L'Oreal Fashion Week: Denis Gagnon

I can see tears in the model’s eyes as she walks into the blinding flashes of white light at the end of the runway. She is wearing a black, asymmetrically tiered knit dress, silver jewelry and black leggings that go over immensely tall platform shoes, the kind generally reserved for the pole dancing set. A cinched black belt defines her waist.
This is one of the first looks Québécois designer Denis Gagnon sends down the runway for his 2008 fall fashion collection; something that smacks of last season. 2007 fall fashion was dominated by the sweater dress, chunky knits and waist defining belts, looks Gagnon echoes. Fortunately, the tiers and pleats in the fine-knit dress offer something slightly new—a dress that is thick with layers without being bulky.
As the show continues, many of the looks begin to incorporate leather. A pair of leather pants, sewn in winding strips up the model's legs and over her hips, coupled with a sheer top, shows the rocker-chic edge the designer was going for. This look has been seen before—juxtaposing leather with feminine sheers, but the detailing on the pants makes it fresh.
Spring looks are incorporated into the fall line, with the swing dress redone in leather, this time sewn in bands of concentric circles. It’s an interesting piece, but the show gets a little monotonous. It’s an almost entirely black collection—the other colours included are white and brown.
The designer seems pleased with it though, sprinting down the runway with arms outstretched as the show concludes.