FASHION Magazine

See the photos from Michael Kors’ Toronto visit »

“Just when you thought you had everything, along comes a camouflage mink stole,” drawled Michael Kors, as a model glided into Holt Renfrew’s café in an outfit from his Fall 2013 collection.

The mini-show followed lunch for 20 or so top clients at Holt’s Cafe yesterday following a fête at his Bloor Street store on Wednesday night, with hostess Hilary Weston presiding over the affair in an aqua Oscar de la Renta tunic and pants.

Elsewhere there was much Michael Kors Spring 2013 about, including a dermatologist in a colourblock dress, and a capital markets trader a peony pink sheath. After tucking into sweet pea ravioli, lobster over fried green tomatoes and a sliver of cheesecake, there was an exodus downstairs to the racks of fall clothes available for special order.

Go inside the new beauty space at Holt Renfrew Yorkdale »

Holt Renfrew is continuing to expand its beauty presence with a new 10,000 square foot beauty space at Yorkdale Mall in Toronto. The new space, which opened to the public this week, offers a variety of luxe beauty services and international beauty brands, many which are exclusive to Holt Renfrew. The open environment features modern design concepts from favourite Holts beauty brands (including Chanel, Dior, La Mer and Shu Uemura), interactive digital features from Bobbi Brown and Clé de Peau and personal treatment and consultation space.

According to Holt Renfrew, the new beauty space is all about providing a personalized shopping experience for customers. “We’ve elevated our entire beauty experience,” explained Pat DiBratto, senior vice president of buying and merchandising, via press release.

With Mother’s Day only few weeks away, Giorgio Armani and Holt Renfrew have teamed up to launch a limited edition baby blanket in support of Free the Children, the international charity that supports millions of children and families around the world in developing communities. This is the latest in a long line of charity collaborations […]

The post Holt Renfrew and Armani team up on a limited edition baby blanket in support of Free The Children appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See our shorts trend shopping picks »
See the the shorts trend on the Spring 2013 runways »

By Gabrielle Johnson

Several months before her 38th birthday, Gwyneth Paltrow took a pair for a spin on the red carpet. Forty-four-year-old Jennifer Aniston practically lives in them. And at 53, Sharon Stone was snapped wearing hers with a slouchy sweater and knee-high boots. As fashion statements go, shorts aren’t new: Sexy, sporty hot pants will forever be associated with the 1970s, while countless girls who came of age in the ’80s emulated Baby’s Dirty Dancing denim cut-offs. In the ’90s, shorts teamed with tights were a seasonless staple—a look that has since become an off-duty model classic.

On the ready-to-wear runways, shorts are also a familiar sight. Miuccia Prada opened her Spring 2000 show with a body-hugging pair, and has been experimenting with variations on the theme ever since. Marni designer Consuelo Castiglioni has been peppering her collections with them for years, in every length, fabric and pattern imaginable. This spring, tailored shorts have taken the spotlight. Chloé, Prabal Gurung and Fendi showed them in lush leathers; Carolina Herrera and Cacharel favoured light, shiny fabrics; Dolce & Gabbana, Hermès and Chalayan experimented with trippy prints; and Emporio Armani femme’d them up with sweet ruffles. Clearly, fashion’s cyclicality is what makes this trend so right, right now.

“Everything old is new again,” says Barbara Atkin, vice-president of fashion direction at Holt Renfrew. “Designers keep bringing back shorts, over and over again, in different ways. It’s the right time. We’ve had so many short miniskirts—it was time to evolve from that.” 

Canadian designer Arthur Mendonça, whose Spring 2013 collection included sequin-effect black tuxedo shorts and a raspberry-hued silk sheen version, agrees. “I’ve always liked [them] as a skirt substitute,” he says. “I like the whole sporty look of a tailored short, especially for spring and summer. It looks modern. The shorts we did were all high-waisted; they almost look like A-line skirts.”

At Cacharel, designers Ling Liu and Dawei Sun consider tailored shorts to be the new trousers. “They’ve become a basic, whether in winter or in summer,” says Sun. “They’re modern and easy to mix. Different lengths and materials allow you to create really diverse outfits.” Considering that spring’s new crop of longer shorts were trotted out on the runways paired with blazers, button-downs and (relatively) sensible heels, it seems these onetime vacation-wear must-haves have morphed into perfectly acceptable office attire. Depending on your office, that is. “What we in the fashion world see as office-appropriate is really much more of a fashion take on your office wardrobe,” says Atkin. “If you’re working for a traditional law firm on [Toronto’s] Bay Street, shorts of any kind are a no-no. It would be frowned upon, and you’d probably be asked to leave.”

Holt Renfrew’s Spring Beauty Bag arrives in stores today and we have a sneak peek at this season’s contents. For those who don’t know, Holts releases a new Beauty Bag twice per year. The bag only costs $35, but it’s filled with numerous miniature beauty goodies as well as a $10 voucher towards future beauty purchases. And the bag itself is always an on-trend—this year’s has a unique ombre look (available in three different shades) and contains a removable pouch.

As for the samples, this year may just be the best one yet. The Holt Renfrew Spring Beauty Bag contains 13 different mini versions of products including Deborah Lippmann nail polish, Molton Brown body wash and Sisley makeup remover.

See our 25 gifts for mom »

As you may be able to tell from the cards, candy and chocolate already filling store shelves, Mother’s Day is fast approaching. The yearly challenge of finding the perfect gift before May 12 is officially upon us. This year, instead of getting your mother the standard scented candle (this one smells like coffee!), take a peek at our selection of thoughtful gifts for mom.

For the mother with a passion for style, jewellery always does the trick, and it doesn’t have to be as expensive as you may think. The ultimate statement necklace for under $100? Done. We’ve thought beyond the little blue box and selected unique clutches, sunglasses that match mom’s unique style.

See photos from the Holt Renfrew Rag & Bone party »

Toronto is so desperate for springtime, that not even last night’s biblical style storm wouldn’t stop its style inclined inhabitants from flocking to Holt Renfrew for a party in honour of Rag & Bone’s neon-heavy spring collection. Packed to the racks of the department store’s third floor, partygoers—including designers Marcus Wainwright and David Neville, who made it in the nick of time after hours of flight delays—seemed especially eager to throw down to the DJ tunes and get crafty with the makeshift graffiti board that had been installed on a nearby wall.

And now for the fashion: Spring’s graphic black and white trend was embraced by many partygoers, most notably by stylist Mariko Lauren who channeled Wednesday Adams in a peter pan collar dress and wide brimmed hat and the always-fabulous Kealan Anne Sullivan, who artfully paired a vintage policeman’s hat with a black velvet cape, a white turtleneck sweater and beat up jeans. Socialite Stacey Kimmel braved gravity in a skin-baring halter black dress with selectively geometric fabric slashes. And at the other end of the spectrum, designer/photographer Ashley Rowe went for the kaleidoscopic effect with her lime green active suit suit, turquoise-dyed hair and gal pal stylist Cara Joy Purkis who wore head-to-toe red.

See all the Holt Renfrew party pictures »

Not even a micro-blizzard can stop Toronto from celebrating the start of World MasterCard Fashion Week in style. Open-toed shoes and floor-grazing hemlines were spotted on many of the attendees at Holt Renfrew’s cocktail kickoff party, with barely a salt stain or goose-bump in sight.

The party, which started after the last of Monday’s shows, transplanted the front row set—that is, a mix of editors, designers, photographers and buyers—onto the third floor of Holt Renfrew. Ambient music (courtesy a Bellosound DJ in a white Jeremy Laing dress) mixed well with on-brand magenta lighting, making for quite the party den far away from the tents at David Pecaut square. And magenta wasn’t just everywhere thanks to the lighting: from Ashley Rowe’s dip-dyed hair and bright caftan to Lisa Tant’s magenta bolero jacket to a pocket square (that may have actually been a pair of panties, according to one onlooker) worn by a crafty male guest, the evening was filled with shades of pink, purple and red.

As if Yorkdale Shopping Centre couldn’t get any better, the luxury mega mall has just announced yet another list of first-to-Canada brands opening throughout 2013. After completing a $220 million dollar renovation in November, which saw the Canadian launch of retailers like Kate Spade New York, Loft and Ted Baker, Yorkdale is announcing that luxury […]

The post Yorkdale announces even more new stores to open in 2013 including Mulberry, Zara Home, David Yurman and All Saints appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Love Into The Gloss? Go inside Emily Weiss’ purse! »

While there’s no official statistic, we feel pretty confident in stating that readers of Into The Gloss are more likely to spend an extra 10 minutes rearranging their makeup collection after applying it each morning. It’s simply impossible to read one of the site’s signature Top Shelf profiles without taking a moment to reconsider both your own catalogue of beauty products and how they’re displayed—and we have Emily Weiss to thank for that. Since launching Into The Gloss in 2010, Emily has changed the beauty blogging game.

See all 25 party pictures from the CFC Gala! »

It’s a strange feeling to arrive at a party in Toronto in the middle of the winter and see a paparazzi scrum positioned outside the doors, but when you’re attending an event hosted by the Canadian Film Centre, such is the case. Last week the CFC celebrated its 25th anniversary with an extravagant gala and silent auction at the Carlu. It was likely the rumours of Ryan Reynolds showing up—perhaps with his new bride Blake Lively!—that caused the tabloid interest. (However, the pair was content to stay in Sudbury, sorry paps!) So who were the 500-plus guests celebrating 25 years of the CFC? Both talent and behind-the-scenes players from Canada’s film and television industry were in attendance, including stars from Murdoch Mysteries, The Listener and Republic of Doyle. While the dress code called for black tie, the majority of guests opted for a Justin Timberlake-approved suit and tie over a tuxedo.

See all 10 pampering products for an at-home spa day »

Pampering might not seem like a winter essential, but when the winds are blowing and you’re spending more time inside than out, it only makes sense to dedicate an afternoon to some rest and revitalization. While a day at the spa is an expense not everyone can shoulder, there are plenty of ways you can enjoy spa treatments at home. Facial masks, serums and scrubs are all excellent sources of self-pampering—and simple enough that you don’t need a second set of hands to help. (Of course, should you want to get a few girlfriends together, all your friends will appreciate these at-home spa treatments.)