FASHION Magazine

The most romantic day of the year is fast approaching and we can’t resist dressing up for the occasion, date or no date. The wardrobe options are endless with so much inspo out there on the interwebs. And it being Valentine’s Day and all, working the holiday colours into our look is a no-brainer. To […]

The post How to Wear Red and Pink this Valentine’s Day Without Looking Cheesy appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

While youthful rebellion may be something we all experienced in our earlier years, this season’s punk trend is feeling oh so modern. Riding the high of the Met’s Costume Institute summer exhibit, Punk: Chaos to Couture, the Fall 2013 runway shows continued our re-introduction to punk under the guise of rips and studs on luxurious […]

The post How to wear the punk trend: 8 Style Panel tips for revamping the notoriously rebellious look this fall appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See The Outnet party pictures »

For those of us who sideline in online sale stalking, The Outnet is a mainstay. Launched in 2009 as the post-sale outlet for designer den Net-a-Porter, the site has morphed into a full fledged Mecca for designer discounts boasting insane slashes on over 200 brands including Valentino, Stella McCartney, Alexander Wang and its own in-house label, Iris & Ink, which serves as a head-to-toe top off collection for the all the rest of the site’s covetable wares.

When it comes to summer vacations, we all share the same fear of overweight luggage bills. From the moment we pull the suitcase out of the closet we’re considering how many purses we can qualify as necessary with and whether we can survive on just four pairs of shoes. Vacations are supposed to be blissfully stress-free and yet the packing blues have us in a rut.

For those of us heading beach destinations, the warm temperatures call for light, carefree pieces. Beyoncé has us convinced that she knows how to pack light. The starlet turned to Tumblr to document her recent beach vacation in which she’s seen rocking a variety of one-pieces (in kaleidoscopic prints, we might add) and flow-y bohemian blouses. For those planning a sightseeing vacation, packing light becomes increasingly more challenging. Comfort is key for those who plan to be on their feet all day. Rihanna was recently spotted out and about in London in a cool white-on-white ensemble which she paired with a leather visor, showing us she’s not letting the hot European sun put a damper on her vacation plans.

Still weary on how to pack light? We’ve turned to our style panel for more packing dos and don’ts.

Much like the classic LBD and the plain white T, denim shorts rank high on the list of timeless trends. Feared by some, loved by many, the versatility of this wardrobe staple makes this classic style a must-have for summer. On the streets, we’ve seen trendsetters brace the warmer temperatures in denim shorts of all […]

The post How to wear denim shorts: 15 Style Panel tips for braving this often-feared basic appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

It’s almost swim season, which means it is time to flip through endless shopping guides to find your perfect bikni, tankini, monokini and so on.

Summer is the perfect time to try out new swimsuit shapes and styles that work best with your body, and with a wide selection of suits out there—from one piece to two-piece swimsuits in every colour in the rainbow—you’re bound to have options. If you’re thinking about straying away from the simple one piece at your first pool party of 2013, why not look to Mara Hoffman’s colourful tie-dyed swimsuit for inspiration with cutout panels to add a bit of sultriness to your look? If you don’t feel comfortable showing too much skin, take notes from Rochas’ floral two-piece. Showing only a bit of your midriff, this swimsuit style will definitely add a retro yet feminine touch to your poolside outfit.

So far, 2013 has been a mighty test of our patience. While spring may have officially begun a month ago, Mother Nature has kept us waiting with bated breath for any real show of it.

And when checking your weather app before leaving the house no longer ensures you’re prepared for what awaits outside, it’s time to get creative with layering by mixing winter essentials with summertime accessories. Because we, much like everyone else, struggle with perfecting the subtle nuances to transitional dressing, we asked our Style Panel for a little help.

Our two newest members of the panel, both showed us how to make an airy maxi skirt an essential for the transition from winter to spring. Lyndsey Forest of Over My Styled Body paired her skirt with a heavy army-inspired jacket and camo scarf. Her combination of an ultra-girly skirt with a menswear jacket offers some end of winter inspiration for all of us. Meanwhile, Jennifer Pistor of Prairie Girl in the City matched her black maxi skirt with a bright pop of neon and floral shoes, inspiring us to get ready for spring.

Panellist Deanne McRae went a little nineties with her transitional look, wearing thigh-high socks, a full-skirt and leather jacket to add some warmth. And where McRae showed a little thigh, panel members like Cee Fardoe and Cara McLeay went barelegged and braved the last few moments of winter exposed in style.

Read on for more tips on making your wardrobe work as we transition out of winter (fingers crossed!) and into spring!

Question 47: What are your tips for transitioning your wardrobe from winter to spring? Read the answers now! »

For style-minded Gen X and Yers, the resurgence of 1990s fashion on the Spring 2013 runways is cause for celebration. Our minds are full of fond memories—Blossom hats, grunge plaids and 90210-branded T-shirts are just a few that come to mind—what could be better than so many modern re-iterations from the likes of Dries Van […]

The post Reclaiming 1990s fashion: 13 Style Panel tips for adapting the It decade’s styles for today appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Fur. You can’t mention the word without stirring controversy. Is a fur coat more important than a living animal? For many, wearing fur is a question of ethics. For others, it’s a question of aesthetics. And while valid points exist at both ends of the spectrum, fur has once again become trendy. Following Prada’s bright and quirky statement of candy coloured rabbit tail accessories for Spring 2011, colourful dyed fur re-appeared at Oscar de la Renta, Peter Som and L’Wren Scott for Fall/Winter 2012, not to mention again at both Prada and Miu Miu for Spring 2013.

And while it might be an out-of-bounds option both morally and monetarily for many, we challenged our Style Panel to teach you how to wear fur—real, fake, vintage or otherwise—to make one heck of a statement this season.

Just as we expected, out Style Panelists’ opinions were as varied—from Sandy Joe Karpetz’s “insatiable passion” for vintage fur to Alyssa Lau’s choice to never wear the real thing—as the tips for how to wear fur—from Kayla Short’s simple fur parka trim to Jacquelyn Son’s navy faux-fur cropped jacket from Zara.

Question 35: Whether faux, vintage or real, show us how to wear fur. Read the answers now! »

Or jump to: ALEXANDRA NIKOLAJEV, TORONTO | ALYSSA LAU, EDMONTON | AMY NELSON, CALGARY | BARBARA ANN SOLOMON, TORONTO | CHRISTINA CRAVERO, TORONTO | IVA GRBESIC, TORONTO | JACQUELYN SON, VANCOUVER | JEN TAM, VANCOUVER | KAYLA SHORT, HALIFAX | KRYSTIN LEE, TORONTO | MELANIE MORAIS, EDSON | MO HANDAHU, HALIFAX | SANDY JOE KARPETZ, EDMONTON | STEPHANIE KOCH, KELOWNA | STEPHANIE STERJOVSKI, TORONTO | WHITNEY COSGRAVE, LOS ANGELES

Pastels have been making waves this year, and while they may have once been strictly associated with spring’s blooming flowers, they are one of this winter’s biggest statement makers. Seen at runways including Jil Sander, Valentino, Oscar de la Renta and Acne, pastels running the gamut from mint green to pastel pink (the hue highlighted […]

The post Winter Pastels: 14 Style Panel tips to wearing the season’s brightest fashion trend appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

It’s hat season, though many would like to avoid it. For some of us, the idea of wearing a hat may induce horrific memories of flat, static lifeless hair, and unfortunate style choices we may have made when we were young (we’re looking at you, Doctor Seuss hat). Let’s face it though, winter hats are hard to avoid, and actually quite essential to staying warm all season long.

Beanies and toques were the style of choice for many of our Style Panel members, and there is no question why. Beanies provide ultimate ear warmth while remaining the simplest style to wear on a particularly bad hair day. But if getting hat head is a concern, earmuffs and headbands do just the same trick while leaving your hair relatively untouched. For a more fashion-forward take on the look, trying a Russian-style faux fur headband like Barbara Solomon’s adds an extra touch of luxe.

Question 28: What is your go to hat or head covering for winter and why is it your favourite? Read the answers now! »

Or jump to: ALEXANDRA NIKOLAJEV, TORONTO | ALICIA QUAN, VANCOUVER | ALYSSA LAU, EDMONTON | BARBARA ANN SOLOMON, TORONTO | JEN TAM, VANCOUVER | KASSANDRA CAMPONI, EDMONTON | KAYLA SHORT, HALIFAX | KRISTIN MACDONALD, FREDRICTON | MO HANDAHU, HALIFAX | VICKIE LALIOTIS, EDMONTON | WHITNEY COSGRAVE, LOS ANGELES

The ladies of our Style Panel have started to help you ease into your winter wardrobe by showing you how to layer for the season, and ease into more weather-friendly boots. This week, they have taken on the daunting challenge how to pair a winter jacket with the rest of your outfit, while still maintaining some style.

Whatever your personal taste or style, the coat options this season are truly endless. Labels including Acne and Haider Ackermann took some cues from menswear and sent oversized coats down respective Fall 2012 runways. If bigger is not better for you, there are many more choices including coats that incorporate trends such as quilted leather and leopard print, as seen on Alexandra Nikolajev.
And what would a post about coats be without mentioning the cape, which Gucci did a stylish version of for its Fall 2012 collection. The cape keeps you warm and doesn’t constrict your arms, but if you’re wary about trying one for yourself, take a cue from Style Panel member Christina Cravero, who wears an Adrienne Vittidani cape in this week’s post. She ensures that a cape is not bulky and can be layered over top of other items, ensuring maximum warmness on a chilly day. So if you’re daring, maybe try a cape this season. If not, you can still take advice from our Style Panel members and see how they plan on styling their coats this winter.

Question 27: How do you wear you winter coat while still maintaining a stylish look? Read the answers now! »

Or jump to: ALEX GRANT, VANCOUVER ALEXANDRA NIKOLAJEV, TORONTO |BARBARA ANN SOLOMON, TORONTO | CHRISTINA CRAVERO, TORONTO | ELODIE PARTHENAY, MONTREAL | KAYLA SHORT, HALIFAX | KAYLA SHORT, HALIFAX | KRISTIN MACDONALD, FREDRICTON | MELISSA KNIGHT, VANCOUVER | WHITNEY COSGRAVE, LOS ANGELES