FASHION Magazine

Forget the pool — for the fashion folk, summer is a time for mega steals and deals! Some of the designer pieces that we salivated over during runway season have now hit the double or even triple discount level and now is the time to dive into sales. There are some great online specials currently being offered, like J.Crew’s Canada Day free shipping weekend (on through Monday, July 2, 2012) and eLUXE.com’s Spend and Save. To help wade through the actual purchasing madness though, we’ve selected a few of the best bets.

See our picks »

This one is for all you designer diehards out there—the ones who would risk their rent on the latest Riccardo Tisci masterpiece. You know what it’s like to go without the many, only to behold the fashionable few. But how do you justify that one outlandish designer purchase? We’re here to help. We’ve done the math, and come up with enough affordable outfits to justify that one gotta-have-it-now item.

Case in point: Proenza Schouler’s latest PS1. Despite the designers’ intention to create just the opposite, Jack and Laz created a beast of a must-have in the classic style back in ’08, and its Spring 2012 iteration has us seeing stars (or rather, tropical flowers). At a cool $1,125 for the Pochette model, we figure you’ve gotta wear this guy quite a few times to make it work, and being bright yellow, that ain’t an easy feat. Working out to just under $113 a wear, we’ve styled 10 full and unique looks on Marta that make the PS1 proud.

Have a peek. Foam at the mouth. And then be happy that no other single item in the gallery costs anywhere close to $1,125.

JUMP TO A LOOK:

THE EXPERTS:
Sarah Ghobrial, swimwear buyer at Holt Renfrew, holtrenfrew.com
Tom Mora, head of women’s design at J.Crew, jcrew.com
Fay Yeung, owner of Sandpipers, sandpipers.ca
Liliana Mann, owner of Linea Intima, lineaintima.com

THE PERFECT SWIMSUIT
HIGH-WAISTED RETRO BIKINI | ONE-PIECE MAILLOT | SPORTY

Q: How tight should a swimsuit be?
A: “Bathing suits and jeans should both be very tight when you buy them. The fabric will relax, and there aren’t many things less attractive than a bathing suit that sags.” —Mann

Q: Can you alter a swimsuit that’s not quite right?
A: “The straps are very easy to do, but I wouldn’t alter the sides because it would stress the seams. A swimsuit will stretch out a little bit, so you could wear it around the house until it gets comfortable.” —Yeung

By Leah McLaren

In my view, every bathing suit shop in the civilized world should be legally obliged to post one of those orange signs you see beside the doors of saunas. WARNING: Exit immediately if uncomfortable, dizzy or sleepy. Avoid if pregnant or in poor medical health. Bikini shopping in conjunction with alcohol or drugs may cause unconsciousness. By the time I found out, it was already too late. I was naked, weeping, red-faced and five-and-a-half-months knocked up, under the fluorescent lights of a fast-fashion change room on Oxford Street in London, England. A discarded pile of solid colour bandeau and triangle bikinis lay in a wilted pile beside me. No, it was not a good look. But then again, what was I thinking? Swimwear shopping is a self-esteem crapshoot at the best of times, let alone with a sore back, swollen tummy and bazooka breasts.

Since then, upon much sober reflection, I have compiled a list of wisdom gleaned from years of swimwear-shopping trauma. Whether you are a gangly tween contemplating your first padded two-piece or a post-partum mum longing to reclaim your inner Gidget, the following advice will help guide you seamlessly from change room to checkout.

See all of our editors’ pick for spring »

FLORALS
Bursting bouquets of oversize buds are ready for the picking.

TRIBAL
Layer bold, graphic patterns and subtle wooden accents for a global traveller feel.

FEMININITY
Wicker, gingham and eyelet are the perfect ingredients for sweet afternoons spent in the sun.

BRIGHTS
Take a graphic approach and opt for thick blocks of bright, saturated colour.

SPORTY
Gear up for the summer in mesh, metallics, drawstrings and stripes.

This week, you’re in for a treat! Well, a few of ‘em to be precise. Not only are we giving you a peek inside the life of one of Canadian fashion’s head honchos, but we’re giving you a twofor bag snoop as well! Now presenting the lemon yellow Balenciaga Papier Tote AND the Prada pouch belonging to Holt Renfrew’s VP of fashion direction, Barb Atkin. At the helm of the luxury retailer, Atkin is to thank for bringing some of the most coveted brands to the country (ahem, Tom Ford?). Now for a bit more coveting, let’s explore all her amazing belongings.

Let’s explore! »

As I get ready to hand the reigns over to Rebecca Tay for her coverage of London Fashion Week, let’s take a moment to digest what went down this week in New York. From the top trends developing to some of the best moments, I attempt to break it down in an orderless top 10:

Read up on the week »

Today we’re taking a look inside the Danier bag belonging to Anita Clarke. A fixture on Toronto’s fashion scene, Clarke has been running her blog I Want – I Got for almost seven years. Her no-nonsense attitude, infectious laugh, and impeccable sense of style ensure that she’s always surrounded by other interesting industry peeps—so it’s no wonder that we’re curious about the things Clarke surrounds herself with!

Let’s explore! »

As New York Fashion Week quickly approaches, we taking a look inside the bag of our main man on the streets, Lewis Mirrett! Responsible for some of the most fabulous photos on the site in the past year (and not to mention his daily illustrations), Mirrett is a total master. So, what does he need to get it all done?

Lets explore! »

From ladylike lace to colourful clashing prints, we present your complete guide to Spring 2012’s freshest new runway looks.

Start the slideshow »

VIEW BY TREND: SUGAR HIGH | WATER WORLD | GOOD SPORT | FULL BLOOM | CONCRETE JUNGLE | MIX MASTER | GRAPHIC CONTENT | ORANGE CRUSH | WAISTLAND | FINISHING TOUCHES

What’s our favourite androgynous model Andrej Pejic to do after ruling the runway, posing in push-up bras, and landing our February cover? Why, a fragrance campaign, of course! It seems the beauty, who is giving the ladies and gents of the runway a run for their money, has no signs of slowing down. He may soon be the fresh face of a perfume.

A French TF1 Channel called Sept a Huit aired a taping of behind-the-scenes action with Pejic, documenting the model in fittings and rehearsals for Jean Paul Gaultier’s Fall 2012 menswear show and Michalksy womenswear show in Berlin, in which the commentator exposed via voice-over that Pejic “will sign, in several weeks, his first contract to lend his image to a major perfume brand.”

Which campaign will the fashion chameleon grace? No word on the label quite yet.  However, Pejic’s affiliation with Gaultier makes us wonder if he’s a candidate for the (mens? womens? unisex?) fragrance.

Then again, Pejic was featured in the (always edgy) Marc by Marc Jacobs Spring 2011 campaign which was a brilliant fit, (Dakota Fanning better cling to her Lola bottle!) and Louis Vuitton still hasn’t announced who will be the face of its new fragrance. The options seem endless for fashion’s latest obsession.

We may not know much about the campaign yet, but we do know one thing: Pejic is bound to produce stellar pictures (as always) and we’ll be waiting on the edges of our seats to see them!

Add some humour to your jewellery with this Marc by Marc Jacobs gold-tone brass mouse ring. ($26, net-a-porter.com)

The post Daily steal: Marc by Marc Jacobs mouse ring, $26 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.