Designers dazzle at opening gala of Vancouver Fashion Week

It’s official: Vancouver Fashion Week is in full swing after opening Monday with a diverse mix of sartorial offerings.

More than 50 models strutted their stuff on the catwalk at the opening gala, showcasing one look for each of the designers that will take part in the weeklong event at Queen Elizabeth Plaza in downtown Vancouver.

Although the opening show featured a number of designers, three clear trends emerged under the tent that will likely to be winding their way from the runway to high street for fall-winter 2015.

Sparkle and shine

Peruvian designer Noe Bernacelli started off the show with a gold and cream mini dress that dazzled the audience with its glitzy embellishments and heavy metallic brocade.

Meanwhile, up-and-comer Paola Gamero opted for more subtle sparkle with an ultra-feminine lace dress featuring intricate floral embroidery and metallic thread on sheer mesh sleeves.

Bold brights

Magaly Guillen, also of Peru, made a splashy entrance with a showstopper knit dress.

The highly-saturated bright red of this avant-garde number featured matching knit boots and a dramatic puffed sleeve that enveloped the model’s arm in fondant-like folds of fabric.

Zuzana Hrubos also popped with neon yellow ribbon adorning a classic black boatneck dress and matching tote.

Shades of black

Although some designers offered bursts of bold colours, black— always a chic choice— dominated the runway.

From left to right, designers Laurence Pirnay, Nasty Habit and Hong Kiyoung previewed their fall-winter collections at Vancouver Fashion Week on Monday, March 16, 2015.

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Emerging designer Alcoolique’s sheer polka dot blouse and flouncy black leather skirt was an early hit, met with hoots and hollers from a stylish crowd on the edge of their seats.

Laurence Pirnay, Nasty Habit and Hong Kiyoung also stuck to classic black, making their mark with clean lines and mod minimalism.

Designer Makes Paul McCarthy-Inspired Butt Plug Brooches for Fashion Week

Just when you thought fashion statements at Paris runway shows couldn't get more ridiculous (see Rick Owens's Penis-Out Runway Show Nods to Classical Sculpture and Van Gogh-Inspired Dresses at Viktor & Rolf Paris Show), Belgian designer Walter Van Beirdendonck unleashes his massive butt-plug brooches.

Known for making political statements on the catwalk, last year he sent headdresses adorned with the phrase "Stop Racism," Van Beirdendonch opted to put in his two cents about the recent Paris attacks (see 12 Killed at Magazine Previously Attacked for Satirical Cartoons) and the on-going debate on artistic censorship, touching upon the dialogue surrounding Paul McCarthy's enormous sculpture Tree (2014) that caused an uproar when it was installed in Paris's Place Vendôme because it resembled a butt-plug sex toy more than it did a Christmas tree. The sculpture was vandalized and subsequently taken down (see Vandalized Paul McCarthy Butt Plug Pulled from Paris Square).

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During Van Beirdendonck's Fall 2015 men's ready-to-wear presentation, the first look he sent down the runway was a sleeveless plastic tunic top that had the words "Stop Terrorising Our World." Shortly afterwards an array of orange, pink, yellow, and white variations of the butt-plug brooche appeared on the lapels of various models.

Interesting. But let's just hope this fashion statement won't inspire people to wear anal beads as necklaces.