FASHION Magazine

Best in show: Prada. The moment the first look (head-to-toe noir with glittering embellishment) hit the graphic purple plush carpet/runway I was in love. It felt classic—very old school Prada (mixed-up prints, clean lines, slick structured bags).

The new suit for fall: Prada’s tailored jacket and cropped trousers. Regardless if you prefer the jumble of mix-and-match prints or the screaming solid orange version, at some point you’ll want them all.

Hottest shoes off the runway: Anna Dello Russo’s Prada Spring 2012 flame shoes.

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

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

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Moscow may enjoy white nights during its short but sweet summer, but as the cooler weather creeps in and the precious daylight dwindles, the Moscow girls are still lighting up the night. Winter white and cool camel were favourite looks earlier this week as the city’s best dressed came out to celebrate Coats! an exhibit marking MaxMara’s 60^th anniversary.

From footwear to outerwear, these engaging Canadian fashion ventures are keeping it in the family.

By Laura deCarufel

THE WEINBERGS | ALDO | CANADA GOOSE | BROWNS | DANIER | JACOB | LAURA CANADA | THE ASSARAFS | LA CANADIENNE

Westons, Mimrans, Budman and Green. There are some Canadian fashion families that are so well documented, their faces are as familiar as Brad’s and Angelina’s. It’s not that we don’t revere these brilliant style mavericks for putting Holt Renfrew, Club Monaco, Joe Fresh and Roots on the map, but in this issue, we wanted to turn the spotlight on some Canadian fashion families you may not be as familiar with. We always assumed there was a Laura, for whom the chain is named, but we didn’t realize she opened shop in 1930. The story of how 100 Jacob stores were born out of a dream is an inspiration. And how marvellous that the Cherry family passed their knowledge of retail down like a precious heirloom to Barry and Deena Weinberg, who run the Max Mara flagship in Toronto.

“Teal is the new neutral,” declares Holt Renfrew‘s fashion director, Barbara Atkin, outside the Max Mara show, pointing to her gorgeous new Givenchy bag. And she’s right. It’s my second day in Milan and I’ve already seen nothing but blue-sky bags cropping up all over town and scattered throughout the front row. Did everyone get the same memo?

Inside the tent, there was a different sort of blue—a pastel (think Ladurée macaroon) aqua that’s been spotted throughout the spring collections. Max Mara mixed it with delicate shades of sand and ivory in a sporty, minimal collection highlighted by racer-back, colour-block dresses, athletic-inspired knee-length leggings (move over Lululemon) and trim little ¾-sleeve, blouson baseball jackets.

Shoppers, take note! Max Mara is building a new flagship store (151 Bloor St. West, maxmara.com), set to open this August. In the meantime, visit its temporary Hazelton Lanes home (55 Avenue Rd., upper level, 416-928-1884) this May through July, because it’s never too early to start shopping for fall. Camel coat, anyone?

POP goes Milan! Shock waves of jolting colour have electrified Milan Fashion Week!

The Jil Sander show on Saturday was an explosion of color and volume and is sure to go down as one of the most important shows of the season. Starting with simple white tees paired with flourescent maxi skirts, the mind-blowing DayGlo combos just kept on coming!  Couture silhouettes from the ’50s and ’60s mixed with tailoring and sport-utility touches. Love the fluorescent soles on neutral pumps, the stripes and flouro-florals, and bright nylon shopping bags. Simple, saturated and strong!

Someone threw a (fake) cat at Vivienne Westwood at her show yesterday. It narrowly grazed her shoulder however and a model simply picked it up and cuddled with it. Only at Westwood. [Nylon]

The (supposed) truth comes out: last week Carine Roitfeld was a no-show at Balenciaga, claiming that she was “blacklisted” from the show. Details have emerged that the french Vogue editor had asked the Balenciaga house for samples for a shoot, and once received, a coat somehow made it’s way to MaxMara’s design studio, where it was copied. And that was the end of Roitfeld and the Paris Vogue entourage. [Fashionista]

Lindsay Lohan was back in the fashion week scene after being MIA at Ungaro yesterday, sitting front and centre at Kenzo yesterday. When WWD asked the actress why she was not at the Ungaro show, she replied  “Because I don’t work for them anymore.” When pushed for more details Lilo told reporters that “There’s legal things going on; I can’t really discuss it.” [The Cut]

Favorite  collections: Prada, Dolce & Gabbana and Emilio Pucci

Favorite soundtrack: Moulin Rouge at Dolce & Gabbana

Favorite  pre-show snack: Crumbled parmigiano-reggiano and white wine at Dolce & Gabbana

Waiting  at Etro, lulled by the comfy Etro  print seat cushions, classical music and the fact that I slept only one hour last night. (That evil 2nd night jet lag gets me every time.) It’s shoe showroom day in Milan, which means I’m gonna fly by the seat of my leather leggings to as many showrooms as possible, squeezed in between a gazillion shows.