FASHION Magazine

See the backstage pictures from Greta Constantine Fall 2013 »

“A sense of tribal,” is how Stephen Wong—one half of the Greta Constantine design duo—described the beauty look for the label’s Fall 2013 collection. When presenting the looks last night, models were turned into fierce warriors, goddesses and Amazonians with textured hair, smoky eyes and geometric, neutral nails. “We took our cues from Oribe [Canales], a hairstylist who did all the supermodels in the ’90s,” Wong says. “I remember looking at the shows he’d do and thinking the hair was amazing. It had a sense of tribal, but very cool and modern feel to it.”

Sebastian core stylist Daniel Di Tommaso was the lead for the three different hairstyles, inspired by three variations of tribal. “All three hair looks were tight on the sides but textured on top to blend all the girls together.”

See the Greta Constantine Fall 2013 collection photos »
See the Greta Constantine Fall 2013 party photos »

Continuing the tradition of showing their collections off schedule and off the grid, Greta Constantine designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong debuted their Fall 2013 offering with a restaurant meets art party meets impromptu runway show last night in Toronto. Beginning at the west end hotspot Parts & Labour, the duo hosted the city’s top media and clients for a three-course meal, interrupted of course, by many shots of Stolichnaya vodka. As Greta-clad guests including Cronenberg It girl Sarah Gadon, socialite Stacey Jordan (formerly Kimmel) and trend forecaster Carly Stojsic indulged in main courses of chicken and gnocchi, Amazonian models took to the makeshift runway (aka the bar) in the duo’s latest wares. The clothes, while heavily styled with tribal inspiration—think long braids, faux mohawks and animal skulls worn as jewellery designed by Dandi Maestre—forged ahead with last season’s new motto: sleeker, stronger and relatively pared back. Amongst the pleated and curved statement dresses, the standout look was a long and lean cow’s hide coat paired with black wideleg pants and a simple white crew neck.

See all the photos from the Toronto Life Spring Stylebook launch party »

Is there a better indication that spring has finally sprung than an empty coat check room at a party? Such was the case at the launch for the spring issue of the Toronto Life Stylebook—there was an abundance of sheer dresses, bare legs and strappy sandals but not a single winter accessory in sight. Adding to the spring atmosphere were Edward Scissorhands-worthy topiaries that dotted the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar and greeted guests at the party’s entrance.

Speaking of guests, Toronto Life Stylebook cover girl Sarah Gadon was a perfect fit for the role of guest of honour, wearing a sleek blue and black Greta Constantine dress from the Fall 2013 collection. Considering that many of the partygoers have appeared on most-fashionable lists (be it Toronto Life’s or elsewhere) it was hard to stay focused on one outfit for more than a few seconds. The Beckerman sisters kept things colourful with Samantha in a neon accented blouse and Caillianne in a pastel floral-print dress. Florals certainly were the uniform of choice for the party—from vibrant digital prints to whispy petals, watching the crown was like witnessing an Erdem and Mary Katranzou-themed Pinterest board come to life.

See the March 2013 photo shoot starring Kirsten Owen »

In a season of 1990s resurgence, who better than grunge queen Kirsten Owen to star in our latest photo shoot? The British-born Canadian model lends her expert hand to our March 2013 trends issue photo shoot, which features a stark pure-white colour palette and some of Spring 2013’s best pieces from international and homegrown designers including Alexander Wang, Marni, Jeremy Laing and Greta Constantine. While white might be closer to the current colour of the ground than than anything in our current wardrobe, here’s another stoke in the hopeful fire of Spring 2013.

View our photo shoot starring Grace Mahary »

Or jump to: BEHIND THE SCENES | SHOP THE SHOOT

In just under a year, Edmonton-born model Grace Mahary has become a star on the international fashion scene. launching her international career as an exclusive on the Givenchy Fall 2012 runway, she then landed big for the Spring 2013 season, walking runways at Marc Jacobs, Chanel, Prada and for Hedi Slimane’s first collection at Saint Laurent. For this photo shoot from our February 2013 issue, we cast the model as an It girl in transit alongside fellow model Angela Page, checked in for a night at Toronto’s brand new Four Seasons Hotel with a suitcase full of homegrown designer pieces. From Pink Tartan’s minty fresh pant suit (pictured above) to Vawk’s strict black leather dress, Grace Mahary’s star shines bright in the best of Canadian fashion for the season.

View the Greta Constantine Spring 2013 collection »

Greta Constantine designers Stephen Wong and Kirk Pickersgill took a big risk by opting to show their Spring 2013 collection over a month after Toronto Fashion Week. Whatever the reason behind that decision, it seemed to pay off. Last Thursday’s fashion show at the city’s Fermenting Cellar was packed to the rafters with multiple front rows of media, buyers and social types all relatively fresh faced and ready for some action.

See the full Greta Constantine Spring 2013 backstage beauty gallery »

The inspiration:
Daniel Di Tommaso, Sebastian core stylist: “Super, super tight and very, very shiny. [Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong] wanted to make sure that when we pulled the hair back it was almost stretching the eyes.”

Melissa Gibson, M.A.C makeup key: “[Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong] sent a photograph that had a kind of ’50s-ish feel to it [and then] we were talking about the clothing which is so structured, and you think, ‘architectural, how does that come into makeup?’ The idea behind a graphic liner [is that] it’s still a play on what a ’50s liner would be if you were to modernize it, make it a bit more edgy and structural.”

Get the look:
– The super-tight ponytail for Greta Constantine Spring 2013 was actually created by bonding two ponytails together. After wetting down the hair, Di Tommaso brushed Sebastian Shine Crafter Wax through to tame any flyaways. Hair was brushed back into bump-free ponytails and the ends were rope knotted into a bun and pinned down to the head as tightly as possible. Many Sebastian products were layered to achieve a high-shine, but Liquid Steel Concentrated Styler was what made the look: Di Tommaso brushed the Liquid Steel directly to models’ heads, lacquering the hair into place.

See all the Carly Rae Jepsen photos »
Watch the behind-the-scenes video »
Shop the October 2012 cover shoot »

Ever since “Call Me Maybe” hit the top of the charts this spring, Carly Rae Jepsen has dominated every radio station, Youtube channel and dance floor playlist. So the choice to have her on FASHION Magazine’s October 2012 cover was beyond easy to make—and not just because we’ve been humming along to her music for months on end. It’s clear from the pictures that Carly Rae Jepsen has a stylish star quality that’s certain to keep her in the spotlight for a long time to come. (Don’t you just love a good Canadian success story?) After all, not everyone can look perfectly poised in a skintight McQ by Alexander McQueen dress while crouching in leopard-print Louboutin heels. When you watch the behind-the-scenes video from our October 2012 cover shoot, you’ll see even more of Carly Rae Jepsen’s charm, which was confirmed by every member of the FASHION Magazine team who worked the shoot in Vancouver. And after you’re done browsing the behind-the-scenes pictures and dancing along to our video from the October 2012 cover shoot there’s another treat waiting for you! It just so happens that the launch of FASHION Magazine’s October 2012 issue corresponds with the release of Carly Rae Jepsen’s new single “This Kiss.” It’s a bubble-gum pop hit that’s certain to become just as ubiquitous—so get thee to iTunes, pronto!

For those of you who thought synchronized swimming only existed at the Olympics, think again. The prettiest water sport proved to be alive and well at Greta Constantine’s annual summer bash last Thursday. Held in the grandiose backyard of Michael Cooper and Krystal Koo’s east Annex home in Toronto, guests were left spellbound when mid-soiree, a foursome of girls (IRL members of the Variety Village Synchro Club) jumped into the pool, performing to Gwen Stefani’s “Hollaback Girl.” After that, things got back to normal, and by that we mean many many Stoli cocktails held by gals in floor-length dresses (case in point: Ainsley Kerr and Shay Lowe wore matching diaphanous aquamarine gowns). Toward night’s end, as many free spirited gals kicked off their heels to dip in the pool, fifty-something artist Andrea Bolley was spotted dancing on her own to Diego Armand’s DJ set with moves that made many a youthful onlooker green with Advanced Style envy.

See the photos »

Sad but true, August is already halfway over. On the bright side, it’s time for back-to-school shopping (and the working girl’s equivalent). This fall our wardrobes are practically begging for a new pair of jeans, graphic print jackets, designer shoes and of course the invaluable cocktail dress, all of which you’ll find at pop-up warehouse sales and street festivals this weekend. See you at the checkout.

See what made the list »

See our full gallery of backstage pictures! »
View the full collection »
See all Toronto Fashion Week coverage »

With bleached-out brows being a huge beauty story from Milan, Greta Constantine showed its support for the trend with a brow-less “army of beautiful girls.” However, instead of bleach, brow hair was blocked out with the use of Pros-Aide adhesive. M.A.C senior artist Melissa Gibson explained that by taking away the characteristics that eyebrows provide, all the models look alike—resulting in a “mechanical, almost science fiction–like” aesthetic. Eyes were blacked out with M.A.C Chromaline in “Black Black” and then given a shimmering shot of M.A.C Pigment in “Gold Metal” to prevent the look from being flat, but also to add a “hint of glamour.” Cheeks were kept bare and a salmon-pink shade of lipstick (M.A.C lipstick in “Hue”) brought a bit of beauty back to the overall look. Gibson explained: “We’re playing not on the ugly, but the sinister parts of beauty. You have to take it all away and then add specific elements back in.”

View the full collection »
See our full gallery of backstage pictures! »
See all Toronto Fashion Week coverage »

When it comes to a Greta Constantine show, there are a couple of things an editor can expect: 1. It will be an hour late 2. Their signature draped dresses will fall somewhere in the mix. This time around, designers Kirk Pickersgill and Stephen Wong delivered on both of these points. While we’re always perplexed as to why they are an hour behind schedule, the GC boys did manage to pull two new rabbits out of their hat last Friday at the Bay’s newly reno’d Arcadian Loft: chunky knits and black-on-black tailored separates. Big points for the colourful cozy mufflers and Rooney Mara–esque sharp-shouldered dresses and leather boleros. Judging from the abundance of strategic and oh-so-sexy cut-outs, skin is fall’s best accessory. As for colour, it’s all about those rich jewel tones, darling—ruby red, emerald green, sapphire blue and amethyst. The miss of the night? The white backless dress. Women don’t want to accentuate their hips (hello, Zumba class!) even if the volume is set on low.