God bless the nights when you can combine pleasure of sharing a great dinner (hold that dessert) with some extraordinary people (fashion bloggers, reality TV stars, illustrators and ... a handsome hockey player) with a pleasure to see a wonderful fashion show featuring stunning and very-well made clothes by young Canadian designers. 
 
That's exactly what happened last Saturday at The Carlu, where Toronto Fashion Incubator hosted a dramatic conclusion of its New Labels Fashion Design Competition. The show was hosted by beautiful Anne-Marie Mediwake from CBC News Now, who gracefully cleaned the catwalk from "tripping hazards" (stilettos left behind by tripped model) while wearing gorgeous chiffon "cabbage dress" by David Dixon.
 
On the runway five talented finalists: Anastasia Lomonova (accordion-pleated black silk cocktail dresses), Birds of North America (cotton twill dresses in muted colours with cute rosette details), Diepo (lingerie-inspired skirts and tops), House of Groves (black leather, vinyl and wool ensembles with equestrian feel) and Paris Li (sharply tailored monochromatic dresses with "baby Gaga" shoulders) competed for the grand prize package valued at over $35,000.
 
And the winner is... ? That would be a beautiful (and as tall as her models) Montreal-based and Ryerson graduate Anastasia Lomonova. But I would like to congratulate all the young and extremely talented designers who showcased their collections that night. I'm pretty sure that with your creativity and knowledge you've received at TFI (which fostered such Canadian talents as David Dixon, Joeffer Caoc and Todd Lynn to name a few) you do have a fabulous (just like your designs) future in front of you!


Beautiful Montreal based and Ryerson graduate Anastasia Lomonova(middle) and her stunning dresses



Anastasia Lomonova


House of Groves


Diepo


Birds of North America


Paris Li