Ruffian Fall/Winter 2012, at The ShOws. All images courtesy of Jenna Marie Wakani.

Noblesse oblige Ruffian’s Brian Wolk and Claude Morais presented an elegant, ladylike collection to a well-heeled crowd at The ShOws at Toronto’s Ritz-Carlton yesterday. The sharply tailored separates, wool plaids and colourful tweeds evoked images of the English countryside, with garments that we’re sure the Crawley sisters from
Downton Abbey would have loved. Even though some speculated that Ruffian’s jewel-toned hues and chapeaux were a little too similar to Gucci’s Fall/Winter 2011 show, we think Wolk and Morais are a much welcome addition to the Toronto fashion week schedule.
State of grace Born in Vancouver, David Szeto launched his eponymous fashion line in Paris in 1993 and soon made a name for himself as a connoisseur of ladylike dressing. That expertise was on full display at his presentation at The ShOws. Szeto showcased a chic Fall/Winter 2012 collection, mixing bold hues (cobalt, forest green) and hemlines (from above the knee to mid-calf). The throughline? Refinement. As Szeto told ELLE backstage, "I always design with my customer in mind."
Click through for more pics from the shows!
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