FASHION Magazine

When it comes to crafting her own personal style, Edmonton’s Alyssa Lau is all about DIY. See her shopping picks » Alyssa Lau’s one-of-a-kind shredded shorts, studded denim jackets and floral head wreaths are showcased on Ordinary Peoples, the blog she launched in 2011 with her cousin Kurtis. The 20-year-old chemistry student with a flair […]

The post It girl, Alyssa Lau: We profile the Edmonton-based Style Panelist’s sartorial choices and shopping picks for fall appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

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Size matters for Fall 2012; volume has been turned up and proportions maximized. Boxier silhouettes, broad shoulders, and architectural layers come together to create striking visuals in our October issue.

On the runways, we saw Comme Des Garçons create a whole new body shape (think: human gingerbread man), Mugler restructured the peplum to add some renewed intrigue to the trend, and Pheobe Philo for chose to supersize her collection for Celine with coats of epic proportions.

Panelled, peplumed, zippered or embossed, leathers dominate with their versatility and sex appeal.

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From cut-outs to bright colours, we’ve noticed a few celebs trying fall’s leather trend early, and we approve of the many ways its being re-imagined. Eva Longoria wowed us when she donned a laser cut Marchesa dress at the premier of her latest flick earlier this summer, and Emma Stone earned some serious style cred in the red leather Monique Lhuillier number she wore on the Tonight Show. Both of the stars balanced their leather looks with ladylike accessories—Eva paired hers with black patent pumps, and Emma completed her ensemble with a matching pair of Christian Louboutin heels and red lips. To avoid the biker chick look, we suggest you take note of Longoria and Stone’s longer hemlines, and stick to softer, feminine silhouettes.

Check out the leather picks!»

The new wave of head-to-toe black looks in slick leathers and decadent fabrics casts a dark shadow over the season.

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Twilight has fallen over spring’s garden of flirty ’50s looks, light-as-air fabrics and sugar-dusted pastels. Fall 2012 takes fashion in a darker direction, more easily defined by a mood than a trend. Black, in all its textural incarnations (patent leather, velvet, wool, fur, satin) rolled over the runways from New York to Paris like an impending storm cloud, urging us to take cover. But are these dark clothes for dark times? We haven’t experienced this level of sartorial sobriety since Fall 2009, when austerity reigned supreme as the result of a volatile stock market. This season, coverage is king (again) but there’s an underlying strength and sexiness to it this time around. 

Call it the Rooney Mara effect: Gareth Pugh, Riccardo Tisci and Ann Demeulemeester channelled Stieg Larsson’s anti-heroine, Lisbeth Salander, with their strict, second-skin leather looks. No ink or piercings required, just confidence with a capital C. At Pugh, there were loads of skinny leather trousers; at Givenchy, a body-con turtleneck dress that flared below the hips looked like it was composed of latex; and at Demeulemeester, construction, shape and architecture leapt from the shadows into the spotlight. Part apocalyptic warrior, part goth, part badass hacker, this moody message also contains whispers of the erotic, as witnessed at Viktor & Rolf’s partial peep show. Jean Paul Gaultier brought street style to a dark place, pairing a deconstructed two-tone moto jacket with a razor-sharp pencil skirt. Donatella Versace resurrected the idea of protection with her lineup of crucifix-embellished coats and sweaters, chain-mail dresses and armour-like corsets. These sinfully good elements were reminiscent of her late brother’s final collection in 1996. Clearly, sex and religion never go out of style.

After two weeks of intense sportiness, you’re ready to slip into the ultimate fall item: this stunning leather and knit jacket from one of Canada’s favourite designers, Line! One lucky winner will take home this number in their size. Just in time for fall.

Line Knitwear Uptown jacket, $550.

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Should your hair match your heels? Yes, if they are colour-blocked in the season’s brights. But what goes in-between? Architectural angles with chunks of light and dark.

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Stella McCartney is lending her famous face to PETA to launch an anti-leather campaign. Known for refusing to use fur and leather in her clothing line, the designer has always been passionate about animal advocacy, which is why it’s no surprise that she is now speaking out alongside the organization in a new video. In […]

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Check out our shopping list of the sugary pastels, neon punches, and the surf prints that need to be in your closet this spring.

See our 30 picks now! »

With his distinct talent and penchant for performance art, it comes as no surprise that small-town Alberta designer Sid Neigum (sidneigum.com) once created a 300-pound dress from old tires and screws. He’s currently studying at the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York as well as producing full collections for women and men, which he’s shown at Toronto’s LG Fashion Week for the past two seasons. Neigum is lighting up Canadian runways, but with an exceptionally dark appeal.

We’re putting our own spin on the ole’ partridge in a pear tree with some seriously amazing holiday giveaways! Each weekday from December 8 through 23, we’ll count down by giving away 12, 11, 10… (well, you get the picture) gifts. Each giveaway will only be open for 24 hours, so be sure to check back every day starting tonight at 12:01 a.m.

Here’s what you can win! »

A tough-girl take on an LBD that’s perfect for holiday parties. ($28, canada.forever21.com)

The post Daily steal: Faux-leather dress, $28 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.