TORONTO BEAUTY REVIEWS: YOUR LOCAL GUIDE TO THE LATEST IN BEAUTY AND WELLNESS

Menu
  • Makeup
    • Clean Beauty
    • Collections
    • Face
    • Eyes
    • Lips
    • Fragrance
    • Nails
    • Makeup Tutorials
    • Makeup Giveaways
  • Hair
    • Cleansing
    • Styling
    • Hairstyle Tutorials
    • Haircare Giveaways
  • Skin Care
    • Clean Skincare
    • Facial Skin Care
    • Sensitive Skin
    • Anti-Aging Skincare
    • Body Care
    • Sun Care
    • Spas and Services
    • Skin Care Giveaways
  • Toronto Love
    • Canadian Brands
    • Toronto Brands
    • Local Events
  • Wellness
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Health
Menu

Art of Fashion ’12: Design Competition Event

Posted on October 8, 2012 by Elaine
The View From Up Top: The Exhibits

   
In my previous post, you’ll know that I spent Nuit Blanche with the Art of Fashion‘s 2012 Design Competition. Held at Hazelton Lanes in Yorkville, Art of Fashion’s 2012 Design Competition featured 10 extremely talented upcoming designers, all competing for the prestigious titles of ‘Canada’s Most Promising Designer’, ‘Most Promising Designer’, and ‘Best Exhibit’, to name a few. As well, a $30,000 prize pack was in the running. 




Designers were given the opportunity to explore and interpret the ‘unassuming details of everyday life’. Winners would be selected via their theme interpretation, exhibit, personal expression, cohesion, technical skills, creativity and overall design originality. 

The picture below are the ten designers in the competition. I will give a breakdown of all their exhibits and designs below. Beware – PICTURE and TEXT heavy, but well worth it! 




_______________________________________


Ryan Johnson 




Ryan’s piece was called ‘Rough-Hewn’, and infused a manipulation of raw materials through delicate textures. Particularly, he wanted to shape his designs without finishing. You can see that his dresses contain ‘petals’ – he used a unique method to that allowed for a ‘sharper visual, without the burden of threads’. 

Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Amy Yuen 

Amy’s piece was based on the six elements. She’s included a new element – ENERGY. She’s also incorporate the ‘RAW’ feeling of the event into her exhibit. She’s used raw edging in terms of her details, pleating, edges, ruching, etc. She’s touched upon the power of the earthly elements, and each element is showcased in it’s own piece. 
Photo Courtesy of Ashley McKernan 




Tess Elizabeth




Tess Elizabeth’s piece was called ‘Undefined Beings’. Her exhibit came from the idea of nature itself – she describes it as if ‘the collection came from nature itself’. She’s used a lot of different natural elements in her design – feathers, wooden beads, organic cottons and knitted wools. Her colour palette was driven from nature, but in an unpredictable way. The colour scheme almost reminds me of ‘autumn’ – she’s used a bunch of deep greys, light purples, and burnt yellows. 

Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Mary Duldouras

Mary’s collection relied heavily on the planet. All of her pieces were based upon some aspect of the planet – i.e. Animal, Fire, Oceans, etc. Each piece’s colour palette was based on it’s element (i.e. oceans = blue). She describes her piece as a ‘relevant statement’ to the global concerns of today. 

Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Robyn Germanese


Robyn is also a costume designer, as well as a fashion designer. She’s incredibly interested in the details of the human skin. It’s incredibly apparent within her designs, as they show and enhance a lot of the model’s skin. She’s interpreting the model’s skin as part of the design itself. In turn, she’s turning her pieces into works of ‘pain’ – she wants her designs to reflect the pain within a person, the details one hides and their imperfections. 

Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Devlyn Van Loon

Devlyn’s piece is called ‘Grist’. Her exhibit is a reflection of individual pieces, and what happens when they are taken apart and brought to their roughest and simplest form. The pieces are said to take on the mental and physical imprints of life. 

Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Anouk Moran



Anouk’s piece is called the ‘Resplendent Warrior’. Her’s was my personal favourite. Her pieces sought to create a link between the armour a person wears and the skin / human beneath it. She calls it a raw emotional experience that only the wearer can possess. All her pieces are boosting with femininity, with a hint of masculinity within it. Personally, her pieces had such delicate designs and was pleasantly divine right down to the last detail. 

Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Charlotte Ghesquiere and Andrea Kuntz 


Their piece was called ‘Orb’. Their piece was based on the raw human ‘condition’. From our first moments on earth, to the loss of innocence, their piece represents the loss of purity. They describe it as a 6 step de-evolution of innocence – from purity to damp moldy darkness. 

Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Tessi Barbieri


Tessi’s collection was called ‘A Night At The Opera’ and it consisted of all black pieces. Her pieces were influenced by the femininity of women’s body, and the tailoring of men’s clothing. Using opposing elements, she’s created classic pieces, perfect for a night on the town. 

Photo Courtesy of Alessandra Travali


Jennie Ulhman 



Jenni’s exhibit was called ‘Undulation’. Her piece focused on the limitations of fabric and using the least amount of fabric to achieve the maximum amount of results. Using the fabric to the best of it’s ability means the designer is able to maximize fashion with minimal fabric. Her pieces also focus on structural elements – zippers, leather, etc. Her one piece leather outfit? Awesome. 

Courtesy of Alessandra Travali

____________________________________

Voting has been open all week at the Art of Fashion’s official website. A winner has yet to be announced, (it will be announced tomorrow!), so I’ll be sure to create a follow-up post on it. All the designs were amazingly beautiful. The group of designers were so talented, I was completely blown away by their imaginations and creativity. All of them deserve to win, in their own way. 

Which one is your favourite? Big thanks to Alessandra Travali for being such a wonderful photographer. As always, leave a comment or my email is ashley@torontobeautyreviews.com.

NOTE: All sketches courtesy of own designer. 

Sign up for the Toronto Beauty Reviews Newsletter!

Want the latest beauty, style and event news right in your inbox? Sign up now!

Thank you for subscribing.
Something went wrong.
I agree to have my personal information transfered to MailChimp ( more information )

I will never give away, trade or sell your email address. You can unsubscribe at any time.

Share on social:

5 thoughts on “Art of Fashion ’12: Design Competition Event”

  1. Ashley McKernan says:
    October 9, 2012 at 11:19 am

    Aren’t they awesome? Love the colours too, she really incorporate an ‘autumn’ theme.

    Reply
  2. Anna Luciano says:
    October 9, 2012 at 7:30 am

    love love love Tess Elizabeth’s designs!!

    Reply
  3. Alessandra says:
    October 8, 2012 at 7:13 pm

    Agreed, Anouk’s was gorgeous! As well as Ryan’s; in my opinion they both had the best detailing and workmanship. You could not find one flaw in either of their designs. Tess’ colour choice was very nice for the fall though.

    Reply
  4. Ashley McKernan says:
    October 8, 2012 at 5:37 pm

    She picked some amazing colours! I personally loved her colour scheme, but I can’t get over Anouk’s. So detailed and so gorgeous.

    Reply
  5. TOBeautyReviews says:
    October 8, 2012 at 5:22 pm

    Great coverage! I think I love Tess Elizabeth’s collection the best – love the fall theme!

    Reply

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

Welcome!

Welcome to Toronto Beauty Reviews!

TBR is a space for us to share reviews of beauty products we love, easy makeup tips, and insights into our personal wellness journeys.

We believe that beauty and wellness are for people of all genders, all skin tones, hair types, backgrounds, and ways of being.

We hope you’ll find something here that helps you feel beautiful, inside and out!

More About TBR

  • About
  • Partnerships
  • Disclosure

Meet the Team!

About Maddie | Toronto Beauty Reviews
Welcoming DJS to the Toronto Beauty Reviews Team | Toronto Beauty Reviews

Get Social With Us!

Facebook Twitter Instagram

torontobeautyreviews

Editor of #TorontoBeautyReviews.
Sharing our beauty & wellness faves ✨
📍Toronto, ON
maddie@torontobeautyreviews.com

Adventure Day!! One of the most special traditions Adventure Day!! One of the most special traditions in our family. ❤️ 

Such a fun day going from above the city all the way down to a hidden basement game bar! Checking out the CN tower, @littlecanada, @waterworksto, @h20floatstudio, and @lobtoronto. 

See any of your fave spots here? What would your perfect Adventure Day look like? 

#torontobeautyreviews #torontoblogger #torontothingstodo #bestofto #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #dateideas
Proud ☺️🌈 And loud, since I have the privi Proud ☺️🌈

And loud, since I have the privilege of being able to live my life openly, unlike so many of my 2SLGBTQIA+ peers. I’m a straight-passing cis white woman, so my queerness doesn’t threaten most people. 

So, with that advantage in mind, let me use this small platform to say to anyone who is listening:

Never forget that Pride started as a riot. 

That Pride is more than slapping a rainbow on something, jacking up the price, and saying “love is love” for four weeks out of the year. 

That true allyship involves action and accountability, 365. 

That trans women, two-spirit individuals, and queer folks of color are the heart and soul of our community. That they continue to show up, to fight, to love, and to lead while facing very real danger. That we owe so much to their courage. 

Never forget that queer folks have always been here. 

That you can’t erase us, ban us, or legislate us out of existence. 

That queerness is a part of nature. 

That it exists even when it’s no longer trendy or politically advantageous. 

That we notice and remember who speaks up and who is silent. 

That we contain multitudes. 

That we deserve safety, compassion, legal protections, love, joy, and a future - just like every other human. 

That not all of us are “out” and don’t need to be; that we will invite you in if and when we choose to, and if and when we feel safe to do so. 

That queer folks make the world better. 

And that, despite seemingly insurmountable odds, we’re going to be ok. 

Because resilience, creativity, collaboration, and resourcefulness are fundamental parts of who we are. 

So we’re not going anywhere. Get on board.

Happy Pride!

❤️🧡💛💚💙💜

Wearing:
@milkmakeup Hydro Grip Gel Tint in 2
@tower28beauty Swipe concealer in BU + GetSet Powder + OneLiner in Paint My Number
@aboutfacebeauty liquid eye shadow in Take a Trip
@ardellbeauty Bat Those Lashes in Enchantress*
@annabellecosmetics Free Spirit eyeliner* + Master Volume mascara*
#QuoBeauty Rainbow maker 
@makeupbymario MoistureGlow in Rosewood Glow

*gifted 

#torontobeautyreviews #pride2025 #queer  #2slgbtqia #mytbrfave #torontomakeup #tbrcontributors #torontoblogger #canadian
Have you donated blood before? 🩸If you’re cur Have you donated blood before? 🩸If you’re curious, check out this video to learn more about the process! 

It was so easy and honestly not painful at all. And I felt so good afterwards, knowing that my donation will help someone in need. 🥰 I’ll definitely be a regular donor at @canadaslifeline from here on out. 

If you have any questions, ask away! ⬇️

#torontobeautyreviews #canadaslifeline #canadianbloodservices #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #maketheworldbetter #toronto #thingstodo #blooddonation #onegative #firsttimedonor
Whoops - forgot to post for two months 🙈 I’v Whoops - forgot to post for two months 🙈

I’ve been so busy with my day job that I unfortunately haven’t had much time to devote to TBR. 😫 But I’m planning a few new stories (fave SPFs; different lip & cheek formulas) and excited to play with makeup again soon. ✨

For now, here’s a snap of my typical minimal makeup look. Takes 5 mins, tops! 🎨

@annabellecosmetics Master Volume mascara + Kohl matte eyeliner in charcoal* 
@tower28beauty Swipe concealer in BU + oneliner in Paint My Number + GetSet translucent powder 
@rarebeauty Flexible Lifting Brow Gel
@milkmakeup Sculpt Stick in Toasted + Cooling Water Jelly Tint in Splash 
@baileynelsonca August glasses 

*gifted products 

#torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #minimalmakeup #cleanbeauty #annabelleugcteam #annabellecosmetics #tbrcontributors #easymakeup #cleanmakeup #tower28 #milkmakeup
Just some casual, everyday makeup 🙃🔷 Wearin Just some casual, everyday makeup 🙃🔷

Wearing @colourpopcosmetics Ultra Matte lip in Jellies and @annabellecosmetics Free Spirit eyeliner in Black*

*gifted 

#torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #bluelipstick #boldmakeup #tbrcontributors #beautyforeveryone #colourpopme
Looking for long-wear eyeshadow with colours that Looking for long-wear eyeshadow with colours that show off every hue of you? Check out @annabellecosmetics new Big Show Multi-Use Eyeshadow Pen! 🎨

✨ Canadian 🇨🇦
✨ Cruelty-free
✨ 12+ hr wear
✨ affordable ($10!!)

#ad #Annabellecosmetics, #AnnabelleUGCTeam #torontobeautyreviews #tbrcontributors #mytbrfave #natapr #canadianmakeup #crueltyfreebeauty #easymakeup
Looking to pamper yourself with something unique? Looking to pamper yourself with something unique? ✨ Swing by @touchmassagebar for a seated massage!

Here’s a quick peek into my experience with the « I Want it All » foot, hand, neck, and shoulders massage with the « Free Your Mind » scalp massage add-on. Heaven! 😍

#torontobeautyreviews #tbrcontributors #mytbrfave #massagetoronto #footmassage #scalpmassage #touchmassagebar #treatyoself
Putting these on the grid so I can look at them lo Putting these on the grid so I can look at them long after they’ve gone 🥰💐 

@wellingtonfleur did an amazing job creating this custom bouquet! (And @adam__malek did an exceptional job picking things out!)
💙🩵🩶 Wearing: @hauslabs Triclone skin te 💙🩵🩶 

Wearing:
@hauslabs Triclone skin tech concealer in 03
@milkmakeup sculpt stick in Toasted 
@annabellecosmetics kohl eyeliner in black* + Sky Limit mascara*
@tower28beauty GetSet powder + OneLiner in Paint My Number (as blush)
@rarebeauty lifting brow gel 
@lysbeautyofficial bronzer in motivate 
#QuoBeauty Love Is Love palette
@patmcgrathreal Celestial Nirvana palette 

*gifted products 

#torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #boldmakeup #blueeyeshadow #makeupinspo #drugstoremakeup #beautyforeveryone #canadianbrand
Little pop of color to brighten the grey day 💚🖤

Wearing:
@annabellecosmetics Kohl eyeliner in Balsam Green*+ Sky Limit mascara* + Perfect Fit setting spray*
@colourpopcosmetics Just My Luck palette
@hauslabs Triclone Skin Tech concealer in 03
@milkmakeup sculpt stick in Toasted + cooling water jelly tint in Splash 
@rarebeauty lifting brow gel
@tower28beauty GetSet powder in translucent + Oneliner in Paint My Number 
@kjh.brand Hyper Shine Highlight kit in Lite Pink 

*gifted products 
#mytbrfave #torontobeautyreviews #tbrcontributors #beautyforeveryone #greeneyeshadow #easymakeup #makeupinspo
Life (and lack of shipping options) get in the way Life (and lack of shipping options) get in the way of your holiday shopping? 😬 Not to fear - TBR’s elves have got you covered! 🙌🏼

Check out our last-minute holiday gift guide highlighting local stores where you can get amazing presents for everyone on your list! ✅🎁

Featuring: @thedetoxmarketcanada @aaniin.hello @goodintentions.to @soccoliving @juxtaposeannex @shoppersdrugmart @canadiantire @wildcraftcare @sharkbeauty @sodastreamcanada @annabellecosmetics @marcellecosmetics (and a pro tip from @calenmikenzie!) 

*some products were gifted for editorial consideration 

#lastminutegifts #holidaygiftguide #torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #shoplocalcanada #torontobusiness
🐛🍎🍐🍓🍉🧀🥓🍭🍰🦋 Hallowee 🐛🍎🍐🍓🍉🧀🥓🍭🍰🦋

Halloween as a librarian who used to be an MUA 🙃

#torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #halloween2024 #theveryhungrycaterpillar #makeupinspo #easycostume #bookstagram
Happy Autumn, from me & the books 📚 🍁🍂 # Happy Autumn, from me & the books 📚 🍁🍂

#torontobeautyreviews #librarian #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #dailymakeup
Looking to shift your skincare routine as the weat Looking to shift your skincare routine as the weather changes? Learn more about why LoLa loves @byoma - and why you should definitely check out this drugstore powerhouse - in her latest piece for the blog. 

🔗 in bio! 🙌🏼

*products kindly gifted

#torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #byoma #villabrill #brillcom #lexpr #shoppersbeauty #drugstoreskincare
Prague! 🇨🇿 1 - Charles Bridge 2 - St Vitus Prague! 🇨🇿

1 - Charles Bridge
2 - St Vitus Cathedral (took 600 yrs to build; I cried because it was so stunning in person)
3 - Cute lil gargoyle 
4 - Palace gardens
5 - Beer Spa + beer chocolates in Tycho Brahe’s former home! (Check out my recent reel for more on this)
6 - Truffle gnocchi in champagne foam @cafeimperial_praha 🤤
7 - Klementinum Baroque library 
8 - from the top of the Astronomical Tower! 
9 - Astronomical Clock 
10 - Wunderkammer at Strahov Monastery 
11 - Philosophical Hall at Strahov Monastery
12 - c. 1800 Dendrological Library at Strahov (books carved from trees, covered in their bark and lichen & filled with their leaves and seeds!)
13 - 800 yr old natural sandstone water spring underneath Strahov Monastery, now housed in what they call “Hell” restaurant. 😂 @napekle 
14 - Travel friends! @kendranh 
15 - *Immediately* losing at pinball at @joystick_bar_prague 👾
16 - Getting *very* into the all-you-can-drink wine bar (!) @nasklenicku 🍷
17 - obligatory trashy snacks after the wine bar 
18 - peacock chilling on the hotel grounds @hotelupava 
19 - Fun restaurant where you pay by the skewer (sooo tasty) @bistrospejle 
20 - the views were ok, I guess 🙃

#torontobeautyreviews #prague #tbrcontributors #mytbrfave #praha #europetrip #visitprague
Throwback to the incredible @arianaandtherose show Throwback to the incredible @arianaandtherose show in July ✨❤️ The Lonely Hearts Club tour was an absolute banger. CANNOT WAIT for the next album! Get your glitter ready, friends. 🙃

#torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #lonelyheartsclub #lonelyheartsclubtour #arianaandtherose #torontoevents #synthpop #indieartist
Venice! 🇮🇹 1 - gelato 2 - stunning architec Venice! 🇮🇹

1 - gelato
2 - stunning architecture everywhere 
3 - snacks 
4 - the original horses from St Mark’s Basilica
5 - Ponte dell’Accademia 
6 - 🍝
7 - the staircase of books at the Libreria Acqua Alta 
8 & 9 - canals 
10 - Torcello
11 - Burano 
12 - 1300 yr old church 
13 - casual ceiling in Doge’s Palace
14 - glass art from Murano
15 - St Mark’s
16 - tiramisu cannoli. Italian food turducken!
17 - Vivaldi concert w orchestra in Baroque costumes
18 - 🍕

#torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #venice #italytrip #summertravel
Come with me to pick up the art piece created from Come with me to pick up the art piece created from the flowers in my bridal bouquet! 🥹❤️

Getting my flowers preserved and turned into this incredible piece was one of the best decisions I made during my wedding planning. ✨

Amanda and her team are extraordinary artists (and wonderful humans!) who give your flowers a new life and preserve memories. Every time I walk past this piece on my wall, my heart glows with flashbacks of my wedding day. 

If you have an important event that includes flowers, do yourself a favor and book with Parched to get them preserved. They accept flowers from across Canada, and have worked on blooms marking all occasions of life, from graduations, baby showers, weddings, and memorials. They can even create pendants using flower remnants! 

Bouquet: @coolgreenandshady 
Wedding photographer: @alexa.studios 
Wedding planner: @karinalemkeweddings 
Preservation artists: @parchedfloral 

#torontobeautyreviews #tbrcontributors #mytbrfave #smallbusinesssupport #floralpreservation #torontowedding #weddinginspo #parchedfloral #weddingflorals
Come visit a Beer Spa with us in Prague! 🤯🍻🛁

This was definitely a unique and fun experience during our vacation. And our skin felt soooooo soft after! 😍

#Beer #torontobeautyreviews #mytbrfave #tbrcontributors #prague #europetrip #tripideas #spaday 

Would you try this?
Recent looks 💁‍♀️💋 I just came back fr Recent looks 💁‍♀️💋 I just came back from a trip and challenged myself to switch up my makeup throughout. From pops of color to a more neutral look to a glam evening, I definitely had lots of fun. 😊

Hero products include: 
@annabellecosmetiques skinny mascara* & kohl eyeliners in Balsam Green* + Wood Charcoal*
@tower28beauty swipe concealer in BU
@milkmakeup cooling water jelly tint in splash 
@lysbeautyofficial bronzer in motivate
@kjh.brand hyper shine highlight in lite pink

*gifted products 

#torontobeautyreviews #easymakeup #beautyforeveryone #tbrcontributors #mytbrfave
Follow on Instagram

Archives

July 2025
S M T W T F S
 12345
6789101112
13141516171819
20212223242526
2728293031  
« Jun    

Proud To Be Partnered With…

© Toronto Beauty Reviews 2021
Menu
  • Makeup
    • Clean Beauty
    • Collections
    • Face
    • Eyes
    • Lips
    • Fragrance
    • Nails
    • Makeup Tutorials
    • Makeup Giveaways
  • Hair
    • Cleansing
    • Styling
    • Hairstyle Tutorials
    • Haircare Giveaways
  • Skin Care
    • Clean Skincare
    • Facial Skin Care
    • Sensitive Skin
    • Anti-Aging Skincare
    • Body Care
    • Sun Care
    • Spas and Services
    • Skin Care Giveaways
  • Toronto Love
    • Canadian Brands
    • Toronto Brands
    • Local Events
  • Wellness
    • Mental Health
    • Physical Health