FASHION Magazine

While the majority of our favourite looks are compiled in the Fall/Winter beauty trend report there were three in particular that we couldn’t stop thinking about. Whether you’re seeking the perfect pink lip or want to try a twist on the traditional manicure, we’re sure you’ll love them too.

See the looks we loved! »

Over the next few months, the folks over at Joe Fresh will be sharing expert advice on how to adapt the best looks from the brand’s latest fashion and beauty collections. In this first video exclusively previewed on our site, the brand’s beauty director Simone Otis teaches you how to perfect the au naturel beauty […]

The post Beauty tutorial: Joe Fresh’s Simone Otis teaches you how to perfect the au natural look in this exclusive video appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See our accessories A-list now »

JUMP TO: BROOCHES | BRIEFCASES | POINTED PUMPS | CHOKERS | TOP-HANDLE BAGS | KNEE-HIGH BOOTS | LOAFERS

Fashion’s favourite season is finally here and we’ve got the chock-a-block trend report to prove it, complete with 138 of the top looks that take you from Fall’s dark fantasies into Winter’s light and feminine pastels. Go on, get clicking!

See all of the trends »

JUMP TO A TREND:
NIGHT VISION | EMBELLISH THE STORY | PANTS | GREAT OUTDOORS | FINE CHINA | MISS ‘60s | JEWEL TONES | SUGAR RUSH | SPECIAL FX | SIZE MATTERS | PEPLUMANIA | KNIT PICK

Drink in the magic of Fall 2012 with FASHION’s first look at the hottest shows, most bewitching sets, best new trends and more.

See all »

JUMP TO: NEW YORK | LONDON | MILAN | PARIS

After John Galliano’s infamous anti-Semitic rant in Paris last April, many wondered how his sudden departure from Dior would affect the French fashion house.

According to the Financial Times, not only did Galliano’s departure leave the company relatively unscathed, but they actually ended up with their highest earnings per annum ever, hitting $1 billion in 2011. “I never considered that,” Sidney Toledano, the president of Dior said. “I always thought we absolutely needed an artistic director.”

It makes you wonder: how important is a charismatic designer to a fashion house? Is it worth the potential risk that sometimes accompanies a more flamboyant style of creative genius?

Toledano seems to think so. Though he admitted that Dior still fared well financially without Galliano, he did stress how important he felt designers were for shaping a label’s identity, likening designers to “a shorthand to help consumers understand the brand, and to embody it.”

Does that mean someone like the more demure Raf Simons, who is taking over Galliano’s post for Dior, might not have the same capacity to “embody” the brand? According to Toledano, it all comes down to the individual.

“If [charisma] works for the designer, then fine . . . but if not, it can be counterproductive, and it is better to avoid it. In the end, luxury is judged not by whether a designer’s face is on X number of posters, but by their work.”

Our bet is that if Simons’ tenure at Jil Sander was anything to go by, his work will more than speak for itself.

View our top 5 picks »

The shop: If you don’t know what ASOS is, please invite me to your Amish-Leninist compound some time? The Internet’s massive answer to H&M/Zara/Topshop has evolved from doing cheap knock-offs to doing less-cheap knock-offs, plus selling lots of real-deal designers and fresh contemporary brands in between. Now, one of the more recent additions to this UK e-tailer’s in-house ouevre—ASOS Salon—is back for a second season of the prettiest party dresses a couple hundred dollars can buy.

The goods: Clicking through the dozen-plus frocks on offer at ASOS Salon, a higher-end take on fancy-dress trends, two words come to mind: Carey Mulligan. From the Christopher Kane-a-like coruscating pastels to the Jil Sander-meets-Erdem florals to the Daisy Buchanan-y tea dress, the Salon is so her (red carpet) style. (The exception: a stiff silvery playsuit that feels like something Zooey Deschanel would wear to her barista’s wedding. I hate it.) This collection is one-note, but what a high, sweet note. Prices are more high than sweet, especially compared to regular ASOS, but better construction—albeit same discount viscose-type materials—and loads of texture give these pieces a worthwhile heft. NB: I went to see a few picks in person to make sure I wasn’t lying to you about this. I’m not.

The shipping: Last time I ordered from ASOS.com, the piece arrived promptly in five business days and no-frills packaging. Expect no different: the whole thing of mass retail is being predictably good enough. If you want it faster, pay $12 for express shipping and get it in two biz days maximum. Plus, free returns! Always.

What with Raf Simons now officially at Dior, Hedi Slimane officially at YSL and Jil Sander officially at…Jil Sander, it seemed the fashion-land rumour mill was as good as retired. But how silly of us. (Re)enter Stefano Pilati, who was replaced as creative director of Yves Saint Laurent in late February. Sources (namely Jim Shi) […]

The post Gossip that rhymes: Pilati for Armani? appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

He said he was leaving Milan forever, but he never said anything about Paris. Yes, the longest-running game of Guess Who? the fashion world has ever seen is finally over. And cue the welcome party, because we couldn’t be happier.

Cathy Horyn broke the news today that Raf Simons will be taking over (effective immediately) as artistic director at Dior. His first collection with the house will be for the haute couture shows in July—somewhat fitting considering the colour-loving minimalist took a decidedly haute hand to his recent Jil Sander “Couture Trilogy” (before getting the boot, that is).

The news comes after over a year of headhunting on Dior’s part. The house famously went after Marc Jacobs last year (the two parties couldn’t agree on salary) and reportedly later Lanvin honcho Alber Elbaz (he turned down the offer). Simons’ name started popping up in late December and the rumour mill began churning like nobody’s business.

The juiciest part in all this? Yves Saint Laurent creative director Hedi Slimane has been a longtime menswear rival of Simons’. And now the two get to face off in the womenswear arena. Does this mean Dior versus YSL walk-offs are in our future?

Whether he was their first choice or not, he was most definitely ours. We’re still having dreams about his last Jil Sander collection. Those reds! Those pinks! This really couldn’t have turned out better.

The Raf Simons rumour mill continues to turn, as WWD‘s Bridget Foley divulges that the designer was “unceremoniously dumped” to make way for founder Jil Sander’s return. Given how responsible Simons was for the brand’s recent success and return to importance, it seems, well, offensive that this could even be the case. But how did […]

The post Quotable: Raf Simons is “leaving Milan tomorrow, forever” appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Before I hand over the ready-to-wear reins to our editor-in-chief, Bernadette Morra, who will be reporting all the news from Paris Fashion Week, I give you my top 10 Milan must-haves for Fall 2012.

Check out our Milan top 10 »

All eyes are on Jil Sander at the moment, after she announced last Friday that she would be returning to her namesake label. On her plans, the German designer tells WWD: “I do have strong convictions which evolved but never radically changed over time. I never tried to be provocative, but I never indulged in nostalgia, […]

The post Quotable: Jil Sander on the need to be daring with the return to her namesake label appeared first on FASHION Magazine.