial, they needed to reach a broader audience by announcing themselves through the medias. It’s become quite a glamorized affair. I heard another girl the crowds say that Toronto’s fashion week was much more glamorous than here, having never been I wouldn’t know, but she could be right. But is it necessary to make it a glamorized event? And the goodie bag controversy. I actually don’t expect people to give me anything, after all, I’m just a small time writer who likes to write about fashion, but when they do it makes me happy and guilty. Are they thanking you for taking an interest in coming to their show? Or are they subtly bribing you in hopes they get a good review from you? I read the big guns overseas give fashion editors designer bags, blackberry phones, watches, and more – just to make you feel special and important. After all, the fashion industry thrives on flattery, for a person like myself coming from modest backgrounds, you have to wonder what the catch is.

It’s really easy to lose yourself into the gifts, the cocktails, the parties, the cameras, the lights, the shows and the beautiful people, that’s the glamorous part of it. But at the end of the day, as a writer, you always have to question the point of all of these side things that happen around fashion. I’m more curious about how collections will sell, how are the clothes made and where are they made.

Every year CASA Cares, a non-profit student organization of Concordia’s John Molson School of Business, organize a fashion show event where all proceeds are donated to the Montreal Children’s Hospital. Since the fashion show’s inception they have raised over $30,000 for the hospital.

In their latest edition called “Temptations,” a slew of local designers lent student models their designs to strut them on the runway. I took photos of the event and you’ll have to forgive my poor photographic skills, you can’t do much on an automated Canon! As 9:15pm rolled around, the lights finally dimmed and the show started. What’s interesting of these student run shows were the choreographies the models produced. Some were fun and quirky like when they presented a collection for Kensie Girl and the girls bopped their hips along, winked and gasped at the crowd.

The first half of the show I wasn’t too impressed with the designs but once intermission was over, I think everyone in the audience relished the second half. Aqua Di Lara, Dinh Ba, Blush, and Rush Couture had all made a great impression.

For Aqua Di Lara, the signature sexy cutouts of the monokinis made any girl look good, there were also a couple of Qiss Qiss’ mint green bikinis too. I recognized Dinh Ba’s Spring Collection and it was a little strange to see something I’ve already seen 6 months prior, I had a quick thought of how “old” this collection was already, but it’s brand new to the public. Blush lived up to its name especially when the bodies of well sculpted 20 year olds were wearing skin tight boxer shorts.

The best show of the night was the old 1950-60′s feel of Rush Couture, with the men wearing fedoras and tailored pinstripes and the women wore long lustrous, backless gowns. Set perfectly into a Michael Buble atmosphere, it was worth the while to wait for such a fun ending.