FASHION Magazine

For those who spend their days leisurely lunching and evenings attending benefit galas, Carolina Herrera’s spring collection has them covered. Aside from the strange fact that Nicki Minaj was front row, the ladylike collection, filled with floor-sweeping gowns (Renee Zellweger couldn’t take her eyes off a silver sequin–embellished white number) and tea-length sheaths, was conservative but classically chic.

When Jeremy Laing debuted his Spring 2012 collection in New York on Sunday, we were there. So were Jeanne Beker and socialite Stacey Kimel. (Canucks gotta stick together in the big bad city, right?) Check out Lewis’s snaps from front row (beside Leigh Lezark, we should add). To say they’re not your run of the mill runway photos would be an understatement.

View the photo gallery »

The King and Queen of New York fashion, Tommy Hilfiger and Diane Von Furstenberg, took to the stage on Sunday at the Lincoln Center, addressing the fashion kingdom with pops of prep, and a bold colour palette of brights. What started off as a simple collection of sheer, crinkled cotton whites at DVF quickly transformed into vibrant geometric prints of turquoise and purple, uber-embellished pastels, and silky pyjama-like pieces in the bold patterns we’ve come to expect and adore from Furstenberg. My favourite moment of the show, however, came as Diane took her bow, walking the runway to Nina Simone‘s “Feeling Good,” and showering the crowd with mini American flags, reminding everyone that her favourite colours are red, white, and blue.

The matte magenta mouths at Prabal Gurung were gorgeous at first glance, but look a little closer, and they were blackened in the center. Since the designer was inspired by Japanese photographer Araki’s shots of exotic blooms (as well as aggressive-looking nudies, we just discovered while Googling him), he asked makeup artist Charlotte Tilbury to create the illusion of “this orchid that was sort of coming out of the lips.” To do that, she used M.A.C. Pro Process Magenta Chromagraphic Pencil to slightly overdraw the lips “like they’ve been kissing,” while MAC Pro Pigments in “Burgundy,” “Fuschia,” and “Black” provided the slightly ombre effect to mimic the flower. Cheekbones were contoured for “slight definition and structure” with cream bronzer. Next, silver grey shadow was stroked across the sockets of the eyes, and Strobe Cream was added on top for a gleam. To create highlights, Luna Cream Color Base was blended in a C shape around the temple and eyes and a lick of mascara and gelled up brows finished the look. On nails, Jin Soon Choi used Sally Hansen’s “Loves Me Not,” a dark purple with subtle glitter, as the main tone “to make a strong statement” edged by “Lacy Lilac” “to show a soft side.”

Ever wonder what a model does after she’s done walking a show? Judging by all of the girls we snapped coming out of the Alexander Wang show (ahem, Liya Kebede, Magdalena Frackowiak, Hanne Gaby Odiele, Frankie Rayder to name a few), she calls her bf, or her mom, or her agent. What do celebs do? They stop and pose for our boy Lewis, is what they do. Oh, snap! (Get it?)

View the photo gallery »

Arguably Toronto’s biggest shopper, Stacey Kimel has been making her rounds at some of New York Fashion Week’s biggest shows (Prabal Gurung, Thakoon, and more!), but judging from her front row appearance at yesterday morning’s show, home-grown talent Jeremy Laing is also on her spring shopping list (lucky boy!). While I can’t picture her sporting the Yohji Yamamoto meets Marky Mark one-strap overalls, the windswept asymmetrical gowns, linen palazzo pants, and sheer flowing tunic tops in shades of pumpkin, crème, and silvery grey are a sure bet.

Overheard (or seen) at the Prabal Gurung Spring 2012 show: Elettra Wiedemann‘s texting her fiance to say that Nicki Minaj‘s fro was knocking her over in the front row. Ah, the price we pay for a front row seat…

The post Overheard at NYFW: Nicki Minaj’s giant fro knocking over a model in front row. Quelle disaster! appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

There was a distinct cloud of dust hovering in the air backstage at Thakoon. Some models were coughing, a drop cloth had been laid on the floor, and there was a film of particles covering my iPhone. The culprit? Clay powders of varying shades that hair stylist Odile Gilbert had Fed Ex’d from Europe where they’re sold in pharmacies and health food stores. Applying it to the girls—either mixed with water or in its innate, powdery texture—was a nod to Holi, the annual festival of colour in India where the civilians throw coloured powder and water at each other. To give the illusion of bobs—albeit ones with tons of texture—hair was braided up into two different styles. (And yes, they were washing everything out post-show.) As an extension of the Indian influence, nails were painted with Nars nail polish in “Versailles,” a pale gold.

Forget Courtney Love or Alicia Keys. How to Make it in America star and one of my maj crushes Bryan Greenberg was sitting front row at yesterday’s Alexander Wang show and I wasn’t sure how I was going to concentrate on the show. But as the first girls walked out onto the incredible mirrored runway funhouse in day glo–lined, laser-cut leather utility vests and miniskirts it was clear that Wang’s upbeat downtown cool factor trumped a celeb crush any day. Hawaiian floral prints adorned sporty, motocross-inspired separates and Aztec prints got a modern makeover on skin hugging jersey. Perforated leather do-rags and motorcycle helmets were added as a tough-girl touch.

Think you’ve been busy? We’ve been rushing from show to show with all y’all capturing the best on the streets outside the Rag & Bone, Prabal Gurung, and Helmut Lang shows. Spotted: Lauren Santo Domingo, Bill Cunningham, Malin Akerman, Shala Monroque, and more!

View the photo gallery »

Oh Canada! Today was a day of amazing Canadian talent on the New York scene with Kimberley Newport-Mimran showing a Brigitte Bardot on the Riviera–inspired collection filled with a mix of jumbo and petite polka-dot pieces, drop-waist, ruffled tank dresses, and bright hits of tangerine. The room stayed at capacity for most of the presentation, forcing nightclub bouncer-like behavior from the security, counting guests in as the same numbers left the space. And across town, Kaelen Farncombe from Oakville, Ontario, showed a relaxed collection of pale blue, blush, and nude crinkled cottons, crepe de Chine, and macramé knits that all looked too cozy to leave the house but too fabulous not to. Ink blot prints, designed in collaboration with another Canadian, Sarah Dobson, on maxi dresses and short suits were a standout.

The humidity in New York right now may be horrible for hair, but it’s doing wonders for skin. It helps to explain the luminous skin witnessed backstage at Jason Wu, first prepped with skincare by Sunday Riley. “A lot of the girls are coming from Peter Som where the makeup was heavier, so we’re leaving cleanser on for a little bit longer,” explained Riley. A pump of her lactic acid cream was included for additional exfoliation. Then it was off into the hands of makeup artist Diane Kendal, who perfected skin with concealer, and blotted T-zones with powder. Taking direction from Wu’s inspiration for his collection of ‘50s and ‘90s Pop Art, as well as NYC artist KAWS, Kendal painted bright-red tomato mouths using a trifecta of product: M.A.C. Lip Pencil in “Redd,” a yet-to-be-launched lipstick shade called “Scarlet Ibis,” and M.A.C. Pigment in “Neon Orange.” Mascara was skipped, but lids were treated to a thin black line close to the lashes and smudged “to give eyes some definition.” OPI’s “Monsooner Than Later”—a near match to the lips—was applied to fingers, while “Samoan Sand,” a nude, was painted on toes.