FASHION Magazine

This might as well be called the Leather Jubilee, because that’s what Donatella Versace wants to see 86 year-old Queen Elizabeth wearing. Yesterday, during a speaking engagement at the Oxford Union, the Italian designer waxed on about her Majesty’s everlasting appeal. Queue the Sex Pistols’ “God Save the Queen”? “If I could dress anyone I’d […]

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View every look Kate Middleton has worn since her engagement »

There was quite the royal gathering today at Windsor Castle, with over two dozen of the world’s other kings and queens (plus a sultan, grand duke and emperor!) celebrating Queen Elizabeth‘s Diamond Jubilee. While the thought of making small talk with a room of very important strangers might make most of us weak in the knees, by all accounts Kate Middleton brought her usual charms to the lunch event.

Essie Weingarten steps off the elevator on the penthouse level of New York’s Mondrian SoHo hotel and is greeted by a wall covered floor to ceiling with framed photos of the most iconic nail polish shades she’s created over the past 30 years. “Oh my God, this is amazing!” she says, marvelling at the tributes to colours like “Mademoiselle,” “Wicked” and “Chinchilly” that her team has surprised her with as part of a dinner in her honour. As the founder of one of the most well-known brands in the category—seriously, walk into any nail bar, particularly in Manhattan, and you’ll see that her bottles dominate the shelves—Weingarten, originally from Queens, has much to celebrate. Not only did L’Oréal acquire her company in 2010, providing distribution of Essie to even more countries, but her colours are worn by everyone from the Queen (Her Majesty is fond of “Ballet Slippers”) to Lady Gaga (she paired “Merino Cool” with her infamous meat dress).

Today, one of our favourite royals and style icons turns 30 years old. Happy birthday, Kate Middleton! While there are rumours of celebrations at a private ‘80s-themed party tonight, yesterday the duchess was in the public eye—on the red carpet at the War Horse London premiere. (And most of us would certainly accept that black lace Temperley dress as an early birthday present!)

Everyone knows Andrej Pejic, the gorgeous, androgynous male model who’s been ripping up the men’s and women’s runways this past year—and soon enough, Queen Elizabeth will know him too.

Liz will soon be visiting Australia, where Pejic spent his formative years, and Pejic has been invited to Buckingham Palace for an event to celebrate her upcoming visit. He will join other British-based Australians at the event, but we’re certain he will stand out in the crowd—not only is he uncommonly attractive, but even his laid-back-femme off-duty style is covetable. The question on everyone’s mind is what Pejic will wear, as he’s known for some pretty outrageous and sexy outfits (with or without a baby bump!), but we suspect that this guy knows how to dress for the occasion.

While it’s impossible to pick a favourite amongst the fresh crop of talents virtually transforming the fashion scene in London right now, Peter Pilotto is surely one the brightest. The brainchild of Pilotto and co-designer Chris de Vos who met while studying design at the Antwerp Academy, the line has become known for its hyper-coloured digi-print dresses that feel very much like sculptural works of art. The duo broke new ground for spring, experimenting with trompe l’oeil printing on light and airy fabrics. Amidst a seasonal transformation (and over a lobster lunch last month at Holt Renfrew in Toronto), we sat down with the pair to talk all things pattern, collaboration and meeting the Queen.

Our minds, hearts and eyes were proverbially blown this morning by the dizzying spectacle that was the royal wedding. Cementing her place amongst fashion royalty as well as the real kind, Kate showed real foresight by choosing Sarah Burton at Alexander McQueen to design her dress and sending the fashion folk along with the rest of 3 billion viewers worldwide into an equally spellbinding tizzy! Recalling a little Grace Kelly (hand-cut English lace and French Chantilly lace bodice) and a little Queen Elizabeth II (nipped waist, full skirt and train), Kate’s dress just radiated regal romanticism. Simply put, there was nothing negative you could possibly say about that dress! We’ll have more coverage a little later today direct from London, but in the meantime, lets digest some of the details surrounding Kate’s (or should we say Catherine, Duchess of Cambridge’s) wedding day outfit:

Happy Birthday Lizzie! (We can call you that, right?) For 85 years today, the Queen Mum has been a reigning style icon. So what are Her Majesty’s style staples?

Suits in every shade possible⎯and we do mean every shade. Think aqua, bright green, royal blue, purple, bright yellow, camel, magenta, burgundy, and every shade and variant of the rainbow.

Looking to indulge in some appropriately festive high tea? Try this Ka’tea’ & William set from Donkey Products, ($7, donkey-products.com) the same people who brought you tea bags bearing the likenesses of Karl, Grace Coddington and Anna Wintour⎯ and let the future king and queen steep in your mug. There are teas featuring the Queen Mum, too!

Call it what you will, but the apparel of any political or monarchical leader is vital in how they go down in history. Think Marie Antoinette or more recently, the now-resigned PM of Japan who received boo’s all around when he sported that bizarre multicoloured shirt. Now that HRM The Queen has just left the […]

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Oasis frontman Liam Gallagher is all set to launch a womenswear line, under his label, Pretty Green, which already has a men’s range. Oh my. [The Cut]

Actually, let’s let Miss J tackle this one with a quote on celeb lines: “My biggest problem is if you’re going to hire a celebrity to design a line and if they don’t know what they are doing, then they need to hire the right person to sketch and oversee the line. It’s an insult to the fashion industry for people who have studied this craft, researched it, traveled the world looking for inspiration compared to someone who just pulls something out of their closet and changes the color.” [PopEater]