Lingerie Française Paris (the French federation of lingerie and swimwear) returned to Wychwood Barns Wednesday to present the association's fifth annual runway show, featuring a preview of the fall 2010 and spring 2011 collections from brands like Passionata, Chantelle, Princesse Tam Tam, and Empreinte. The event, dubbed "A French Rendez-Vous," adopted a Parisian theme with a cabaret-style performance on the catwalk and images of iconic landmarks like the Eiffel Tower and the Moulin Rouge as a backdrop.
More than 500 guests—including media, buyers, and V.I.P.s—attended the event, hosted by In Fashion's Glen Baxter, who welcomed attendees to the "hottest fashion show in Toronto," a reference to both the lingerie and the temperature inside the venue, which had no air conditioning.
"We try to find a space that can accommodate backstage, the runway, hair, and makeup. Although we have 500 guests, we need a space that can hold 1,000 people," said Arnaud Presti, executive director of Run Productions, the company that produced the event on behalf of Lingerie Française Paris and Defi-La Mode de France (the committee for the development and promotion of French clothing).
"Every year is a bit of a challenge because we're trying to find a new concept for the show," Presti said. "We always want to raise the level of the show. This year our approach was to really do a focus on Paris so all of the scenery is Parisian. We also hired some dancers to choreograph a dance so this year the show is going to be more like a cabaret show than just a fashion show. It's very dynamic."
Dancers, wearing lingerie with ballet slippers, carried parasols along the runway to open the show. The troupe from Hit and Run Productions also walked the runway to "Willkommen" (from the musical Cabaret) and accompanied singer Ambur Braid on the catwalk. Braid performed two songs during the presentation, including a rendition of "Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend" mixed with Madonna's "Material Girl." A champagne reception, with catering by Jean-Pierre + Co., followed the show.