If Kim Newport-Mimran were my mother, she'd probably have a bumper sticker instructing gridlocked drivers to "Support Our Troops" (my own mother actually does). She's not. Instead, she's one of Canada's most important madams of style, and her own nod to the Canadian military takes on a much more sophisticated form. (Also, I suspect that the Pink Tartan head-honcho does not do bumper stickers.)

"Military again?" was muttered (and probably tweeted) somewhere to my left. But, while Pink Tartan has had wings before, the air force influence was taken to new (and great) heights for FW11. I was anticipating seeing this collection after last Fall's flop was saved by Spring 2011's gorgeous Technicolor safari. With one big hit on the close heels of a huge miss, I knew it could go either way.

Have you met the girlfriend of Jil Sander's 2011 Spring/Summer male? Well, the girl wears Pink Tartan, in a show that left me pleasantly surprised. The runway was lined with lit platforms, the eventual resting place for the most well-selected models of the week.

But one thing was certain, Kimberly Newport Mimran borrows, but frankly it doesn't matter because very few things are original anymore. The most consistent criticism arose from the use of Gucci-esque hardware on off-the- shoulder striped dresses - it was later represented as a means to cinch a waist, but as fellow writer Briony Smith mentioned, we've seen it before.

Shut it down. Just shut it right down. That was scrawled across my notes in large letters as I watched the Pink Tartan show on Wednesday night.

"A disaster," said one fashion magazine art director, post-show. One international style photographer in the front row could barely keep the look of distaste off of his usually friendly face. A famous model furrowed her brow throughout most of the show. Many attendees were engrossed in their BlackBerries, or staring into space, or chatting to their friends. One show-goer was even fast asleep in her chair.

Pink Tartan? My friend wanted to know how the show was but as I began to answer I was startled to find that I couldn't remember a single piece. Even during
the presentation, I found my eyes glazing over as trench after trench glided down the runway.

That's the thing with Pink Tartan - their clothes are very nice, and very elegant, but not particularly memorable, I find.

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.

At the end of each runway show at LG Fashion Week we've tried to head backstage to snag some coveted interviews with the designers. Hey, we're not Fashion Televison, so we usually need to wait our turn (if you know what I mean), but when all is said and done, all of the designers have been gracious enough to give us a little soundbite.

Carlton Brown



Video of the Carlton Brown runway show
Photos of the Carlton Brown runway show
Backstage photos at the Carlton Brown runway show