FASHION Magazine

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We spoke to 12 Canadian women who are making their marks not only across our country but also around the world. From the young photographer Petra Collins who despite only being 19 has gained international acclaim for her work, to Farah Mohamed, who at a young age fled her birth country to seek refuge in Canada, the ladies featured here have found success across many broad spectrums. Familiar face Caroline Issa is regularly spotted in our street style snaps and mentions here how she gave up a high paying job to instead fulfill her love of fashion by working in that industry instead. Whether it is in activism, writing, singing or art, these women have a strong passion for what they do and can inspire others to do the same. From all ages and all walks of life, these 12 Canadian women have talent and vision that knows no bounds.

Or jump to: DJ SHADYAKISS |BENNI LEIGH | JULIA DAULT | FARAH MOHAMED | CAROLINE ISSA | KAREN AZOULAY | ESI EDUGYAN | ANITA MAJUMDAR | LEANNE SHAPTON | SEMI CHELLAS | PETRA COLLINS | SIMONE OSBORNE

See our Fall 2012 Trends shopping picks »
See our Fall 2012 trends guide »

Last week, we gave you four trends to shake-up your fall wardrobe and today, we’re bringing you the must-have pieces that will completely overhaul your look. From jewellery as small as a panther ring to a bold statement look like a printed skirt suit, these pieces will make your closet on trend as we round the corner and head into winter. We’ve taken inspiration from the fall runways like Zac Posen’s Asian-inspired collection with silk brocade shoes and clutches by Jason Wu and decided that wearing pastels and whites in the winter is no longer a fashion no-no as seen on Chloe’s fall runway. These are the style MVPs of fall 2012 worth investing in and will help you score major style points all season long.

These boots may not be made for trekking. But we couldn’t resist pitting fall’s mighty coats, knits and leathers against the 420-million-year-old dolostone of the Bruce Trail, which turns 50 this year. Timely designs against a timeless backdrop. Happy anniversary to us all.

See the Bruce Trail photo shoot »
Go behind the scenes at the Bruce Trail »
Watch the Bruce Trail fashion film »

Rugged and rocky Canadian terrain may not be an ideal setting when combined with fall temperatures. But when paired with the latest Fall 2012 trends, the trek seems to look a lot more attractive. We put the best of fall’s coats, leather and knitwear to the test against the beautiful backdrop of the Bruce Trail, who like us here at FASHION are celebrating a big anniversary this year (they turn 50, we just turned 35). By layering modern pieces from the likes of Balenciaga, Gucci and Louis Vuitton, it made for a stark contrast against the 420-million-year-old dolostone that makes up Canada’s longest footpath. So while the boots in this shoot may not be made for hiking, the clothes sure fit beautifully against the timeless backdrop of the Bruce Trail.

See the article photos »

It’s a sweltering summer day, but in a cavernous (and thankfully, cool) Montreal loft studio a model is glammed up like a hostess at a holiday fete. The shoot is for a capsule collection that brings together 365-store-strong Canadian retailer Reitmans and two-year-old fashion label Martin Lim, designed by Montreal-based husband and wife team Pao Lim and Danielle Martin, who won last year’s Mercedes-Benz Start Up competition. But these designers aren’t exactly new kids on the block. After both completing a master of arts in fashion at London’s prestigious Central Saint Martins, Martin and Lim honed their design skills in Paris: she worked at Christian Lacroix; both put in time at Roland Mouret. In 2004, they returned to Canada, and launched their own line in 2010.

Off-duty, she’s into family, fashion and fitness. But it’s Linda Evangelista’s gift for bringing clothes to life that makes her the most super model of all.

See our Linda Evangelista cover shoot images »

First and foremost, there is that face—a transcendent convergence of flesh and bone that you can’t take your eyes off. But beauty alone does not explain what makes Linda Evangelista the greatest fashion model alive, or, quite possibly, who has ever lived.

Evangelista also has taste and pluck. They inform her work and the pride she takes in that work. As she, less gushily, puts it, “I like what I do.” What is it that she does, exactly? It’s fair to wonder. Watching her in Pamela Hanson’s New York studio shooting FASHION’s 35th anniversary cover, I get to see.

Since I first met Linda Evangelista, backstage at Chanel in the autumn of 1987, I’ve seen her do lots of shows. She’s done them all. But it’s her record of print jobs, her performances in front of a camera—her preferred audience—that test her skills and give her the bigger kicks. Years ago, she told me, “My book kills.” That’s still true. In the past year, Evangelista has appeared in some of the most memorable images, both charming and daring, of her career. On the cover of Italian Vogue, she was a mambo queen, ruling the beat with a pair of maracas. Inside the September issue of W, she was a super-freak, naked under a latex cape and transparent catsuit. As a mannequin, Evangelista is more than willing; she’s also capable. She doesn’t just put on a garment; she populates it. Watching her, I realize what she meant when she long ago told me, “Once I’ve worn an outfit, I feel I’ve really worn it.”

See how the Lanvin Fall 2012 hair and makeup was done »

Alber Elbaz celebrated his 10th anniversary at Lanvin with a collection for Fall 2012 that featured bold colour, feminine silhouettes and loads of embellishment. The Lanvin beauty team—which included hairstylist Guido Palau and makeup artist Pat McGrath—accented the look with thickly lined eyes and soft hair. The result was a strong yet simple look: complexions were clean and glowing, the hair had a subtle bend and mouths were lightly dabbed with lip balm. Pat McGrath made this beauty statement all about the eyes. Inspired by the idea of a pen and ink illustration, she drew an exaggerated black wing that covered the lid and extended out. Read on as we examine the runway look for Lanvin Fall 2012 in full, complete with tips, tricks and the five products you need to try the hair and makeup at home.

See our shopping picks »

Jump to trend: FUN FUR | EQUESTRIAN | LEATHER | GEOMETRIC

If you’re ready for a mid-season wardrobe shakeup, we have four hot-on-the-runway trends to try. We’ve taken inspiration from some of our favourite Fall 2012 runways and made the looks ready for the streets. From geometric prints á la Prada paired with a classic pair of jeans to a tough leather jacket as seen at Gareth Pugh with a badass studded ring. We’re also into having some fun with fur and taking the pelts out of their natural hues and wearing bold orange vests like at Blumarine and green-cuffed gloves paired with a delicate watch to make the look a little bit more casual. And if wearing fur isn’t your jam, try looking like you’re riding a horse with some equestrian inspired gear from riding pants to classic knee high boots. Hop to it and get on board with some of our favourite looks for fall. We swear you’ll like it.

When it comes to crafting her own personal style, Edmonton’s Alyssa Lau is all about DIY. See her shopping picks » Alyssa Lau’s one-of-a-kind shredded shorts, studded denim jackets and floral head wreaths are showcased on Ordinary Peoples, the blog she launched in 2011 with her cousin Kurtis. The 20-year-old chemistry student with a flair […]

The post It girl, Alyssa Lau: We profile the Edmonton-based Style Panelist’s sartorial choices and shopping picks for fall appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

To coincide with FASHION’s 35th anniversary we’re taking a look back at some Canadian beauty trailblazers that have made waves throughout the country and abroad over the past 35 years. Brands such as M.A.C, Ojon, Moroccanoil and Cargo may have started small, but are now recognized around the globe and have been providing consumers with makeup products and tips for decades. Talent-wise, from Kristjan Hayden to Grace Lee to Greg Wencel (and more!), Canadian-born hairstylists and makeup artists have left their mark on top brands and stars—including Alexander McQueen, Yves Saint Laurent, Gwyneth Paltrow, Gisele and Kristen Stewart. And the ever-growing green beauty industry is yet another area that Canadians excel at: brands like RMS Beauty, Consonant and Bite Beauty & Sula are getting noticed for their eco-friendly and all-natural approach.

See all the beauty trailblazers »

Jump to: BRANDS | HAIR & MAKEUP | FRAGRANCE | GREEN

It’s been a mind-bending year for actress Kristen Stewart. Sarah Daniel sits down with Balenciaga’s new fragrance face.

The 3 things we learned about Kristen Stewart during our interview »
Watch the behind-the-scenes video from the campaign shoot »

In the advertising campaign for Balenciaga Florabotanica (from $90, at department stores and thebay.com), Kristen Stewart, the face of the dark floral fragrance, stands amid a minefield of ominously beautiful botanicals, inspired by the same vintage Pierre Frey wallpaper that influenced Nicolas Ghesquière’s Fall 2011 collection. Hovering near a stoic Stewart is what appears to be a Venus flytrap, angling to chomp down on her head.

“I think he’s fucking amazing,” Stewart says of Ghesquière, the house’s creative director and the man who wooed her to front its latest fragrance, perhaps with the promise that she wouldn’t have to pose on satin sheets—or smile. Though, on set, she would have been willing to cooperate if that had been the order of the day. “I was like, ‘Do you want me to stand a certain way to show the curves of the dress? Do you want me to model it up?’ By default, you sort of learn these things over the years, but they were like, ‘No, no, no, just stuff your hands in your pockets and just stand there.’”

An Ottawa model, a Toronto-bred photographer and a Paris hotel room packed with haute couture. What a perfect way to illustrate FASHION’s mandate—bringing the international world of fashion home.

PHOTO SHOOT:
See the gallery of images now »

BEHIND THE SCENES:
Goes behind the scenes at our haute couture shoot in Paris »

VIDEOS:
Watch as we share two videos from the shoot »

ON LOCATION:
Hôtel de Crillon in Paris »

Back in the 1970s,Toronto Life magazine began to experiment with supplements about food and men’s and women’s fashion as a way of generating more advertising dollars. These looked like separate magazines, with their own covers, but they were stapled or bound into Toronto Life. FASHION became the first supplement to spin-off into a separate magazine. Current editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra sits down with FASHION’s first editor-in-chief, John MacKay, who now runs his own fashion and beauty publicity and marketing firm, MacKay & Co., to talk about some of the differences between then and now.

Take a look at some of FASHION’s early spreads »