FASHION Magazine

See all the Christmas gift ideas for best friend »

When it comes to besties, Christmas shopping ought to be a cakewalk. But sometimes finding the perfect gift isn’t that simple. If your girl is anything like us, she’s mega discerning. A scented candle just won’t do and neither will mall crowds, so here we present 60 perfect Christmas gift ideas for your best friend, purchasable directly online.

Perfectly timed for the holiday season, two of fashion’s definitive It girls released books this season. If your best friend is a Man Repeller disciple, snag her the blogger turned writer’s first book, Man Repeller: Seeking Love, Finding Overalls. If the Brit scene’s more her thing, pick up It, a lovely collaged lesson in cool by Alexa Chung.

As per the season, the ultimate infinity scarf also makes the perfect gift, with Vocado’s thick knit version ranking high on our cozy scale. Another goodie: The Drake General Store’s Shared onesie makes the cutest accoutrement for modern day slumber parties. And because sharing is caring, CB2’s rocking iPhone speaker splitter allows you to both listen through the same device.

See all the Christmas gift ideas for kids »

Holiday time seems to bring out the kid in all of us, so what better way to celebrate than by shopping cleverly for the younger set. And because you don’t need us to tell you that Barbie, Xbox and Miley concert tickets likely top their must-have lists; here are 55 fashion-approved Christmas gifts for kids that will thrill on the unexpected side.

For the artists in training, artist-themed colouring books are sure to simultaneously educate and thrill. As will the DIY kaleidoscope kit! For the mini Jaggers of the bunch, get music on their minds with a hand drawn plush guitar to take air-playing skills to the next level. For the toddler in your life Joe Fresh has created a furry Moose Suit that will be sure to keep the oohs and ahhs coming while making sure your little guy is warm all season long.

See the full fall beauty trends gallery »

Jump to: TEXTURED LIPS | RED MAKEUP | CROPPED HAIR | MATTE SKIN | GLITTER AND JEWELS | SLICK HAIR AND SKIN | BIG HAIR | MUST-HAVE PRODUCTS

Spring’s bright lips, clean skin and dainty hair accessories were fun, but the Fall 2013 beauty trends give us much to be excited about. From ombré lips to decadent glitter, designers are embracing individuality with fall makeup, giving artists free reigns to experiment with the extremes. Lipgloss was layered on eyelids instead of lips, jewels adorned ears as well as eyes and sleek wigs were cropped into edgy bobs. Click through to see the best hair and makeup trends from the Fall 2013 runways as well as all the products you need to achieve the look.

Twenty years later, the original drag queen supermodel returns to the campaign that made him famous as M.A.C launches this year’s VivaGlam lipstick and new matching VivaGlam lipglass ($18, both available on September 12 at maccosmetics.com). As usual, all proceeds go to those living with AIDS. In advance of the collection’s relaunch, we chatted by phone with the original star behind one of the beauty industry’s most legendary ad campaigns:

Go inside Beckerman sisters’ bags here »

If there were an award for Toronto’s most fashionable twins, Samantha and Caillianne Beckerman would win it year after year. The identical duo’s love for a kaleidoscopic magpie blend of designer duds has not only become a staple on the Toronto fashion scene, but on the web as well, where they boast a cool 44,000 Instagram fans. To boot, the sisters are H&M’s official fashion bloggers and have previously collaborated with Coach, Aldo, Bulgari and Teen Vogue, just to name a few. So, how do they do it? The Beckerman sisters really seem to have fun with fashion. Definitive subscribers of a “more is more” sensibility, the duo are constantly dressing up for each other on their blog Beckerman Bite Plate and well, we just can’t get enough. The twins let us inside their fabulous Mary Poppins bags for a peek at what they carry with them on a daily basis. The results, as you would imagine, are some of the most vibrant and fun imagery we’ve seen all week!

Go inside Roksanda Ilincic’s bag »

There are a few things you can safely assume about a designer just by looking at their stuff. And in the case of London-based designer Roksanda Ilincic, you can figure this: She’s arty. Between the inspiration behind her Spring 2013 collection (an Opposites Day combo of Niki de Saint Phalle and Josef Albers) and Fall 2013’s fabric play (she blended baby pink PVC and taffeta on evening coats and used laminated lace on dresses), she’s a regular renaissance girl. You can also figure she’s ladylike inclined, given her consistent leanings towards dresses, collared coats and embellished eveningwear). One thing, however, that you (or at least I) couldn’t have known, is how breathtaking she is to behold IRL. I met the Serbian-born beauty last month when she was in town at The Room at Hudson’s Bay and was completely confounded at first glance. The violet eyed, porcelain-skinned, raven-haired designer is over six feet in heels. She’s the perfect model for her clothing, (she wore the opening look from her spring collection during daytime press interviews and this dress from fall for dinner later that night at the buzzy Bent restaurant) as is the similarly slender Duchess of Cambridge, who has worn her dresses in the past. “It’s a huge privilege and such honour and to have somebody like her wearing my dresses. I’m just really, truly honoured I must say,” she raved. To boot, she carries a beautiful purse—a purple satin clutch from her own collection that mirrors the effects of Mary Poppins’ bag. So, as if this ado hasn’t enticed you enough, have a look for yourself.

See what’s inside Diamond Rings’ bag »

With his slick pop sounds, his platinum shaved pompadour and his larger than life stage presence; Diamond Rings (John O’Regan IRL) is arguably Canada’s coolest artist. For those who have witnessed his greatness on stage, well, you get it. Those who haven’t? Just have a listen to his latest album Free Dimensional and you will too. Released last October, the 10-track synth offering is the surest sign that he’s made the big time, with the help of producer Damian Taylor, who has previously worked with Björk, The Killers and The Prodigy. His single, “I’m Just Me” screams anthem with every beat. To boot, his performed it on both The Late Show with David Letterman and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno. Not bad for a guy who used to create whole albums from his bedroom.

Prepare your noses, as rumors are circulating that two big fashion icons are making their way into the world of perfume: Both Karl Lagerfeld and Carine Roitfeld are set to release their own fragrances in the near future.

Lagerfeld seems to be in it for the long haul, as he has just signed a 20-year agreement (that’s a whole lot of perfume!) with Inter Parfums SA, thus ending his current contract with Coty. Set to launch in 2014, Lagerfeld’s new venture will join the likes of Balmain and Burberry who also have fragrances with the company.

However, we can’t tell you as much about Carine Roitfeld’s plans. The editor’s foray into fragrance is just a rumor for now, but Fashionista reported that she has taken out a trademark for an entire range of beauty products called “Forgive Me.”

To coincide with FASHION’s 35th anniversary we’re taking a look back at some Canadian beauty trailblazers that have made waves throughout the country and abroad over the past 35 years. Brands such as M.A.C, Ojon, Moroccanoil and Cargo may have started small, but are now recognized around the globe and have been providing consumers with makeup products and tips for decades. Talent-wise, from Kristjan Hayden to Grace Lee to Greg Wencel (and more!), Canadian-born hairstylists and makeup artists have left their mark on top brands and stars—including Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele and Kristen Stewart. And the ever-growing green beauty industry is yet another area that Canadians excel at: brands like RMS Beauty, Consonant and Bite Beauty & Sula are getting noticed for their eco-friendly and all-natural approach.

See all the beauty trailblazers »

Jump to: BRANDS | HAIR & MAKEUP | FRAGRANCE | GREEN

See the Carine Roitfeld M.A.C Cosmetics party photos »

If who comes to your party is an indication of your popularity, then Carine Roitfeld is the most popular girl in Paris. The list of attendees at last night’s European launch of her special M.A.C Cosmetics collection (which ironically leaves Canadian shelves tomorrow) runs the gamut of fashion’s biggest and best.

Karl Lagerfeld, Valentino Garavani, Azzedine Alaia, Nicolas Ghesquière, Riccardo Tisci, Mario Testino, Giambattista Valli, Haider Ackermann, Anna Dello Russo, Kanye West, Natalia Vodianova, Julia Restoin-Roitfeld and many, many more turned up last night to toast the former Vogue Paris chief, editor of her own magazine and world’s most stylish grandma.

Crimson lips, oxblood nails and barely there brows and lashes are the perfect backdrop for one of Fall 2012’s biggest fashion trends: the dark heroine. Inspired by characters like Lisbeth Salander, Morticia Addams and even Snow White (likely of the Kristen Stewart variety), the look took hold at shows as different as Gucci and Viktor & Rolf, transforming models into vampiric goddesses at each show. In this photo shoot ode, our beauty team sets the stage with sombre velvets, beading, lace.

View the photo shoot »
See the trend on the runway »

From the mouth of a babe
Carine on Carine: The legendary editor’s best quotes »

In the fashion realm, Carine Roitfeld looms large. Her styling work—for French Vogue, Chanel, Givenchy—is memorable, and her role in the rise of talented designers and photographers like Tom Ford and Mario Sorrenti has been well documented. But her beauty influence has mostly been limited to those who obsessively follow fashion week street-style shots of her, with her smudged-black eyes and unbrushed hair falling over her face. So it’s a pleasant surprise that M.A.C, a company known for thinking well outside the model/pretty celebrity box, has asked the 57-year-old stylist and editor to compose a collection of cosmetics (from $18, maccosmetics.com) and pose for its campaign. “I think it is smart, because to be beautiful is not just about being a classic beauty. There is something subtler but more touching in you that is beautiful too,” says Roitfeld when we meet at the New York flagship bookstore of Rizzoli, the publisher of Irreverent, her glossy scrapbook memoir of last year. Wearing a camouflage Junya Watanabe sweater, YSL pencil skirt and bright green Balenciaga stiletto sandals, with that smoky liner and no lipstick, she’s typically un-“done” and exudes cool, though her warm manner is far from the frosty fashion stereotype.