Toronto Mens Fashion Week, which ran from August 19th to the 25th, was the first of many fashion weeks that are upcoming next month. In its 3rd edition, the menswear collections for Spring/Summer 2016 made our hearts flutter and wish for spring to hurry up already to see the trends in action, even though we are just starting fall! Editor Jamila Gandhi brings you an overview of her top five shows and designs aimed for the man who has no shame in appreciating real fashion!
Day one began in full swing with the opening act by Parloque. Besides having a visually exciting range, the designer upped the man-bun craze to pigtails sported by the models. If youÔÇÖre thinking what IÔÇÖm thinking, then youÔÇÖll know my prediction for the next menÔÇÖs hair trend!
If ÔÇ£bold and braveÔÇØ is your ultimate style, Kenneth BarlisÔÇÖ collection will give you joy you never knew existed. An ÔÇÿUptown funkÔÇÖ inspired range, models strutted the runway to the beat of Bruno Mars undeniably catchy number with some effortlessly doing a red eyeliner look. Barlis definitely made his message loud and clear to all men: when in doubt, strut some brights the Kenneth Barlis way day in and day out!
    
A list like this one would truly be incomplete without mentioning fashion Santa, Paul Mason. His show Finezza, was nothing less than a theatrical army of well-suited up men in masks, ┬átaking our breath away. The man himself was sporting a Christopher Bates purple suit, showing us how age is no barrier to rock a runway as well as how to never stop supporting friends ÔÇô a commendable quality indeed.
 
Being a nineties kid, I do love a good olÔÇÖ throwback and what could pay a better homage to those years than an inspired collection by La Faille? Whether itÔÇÖs rocking that denim bustier or a jacket too big giving you the motivational advice you needed, watching this show take creativity and fun to a whole new level surely made me nostalgic.
Notable Italian designer Christopher Bates and a TOM*FW fave, showed how masculine lavender hues can be. From pastels to darks, the theme of European flare was evident that could work great for an evening weekend or business casual look. If nothing, someone whoÔÇÖs responsible for designing the Air Canada crew uniform for years now, is surely someone we can trust for fashion advice.
Other noteworthy highlights:
  To see more of what went down on the front and backstage, track the hashtag #tomfw.