FASHION Magazine

Outdoor café. Lauren and Jason are lunching and laughing, but as usual, the good times last about 30 seconds before Jason screws things up.

By Kate MacLennan

Almost a decade ago, back when I was but a fashion kitten (not a full-blown fashion feline), I made the gross miscalculation of wearing a vintage Roots T-shirt whilst strolling through Sydney’s Paddington Market on a trip to Australia. There was nothing wrong with the shirt in and of itself—I even thought I looked pretty cute having paired it with denim capris (which were just gaining popularity then).

We open at the Hillside Villas, where Lauren and Audrina are discussing (what else?) boys. Audrina plans to give Justin Bobby yet another chance, and Lauren is gloating over the fact that Brody has forsaken Spencer’s company for hers. “My, how the tables have turned,” she grins. Our sweet little Lauren actually looks quite devilish here; I almost expected to rub her hands together with glee and let slip an adorably evil laugh.

Bolthouse. What looks like the entire staff is meeting to discuss an important soccer-related event, but first, Brent Bolthouse just has to ask Heidi what’s up with Brody and Lauren hanging out again! Since when does Heidi’s boss care about her ex-best-friend’s social life?

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.

When the sidewalk begins to sizzle in the summer heat, lovelies dutifully don their open-toed sandals and officially “out” their fashionable feet. These 10 luscious lollipops run up stairs, leap over puddles and tap impatiently while standing in line for a latte. The latest slick lacquers range from pretty in pink to beach babe coral to dark and dramatic.

In the fast-paced world of fashion and style, a good party is très necessaire. After all, with do-or-die deadlines, hectic travel schedules and countless photo shoots, the FASHION felines rarely get a chance to kick up our five-inch heels. So when the invitation arrived to celebrate Escada’s redesigned flagship store in Toronto, I threw on something fresh and fizzy (think: a bright tank and tulip skirt), and made my way down the red carpet rollout at 110 Bloor St. W. for a glass of bubbly and a glance at the pre-fall buys.

My name is Sarah, and I am a window shopaholic. Like a fashionable fish, I swim toward the many shiny lures–a chain-handled bag, a platform shoe, or a to-die-for dress. So, last week as I stared at my pale reflection in the travel agency glass, I knew instantly what I needed (besides a serious sweep of blush): a sigh-inducing island getaway. It was time to hit cruise control. What could be better than sun, sand and a suitcase full of the latest resort collections?

A recent Saturday morning stroll aprés the perfect blowout turned into a stride when raindrops began to fall. Ducking into a used bookstore (entre nous: I actually prefer the word vintage–it sounds less “dusty”) for a much-needed coiffure cover, I discovered the book Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald (available at amazon.ca). Reading countless pages of “dearest darling” and “my truest love” made me think: In our march for equality, have we managed to stamp out chivalry altogether?