FASHION Magazine

By Elio Iannacci. Photographed by James White. Styled by Penny Lovell.

Read our interview with Anna Paquin »
See Anna Paquin’s shopping picks »

You can learn a lot about an actress by the way she steps on set for a photo shoot. Some stars require the armour of an entourage; others need a personality-devoid space and monastic silence. Anna Paquin is unquestionably neither of the above. Upon arriving at L.A.’s Smashbox Studios on a scalding Saturday afternoon, the Winnipeg-born, New Zealand-raised actress introduces herself to the FASHION crew without hesitation. Serving up a warm, Kiwi-accented “Nice to meet you” to photographer James White—and his troop of all-guy assistants crushing on her—the 29-year-old talent does the rounds as if she were hosting a cocktail party. Of course, there is a reason for Paquin’s accelerated social skills. Having won an Oscar at the age of 11 for her performance in Jane Campion’s The Piano, Paquin has grown up with cameras and handshakes at every corner, starring in a mix of family pictures (Fly Away Home), blockbusters (X-Men), indie flicks (The Squid and the Whale) and, most recently, a ratings monster of a TV series called True Blood.

After changing into her favoured cover look—a Jackie Onassis-like Marc Jacobs dress trimmed with silver studs—Paquin dashes in front of the lens, occasionally cracking jokes and posing without any forced fabulousness. Her good humour remains intact long after the array of designer heels and baubles are put away and we are left alone to talk.

By day, Kristin MacDonald is the operations manager at a children’s activity centre. By night, the 27-year-old exercises a love of all things fashion through her blog, Doll Parade. She doesn’t mind the balancing act—in fact, balance is a factor in her personal style, which she documents daily on the site. Her look is a mélange of modern and vintage, high and low, classic and quirky—like Breton stripes with a big, bold necklace. She started experimenting with style at four years old. “I would make dresses for my mom from my blankets, brooches and extension cords,” she says. “I never understood why she wasn’t wearing them to functions.” With that early appreciation for the unconventional, it’s no surprise that she counts the late Alexander McQueen as a favourite designer. MacDonald says social media is brightening the spotlight on fashion in Fredericton, but not everyone is accustomed to her flamboyant attire. “There are still stares at the grocery store when I’m dressed for a day out,” she admits, “but you take those things in stride.”

See Kristin’s shopping picks »

See all 55 shopping picks now »

Keep it light and airy in your twenties. Sport bright yellow in your sixties. Give the colour wheel a spin! This season, it’s time to try a brand-new hue no matter which age bracket you fall under.

Jump to age:
20s SUGAR RUSH | 30s SCARLET FEVER | 40s VEGGIE PATCH
50s BLUE CRUSH | 60s FRESH CITRUS | 70s CLEAN SLATE

With Milan Fashion Week just kicking off, here are my top five obsessions of day one:

1. Gucci‘s opulent romanticism: Judging from the miles of velvet and silk, iridescent feathered frocks, croc saddlebags, leather capes, uniform-inspired dress coats, and innovative fabric mixes (mink inlaid on chiffon, anyone?), Gucci’s Fall 2012 collection begs for a crisp night and a brilliant moon.

2. Brian Atwood: We love the man and the shoes. I popped into Atwood’s showroom to preview his new Fall 2012 collection, which includes his first full line of handbags. Editors and buyers were asked not to tweet, so you’ll have to use your imagination: over-the-knee lace-up leopard-print boots, giraffe and Dalmatian patterns, blue fringed cross-body bags, multi-coloured python clutches with metal rivets, and plush minaudieres. One word: WANT.

Like Helen of Troy and those ships, model-turned-designer Brian Atwood’s (brianatwood.com) handsomeness alone could move shoe units at The Room. Yet his super-stylish stilettos sell themselves. Thankfully, there’s now more Atwood than ever to go around, with last year’s launch of a second line, B Brian Atwood, and a haute handbag collection.

Who is the Brian Atwood woman?
“Always the most beautiful, sexy woman in the room. I’m not tooting my own horn. That’s just how it happens to go. [The heels] make you feel that—the power of the shoe.”

Is your B Brian Atwood woman any different?
“The B girl is jetset, but she’s funkier, more urban, and there’s ease to it. She doesn’t have $800 for a pump, but why shouldn’t she have a sexy pump?”

We’ve been hearing a lot of buzz about Miss Piggy lately, and we couldn’t be happier. This is the pig that taught us to love fashion, to go after what we want, and that self-confidence is everything. Her fashion tastes have always been a little dramatic for our tastes, but with a new movie coming out next month—in which she plays Vogue Paris’s editor in chief wearing Zac Posen and Christian Louboutin—Miss P. is being given a modern makeover.

Our favourite little diva has been busy recently: she’s collabed with M.A.C and Opening Ceremony—she even appeared at the brand’s Soho store during Fashion Night Out, agreed to be a judge on the much-anticipated Project Runway All Stars (will she be sassier than Michael Kors?), and inspired OPI to create a Muppet-themed nail polish collection. Most exciting, however, is the news that several of fashions biggest names have designed outfits for her—Jason Wu, Prabal Gurung, Suno, Opening Ceremony, Brian Atwood, and Giles & Brother—and that an editorial of her in the wears will appear in the November issue of InStyle mag. We’ve got to admit: we are very excited.

As usual, Madonna was looking insanely amazing on the red carpet at the TIFF premiere of her new film W.E. Though the Tom Ford sheer-topped dressed, satin Brian Atwood Mary Janes, and fishnets are far from a head-to-toe leather catsuit, we can’t help but hear “Express yourself, don’t repress yourself” on loop in our heads. It’s her “Human Nature” look all over again! Amazing, amazing, and about a million more amazings after that.

Carey Mulligan joined Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Emma Roberts at the 2010 British Independent Film Awards yesterday in England. The rising British actress wore a bright red Prabal Gurung dress with corsage detailing on the bust which she paired with an embellished Roger Vivier clutch and Brian Atwood peep-toe pumps. Mulligan is known for sizzling on the red carpet in stylish yet demure dresses, did she succeed this time? Let your voice be heard after the jump.

“There is no fashion crime, what is bad taste one day becomes good taste the next,” says Jean Paul Gaultier. [Telegraph]

Shoe designer Brian Atwood and Jones Apparel Group have teamed up to create a contemporary footwear and accessories label called B Brian Atwood set to debut in Fall 2011, with prices ranging from US$200 to $500. [WWD] Read our interview with Brian Atwood

Marchesa co-designer Georgina Chapman and her husband Harvey Weinstein have welcomed a baby girl this Sunday, India Pearl Weinstein. Congrats! [The Cut]

Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher is all set to launch a womenswear line, under his label, Pretty Green, which already has a men’s range. Oh my. [The Cut]

Actually, let’s let Miss J tackle this one with a quote on celeb lines: “My biggest problem is if you’re going to hire a celebrity to design a line and if they don’t know what they are doing, then they need to hire the right person to sketch and oversee the line. It’s an insult to the fashion industry for people who have studied this craft, researched it, traveled the world looking for inspiration compared to someone who just pulls something out of their closet and changes the color.” [PopEater]

Someone threw a (fake) cat at Vivienne Westwood at her show yesterday. It narrowly grazed her shoulder however and a model simply picked it up and cuddled with it. Only at Westwood. [Nylon]

The (supposed) truth comes out: last week Carine Roitfeld was a no-show at Balenciaga, claiming that she was “blacklisted” from the show. Details have emerged that the french Vogue editor had asked the Balenciaga house for samples for a shoot, and once received, a coat somehow made it’s way to MaxMara’s design studio, where it was copied. And that was the end of Roitfeld and the Paris Vogue entourage. [Fashionista]

Lindsay Lohan was back in the fashion week scene after being MIA at Ungaro yesterday, sitting front and centre at Kenzo yesterday. When WWD asked the actress why she was not at the Ungaro show, she replied  “Because I don’t work for them anymore.” When pushed for more details Lilo told reporters that “There’s legal things going on; I can’t really discuss it.” [The Cut]

A 13-minute film noir starring Agyness Deyn has just been released. Titled Mean To Me, the short flick is set in the 1930s with vintage-style gowns courtesy of Zac Posen. [StyleList]

Although Naomi Campbell reportedly struck again (sorry for the pun), no legal action will be taken. The supermodel was questioned by the NYPD after allegedly slapping and punching her driver, and slapped with a harrasment report, which doesn’t have any penalties or subsequent charges. [Vogue UK]