FASHION Magazine

See the Massive Party dressing tips » After last week’s epic induction at Holt Renfrew, spring party season ramps up with the Art Gallery of Ontario’s annual Massive Party this Thursday. In its 10th year, the bash is a stylish, sexy night at the museum, complete with installations, performances and open bars a’plenty. And while […]

The post What to wear to an art party: 10 partygoers prep for AGO Massive Party appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See the street style from outside Toronto Fashion Week »

It can be easy when out on the streets outside of the fashion show tents to focus on the big names and habitual style stars. So it’s somewhat refreshing when we have a almost a whole batch of street style shots of relative unknowns—you can appreciate the unsponsored and unbiased looks for their uniqueness and how their personality shines through.

While there was plenty of statement outerwear, we are especially loving all of the throwback styles on the street. Going back to the athletic vibes of the ’90s and ’00s, an oversized Adidas logo tote bag caught our eye and one, very brave and probably frost bitten, fashion goer bared her tummy in a sports bra and matching track pants topped with a long fur jacket. It’s like Britney meets J.Lo—our teenage style idols in one perfect outfit mash-up. Toronto stylist Odessa Paloma Parker was a playful hodge podge of ’80s patterns, everything from blown up houndstooth to artsy paint splodges to a loud yellow and black plaid wrap. Only a true pro like Parker could work just a jumble of patterns—budding stylists take note.

Yesterday wasn’t without it’s daily dose of daytime fashion week glamour however. One head to toe plaid look kept things feminine with midnight blue velvet pumps and a lacy, and racy, bodysuit underneath. Bonus points for taking slouchy plaid pants off the golf green and making them suddenly covetable. Fancy shoes were abound outside the tents, with several dramatic metallic takes, covering everything from gold oxfords to platform black and gold medallion sandals. Doing metallics in a slightly more low key approach, were two friends dressed in similar iridescent jackets, one in cream, one in mint, both finished with a pearly sheen. This is how you do metallics for the daytime, people. Another great example of rocking high-shine during waking hours, was a stunning black belted jacket finished with gold embellishments across the front and sleeves. The simple silhouette of the jacket, matched with pared down accessories was the perfect way to take metallics from day to night, without going over the top.

See the looks from Toronto Fashion Week »

It’s official. Toronto has had enough of winter. For the kick-off of World Mastercard Fashion Week, the fashion crowd opted for lighter layers and vivid pops of colour. If we dress for spring, it’ll come quicker right?

Toronto socialite and fashion patron Sylvia Mantella went for a bold orange coat, accenting her ivory and bright pink Mikhael Kale dress underneath. Why go for one bright colour when you can rock two? Stylist Odessa Paloma Parker’s bubble gum pink furry coat looks even more chic when paired with an equally psychedelic clutch. Habitual street style stars Samantha and Caillianne Beckerman were out in full ‘90s kitsch in bright yellow with a ying-yang backpack and a homemade DIY Simpson’s appliqué denim jacket. They glammed up their look, switching out their usual relaxed tresses in favour of throwback ‘40s curls and victory rolls, while fellow blogger Mo Handahu added byzantine blue to her look matching the deep hue of her burgundy jacket. Model Stacey McKenzie braved the cold and went for full glamour in a thigh-high slit dress with embellished mock-epaulettes.

See all the Operanation 2013 party pics »

On Thursday night the Four Seasons Centre was decidedly catering to just one season, with the expansive performance hall transformed into a luscious garden of evil. Filled with party goers and potted plants alike, the green-tinged space was all for the Candian Opera Company’s Operanation fundraising gala, themed as “A Night of Temptation” for its tenth iteration.

While all-black ensembles were by far the most popular fashion statement, texture allowed for individuality. From mesh cut-outs and ruffled pleats to velvet and sequin add-ons, the little black dress (or gown, for that matter) certainly stood out at Operanation. Darker colours, such as navy-blue and deep jade-green—as seen on soprano Leigh Anne-Allen and The Hudson Bay Company’s Megan Loach—provided a different take the all-black trend and should make inky gowns a gala must. And on the opposite end of the colour spectrum, bright primary colours stood out in the sea of dark shades, including Tatiana Read in red, FASHION’s editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra in blue Viktor and Rolf, and a hit of yellow, courtesy Odessa Paloma Parker’s Jeremy Laing number.

See the David Bowie party pics »

On Friday night, the Art Gallery of Ontario went full on Bowie for the opening party of its costume retrospective celebrating the gender bending rock star, David Bowie is. Some guests took his various personas literally, while others used them as jumping off points to let their inner freak flag fly. Bowie style makeup jobs were everywhere, from Aladdin Sane’s classic lightening bolt to Ziggy Stardust’s shimmering gold forehead globe. As for the clothes, Bowie inspirations ran the gamut from Style Panelist Leah Gust‘s gold onesie, to AGO publicist Laura Banks‘ pink animal print getup. While many of the evening’s guests spent hours poring over the exhibit (the recommended exhibit time is 65 minutes, but we barely escaped all that beautiful excess at the 120 mark), others partied on the main floor to the Bowie-esque spun sounds of Odessa Paloma Parker, who played DJ for the night in head-to-toe glam garb.

See all the photos from the Toronto Life Spring Stylebook launch party »

Is there a better indication that spring has finally sprung than an empty coat check room at a party? Such was the case at the launch for the spring issue of the Toronto Life Stylebook—there was an abundance of sheer dresses, bare legs and strappy sandals but not a single winter accessory in sight. Adding to the spring atmosphere were Edward Scissorhands-worthy topiaries that dotted the Distillery District’s Fermenting Cellar and greeted guests at the party’s entrance.

Speaking of guests, Toronto Life Stylebook cover girl Sarah Gadon was a perfect fit for the role of guest of honour, wearing a sleek blue and black Greta Constantine dress from the Fall 2013 collection. Considering that many of the partygoers have appeared on most-fashionable lists (be it Toronto Life’s or elsewhere) it was hard to stay focused on one outfit for more than a few seconds. The Beckerman sisters kept things colourful with Samantha in a neon accented blouse and Caillianne in a pastel floral-print dress. Florals certainly were the uniform of choice for the party—from vibrant digital prints to whispy petals, watching the crown was like witnessing an Erdem and Mary Katranzou-themed Pinterest board come to life.

See the biggest Fall 2013 fashion trends »
See all our fashion month coverage »

Fashion month may have finally wrapped, but that doesn’t mean it’s time to forget about the trends that emerged for Fall 2013 on the many runways of New York, London, Milan, Paris and Toronto—In fact, it’s time for them to take front and centre. While shoppers everywhere are snapping up the best of the selling floor’s offerings for spring and summer, designers, buyers and editors alike are busy prepping ahead. And since we know y’all like to keep ahead of the curve, we’ve sorted through hundreds of photos and selected 10 of the top Fall 2013 trends so that you can mentally prep (and save) too!

Next season, it’s all about fur, which landed in both faux and real on runways including Marni, JW Anderson, and most strikingly at Fendi, where it was combined in a dizzying multitude of punky ways. The 1990s were back for another resurgence, continuing Spring 2013’s grunge trend at Saint Laurent in Paris and Chloé Comme Parris right here at home. On the street, the look was easily created by many fashion week attendees who layered plaids on waists, under jackets and even on tights. And while practically speaking, it may be no major surprise that outerwear was one of the top Fall 2013 trends, this show season we saw jackets take on new forms with quilting, oversized shapes and bold colours which were mirrored outside the shows, with equally interesting choices hitting the pavement

Here are 100 images to help jog your memory of the top Fall 2013 trends spotted inside and outside of the fashion week stents, so sit back, click through, and relive the fashion month in all its street style and runway glory.

View by trend: 1. 1990s |2. SKIRT SUITS|3. FUR | 4. HATS | 5. OUTERWEAR | 6. PINK | 7. PLAID | 8. STATEMENT ACCESSORIES | 9. CRAZY COMBOS | 10. UNIQUE PRINTS

See all the Holt Renfrew party pictures »

Not even a micro-blizzard can stop Toronto from celebrating the start of World MasterCard Fashion Week in style. Open-toed shoes and floor-grazing hemlines were spotted on many of the attendees at Holt Renfrew’s cocktail kickoff party, with barely a salt stain or goose-bump in sight.

The party, which started after the last of Monday’s shows, transplanted the front row set—that is, a mix of editors, designers, photographers and buyers—onto the third floor of Holt Renfrew. Ambient music (courtesy a Bellosound DJ in a white Jeremy Laing dress) mixed well with on-brand magenta lighting, making for quite the party den far away from the tents at David Pecaut square. And magenta wasn’t just everywhere thanks to the lighting: from Ashley Rowe’s dip-dyed hair and bright caftan to Lisa Tant’s magenta bolero jacket to a pocket square (that may have actually been a pair of panties, according to one onlooker) worn by a crafty male guest, the evening was filled with shades of pink, purple and red.

Check out our latest street style gallery Toronto Fashion Week »

World MasterCard Fashion Week Fall 2013 has begun in Toronto, but let’s be honest, Mother Nature is definitely the fiercest force taking over the city. Show goers were greeted on day one with an unexpected snowstorm making our first batch of street style photos—shot by photographer Stefania Yarhi—all about the layers.

Leathers, wools, and a whole lot of toques graced the wet pavement outside of David Pecault square and we won’t even try to deny how happy we are to spot three different mini backpacks which fills our hearts with 1990s nostalgia.

See our street style photos from Toronto Fall 2013 Fashion Week »

It’s back! Toronto’s twice-annual semi official off-the-grid fashion week, The Shows, began last night at the east side furniture emporium, Andrew Richards Design. Debuting with two back-to-back shows from local staple, Comrags (celebrating its 30th anniversary), and Canadian-born London-based designer Jean Pierre Braganza, we were treated to a little taste of Fall 2013 on a day when we were still feeling the everlasting effects of the season for this year. To our pleasant surprise, however, the frigid temps had little effect on show attendees, who illuminate this first street style photo gallery in their fashion week best.

Judy Inc. stylist Odessa Paloma Parker defied winter in a spring-ready camel trench, a holographic coloured Kate Spade clutch and her mega-printed dress/scarf combo. Once again (ahem), blogger Anita Clarke showed off the power of the offbeat pose, with her perfect mid-jump snapped by our street style photographer extraordinaire, Stefania Yarhi. Meanwhile, designer Jeremy Laing’s signature curls were caught looking ever so windswept as he spent time outside between shows.

Flip through our gallery, we daresay you’ll be delighted.

See all the pictures from the Toronto Life Most Influential party »

Last night Toronto Life celebrated the reveal of their Most Influential list by toasting Toronto’s 50 most influential people at The Ritz-Carlton. The lucky heavyweights—ranging from politicians to bankers to TV personalities—were profiled in the magazine’s December issue and, as the evening’s emcee Amanda Lang was eager to point out, also given a definitive rank. (Her 41st place spot obviously not affecting said eagerness.) Upon our arrival it was clear how those on the list have become so successful: they’re certainly not the familiar faces of Toronto’s late-night party circuit. The mood was much more about networking than clamouring for a cocktail, despite the impressive array of Ketel One and Tanqueray creations. Tailored suits and black dresses dominated—though oxblood items and fur accessories proved to be just as popular, including many a lush stole and a pair of furry booties on Leesa Butler.

Check out the latest street style photos from Toronto Fashion Week»

Thursday at World Mastercard Fashion Week put the spring in Spring 2013. With temperatures reaching a freaky October high (mother nature just can’t make up her mind), we saw street stylers ditching their coats and taking advantage of the final moments to show off some skin.

Ainsley Kerr embraced the monochromatic look in full-skirted dress with a silver sparkly clutch and editorial director of Plaid Magazine, Odessa Paloma Parker, wore a red paisley-esque printed dress with Prada baroque sunglasses. Parker makes a case for anyone considering chopping off their hair, her new pixie cut is pretty perfect.