FASHION Magazine

Ever feel like you’re caught in a beauty loop? It can be as simple as trying to cover up stained nails with more stain-causing nail polish (yikes!) or as long-term as knowing that the onset of fall also means the start of at least six months of dry skin. This week we’re all about helping you break out of these bad beauty cycles: our Beauty Fix answers include how to avoid messing up your foundation when applying a dark eye shadow, tips for addressing uneven skin tone and everything you need to know about proper exfoliation.

Read on for the full fix! »

Considering just how much Temperley London was worn by Kate Middleton during her recent Diamond Jubilee tour of Southeast Asia, the label was top of mind when it came time to seek out this week’s nail art inspiration. It also helps that Temperley London’s Fall 2012 collection opened with an exquisite embroidered dress (worn by former FASHION cover girl Anais Pouliot, no less) that was basically begging the nail art treatment. For this design you’ll need a handful of colourful nail polishes, as it’s all about the contrast between the light-taupe background and the floral detail work. (I almost wish there had been more need for the dark, hunter-green shade I used, which was one of the Nars Andy Warhol polishes. It will certainly make a reappearance!) So, grab a nail art brush and a dotting tool and read on to see how this floral Temperley London manicure is done!

Try the Temperley London floral nail art! »

While the trend so far at New York Fashion Week has been minimal makeup that wasn’t the case at Peter Som. For starters, rainbow-hued extensions (dyed the day prior by colourist Aura Freidman) were tucked randomly in hair, styled by Eugene Souleiman. On the face, Tom Pecheux also wanted randomness and he used his finger tips to apply colour on the eyes, with the goal of looking like a child’s painting. Finally, you know how we feel about French manicures at FASHION. (If not, let me bring you up to speed: ewww!) But when done right (i.e., no acrylics and no white, squared off tips) we can get behind the style. A perfect exception-making example: the creamy orange and mint combo that used two out of the three shades from Zoya’s custom nail polish range for Peter Som.

Read on for more backstage beauty at New York Fashion Week »

As the fashion flock jets to New York to kick off the Spring 2013 show season, we’re having a look at how one of our gals will be prepping. Photog-about-town Stefania Yarhi will be shooting the styles on the street all month for us and so what better time to have a look inside her bag o’ tricks. So how exactly, does one prep for such a never-ending stylish journey? Let’s snoop her bag and find out.

See the photos »

Sequins, gemstones and bedazzled extras made many an appearance in our Fall 2012 trend report, from accessories to eyebrows. And while we might be waiting for it to get a little cooler before we start donning rich jewel tones, metallic makeup is ideal for an early transition—especially when it’s on your nails. Taking a cue from the sequined sunset on a pair of Roger Vivier boots, this week’s manicure is a glitzy gradient of blues, purples, coppers and gold.

Find out how to do this glitzy gradient manicure! »

By Lesa Hannah and Sarah Daniel

Our Fall/Winter 2012 beauty trend report covers the makeup, manicures and hairstyles you need to know, paired with the best new products. From the moody colours of Dark Shadows to Wild Side’s super saturated shades and groomed ponytails, we have all of fall’s top looks in one spectacular slideshow. Time to start browsing!

See all the beauty trends for fall »

JUMP TO A TREND: DARK SHADOWS | THIN EVIDENCE | FRENCH TIPS | BROW CONTINUUM | CHARACTER SKETCH | AIR FORCE | THE WILD SIDE | MATCHY MATCH | BANDS & BANGS

Summer is still in the air but as fall nail polish collections continue to be announced it becomes hard to resist the allure (and the colours!) of the changing seasons. While Peter Som‘s resort collection is intended for warmer climates, its rich shades of grey, taupe and burgundy matched just-launched polishes from both Essie and Nars. And while the spindly vine and flower pattern on many of the collection’s pieces seems like an unconventional nail art motif, its organic shapes are ideal for practicing your brush skills: no straight lines necessary!

Find out how to do this manicure! »

Go inside her bag! »

You better get excited, because today’s bag snoop subject is major! Majorly major. Presenting the Alexander Wang box bag (and its contents) belonging to Naya Rivera, one of the über talented stars of Glee! As the queen bee of the cheerleaders, Rivera’s character Santana Lopez doesn’t always display the…kindest tendencies, but judging by the reason she visited Toronto yesterday, Rivera IRL couldn’t be more different if she tried. In town to support the Sunshine Foundation, which in partnership with Winners and Homesense makes dreams come true for children with severe physical disabilities and life-threatening illnesses, the actress was meeting with a little girl who’s dream it was to meet her. “She loves the show and I thought what better way than to just come over and say hello,” said Rivera.

Created by arts organization No.9 and Toronto-based artists Jennifer Marman and Daniel Borins, Art Train Conductor No.9 is more than just a wrapped GO train—and it’s also the first time I’ve felt envious of commuters! (If you are a Toronto-area commuter, the train is currently running on the Lakeshore line, but is moving to Barrie as of July 31.) The whole design is beyond visually stunning: from blown-out multi-coloured pixels to bold zig-zags of black and white, there’s a lot going on. So when translating the train into nail art, the biggest obstacle was figuring out which elements to use and which to ignore. After drafting a few different ideas, I decided the best route was to focus on using similar colours and mimicking just a few repeating shapes. The result is a graphic set of striped nails that could serve as a great distraction during any commute home.

Love this look? Here’s how to do it »

For today’s bag snoop, we’re going inside the beautiful Marni bag belonging to Jennifer Daubney, Holt Renfrew’s longstanding lady behind the velvet rope (a.k.a. manager of public relations). While her daily dealings may involve some of the best names in fashion, from Tom Ford to Prada and Chanel, she is one of the most hilarious, endearing people we know. Always a class act from head to toe, this PR maven hasn’t let being seven months pregnant hold her back from being Alexander Wang-clad at all the summer’s best parties.

Let’s go inside her bag! »

Of all the delicate pastels having a moment this season, cool mint is the one keeping us captivated long after Easter has passed.

Get the mint (chocolate?) scoop »

There’s something about Resort collections that make them seem more dreamy than the rest. Perhaps it’s the whole “envisioning each item in its natural habitat”—you know, a private vila in the Mediterranean or on a yacht somewhere only the very rich or the very royal can sail to. Or perhaps it’s just because super pretty dresses are so common in Resort collections, such as the multi-coloured lace numbers designed by Valentino. The pastel patchwork of flowers—which come in both gown and short frock format—might be intended for winter months, but work just as well as a mid-summer manicure.

Ready to do some resort on your nails? Read on! »