The PAVONI show was a marvelous end to my Toronto Fashion Week experience! Whether it was before the show, during the show or backstage, the PAVONI presentation stood out as one of those well-organized, warm and glamorous events.

The Co-Founder / Creative Director, Mike Derderian and the Co-Founder / President, Gianni Falcone, created the PAVONI line in 2011 and have been going strong ever since. They are regulars on the red carpet having dressed celebrities such as Katy Perry and Miranda Lambert.  After seeing their Fall 2013 collection, I understand why.

I started my backstage interview by letting Derderian and Falcone know in one word how I felt about their collection: “GORGEAAAAAASSS!” I said. Yes with a succession of ‘aaaaasss’. We all burst into laughter and the rest was history. “I love that! Gorgeaaaaass with a capital A” said Derderian. [See photos]

On a more serious note, the fashion show started to classical music which created the perfect stage for their romantic, period inspired collection. This Evening Wear / Bridal collection was heavily embellished: fine beading work, studs and metallic accents à la Paco Rabanne. The silhouettes were sometimes classic: fitted floor grazing mermaid gowns and sometimes edgy: high-low flounced peplum with fitted bodice dresses. “We were inspired by a romantic period, a softer period and we wanted to  bring back the essence of femininity.” said Derderian by whom’s standards this collection was pretty demure although it might seem opulent in the eyes of the rest of us. The color palette however was simple and understated: white, oxblood, nude, pewter and slate-gray.

“Fashion is a feeling. When you are designing you can’t always think about what’s happening (trends),  you feel it. Whether it’s in terms of what’s around you, the people, the events, the arts, the audience…. People ask me why did you decide to do a monochromatic collection with not too many colors? I respond: because I wasn’t feeling for more colors. That’s all.” said Derderian.

When asked about the causes near and dear to their hearts they had many: cancer, anti-bullying, and gay rights.

 

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