FASHION Magazine

See H&M’s Spring 2013 collection »
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With less than a week to go before we can get our paws on the Maison Martin Margiela for H&M collaboration, the Swedish mega-brand has given us another reason to drool, and this time it’s the Spring 2013 collection. The latest from the brand is a western inspired extremely embellished (and affordable as always) collection of mini skirts, leather jackets, and baseball caps.

See the biggest Spring 2013 fashion trends »
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It’s official, Spring 2013 fashion month is over. And after receiving a daily dose of street style photos and runway updates, it would be silly for us to ignore the trends that we saw day after day (after day, after day). It’s hard not to fall victim to sensory overload, but thankfully our street style photographer, Stefania Yarhi, made it easy for us to pick and choose which trends we know we’ll be seeing all spring long. With hundreds of photos from Paris, Milan, London, New York, and Toronto at our disposal, we just couldn’t ignore the countless graphic tops (a day without a Balenciaga sci-fi sweater sighting was a total shocker), exposed bellies, suits, and mixed prints—so we didn’t because we’re positive they will be huge come Spring 2013. We’ve selected 10 of the biggest fashion trends from the streets and the runways and put them together in one place, so gets to clickin’. The leaves may just be starting to fall, but it’s never too early to plan for spring, right? (RIGHT!)

View by trend: 1. CARTOON GRAPHICS | 2. BARE MIDRIFF | 3. FILING SUIT | 4. MIXED PRINTS | 5. MONOCHROMATIC | 6. OUT THERE ACCESSORIES | 7. PEEK A BOO | 8. SEEING RED | 9. SIXTIES | 10. STRUCTURE

See the Arthur Mendonça’s Spring 2013 collection photos »

I bought my first Arthur Mendonça jacket years ago at a sample sale. That piece is still one of my favourites, and that’s one of the best things about his designs which were once again showcased last night during his Spring 2013 show at World MasterCard Fashion Week in Toronto—they have a timeless sensibility. He’s still going strong. For his 10th anniversary  collection, Mendonça infused a far east vibe with obi belts, cuffed, exaggerated sleeves, stiff silk constructed suits, twist-front dresses and delicately swooping skirts. The roomy shorts looks seemed the freshest and took him out of his comfort zone in the best possible way. Other standouts included the head to toe micro digital print and sherbet coloured double-breasted suits. Maybe it’s time I add another piece to my personal Arthur Mendonça collection.

See all the looks from the Mercedes Benz Start Up finals! »

And the winner is: DUY! Last night, the search for the Spring 2013 winner of the Mercedes Benz Start Up competition came to a close and Montreal designer Duy Nguyen was crowned the victor.

Pitted against seven other designers from across Canada, Nguyen’s dreamy pieces impressed the judges (including our editor-in-chief, Bernadette Morra) and secured his spot at the top of the podium. The DUY Spring 2013 collection was California girl meets New York, pairing structured suits with flowing chiffons and short-shorts with strong, collarless blazers. Nguyen was inspired by the French who are “very easy going” yet the collection was not necessarily reflective of Canadians—but worry not, as he told us that “fashion is about dreaming.” There was also a tinge of nostalgia, as silhouettes were very ’80s with crocheted knit tops and a modern version of the mom jean. The palette was simple and airy with seafoam greens, crèmes and baby blues but was punched up with a bright red-orange dress and short suit that featured cutouts. These pieces were winners in their own right.

See the Holt Renfrew designer showcase photos »

If you have ever wondered what it would be like to see a entire fashion season’s most important moments capsulized, last night’s Holt Renfrew opening showcase at World Mastercard Fashion Week last night was your dream come true. Set to a soundtrack by real-life DJ couple Brendan Fallis and Hannah Bronfman (who both donned Holt Renfrew’s “Girls” sweater designed in collaboration with Justin Broadbent), models including Amanda Laine walked in 67 looks of Fall 2012’s best internationally and Canadian-made wears.

Check out our front row pictures from Spring 2013 Fashion Week! »

Front row seating at the Spring 2013 Fashion Week collections has been an exciting who’s-who jumble of predictable favourites and amazing surprises this year.

Miu Miu’s Spring 2013 collection was presented today in Paris, with Glee’s Dianna Agron front and centre of the It girl mélage that came to check out Miuccia’s latest creations. Looking quite mod, she wore a ‘60s look of a turquoise dress, blue heels and purple tights, all by Miu Miu. Dianna Agron was seen with actress Amanda Seyfried who was wearing a Prada suit, Emma Stone and Felicity Jones both in Miu Miu and fashion week fixture and designer herself Chloë Sevigny. The girls looked like they were about star in the brand’s latest campaign, although Sevigny can already boast about that.

Editor-in-chief Bernadette Morra rounds out the Spring 2013 season with her review of Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and Miu Miu.

See the Louis Vuitton, Alexander McQueen and Miu Miu photos »

Experience has told us that a Louis Vuitton collection usually follows a similar theme to the one Marc Jacobs explores for his own label. This season was no exception. Marc Jacobs zeroed in on graphics for Spring 2013, but where he mostly riffed on stripes back in New York, for Louis Vuitton it was all about the Damier check. Traditionally in a brown/beige checkerboard, Louis Vuitton’s Damier has seen recent popularity in a white/grey print for summer totes. So why not take that as a hint loyalists might be ready for more?

Showing, punctually, in a tent at the Musee du Louvre, Marc Jacobs had artist Daniel Buren create the set: a bank of four escalators that the models descended and ascended in pairs. They wore checks in yellow/white, beige/white, green/white and more. There were big checks, little checks and checks in between. They came on ‘60s car coats, boxy jackets over midi skirts and column gowns with patch pockets. The shiniest pieces were cover in what Jacobs promises are the tiniest sequins ever produced to give a metallic fluidity. Texture came from a flock-like pile similar to dense carpeting.

This is the first Vuitton collection not to feature the LV monogram. An interesting test. But then, unlike the regular folk who buy the odd Louis Vuitton bag, maybe the brand’s wealthier clothing customer doesn’t need a logo to show her status?

See more pictures from Paris Fashion Week Spring 2013 »

This is an Important Trend Bulletin from Paris. Spring 2013 will be known as the season of the tux. Variations on Le Smoking opened Lanvin, Dior and Givenchy—a major signifier since eveningwear is usually reserved for last part of a show. And you can pretty much bet we’ll be seeing tuxedoes tonight when Hedi Slimane unveils his first collection for the now-renamed Saint Laurent Paris.

Even though New York Fashion Week’s Spring 2013 show season is only just winding down (and there are still three fashion capitals left to visit!), it’s never too early to predict trends. Here’s my breakdown of the top 10 trends from the runways this week:

See the top 10 Spring 2013 trends at New York Fashion Week »

It was a whirlwind day of running between shows and showrooms, but I’ve managed to suss out five of the best offerings of the day, beginning with the most unexpected one from Oscar de la Renta. From a man known for glamorous gowns and ladylike day-wear, it was a surprise to see Karlie Kloss open the show in a latex top and skin-tight pencil skirt. Clearly courting a younger contingent, uncharacteristically punky coloured streaks were added to wispy beehives and billowy shorts suits were on offer for evening. Is Oscar abandoning his core clientele? I seriously doubt it, but it’s always refreshing to see a designer throw us a curveball and stretch his style beyond the expected.

See the rest of our picks »