FASHION Magazine

By Charisse Ang

See our step-by-step DIY sunglasses guide »

Another season, another fantastical Prada mash up. With her Spring 2013 collection, Miuccia Prada blended sixties op art prints, silhouettes alongside Japanese inspirations like geishas, harajukus and judo. The result? Unexpectedly-covetable everything.

And while the split-toe judo-inspired platforms may still be making their way into our hearts, Prada’s Spring 2013 sunglasses have made it to the top of our must-have list. Embellished to the point of floral perfection, Prada featured a variety of shades in black, white and red, which were adorned with 3D florals in variotions of the same shades. Must. Have.

See the Opening Ceremony Fall 2013 look book »

Images of Opening Ceremony’s Fall 2013 collection have just been released and if you’re like me, you’re like “haaaaay!” For fellow OC enthusiasts, a new collection is just a preview into what your closet is going to look like in a few months, so it’s exciting to say the least.

This season, the brand has taken its muse to Las Vegas, where “she explores the ever-sparkling City of Sin” (this, according to the press release) in luxe textures, eye catching graphic prints and even richer jewel tones of crimson, bordeaux, indigo, plum and crystal blue.

Admittedly, the collection takes a bit of inspiration from two recent collections—Christopher Kane Fall 2012 and Alexander Wang’s Fall 2013 debut at Balenciaga—but where Opening Ceremony Fall 2013 really breaks new ground at a contemporary level is its fabric and pattern experimentation. Bringing together furs, moiré wood-grain patterns, stretch lurex jersey, Mongolian shearling and velvet, the Fall 2013 collection breathes new life into fashion staples of late such as the motocross jacket and the recently-classic Galaxy print.

With a month long of Fall 2013 fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris coming to a close and Toronto Fashion Week just revving up, our mental shopping notes are already full with all the new things we want added to our closet. Heeled oxfords! Mini globes! Next level grunge! Most mere mortals will have to wait at least six months for Fall 2013’s newness to hit the ground floor, but we’ve found a few ways to get in on the trends you’re drooling over right now. The best part? You won’t be spending a dime. From Prada’s ever-clever fur and gingham combo to Chanel’s necklace-over-hair combo, our very own editors are showing you 5 chic and easy ways to get on your favourite Fall 2013 trends ASAP.

See our street style photos from Toronto and New York »

On a cold and blustery day, bundling up and staying warm is essential. And while we may have had unseasonably warm temps over the weekend, the forecast is hinting that winter is not over just yet. So, what better way to take shelter from the storm than with the season’s It hat: the toque, which street style photographer Stefania Yarhi captures in these photos from Toronto and New York.

Spotted on countless street style blogs and anointed by Man Repeller herself, the toque is a part shabby and part chic way to take shelter from the snow and rain while providing a pop of colour and that perfect amount of slouch. Toques have long been a Canadian staple and these photos prove that they are still just a popular. While most of the time toques are being sported out of necessity, they are a casually cute accessory and can be added to most any outfit. There are many different styles of toques and many ways to wear them—Yarhi has captured a number of them. Pulled farther back allows the back of the hat to slouch downwards. Pulled down tight allows for an extra bit of fabric to stand up high. Meanwhile, pom poms are a welcome addition, which add a bit of whimsy to the style.

See our 15 street style shots from Paris Fashion Week »

With each new edition of Paris Fashion Week, we’re reminded why the City of Lights remains the fashion capital of the world. Beyond the runway’s innovative designs and endless variations on classic Parisien chic, Paris street style never seems to disappoint. And as Fall 2013 fashion month comes to an end, Paris street style stars seemed to have saved their best looks for last.

Here we present to you 15 street style images from Paris Fashion Week, photographed by street style photographer Jaewon Lee. Tommy Ton recommended Lee to us, and from these photos it’s easy to see why. Lee documents street style from London, Milan, and Paris for his blog, Street Peacocks. With an eye for detail, Lee captures the personality of his subjects through their own unique style. His stunning photographs are ripe with vivid fashion inspiration.

Shop our 13 ankle strap heels and sandals »

Ah, the ankle strap. For many shoe styles, it is just a necessity—a thin piece of leather that keeps your foot from stepping out of your shoe—but this season, it’s become trendy. Why? For starters, let’s look back to the Spring 2013 runways, where ankle strap heels and sandals were seen in a multitude of variations.

At Bottega Veneta, chunky platforms in dark textured leathers were made feminine with the addition of the ankle strap. At Burberry Prorsum, wedges in bright colours were showcased in different materials with a very thin ankle strap and high back to cover the heel. Almost the entire cast of models at Nina Ricci were seen in beautiful single soled high heels with two thin straps-one across the toes and one around the ankle.

See the fur at Fall 2013 fashion week »

Fur was everywhere at Paris Fashion Week for Fall 2013. The French translation, la fourrure, features a purring intervocalic R; it’s almost a meow. At one show, four editors in a row, each wearing a mammoth animal coat, resulted in an awkwardly comical seating arrangement. We also noticed that fur didn’t just mean coats; we saw it as pocket detailing, handbags, collars and evening gown trim. And the good news, if you’ve made that hair-raising investment, is that fur will be back in full swing for Fall 2013 and into winter.

Here are our fabulous fur picks:

See what’s inside Heather Reier’s bag »

Heather Reier has always had a passion for all things beauty, so it’s no surprise that her Toronto-based brand has grown such a cult following. Since launching Cake Beauty at the age of 26, she’s stayed loyal to creating products that are all-natural, paraben-free and smell as sweet, sometimes even sweeter, than freshly baked treats. She also loves pink, something that has very apparently carried over to Cake Beauty’s fun product packaging as well as to her personal purse, which is full of girly trinkets.

Her large Badgley Mischka bag is the perfect size to hold all of her essentials and Cake Beauty goodies. We must remember to pick up the Milk Made Velveteen Hand Creme and Fuss-Free Volumizing Dry Shampoo Spray. If Reier is carrying it in her purse, we know they get the job done. In fact, that is one of the main goals of Cake Beauty–to produce products that actually solve a problem. Reier made this a goal after using numerous products on the market that just didn’t do what they claimed to. Over 10 years later, Cake Beauty has expanded to include hair products and the line contains over 20 signature products.

Investment pieces mean different things to different people. To some, it means a piece of clothing that you save up for, buy every so often, but love forever. To others, it simply means a classic piece that never goes out of style, fits well and can be worn in a multitude of ways.

This week, we asked our Style Panel to talk about their favourite investment pieces that they plan on wearing this spring. None of the answers were too surprising, the styling however, was top notch as always.

The Style Mogul’s Christina Cravero likes to invest in a statement shoe every season. She likes to make a big impact on an outfit with her footwear. Stephanie Sterjovski’s gorgeous white blazer definitely renews our love of winter whites. Who says white can’t be worn after Labour Day? Krystin Lee of Suburban Faux-Pas shows off her high-low look. Her top, purse and sunglasses were all investment pieces, but she lets us know she is on the hunt for more: a vintage Chanel brooch, a pair of Christian Louboutins and an Hermès bangle are all on her list.

New panellists, Zoe Smythe of Zoe’s Fashion Feed and Nicole Wilson of Dainty Girl, each went for an item that they feel will be worn often this season. Smythe, a footwear designer living in New York City, loves vintage and thrift shopping so it’s no surprise that she chose a vintage Panetto necklace. Wilson, a fashion loving blogger from Toronto, chose a classic Kate Spade handbag in a bold pink colour. But knowing the above, we don’t doubt this piece will be a classic in her wardrobe.

Question 41: What investment pieces will you be wearing this season? Read the answers now! »

Or jump to: AMBER DESILETS, LONDON | BARBARA ANN SOLOMON, TORONTO | CARA MCLEAY, VANCOUVER | CHRISTINA CRAVERO, TORONTO | IVA GRBESIC, TORONTO | JACQUELYN SON, VANCOUVER | KAYLA SHORT, HALIFAX | KD FAUSTINO, CALGARY | KRYSTIN LEE, TORONTO | NICOLE WILSON, TORONTO | STEPHANIE KOCH, KELOWNA | STEPHANIE STERJOVSKI, TORONTO | WHITNEY COSGRAVE, LOS ANGELES | ZOE SMYTHE, NEW YORK CITY

See the complete Chanel Fall 2013 ready to wear show »

The Grand Palais in Paris was the centre of the universe, at least for five minutes this morning. Chanel‘s lustful Fall 2013 prêt-à-porter show staged a giant rotating globe in the main hall, which was illuminated by a rare sunny sky, gently bathing the atrium roof in a light mellow glow. The globe, as it turned, showcased little Chanel flags indicating the iconic brand’s international reach. The Chanel soundtrack began with classical music that eventually tripped into a hip hop number with the lyrics “Around the world” pulsing over and over again.

And then the clothes! All the expected ingredients were there: suits, chain purses and double C logos. The tweed jackets this season were cut lower on the hip, in many cases with a hem of mini-pleats. Some ensembles shimmered with metallic accents, while others popped in bubblegum pink. Newer silhouettes included the roomier, ubiquitous coat body with dropped sleeves, matched with a fuller ruffle miniskirt, as well as balloon sleeves that tightened at the forearm like gloves. For a playful addition, patent thigh-high leggings (in black and white) coordinated with matching boots adorned with chains. Also, several models sported furry helmets in cobalt, mint and pastel pink for a look that resembled a kooky version of Lego hair.

See all of Kate Middleton’s recent appearances and outfits »

Kate Middleton fans got quite the treat this weekend when the Duke and Duchess of Cambirdge showed up on a mountain in Arosa, Switzerland. The pair—plus Prince Harry—were in town for the wedding of their friends Mark Tomlinson and Laura Bechtolsheimer. (He’s a professional polo player, she’s an Olympic gold medal winning equestrian (nbd!) and they both attended William and Kate’s wedding.) The royals spent Friday on the Swiss slopes, clearly taking advantage of the private ski lift at the Tschuggen Grand Hotel resort, conveniently owned by the bride’s billionaire grandfather. (Again, nbd!) But while everyone else opted to go skiing, pregnant Kate spent her time sledding.

On Saturday we got another glimpse of the Duke and Duchess en route to the wedding.

See the Uncle Otis and Levi’s party photos »

Levi’s, the iconic denim brand, has launched its first pop up shop with Uncle Otis in Toronto. To celebrate, over 125 guests filled the space for a launch party last night. In attendance were Hiroshi Awai from Creep Clothing; United owners Sydney and Michael and The Crow’s Nest barber shop boys. The event included a chance to peruse the Spring 2013 collection. The pop-up shop, which officially opened today, was designed by the Uncle Otis team. The space is based on the current Levi’s theme, so expect lots of rugged interiors that Levi’s is known for. The Levi’s shop in shop will be going on for all of 2013, including the spring 2013 and fall 2013 Levi’s collections.