Holt Renfrew kicked off the first day of Fashion Week on Monday with a show featuring some of their favourite designers, including Jeremy Laing, Lida Baday, Line, Pink Tartan, Wings + Horns, Smythe, Denis Gagnon, Wayne Clark, and Mikhael Kale. Such a survey made for a great viewing experience - if you didn't like one look, another designer would be along soon enough.

Holt Renfrew kept it right and tight this season by taking their media cocktail intimate and into the morning hours, showing the city's fashion elite a trio of looks from a few of the country's best design talents, including Denis Gagnon, Jeremy Laing, and Mikhael Kale.

Jeanne Beker and Holt Renfrew doyenne Barbara Atkin hosted the petite party, conducting mini-Q&As with the boys perched on the chairs at the head of the makeshift runway (a very chic pale-grey carpet). Greta Constantine (who hosted their blockbuster show the week before last) and Lida Baday (who was out sick) also showed a few looks. The set-up was much better than last season, which featured an event so packed that the models could barely make it down the runway.

The Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail Party is like a great kiss from someone way better-looking than you--you're left wanting more, but they're off to more intriguing conquests.

This season, the handful of spring looks being shown to the assembled media came from some of Canada's most exciting designers, including Denis Gagnon, Jeremy Laing, and Mikhael Kale.

I was advised to arrive on time for the Holt Renfrew Media Cocktail. The cocktail has changed format slightly this season. The usual Saturday meet and greet with the designers has merged with the Cocktail and has replaced guest speakers as the entertainment. I think it's better to showcase Canadian talent than listen to foreigners speak for 15 mins. The heart of the cocktail is still the same: mingle, mingle, mingle. It really is a chance to meet up with friends and make some professional contacts.