FASHION Magazine

As fall draws near, Calgarians tend to hold their breath, bracing themselves for a quick and abrupt end to summer. While savouring every last moment of warm weather can be disheartening to some, for others it means an opportunity to check out the latest in fall fashion. In autumn, the air is crisp and leaves are a riot of colours. For me, it’s a perfect recipe for handholding and a warm embrace.

By Adriana Ermter

The first beauty products I ever spent my hard-earned $2-an-hour babysitting money on were Finesse Extra Body Shampoo and Conditioner. I was 13 years old, swimming twice a day for the Calgary Aquabelles. Washing my fine, thin, stick-to-my-scalp blonde hair meant more to me than just getting it clean: I was trying to rinse the chlorine smell out and scrub a little feel-good beauty in. My teammate Michelle used Finesse. She had beautifully thick, naturally wavy, blonde hair. I coveted it – and her shampoo. Finesse made me feel like I had half a chance at being pretty.

Before heading to New York to reportedly marry Beyoncé, his girlfriend of six years, Jay-Z stopped by Lobby on Bloor Street in Toronto for what people were calling his bachelor party. Arriving after his Hogtown concert with Mary J. Blige, Jay-Z, a.k.a. Shawn Carter, was escorted in through the back door and held court with his mostly male entourage including Roots public relations guru Raymond Perkins.

by Emily Palonen

Who doesn’t want to hear the words “You look fab”?

For the next two weeks, P&G Beauty is offering hands-on, personalized beauty advice at the Look Fab beauty destination (144 Bloor Street West, lookfab.ca), to inspire moments of looking and feeling fabulous.

By Kate MacLennan

I’m not so silly as to go comparing B.C. Fashion Week to the spectacles that our editors witness in Bryant Park, the Carrousel du Louvre, or any of Milan’s equally stylish venues, but I will enthuse this: we have a fashion week here in Vancouver, and the alluring mix of up-and-comers and established designers set to hit the catwalk next week is well worth checking out. Here’s some highlights:

Despite the wintery weather that’s taken over Hog Town during the beginning of February, celebs have still sauntered in and out of the city.

By Kate MacLennan

Deafened by persistent rumours that Chanel, Vuitton and other luxe labels are scouting for the perfect locations from which to provide Albertans with their divine indulgences—and flummoxed by the fact Calgary got Sephora and H&M before Vancouver—I recently hopped a WestJet flight and made my way to Calgary for 48 hours of investigative journalism.

By Kate MacLennan

At Christmas, Toronto’s Bloor Street Holt Renfrew looks spectacular, its windows glittering with holiday frou frou and its racks dripping with effervescent frocks. I only mention it because last week, as I was strolling by the picture panes of our paint-barely-dry Dunsmuir Street location, it occurred to me that we’re probably in for a treat this year.