The state of fashion

Image from www.huffingtonpost.com

I've always adored Isaac Mizrahi and was thrilled to find out that he was responsible for the first lady looking so great at the State of the Union address. I like the textures of the dress and the plum looks great on her skin. I always want to see more from Mizrahi and am happy he's back at full force.

Thin is out!

Models getting ready backstage. Image from Getty via AFP

Sao Paulo Fashion Week is closing and creative director Paulo Borges is expressing concerns over the extremely thin models walking the shows.

"We have noticed with concern that some models on our catwalks -- often the most booked -- are extremely thin. These Brazilian girls are based most of the year in Europe and in the USA where they work majorly," Paulo Borges, the creative director of the Sao Paulo Fashion Week, said in a statement.

He issued the warning after seeing models fly in to parade in this week's Brazilian fashion event and stressed he and the other organizers were intent on "preventing extreme health problems among these professionals."

Brazil already has some restrictions on models ages and requires health reports, but he thinks more should be done.

"We would like to propose a joint effort towards minimizing this issue and preventing the effects of this trend on models, on our industry and on society itself,"

More shows from Rio

Maria Bonita Extra

Acquastudio

So last night was another night filled with fashion shows and the search for some new vendors. Though it was hard to take the heat on the second day of Rio-a-Porter without any air conditioning, we saw some new great things from Skunk, Eclectic and Anna Marcolina.
But the highlights were definitely Acquastudio and Maria Bonita Extra's fashion shows. Acquastudio showed some great -- and rarely seen on Rio's runways -- couture show with some beautiful architectural pictures. And Maria Bonita Extra might have had some great clothes, but what I really remember was the live band who kept the huge crowd, press and celebrities entertained.

Third night of Fashion Rio

Imagem oGlobo.com.br of Mara Mac's show today

So it's our second night at Fashion Rio and it's been a little hard to think about winter collections when it's a beautiful sunny 97 degree day outside. We are glad though that the set-up of the shows and showrooms is a little different this year, with both being at the same venue is a lot easier and quicker to take it all in.
On our first night we got to see a condensed version of all the vendors in a 35 minute long runway show where they each showed one piece. And we are happy to report that next winter will be full of prints and bright accents and we love Brazil for not letting us drown in a see of black when the weather is grim enough.
Tomorrow will be the real test when we get a chance to look at each collection, but we have a feeling we'll find many new exciting things.

l and don't forget to follow us on Twitter www.Twitter.com/ToucanBoutique for up to the minute updates! See you back here soon.

On my way right now to Rio de Janeiro for the kick off to Rio Fashion and Rio-a-Porter. Toucan Boutique will bring all the news from the runways of Brazi

For those who will be there or wish they were...

Image from FFW.com.br

So here is full line up for this season's Fashion Rio, Rio-a-Porter and Sao Paulo Fashion Week. Of course the favorites will be there: Cantao, Redley, Maria Bonita Extra, and all the ones to watch as well. It'll be hard to keep Winter in mind when the weather outside is sunny and 90 degrees, but I'll try.

Almost time for some Rio fashion

Image from Coven.com.br

We are so excited about the start of the new year and hope all of you had a great time celebrating. But we are even more excited about is the fast approaching Rio fashion and Rio-a-porter. We're looking forward to some sun, seeing all our favorite brands, and discovering new ones, like Coven, a modern cool brand coming to us from Belo Horizonte. Let us know if you have any suggestions for fun things to do while we're there.