Atlantic Fashion Week 2013

This past Saturday I was invited to attend Atlantic Fashion Week in Dartmouth, where fifteen local designers showed their latest collections. Garments ranged from surf-inspired swimwear to beetle wing body jewelry, showcasing a range of talents from design students to veteran AFW designers.

The show was held at Gallery 1, where guests enjoyed cocktail hour before moving into the showroom. I took this as an opportunity to snap some outfit photos in my favorite party dress by BCBG!

Then the real fun began! Let’s start with the best, shall we? I was so impressed by Overman’s mesmerizing collection! I couldn’t take my eyes off it, and I’m absolutely coveting those shorts below. Have you ever seen materials like this before? It looks like water when it moves. And guess what it is? BEETLE WINGS. Yep. This first dress has 2,000 beetle wings on it. The combination of beauty and badassery in this collection is divine.

Next we have CBrido’s floral collection, which reminded me of Ann Taylor. The neckline on this black shirt was an interesting way to renew a peasant blouse silhouette, though the bustier of us girls would have a hell of a time pulling it off! I liked the shortened 60s shape of the floral dress below.

Drunk Girl made a sparkly show with its shirtless guys and twinkling kisses blown at the cameras. I love the graphic lip print on this tee, so shmexy! Pair that with a skinny jean and leather jacket, yes please.

Check out the headpieces on these girls from JJ Darling! I’d wager this was the second most photographed collection of the night (first was Overman’s beetle wings, for sure).

How much do you love these Wear Blair chevron detail pants?! I wish I’d gotten a clearer shot of them, but I couldn’t leave them out of this post.

Hooooo la la check out this swimsuit. Inspired by surfer soul, Sueno Swimwear is vibrant and funky.

I’m a sucker for a well-made coat, and these ones from The ESME Original’s collection fit the bill. I especially like this gray asymmetrical one. So sophisticated.

Reppin’ the Nova Scotia pride was Veronica MacIsaac’s tartan collection. Heads were turned and the fun, raucous NS spirit was raised when the first look came out on an acrobatic model (who I later heard had an injured ankle but continued the show anyways!)!

And finally, not to go without mention, here are some of the looks created by Centre for Arts and Technology students. Congrats to all the students who showed, may this be your first AFW of many!

I had mixed feelings about this collection. I really liked the color blocked look above, but I’m not such a fan of the ones below. Interesting? Yes. But a little too costumey for me. The first looks like a ship commander and the second a Skyrim mage. Take that as you will. The third is a little more party acceptable! I wish I had the opportunity to see these students’ design processes start-to-finish, à la Project Runway.

Overall, this year’s Atlantic Fashion Week (my first one, by the way!) was great! I loved how they transformed a furniture showroom into a 200-foot marble runway with gorgeous lighting. The collections were unique and it was awesome to see the local talent! Can’t wait for next year!

A special thanks to AFW and its sponsors, and to all the designers and models involved in the show! And a big congratulations to AFW’s director Angela on a fantastic night! I can’t wait to see what you come up with next year.