This year I was invited to attend Montreal Fashion Week, along with Toronto's Janine Falcon from Beauty Geeks, as one of P&G Beauty's Super Blogeuses. Although the title didn't come with either a cape or any superpowers (unless you count LashBlast, and I do), I did get front row seating, backstage access, and plenty of champers in the VIP Designer Lounge.

The two people in charge of making the magic happen are Denis Binet, Artistic Director of Hair for MFW, and Catherine Laniel, Artistic Director of Make-up for MFW. 

Denis and Catherine are assisted by a team of make-up artists and hair stylist who work together to bring the designers' artistic vision to the runway.

The hair for the Denis Gagnon show was elaborately braided and coiled.

While the make-up was glossy and clean. Scroll down to Montreal Editor, Marianne Wisenthal's, blog about the Denis Gagnon show to see the runway result.

The beauty of this (see what I did there?) is that all of the looks for MFW are created using P&G Beauty products, meaning CoverGirl, Pantene, Gillette, and Sebastien. Meaning you can get them in your drugstore. Meaning you can do MFW looks yourself at home (Artistic Directors of Hair and Make-up not included).

Surrounded by make-up artists I did what any self-respecting beauty junkie would do. I got a make over!

  Being a Super Blogeuses may not have made me a superhero, but I felt like a superstar. Merci, P&G!                                                          

There's always a buzz in the air when Denis Gagnon is about to show. His PR team almost had to go into hiding when tickets ran out an hour before catwalk (the fashion media can be awfully scary when told no). The show opened with a few clips from his upcoming documentary, My Name is Denis Gagnon (March 21, 6:30pm at the MMFA)

The first lady out was rising-star Sarah Jordan (she's come a long way from small town Saskatchewan in this little number!).  For our boy, it seems fall 2010 is all about zippers and fringe. He transformed Aldo booties and even created dangly bracelets out of zippers.

Having had a sneak peek at the collection earlier this week, I learned that the cowhide clutch bags were inspired by a carpet in Denis' living room. The bloke beside me at the show said it was in fact the actual rug, which may be true since Denis declared himself a pauper in Tuesday's Gazette (http://bit.ly/bFjex1).  Nevermind, they're fabulous!

Gasps, and a few dropped jaws as this fantastic golden zipper dress emerged from the dark.

In anticipation of his upcoming line for Bedo (and maybe the prospect of a few shekels towards another collection), Denis took his bow in a zippered head piece and T-shirt featuring a sketch of his bespeckled face (I want one, please pretty please...) After that glorious show, I officially  declare him the King of the Catwalk. Bravo Denis!

Adieu Montreal Fashion Week! See you in October...

I love the Micalla show. Designer Camilla Jorgensen knows what a girl wants...namely, lots of bling, boys, and baked goods. Note to all designers: While a timely cookie may not sway my review, it certainly can't hurt to have the media on a giddy sugar rush while you show your collection. And what a collection! This year the show started with a new more affordable line called "Don't Ask" (your cheeky response when someone asks you how much your bling set you back).

So pretty and shiny. These adornments would look great on me! The jewelry is lovely, too!

Micalla's more expensive line was brought out on an Oscar-worthy red carpet, with this glittering cape as a grand finale.

Big statement jewelry is going to be really important next season, since we'll all be wearing nothing but pasties and panties.

It's not often that you see a girl go from geek to glam in less than 24-hours, but model / mechanical engineering student Stephanie Shaver regularly quick-changes from hitting the books to stomping the runway, like a female Clark Kent. She'd make the rest of us dull normals with no "/" in our job descriptions hate her, if she wasn't so darn nice. If there was a genetic lottery, this girl won (photo on right by Marc Muri).

Stephanie is one of Helmer's regular models and has walked for him 6 times. According to Stephanie, Helmer thinks of his models as muses and often has specific ones in mind for each of his designs. She let me follow her around the days before Montreal Fashion Week, to see how a model really gets ready for the shows. Coffee, it seems, is critical. As is a lot of patience. Stephanie stood still and quietly for almost an hour while her clothes were pinned and adjusted to fit.

Patience is also required in the backstage area, where models must get their hair and make-up done 3 hours before the show begins. There is A LOT of sitting around. Which makes me think I might be good at this.

When I stopped in backstage to visit Stephanie (pre-make-up), along with Janna Zittrer of Flare, she kindly offered us some of the models' carrot cake, but it was all gone. "Oh, sorry, I guess we ate it all." She said. "To be honest, I think it was mostly me."

Make-up and hair is done according to the schematic laid out by the artists at P&G Beauty, and then the models try to perfect the expression laid out  on the mock-up. I think Stephanie needs a little more mirror practice, right Tyra?

And then it's time for the catwalk. I asked Stephanie for her best tip for non-models to look more like models and she emphasized good posture. "Not only will it make you look better, but it will make you actually feel more confident. Which will also make you look better." I tried giving Stephanie a little wink as she walked by me on the catwalk, but she admitted later that all she sees is the lights (photo below by Marc Muri).

All we see is Stephanie.

Stephanie Shaver is a model with SPECS MODELS in Montreal.

It was a party on the catwalk as the Barilà sisters presented their Glam-Glitz-Grunge collection at the end of fashion week's day trois.  Slouchy shorts were paired with combat boots, stripey tuxedo jackets and the odd electric guitar.

Things got into full swing with sequined jackets, dresses and leggings in fantastical electric-blue

But it was this ruched leather body suit that evoked gasps from the audience and rare, mid-show applause.

Like any great fete, it all ended with a shower of glitterama falling from the ceiling.  Party on, fashion folk!

Just as I am complaining about a lack of pizzazz on the runway, the designers came out and give me an eyeful. We've got just a bra at Dinh Ba, pasties at Cocolily and Bodybag by Jude, and lacy underpants at Bodybag by Jude. Don't they know we live in Montreal? It gets cold here, sometimes!

Dinh Ba offered up his trademark silhouette of tiny waists, belled skirts, and distressed hems in a variety of textured fabrics. 

After bringing out the scantily clad (yet very stern) fashion police, Bodybag by Jude showed sexy librarian stylings and no-second-helping-for-you sleek high-waisted pants.

And in the final show of the evening, Eve Gravel took a French feline approach with kitty ears and berets.

The moral of this fashion story? If you are going to even bother to wear more than just your underpants or some well placed stickers, next winter is all about stripes, animal prints, shoulder embellishments, textured tights, and black, black and more black. Oh, and ears. Don't forget your kitty ears!

Not to sound all jaded after three whole MFW seasons, but after a while the shows all start to look pretty similar. And at the start of Day 2 I was thinking that if I had to watch another full day of shows all about leggings and black and draping knits, I would really have to start channelling Andre Leon Talley to get me through ("There is a famine of beauty!"). Luckily Cocolily came along to snap me out of my funk with a little ANTM-styled model pose-off at the top of the runway.

I wish I could have heard the model's directions! "OK, get to the top of the runway, imagine the other girl stole your boyfriend, and then show her who's boss...by voguing her into submission." Unlike regular shows, in which the models stare straight ahead, these moxie-filled missies locked eyes with the audience. I had a stare-down with Tia from Canada's Next Top Model. I think I lost.

The bold format sent the blogosphere and Twitterverse ito a frenzy. Check out the front row, frantically tweeting, scribbling, and checking their shots.

After the show, the Cocolily team served cupcakes in the VIP lounge to celebrate. I had three, which is a good thing since food is scarce at MFW. Cupcakes for dinner!

Designer Naana Tennachie Yankey was in a celebratory mood. "We're going out for dinner and everyone's invited!" She said. And she should be. Cocolily's flirty designs are a perfect go-to for your sexy party dress needs.

Just don't wind up in a pose-off with any model types. They know what they're doing.

Blogging and tweeting abounds at the 18th edition of Montreal Fashion Week. I even caught Montreal's own version of a wee Tavi furiously scribbling notes in the front row of every show. Tot blogging is the new black.

Although, to many of the first day's designers, black was the new black. Melissa Nepton showed a mix of opaque and transparent, flowy and snug, furry and, well, not furry...in jet, noir, kohl, charcoal, and ebony with a smattering of greys and a glimpse of red and white for good measure.

Nadya Toto returned to the Montreal runway with black lace, black jersey, black wool, black silk and black taffetas. Shoulder embellishments abounded, with bows, ruffles, and sequins broadening the female silhouette. The twitterverse was positively buzzing about the fuschia dress with matching tights...hint hint! We want some colour this winter!

And Marie Saint Pierre kept the ball rolling withmore black, white and nude, as well as some intestinally-inspired accessories. Once you get past the "innard-wear as outer-wear" stylings, the MSP sleek draping stands out.

But finally Helmer brought some colour back into the evening with his runway show to benefit Handicap International Canada. Helmer had originally planned to leave the runway behind after last season but, after the earthquake in Haiti Helmer, who is of Haitian descent, was inspired to return. Showing some new items as well as a retrospective of his trademark patchworks, Helmer's show was joyful. Even the models smiled. With their eyes.

More from the runway, backstage, and the P&G Beauty VIP section as the week goes on. For up-to-the-minute updates, follow my tweets!

It was an unusual start to Fashion Week as menswear designer Philippe Dubuc unveiled his Fall/Winter 2010 collection on a 730-foot ship docked at the Quai Alexandria. 

Only for Dubuc would a bunch of precious fashion journos climb a ladder like this (over a garbage-filled dumpster, no less)

His monochromatic collection includes sailor-inspired coats, pants and blazers made of boiled wool and ribbed knits. 

Further along the gang plank we saw the clothes in action as nordic models posed for pics.

Ship's ahoy, Mateys!

As Vancouver's city-wide hangover sets in, we're saluting five great things about the 2010 Winter Games.

1. Holt Renfrew's chic and cheeky sports-themed windows.

2. The first of the many great parties! Media from around the world mixed and mingled at the Opus Hotel podium-themed event (look for editor-in-chief Sarah Bancroft on the far left). Vancouver editor Joy Pecknold even got up-close-and-personal with a pseudo rock star.

3. Corporate met quirky at the Coca-Cola Pavillion. Check out the pillows made from recycled bottles and Vancouver editor Joy Pecknold looking fierce in polar bear paws.

4. Loads of international street style...we snapped this hip chick downtown.

5. Noise complaints, lineups around the block, bagpipers, a steady rotation of U2, wine served in a plastic cup and a floor so sticky managing editor Maria Tallarico was constantly checking if she stepped in gum. Irish House 2010 earned its epic party house reputation. We saw, we drank, we conquered.