FASHION Magazine

Yesterday, we hit H&M’s Toronto headquarters for a sneak peek at what the brand is cooking up for fall. As it turns out, they’re not quite cooking: they’re bedazzling. Everything. Gold and crystal baubles adorn sweaters, skirts, heck, even a harness. Meanwhile, Erdem-esque floral digi prints show up on sweaters and leggings, layers are long and lean and the heels are of the need-it-now variety. This collection will begin to hit stores in July, but in the meantime, have a look at some of the items you’ll be fighting to get your hands on.

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The gossamer lace dresses printed with a profusion of blooms in Erdem’s Spring 2012 collection called to mind a few things: a summer of leisure, innocence about to be lost, perhaps a girl one step removed from reality. London, U.K.–based Canadian designer Erdem Moralioglu explains that he conceived the designs after reading Françoise Sagan’s Bonjour Tristesse, “and it stuck.” The French Riviera–set story of a girl’s complicated relationship with her widowed father and his lovers was written by Sagan in 1954, when she was just 18.

This literary link in Moralioglu’s design process isn’t out of the ordinary. A voracious collector of books—he estimates his current count at close to 1,000—he frequently looks to them for inspiration. “I can point to books on my shelves that were catalysts for different collections,” he says.

Online-shopping veteran Rebecca Tay explores the digital world of discount ready-to-wear while taking an exclusive tour of The Outnet’s HQ in London.

See the global top sellers | See the Canadian top sellers

Online-shopping virgins are rare these days. Any girl worth her weight in Wang (whether it’s Alexander or Vera) has not only done the deed but also experimented with the latest spine-tingling activity: trolling the web for designer discounts. Who hasn’t hit the sheets with their laptop primed for a little ready-to-wear rollback action? Half-price Lanvin ballet flats? Yes, please! Erdem floral dresses for a fraction of their original price? Click: “buy!” E-boutiques like Shopbop, Asos and Net-A-Porter have huge followings, but the new stars of the online retail world are the luxury-good bargain hunters. When it comes to these price-choppy waters, The Outnet is the mother ship, drawing more than one million unique visitors every month. It was launched in 2009 as an offshoot of Net-A-Porter, which was one of the first companies to offer designer brands online. With more than 200 high-end labels to browse, including Stella McCartney, Marni, Balmain and Marc Jacobs, this site is a destination for marked-down must-haves. Boots that once cost a month’s rent are now $200; almost everything, from Alexander McQueen to Zac Posen, is 50 to 70 per cent off. It’s a virtual dream, but I get the chance to see if this fairy-tale land of luxe-for-less really exists beyond the screen when I receive an exclusive invitation to spend a day at The Outnet.

A few hours after the Erdem show ended on Monday, pictures of the lacy, camouflage-esque floral print started popping up across Twitter, Facebook, and Pinterest. It’s always interesting to see which elements of a collection achieve viral (for lack of a better word) status on social media sites and go on to become ubiquitous within months—Miu Miu’s swallows, anyone? So, in effort to start canonizing Erdem’s vibrant print, I took the Fall 2012 design to my nails.

See the Erdem manicure! »

Call an exorcist, quick! Kate Moss looks like you’ve never seen her before in a hair-raising portrayal of “good and evil” on two covers of W magazine, and we’ve been in an endless loop of scared yet captivated since seeing them.

Shot by Steven Klein and styled by Edward Enniful, W’s Will Self describes “Evil Moss,” who dons black leather and devil horns (potential Halloween costume idea?) as having lips that are “no rosebud but a crushed carnation, her cheekbones somehow performing the alien accomplishment of curving down to below its petals.”  Uh, sexy?

From ladylike lace to colourful clashing prints, we present your complete guide to Spring 2012’s freshest new runway looks.

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VIEW BY TREND: SUGAR HIGH | WATER WORLD | GOOD SPORT | FULL BLOOM | CONCRETE JUNGLE | MIX MASTER | GRAPHIC CONTENT | ORANGE CRUSH | WAISTLAND | FINISHING TOUCHES

Well, aren’t you in for a treat! Today, we’re exploring the Pierre Hardy bag belonging to bow-tied boy about town and The Room’s creative director, Nicholas Mellamphy. A long-time purveyor of chicness, Mellamphy was the genius behind Yorkville boutique Hazel, and more recently has become one of the key members of the Bay’s new transformation team. You can thank him later for putting the likes of Proenza Schouler, Thakoon, Erdem, Christopher Kane, and Carven together in one room, but in the meantime, let’s snoop!

Let’s explore! »

This past summer and into the fall, identical brightly hued satchels in every colour of the rainbow began popping up everywhere from style blogs to outside of Spring 2012 shows. No label, no glitz, just simplistic construction and straight up utility. Unlike often-unattainable It bags, The Cambridge Satchel Company satchels don’t break the bank, with styles ranging from just $100 to $200 a pop. A surprise hit with street stylers and editors alike, the bag’s success was somewhat of a shock to its creator, the U.K.-based (Cambridge, to be exact) mother, Julie Deane, who started her business with her mother as a means to send her daughter to private school. Although her former manufacturer saw that Deane had hit upon something special (they stole her designs and she’s pursuing legal action), she still can’t believe her satchels “appear on such stylish people and in such amazing stores. I feel very honoured,” she says.

We got the lowdown from the Cambridge mastermind herself on the little bags that could. »

Word: Floration

Usage: “[Kehinde Wiley‘s] models are photorealistic and the backgrounds are primarily images of what he calls “floration,” stylistic representations from designs that are Islamic, Baroque, and Rococo in origin.” — from the Columbus Museum of Art’s description of painter Wiley’s 2006 show

Meaning: See above. (Wiley made up the word himself.)

Graham Cutler has good vision. As one half of the UK-based eyewear brand Cutler & Gross (his partner-in-design is Tony Gross), he always keeps his eyes on the prize. “We have never compromised our original idea of making functional, high-quality eyewear that appeals to sophisticated tastes,” he says. Toronto fans can (finally!) snap up these retro-cool pieces at the company’s debut Canadian flagship store in Yorkville (84 Yorkville Ave., 416-966-5149, cutlerandgross.com). Here, Mr. Cutler talks new shapes and old favourites.

Though fashion critics gushed over her wedding dress, thousands flocked to see it in real life, and pieces by designers like Erdem instantly sell out after she’s seen in them, Kate Middleton was overlooked by the British Fashion Council when they announced their shortlist for the 2011 British Style Icon award. As if!

Who was included? Alexa Chung, Lara Stone, Florence Welch, and Victoria Beckham. Sure all of these Brits have It-girl appeal, but none has the extensive coverage surrounding their every outfit as Kate. Outraged by the snub, Telegraph UK encouraged readers to vote on the BFC’s website to include Kate. As of post time, her die-hard fans have spoken and Kate is included in the shortlist.

Ironically, Harper’s Bazaar UK has published their Britain’s 10 best-dressed list today and who else is at the top of the list? Kate, natch. We’re not sure why the duchess was initially left out, but if royal watchers have anything to say about it, she’ll have the award in the bag.

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A black carpet, sprinkled with male models in white tuxes, beckoned guests to the second floor of the Bay Downtown Vancouver for the Thursday night grand opening of The Room, the department store’s second den of high fashion. Erdem Moralioglu and Brian Atwood—both on their first visit to Vancouver—Jason Matlo, Monika Deol, and Jessica Stam (to name a few) were among the crowd of well-dressed revellers air kissing, clinking glasses, and noshing on Hawksworth Restaurant–made canapés.