The Tamesis
Greta Constantine designer Kirk Pickersgill is celebrating 20 years in the business. Granted, this is no small feat for a Canadian brand, as Canada’s fashion industry in particular is tiny and growing and sustaining a brand on a global scale can be challenging. “As an immigrant, I’m proud to still be doing what I love,” Pickersgill said. “I feel like this is just the beginning.”
For his new fall collection, Pickersgill wanted to double down on what the brand does best: red carpets and pageantry. Yet Pickersgill said he wanted to do it in a way that reflected a modern sensibility: not so much delving into his 20-year archive as looking toward the future and pushing his signature formalwear into a new chapter. “Diana Vreeland once said ‘I hate nostalgia,’ and I feel the same way,” he said. “I don’t need to go back in time to create my future.”
As always, cocktail dresses and gowns were the focus, and Pickersgill’s experimentation with various textures and silhouettes gave them an update. His opening look was a burgundy sequined floor-length gown with delicate floral embroidery, paired with a heavy fringed line black jacket—a juxtaposition of formal and classic, but also a bit dramatic. “I like pieces that have movement,” he said. Pickersgill’s color always shines through, as evidenced by his structured interpretation of a yellow-collared shirt dress, which featured a tiered hem and a voluminous train. A coral-colored cotton tank dress covered in individually placed petals. “I like to create pieces that, when someone enters a room, make you just want to get closer,” he said.
His more dignified black works also have a certain visual interest. A simple strapless black shift gown with a ruffled petal-shaped organza skirt—business style at the top, party style at the bottom. These may not be the most unexpected designs, but for Pickersgill, they’ve been in the works for over two decades. “This collection is a love letter to the people who have come and gone, and why this company still exists.”
