Credit: Pimentel (Wireimage)

Alexander McQueen was to fashion what Michael Jackson was to music. He was an icon who created a path free of restrictions, blurring the line between fashion and art, and then blending the two to evoke emotion just the same.

And while comparing Alexander McQueen and Evan Biddell is nonsensical, washed between Biddell’s graphic print staples were undeniable moments of greatness at the Fall 2010 show.

Take the runway openers – with their larger than life silhouettes and outrageous Alice in Wonderland like proportions, they were a dream. A lovely couture dream!

A stiffly structured bell skirt juxtaposed with a rough yet feminine strapless shredded leather number. And then, the coat of the century with its calming earthiness, pre-historic texture, and over-sized petal sleeves. An architectural dream!

The collection, a tribute to Alexander McQueen, was full of risk. A breath of fresh air in an industry polluted with the safe choices. We are so proud Evan Biddell is Canadian. To find out more about the collection, visit www.evanbiddell.ca.

Credit: Pimentel (Wireimage)

Plaids, prints, cozy knits, and sweats paired with structured shirts and vests. This Fall 2010 collection convinced me that Jules Power is a girl after my own fashionable heart.

No stranger to the design community, Jules Power has designed for Canada’s top retailers like Danier Leather, Roots Canada, and Joe Fresh Style before launching her own label.

We love the sweet skirt complete with an elastic waistband and paired with a floral sweetheart blouse, a bright yellow tailored jacket, and red floral hairpiece.

The modern 1960s sexy housewife look was great. Grey leggings (and in some cases sweats fitted like leggings) with a rustic floral three quarter length blouse, tucked at the waist with a belt.

Jules Power is definitely on the radar for fall. Find out more at www.julespower.com.

Credit: Pimentel (Wireimage)

Fur has a longstanding reputation for being a hot button issue in the fashion community and the new Izma collection, presented by Canadian design staple Izzy Camilleri and former Fashion File host Adrian Mainella, had fur, fur, and a lot more fur.

The duo presented their first collection on March 28, kicking off the first official show at Toronto’s LG Fashion Week in their new home, Allstream Centre.

Spattered among the fur-obsessed collection were sheer fabrics, slim pants, and one exceptionally lovely evening gown. But mostly it was a collection full of fur, and lots of it.

Credit: Pimentel (Wireimage)

From March 20th to 27th, Calgarians took in the glitz and glamour as Alberta Fashion Week paraded the best of prairie-bread fashion designers. With six nights of sold-out shows and more than 2,700 attendees, event organizers are rightly touting the event a success.

Andrew Majtenyi presented his debut show in Western Canada while Kyle Nylund let the audience get swept away by theatrical cocktail dresses. Other designers showing at fashion week included the likes of Lael Osness, Madam Wolf, Caitlin Power, Haithem Elkadiki, and Jason Matlo, who was actually born in Calgary before moving to British Columbia and being claimed as one of Vancouver’s own.

It’s nice to get lost in a collection. To find clothes that make you forget about everything except basking in a perfect summer day, walking barefoot on the beach, or having a relaxing picnic in the park.

And with this collection of easy-to-wear pieces, you really could wear everything all summer long. Calgary designer Leah Bohnet is the mastermind behind the distinctly feminine line called Broken Doll Clothing.

For summer, find pretty paisley prints and floral designs with a soft bohemian style, with most of the garments being constructed from eco-friendly fabrics like tencel, modal, bamboo, and organic cotton.

GLOSS loves the Rust Paisley Nexus Dress ($134), Blue Floral Missy Dress ($128), and the uber hip Quint Dress ($124). Broken Doll Clothing is available in Vancouver at Velvet Room Boutique, in Calgary at Shisomiso, in Toronto at Distill, in Ottawa at Workshop Boutique, in Montreal at Rein a Cacher, and in Halifax at Sweet Pea Boutique. Find more retailers or shop online at www.shopbrokendollclothing.com.

Vancouver shoe designer John Fluevog announced the production of The Porter Shoe, being designed this spring, exclusively for Opus Hotel properties in Vancouver and Montreal.

“It was an idea that originated a couple of years ago, and as time went on it was more of a question of ‘why haven’t we done this yet,’” says John Fluevog.

Made with Italian Analine leathers and branded with OPUS Hotels inside, the black patent shoe features a pop of pink leather that matches the colour scheme at Opus Hotels.

The Porter Shoes ($329) will be showcased in the hotel lobbies and worn by valets and male guest service associates at Opus Hotels. And if you really love the shoes, they will be featured on the hotel mini bar menu and in limited numbers at all ten North American Fluevog Shoe Stores and online at www.fluevog.com.

Carrie Bradshaw would be proud of Toronto designed and Italian made shoes by Abel Munoz, who graduated from ARS Arpel Institute of Shoes and Accessory design in Milan before returning to his hometown of Toronto.

Whether you are looking for something feminine and fun like the bubblegum pink Jackie ($460) heel, the functional Roman ($550) boot, or the sexy Talitha ($430), Abel Munoz Accessories has something for everyone.

Check out more haute heels at www.abelmunozaccessories.com.

Hey sugar, sugar! Benefit Cosmetics really does make the best blush around and this season is no exception with Sugarbomb. The combination of four shades of rose, shimmering pink, soft plum, and peach will give you a glow while you are on the go. Sugarbomb is available for $28 at Benefit Cosmetics (www.benefitcosmetics.com).

Love this! Five new shades have been added to tarte’s smooth operator natural oil-free tinted moisturizer ($47). It’s free of parabens, mineral oil, petrolatum, sulfates, fragrances, gluten and dyes, and best of all it has SPF 20, so every lady can avoid those pesky UV rays. A definite must! Find tarte’s smooth operator at Sephora or online at www.tartecosmetics.com.

A first for Montreal based Furi Design: their new lightweight outerwear for women is one of the new items in fashion to look forward to this Spring/Summer 2010. Crafted from luxurious noise free nylon and designed for freedom of movement and versatility, Furi jackets epitomize the move toward simplicity in fashion this season.

Very minimalist and tailored impeccably, Furi jackets are available in a range of colour palettes (light grey, lilac, natural and steel blue) and styles. Furi (www.furidesign.com) jackets retail for $225-345.