Pastel daydreams of Spring 2010
By Jennifer Charlebois
Photo credits: Nico Stinghe

As if predicting the ensuing warm and sunnies, on the cusp of Montreal’s Semaine de Mode, the cold and chill were forgotten one slushy evening to make way for all things bright and breezy in delicate taste of printempts from FINN cultured + cured.

FINN’s Spring 2010 runway show, The Good, The Bad and The Beautiful, showcased playful and flirty new styles, juxtaposing the stark black and whites of winter with pale yellows, corals and blues, and spring footwear from Aldo Group’s Little Burgundy.

Mingling guests enjoyed Belevedere Vodka bevvys at centuries old Auberge le Saint-Gabriel (ironically, the first establishment in North America to obtain a liquor licence, circa 1769) while grooving to the beats of DJ Mary Hell.

The womenswear collection offered smoky eyes and loose braids accented by soft pastels, short-shorts, flirty dresses and jumpers, playful warm-weather plaids, stripes, and strappy sandals from Seychelles. The men worked the catwalk sporting casual graphic print tees, light hoodies, slim-fitting shorts and rolled-up capris, deck shoes by Pointer, and James Dean-esque pompadours.

FINN, according to designer Vicky Kelechian, is a brand aimed for, “media and design obsessed youth”. Her inspiration for the Spring 2010 collection was the music of “David Bowie…and the Mamas and the Papas”. The result? A little bit of rock and roll, seaside nautical influences, and a delicate and nostalgic “washed-out 1970’s California Dreamin’” feel.

The Hip List – Who, What, Wear
Milling around in the sea of attractive attendees was the ever gracious and gorgeous Vanessa Morcom, PR queen and President of VANESSA NINA & KAMINTEN in a hot violet number from FINN’s spring collection. Little Burgundy marketing manager and FINN PR rep Catherine Laporte rocked a black zippered FINN creation from Fall 2009, while Montreal burlesque dancer Scarlett James, looking like a mix of Marilyn Monroe and Dita Von Teese, turned heads in a red corset with sweetheart neckline. Effie Giannou,  Public relations manager at Aldo Group, showed off her Ping-Pong skills at the Velvet Underground after-party in sky-high heels and a colour block knit dress by FCUK, while hip-hop street dancer Leah McFly, (aka Leah Poppinz)of 2marvelous tore up the dance floor in a playful giraffe print dress by Jeremy Scott for adidas Originals. Sweet as ever Sweetspot.ca Montreal editor Vanessa Flannery Muri sipped creative cocktails with handsome and talented photog hubby Marc Muri , while Mabel Palomino and Wynn Holmes of foxy Montreal-based Pinup Saints mixed and mingled with the likes of famed fashion show producer Hans Koechling of The Image Is

FINN is available at Urban Outfitters, FLY Boutique, 3 Monkeys and online at:

Boutique Finn
www.finnbrand.com
www.littleburgundyshoes.com