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Last night’s social schedule was jam-packed. Puddle jumping from Tiffany & Co.’s Lambertson Truex leather collab fete to the new Joe Fresh store opening at Queen and Portland (sadly missing the SPiN ping-pong club opening with investor and celeb guest Susan Sarandon—so many parties, so little time), we caught up with the fashion crowd for the second night of this pre-fashion week. Last on the list was Lucian Matis. Despite the rain, 99 Gallery was packed and the standing crowd was elbowing for a prime spot. The designer stood by his signature embellished aesthetic, decorating everything from watercolour nails to over-the-top drop earrings and copper paillette–encrusted bodysuits. Matis’s skill lies in stretching his technical muscles, employing those abilities to further his creative vision, resulting in bright woven bodices, tufted tulle, and sheer panels. Sometimes it worked, and sometimes it had us flashing back to last week’s episode of My Big Fat Gypsy Wedding. With an awe-inspired audience, however, he’s clearly garnered a devoted following on the Canadian scene.

From the upcoming Versace for H&M collaboration to Danier’s ongoing Canadian-on-Canadian capsule collections with the likes of Mark Fast, Greta Constantine and FASHION contributor George Antonopoulos, high-low team ups are continuing to bring luxury designs to the masses. We haven’t had enough. In fact, we vote for more! Here are four mega-designers and Canadian stores that we think should get together and jump on the bandwagon post-haste.

Here are the 4 team ups we’re dreaming of »

Take inspiration from the Spring 2011 runways and add a bold touch of colour to your wardrobe. This season, Betsey Johnson goes crazy for hue—even your lingerie drawer will get a lift. These flirty under pieces (from $50) are made of cotton and available in any colour under the sun. They say summer lovin’—even after the temperature drops. At Bra Topia (102A 1409 Edmonton Trail NE, Calgary, 403-457-1303, bratopia.ca).

When we left Bon Temps last week, Sookie was having an awkward chat about her faerie body odor with a disoriented Eric. The Viking Vamp had just had a spell cast on him by Marnie, the witch he’d tried to drain to put a stop to her designs on dead-raising—not something the undead want people getting control over. Jason was tied to a bed in Hot Shot getting each of his 12 perfectly defined abs bitten by Crystal and Felton.

Dazed and Confused?
-Sookie, confused about Eric’s state, tries to talk sense into him and then drives off just to do the classic horror-movie pause and look back. Of course he’s right there at her window and pounces on her neck. Logic takes a vacation, and she runs into the forest.
-Sookie punches Eric to get his attention, and he calls her Snooki. What? Well, she does love to tan.
-He does know what he is (a vampire) just not who he is (a pompous babe).
-Sookie agrees to help him out of his oblivion and gives him ground rules for going back to her/his place—no touching, no biting. We seriously resent her for not including, “Never put a shirt on ever again.”
-She calls Pam, who is sucking on a grown up Val from our favourite tween movie, Brink!, while still wearing the one-shouldered disco ball from last week, and she rushes over faster than a speeding bullet (of lipstick).

Karl Lagerfeld seems to be in a very forgiving mood these days. First Ines de la Fressange returned to his catwalk and then Lily Allen, who was rumoured to have fallen out of favour, was spotted sitting front row at the Chanel Spring 2011 fashion show today. [Racked]

Model Brad Kroenig walked the Chanel runway with his toddler son wearing matching Chanel jackets and jeans. Is a childrenswear line in the works? [Racked]

Looking at my hair in the mirror on Monday morning, I was having an “updo” kind of moment.  Turns out Diesel Black Gold was thinking the same thing.  Elvis-style pompadoured models took to the runway down at Pier 92.  The colour palette of choice for spring is perfect for hitting the open desert road–rich tobacco, sand, olive and cocoa.

When it came to shoes, Diesel played the high/low card with stacked heeled ankle boots vs. flat gladiators.  It’s always strange to see models walk in flats on the runway. Lindsey Wixson could have been just another hipster kid headed to Soho House for brunch.  But then she came out and owned it.

The item to admire from afar if you’re over 21: The dusty rose short shorts. I mean it, don’t go there.

Item to snap up when it hits shelves: A vintage-inspired mini saddle bag. Perfection.

Betsey Johnson has gotten her self into a bit of a financial pickle, and in two years Steve Madden might own her company. [Fashionista]

Barbie is the newest intern at SHOWstudio for the twenty days leading up to London Fashion Week. The iconic blonde bombshell will also be blogging about her experiences and posting live video updates on the website’s blog. [SHOWstudio]

Finally the gods of fashion and trends have turned their heads to the goddess of New York in the ’90s: Elaine Benes. The New York Times has recently dug deeper into the Seinfeld leading lady’s style signatures: floral skirts, blazers and jumpsuits, and found them all trolling about downtown Manhattan. [New York Times]

The contestants of the upcoming cycle of America’s Next Top Model (we’ve lost count of what season they’re on) have been revealed. It’s a choice between a non-existent waist, a lesbian Hooters waitress and a 21-year-old mother and 11 others. Should be entertaining. [Racked and Jezebel]

Karl Lagerfeld will be in New York on the first day of Fashion Week, receiving Couture Council’s special Fashion Visionary Award at Avery Fisher Hall on September 10th. [Daily Front Row]

The New York fashion pack crowded around mayor Michael Bloomberg at a press conference where he delivered new details about Fashion’s Night Out. Among his self-aware quips, we learned that 1000 shops are participating and the largest fashion show in New York history, with 150 models and 1,500 spectators, will take place. Anna Wintour, according to eyewitnesses, actually looked happy. [The Cut]

Oh this is adorable: In honour of Peanuts’ 60th anniversary, Lacoste is teaming up with Charlie Brown and co. The collection of limited edition polos will feature the Lacoste crocodile interacting with Woodstock, CB, Snoopy and Linus. [Racked]

After filing for bankruptcy in 2009, Italian fashion house Gianfranco Ferré is up for auction this week. No, there is no physical auction block but there are a list of regulations to conserve the brand. [Vogue UK]

The Eaton Centre in Toronto is about to get a $120 million face lift. While exact plans are not yet confirmed, we do know they plan on keeping the Canada goose sculptures. Our friends at Toronto Life have suggested a coat check and special lanes for slow walkers. [Toronto Life]

Betsey Johnson is never about trends, which she made perfectly clear at yesterday’s runway show, where she sent spring looks–this spring–out with her fall collection. The show had a Wild West feel, but it was more Blazing Saddles-meets-Warhol than serious Western–think bright hues and pop prints showing frontier pistols and saloon dice. Kelly Osbourne opened […]

The post New York: Betsey Johnson’s technicolor gunslingers appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Our November cover girl, Noot Seear, was arrested by the cast of Law & Order in the latest Harper’s Bazaar. [Live Journal]

Jonny Johansson, the founder of Acne, has said he would like his label to be recognized for more than their slim fitting jeans. The brand is also home to a full clothing line as well as a magazine Johansson started called Acne Paper. This collective began with Johansson’s past dabbling in furniture design, music and fashion—with the full name of Ambition to Create Novel Expressions an indicator of the far-reaching creative abilities of the man behind the jeans company. A collaboration with Alber Elbaz has taken Acne into a luxury standard and higher price point—giving the company its much-deserved appreciation in the design community and building its rep. [NY Times]