Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Maggie Walt Mothers' Day Fashion Show

As I mentioned in my last post, I took my mom to Maggie Walt's Mothers' Day showing of her SS12 collection, which I was crazy excited about.

The show was excellent, using her own basement studio space to put up a smaller, intimate runway. There were no bad seats! As well, I was so pleased to see her lineup of models was incredibly inclusive, including a range of body types, ages, and ethnic backgrounds, even an expectant mother!

As I expected, her collection was excellent! While I usually favour collections that maintain a cohesive theme throughout, I felt the way that Maggie deviated from this was very effective. With an extremely large collection (there were at least 40 looks) intended for her own store, the variety in her collection was definitely a strength. [To explain: I usually like when a smaller designer has a very cohesive collection, because it gives me an idea of how they approach design and what inspires them. For a smaller designer or a high end designer with a very specific customer in mind, this is effective. For a designer that produces garments to fill their own store, like Maggie Walt, it would cut out a large portion of their potential clientele.] While this single collection did not follow a single colour theme or have one single design element/inspiration that linked the pieces, spending time in Maggie Walt's studio gives a clear impression of her design aesthetic and how it manages to cover an entire lifestyle, not just for a collection. With Eastern influences running through her designs, the boutique's decor, her own collection of jewelry, scarves, bags and other accessories, as well as a smattering of items like handmade stationery and soaps, her inspirations were clear and welcoming. Bonus: on June 1-2 she is hosting a series of AMAZING sessions with local businesses to promote holistic wellness (body, mind, and spirit).

The amount of love put into designing and creating these garments is clear. Whether you choose to look at the beautiful embroidered silk jackets and formal dresses, or more casual garments like cotton dresses and pants, the workmanship is evident. The fabrics chosen were perfect for their use, the stitching was immaculate, and the exquisite detailing in embroidery and surface detailing was incredible! Each garment flattered beautifully, and it was clear that the natural movement of the textiles was carefully considered during the design process (for an excellent example, see the mustard dress in the slideshow below). It was nice to see that the designs flattered a wide range of body types and sizing went up to around a 16-18.  (Also, the girls in the shop were incredibly nice and very helpful!)



Whether you are looking for event-wear that is unique and unexpected (from graduations to weddings) or casual wear that flatters and looks great, Maggie Walt has something for almost anyone! I was so pleased with the incredible range of designs she offered, and the pleasant shopping experience. Maggie's boutique is on Jasper Ave, and definitely deserves a visit!

My mom picked out the "Kara" jacket from the SS12 collection being shown as a Mothers' Day gift, and she absolutely adores it!



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Curvaceous Chic: Maggie Walt Mothers' Day Fashion Show

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Maggie Walt Mothers' Day Fashion Show