FASHION Magazine

By now you’ve probably heard about #Normcore. If not, you’ve likely been living in some kind of very basic cave. The Internet-at-large became aware of Normcore as a thing a week or so ago, when New York Magazine ran an article on the anti-trend trend. Young, hip New Yorkers were eschewing fashion trends and labels in favour of a pared down, muted look called Normcore, all light wash denim and sneakers at the bar. It was Larry David meets your dad in circa 1994. Or the combination: Jerry Seinfeld. I, a vintage lover with a weakness for 1950s sundresses who just figured out how to make crop tops happen, met the news with some concern: I couldn’t pull off loose T-shirts and straight jeans back when they were the actual norm! Not for the first time, my chubby ‘90s inner child was nervous. Visions of ill-fitting Gap Kids jeans and summers wearing Osh-Kosh T-shirts over Nike bathing suits danced in my head. And those visions were wearing Asics.

But all was not lost. After New York Magazine’s article on the trend exploded, K-HOLE, the New York-based trend forecasting collective behind the term took to Facebook and other forms of social media to express their displeasure. Apparently, New York Magazine (and I along with them) mistook Normcore for another creation of K-HOLE’s: #ActingBasic, which is defined as an “aestheticized version of the mainstream.”

Confused? Me too.

With spring hovering that much closer, it’s finally time to recharge those warm weather wardrobes (insert smiley face emoji here). This season, there are a few key pieces that will easily transform your look, and we’re here to make that transition as easy as 1, 2, 3.

A ‘90s revival on the runways breathed new life into the slipdress, making it the ultimate wardrobe essential layered under knits, with plaid and camo. Meanwhile, sex appeal was made hip with the advent of the side-slit leather skirt on runways like Proenza Schouler and Reed Krakoff. The long-favoured bomber jacket also reappeared on the runway this season, in satin and with transparent touches at Marc by Marc Jacobs and Dries Van Noten. So get ready to ditch all that heavy winter gear and consider these three as your must-have items to elevate your look this spring

Jump to: THE SLIPDRESS | THE SIDE-SLIT SKIRT | THE BOMBER JACKET

  References to hibernation aside, spring always feels like a reawakening. This season’s runways offered a series of wake-up calls by way of unique pairings, new approaches to femininity and dramatic looks. The constantly re-emerging athletic trend has gone straight up hood, with street-approved jerseys, retro bombers and low-slung pants giving it new life. Tommy […]

The post Spring Fashion 2014: 194 photos of the top 10 trends of the season appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Continuing on with this year’s ever-popular 1990s craze, the Fall 2013 runways went boudoir happy with a look back at one of the decade’s most popular items: the lingerie dress. Part Courtney Love shout out (that’s our cover girl!), part Hitchcockian ode, sexy slinky spaghetti straps made their way onto the runways at Marc Jacobs, […]

The post How to wear the boudoir trend: 4 Style Panel tips for rocking this season’s oh so trendy lingerie dress appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See the biggest Spring 2014 fashion trends »
See all our fashion month coverage »

With the end of fashion week in Toronto marking the close of Spring 2014 show season, it’s time we looked back at all the trends that emerged. As much as the runway sets the pace for what’s to come for the top Spring 2014 trends, the streets play a major role as show-going trendsetters give us the relatable breakdown of how to wear what’s hot next season. Prints take two spots on our top Spring 2014 trends list through those with a painterly quality and those influenced by international cultures. At Hérmes, Rousseau-inspired water lily florals were printed on luxurious fabrics while at Diane Von Furstenberg, dresses and skirts depicting an African wilderness roared. As for fashionable time travel, prepare to keep reminiscing about the youthful 1990s, which haven’t ceased to get reincarnated season after season. Designers like Rodarte, Balmain and Jason Wu have reinvented the decade’s essentials yet again. To help with your daydreaming of long sunny spring days we’ve compiled the ultimate gallery of top Spring 2014 trends as dictated by the runways and our favourite street style stars in New York, London, Milan, Paris and Toronto! Feel free to let this be your guide to budgeting and creating closet space for next season’s must have pieces.

View by trend: 1. 1990s | 2. Art-Inspired | 3. Athletic | 4. Blue | 5. Crop Tops | 6. Embellishment | 7. Metallic | 8. Pleats | 9. Sheer | 10. Worldly

See the Jeremy Laing Spring 2014 »

Damn, girl. Jeremy Laing’s got it going on for Spring 2014, and in more ways than one. The Toronto-based designer ventured into so many fresh territories last night that it took all 42 looks to digest all that superb newness.

First, colour: With one intentionally wonky dye job, Laing re-invented his own personal colour wheel, embracing tone on tone neon jumpsuits, ponchos and Bermuda shorts for spring. Bright pink, blue and a Tiger Tail-inspired orange and black combo were all viable options for the typically neutral-happy designer. Must be the unmistakable nostalgia that’s swallowed us ‘90s kids whole as of late, cause I never thought I’d be associating Jeremy Laing with Donna Martin. Woven in to the colour portion of the collection, was a squeegee-effect multi-hued print created in partnership with painter Julia Dault, which appeared on a flow-y dress, a button down and on short shorts.

See the Calla Spring 2014 collection »

Sun, sand and ‘90s surfer babes were the retro cool inspiration for the Calla Spring 2014 collection at day one of The Shows in Toronto. Models in beach-friendly digs, from neon coral frocks with chunky scuba zippers to Body Glove-esque swimsuits with sexy scooped backs, walked down the runway to the cheerful, appropriately laid back Beach Boys tunes. Crop tops, skater dresses and wild-style baseball caps added a whiff of Venice Beach skateboard culture to the Californian surf aesthetic. Our favourite looks saw slouchy pullovers paired with feminine skirts, either short and sweet or full with couture-like cuts.

As always with designer Calla Haynes‘ collections, prints and fabrics were highlights. Alcantara—an ultra luxe, ultra thin Italian fabric—appeared on a flirty frock, slouchy board shorts and an oversized moto-inspired jacket. Customized with a watery Japanese calligraphy print and crinkled to create a casual well-worn effect, Haynes called the print “Shonan” after the famous Japanese surf town. Meanwhile, we saw paper tweeds (created by Malhia Kent, the French mill that produces haute couture tweeds for Chanel) in a structured boho poncho that calls to mind the beach bum style of Australian surf brand Kuta Lines, and in a crop top and high-waisted skirt combo worthy of Cher Horowitz. Long live ‘90s nostalgia!

See the street style photos from Milan fashion week »

Will we ever get sick of prints? Judging from the latest batch of style snaps from Milan Fashion Week, it’s a definite no. Stylish attendees are consistently bringing out the loveable trend to the Italian streets. Gingham was the popular print over the weekend, with photographer Sophie Mhabille spotting one girl in a pink billowy gingham skirt and another in adorably chic flared cropped gingham pants. Two of Grazia’s It girls also caught our attention including Candela Novembre’s Kenzo eye print ensemble and Chiara Totire’s colourful lettered Au Jour Le Jour dress. Gone are the days of just a simple floral skirt.

See the London street style photos »

The sun may have been beaming down on the street style scene during London Fashion Week, but the temperamental weather didn’t fool fashion show attendees. Wrapping themselves up in the chicest of layers, street style stars outside the Spring 2014 shows continued to rock the fall coat trend from plaid to print to bold eye-catching colours. Even Mademoiselle C aka Carine Roitfeld, who was in town to launch the premiere of her documentary, was the epitome of Parisian chic as she strutted down the streets in an anything but ordinary charcoal-grey coat.

Though it looked chilly, many fashion week regulars were not afraid to bare their legs in dresses and skirts of various lengths. Boldest of them all (with a jacket in hand, just in case) was Miroslava Duma who bravely faced the wind in a crop top and a tartan midi skirt.

See the London street style photos »

After showing off stellar outfit after outfit in New York City, fashion week regulars—as well as our photographer Stefania Yarhi—packed up and headed across the pond. London Fashion Week kicked off on Friday and, as our newest batch of street style shots will reveal, everyone brought their A-game.

London’s street style definitely took a turn from what we saw at NYFW—though the change in weather may also be responsible. Bundling upon one of fall’s favourite trend, stylish attendees kept warm in fabulous coats. Everything from leopard print to fur to on-trend shades of pink and grey were spotted as they hopped from one show to the next.

See the final looks from New York Fashion Week Spring 2014 »

That’s a wrap! It’s been a whirlwind week of over 350 shows, front row gossip and a whole lot of crop tops (both on and off the runway) but somehow we survived to blog another day. Day 8 of New York Fashion Week saw three of the city’s designer kings take the stage: Ralph Lauren, Calvin Klein and Marc Jacobs. Three names that are synonymous with American design and three very different collections.

Ralph Lauren celebrated ’60s mod with a suite of mostly black and white looks featuring the era’s signature simple shift dresses, knee high socks, contrast collars and menswear inspiration. Streamlined silhouettes were pumped up with mix and match prints of black and white florals, plaids, stripes and checks. Next came an army of Crayola solids: a zingy green skirt suit, a neon orange coat, a red mock neck paired with red trousers and the show stopper: a cobalt blue strapless gown sported by Karlie Kloss.

See the street style photos »

It’s day seven of New York Fashion Week which means NYFW is officially wrapping up. With the scorching weather, everybody was happy to peel off layers and embrace the heat with summer dresses. While Miroslava Duma and Olivia Palermo showed off their toned legs in printed ensembles, a few fashion show regulars took cues from the Spring 2014 runway by pulling out pleated skirts and sheer fabrics.