Several seasons ago, the Fashion Design Council of Canada inducted a number of the country’s most talented designers into an elite society, known as the Group of Seven. Andy The-Anh is a member of this prestigious club, and from his show at Toronto Fashion Week it was plain to see why.

The mood of the show was set by the soft blue lighting and the misty fog that drifted over the catwalk. By the time the music began, a techno remix of Real Life’s Send Me an Angel, and the first model appeared with her long blond flowing curls and iridescent make-up, it was evident that The-Anh ’s theme for the collection was ‘angelic’.

In terms of the clothing itself, The-Anh achieved the angelic look by using icy pastel coloured fabrics, predominantly in violet, blue, silver and gold; there were no stark colours such as black and white to be seen. Although his suits and dresses exhibited the superiority in tailoring for which he is known, he was still able to make them appear soft, airy and angelic through his colour palette and choice of fabrication. Many of the skirts and blouses were tastefully detailed with ruffles and rosettes, and there were jewels accenting the cuffs of several sleeves.

Most of the garments presented were dominated by a straight silhouette, however many of the skirts on the longer dresses (hem lengths throughout the collection being floor length or just above the knee) fanned out with the movement of the models to appear more billowy.

In true The-Anh style, the show ended with all of the models making one last trip down the runway in identical dresses. In comparison with other shows at fashion week that I was able to see, I believe that Andy The-Anh’s collection exhibited exemplary cohesiveness and garments of a superior quality. It was truly worth the trip to fashion week to see this collection.