There is a shock of white as the music cues in and the first of the newest Pink Tartan collection moves dreamily down the runway. It feels appropriate that winter’s most despised colour features first in a spring line, transporting us out of dark days and thick knits into a season full of short suits, flowy dresses and pretty prints.

Kimberley Newport-Mimran’s newest collection for her line is the perfect transition from winter to spring and summer. Time after time, she delivers updates on the classic pieces, like adding dimension to the Bermuda short and pretty patterns to the season’s favourite white frocks. The collection is trendy, but not over the top, mixing neon dresses and leather pants with wardrobe staples like the trench coat and crisp, button-up shirts.

Newport-Mimran is brilliant at designing luxurious but wearable clothing, but more importantly, she understands the Toronto woman and her wardrobe (like her need for a coat or leather pants in our unpredictable spring climate), and has produced a line with that exact woman in mind. There is something for every modern woman in her collection, regardless of age, and it is this element of timelessness that makes her designs so successful and keeps her among the top names in Canadian fashion.

Pink Tartan is a Canadian brand founded in 2002 by its president and creative director Newport-Mimran. Inspired by her grandmother’s classic wardrobe, her designs consist of wearable pieces that are masterfully crafted from luxurious fabrics. As a result, Pink Tartan has gained global success, gracing the shelves of Holt Renfrew, the Bay, Saks Fifth Avenue, Neiman Marcus and other notable stores.

Q +A

We chatted with Pink Tartan designer Kimberley Newport-Mimran about her latest collection and her must-haves for 2014

Q: Tell us about your spring 2014 collection — what inspired you this season?
A: I’m an art collector, and the spring 2014 line was really inspired by modern art, just the graphics and optics of it. And when designing a new collection, I usually pick an icon to model the pieces after, and this time around, I was really inspired by Edie Sedgwick, which is kind of a nod to
Andy Warhol.

Q: What trends are you most excited about in the new year?
A: I’m loving the A-line silhouettes and the pleats — but the thinner ones, not the thicker ones. I also like combining fabrics — the interesting dynamic of mixing, say, silks
with knits.

Q: What are your favourite pieces from the new collection, and how would you tell City Life readers to wear them?
A: The T-shirt dress is one of my faves, which can work on the beach with a pair of flip-flops or in the office with some tights and pumps! The vegan leather skirt also looks great with a T-shirt and a short blazer. When I see people wearing my clothes and wearing them well, I feel like I’ve done my job.

www.pinktartan.com