Pink Tartan's Kimberley Newport-Mimran talks spring fashion, transitional pieces and Canada

Toronto’s World MasterCard Fashion Week kicked off on Monday, Oct. 20 with a bang – a stunning, structured collection from up-and-coming designer Sid Neigum, a surprise appearance and DJ set by Solange Knowles, and of course, the much-anticipated Pink Tartan Spring/Summer 2015 show.

Before Pink Tartan’s Kimberley Newport-Mimran sent her ‘70s-inspired collection (think wide-legged trousers, bold prints, plunging necklines and Penny Lane-chic outerwear) down the runway, we caught up with her backstage to chat about the spring collection, the changing face of fashion, and what every woman needs in her wardrobe.

Yahoo Canada: Tell us about Pink Tartan’s Spring/Summer collection. What kind of vibe are you going for? What inspired it?

Kimberley Newport-Mimran: It was a big nod to the ‘70s, but while moving forward.

YC: What kind of colours can we expect?

KNM: I like head-to-toe black for spring! It’s definitely got some interesting prints, and I like a head-to-toe print as well.

YC: We’ve seen head-to-toe print a lot lately – but how can someone actually make that work off the runway?

KNM: I am all about runway to real life. So it’s not something that you wouldn’t wear. I think once your eye kind of adjusts to what the new trends are, all of a sudden, it doesn’t feel like a circus.

YC: When people think of Canadian fashion, it’s often big boots and flannel. What do you think Canadian fashion is?

KNM: I think fashion is such a global language now, it doesn’t matter where you’re from. There’s definitely an element that is international about how people dress when they love style.

YC: Before you started Pink Tartan, you cut your teeth at places like Hudson’s Bay and Club Monaco. How did working at those iconic Canadian companies shape your career?

KNM: I can sort of give the analogy of “Karate Kid.” There’s a lot of things that you did where you were wax on, wax off, wax on, wax off and it was like “Oops, this isn’t really fashion.” But what you realize when you mature through it and mature through your career, is that all those fundamentals really built my knowledge and made me a better designer because I understood assortments and how to build an assortment and how the business side of it worked.

YC: One of Pink Tartan’s philosophies is the “day to dinner” look. What’s one piece every woman should have in her wardrobe that seamlessly transitions from day to night?

KNM: You need a little black dress, I think that’s very important. I think a white shirt is a very quintessential piece, and it’s how you wear it which takes you from day to dinner. (Editor’s note: Seems like Kim’s husband, Joe Fresh designer Joe Mimran, agrees about the timelessness of a white shirt!) And for this collection, I’m really into the jumpsuit. I think everybody needs a jumpsuit for next spring.

YC: What about your personal style? Do you encompass a lot of that in Pink Tartan?

KNM: I design clothes that I love, and that’s what my customer comes to me for. So definitely my thumbprint is on every piece.

YC: Fashion is kind of a weird industry where we’re always six months ahead. We’re seeing the spring and summer collections this week, but in reality, we’re just starting to get out our cold-weather clothes. What can someone buy now that will still be on-trend come May?

KNM: I always like style that has a little bit of endurance to it, so I think that if you buy a well-made, beautifully-fabricated, perfect classic piece, that’s something that can carry you through the seasons. I think it’s the layers that update it every season. So you have your core wardrobe, and the question becomes: how do you update it every season? With a great coat, the new bell-bottoms, a scarf – accessories really update a wardrobe as well.

YC: You split your time between Miami, New York, and of course, Toronto. What do you love about Canada?

KNM: I’m a Canadian girl! This is where my lab is, my style lab that I work out of. It’s just a wonderful place – because it’s home.

YC: We’ve really seen Canadian fashion evolve over the past several seasons. Where do you see us headed on the world stage?

KNM: I think with everything that’s happening in the digital platform, it’s really made fashion more universal. You get everything instantly. I remember when I was young, you had to wait until all the fashion reporters came back to tell you about what happened on the runway. Now, we’re getting everything instantly which truly makes fashion an international language.