As I am sure everyone told you when you were packing to come to McGill, the key to survival is a) layering and b) a good coat and boots. To speak to the former, I am the biggest proponent of Uniqlo HEATTECH (not really a hot take at this point – note my temperature pun). All jokes aside, HEATTECH is a lifesaver when it comes to insulation. As far as a coat, I personally think you can survive without dropping hundreds on a puffer jacket as long as you have the layers and thermals to take its place. As far as boots go, I do not have recommendations. Finding cute snow boots is not something I have accomplished as of yet. In the interim, I have been sporting a Doc Martin-esque boot that does the trick. Some people seem to be ignoring the snow and sticking to their normal Adidas Sambas, while others opt for a warmer route, sporting the ever-controversial platform UGGs. As long as you can find a shoe that keeps you warm and spares you the embarrassment of slipping down McTavish or University, you are winning.

As far as fashion trends this year, I turned to the real students on campus, conducting some preliminary observational research. The goal was to try to notice what people are wearing, from jackets, to hats, to brands of boots. I parked myself on a bench inside Leacock and watched as people came and left the building, taking note of the apparel I was seeing. Today, January 14, is around -3 degrees Celsius (25 degrees Fahrenheit) with a real feel of -11 degrees. We had some light snow this morning, partial sun, but mostly cloudy. All in all, this is a fairly average day for McGill winter weather, and therefore is a perfect climate for our experiment. Obviously, there is a possibility for observational bias here, as I tend to have strong fashion opinions and might be more apt to observe things that I personally like. With that disclaimer out of the way, let’s start with what people are wearing on campus.

To no one’s surprise, the colour of the season is black. It feels natural to dress in dark colours for the darkest days of the year. Among a swarm of students heading into Leacock, only a few pops of colour stand out among the myriad of black puffers and wool coats. Within the uniformity of an all-black outfit, people are experimenting when it comes to shape, structure, and layers. Black fur hats are paired with long black skirts over jeans. Playing with shapes, textures, and patterns is a way to wear black without looking like you have coordinated your outfit with everyone else on campus. A lot of people circumvent this issue by simply throwing on a colourful chunky scarf (you know the ones).

I am seeing a lot of fur accessories and jackets with fur trim. I enjoy the looks that embrace fur to the fullest extent, with full-length coats or faux-fox bombers. Most of the time, I find the people wearing the most fur finish their statement with a sweatshirt and messy hair, which I simply love. The “mob-wife” vibe transitions really well into winter, as a simple outfit can look chic and on-trend by adding a fur coat or big leather bag to your sweat set. Even if you are an Aritzia Super Puff person, wear a cool scarf, change up your bag, or try funky pants to spice up your outfit. Like I was saying: this is a mix of blending being warm with looking cool. Over the course of my observation, I also observed some seemingly hand-knit hats and eccentric hair accessories. All in all, I urge you to experiment with small additions to your outfit that work to elevate a simple jacket.

One of my favourite observations, and possibly the most unintentionally useful winter accessory, are headphones. While they seem like college-student staples, their dual purpose as ear warmers has recently become apparent to me. In the wake of that observation, I have been keenly observing the different styles and models headphones come in, adding personality (and soundtracks) to people’s bundled outfits.

Sacrificing individuality seems to be out of the question for McGill students. While black and grey hues and puffer coats are the overarching theme of campus fashion, there are glimmers of singularity in varying aspects of an ensemble. Style isn’t everyone’s priority during the winter months, especially when staying warm is at the forefront of our minds, yet putting a little bit of effort into making your clothes feel like yourself makes it easier to break out of a winter slump. The best thing you can do is to not focus on looking “good,” per se, but on having fun and making these dark days seem a little brighter. Whether through colours or layers, playing around with your clothes and mixing and matching is the joy of winter dressing. See you on campus!

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The models emerged one by one from a cavern of white walls with  floor lights, illuminating them from underneath. The designs floated down the runway as the models waltzed into a crowd of friends, families, and fellow fashion-loving students. 

Circle of Fashion is a club at McGill that centres around all things fashion, focusing on encouraging students’ fashion interests and creating a community around those interested in self expression through clothing. COF’s guiding mission is to be a space “where students can express their fashion creativity.” The club was founded in 2022 by Manon Ashida and has seen exponential growth in the last two years. COF now has an expansive executive team, a podcast, and events every semester including clothing swaps and pop-up markets. Additionally, COF publishes a print magazine, Pamplemousse, every semester, along with regular additions to their online blog. 

COF also puts on a biannual fashion show. No two are alike, with each show featuring different locations and designers. Last year’s fall fashion show took place at Montreal’s  Olympic swimming pool, while the Winter 2024 show was presented in a gorgeous, gothic church, Chapelle Notre Dame de Bon Secours, located in Old Montreal. The show on November 1 had an air of professionalism and shared vision that permeated the evening. Their dedication to the production value and to creating an all-encompassing, intentional experience made it all the more enjoyable to watch. There is something special about a group of students not only conceptualizing, but actualizing an evening where designers, students, and fashion enthusiasts alike can come together and celebrate storytelling through fashion.  

The materials and silhouettes were the stars of the show. Crocheted knits, buttons, silks, and flowing chiffon jumped off the runway. Viewers couldn’t help but appreciate the intricate skills and craftsmanship these students and artists poured into their creations. Floral motifs and micro-mini styles dominated the evening. Each collection had its own unique flavour, reflecting the personal style of the designers. Whether it was through colour palettes, styling, or the persona they wanted their models to embody, each artist conveyed their distinct and powerful visions. 

The thread connecting all the showcased collections is the showrunners’ obvious passion for creating and designing. The show concluded with a collection that directly reflected the ambiance of the sophisticated setting. Francis Hoang’s collection was filled with three stunning all-white looks that seemed to glide down the runway. In an Instagram post about his vision, Hoang said that he wanted his designs to have a certain “flowiness,” emulating “air, leaves falling, water […] something that moves elegantly.” 

This evening wasn’t just about the clothing, it was also about the storytelling, theatricality, and performance that comes with putting on a runway show. Some models didn’t just walk through the space – they played a character. Their approach called to mind models like Leon Dame who walk with a certain persona in mind. 

On behalf of The McGill Daily, we spoke with model Max Freedman and designer Olivia Dunkley to get a full picture of what the COF show was like from behind the scenes. 

Freedman, first-time model but long-time lover of fashion, was one of the first models to walk. “It was a little nerve-wracking as I have never done anything like that before,” Freedman noted. Despite these nerves, when asked to summarize the experience in three words, Freedman described it as “exciting, collaborative, and new.” Amidst a post-midterm frenzy, the show was a welcome creative outlet for Freedman. 

Dunkley, a returning designer, shared her experience being backstage during the show saying, “The environment is really fun and [it] allows people who are interested in fashion and clothing to come together.” 

Overall, Circle of Fashion’s Fall 2024 show was a celebration of student craftsmanship, uplifting artistic interests that fall outside the scope of school and coursework. The experience was one of collaboration and symbiosis: the designers were able to showcase their creations while attendees had the joy of getting dressed up for an evening out. The COF team created an unforgettable evening that is sure to have a lasting impact.

If you want to keep up with Circle of Fashion, you can follow them on Instagram @circleoffashionmcgill.

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