Carlie Wong makes Fashion Week debut with all-black evening wear collection

THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO - Vancouver designer Carlie Wong infused some nighttime glam into her afternoon runway show, kicking off Day 3 of L'Oreal Fashion Week with her sumptuous evening wear collection.

The 23-year-old, who was among the 12 featured designers on "Project Runway Canada," elected to use the go-to colour for elegance - black - for all her designs, diversifying the looks by manipulating the use of fabrics and structure.

Ruffled accents on halter dresses, shoulder straps and cap sleeves added a striking delicacyto the pieces, while shimmery sequin detailing on one-piece halter pantsuits, skirts and short-sleeved cropped covers contrasted well with satin and matte fabrics.

Dress and skirt lengths ranged from the mini to creations that swept the floor. There were unique variations on the traditional criss-cross strap, with sleeve length ranging from mid-shoulder to flared elbow and three-quarter length on jackets.

Wong said there wasn't a specific inspiration to the collection but rather that it was a statement on the future of global fashion.

"It's kind of a response to the luxury boom and the world being so simplified because there's so much chaos going on," she said in an earlier interview.

"It's just sexy, elegant, strong. That's what I was going for."

Wong said her "ultimate goal" was to have her work picked up by potential buyers.

"If not, just letting people know out there that this is happening and to watch out for me."

"Project Runway Canada" winner Evan Biddell, whose fall collection kicked off the week, was among the style watchers in attendance.

Comrags, Andy The-Anh and David Dixon were among those slated to show their new collections Wednesday.

Another "Project Runway Canada" finalist, Stephen Wong, one-half of the label Greta Constantine, was to present Wednesday night off-site at Toronto hot spot Circa.

© The Canadian Press, 2008