FASHION Magazine

When I first held a Jessica Weatherhead bag (they woo themselves right into your arms, I swear), I knew it was something way more than a purse. With its buttery soft leather, its cutout pattern that flowed into a white shell wrapped in a twisted net, its braided rope-like strap and its blue silk lining, this beautiful bag looked like something straight out of an underwater paradise. I knew the story behind this bit of whimsical beauty, and the designer herself, had to be anything but boring.

And I wasn’t wrong.

Chanel’s runway bags look harder to open than plastic software packaging. Guess that’s the point. [My Fashion Life]

Thanks to Roberto Cavalli, your dog can have the spangled look that launched 11 million Facebook fans. [NYMag]

Beauty giants P&G (Olay, Cover Girl, etc) is developing their first luxury cosmetics line with Dolce & Gabbana. But can we still buy it at Shoppers? [WSJ]

Fashion market editor Sarah Casselman on the top trends in spring accessories (including a swoon-worthy pair of golden-girl YSLs). Click to watch Sarah’s latest video.

The post Video: Must-have shoes and bags appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

The It-bag may be a thing of the past, but you still need something great looking to carry your keys. Tell us which bag you love best–vote now!

The post Vote: Which bag is your favourite? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

I recently spied the sweetest gift (with no sugar): Nahui Ollin (nahuiollin.com) purses and clutches. Resembling more pixilated versions of the woven Bottega Veneta Cabat, the large selection of styles, colors and patterns are hand-woven from misprinted and overrun candy wrappers.

With one of the most comprehensive selections of vintage purses in the city, Gadabout (1300 Queen St. E., 416-463-1254, gadabout.ca) is a household name among friends who I am convinced are members of Purseoholics Anonymous.

Recessionista (noun): Person who looks wicked awesome even during times of economic crisis.

I usually have trouble getting behind blend words. (I have one friend who always chirping about the latest bromance or tramedy she saw at the theatre, and I find it to be one hundred per cent cringe-worthy.) But recessionista is slang I can get behind, because it perfectly describes the money saving way I do Christmas. Read on for my favourite thrifts and crafty tips.

Despite the doom and gloom of our current economy, and maybe even because of it, I have been shopping…window shopping, that is. There’s nothing like peering through the looking glass into a world of shiny, happy pieces to make a girl forget her troubles. At least until the Visa bill arrives.

By Stephanie Trendocher

Chic Torontonians are drooling over Jenny Bird’s haute handbags and Daniel Espinosa’s baubles and you can scoop up some of their swag at Spoke Club’s Luxury Holiday Bazaar (November 22; 12 – 8 p.m.; 600 King St., W., 4th floor).

There is nothing better than dressing up for a good cause, and on Friday night, Saskatoon put on its finest for Choc à la Cure (choclacure.com), a gala evening put on by Dutch Growers in support of the Saskatoon Cancer Centre. The live and silent auctions, which included travel, art and spa packages, were accompanied by live jazz, delectable hors d’oeuvres and of course, mouth-watering chocolate desserts by the city’s finest chefs

By Stephanie Trendocher

As a footwear fanatic, I like to step out in style (often resulting in me teetering, not-so-street-appropriate stilettos). But sometimes you just need to keep it casual and carefree like the oh-so-effortless French girls I spotted strutting around on my trip to Paris.

Prada in the Prairies by Bonnee McLachlan

Some women in this world never cease to amaze me with their ability to throw together stunning outfits with ease (cough: Rachel Bilson). More often than not, I forget there’s a celebrity stylist behind their glamorous look and give props to the star—tisk, tisk.