FASHION Magazine

See the complete Tanya Taylor Fall 2013 collection »

Here are the places I want to go with Tanya Taylor: On a road trip through the midwest USA. Back to the ’60s. To a rumble in the parking lot of Rydell High. All of these ideas and places permeated the designer’s Fall 2013 collection, which was brought from New York to The Shows in Toronto, Taylor’s hometown. An ambient Trentemøller remix of Bruce Springsteen’s “State Trooper” echoed throughout the room as models in thick cat-eye liner came down the runway, some wearing leather driving gloves which only added to the retro road trip fantasy.

Tanya Taylor is a champion of feminine style with cool-girl edge. Waistlines were defined with three skinny strands of elastic-looking cord, usually colour coordinated with the fabric below (a mustard-yellow leather tunic being the most show-stopping of them all). On dresses, forward-folding pleats and side cutouts made for flattering silhouettes—especially so on a black A-line dress with beaded detail that was worn over a white turtleneck.

See the Jeremy Laing Fall 2013 collection »

Jeremy Laing knows how to churn out cool-girl clothes. For fall 2013, the Toronto-based designer, who also shows at New York fashion week, delivered a strong 31-look collection that focused on languid layers, colour-blocking (mustard is having a moment) and experimental fabrics like gold laminate seersucker. Known for his architectural shapes, Laing sent out a chic quilted cocoon coat–a key outerwear trend for fall that said snap-me-up; while his painterly smocks and shirtdresses nailed the concept of effortless dressing. As for this artiste’s palette, muted shades of grey, cream and rust ruled, though the occasional flash of gold (primarily splashed on jackets) lit up the runway. A graphic black and white stripe-and-cross print also ran throughout the line-up–a collaboration with friend, and artist, Vanessa Maltese. Looks like cool girls everywhere will be lusting after Laing’s latest hits come Fall 2013.

See the Steven Tai Fall 2013 collection »

If the meek inherit the earth, the geeks will inherit the fashion industry. At the second day of the off-the-grid fashion week, The Shows, we were introduced to Vancouver-born Steven Tai, who virtually blew the room away with his abnormal talents. We mean abnormal in the best way possible. A self-professed mad scientist who concocts fabric mixes as if they were potions, Tai showed a vibrant, street conscious and highly wearable Fall 2013 collection made of new and unique fabrics like…silicone. “There’s a big future in silicone,” he told me after the show. How so? Well, take the two apocalyptically quaint looking sweatshirts that closed the collection (exhibit A and B). Their quirky combinations of magnets, embroidery (the little gals pictured), digital prints (the UFOs hovering menacingly) are easily covetable, but the Kool-Aid orange and turquoise poured silicone is what really makes them stand out from the rest. Tai’s fabric experimentation also extended to his use of unusual quilting on cotton pockets and jackets and his peekaboo pant pleating was extraordinary. Any way you slice it, really, Tai gets two thumbs up.

See the Comrags Fall 2013 collection »

Judy Cornish and Joyce Gunhouse are no strangers to the catwalk. This year marks the 30th anniversary of their beloved Toronto-based label Comrags, and nearly one year in their new digs on Dundas West. “We’ve been at it for so long, it’s fun to have something that challenges us,” Cornish said from the top of the runway at The Shows, in a discussion about the collection with Dr. Alexandra Palmer of the Royal Ontario Museum. “We never forget that what we do is make clothes,” Gunhouse added. And these are clothes that were made for wearing.

“Nothing too precious” was the mandate for the duo’s Fall 2013 collection, translated via exposed pockets, drawstring waists and more practical pieces like a raincoat dress and a jumpsuit that made me think of Ryan Gosling’s character in Drive (always a good thing). The designers also washed, but didn’t press, some of the garments after they were made, giving them a bit of a life of their own. Cornish and Gunhouse are self-professed vintage lovers and said that they generally like to work with older found pieces that they deconstruct before putting them back together in a contemporary way. This season differed in that they fell for some vintage fabric, which they used to create original pieces. And ankle-lovers will be pleased to know that these are the body parts du jour. Nearly every piece in the collection hit just below the knee or at the mid-calf, showcasing an elegant and flattering silhouette in Italian wool dresses, swinging skirts and printed capris.

See our street style photos from Toronto Fall 2013 Fashion Week »

It’s back! Toronto’s twice-annual semi official off-the-grid fashion week, The Shows, began last night at the east side furniture emporium, Andrew Richards Design. Debuting with two back-to-back shows from local staple, Comrags (celebrating its 30th anniversary), and Canadian-born London-based designer Jean Pierre Braganza, we were treated to a little taste of Fall 2013 on a day when we were still feeling the everlasting effects of the season for this year. To our pleasant surprise, however, the frigid temps had little effect on show attendees, who illuminate this first street style photo gallery in their fashion week best.

Judy Inc. stylist Odessa Paloma Parker defied winter in a spring-ready camel trench, a holographic coloured Kate Spade clutch and her mega-printed dress/scarf combo. Once again (ahem), blogger Anita Clarke showed off the power of the offbeat pose, with her perfect mid-jump snapped by our street style photographer extraordinaire, Stefania Yarhi. Meanwhile, designer Jeremy Laing’s signature curls were caught looking ever so windswept as he spent time outside between shows.

Flip through our gallery, we daresay you’ll be delighted.

See the Jean Pierre Braganza Fall 2013 collection »

Samurais from outer space. Ancient Greek mathematical theories. The bad guys in Frank Herbert’s cult sci-fi novel Dune. These are but a few of the places Jean-Pierre Braganza found inspiration when creating his Fall 2013 collection. The London-based Canadian designer brought his séance-ready pieces across the Atlantic to present them to a select gathering of editors, bloggers and fashionable friends last night at The Shows in Toronto. Models with pin-straight hair accentuated by a sumo-wrestler bun (courtesy of Pantene hair wizard Justin German) strut down the runway to an ambient-industrial soundtrack, their heels so high they had front-row regulars feeling anxious.

While many of the looks featured Braganza’s signature asymmetrical colour-blocked pieces, he introduced several key motifs and custom prints, each calling out to be worn by The Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen, or maybe David Bowie—a white tuxedo by Braganza recently made an appearance along with Tilda Swinton in Bowie’s video for “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”. The sci-fi influence was undeniable in the Alien-esque print featured on floor-grazing gowns, knee-length dresses and low-slung pants, while belted kimono jackets kept things right on this season’s Eastern-influenced trend.

With a month long of Fall 2013 fashion weeks in New York, London, Milan and Paris coming to a close and Toronto Fashion Week just revving up, our mental shopping notes are already full with all the new things we want added to our closet. Heeled oxfords! Mini globes! Next level grunge! Most mere mortals will have to wait at least six months for Fall 2013’s newness to hit the ground floor, but we’ve found a few ways to get in on the trends you’re drooling over right now. The best part? You won’t be spending a dime. From Prada’s ever-clever fur and gingham combo to Chanel’s necklace-over-hair combo, our very own editors are showing you 5 chic and easy ways to get on your favourite Fall 2013 trends ASAP.

See our street style photos from Toronto and New York »

On a cold and blustery day, bundling up and staying warm is essential. And while we may have had unseasonably warm temps over the weekend, the forecast is hinting that winter is not over just yet. So, what better way to take shelter from the storm than with the season’s It hat: the toque, which street style photographer Stefania Yarhi captures in these photos from Toronto and New York.

Spotted on countless street style blogs and anointed by Man Repeller herself, the toque is a part shabby and part chic way to take shelter from the snow and rain while providing a pop of colour and that perfect amount of slouch. Toques have long been a Canadian staple and these photos prove that they are still just a popular. While most of the time toques are being sported out of necessity, they are a casually cute accessory and can be added to most any outfit. There are many different styles of toques and many ways to wear them—Yarhi has captured a number of them. Pulled farther back allows the back of the hat to slouch downwards. Pulled down tight allows for an extra bit of fabric to stand up high. Meanwhile, pom poms are a welcome addition, which add a bit of whimsy to the style.

See our 15 street style shots from Paris Fashion Week »

With each new edition of Paris Fashion Week, we’re reminded why the City of Lights remains the fashion capital of the world. Beyond the runway’s innovative designs and endless variations on classic Parisien chic, Paris street style never seems to disappoint. And as Fall 2013 fashion month comes to an end, Paris street style stars seemed to have saved their best looks for last.

Here we present to you 15 street style images from Paris Fashion Week, photographed by street style photographer Jaewon Lee. Tommy Ton recommended Lee to us, and from these photos it’s easy to see why. Lee documents street style from London, Milan, and Paris for his blog, Street Peacocks. With an eye for detail, Lee captures the personality of his subjects through their own unique style. His stunning photographs are ripe with vivid fashion inspiration.

See the fur at Fall 2013 fashion week »

Fur was everywhere at Paris Fashion Week for Fall 2013. The French translation, la fourrure, features a purring intervocalic R; it’s almost a meow. At one show, four editors in a row, each wearing a mammoth animal coat, resulted in an awkwardly comical seating arrangement. We also noticed that fur didn’t just mean coats; we saw it as pocket detailing, handbags, collars and evening gown trim. And the good news, if you’ve made that hair-raising investment, is that fur will be back in full swing for Fall 2013 and into winter.

Here are our fabulous fur picks:

See Miu Miu’s Fall 2013 front row »

Paris Fashion Week Fall 2013 is drawing to a close, and what better way to end the week than with another stellar runway presentation from Miu Miu? The label is increasingly becoming a red carpet mainstay (see: Kerry Washington’s Oscar dress last month), so it should come as no surprise that the front row at today’s Miu Miu show was a who’s who of Hollywood’s It-girls.

With stars like Renée Zellweger, Lea Seydoux, and Rebecca Hall in attendance, Miu Miu’s front row was like a mini fashion show all on its own. In particular, all eyes were on January Jones and Zoe Saldana who wowed us in their head to toe Miu Miu looks.

View the Fall 2013 colour moments »

Fall 2013 is on the agenda, but here at Paris Fashion Week, spring is in the air. It’s been deliciously sunny over the past few days with fashion warriors shedding winter for bright spring outfits. If Carine Roitfeld can do head-to-toe cream and caramel, bare legs and open-toe shoes (as seen at Hôtel de Crillon), then the rest of us can too. Black, however, is still a dominant hue on the catwalk and the sidewalk, but every now and again a flash of brightness taps you on the shoulder and says, “regarde-moi.”

Here are Paris Fashion Week’s top four colour moments for Fall 2013.