FASHION Magazine

By Tammy Eckenswiller

Feeling sad (not really) for all of you poor Torontonians slogging through the slop and slush of that nasty snow storm on Friday while those of us in N.Y.C. click around happily in our new stilettoes and light winter coats… The weather is like the beginning of spring here, sunny and mild! Thank goodness because it’s difficult to be fabulous in slush-friendly gear!

The narrow streets of Park City are jammed with luxury SUVs, rented by visiting captains of the film industry. The shops and restaurants of Main Street have been emptied and converted into a strip of temporary “lounges” carrying the names of Skyy Vodka and Microsoft. Pedestrians consist of conspicuous black-clad journalists charging down the street, often overheard on their Blackberries saying “We’ll touch base,” while celebrities, including Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett, Paris Hilton and Matthew McConaughey, roam the main drag in designer alpine gear—making Main Street the best place to hang out and star-gaze.

LOVE & SEX GUIDE (2008)

Glowing skin, twinkling eyes and a voice that purrs–there is nothing as addictive as the rush of a new crush. After all, whether you are a sparkler-wearing Mrs. or a single seeking kisses, every lovely needs a little something sensuous (man or latest must-have) to make her heart go all a flutter. But the question du jour remains: Should a modern-day minx wear her heart on her stylish sleeves?

Despite that expected blah feeling après the holiday season–back to reality, to work and to calorie counting (sigh)–there is nothing more energizing and uplifting than a cold, sunny January day with a clear, blue sky. Vincent Van Gogh was right when he said, “I never get tired of the blue sky.”  And judging from the countless shades of blue that washed up on the Spring 2008 ready-to-wear runways, designers agree too.

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.

Today, the FASHION crowd looked a little weary–hence the dark oversized sunnies and the venti Starbucks cups. But like stylish soldiers, we fought through the crowds to get to our seats to see more cool Canadian fashion. On with the shows…

FASHION arrived at the tents ready for a full (read: long) evening of spring shows. We arrive at our seats just as the lights dim and take our place in the front row beside The Toronto Star stylist (and FASHION’s fab friend) Derick Chetty.

Damzels in this Dress (left)

The blue skies and mild breeze felt as though spring had sprung…and according to the fashion calendar, it has. FASHION started the day at the Tevrow + Chase spring presentation.

View a slideshow of Spring 2008 looks from Tevrow + Chase.

View a slideshow of Spring 2008 looks from Joe Fresh.

This morning I was scheduled to do a CBC NewsWorld interview at 7 a.m. to discuss the launch of L’Oreal Fashion Week in Toronto. After travelling to fashion weeks around the globe I thought long and hard about what truly defines Toronto’s fashion week and how we differ from the other fashion capitals.

So, today I get up late after working all night on scripts for the new show. I hop in the shower, throw on my tracks and head out to grab my Illy dark roast coffee and non-dairy, no-white sugar-or-flour low-fat muffin (a.k.a cardboard) and head out on the train to the studio. As I board the train, I flick on my iPod, which is playing Feist’s latest album and begin dealing with 10 unanswered emails on my CrackBerry. I eventually look up from my messages to notice a group of ladies staring at me.

What was a girl to do with the party of the year fast approaching? Why, borrow a fabulous floor-length gown, pull out the mile-long faux eyelashes, grab her best red lipstick and pop the champagne. And luckily for her, in true girlie style, she had her co-workers alongside her to chat, drink, and ooh and ahh over every hair, makeup, and dress moment leading up to the big night.

Despite the parade of bomber jackets, ribbed tights and ankle boots, spring is in the air. Held at their brand new digs at Exhibition Place, the Toronto Fashion Incubator (TFI) held their annual press and buyer’s breakfast to showcase 18 up-and-coming designers on the Canadian scene. The fashion pack was looking for two things that morning: caffeine and the coolest new collections. FASHION spotted a lot of fab new things, but there were a few standouts in this vast sea of style.