Photos courtesy of Shareni Garcia

If you think Marylin Mason’ s song Beautiful people wouldn’t fit in a fashion show, you might have not been in Ryerson’s annual fashion show, Mass Exodus. This year’s event was titled Paramnesia, which explores the realm between fact and fantasy. Indeed, the show felt like Dante’s Inferno, with the exception that it was a beautiful one. Featuring 25 of the top 4th year designers (as decided by a panel of industry professionals), the event was a result of a joint effort between Ryerson talented fashion design and fashion communications students. By using recyclable products, less-harmful alternatives, and sustainable fabrics, Ryerson fashionistas made sure to keep up with trends.

With an interesting set-up and soundtrack, Paramnesia transported the audience to a world of imagination and fantasy. All the while, the lavish and well-tailored pieces kept the audience in an worthwhile trance.

The show started with Infundibulum, by Kat Marks, and Immortal, by Alicia-Ann Shaver, presenting a set of pieces inspired by a gothic, diabolic theme. This was the beginning of our journey into the inferno. Long black and purple velvet dresses adorned with black veils, which simulated spider webs, seemed to evoke Dracula’s times. Short dresses accompanied by capes were also prominent during the initial presentation.

Next came a set of shinny bathing suits by Chandelier, which contrasted with the dark mood of the previous set. Decorated with pearls and crystal, these white pieces reminded the audiences of the presence of angels in hell. Then, slowly, we began ascending into the different levels of the Inferno, finding a mixture of lighter tones of colors, mostly shades of blues and greys, combined with earthy colors such as brown and orange. Apart from dresses, there was a strong tendency towards high-waisted wide leg trousers and long and short-sleeves shirts. Although dark tones dominated most of the show, there were times when vibrant metallics, inspired by a futurist spark, brightened up the catwalk.

A collection for kids and guys was also present in the show. For kids, a casual style composed of jackets and shorts were the tendency, and for guys wide leg trousers and vests. The colors ranged from bright reds and oranges to light purples and greys.

As the show progressed, the inferno was left behind by the presence of kids and more colorful and glamorous pieces. In the last section, designed by Janet Hum, a queen and her retinue took the stage at their disposition. Wearing a red, extravagant dress, the queen bid the audience to awaken from their dream. Highly adorned marks and capes gave end to a well-organized event, which assures a promising future for Canadian fashion. We look forward to seeing what next year’s show has to offer.

This entry was posted on Thursday, April 17th, 2008 at 11:28 pm and is filed under Arts. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.