I’ve been going to Fashion Art Toronto since it first started, in fact I modeled the first season of FAT when I was 15 and it was called Alternative Fashion Week. I don’t remember the designer but I modeled a black and lime green PVC dress with matching green eye shadow. I looked ridiculous but felt awesome, that’s what my foggy teenage memory retained.
So now, 11 years later I take to the FAT runway as a blogger and critique the collections of designers. Well I hardly critique, I just let the lines speak for themselves.
Fashion Art Toronto has always pushed boundaries, been weird and challenged the perception of a designer collection to include nudity, lingerie and performance art as major backbones. M-Line was inspired by Victoria Secret to create sexy little underthings for men, as shown below from the Seductive Temptation collection by designer Matthew Ngan.
Photos by, Ruby Wray – M-Line Seductive Temptation SS16 Collection
This season was no different, the theme, “Dress Codes” challenged gender norms and clothing that communicates gender identity. A crossfire of guys in dresses, oh and don’t forget the sky high heels they were wearing. I’m impressed because I couldn’t walk in those things.
Evan Biddell’s David Bowie themed collection, REBEL
Most notably, badass designer Evan Biddell unveiled his REBEL collection with a David Bowie theme and dedicated his runway show to Iman. Two female models, one dressed as Bowie and a model who resembles Iman, walked out on the runway together for the finale. A beautiful and artistic representation of the prolific artist and the timeless music that David Bowie created. I want to get my hands on this collection like, yesterday.
M-Line Seductive Temptation SS16 Collection
Let me just say this, and not in an offensive way, but, it’s like watching a drag show. Very entertaining no less and a few times the male models walked out, I thought they were women, until they turned around.
If you are a member of the LGBTQ community this is where you will find your people and a whole bunch of really accepting straight folk. I can honestly say, from my annual visits to FAT, that it has become overwhelmingly gay. Not in a bad way, but in a let’s normalize male models wearing dresses way. Which is great! Everyone should be accepting and love who they are, so kudos to you Vanja Vasic for creating a healthy and accepting fashion week less superficial than the rest.
M-Line Seductive Temptation SS16 Collection
My friend came with me and said, “Oh my god, I’ve never seen so many men in high heels before,” and my response was, “This is nothing, it’s normal.” To some, it may be a shock to see full drag men with hair extensions and full beards, a tight dress and 6-inch hooker heels, but at FAT? It’s normal.