It was the final show of the day, from Canadian designer David Dixon, which had attendees glowing with delight on day two of Toronto’s World MasterCard Fashion Week. The evening debut of Dixon’s White Label Collection, for the new Kleinfeld’s bridal, not only had cameras snapping away for Fall/Winter 2014 bridal line, but also had many in the audience swooning over the collection’s contemporary pieces and soft colours.
Beginning the show, titled Unveiled, was a two-minute video, projected on the wall above the runway, of people from various backgrounds and different ages surrounded by a busy downtown area describing what love means to them. It was the mark of what was to be expected from the famous designer. The sound of church bells chiming that followed, representing the bloom of Holy Matrimony, only made onlookers anxious and excited to see what the new line had to offer.
From traditional A-line cuts, to exquisite flowing ball gowns, David Dixon’s White Linen Collection had show stopping pieces for the bride in us all. Showcasing the contemporary colour of pink, which is not very common amongst many brides, seemed to hold near and dear to the designer while creating this collection.
“My inspiration, or sort of rounding up what I wanted to express in terms of the bridal wear collection was I looked at pictures of my parents when they got married,” says the designer, “my mother, back in 1953, she was ahead of her time, she wore a pink suit, and that’s where the pink came into the collection, so I used that as the reference point of the dialogue. And I just thought, ‘what would she wear if she was getting married to my father again?’” His use of lace, to create a floral airy effect, and the cuts of tight bodices accompanied by a dropped waistline and flared below the knee skirt, gives today’s bride the essence of style and grace.
A crowd favourite was a modern piece that displayed a white flowing cape paired with white floral lace leggings. The below-clavicle cut cape provided a sense of authority for the more fashion forward bride, and together with the lace leggings and right fitting pump, shows that the traditional white dress is not the only option for the modern-day bride.
“I think there’s no rules for today’s bride,” explains Dixon. “… I look back at notes of friends and dresses that I have done for people before and there was a common thread, and it wasn’t they wanted to be princess this, or overalls or wear cowboy boots, it was the same type of thread that was going over and over again that they wanted something that felt wonderful, that was an extension of their personality, that didn’t consume them, and it just sort of played part of being natural and effortless, and that’s what the bottom line is; to make yourself look effortless but knowing there’s a lot of work involved to get there.”
With a preview of what is to come from the Canadian designer for his new White Label Collection, Dixon’s new collaboration with Kleinfeld’s seems to be off to a good start. The use of various fabric textures and colours is a favourite among many and the anticipation from the brides-to-be in the audience was magnetic from smile to smile.
“Simple, modern, clean, things that move and have life,” explains the renowned craftsman. “And I think there’s a lot of simplicity in the design from afar, but when you actually get up close there’s a lot of work, which I’ve learned through trial and error what needs to be made to make the dress, and to hopefully get into the mind of a woman and when she tries it on she says ‘yes this is me.’”
Words By. Aliecia Brissett + Photos By. Lee Hon Bong
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