FASHION Magazine

Valentine’s Day is not everyone’s cup of tea. It’s a holiday to celebrate love, but some may ask: why do we need a holiday to tell us? Let’s be realistic, sometimes we just need an organized day to remind us to show and share our love and thanks with those closest to us. Valentine’s Day is a carefree one, so why not dive in and have fun.

So, what to wear on Valentine’s Day? We usually think of a few options: feminine, flirty and plenty of red and pink. Paging Rihanna at the Grammys? Maybe. But for tips on how to break that down for a date or a night out with the girls, we asked our experts in residence, the Style Panel.

Miss Melissa’s Melissa Knight loves dressing girly, but hardened her short red dress with studded overcoat for an added unexpected touch. Stephanie Sterjovski went for the tricky pink and red look, which we daresay she pulled off with flying colours (no pun intended). Kassandra Camponi of Kastles went fairly literal, and chose to wear hearts from head-to-toe. So, without further ado, let’s help you find out what to wear on Valentine’s Day.

Question 38: What is your favourite way to dress for Valentine’s Day? Read the answers now! »

Or jump to: BARBARA ANN SOLOMON, TORONTO | CARA MCLEAY, VANCOUVER | CHRISTINA CRAVERO, TORONTO | KASSANDRA CAMPONI, EDMONTON | KAYLA SHORT, HALIFAX | MELANIE MORAIS, EDSON | MELISSA KNIGHT, VANCOUVER | STEPHANIE KOCH, KELOWNA | STEPHANIE STERJOVSKI, TORONTO | VICKIE LALIOTIS, EDMONTON

The most romantic day of the year is fast approaching and we can’t resist dressing up for the occasion, date or no date. The wardrobe options are endless with so much inspo out there on the interwebs. And it being Valentine’s Day and all, working the holiday colours into our look is a no-brainer. To […]

The post How to Wear Red and Pink this Valentine’s Day Without Looking Cheesy appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See the legs Fall 2015 trend guide » This season’s runways were full of thigh-high boots, cool tights and dresses that fell just below the butt—an intimidating feat for anyone who’s legs don’t resemble Beyoncé’s. Depending on your body type (and the weather), showing your legs can may be one of the most challenging trends […]

The post Style Panel shows you how to show your legs off, regardless of body shape appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Winter is just around the corner, it’s time to pull your jackets out from the closet and opt for an all new, super warm look. Earlier today, we roundup up 40 of this season’s best coats and now we’re turning to our Style Panel for tips and tricks on how to wear ’em. There’s an […]

The post It’s coat season! 8 Style Panel tips for refreshing your outerwear appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Thanks to its light, airy and breathable nature, silk is one of summer’s definitive go-tos. Especially with this season’s array of crop tops, off-the-shoulder ruffles and flowing midi skirts, the fabric is more popular than ever. And when hot summer days call for stylish wear while keeping us cool, incorporating silk into your outfit is a no brainer. However, while it may be the ideal fabric to wear during the warm season, it’s no easy feat to master the skill in silk dressing without a) looking like you’re ready to hit the sack, b) avoid its static-cling properties and c) leave traces of sweat in unflattering places. But before you swear it off completely, this week Style Panel is helping us take the guesswork out of styling this summer favourite. You know, just in case you can’t figure out how to wear silk without showing your pit stains to the world.

Whether they are dressing it up with heels or dressing it down with Birks, the ladies of Style Panel agree that silk makes for an ideal addition to any summer look. Our newest member Eleni McMullin of Convey The Moment sees the true versatility of the fabric, noting how she loves to dress her floral faux silk pants up for the night and down for the day. Loving silk for its easy-breezy ways, With A City Dream‘s Emma Walker and Velvet & Vino‘s Becky Kung both show how a silk jumpsuit can easily up the glam factor for a night out. And if you think teaming a jacket in the summer raises eyebrows, think again. Melanie Morais of Born Lippy proves that wearing a jacket in the summer (especially for those cool nights) is totally doable when its silk and breathe-easy.

Question 106: How do you wear silk? Read the answers now!»

While black is as synonymous to winter as white with summer, that doesn’t mean the dark shade should be taboo for the warmer season. Summer naturally calls for brighter hues and season-appropriate prints, but thanks to this season’s A-list designers (i.e. Gucci, Giambattista Valli, Altuzarra) and celebrity style (we’re looking at you, Lorde!), the universal shade is definitely open to being worn all year long. However, it is inevitable to feel the need to stay away from the shade during the warm months of summer due to its heat-absorbing characteristics. So how do you stay cool without feeling like you’re drenched in sweat going from point A to B? Fear not, because this week, we challenged our Style Panel to share with us their tips on how to wear black this summer.

When it comes to wearing black in the heat, Style Panel members can agree that it’s all about choosing the right fabric and pieces. Jill Lansky of The August Diaries and Leonie Markhorst of The Signature Bow took on the challenge head-on wearing black head-to-toe in two different crop top ensembles. While Lansky played with a more structured, lady-like look, Markhorst kept things cool and chic pairing her outfit with an asymmetrical midi skirt. If you’re hoping to tackle this trend for the office environment, BornLippy’s Melanie Morais has the solution for you: silk pants. The breathable material will allow you to stay cool, while maintaining a professional look. And if you’re looking to be more stand-out, Barbara Ann Solomon of Barbara Ann’s Style Blog’s monochromatic floral jumpsuit is the perfect statement piece to feeling cool and stylish this summer.

Question 108: How do you wear black in the summer? Read the answers now! »

Can you believe it!? The 100th challenge. For nearly two years, our trusty Style Panel has been conquering style challenges from coast to coast.

In honour of the 100^th challenge we wanted to look back at the best-of by asking the Style Panel bloggers to chose a favouriite-ever look. This turned out to be the hardest challenge of all, since narrowing it down to a single look is no easy task. (Asking a fashion blogger to choose a favourite piece of clothing is like giving someone a litter of puppies and then telling them they can only choose one—nearly impossible, and sort of mean.)

The Panel, a handpicked group of Canada’s best-dressed fashion bloggers, has been answering your fashion queries using their unique fashion know-how. They’ve helped figure out Canadian tuxedos, taught us how to conquer normcore and fearlessly navigated through pastels. The Panel has been there like fashion seraphs leading through the sometimes-confusing trend terrain.

Question 100: If you had to choose, what would your favourite look be from recent years? Read the answers now! »

Soft shades of pink and blue are often associated with spring, so we’ll forgive you for thinking this trend is one you’ve seen before. For Spring 2014 it’s all about making a statement with pastels, from head-to-toe looks that stand out to unexpected mixes of feminine shades with masculine tailoring details. But when you’ve had a closet full of baby blue and baby pink items for a few seasons now, how do you make it look new again?

We asked the Style Panel this very question and, as always, they provided many helpful tips and tricks for refreshing your take on pastels the season. For Northern Style ’s Kira Paran, a pastel leather jacket serves as an edgy way to wear the shade—and, as an added bonus, is an item that doesn’t require above-average spring temps to wear. The blogger behind Barbara Ann’s Style Blog , showed us her take on wearing monochromatic pastels, with a few easy tips on how to make the look less head-to-toe and more grounded. And should you still not be brave enough to wear all-over pastels, Coco and Vera’s Cee Fardoe shows us how this trend works just as well with pastel-hued accessories. So, how do you wear pastel shades? Flip through for inspiration on how to change it up this season.

Challenge 97: How do you refresh the pastel trend so that it looks new? Read the answers now! »

Layering is an art in and of itself. On frigid days, it can be a necessity for survival. On warmer days, it’ll help you go from day to night sans effort. Learning how to do it well can be tricky because simply put, the challenge in these days of the Great Canadian Winter, it seems to be more like “how to layer without looking like the Michelin Man” than anything else.

Luckily for us, many recent fashion collections have dealt some great tips. In Elizabeth and James’ Pre-Fall 2014 lookbook, a check shirtdress did double duty when worn open as a duster coat in one look and then layered underneath a pencil skirt in another. Helmut Lang, the patron saint of layering, lives up to its name, layering as many as four pieces in some Pre-Fall 2014 looks. On the fall runways, the coat trend made for some extra-interesting pairings. The key? A mixture of fabrics and textures achieve a cohesive and interesting look with depth.

Question 88: How do you layer to keep warm while still staying stylish? Read the answers now! »

Us compromise style? As if! Through the coldest days of winter, it’s important to keep your most important essentials by your side. The right coat, boots or sweater will get you through anything—-even the polar vortex.

In today’s Style Panel challenge, we ask our bloggers to reveal the winter must-haves they swear by. Leonie Markhorst of The Signature Bow snuggles up with a vintage knit, while Christopher Wolf of Wolf Musings swears by a warm varsity jacket. Becky Kung of Velvet & Vino plays up a pop of colour to get her through grey days.

Staying chic and comfortable during frigid season is easier than you think. Click through to get the low-down on the winter must-haves you should be adding to your shopping list pronto.

Question 86: What’s the one winter essential you swear by keeping you stylish and warm all season long? Check the answers now! »

New Year’s Eve is the perfect time for statement making. Sartorially speaking, piling on the glitz and glam is never more warranted. While big time resolutions for 2014 percolate, it’s one last chance to go all out for the year. To help us raise a stylish glass to the New Year, 13 of our Style Panel members are sharing their outfit picks for tonight.

Question 84: What to wear for New Year’s Eve? Read the answers now! »

It’s about that time! Chestnuts roasting by an open fire seem even more fitting when you’ve got a perfect sartorial match: the ugly Christmas sweater. This year, we took the Style Panel to task, challenging them to share their best geek chic looks. Across the board, it seemed that cheesier was better, with Lion Hunter’s Mo Handahu going all out in a hilariously embellished vest and Shorts Presents‘ Kayla Short taking a cue from everyone’s favourite Christmas hero, Kevin McAllister. On the flipside, Born Lippy‘s Melanie Morais kept it classy, embracing a menswear inspired look that screams oh so winter cozy.

Question 83: How do you style your ugly Christmas sweater? Read the answers now! »

Jump to: KAYLA SHORT, HALIFAX | MELANIE MORAIS, EDSON | MO HANDAHU, HALIFAX