FASHION Magazine

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

Mother’s Day is just around the corner and the typical gift options (read: jewels, flowers and the like) are sure to be permeating through every ad space well, everywhere. Since mom might be a little all too used to being spoiled by these tried and tested yet perhaps a little tried and tired gifts, we’ve come up with a few alternatives to the norm that might thrill even more.

For each category, we’ve suggested our favourites for those classic gift ideas, as well as a few alternative suggestions.

View the gift guide »

Jump to: The Flower Bouquet | The Spa Day | The High Tea | The Jewels

Today, we’re going inside the vintage bag belonging to one of FASHION’s newest team members, our always-classy assistant fashion editor, Eliza Grossman. As the bag itself might suggest, Eliza is a Hepburn type who seems to be stylishly pulled together at all times. She’s got a penchant for cat-eyes, and, well, we’ve got a penchant for her, so what better way to show our love than to snoop her things!

Let’s explore! »

View our top 5 picks »

The lowdown: With fans like Susie Bubble and WORN Journal‘s Serah-Marie McMahon, the Montreal designer Angie Johnson has fashion’s intelligentsia on lock. The success of her Etsy shop, Norwegian Wood, has garnered sweet deals with Topshop Edit and—soon to hit stores—Anthropologie. But I’d rather get it direct from the source, if only for the personalized notes she slips in each brown-paper package.

The price range: $26-$151

The latest in Anthropologie’s Made in Kind designer partnerships is here (well, almost) and, frankly, we’re obsessed. For May, the retailer will collaborate with labels like Tracy Reese, Charlotte by Charlotte Taylor, Beguile by Byron Lars, and several dresses from the India Collections. The collections feature prints and brights galore—all perfect for a summer poolside look (we’re eyeing the canary yellow Charlotte by Charlotte Taylor dress).

Of course, there’ll also be some new pieces from staple favourites like Rachel Rose and Place Nationale. The newest installment hits stores tomorrow—just in time to re-stock your summer wears.

View the photo gallery »

Anthropologie is the latest to join the designer collab trend with its own assembly of partnerships, only this time bringing established, lesser known, and first-time designers together in a curatorial series to be showcased online as well as in-store, similar to a gallery presentation.

The rolling collaborations, presented under the name “Made in Kind,” will launch this Thursday, and will feature a hodgepodge of designers: Karen Walker, Gregory Parkinson, John Patrick, Samantha Pleet, Charlotte Linton, Pipit , Rachel Rose and Place Nationale. While some designers will be available at Canadian stores such as Pipit (Ontario), Charlotte Linton (Vancouver) and Samantha Pleet (Toronto), all the collections can be scooped up online.

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

In T minus four days, the biggest (figuratively) and best (in the academy’s opinion) night in Hollywood will go down at Los Angeles’s Kodak Theatre for the 84^th Annual Academy Awards. We know y’all have a viewing party planned, and if you don’t… well, get on it! Need some inspiration? Our list of oddly-inspired party favours should do the trick.

Let’s get this party started! »

View this look in our Kate Middleton photo gallery »

We’re suddenly finding ourselves craving a certain style of outerwear: the coatdress. While it might be a little impractical for our typical roster of day-to-day errands, Kate Middleton’s many outdoor-based engagements make it a winter wardrobe staple. (And bonus—it suits her trend of being thrifty: she gets to debut a fresh look without having to purchase both a new coat and a new dress.)

Just last week, I was rumbling toward a Mexican beach in a golf cart with two friends, debating an article on trends that appeared in the January issue of Vanity Fair.

Now back home, shivering despite a turtleneck and boots, I am writing about FASHION’s Spring 2012 Trend Issue and I can’t get that conversation out of my mind.

In the VF piece, writer Kurt Andersen asserts, among other things, that not much has changed style-wise over the past 20 years. That 2012 looks much like 1992. That jeans and sneakers remain a standard uniform for people of all ages. And that the proliferation of mid-priced retailers like Gap, Urban Outfitters and Anthropologie means practically anyone who wants to can shop stylishly, and this has resulted in an “all the same, all kind of cool” look on city streets.

Well, yes and no. Yes, there are fashion themes that now seem to endure from year to year. Once again spring is on the horizon and with it comes the annual crop of florals, crisp white cottons and tropical themes.

Take a thematic cue from the runways to put a little extra fizz in your holiday party à la Gucci’s, Louis Vuitton’s, and Jil Sander’s Fall 2011 collections.

View the slideshow »

Jump to theme:
FRIDAY NIGHT FEVER | ADULTS ONLY | NUEVO APRÈS-SKI

By Randi Bergman and Paige Dzenis

While all of us may be dreaming of a Birkin bag for the holiday, shopping within a budget AND shopping with a variety of gift recipients in mind can be pretty rough. And because the ole bottle of wine can become a little boring, we’ve rounded up 25 of our favourite gifts that are sure to please, all for less than $25!

View our picks »

And they’re off! From Hermès’ start as a leather saddlery shop to the pageantry of England’s Royal Ascot, horses and high fashion share a long history together. And this weekend the pairing continues with the running of the Breeder’s Cup races in Kentucky. The favourite to win in tomorrow’s Mile race is Goldikova—a championship Thoroughbred who took first place the last three years, and oh, is owned by Chanel. Well, to be correct, she’s property of Wertheimer et Frère, the horse racing stable of brothers Alain and Gerard Wertheimer, who own the French fashion house. Could couture racing silks be next on the runway?

Graphic patterns and colourful brights evoke a playful ’60s vibe.

View our editors’ picks now »