FASHION Magazine

Be it a trip to the cottage, an office meeting or a night on the town, the white button down shirt has played the role of constant staple in our wardrobe choices. An oversized boyfriend shirt knotted (or not) at the waist and rolled at the sleeves throw in fuss free loose hair makes us […]

The post The white shirt, revamped: 7 Style Panel tips for taking this staple to the next level appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Nothing satisfies our shopping addiction more than investing in versatile pieces. A tailored pencil skirt easily makes the list of guilt-free purchases. With a variety of colours and styles to choose from, there’s really no excuse for not experimenting with this flattering sartorial staple.

The value of a pencil skirt is perhaps best realized in its ability to take you from day to night. Whether you prefer a classic black midi skirt such as the Calvin Klein style Rooney Mara recently pulled off, or a fun embellished one such as the Burberry Prorsum knee-length skirt Blake Lively dazzled in, the sleek form fitting design combines an office-appropriate length with a nightlife-appropriate wow-factor. Our September cover girl Olivia Wilde knows how to wear a pencil skirt. She recently stunned in this red-checkered A.L.C. midi skirt, giving us all a lesson in print. Wilde paired her skirt with a black leather top and metallic clutch confirming that the styling possibilities for this must-have piece are endless.

All hail the logo T-shirt! From the 3.1 Phillip Lim “I Heart Nueva York” print to designer jerseys to cheeky logos that play off beloved fashion house names, logo T-shirts have gone from vintage favourite to coveted wardrobe staple.

It’s a favourite item amongst fashion bloggers, street style regulars and models like Cara Delevingne. Even celebrities are fond of letting their logo T-shirts say what’s really on their mind. But if “how do I wear a logo T-shirt?” is what’s on your mind, you’ve come to the right place. This week the Style Panel is serving up their best dressing tips on turning a simple logo tee into the statement piece of your outfit.

While A Fashion Love Affair’s Cara McLeay and Suburban Faux Pas’s Krystin Lee dressed up their designer shout-out t-shirts with statement necklaces and heels, Leah Says’ Leah Gust played with a rock n’ roll look with a vintage t-shirt and leather skirt for a little juxtaposition. Since the riot girl is a trend this season, and with fall drawing nearer, The Style Mogul’s Christina Cravero opted for a logo sweater instead to pair with her asymmetrical skort and studded heels to complete her edgy look for the day.

Question 64: How do you style your favourite logo t-shirt? Read the answers now! »

Biking is the go-to mode of transportation for our sticky summer commutes. You’ve got to hand it to our two-wheeler friends for getting us through the heaviest rush hour traffic in a time crunch. And though we adore anything that shortens our morning routines, a speedy cycle doesn’t come without its fair share of wardrobe-related challenges. Combining fashion and function is key for assembling bike-ready ensembles. Once you find the perfect balance of comfort and style, you’d be surprised what you can pull off wearing while weaving through the city streets.

While helmets may not be topping your must-have accessories list, they’re totally first on ours. Rachel Bilson recently paired her tight-fitted bike uniform with the sturdy headgear, earning her major safety points. ‘We Can’t Stop’ singer Miley Cyrus relies on her bike-basket to carry all of her favourite things and though her long hair is no more, we still suggest copying Cyrus’ polished top bun. It’s the perfect hairstyle for avoiding the post-cycle hot mess look. The ever-fashionable Kate Bosworth won’t let a little cycling get in the way of her outfit choices. Bosworth’s a-line circle skirt is the perfect way to steer clear of grease stains, while the knee length hemline promises to prevent un-wanted flashing situations.

But you don’t have to be a celebrity to look this cute on a bike. We’ve turned to our Style Panel for more advice on how to dress fashionably while biking. The Girl With The Messy Hair’s KD Faustino deems shorts a biking-must, but suggests scrapping your favourite denim cutoffs for something a little more fashion-forward. Short Presents’ Kayla Short also favours shorts, but suggests pairing them with a interesting top to give people something to look at as your cruise past them at top-speed. (Woah there, easy rider!)

Question 63: How do you dress fashionably while biking? Read the answers now!

Much like a blank canvas, white fashions are the clean slate that every wardrobe needs. The versatility of the innocent hue lends itself to endless styling possibilities. With the no-white-post-labour-day rule behind us (how passé), we’re free to stock up on crisp white pieces for summer, fall and beyond.

Stars on and off the red carpet are choosing white as their colour of choice. The ongoing white trend can just as easily adopt a streamlined, clean-cut look with sharp tailoring, as it can a perfectly pretty one with embroidery and sheer silks. Whatever your flavour, the posh hue is the perfect choice for showing off some of your boldest accessories. Consider pairing your favourite whites with a fierce animal print bag as Beyoncé pulled off recently. In the jewellery department, try topping off a white frock with an edgy, head-turning necklace like Olivia Palermo. A bold lip can also make as strong a statement, with Karlie Kloss showing off the perfect red pout to avoid looking washed out by her all white red carpet getup.

Much like the stars they dress, A-list designers are showing their love for the always-in-style hue. To keep it fresh, Bottega Veneta combined white-on-white textures on its Spring 2013 runway. Chanel spiced up ensembles with pearl beads garnishing white pieces.

Still doubting the power of an all white palette? Fear not, because we’ve asked our style panel for tips on how to wear white.

Over My Styled Body’s Lyndsey Forest agrees that accessories are key to amp up a white ensemble. She also suggests trying an unusual hemline to keep your look fun. Alicia Fashionista’s Alicia Quan pairs her whites with edgier pieces such as a leather jacket to avoid a bride-to-be look. With Love Gabrielle’s Marta Tryshak thinks that white is easy and fabulous. She considers well-fitted white denim jeans a must-have and advises investing in a pair that can be worn well into the fall.

Question 62: How do you wear white while keeping it fresh? Read the answers now!

Once relegated to summer camps and dress up parties, neon has been making its may back into the forefront of fashion over the past few seasons. Especially with this season’s nineties crazy, even the brightest fluorescent hues have even become near basics.

Seen prominently on many of this summer’s music festival attendees, neon appeared on everything from bra tops to the ever-popular Cambridge satchel. Neon was popular with celebrities as well, spotted on Serena Williams’s nails to Gwyneth Paltrow’s heels.

On the Spring 2013 runways, neon appeared with creative pops in Peter Pilotto’s ruffled dresses and bright prints on Kenzo’s jungle print jumpsuits and Christopher Kane’s Frankenstein shirts. For Fall 2013, the unexpected cold weather hue makes its return with 3.1 Phillip Lim and Rag & Bone’s brightly hued motorcycle style jackets.

Since the trend doesn’t seem to be going anywhere, the girls from Style Panel are sharing key tips on how to wear neon this season and beyond.

Never having tried the trend, Dainty Girl’s Nicole Wilson works neon into her outfit with brightly coloured yellow heels. In the same vein, both Suburban Faux-Pas’s Krystin Lee and Born Lippy’s Melanie Morais suggests wearing neon in moderations, while pairing it with neutrals. If you’re still unsure on how to wear neon, Canadian Fashionista’s Amber Desilets advises to start with something simple like accessories. Nothing like a neon necklace or neon belt to really make your everyday outfits stand out and on trend.

Question 61: How do you wear neon? Read the answers now!

When it comes to summer vacations, we all share the same fear of overweight luggage bills. From the moment we pull the suitcase out of the closet we’re considering how many purses we can qualify as necessary with and whether we can survive on just four pairs of shoes. Vacations are supposed to be blissfully stress-free and yet the packing blues have us in a rut.

For those of us heading beach destinations, the warm temperatures call for light, carefree pieces. Beyoncé has us convinced that she knows how to pack light. The starlet turned to Tumblr to document her recent beach vacation in which she’s seen rocking a variety of one-pieces (in kaleidoscopic prints, we might add) and flow-y bohemian blouses. For those planning a sightseeing vacation, packing light becomes increasingly more challenging. Comfort is key for those who plan to be on their feet all day. Rihanna was recently spotted out and about in London in a cool white-on-white ensemble which she paired with a leather visor, showing us she’s not letting the hot European sun put a damper on her vacation plans.

Still weary on how to pack light? We’ve turned to our style panel for more packing dos and don’ts.

Much like the classic LBD and the plain white T, denim shorts rank high on the list of timeless trends. Feared by some, loved by many, the versatility of this wardrobe staple makes this classic style a must-have for summer. On the streets, we’ve seen trendsetters brace the warmer temperatures in denim shorts of all […]

The post How to wear denim shorts: 15 Style Panel tips for braving this often-feared basic appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

If you’re like us, you totally fell victim to this past year’s leather craze. With fall and winter both behind us (phew) it’s only safe to assume that our newly broken in leather finds are due to be packed away for a cooler day, right? Wrong! Leather for summer is on-trend and the options are endless.

While we may have tackled the cozy-casual look last winter, taking on cottage style in the summer can be a task a tad more difficult. The cottage lifestyle is all about freedom and relaxation, so it’s no question our style should reflect the same characteristics. The last thing we want is to look prim and proper while lounging on the deck, right?

With the July long weekend fast approaching, we want to make sure your wardrobe is ready for the countryside. Whether you’re heading up to your family cottage or hanging out with friends at a campsite, we have tips on how to retain your everyday flair during your time away from the city. So before you throw on your favourite sweats or give in to the flip flops, read what our ladies from the Style Panel have to say on how to put together an effortless chic look at the cottage this season.

It’s almost swim season, which means it is time to flip through endless shopping guides to find your perfect bikni, tankini, monokini and so on.

Summer is the perfect time to try out new swimsuit shapes and styles that work best with your body, and with a wide selection of suits out there—from one piece to two-piece swimsuits in every colour in the rainbow—you’re bound to have options. If you’re thinking about straying away from the simple one piece at your first pool party of 2013, why not look to Mara Hoffman’s colourful tie-dyed swimsuit for inspiration with cutout panels to add a bit of sultriness to your look? If you don’t feel comfortable showing too much skin, take notes from Rochas’ floral two-piece. Showing only a bit of your midriff, this swimsuit style will definitely add a retro yet feminine touch to your poolside outfit.

As the weather gets warmer and the hemlines get shorter, the wedding invitations start rolling in. That’s right: Summer wedding season is upon us once again. And while we love an excuse to go shopping, how to dress for a wedding is a question us bona fide wedding attendees are still having difficulty answering.

How does one find the perfect balance between demure and daring? A wedding, after all, is a multi-generational affair that demands a timeless, and semi-conservative look. No pressure. For the bride-to-be, the wedding day is her day to shine. So how do you, the guest, make a statement without stealing her spotlight?