modern sophistication
We’re seeing a lot of very vibrant colours – delicious shades of lemon yellow, blue and red. Navy is a classic neutral for spring and summer, as are white and off-white.
Saskatoon fashion entrepreneur Kajoo Kamal has presided over our city’s fashion scene for 36 years, spending her days at Klassique Designs – the city’s longest-running independent fashion boutique.
From her streetfront store in Scotia Centre, Kamal connects fashionable women from across western Canada to the leading fashion trends from around the world, with a particular emphasis on unique European collections and iconic Canadian designers.
Three years ago, Klassique Designs relocated within Scotia Centre to expand its presence. The move provided Kamal with the opportunity to portray the latest fashion trends through her ever-changing window displays facing Second Avenue. “I’ve found that our window displays are quite influential. Women are seeing fashion in a different way in our windows – the fashion story is constantly changing,” says Kamal.
Of course, the creative window displays are just a tantalizing taste of what Klassique Designs has to offer for stylish spring and summer attire.
The season is one of modern sophistication, says Kamal, evidenced by the elegant tailored looks being embraced by taste makers like Kate Middleton, Meghan Markel, Sophie Trudeau and Melania Trump. “They’re wearing modern versions of what we would have seen Jacqueline Onassis in. It’s more feminine, more sophisticated. It’s kind of like a modern conservatism – the necklines are higher. There is a lot more sleeve. Hemlines are coming down, below the knee. The silhouette is longer and leaner,” says Kamal.
“We’re seeing a lot of changes in pant legs. The look is moving away from super skinny, with a return to the boot leg, straight leg and the new wide-bottom leg. We’re seeing it in denim as well as dress pants. It gives women more variety.”
One of her favourite offerings for this season is an amazing tailored coat and matching dress by Montreal designer Iris Setlakwe. “It’s extremely tailored with very strong lines, but the dress underneath is very shapely. The coat is in this season’s new crinkle crepe fabric, which creates added visual interest.”
Also creating a sensation at Klassique is the Eroke line, imported from Italy. Eroke is making its stamp on the fashion scene with clever reversible dresses in eye-catching multicoloured prints. The shift-style dresses can be turned inside-out to create two totally different looks – for the price of one dress! “It’s completely different turned inside out. The fabrication and construction are wonderful. It’s not like a slinky knit that shows every bump and lump. It’s got lots of body and holds you in,” say Kamal.
“We’re seeing reversible looks in dresses, tops and coats. It’s such a smart fashion buy! And they’re ideal for travelling. You don’t have to pack as many items and they don’t wrinkle.”
Designers are paying a lot more attention to fabrication this season. “The difference is in the fabrics. They’re much higher quality. They’re lightweight, with a lot of stretch. The fabrics just have more power, which means they’re going to hang better. The garment is going to fit better and look better. Women are tired of having to wear three layers of Spanx under their clothes!” says Kamal.
Prints aren’t making as much of a splash this season, Kamal says. “We’re seeing a bit of a move away from the prints, in favour of a lot of detailing. There’s a lot of focus on embroidery touches and wonderful cutwork detailing.”
Soutache is enjoying a revival this season and Klassique is showing this fabric treatment in both day and evening dresses. Dating back to the 16th century, soutache is an intricate swirling pattern of embroidery embellishments most often applied to lace or mesh.
“We’ve never had so much of this in the store at one time. It drapes so beautifully!” says Kamal.
Spring is the season to revel in fresh colours. Kamal says that primary colours have nudged soft pastels aside this season. “We’re seeing a lot of very vibrant colours – delicious shades of lemon yellow, blue and red. Navy is a classic neutral for spring and summer, as are white and off-white,” says Kamal.
Klassique Designs has earned acclaim across western Canada for its outstanding selection of evening dresses – and never is that more apparent than during grad and wedding season! “We’re featuring fabulous gowns with lots of lace, beaded overlays, touches of embroidery and lots of scalloping. The finishing is so beautiful. Full-length and tea-length dresses are dominating. It’s definitely a more elegant, more sophisticated season for special occasion dresses,” says Kamal.
Grads from across the province flock to Klassique Designs for their one-of-a-kind gowns. Kamal maintains a computer database of the gowns she’s sold to make sure there are no duplications in the gowns she sells for students attending the same celebrations.
How does Kamal stay on top of everevolving fashion trends and maintain her position as a top style influencer in Saskatoon? “I’ve developed relationships with the top brokers in Canada over the decades. My brokers will spot something in Europe or somewhere else and think of me, knowing that this would be my look. That’s what happened with Iris Setlakwe from Montreal, Ecla and Eroke from Italy. There’s another cute line we’ve picked up from Quebec called Another Woman,” says Kamal.
She also converses directly with leading designers and manufacturers, including Canadian design icon Simon Chang. “There are many benefits to having been in the business so many years and having established those friendships. It keeps me in the know. If I need something ordered in or there’s an issue that needs addressing, I just pick up the phone,” says Kamal.
What’s the best way to discover what’s new in spring and summer fashion? “Go shopping – in person, in a store! I’m afraid people are forgetting how to shop. I can’t stress enough the power of seeing a garment, feeling the fabric and trying it on. Until you put it on, you can’t realize a garment’s potential. You can’t find out how a trend can be modified to suit you perfectly. You just don’t get that online,” says Kamal.