Joeffer Caoc hasn't shown much over the last few Fashion Weeks, but once his show got underway on Thursday night at the Brick Works it felt like nothing had really changed in his absence from the runway. He's still in line with the ever-so-common Canadian design aesthetic of fresh yet sexy-ish sportswear and go-to pieces for everyday life, and the occasional dinner-party (see also: Canuck successes David Dixon and Pink Tartan).

While not super-exciting, we need those go-to pieces for everyday life, and choosing a Canadian designer like Caoc is as good a designer as any for those pieces. Early stand-outs include a blousy bubblegum-pink silk satin blouse, a nice cropped black trouser, and a abstract photo-print blazer-and-shorts suit (with Swiss dots!) - all perfect for work.

(Less-perfect are some of Caoc's fabric and cut choices: the middle of the show was glutted with chain-store-quality pieces in gold lamĂŠ, cheap-looking floral silk, and black lace.)

But then he brought it all home with a gorgeous clutch of nineties-inspired pyjama suiting and maxi-dresses that perked me right up, and moved away from the daywear doldrums and into something more unique and exciting.

I scrawled "EXQUISITE" in giant, excited capitals when the model strode down the runway in a sailor-striped pyjama-style suit. Also nautically gorge was the looong, lean, navy-striped max-tee-dress, and the matching floor-length skinny cardy (note the silver sequin sash!). Very resort, and very Chanel.

Caoc surprised me after all, and I like it.

Photos by Dennis Marciniak