FASHION Magazine

At 63, Pierre Hardy looks as if he’s been taking covert glugs from the fountain of youth. The legendary shoe designer, clad in a casual grey crewneck sweater, jeans and his signature “nerd” glasses, is looking particularly ageless when I meet him at the Yorkille headquarters of Holt Renfrew, in a plush conference room surrounded […]

The post Pierre Hardy Wanted to Be an Architect, Not a Shoe Designer appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

“I had a divine shoe today,” says legendary footwear designer Manolo Blahnik, talking about his work as if it were a spectacular meal. Blahnik is on the phone from outside Milan, where he’s visiting a factory that is working on an upcoming collection. He tells me that it’s the first clear day after a long […]

The post Manolo Blahnik on His <em>Sex and the City</em> Fame and His Exhibit at the Bata Shoe Museum appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

There are two kinds of holiday hosts: the ones who let you slip past the welcome mat with your shoes on, and the ones who don’t. We get that they’re avoiding dirty shoes traipsing through the den and spindly stilettos getting caught in the rug, but after hours of outfit prep, having to leave a […]

The post The Best House Party Shoes and Socks for When the Host Makes You Take Your Heels Off (Ugh) appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Our favourite fabric stretches far beyond the five-pocket flare. Everyday denim doesn’t mean only wearing jeans. We’re rounded up our 15 favourites that quench our thirst for denim without actually being pants. Throw away any preconceived notion of how to wear denim with a list of pieces that are anything but traditional. From bathing suits […]

The post 15 brilliant ways to wear the denim trend without actually wearing jeans appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

There’s just something about fresh out of the box boots. And a brand new bag between our fingers. And the swing of a fresh statement earring… Stores are suddenly stocked with a million tempting accessory options. But how to choose? Whether you’re replacing last season’s salt-stained standbys, or splurging on something new just because, there’s […]

The post Fall 2015 accessories: 25 statement pieces to top off every outfit this season appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See the Jamie Lee Reardin fashion shoot » We’re bringing fall’s most magnificent furs to life in this photo shoot from our print edition, a collaboration between photographer Chris Nicholls, model Kelly Mittendorf and illustrator Jamie Lee Reardin. Reardin, a Los Angeles-based Toronto native, has been soaring to the top as of late, with a […]

The post We team up with illustrator Jamie Lee Reardin on a fur-filled photo shoot appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See the full knit photo shoot here » Heads and shoulders, knits and toes. Cables, herringbones. Mohairs and melange—this fall’s knits have you covered. In this photo shoot from our print edition (complete with six online-exclusive images!), we get ready to warm up.

The post Cozy up with this all-knit photo shoot from our print edition appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See the Paris Fashion Week looks »

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Peter Stigter

Photography by Peter Stigter

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Balenciaga Fall 2014

Balenciaga Fall 2014

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Balenciaga Fall 2014

Balenciaga Fall 2014

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Nina Ricci Fall 2014

Nina Ricci Fall 2014

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Nina Ricci Fall 2014

Nina Ricci Fall 2014

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Barbara Bui Fall 2014

Photography by Peter StigterBarbara Bui Fall 2014

Standing in the rain outside of the Balenciaga show this morning, all I wish I’d worn was a classic trench coat, instead of the soggy denim topper I’d packed instead. It got me thinking about ultimate classics and how certain pieces, beyond the white shirt and the little black dress, have entered that coveted club. While fashion’s frenetic cycle churns out new trends at a breakneck speed, today’s roster of Fall 2014 shows during Paris Fashion Week proved there are pieces that are here to stay and new classics that have become staples to invest in, reappearing season after season.

Which looks were the timeless winners among the hundreds of runway exits today? These are my picks for the 4 new classics that are must-haves for Fall 2014 and beyond:

See our New Year’s Eve dressing picks »

There’s no time like the holiday season to bring on the bling in shiny metallics. On the runway, Marc Jacobs did it best in a gown (pictured above) laden with silver sequins. And for those other precious metals, we’re looking to Dolce & Gabbana, where tone-on-tone texture and all over patterns add a new dimension to the gold standard.

See our sneaker shopping picks »
See sneaker style on the street »

A designer’s runway bow rarely generates buzz—that is, unless it’s Phoebe Philo’s. Since the 39-year-old British fashion phenom took the reins at French luxury house Céline in 2008, she has been popping out post-show in Paris to thunderous applause for her stunning minimalist-driven collections. But lately it seems all eyes have been focused on her feet. Adidas Stan Smith trainers, Nike Air Max 90s in pink—when it comes to game-day dressing, Philo prefers to rock a pair of runners rather than a haute pair of heels. So does Kristen Stewart. At the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012, she appeared on the red carpet in a body-skimming, floral-embellished Zuhair Murad dress paired with black stilettos, which she quickly ditched in favour of her Barbara Bui leather high-tops. First Lady Michelle Obama has slipped into metallic cap-toe Lanvin sneakers to carry out her White House duties. Even fashion’s favourite street-style star, Italian clotheshorse and editor-at-large of Vogue Japan Anna Dello Russo, who is never spotted without her five-inch spikes, was photographed wearing sky-blue New Balance trainers in Milan in January.

This spring, kicks are taking a walk on the wild side on runways, including Junya Watanabe, Moschino Cheap & Chic, Ruffian, Marc by Marc Jacobs and Ashish, and at luxury footwear labels like Christian Louboutin, Giuseppe Zanotti, Jimmy Choo and Pierre Hardy. At $500 and up, these new sartorial stars won’t be clocking any time at the gym, but they might give your wallet a workout. Surprised? Don’t be—this shift toward high-end sneakers hasn’t exactly snuck up on us. Running shoes first emerged as status symbols during the 1970s. “They were worn not just in the gym or to do athletics but for shopping and on your leisure time,” says Elizabeth Semmelhack, senior curator at the Bata Shoe Museum in Toronto and for its latest exhibition, Out of the Box: The Rise of Sneaker Culture (April 25, 2013 to April 22, 2014). Mixed-media and graphic designer Karim Rashid, famous for colourful, eclectic designs that range from furniture to footwear, also knows a thing or two about retro sneakers. As the creative vision behind this exhibition, and an avid runner, he believes that “the running shoe [conjures up] nostalgia” and that currently, “there’s a big revival going on.”

See the entire Pierre Hardy for Nars makeup collection »

Makeup collectors, get ready: Next month the Pierre Hardy for Nars collection is hitting counters and it’s sure to inspire a need-it-all hoarding frenzy. Inspired by Pierre Hardy’s shoes for summer 2013, the 14-piece makeup collection includes six nail polish duo sets and two brightly-coloured blushes. And as if you needed further incentive to purchase, the nail polishes come packaged in adorable, miniature dust bags and Pierre Hardy shoeboxes. The blushes, on the other hand, make use of Hardy’s signature cube print. “Rotonde” is a tiger lilly-orange blush while “Boys Don’t Cry” is a poppy pink grapefruit shade—and both are accented with a shimmering gold overlay of the geometric design.

With the explosive popularity of Isabel Marant’s heeled sneakers, Pierre Hardy’s colour-blocked high tops and various high-fashion collabs in the works with iconic sportswear brands like Nike, Adidas and Keds, it’s clear that sneakers are having a moment. We’ve spotted some seriously stylish kicks about town — from Toronto sidewalks to the cobblestones in Paris — and we’re loving the sporty vibe these comfortable shoes bring to any outfit.