Well if fashion is foreplay, then fashion week is the climax and the world is in a big climax for the next few weeks with fashion weeks simultaneously happening in all the major cities across our troubled little marble in space. I for one, am a huge fan of the global foreplay that is fashion week and the joy that it brings. KA loves fashion from Montreal to Milan and NYC in between we will share our love of Fashion Week with you. In the hopes that you too will rally with us in this climax of fun and frivolity well needed and well deserved.

The season is Fall/ Winter 2012-2013 ( I know how the heck do they keep this organized) and how these creative types work on such an odd calendar is the reason why they are creative in the first place.

On a side note just so we are super clear KA magazine thinks the following: Montreal ROCKS!!! and has the most beautiful women in the world as well as some of the best fashion.

Check out some highlights from Day One of MTL Fashion Week.

(photos by Jimmy Hamelin)

MUSE (DIA! We caught you) http://www.muse-cchenail.com

TAVAN & MITTO - http://tavanmitto.com

DUY - http://www.duycollection.com

MELISSA NEPTON - http://www.melissanepton.com

(photos by Jimmy Hamelin)

Yes, Stevie B for Mayor is not such a bad idea after all. Imagine a city where French and English got along. It’s obvious that French is cool right. I mean Montreal without french is like poutine without gravy or (gasp) greasy fries, yum!!!

I must make a disclaimer here, I am cursed (lactose intolerant anyone, in the land of poutine). I am not able to taste this dish without an oxygen mask handy and possibly an ambulance parked outside my favourite Friday night restaurant “La Belle Province”. One can only dream that one day that tasty meal will be reinvented for all to savour sans lactose!

On that day, I will not just order it and close my eyes while using my imagination, I will take a bite of it’s goey goodness…one day. I digress, yes Stevie B for mayor of MTL.

But in the mean time and in between time, lets just say mayor or not, Stevie has KA’s vote hands down as the coolest cat in MTL. Who needs a big Grey building in the Old Port when you have the Hotel De Ville of Cool on Mountain Street above Rosalie’s, harkening back to the good old days (yes I said it) when cool was hot and the doorman sat on his purple Harley outside of his respective club and ate fried chicken from a box.

Full interview with Stevie B. – Vol. 5

Anja Gockel

Escada

Hugo Boss

Joop

Kaviar Gauche

Patrick Morh (dress rehearsal)

Stephan Pegler

BACKSTAGE BEAUTIES

One look at this and you’ll know why we love LOVE it…

There is a saying that goes a little like this: You know something or someone is meant to be when they come from out of “the blue” (wherever this blue is!) and it just feels right.

This is exactly what aroused, when the KA editor received an email from a friend insisting that he was to meet up with Amelia Racine. That name, he mused, sounded very familiar. A quick Google of Amelia and snap, crackle, pop; Miss Racine was on KA’s radar.

But the fun part was making the whole shoot happen, as Amelia was leaving in a few days back to Miami, also a month away from Christmas and just a few short weeks away from printing.

We found a way to make it happen, and were we ever so glad that we did! Amelia is a true star on the rise and we look forward to working with her again, though next time in a not-so-tight schedule.

But as the saying goes “If you want to get something done and done well…” In this case again, with the amazing styling of the KA team, and the fabulous master makeup work of Susan Morales (yes, get used to that name she is simply awesome) the Amelia Racine shoot was definitely a high point in the making of KA Vol.5.

I don’t know about you, but nothing spells a “Great Sunday” like models…well, two models to be exact, in bathing suits, posing provocatively for KA Vol.5. This would actually be the top of the top for me on any given Sunday afternoon

Dia and jess were beyond awesome as this was their first shoot for KA Magazine. Dia especially was very very vocal about her love of all things KA, as she enthused: “I’m gonna bring IT Rabi!!”

After a few minutes, the more reserved Jess caught the KA-Sunday-afternoon-bug and it was all fun fun and more fun in the KA studio.

God bless models, without them what would we be left with? I shudder to think of a bathing suit shoot with… a panda as the subject. Ok! Not a good example, since panda’s are really cute, but I am sure you get the point! Models R.O.C.K.!

Speaking of rock, let us not forget the crew; Rabi was incredible as always on hair, and Susan (the other pisces…there are three of us in the crew) was on with her superstar chair! Talking about superstars, did we say Ashley King anyone? She the multi-talented not to be pegged-down creative director of KA, kicking it with her styling and artistic “director-ing”!

KA Vol. 5 is worth the wait Dia. – Until March 2012

Special Thanks to AquaDiLara, Sauipe, NEVIK, Creed, Marleaux, Jimmy Choo, Louis Vuitton, Ksenia Boeva Collection & Rosenstein Paris

The full editorial will appear in KA Vol. 5′s Limited Edition, available January 2012.

HOMETOWN : ST. CATHERINES, ON

It would not even be a thought to do a Best of Canada issue with a models’ section, and not in- clude the queen herself: Ms. Linda Evangelista. We all love the fashion, the editorials, the maga- zine covers, but what did it for me was seeing Linda in the George Michael’s video, Freedom! The video itself was genius, but the sight of Linda just made it “butter”. She has been called legendary and a fashion chameleon who along side her famous friends ( we all remember Linda, Christy, and Naomi) changed the model game forever. Yeah, and it is so sweet that she is Cana- dian too! Linda is definitely KA’s Best of Canada 2010 and if we were to ever have a hall of fame, she is already on the short list.

JESSICA STAM

HOMETOWN : KINCARDINE, ON

What is it about farms or the rural country side that seem to produce tall lanky beautiful girls? I am sure if a poll was done on where the the most beautiful models in our world came from, the majority of them would have been raised either on a farm or in the country! Case in point, Jessica Stam, or as she is called by friends “Stam”, hails from Kincardine, Ontario. She grew up, yes you guessed it, on a farm, raised by a devoutly religious family and attended Sacred Hearts School. If that wasn’t enough of a point, she also worked at a local Tim Horton’s, where she was discovered by a scout, who was on her way back from (of all places) Canada’s Wonderland. Fast forward to Stam becoming the “it” girl for photographer Steven Meisel, who afterwards practically placed the Canadian beauty in every campaign and cover that he photographed, and the rest is history. Now Ms Stam, you have also been chosen as Best of Canada 2010.

UBAH HASSAN

HOMETOWN : VANCOUVER, BC

We found Ubah, like all good things in life: by chance. This is the story. It was last year around this time, there we were, looking at a magazine, and bam!! The picture of a goddess in a poured- on gold evening dress just jumped out of the page at us. After a moment to put our eyes back into our heads, the only question was “Who is this girl and when do we put her on the cover of KA Magazine?” Then you can only imagine our surprise when we found out she was Canadian. The Somalian born model fled her war torn country at an early age to finally land in Vancouver Canada. After being discovered in Vancouver, she was then picked up by Click Models NYC. She instantly became the face to watch and after her appearance in the now legendary all black issue of Vogue Italia shot by Steven Meisel (yes Steven definitely seems to like the Canadians), that her star was on a definite rise. It wasn’t long after that, other designers were asking about this Canadian beauty from Vancouver. Fast forward to a go-see at Ralph Lauren and the rest is history.

“I wasn’t expecting him (R.L.) to be there, and he asked me to come over. Then he touched my hair and said that I had the most beautiful face.” says Ubah. Yes Mr. Lauren, we definitely agree with you and we are glad you approve of our choice for Best of Canada 2010: The beautiful Miss Ubah Hassan.

Humorist Benjamin Marquis will set the stage as Master of Ceremony of the event which will offer a number of performances by the worlds most talented Burlesque artists, such as Coco Lectric, Miss Sugarpuss, Bonbon Bombay et Michelle L’amour.

Burlesque Performer and Founder of the Festival Miss Scarlett James will grace the stage alongside special guests April March, Satan’s Angel and Tiffany Carter. “The Festival is in honor of this amazing period in time when night life was synonymous for Glamour and good times.” Says Scarlett.

A Fashion show will kick of the Festivities on the 25th, showcasing fine Parisian Lingerie from Lise Charmel as well as a sneak peak of the NEVIK Fall /Winter Collection by Montreal Designer Kevin Allwood.

The Fashion show will be followed by a music show “Oh Canada” featuring Canadian performers, headlined by Montreal’s own, singer ASHLEY KING.

This is merely just the beginning, as the whole weekend will be filled with sexy glamour at the Montreal Burlesque Festival 2011.

Visit www.montrealburlesquefestival.ca for tickets and information.

KA — When I met you, I was not expecting such a down to earth generous person as with the field you are in, most of the guys are not so genuine. How do you keep both feet on the ground?

SH — I started at the bottom and understood every step of the way. It allowed me to understand the value of things and most importantly the value of people, trying very hard in never taking things for granted. I was told at a young age that who ever you meet on the way up will be the ones you meet on the way down so stay true, humble & genuine…part of that lesson came from family. I stay grounded by surrounding myself with real things, spirituality, family, good friends and the basic values of life.

KA — The thing I was struck by was your particular sense of style; part ‘boho’ part retro, part Bond. Have you ever thought of going into fashion from the design perspective?

SH — Its funny you ask…I actually started my career in fashion but more on the retail manage- ment & buying side but quickly got bored and felt isolated. Fortunately my fashion experience led me to special event planning mixing both fashion & event production and giving birth to my first event brand “Don’t tell my booker” in 1998 with now offices in Paris, Miami & Montreal and with more than 10 international events a year. I’m also currently working on developing a premium denim line out of Montreal for worldwide distribution

KA — DTMB (Don’t Tell My Booker) is a phenomenal success, all the events that you do seem to be an immediate success. At the obvious risk of it not being a secret after we print, what is “your secret”?

SH — Secret huh? hahaha! If I tell you I will have to kill you!!(007)…Seriously though…it’s the combination of many things.1.CREATIVITY: I’m always looking for the wow factor in a DTMB event, the fear of doing just a regular thing scares me that’s why I spend a lot of time thinking outside the box. People need to escape and I’m there to give it to them. 2. AMBIANCE: ambiance is extremely important but often underestimated. It’s about understand- ing the flow of a room, knowing what and how to program the evenings entertainment. 3.CREDIBILITY: Make strong contacts and build your credibility, people talk and doors open 4.PERSISTENCE & STRONG WORK ETHIC: I always say, “you’re only good as your last event” That saying is what keeps me working hard, if you aim for the stars and only reach the moon well that is still good ‘cause your still out there.

KA — What new projects are on the burner?

SH — Always new projects on the burner, it’s what keeps me alive? I’m working on developing new hosting cities for DON’T TELL MY BOOKER. DTMB merchandising. A new denim line for early 2011. Also on the horizon restaurants, clubs and hotels…the more projects I have the hap- pier I get

KA — What is it about Montreal that seems to draw us back, even though the rewards are not close to being equal to the massive efforts?

SH — I left this city many times and for long periods of time but coming back always felt like home. Probably because things don’t change much, so you can leave for a while, come back, and always know what to expect…My only two set backs have been the cold weather and the lack of unity between French & English speaking Quebec. If both parties worked on one agenda, this city would be invincible. Montreal needs to start acting like a big city…so once again, blame it on politics.

KA — When do you take a break?

SH — I don’t …I live and breathe this stuff but no ones complaining here.

KA — When KA decided to do Best of Canada, you were an immediate choice. Does this sort of thing really make a difference to the person who receives it?

SH — Of course It does….most people who are passionate of their job never expect rewards , I know I don’t but being acknowledged sure gets appreciated…so thank you KA mag.

KA — Who is Stevie B.?

SH — Happy, passionate, inspired, determined and always ready.