FASHION Magazine

See the street style photos from Toronto Fashion Week »

Day two of World MasterCard Fashion Week Fall 2013 is all about the transition. With the weather teetering between winter and a chilly spring, those attending shows at David Pecault Square turned to leather and fur yet again for the answer to the question, “will I be warm enough in this?” (Chances are, those only in leather jackets were still cold.)

Faux fur collars were seen on multiple attendees including I Want, I Got’s, Anita Clarke, who had her thinking face on as she stared into her iPhone on day two. Gotta send those tweets, y’all! Our Style Panel‘s Krystin Lee took serious inspiration from Marc Jacobs’ spring collection in a well, Marc Jacobs T-shirt and a stark black and white striped floor-length skirt. This look was accented with a red bag and statement necklace so we think it’s safe to say she’s been keeping up with our Spring 2013 trends guide.

See the DUY Fall 2013 collection »

Edgy but elegant—it’s a difficult line to walk, even for the most seasoned designers.

But Duy Nguyen proved he was up to the challenge in his World MasterCard Fashion Week presentation. The solo show was an award received along with industry mentorship (including face-time with yours truly) from the Mercedes Benz Start-Up program after a cross-country search and runway showdown last fall.

The Vietnam-born, Montreal-based designer proved his mettle (or metal), if you count the silvery embroidered lace gowns, twinkling wool trousers and shimmery tweed pencil skirts showcased in the DUY Fall 2013 collection.

A pale, frosty palette and fox-trimmed leathers fit with the Canadian Arctic theme. Materials were all rich, warm, and begging to be touched, with mohair trousers cut to pleated perfection, and a “hairy” top that looked like a fine shag carpet. Nguyen also spent weeks slicing tulle for his swishy evening skirts, basketweaving wool jersey for tops and handcrafting hundreds of flowers from left over scraps. “I wanted them to look like they were decomposing,” he said of the appliques that wound around shoulders and necks.

See the Pink Tartan Fall 2013 Collection »

Marnie Edgar meets Betty Draper meets American Horror Story’s Constance Langdon—a troika of off kilter blondes make the perfect heroines for Pink Tartan’s Fall 2013 collection. “There’s something a bit off about these girls but they are really put together,” said designer Kimberley Newport Mimran backstage after the show. A bit off? Maybe. Perked to perfection? That’s more like it. Newport-Mimran’s signature sunny approach shines through in any collection, and this season, particularly so—even despite its influence. Below the blond bob wigs and wide black headbands, the label’s latest wears proved ladylike once again while hitting all the Fall 2013 trend marks. Faux fur was one, which stood out as a bright cobalt blue coat. The winter floral was another, which renewed the label’s requisite shirtdresses for another season. And because faux fur may not satiate the luxists of the city, real fur appeared as well, most notably as thin black trim on a long, backless evening gown.

Check out our latest street style gallery Toronto Fashion Week »

World MasterCard Fashion Week Fall 2013 has begun in Toronto, but let’s be honest, Mother Nature is definitely the fiercest force taking over the city. Show goers were greeted on day one with an unexpected snowstorm making our first batch of street style photos—shot by photographer Stefania Yarhi—all about the layers.

Leathers, wools, and a whole lot of toques graced the wet pavement outside of David Pecault square and we won’t even try to deny how happy we are to spot three different mini backpacks which fills our hearts with 1990s nostalgia.

See the Chloé Comme Parris Fall 2013 collection »

The dreamy, artsy girl we usually see on Chloé Comme Parris runways showed her tougher, ennui-filled side for Fall 2013 at World Mastercard Fashion Week, slouching aggressively out to the sounds of Nirvana’s “All Apologies.” Nineties grunge reappeared in international Spring 2013 collections and continues to fly its flag into fall with Hedi Slimane’s all too faithful interpretation for Saint Laurent Paris (most of the fashion media wasn’t having it but it gave Courtney Love “gasms” and reminded her of Value Village).

Here, under-25 Toronto sisters Chloé and Parris Gordon applied their own richly detailed aesthetic to classic signifiers like check shirts wrapped around the waists of slips: their dresses are beautifully cut in silk and feature custom 19th century Arts & Crafts-influenced prints (the Gordons’ mom is an enthusiast of the era). Adding to the feeling of rebellious, seething youth were crop tops, patterned thigh-highs, tough leather, army overcoats, vests layered over sheer tunics layered over cropped pants, and dresses slashed across the chest and held together with what looked like metal body piercings.

See our street style photos from Toronto Fashion Week »

At night two of Toronto’s The Shows, three impressive collections had the fashion scene raving. Up-and-coming designers Tanya Taylor and Steven Tai both made their home-turf runway debuts, and Toronto-based designer Jeremy Laing closed the evening with a flashy collection (I’m looking at you, gold trench coat) previously shown at New York Fashion Week. As our own fashion week continues, so does the Toronto street style. The setting sun gave attendees a certain glow as they arrived at the east-end venue Andrew Richards Designs, many of them keeping warm and stylish in transitional leather jackets. Yes, it’s still cold out, but let’s just pretend it’s not!

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 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 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.

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 the complete Chanel Fall 2013 ready to wear show »

The Grand Palais in Paris was the centre of the universe, at least for five minutes this morning. Chanel‘s lustful Fall 2013 prêt-à-porter show staged a giant rotating globe in the main hall, which was illuminated by a rare sunny sky, gently bathing the atrium roof in a light mellow glow. The globe, as it turned, showcased little Chanel flags indicating the iconic brand’s international reach. The Chanel soundtrack began with classical music that eventually tripped into a hip hop number with the lyrics “Around the world” pulsing over and over again.

And then the clothes! All the expected ingredients were there: suits, chain purses and double C logos. The tweed jackets this season were cut lower on the hip, in many cases with a hem of mini-pleats. Some ensembles shimmered with metallic accents, while others popped in bubblegum pink. Newer silhouettes included the roomier, ubiquitous coat body with dropped sleeves, matched with a fuller ruffle miniskirt, as well as balloon sleeves that tightened at the forearm like gloves. For a playful addition, patent thigh-high leggings (in black and white) coordinated with matching boots adorned with chains. Also, several models sported furry helmets in cobalt, mint and pastel pink for a look that resembled a kooky version of Lego hair.

See the coats at Paris Fashion Week Fall 2013 »

Sensory overload! From the wispy feathers at Dries Van Noten to the rock ‘n’ roll studded mini-wrap skirt at Isabel Marant, Paris Fashion Week is an adrenalin-charged sartorial dream. (Seeing Catherine Deneuve munching on popcorn at Lanvin was très surreal.) Ping-ponging from one sensational venue to the next—Palais de Tokyo to Grand Palais to Jardin des Tuileries—is a test of endurance and high-heeled ankle strength. Now at its halfway point, this marathon de la mode has unraveled several key trends. One in particular: I’m seeing much runway love for slouchy XL tailoring. It’s a woman’s world, in a man’s coat. 8 designers (and counting) have rocked relaxed dropped shoulders with wide wrap-me-up lapels and massive boxy silhouettes. Got a little bit of room to spare under that woolen cover-up? All the better for layering winter’s equally large and cozy knits.