I had an idea when checking the racks at Shopgirls last week, inspired by another designer’s plaid jumper. So yesterday in the studio I altered a plaid skirt I had into something I could wear as a dress at [FAT]. Wore it over an American Apparel shirt and tights and completed the look with a great idea via my favourite style blogger, Agathe from Style Bytes: multiple pearls bound with a cute bowtie. After running into stylist Pascal Chiarello a million times over the last month, I realized that bowtie-love is contagious. Of course, I wore my red vintage cowboy boots for kicks.

The outfit was a hit at [FAT], the Toronto Alternative Fashion and Art Festival! Everyone was taking my picture! What a rad event! I loved being surrounded by such thought-provoking art, music, and fashion.

It was kind of weird to see some of my old classmates. Some are working at design farms - er, firms - like Sears and Clothing for Modern Times, but they all seem to change the subject when I ask them about what their jobs are like. I admit that I had to embellish my Fashion Week debut experience. But then we just start goofing off and drinking wine together and it was like graduation never happened!

Some of my favourite artists were Anna Ross, who made these amazing photos that combined iconic images with iconic cityscapes. How cool. I lovey-loved Amie Scott’s punchline clothes. How could anyone not love a roadkill dress or breast-surgery gown? Oh, and the ruffles all over the runway in the Breeyn McCarney, Jennifer Allison, and Decadent Designs!

I was sitting behind the first row of fashion bloggers and heard Anita Clarke from I want – I got yell, “I NEED THAT DRESS!” during Kirsty McKenzie’s show. Actually, everyone was yelling and screaming and getting excited about all the clothes. So different than L’Oréal Fashion Week. So much fun! Loved it!