Weeks ago, perusing the fashion.net website, looking for fabulous employment opportunities around the globe, I stumbled across a listing in Toronto. Now, this being a rare occurrence, I quickly opened the link to see what it unveiled. Flabbergasted and eager, I quickly responded; the ad was requesting volunteers for the 69 Vintage fashion show entitled: Psychedelic Holiday. I emailed one of company’s owners and in a flash of an eye, I found myself alongside choreographers Fritz and Maha (*Maha being my favourite person of the night) at the dress rehearsal.
Imagine not having to make 10 pit stops on the tube in order to reach every Oxfam in London, or better yet not having to inspect the piles and isles of vintage under the circus tent at Portobello. Unbelievable, amazing, unachievable- I think not. 69 Vintage takes the time to find those must have items each season, offering some of the best vintage Toronto has to offer. Imagine the styling of Pop Boutique (Covent Garden) or Retro Woman (Knotting Hill), the space of 2 Tesco Metros combined, and exposed brick. What could be better?
Taking place at The Social (another Toronto must), the show was divided into 2 parts: 1. Black & White, and 2. Psychedelic. Starting in darkness, eerie music played to a jam-packed crowd. As the music built up, models began to filter into the space- first single filed, next into 2 tableaux. When the music reached its’ climatic point, models walked the bar- stopping in the middle, enabling photographers to take shots of their fancy duds. At the end of the scene, a very sexy model named Denisse danced on the bar, seducing everyone in the room.
The transitional scene was absolutely adorable and featured the choreographer, Fritz and others, performing an energetic singing/dancing act- a perfect way of introducing what was to come. Models carrying sparklers danced down the space, grooving and freestyling to the beat before mounting the bar and strutting down the runway. By far the most entertaining part of the show, the positive energy buzzing throughout the crowd crescendo into boisterous applause as owners Kealan and Staysail took their finale bows.
The styling was fun and flirty with a vintage edge that much resembled the Brick Lane crowd. Leather, safety pins, velvet, cleavage and crinoline; all in all, a fantastic show.
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