FASHION Magazine

See the Jeremy Laing Fall 2013 collection »

Jeremy Laing knows how to churn out cool-girl clothes. For fall 2013, the Toronto-based designer, who also shows at New York fashion week, delivered a strong 31-look collection that focused on languid layers, colour-blocking (mustard is having a moment) and experimental fabrics like gold laminate seersucker. Known for his architectural shapes, Laing sent out a chic quilted cocoon coat–a key outerwear trend for fall that said snap-me-up; while his painterly smocks and shirtdresses nailed the concept of effortless dressing. As for this artiste’s palette, muted shades of grey, cream and rust ruled, though the occasional flash of gold (primarily splashed on jackets) lit up the runway. A graphic black and white stripe-and-cross print also ran throughout the line-up–a collaboration with friend, and artist, Vanessa Maltese. Looks like cool girls everywhere will be lusting after Laing’s latest hits come Fall 2013.

See the Comrags Fall 2013 collection »

Judy Cornish and Joyce Gunhouse are no strangers to the catwalk. This year marks the 30th anniversary of their beloved Toronto-based label Comrags, and nearly one year in their new digs on Dundas West. “We’ve been at it for so long, it’s fun to have something that challenges us,” Cornish said from the top of the runway at The Shows, in a discussion about the collection with Dr. Alexandra Palmer of the Royal Ontario Museum. “We never forget that what we do is make clothes,” Gunhouse added. And these are clothes that were made for wearing.

“Nothing too precious” was the mandate for the duo’s Fall 2013 collection, translated via exposed pockets, drawstring waists and more practical pieces like a raincoat dress and a jumpsuit that made me think of Ryan Gosling’s character in Drive (always a good thing). The designers also washed, but didn’t press, some of the garments after they were made, giving them a bit of a life of their own. Cornish and Gunhouse are self-professed vintage lovers and said that they generally like to work with older found pieces that they deconstruct before putting them back together in a contemporary way. This season differed in that they fell for some vintage fabric, which they used to create original pieces. And ankle-lovers will be pleased to know that these are the body parts du jour. Nearly every piece in the collection hit just below the knee or at the mid-calf, showcasing an elegant and flattering silhouette in Italian wool dresses, swinging skirts and printed capris.

See the Jean Pierre Braganza Fall 2013 collection »

Samurais from outer space. Ancient Greek mathematical theories. The bad guys in Frank Herbert’s cult sci-fi novel Dune. These are but a few of the places Jean-Pierre Braganza found inspiration when creating his Fall 2013 collection. The London-based Canadian designer brought his séance-ready pieces across the Atlantic to present them to a select gathering of editors, bloggers and fashionable friends last night at The Shows in Toronto. Models with pin-straight hair accentuated by a sumo-wrestler bun (courtesy of Pantene hair wizard Justin German) strut down the runway to an ambient-industrial soundtrack, their heels so high they had front-row regulars feeling anxious.

While many of the looks featured Braganza’s signature asymmetrical colour-blocked pieces, he introduced several key motifs and custom prints, each calling out to be worn by The Hunger Games heroine Katniss Everdeen, or maybe David Bowie—a white tuxedo by Braganza recently made an appearance along with Tilda Swinton in Bowie’s video for “The Stars (Are Out Tonight)”. The sci-fi influence was undeniable in the Alien-esque print featured on floor-grazing gowns, knee-length dresses and low-slung pants, while belted kimono jackets kept things right on this season’s Eastern-influenced trend.

See the complete Chanel Fall 2013 ready to wear show »

The Grand Palais in Paris was the centre of the universe, at least for five minutes this morning. Chanel‘s lustful Fall 2013 prêt-à-porter show staged a giant rotating globe in the main hall, which was illuminated by a rare sunny sky, gently bathing the atrium roof in a light mellow glow. The globe, as it turned, showcased little Chanel flags indicating the iconic brand’s international reach. The Chanel soundtrack began with classical music that eventually tripped into a hip hop number with the lyrics “Around the world” pulsing over and over again.

And then the clothes! All the expected ingredients were there: suits, chain purses and double C logos. The tweed jackets this season were cut lower on the hip, in many cases with a hem of mini-pleats. Some ensembles shimmered with metallic accents, while others popped in bubblegum pink. Newer silhouettes included the roomier, ubiquitous coat body with dropped sleeves, matched with a fuller ruffle miniskirt, as well as balloon sleeves that tightened at the forearm like gloves. For a playful addition, patent thigh-high leggings (in black and white) coordinated with matching boots adorned with chains. Also, several models sported furry helmets in cobalt, mint and pastel pink for a look that resembled a kooky version of Lego hair.

See the Balenciaga Fall 2013 collection photos »

I’ll be the first to admit: I did not see this coming. Alexander Wang debuted his first full collection as creative director at Balenciaga earlier today in Paris, and it’s inspiring. When the French house announced Wang as Nicolas Ghesquière’s replacement late last year, it was thought by many (myself included) that Wang did not have the chops to follow such a downright titan. While Wang is credited with elevating the importance of streetwear to virtually claiming the style of the aughts, there is almost a century of history to compete with at Balenciaga, of which, Ghesquière redefined so well, so consistently.

See the photos from Milan Fashion Week »

FASHION’s March cover girl Hailee Steinfeld made a splash in a pretty pink coat, sitting directly opposite me at MaxMara yesterday. I couldn’t get near her to say hi, though, unless I wanted to risk breaking a toe. There’s no competing with paparazzi, especially the Italian variety.

Here are four key trends from Day Two of Milan Fashion Week to add to your fall hit list:

See runway photos from the Prada Fall 2013 show » On the day of a Prada show, little else seems to matter. The hours before Prada are spent anticipating what Miuccia will show. The hours after are spent ruminating on it. After shivering outside for half an hour we were finally allowed in to find […]

The post Milan Fashion Week: Leave it to Prada Fall 2013 to make the walk of shame look appealing appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See the Aldo Rise Fall 2013 collections from Roksanda Ilincic and Preen »

Building on the success of previous collaborations, Aldo has partnered with Preen and Roksanda Ilincic for its ongoing Aldo Rise collaboration series for Fall 2013. Aldo Rise, which has previously worked with designers such as J.W. Anderson and Mark Fast, creates footwear exclusively for designers to show in their runway collections. Aldo then produces the styles and sells them in their stores around the world. This is the fourth season Preen has worked with Aldo, and the second season for up and coming designer Roksanda Ilincic.

The Aldo Rise shoes were presented during both of the designers’ recent London Fashion Week presentations. At Preen, Creative Director Justin Thornton described the vibrant red heels as “tough and sexy with a collage of textures and finish.” In basic shapes that are actually realistic for everyday wear, these shoes are elegant with a touch of edge.

See our top 5 from London Fashion Week »

If there’s one thing you can count on London Fashion Week for, it’s newness. While the other three headlining fashion week cities (they would be New York, Milan and Paris, if you needed a refresher) are largely responsible for creating the viable trends of any given season, London is known as the breeding ground for new talent, new technologies and new wild ideas that are sure to become trends way into the future. The Fall 2013 show season was no different, as the various London Fashion Week shows showed all sorts of new things for us to ogle over, question and get into. Here we give you 5 of the newest and most interesting developments out of London Fashion Week for Fall 2013.

5 sexy long-sleeved looks from Gucci Fall 2013 » It is the first show of Milan Fashion Week and already designer Frida Giannini has taught us an important lesson: Long sleeves can be sexy. The Fall 2013 Gucci collection featured a berry coatdress with plunging neckline, a black jumpsuit with allover lace top (save for […]

The post Milan Fashion Week: Gucci Fall 2013 proves that long sleeves can be sexy appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See our 5 wardrobe updates for Fall 2013 » As much as fantasy rules the runways during New York fashion week (hello Marchesa) if you peel away the layers of D-R-A-M-A there’s often a few very wearable (translation: work-to-weekend) pieces thrown into the mix. And we’re not just talking bags, though accessories tend to be […]

The post New York Fashion Week: 5 Fall 2013 wardrobe updates via Michael Kors, Proenza Schouler, Reed Krakoff and more appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

See 34 street style photos from New York Fashion Week »

Do you ever feel like street style is just one long extended version of this video? So do we, especially with today’s fresh batch of photos from outside New York Fashion Week. Everyone seems to be having a party, including Kyra Sedgwick, BryanBoy, Rumi Neely and Miroslava Duma, who in the vein of Anna Dello Russo, was spotted in not one, but two designer driven outfits. And as with any good fashion party, the popular girls made their group appearance on West 26^th Street: Virginie, Claire, Jenna and Prisca Courtin-Clarins. As for the party caterer? The apron-clad Karlie Kloss, was out selling her charitable cookies, Karlie’s Kookies (get ‘em here, kids). Enjoy these shots and be sure to come back tomorrow for our final street style batch from New York Fashion Week Fall 2013.