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World MasterCard Fashion Week kicked off last night at David Pecault Square with presentations from two of Canada’s biggest players, Holt Renfrew and Pink Tartan

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Holt Renfrew: The Canadian luxe powerhouse often presents a showcase of homegrown talent at the tents, but Monday night’s show presented a twist.

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While the locals, including Jeremy Laing and Wayne Clark, were presented to media last week, it was a mix of high-end international brands from the current season (think Celine, Gucci, Kenzo) mixed with Canadian talent (Smythe, Pavoni) that walked down the runway instead, marking the chain’s 175 th anniversary.

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Pink Tartan: ‘I focused on the coat for this season,’ Kimberly Newport-Mimran said backstage before her Pink Tartan spring 2013 presentation.

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‘I love volume and I love shape – you’ll see a lot of unobvious geometrical shapes for the season. Lots of exaggerated proportions and interesting architectural lines,’ Newport-Mimran continued. Cue the spacious trapeze coat and ample skirts.

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And throw in some knits with considered bulk and paint it all in pastels to match Charlotte Free’s hair (the model, muse and mane of the moment opened the show).

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Pink Tartan always is a showcase of goods for a customer Newport-Mimran knows well, but one who evolves slightly every season.

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The designer brings on a new stylist every season to bring freshness to the collection; for spring the Pink Tartan girl was seen through the eyes of image-maker Anabel Tollman.

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The skirts, falling just below the knee, were standout as was a babydoll dress that fell away from the body but still managed to flatter.

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More exciting still were the footwear designs with Aldo on a series of silver-accented pumps, one of two Canadian collaborations for next season (the other is with Montreal’s Travis Taddeo).

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