FASHION Magazine

By Ilmie Dharmaratna and Nicola St George-Hyslop

Welcome to our new DIY series! Each week, our interns will be recreating some of the best runway looks and most covetable items with step-by-step instructions (and some excellent photo documentation, to boot). And we’re not talking your average tie-dye, but rather, we’re going high-end with pieces from Céline, Prada and Cushnie et Ochs coming down the pipe.

Craftophobes need not panic—aside from some rudimentary sewing skills, the gals on our team have no training. Plus, we’re using household items to create these looks—think nail files and tweezers—so if we can do it, you most definitely can.

Let’s DIY! »

Start gazing through rose-tinted lenses: Blush is spring’s freshest neutral. See our editor’s shopping picks for spring »

The post The list: 13 ultra-feminine blush pink picks for spring appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

This week’s Nail Corner steals inspiration straight from the pages of our Spring trend report: a delightful mixed-prints look from Carven’s Spring 2012 collection. The bright-pink and lime-meets-chartreuse chevron pattern has a hand-woven quality to it, with soft lines and organic shapes. When translated to a manicure, the prints vary on each nail, allowing them to mix across each finger.

Check out the mixed prints mani! »

Treat yourself to la dolce vita with glamorous retro classics. See our editor’s shopping picks for spring »

The post The list: 13 glamorous retro classics to get you in the molto Italiano mood for spring appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

View the style snaps »
See all Toronto Fashion Week coverage »

As the official Worldwide MasterCard Fashion Week came to a close on Friday, the fashion folk were busy taking in the unseasonable sun rays outside the tents wearing, you guessed it, mixed prints. While the same impressive Navajo and striped combos continued their reign, our favourite was the above mix of floral platforms and galaxy-printed tights. Bravo, whoever you are! Check out today’s snap-age, and stay tuned for more from today and tomorrow’s action via the shOws.

View our SXSW style snaps »
Catch up with last year’s music festival coverage »

While we’ve been busy with all things Canadian fashion for the last few weeks, our friends south of the border have been living it up in the Austin sun for the two-week-long South by Southwest (SXSW) film, interactive, and music festival. While everyone from Bruce Springsteen to Jay-Z (!!!) to Sleigh Bells took to the stage, the stylin’ gals filled out the parties and the crowds in full force, including one Miss Alexa Chung, whom we snapped at the Spin magazine party in a rad metallic skirt, and two of the most babe-ular musicians, Margaux & Charly (they play violin and viola respectively), on bikes. Toronto-born and currently Austin-based writer and all around cool chick Lia Parsley was there to catch all the fashion action. And here, we bring you the best snaps!

Floral prints were in full bloom in our spring trend report and given that we seem to be experiencing the balmiest March weather on record, a floral manicure was a natural choice for this week’s Nail Corner. From Marni and Mary Katrantzou to Erdem and Prabal Gurung, flowers were bright and best done in matchy-matchy all-over arrangements. And, because we’re right in the middle of Toronto Fashion Week, it seemed appropriate to seek inspiration from one of our favourite TFW Spring 2012 shows: Denis Gagnon.

Read on and feel the flower power! »

Immerse yourself in maritime hues, oceanic prints and aquatic details.

View the photo shoot »
Go behind the scenes »
The story of the shoot »
Trend report: Water World »

These Céline-inspired floral trousers are a quirky option for work or play, even during the winter. ($18, hm.com)

The post Daily steal: Floral-print trousers, $18 appeared first on FASHION Magazine.

Fashion show audiences are a mix of customers and the media, and we each tend to read what comes down the runway differently. I am looking for what is new. Customers are looking for that and more. They want to know that the expensive piece they bought last season isn’t going to look dated. So when I told a young fashion enthusiast after the Mugler show that the collection was full of peplums, she practically did a cartwheel. “I can still wear them?” she beamed. Uh huh. And all the rest of us who haven’t bought one yet might want to join in the fun. Of course we probably won’t go quite as far as the undulating peplums at Mugler. In white with fox sleeves and downy helmets, the overall effect was a bird in flight.

Some of the top Fall runway trends made their way deep into red carpet territory tonight, as the A-listers put on Hollywood’s biggest and best parade. From the rich reds on Emma Stone and Natalie Portman seen this season on the runway at Michael Kors, to the crisp whites on Gwyneth Paltrow, Rooney Mara, and Octavia Spencer seen at Raf Simons‘ last Jil Sander collection (not to mention everywhere at the Golden Globes), to the peplums spotted on Michelle Williams, Tina Fey, and just about every runway from New York to Milan, it seems that everyone is drinking the same Kool-Aid. But who did it best? We’re loving Gwyneth, Michelle, Jessica, Rooney, and Angelina (her right leg gets a special shout-out), but who makes your cut? Check out our top 12 picks and vote for your favourite after the jump!

See the red carpet photos »
Vote for your favourite »

From the Spring and Fall ’12 runways to the red carpet at the Academy Awards, it seems pretty clear: the peplum is in the building! Spotted tonight on both Tina Fey, in a regal looking custom-made Carolina Herrera gown, and Michelle Williams, in a tiered coral Louis Vuitton, this trend is certainly having a moment. […]

The post Trend Alert! Peplums spotted on both Michelle Williams and Tina Fey at the Oscars appeared first on FASHION Magazine.