FASHION Magazine

See all our New Year’s Eve beauty essentials! »

Three, two, one, Happy New Year! 2013 is almost here and we’re asking: What are you doing on New Year’s Eve? Whether you consider it a night to go all out or prefer to keep celebrations more low key, it’s a holiday that deserves a little extra prep and primping. In order to help you look your best while counting down the final minutes of 2012 we’ve rounded up ten hair and makeup products that are essentials for New Year’s Eve—a roadmap for looking your best, if you will.

We have the best new glitter nail polish, a last-all-night lipstick and a curling iron that will keep your hair styled well into the beginning of 2013. Our beauty picks also include the best products to keep tucked in your purse, from a pocket-sized concealer to a makeup artist-approved method for refreshing your look between parties. (And if you’re looking for further inspiration for New Year’s Eve, may we suggest our holiday hair and makeup tutorials?) Even better, our beauty essentials are also helpful once the party has ended: from the absolute best way to remove your makeup while you’re crawling into bed to a next-day face mask you’ll love, we have you covered. The countdown to midnight is on: read on and get ready to start primping for 2013!

See all Fall/Winter 2012 Fashion Trends for Holiday »

or view by trend: EMBROIDERY | GOLD | OXBLOOD | PASTEL | VELVET | WHITE

It’s nearing the end of the year, and with that comes the ultimate end of year party, New Year’s Eve. Choosing what to wear on this occasion—or for any holiday parties–can be tricky, but there were many strong trends that stood out on the Fall 2012 runways that can help you stylishly ring in 2013.

Deep, rich burgundy clothes were seen on the runways of the likes of Peter Som for Fall 2012, but if you want to opt for something other than red around Christmas, then go for crisp, clean white clothing and accessories. Popular on runways such as Prabal Gurung’s, pair a white piece of clothing with a pop of emerald green and some gold jewellery and you’ll be looking festive and on-trend in no time.

See all of Kate’s recent appearances and outfits » Christmas time is family time at its best—a sentiment that was especially embraced by the Duchess of Cambridge, who opted to spend her last Christmas before motherhood with her own family at their home in Berkshire alongside Prince William, rather than with the rest of the […]

The post Kate Middleton opts for a low-key Christmas look while spending the day with her family appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

By Nicole Seymour

It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas, and instead of braving the malls alongside last minute shoppers, we’ve got 3 quick, easy and super cheap (they’re all under $10!) DIY gifts that would make ideal stocking stuffers, thank yous or even add-ons for your most stylish friends. For the statement-maker, a bright read sparkly barette gives just the right festive touch to any holiday party look. For the elegant lady (or lady in training), a chic twisted pearl headband adds that classic touch to any outfit. And for your most fashion forward friend, chain-linked collar tips take any simple button-down to the next level. So whether you’re rushing to craft the perfect last minute gift for a friend or creating a simple holiday accessory with lots of pizazz, these 3 DIY ideas should thrill in quite literally no no time at all.

See our DIY gifts »
See all of our recent DIYs »

Or jump to: COLLAR TIPS | PEARL HEADBAND | SPARKLE BOW

See how to do the halo braid with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

Braid enthusiasts, this one’s for you! The halo braid (otherwise known as a milkmaid braid or braided updo) takes practice but is beyond impressive once it’s mastered. From Erdem to Valentino to Emerson, halo braids keep showing up on the runways season after season, and the red carpet has followed: Keira Knightly, Scarlett Johansson, Ashley Olsen and Elle Fanning have all embraced halo braids. So when it comes to holiday hair (think: New Year’s Eve hair!), this style is certainly a showstopper.

If you’re confident in your French braiding skills this will be an easy holiday hairstyle to master. But newbies, don’t fret! Our step-by-step guide was developed in conjunction with Toronto-based hairstylist Margot Keith and takes all the confusion out of this complicated style. If you dream of doing a halo braid for New Year’s Eve, dedicate one of your lazy holiday afternoons to practicing your braiding skills. After a few test rounds we promise you’ll get the hang of it. And, like all of the styles in our series of holiday hair tutorials, the halo braid works well beyond Christmas, Hanukkah and New Year’s Eve parties. (So be sure to right-click save our handy one-page guide for future reference!) Ready to start braiding? Read on to see how this holiday hairstyle is done.

With the year’s end on the horizon, social calendars are filled to the brim with holiday parties of all sorts—and you’re suddenly tasked with finding new and creative ways to primp. Taking a nod from beauty trends on the runways and red carpets, we’ve created three scene-stealing holiday makeup looks that will be the perfect accompaniment to both your sky-high heels and cozy cashmere knits. In fact, you can wear all of these looks to any type of festive event, so whether you’re heading to an intimate house party or a glittering gala, our tutorials will have you covered—and make sure you stand out in a sea of cocktail dresses.

HOLIDAY MAKEUP
‘Tis the season to swap pale-pink lipstick for oxblood-red »

PARTY MAKEUP
Electric brights bring your eyes to life with this metallic look »

NEW YEAR’S EVE MAKEUP
Sparkling gemstone add-ons make this glittery look countdown-ready »

See our list of 61 creative hostess gifts »

Glitz and glam reigns supreme during holiday season. From twinkling lights to shimmering dresses, three of the country’s most stylish hostesses show us how to bring it on home when hosting a New Years bash or Christmas dinner party. Jacquie Somerville, Krystal Koo, and Eva Hartling‘s inspired holiday ideas will have you dreaming up ways to perfect your holiday gathering. These women turn up the heat in the kitchen (or hire someone to do so) as well as in their closet with their party appropriate shopping picks. While their holiday parties may differ in style, it’s indisputable that each lady knows how to throw a chic bash with a healthy dose of holiday sparkle.

Jump to: JACQUIE SOMERVILLE: THE DINNER PARTY | EVA HARTLING: EVENING COCKTAILS | KRYSTAL KOO, NEW YEAR’S BASH

See how the chignon twist is done with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

If the word “updo” is something you normally associate with a visit to the salon, think again! While there are indeed complex styles that require the assistance of many hands, many updos are simple to do at home and take only a few minutes to master. The chignon—which can refer to any gathered hairstyle that sits at the nape of your neck—is ideal holiday hair because, based on your skill level and the event you’re attending, it can be perfectly polished or left loose and messy. But however you style it, compliments are sure to follow. (And isn’t that what holiday hair is all about?)

For anyone who’s ever wanted to buy an ultra unique gift but not wanted to take the chance, consider your gift giving challenges over thanks to The Gift Network.

The site allows a user to create a registry—whether it’s for a wedding, birthday, or any other event doesn’t matter—and then browse and select products from over 200 boutiques like BYOB Cocktail Emporium, Magwood, and Magic Pony (a few of our Toronto favourites).

See how to do the fancy ponytail with our holiday hair tutorial »
See other holiday hair tutorials »

The ponytail is a classic hairstyle that has a seemingly endless number of variations. In fact, by changing the part, adding some curl or positioning the final pony in a different spot, it’s a style you could likely wear seven days a week without anyone being the wiser. While quick ponytails are often associated with going to the gym or casual dressing, it only takes a few modifications to make it work as a holiday hairstyle. It’s a trend that’s supported by A-listers and designers alike: Gwyneth Paltrow wore a structured ponytail on the red carpet at this year’s Academy Awards and Joe Fresh and Jonathan Saunders (to name just a few) had models in polished ponytails on the Fall 2012 runways.

See the Period Drama photo shoot »

Or jump to: BEHIND-THE-SCENES | SHOP-THE-SHOOT | WATCH THE VIDEO | EMBELLISHMENT TRENDS GUIDE

There’s an old-world charm to the season’s lace dresses, rich brocades and ornate filigree. On the many runways of Fall 2012, embellishment made its appearance—with intricate beading on suits at Louis Vuitton, brocade on party dresses at Dolce & Gabbana and shimmering jacquard pants at Marni amongst its best moments. We chose it as the starting point for our Winter 2012/13 Issue photo shoot starring Annabelle Tsaboukas, who was cast in the role of a modern-day Marie Antoinette. Get lost in the appliqué and make these luxe looks part of your own holiday story. Our behind-the-scenes photos from the shoot and shop-the-shoot picks will show you how.

See 10 stylish ways to celebrate Hanukkah »
See the rest of our Holiday Guide »

Though we all tend to fixate on Christmas around this time of the year, it’s easy to forget that it ain’t the only holiday in town. Hanukkah, the annual Festival of Lights is pretty rad too. Beginning tomorrow night (December 8) and going for 8 days until December 16, Hannukah will be celebrated by Jews by lighting menorahs, spinning dreidels, and eating too many latkes and jelly-stuffed doughnuts (Speaking for myself, that is). And while the kiddies may receive a different gift and a gold wrapped chocolate coin each night, the adults need a little bit of fun too. To ramp up the Hanukkah spirit, we’ve picked 10 super stylish and awesome ways to celebrate including themed nail decals, blue and silver picks and one party ugly partly adorable dreidel sweater. From us here at FASHION (and Adam Sandler of course), Happy Hanukkah!