Illyria Design

The ladies of Mad Menwould find themselves trotting into the Toronto studio space of designer Illyria Pestich. Her artful conceptions are redefining the elegant and minimalist frocks that would have graced the women of cocktail hour in the 1960s with a contemporary twist. Think shift dresses with cutouts, back silhouettes with a fusion of textures, and sweetheart necklines adorned with semi-attached mesh boleros.

CitylifeTV.ca got a behind-the-scenes look at Illyria Designs’ fall/winter 2011 collection, where the designer’s signature tailoring was a highlight. Every ultra-feminine frock is styled to fit like a glove and endowed with draping that hugs all of the right curves. This season’s modernity was the result of an unconventional incorporation of textiles and attention to interesting details. Pestich combined velvet with delicate lace, mesh with jacquard weaves, and revealed back cowls on dresses that weren't actually backless.

The best part of this season’s collection is that the styles can be transformed from day to night, taking you from the office to dinner drinks. But if you're afraid that that deep plum satin mini is perhaps more suitable for a night on the town, all of your favourite pieces are offered in a matte finish, so you can still wear the tailored-to-perfection apparel casually.

After years in the business, Illyria Designs continues to flatter the female form with fashions inspired by the sophisticated woman with an edge. It’s no doubt that in an Illyria dress, heads will turn.